Do you ever feel like the words "I love you"

don't convey your true feelings? I think that "I love you" is so overused. You know, "I love that" or "love you" just don't show the true depth of your feelings.

It's strange but when I think of Jose I get this feeling in my chest, almost a pressure or tightness. No, I'm not having a stroke or heart attack. I find it difficult to explain. I even tell him that what I feel is so much BIGGER than words. I'd still like to find some. Does anyone else feel this?

How can we have come this far? We started dating when I had just turned 16, seeing each other but not going "steady" since I was 15. Over half of my life has been spent with Jose. I'm truly addicted to him. I just can't get enough.

I feel so lucky to have found "THE ONE" when I was too young and stupid to realize it. We have each grown and changed, we've had some really difficult times, and yet we always find our way back to each other. Our commitment to each other is bigger than anything else. Our dedication is truly amazing. How can we have gotten this lucky?

I get scared sometimes, thinking about what we have. Our lives are blessed. I really do believe that. We may never be able to do everything or have everything that we want, hell, sometimes we don't have the things we need. We find a way to work through every day.

Every new day has piled on the last and it has gotten us to where we are now. To be honest, there were times that we've each wanted to quit. We didn't and don't have that fairy tale life. It's not even a reality to expect or want that fairy tale. Not really. But, what we have I would never change.

An ode to my love. Love is bigger than who we are. Love is what we live, every single day.

So much to do, so little time

Jose is away at school in Texas. :( I miss him. I'm tired of being apart so often. Yeah, it's been a year since he got back from the sandbox that isn't fun, but it still seems like we can't have a continuous family life for more than a year. I'm glad it's only three weeks and that he is still stateside, but I miss him.

He did go visit my Dad and get to hang out with him. That's cool but I'm jealous. I wanna see my Dad!! ((Stamping foot)) They went to an ice hockey game and hung out doing guy things. Fun!! Oh, and ate at all our favorite places in OKC. :P

The kids are doing well, the little two are playing soccer so our weeknights have gotten busy. Our Saturdays are spent at the soccer field instead of the bed, but hey, it's fun!! I love seeing my kids out there running and having fun.

So much death has been around us lately too. A woman I work with died a few weeks ago, it was really sad. Then late Wednesday night, a woman I work with lost her neice in a tragic car accident. The car accident was a three car accident, two cars exploded on impact and three people died. My co-workers neice was 20. So much potential, so very sad. Then my Dad said that a family friend lost her Mother, the funeral was today. My Gramma Chole was friends with the woman. My Gramma is having a harder and harder time, she is losing her friends left and right, there aren't many of them left. Gramma has a pacemaker and is forgetful. I worry about her.

Sorry to get off track there. It's just easier for me to spill it all out on the page.

I've learned that we must cherish every single moment we are given, we never know when we will lose ourselves or our loved ones. Life is so precious.

Hopefully the next update will be sooner and a lot more cheerful.

Happy 8th Birthday Baby Girl!!

It's Alyssia's birthday. Wanna know how we are celebrating? By treating her for LICE. Yep, there is a serious breakout at the Elementary school and I saw her scratch her head. I decided to check her, yup, there they are. I only found two live lice and a few eggs. So she hasn't been infected for long. TG!

Poor baby gets to spend her 8th birthday being treated for lice. Sigh.

She had a great party, we all lived through the sleepover. I'm tired, the kids are tired, but we lived. YAY.

Alyssia got a great scooter for her birthday and money.

Anyway, there it is. Oh, I didn't have lice. YAY. Every time E got lice at school, I ended up with it too. Not this time. Knock wood. I'll be wearing my hair up for a while at school.

I'm either up for Mom of The Year or Insanely Stupid

So, Alyssia's birthday is tomorrow, she is having a sleepover tonight. There are two little girls here, along with my four kids. These two girls that are sleeping over are insanely LOUD. These are the girls that at school, will NOT look at you because they are sooooooooo shy. Yeah right. It's all an act. They are running through the house and kitchen (which is a BIG no no in my house) screaming, laughing, and jumping on my furniture. Uh yeah, Alyssia may not live to see birthday number 8 tomorrow.

I have sent them to her room a number of times to hear the shouting through the closed door. My daughter is no angel, in fact she has horns under that luscious brown hair. However, she knows how to behave. Not today. I think she took a dump and her brain fell out her bottom.

I'll try and post an update if I live through the madness, or, if I'm not in jail after mass murder. :P

Finally updating

In a sense, I've had a lot going on, but not much that is "blog worthy", lol. I've been working, but I'm getting tired of feeling like I'm not really doing the kids much good.

My schedule has changed AGAIN. I now spend 15 minutes with each group, ranging from 4-8 kids, I read with them to get their fluency and comprehension up since that is what is being pushed around here, fluency. But, fluency equals fast reading to the people around here. To me fluency means reading well, not quickly. Another battle for another day. I see these kids daily and it is getting tiring. I am running and running and actually spend more time with kids than the teachers. The teachers have their planning time (45 minutes) while the kids are at "special centers" aka P.E. or Art, then the kids are at lunch for 40 minutes. We are in school from 8 am to 2 pm. So, the teacher is with the kids for about four to four and a half hours. Depends on what else is going on. I just think if the teachers/staff are serious about getting our "grade" up, we need to spend more time working on the fundamentals and less time (3 times a week in art, 2 times a week in PE).

Anyway, that's my rant for that. I'm sad our school is going from a C to a D. Sigh.

The kids are doing well, now that Jandro has pulled his grades up. The little two have been signed up for soccer, that starts in a few weeks. Alyssia's birthday is coming up. Jose's birthday is next week. I'm trying to talk Jose into a Disney World trip for Spring Break. We'll see how that pans out.

We are finally getting out this weekend to explore some of our surroundings. By surroundings I mean the outlet shops in Destin. LOL

The weather has been cold here, I think we brought it with us from Oklahoma. Sigh. Where is the sunshine??? Isn't this supposed to be the "Sunshine State"?

I'll update soon. Just not in the mood right now.

Update will be coming this weekend. All about report cards, my twisted ankle, Sally NOT visiting because of a freak ice storm expected this weekend.

Just not right now. Not like anyone reads this. LOL

Happy 2007, and other ramblings

Well, first off, Happy New Year, blah, blah, blah. I'm really excited about this upcoming year. NOT. LOL

Maybe I shouldn't blog first thing in the morning. :P

New Years Eve was uneventful. Jose and I went out to eat at a bar and grille, it was so-so. We watched the 9'ers blow the Bronco's out of playoff contention (SWEET), came home and vegged out.

We are in a new place, we are so OVER going to a club to bring in New Years. We did in past years in Altus, but, we lived 3 miles from base, had friends to go out with, and a sure ride home. lol

I don't DO resolutions, so we won't go there. K?

I have to go back to work tomorrow. I'm not looking forward to it. I feel like a kid again, I guess that comes with working at an Elementary school. lol

I am looking forward to the kids going to school, too bad for me that means I'm back at the grind too.

Sally is coming to visit me soon! YAY!! ((She is my best friend and has been for a VERY long time) So, I'm excited about that. I wish I had some money though. LOL. She'll be here for a long weekend. I'm so excited to see her. Last time I saw her she was getting into her car in Oklahoma City and we were both bawling like babies. Well, I was bawling like a baby. I think she was too but I didn't see her face though my tears.

Sally and I met in England. She was married to an AF guy, I was married to Jose. We lived in Beck Row where we had bought our house and they were renting around the corner. Alejandro was three and had just started in British school. Her son Nathan had also started there. Our boys have been friends since three years old. Sally and I became friends then too. She divorced and moved to Snyder, OK. We stayed in England. We transfered to Altus AFB in OK, just twenty miles from Snyder. So, that was good. :) For five years we talked, went shopping, talked, hung out, etc. She saved my sanity! lol

So now, I live in Florida and I miss her like crazy. I am so happy that she's coming to see me. We'll go to the outlet mall, hang out, and time will go way too fast.

Christmas has come and gone

I love Christmas. I love our traditions that we've had since the beginning of our marriage. The going to pick and cut down our own tree, eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve, the memories that come with unpacking and decorating our tree. It's such a joyful time of year.

Then of course comes the "I want" phase. I truly despise how commercialized Christmas has become. I loathe the Christmas decorations in stores that start before Thanksgiving. I don't like the Christmas music that starts in early November. I don't like how adults and children everywhere start to create lists of things they want for Christmas.

I love seeing our kids faces when they wake up Christmas morning and see that Santa has come. Seeing them tear into the presents with glee. I don't like that after there is a huge mess to clean up and the let down that comes after Christmas. LOL

We had a great Christmas. The kids got the Wii (it is a ton of fun) and a few games to go with. Jose is loving it too, he turns into a big kid when a game system is around. LOL. I love that his computer has been silent for a few days. No WoW, yay!!

I hate that Jose feels that my Christmas was lacking because I didn't have a ton of stuff to open. I loved my Christmas. I didn't/don't care that I didn't have a ton of stuff. I love the shopping and giving for others. I loved seeing the kids faces when they opened the Wii (it was the very last gift). Seeing their excitement and joy, it is the best gift of all.

I too wish that I could have given Jose a ton of stuff. I know that his Christmas's as a child weren't great. He mainly got socks and underwear as gifts. I wish that I could show him how much he is appreciated and loved by having a room full of presents for him. We just don't have the means. Jose feels that by not having lots of stuff for me that he isn't supporting us, or that he doesn't make enough. He feels that he isn't providing enough. I wish that he could see inside my heart to know that he is the best gift I could ever have.

Having him home this year is the best gift. Last year was a sad, sad Christmas for us. He was deployed to Kyrgyzstan and we were in Oklahoma without him. This year we are in Florida and we are together. I just wish he knew in his heart how important that is to us all. Being a complete family is the best gift of all.

We've had no serious illness this year, we have a home, two vehicles, we are provided for, we have love. These are the things that I wish people would focus on during the holidays. How lucky we are! There are other Military families grieving and suffering right now. People who's lives are torn apart. We are whole. We are together. We are blessed. We truly are.

Blessings for peace and joy in the year to come to everyone! I wish everyone a year of gladness and peace. If only people would realize how truly wonderful it can be to have a smooth life. Some might say uneventful, I say otherwise.

WoW an addiction that may end Jose's life.

I am so sick of WoW. I'm tired of it being a constant battle to get him to the dinner table. I'm just sad now. Sad that I can't hold his attention. Sad that he'd rather be on there ALL the damn time. That instead of living, he is playing.

I know, it could be a lot worse. He could be a drinker, cheater, or have a hobby that takes him outside the house and away. But really, he is away already. I have to repeat myself to be heard. I have to shout at him to pay attention to me or the kids.

I wish WoW would just disappear. I don't help things though, he is getting the expansion in January, I bought it for him as a Christmas present. I might as well get it myself and call it a present, he'd have bought it for himself anyway.

I'm just so over it. Sigh

Oh LORD, I'm Scared. I'm afraid, I'm, I'm, I'm.....going crayzay!

Friday was a half day at school/work. I am now home alone with ALL FOUR monsters, er, crazymakers, er, uh, demons...

Jose will make his daily escape to work at 6:20 am and not return to the pits of hell (aka home) till almost 5. I asked him last night if he could take some leave to "spend time with the family" (aka save me from the insanity of being left alone with these four we spawned). He said he'd see what he could do. I don't hold much hope. I KNOW his plan.

I would LOVE to be on unpaid vacation without the kids. It'd be just like before I started working. Ah, the days. Sadly, they are long gone and I am no longer a lady of leisure.

The plan for the next few weeks is to throw the kids out of the house as often as possible. I am so happy that we are in Florida now, where throwing them out in December is NOT considered abuse or neglect. Tee hee. It is to reach a balmy 79 degrees today. Ahhhhhh.

Now, if certain "friends" would stop persuading me to spend MONEY we'd be just fine. They shall remain nameless. Unless I have to get ugly. Cough, cough, friend in LV, cough, cough.

FREE isn't always free. Dang MM board. :P I love you ladies.

Off to do laundry. Where is that fairy Godmother when you want her???

I've come to some realizations

I don't like to clean, so I rarely do it.

I don't like the sound of my children's high pitched screams, but love the sound of their giggles and belly laughs.

I don't like the fighting that ensues the MINUTE they are together, but the minute I'm ready to punish them, they band together to protect the innocent and guilty.

Maybe I should have had just one, nah.

I dislike this time of year because last night I had to sit through an excrusiating 2.5 hour Band/Chorus Christmas Concert for 6,7,8th graders. The Band director was an embarassment. He has no control over those kids. Seriously, the kids were getting up during the concert to use the restroom. WTH??? This is why Band/Music should be a requirement for ALL children through 8th grade.

I love this time of year because you see more people in generous giving moods. Some of them anyway. I don't get the grumpiness some people have.

I dislike the attitude my 14 year old has most of the time. I LOVE how she is a giving person to others (mostly outside of the family, sigh). We're working on it.

I dislike that I don't get as much time with Jose as I'd like. I love it when we can sneak away and go out for wings and beer, or just out for time together, doing nothing.

I dislike that I got him to try Mocha Frapps and now he MUST have them every time I want one. :P I love that now I don't have to feel guilty when I bring it up about getting one. He brings it up a lot too. LOL

I dislike working because I'd rather be home. I love being at the school, seeing my younger two throughout the day. I love making a difference in some kids lives by helping, by caring, by being there for them.

I hate AF. There is no good side to that. My baby making days are over, AF can take a one way hike.

Geez

I'm truly surprised that people actually read this drivel. LOL.

So, this last month has seen a bit of action. Thanksgiving was kind of low key. Usually we have single Airmen over to the house to celebrate with us. Since we've moved recently, we didn't know any single Airmen that we could invite. Since Jose's squadron is small and mainly civilian, there was nobody that fit that category. It was sad. I guess in a way it was a blessing since I've been sick for going on three weeks. Thank you Elizabeth! :P

This cold I've had is going strong. I swear I have no drive to do anything but lay around and be miserable. E had it for a month, I hear that's about the average for this nasty ass-kicking bug. I'm congested and it doesn't want to come out of my nose. It drains down the back of my throat till I'm gagging. Then since it's so thick, it has to be hacked out along with half my lung.

Oh, and joy of all joys. Since I have given birth four times, my body can no longer hold my bladder and cough deeply. Yay, I've become incontinent. I thought that was something that I'd get to look forward to in my 60's and 70's. Nope, lucky me.

My birthday was Sunday. It was a really, really good day, save the cold of course. >:[ Jose and the kids really went out of their way to make it special. I got to sleep in till 11 (but then again so did Jose and the older kids). I got a Starbucks coffee grinder, a bag of beans (also from Starbucks) some of my favorite yummy lotion, and Zoo Tycoon (all three), my Sister got me a $40 gift card to Bath and Body which is being saved for the after Christmas sale ;). My Mom sent me a ginormous jewelry chest, which is strange, I don't own much jewelry. She is such a HSN addict. Sigh. So, it was a wonderful day. The only blemish was the laundry that needed to be done that day. Sigh.

Don't you ever wish that you could just step out of your life for a day? I mean, I LOVE my kids, my husband (most of the time) but...............having that certain freedom to do as you please and not answer to anyone is sometimes so tempting.

Anyway, I didn't mention that my Dad forgot my birthday. It was kind of strange, I think he's getting old. LOL. I mean, I know he has been forgetting things lately, but this was strange. I didn't say anything to him because he already does so much for us. I finally told him on Tuesday that he forgot. He felt like shit. Which is why I didn't want to tell him but Jose told me that Dad would have felt so much worse had I not told him at all and he finally remembered himself. So now Dad is beating himself up. :(

Christmas is coming and money is more than tight, which sucks. Ah, the joys of Military life. :P We're doing the best we can. Hopefully the little ones won't realize that they have less this year. Once again Dad stepped in to save the day. He sent money for the kids presents. What a great Grandpa.

So, that's about it for now. I've been lazy. Mea culpa.

Ironman

Today was the Ironman competition here in Panama City Beach. I volunteered because it sounded like fun. Little did I know that I'd be getting up at o'crack thirty. :P I was sent an email saying that I would be marking athletes with their numbers and that show time was 4:30. YIKES! Of course it was FREEZING cold. I'm talking 41 degrees when I left the house at 4 am. So, I'm all bundled up. Duh!

I didn't know what to expect because I'd never done anything like this before. I get out there and I'm handed a huge Sharpie and sent on my way. So, my job is to write the athletes number on their biceps, front of thighs, and their age on their back right calf. Oh, and it's still dark, and still way cold. BRR!

I felt kind of bad for the poor athletes, they have little to no body fat and we were making them get half naked to mark them. LOL. I had a great time and I've decided that it wasn't so bad being out there that early because I beat the traffic and was home in time to catch a nap. The best part was telling some good looking men with GREAT bodies to drop their pants. :D

It was so nice because they were so appreciative of the volunteers being there to help out. Jose and Elizabeth were out there later in the bike farm. After the first leg of the race (the swim) the people would come through to get their bikes for the 112 mile ride. Geez!! They had just finished swimming 2.5 miles, then they were riding for 112, and then a full marathon at the end of that. They have some endurance. Whoo.

It was so neat to meet so many different people. People from all over the world were here to compete. Jose and Elizabeth would hand their bikes to the people as they were coming through the bike farm. They've both said they are doing it again next year. It's so exhilarating to do something like this.

Sounds weird but it really made me feel connected to everyone around me out there. I love the rush you get from volunteering!

Now I'm off to the grocery store, snore, what a buzz kill. :P Ah, such is my life. :D

Forgot to add, there were a couple of people that really inspired me. There was a blind man who was in the race with a partner. The blind man swam 2.4 miles, when we left, he was getting on a tandem bike with his race partner. It was truly touching. So many people that are handicapped and able alike, use excuses to live their lives. Here was this man, doing things that most sighted people dare not do. There was also a 72 year old man running his first Iron Man. I swear it was the most amazing sight.

People never fail to amaze me.

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted!

Things have been going really well. If we could get out of our mountain of debt from moving here, we'd be doing great. Jose is settling in to work quite well. He is enjoying a few aspects of it now. Which is always a bonus. Now if I could get him off of WoW, that'd be wonderful.

I am settling in to my job nicely. I get a little ruffled working with some of these kids. It seems like there is no support at home and yet they expect miracles from school. Sigh. There are quite a few kids that I'm growing attached to. They are the ones that you can TELL don't get attention/love/affection at home. They are like stray animals, going to anyone that will look at them. I have to be careful and not become attached to them too much. My Dad keeps telling me that I can't save everyone. I know that it's true but to look at these kids and not feel something is just not me.

The kids are doing great in school. E had a Marching Band competition and they got straight Superiors for the 38th year in a row. Talk about pressure! YIKES. She is excited that concert season is starting. She'll get her french horn now. She wants us to buy one, but for $4000 I can think of other things that come first. Jose told her that we'd buy her one for HS graduation. We'll have to see about that!

The other kids are doing well too. It seems that the bullying has pretty much stopped for Jandro. He said they found new kids to pick on. :( I am saddened that another kid is going through what he went through. But, I'm happy that my kid is no longer their focus. :(

Home is still getting settled. We have boxes that are not unpacked. I'm hoping that we'll get into base housing before long. We'd really like to buy a house, we'll have to see what we can do about that. Unfortunately we are in a lease for a year, the only way out is to get base housing or finish the year. Housing isn't readily available though. I keep crossing my fingers!

Time to play Mama Taxi again. I'm almost looking forward to E being able to drive. ALMOST.

Juanito the artist

Juanito won an award county wide this week. The trophy is a foot and a half tall and reaches his waist. LOL. His face when he was awarded this trophy was amazing. He was called to the ITV room where the daily announcements are broadcast though CCTV into all the classes. Since I work at the school I got to see his face. He was STUNNED and so very happy. I cried. It was truly a gift to be able to see him get the award. He went up against over 1500 kindergarteners and got second place!

I found out about it yesterday and had the hardest time not telling him. After school he walked to me and he was just smiling his face off. It was so great. Looks like we have another artist on our hands.

His drawing was of a train full of animals. I will get a pic loaded up as soon as he brings the art home. I was talking with his teacher and I was saying how proud of him I was. She told me that I had to share him now, that he belonged to her too. She is so sweet. She really adores him.

:) This move is really shaping up to be the best thing that has happened to our family in a LONG time!

I have a JOB!

I was hired as a Para-Professional at the school my younger two kids attend. I'm so happy! I will be on the exact schedule that my kids are on. This is more than I could have ever, EVER hoped for. Finally my education is paying off.

I'm sad that the kids I work with don't have great foundations in education. Their parents don't check their work, give them their meds for ADD and ADHD, or get interested at all. This is so different than the schools my kids have gone to before. We are always in small communities that are Military heavy. Which means there are a lot of volunteers and helpers at the schools. I have found out that it isn't that way in the "real" world. Sigh.

I get to see my younger two kids every day in the halls. It is a fantastic feeling to be able to know that I'll always be there for the kids, just a few seconds away.

I'm getting into a routine at school. I have a space of my own. The kids come to me for their lessons. I'm meeting new people. None that I'd really consider to be friend material. Maybe that's just because I'm still new and considered an outsider. Hopefully that will get better.

I can't wait till I get my first check!! Whoo hoo. It will be so nice not to worry about money every second of every day. Maybe I'll start sleeping better! lol

Jandro, the bullies, and a broken nose

Sigh. I hate to even type this out. My loving, wonderful, caring son is being bullied on the bus and at school. He has to run to classes because he can't walk peacefully down the halls. This makes me so angry. His grades are slipping, his girlfriend dumped him (because he got into a fight defending himself) and his nose was broken.

On Friday he had his nose reset because the break was bad. Well then he swells up like a goodyear balloon. I rush him to the ER and find out that it's an allergic reaction. First ER said it was a reaction to the meds, either the antibiotic or the pain med. We get him home after four hours and two shots (one epi one bendryl for the boy who is petrified of needles). Well it takes the swelling down for a few hours. At 1 am Jose checks on him and he is majorly swollen again. Jose takes him to a different ER and four hours and 2 shots and an iv later, they say that his reaction is to the tape or splint that held his nose.

Next morning he is swollen up AGAIN, not as bad, but still not great. So, I finally get a lightbulb moment and decide that everything the tape touched (his glasses DUH MAMA) and all of his bedding get washed. He is still on benedryl every four hours but the swelling is way down and the redness is almost gone.

My poor son. I swear I lost 5 years of life with this kid. Mama bear wants to come out and rip those kids apart. He says it's getting better because the other kids have found another kid to bully. In a way that makes me REALLY sad, another part of me is glad that my kid isn't the focus any more.

I'm just so saddened that those kids feel the need to bully at all. I'm saddened by the fact that any child in this day and age is bullied. Why are there parents out there that just don't care what their kids do? The parents of the one that caused Jandro's broken nose were supposed to meet up with us for a conference at the school, they never showed. They were supposed to call and talk with us, they never did. :( Just plain sad.

Gotta get serious

Ok, since Jose has gotten home, I've gained back all the weight I lost when he was deployed. Sigh. It's time for me to get back on the ball and lose this damn weight. I am so sick of the ups and downs of fatness. Bleh. I'm sick of myself.

Time for me to get serious again. I've started doing Pilates again but I got sick last week and slacked off that. I figure if I post it on here, I'll be reminded to stay on top of it.

Jose took the kids to the beach on Saturday afternoon. I was sick so he went with the younger 3. Wiz stayed home because she had a ton of homework to catch up on. Her band went to a game that was over an hour away. The IB program is a lot more work than she's used to. She'll get the hang of it soon. She does like to complain. :(

Jandro is doing good. He seems to be taking the advanced classes pretty well. He isn't into doing hard work though. I refuse to be a parent that forces him to excell. I had too much of that crap growing up.

Alyssia seems to be enjoying 2nd grade a lot more than first. Just goes to show what a great teacher will do.

Nito is starting to READ. It was so amazing. He is really proud of himself. He came home and read to every member of the family.

I applied for a job. I'm hoping to be called tomorrow. I've applied for a Para position at the smaller two's school. Cross those fingers for me!

Finally settling down, a bit

Well, things have settled down a bit. Our trip to Cali was nice. It could have come at a better time, but it is what it is.

We got home and started unpacking boxes. Took a few days to find the dang telephones. Sigh. The packers did a crap job of packing it all up. I hate that we are in a place in our lives where we are trying to buy nice (or nicer than we used to buy) and people that move us treat it like dog crap. Our brand new bedroom set has scratches all over it. Our cedar chest that my Dad bought us is scratched and chipped. I found garage items in with my clothes. It was just not nice.

At least we haven't had any real breaks yet. We do have stuff missing, but that is to be expected. Stuff is always stolen. Gotta love Military contractors. Ex-criminals are the ones moving and packing our stuff.

The kids are settling in nicely. The schools are good. E's is REALLY awesome. She is doing some amazing stuff in Marching band. We are so proud of her.

Jandro is really taking a shine to PE. Now that his feet are in good shape and it doesn't hurt to walk/run, he is really doing well. He is such a good, kindhearted young man. :D

Alyssia is doing SO much better now that she has a teacher that gives a crap. She is excelling. I love, LOVE that there isn't a fight each morning to go to school. The dread she felt each day last year is GONE.

Juanito is loving Kinder, his teacher is as old as the hills, but she loves him so much. She tells me what a sweet little boy he is. Aww!! My wittle man! He is coming home with some raging attitude some days though. I think he is tired. :P

Jose is settling down into his job nicely. I think he likes it. He likes that it's different than anything he has done before.

I'm feebly attempting to find a job. I'd love to stay home but it is so much more expensive here. I feel like I have to contribute some monetarily.

I really miss my Dad and my best friend Sally. Things just aren't the same. Which is good in a way. We were ready for a change. I just wish that Dad and Sally could have moved with us. :D

Finally got a minute to update!!

Wow, it's been an experience!

We got to Florida a three days, staying two nights on the road. It wasn't that bad of a trip at all. We actually had a great trip, it's so different to enjoy a trip and not rush to get somewhere. The kids were great. I think it had a lot to do with the new van's dvd player. LOL. We had a portable one in the Envoy, but it is so much nicer in the van. I do miss the Envoy though. Hard to look cool in a minivan. Sigh.

We are loving the area. We got the kids enrolled in school and until we get into our rental house I have to drive the kids and pick them up. It's hard getting used to the school hours here. They all start at different times. E starts high school at 7:30, gets on her bus at 6:15 am (YEOWCH). I take the youngest two, they start at 7:50 am, then drive A who starts at 8:30. Then I have to pick the little two up at 1:50, drive to get E who gets out at 2:30, then A is out at 3. I'm a taxi.

I haven't gotten into school yet, I'm waiting till next semester, it really would have been too difficult to enroll myself right now too. We'll get settled, then I'll go back. Hopefully to State.

We took the kids to Bonita Bay, a bay that is right on the base here. It was amazing, while we were there we saw TWO DOLPHINS. The kids had been finding hermit crabs, crabs, snails, etc and I look up and there are two dolphins. It was so amazing I almost cried. The kids were so excited. What a welcome to Florida!

Last weekend we went to Mexico Beach, a little south of the base and went to the ocean. The kids loved it, except for the burning water in their eyes. :P The beach is beautiful. White sand, clean beaches, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. We are going back this weekend. I'm going to buy some boogie boards for the kids.

Jose is enjoying his new job. It's so much different that what he usually does that he has a lot to learn. Working with all civillians is much different too. He is liking the newness though. After being somewhere for 5 years, any change is hard to adjust to. He is such a creature of habit. LOL. He doesn't like the traffic. ((Roll eyes))

We all love it here though. I just can't wait till we are connected to the internet again.

I have to talk about E's school program though, we are so excited. It is called the International Bachlorriate program. She is a freshman and it is sort of a school within a school. There are only 100 other freshmen in her program. When she completes this program she'll get a free ride room and board to college. And, she could study anywhere in the world. I'm so proud of her!

A is also in a gifted program now. In Oklahoma they said his grades weren't good enough for gifted classes, but he was bored and didn't care. Here they looked at his test scores and immediately placed him in the gifted program.

The younger two are also enjoying their classes. Kinder is amazing here. The second grade teacher for A is great, so much better than what she had last year in OK. She is blooming with this teacher. They are all making friends and seem to be adjusting well. I'm so very proud of them all!

I'm having a hard time, I really miss my Dad. I loved having him so close by. A two hour trip and we were there. I guess part of the issue is him having such a hard time adjusting to us being gone. I talk to him every day on the phone. Hopefully it will get easier. He is and always has been my biggest parental support.

Time to go. I'll try and update more later. :)