HE'S HERE!!!! Ken's R&R

He came home!  He's back!!     I have to say, it was the best 3 weeks I have had in the past 9 months!   It was just heaven!  I was able to surprise  him by meeting him at the gate!  Right after he got off the plane-- he could see me... it was wonderful!  I, of course, started crying the moment I saw him.  All that weekend, before he landed, I was so emotional that I would cry at the drop of a hat.  I was pacing the gate area waiting for his plane to land and once people started exiting the ramp I had to get a hold of my self-- just my luck he would be the last person off.  luckily he was just in the middle.  That was one of the best hugs/kisses I have ever received.  This pic is right before we left the airport.

            

During ken's deployment he has been longing for some good NACHOS.  So this is him about to dive into a delicious hot plate of nachos in seattle.  This other adorable face came out while we were walking - taking advantage of the beautiful weather.  

So, Ken landed on a sunday... and that monday we went to visit my brother and his two adorable kids.... I think matthew had a good time.  I know Ken just loved spending time with him on our 2 visits.  This was Ken's first time meeting Hailey, and I think she let him know who was boss.

This was one thing Ken wanted to do.  Go to a Mariner's Baseball game, even if they sucked it up this season.  We were there the the 100th loss.  Definably part of M's history- just in the wrong way.  However, we made sure to have lots of fun!  We had great seats 16 rows up from our dug-out.... so it was great to see the players life size. 

While we were visiting my parents, Ken and I went to see Eagle Eye thanks to Dave & Valli's b-day gift to Ken last year.  We got our tickets and even had enough money left over for some treats! It appeared to be that we would be the only people watching... but alas, 4 other people walked in at the last moment. 

One of Ken's favorite memories of his R&R were playing with all the kids again and meeting the newest babies.  He just loved it!  The kids got good use out of him... doing puzzles, jumping on the trampoline, feeding birds, playing board games, reading stories, playing with cars, playing catch, and a bunch of other  stuff.  He just loved it-- 

Isn't that a cute little tongue?  Well, we were visiting my other brother, and it happen to be his birthday.... so we went for some cake.  But they remembered that Ken would miss his birthday, so they dedicated this ice-cream cake as Ken's b-day cake and gave him candles to blow out.  It was really sweet, and we even sang to him... "welcome home uncle ken, welcome home uncle ken" to the birthday tune...  it was really sweet and Ken even got a little moist in the eyes over it (a first for me- i think).  

  

The last week of R&R we hooked up with Ken's brothers John (from CA), and Andrew & Beth.  We had a fun night of mexican, and guitar hero.  Oh, and did I mention that we also got to meet Chuck and Sophie?  Some of us got to know them a little better than others.... namely Ken.

Andrew & Beth's little dogs love their uncle Kenny!

We spent the last day together- just us and it was wonderful.  After being in the mountains for 9 months, Ken wanted to go down to the water and be on a boat!!  Can I blame him?  Well, what better city to do that than Seattle?!    

Here we are just enjoying the lovely boat ride with seattle in the background.  I sure do love you babe!!!!

We had fun walking along the beach, and taking our water taxi to the downtown.  Once there we had some yummy sea food.  Another thing ken hasn't had in a long time.  I, with the help of my honey ate an entire dungeness crab.  It was so delicious!

 

He even got me flowers from pikes place (thanks love).  They were so beautiful, and had this fun cabbage flower in the middle.  I just had the time of my life.  So these are some of the fun things we did on r&r.  But, there was so much fun in the the little things as well. Things like snuggling on the sofa watching TV, or making food together, or brushing our teeth together... knowing they are just around the corner.  Oh I LOVED every week, day, hour, minute, and second that I got to spend with my honey!  I can't wait for him to come home in the next few months.  The day he left it was so-so lonely.  I had started to expect him to be there... on the sofa, or in the kitchen when I turned the corner and when he wasn't there... it was a hard thing to be reminded of.... and be reminded of again and again.  Boy we are both exited to be out of the Army and never have deployments again!!!  But, during the deployments--the R&R sure is fantastic!!!

Family BEACH Trip!!!

The Family Reunion was sooo much FUN!!!!

We (my side of the family) all go for a week and just play in the sand, the waves, and the dunes. There were 15 adults and 13 kids, 2 houses, 7 cars, and an endless suply of sand. The only bad day weather wise was Sunday, and we ended up compeating in our indoor "Family Olympics" [Congrats T&V for being the winners this year...all I have to say is watch out when Ken is finaly able to come! :) ] Because I was still working, I was only able to hang out at the beach Friday-Tuesday. I had such a fun time seeing everyone & being able to just relax. The only thing that could have made the trip more fun was if my 'muffin' could have come. I missed you so much Ken at the beach- I know you would have had soo much fun as well... I know, next year.... Well, here are some pictures that my brother Todd took with his nice new camera and a few at the end that I took. I am sure you can tell the difference between them, his look really good! :)

So Ken could remember what I look like. :)

Here is most of the family on the last day.


Some of the kids playing. From morning to night its all play!

A sunrise & a beautiful day to fly a kite!

The view from out our houses.

Some more kids playing.... and bedtime isn't bedtime with out a story!

The kids had soo much fun in the waves! And so did I!

A Licence to KILL.... mosquitoes!

OK, here I am at work. To the left I am checking some water with my dipper to look for Larva. Some areas don't look like there is water- but sure enough there is. To the right, I am treating an area with a blower- a work 'life saver' on large areas. Lots of fun I know! This is my 6th summer working here so don't trust me when I say it's fun! Below is a picture of a larva sample and an abandoned pool in back of a foreclosed home. These types of pools are like the hot hang outs for mosquitoes (the Vegas of the mosquito world). So for all you who have decorative ponds or whatnot, keep and eye on them and clean them out every week! : )

We have been very busy at work because the rivers flooded and created lots of water pockets that have been breeding this past month or so. Also, this past week was SOOO HOT!!! in the high 90's and 100's! I have a great tan, but it is limited to my face, arms and a small triangle on my neck/chest (cause of our button up shirts!) Needless to say, I look funny when I go swimming!

Tae Kwon Do

So, here I am (don't I look tan?!) receiving my White Belt (below) from that days instructor. I also had to recite the student creed in front of the class. I was a little nervous about that, but did alright. I had asked someone to record a video clip, but somehow it never turned out-- sorry Ken! When I advance to a Gold Belt in August I will make sure that it is recorded. I try and go 6 days a week. This sure has made this past week really busy!!

When I started classes I hated them! I was really crappy at all the moves and felt so inadequate. However, that changed the third day when we were paired up, and I got this awesome partner. He gave me really good tips and encouragement, and now we're buddies. You maybe asking your self 'what made you sign up for Tae Kwon Do??' and I'm about to tell you. Well, a friend at work is a Purple Belt, and said I would have fun if i joined. I thought she would be in class with me, and I had been looking for an exercise partner, so I decided this would be my chance. I told Ken about it and he was SOOO excited, so I couldn't not do it. The next day, she told me that she actually wouldn't be in my class because she needs purple level classes. Oh how I wanted to not sign up so badly...but because I already told Ken, I decided that I would for the summer special. It didn't help that the first few classes didn't go well. However, I really enjoy class now & especially since I've made a few friends!

God Bless America!!!

HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!
THANK YOU TO OUR MILITARY!!!!!! God Bless you and your families!!!

Well, we had a wonderful national birthday! It sounded like Ken had some good July 4th fixin's. We both had BBQ chicken, and corn on the cob. He also had ribs & pork n' beans while we ate watermellon and fruit. I say 'we' because I had guests! Jared, Kristine, baby Paige, Ma and June came over for dinner! The weather was just perfect all day!

Paige just had the cutest outfit on! Look at her socks! Little flags on the ends! She was just adorable and I love when babies fall asleep while holding them! Or does that mean I am an awesome aunt?? : )

More Meow Machine and Its Magical Art

The Meow Machine is how i roll when days are slow at Bagram. I was fortunate enough to get this guitar for free and I've decided to decorate it with whatever comes to mind. Click on each picture to see it more closely. I particularly like my Darth Vader the most.

Crump Visits

Cory dropped by and paid me a visit before he flies onto Kuwait for his mid-tour leave. He's excited about seeing his wife and is looking forward to relaxing a bit. He posed with my guitar the "Meow Machine". Thanks to Marc and Kathy for the Bic markers so that i could decorate my melodic six string.

The New Girls in the Family

The new girls and their mommies... (L to R) Paige & Kristine, Hailey & Jill, and Morgan & Nicole. We all got together over Memorial Day weekend, had so much fun but, lots of stinky diapers! It was great, Morgan started crawling! Man, I love being an aunt!! Too bad Ken couldn't be here, he would have loved holding the babies! (click on the group pic. & look at Paige... & her famous frown!)

These 2 girls are only abour 4 weeks apart!

Finally, more girls in the family! Now its 6:7.

Crazy about Paige Nicole

It has been wonderful to have a baby near by! Paige is growing so much! The first image is the day she was born. Now she is 6 weeks old. I still haven't changed her diaper, but I am working my way up to that. It isn't like I have never changed one or anything, i'm just not in the mood to. Boy she likes to eat though! And sleep.