One more thing before I go...

I'm up late packing and I just have to share my love for the movie Mystic Pizza. It's on right now and I am not able to focus on my packing at all. Even though I have seen this movie a million times it hooks me each time I watch it. It's Julia Roberts pre Steel Magnolias and the best character in it is Kat played by Annabeth Gish. I soooooo wanted to be Annabeth Gish in this movie and even had my hair just like her for like a million years. Oooo, I kinda still do. I love everything about this movie. If you haven't seen it, you can get it for free this month if you have Comcast On Demand. It is the BEST.

Goodbye My Lovely Lovely Readers. I mean reader. I mean...bye Mom!

We are off. For 6 fun filled days on the open road headed to Utah. Yeah, I said Utah. So what? So we are going to be cruising through towns like Winnemucca and Tulole...what of it? You can still have a fun family vacation at destinations other than Hawaii and Disneyland. Can't you? CAN'T YOU? Hello? Is this thing on? Tap tap.

Well, we are going to Utah regardless. And it should be fun. We are renting a large cabin that will sleep 20 Meekers for the next week for Mike's family reunion. This is our first official family reunion with all of Mike's siblings and parents. I can't remember the last time we were all together. I think it was for Steve's mission farewell and my girls' blessing weekend. That was 3 years ago this month. So it's been awhile. There are some true characters coming to this shin dig in the mountains. Two parents, six brothers, 4 sister in laws, two nephews and 6 nieces. When I joined familia de Meeker, girls were scarce. Like as in my mother in law and me. It was a world where boys ruled and guns, ammo, slap stick boy movies, regular soda and board games abounded. It will be interesting to observe the new FEMALE populated family dynamic. There are officially more girls than boys now that we have started having kids. I don't know if the boys will ever catch up again! So in a former world of beige - it will be funny to see how the injection of hot pink goes over. I am ready. I've been waiting for some chicks to come along. I have my Pinkalicious and Purplelicious books ready. My princess crown is packed and I'm ready to lead story time and to make up skits with my nieces Nora and Sariah, my nephew Cayden and my chicks. The others are too young to participate in my torture (I mean, play) sessions. I plan on dressing them up, playing lots of games involving princesses and make up and doing our toe nails and just whooping it up girl style. And the boys will just have to tolerate the stench of the perfume, nail polish, hair spray and potpourri. I'm probably overdoing the female influence given that 6 of them are 3 years old and under but still, there is hope for the future!!!

Anyhoo, that's where I will be until next Sunday. Then, we'll be moving. So look for sporadic but hopefully funny posts about stories from the reunion and pictures from our family vacation across the desert. YAY. Really, it will be fun. The 4 of us rock it when we are all together.

If you are really needing to hear from me, just sing the song the girls taught me today.

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting can be fun.
Patience. Patience. Patience everyone.

My Own Version of An American Tail

Mike has been making me cry every night for like a week. He's leaving for the desert soon for over 4 months. He's handling this pretty well emotionally speaking. He doesn't curl into a fetal position and suck his thumb nearly as often as I do when I think of 4 months of separation which translates for me to 4 months of single parenthood. Mike has been pretty great...always pointing out the positives, getting himself a brand new laptop with built in camera phone so we can teleconference, reading all of his deployment stuff, learning the rules, making plans, taking names. But I'm starting to think maybe somewhere deep down in his marshmallow heart that he might not be doing as great as I thought. See, he's been teaching the girls the words to the song "Somewhere Out There" for the past week. He always gets choked up when he is teaching it to them as soon as he gets to the part about wishing on the same bright star. He told me (amidst tears and choking up) that he wanted the girls to learn this song so when he's gone, they'll be able to go outside and see the North star and know he's seeing the same sky and that at night they'll be able to say the same prayers that he will be saying that we'll all be back together again. So each night, when we go through the next verse of the song, I can barely keep it together. But the girls LOVE learning the song so we continue even though he and I are emotional wrecks each night.

A few nights ago, we tried to explain to the girls what the song was about. We used Jessica's stuffed Zebra "Annie" and Katie's stuffed elephant "Harry" to demonstrate. Mike sang the first verse on one side of the bedroom while he held Annie. I sat on the other side of the bedroom holding Harry and looking out the window. Then it was my turn to sing and Annie looked away while Harry sang. When we wished on the star we pointed to their overhead light in their room as the star. Then as the song crescendos...the zebra and elephant slowly get closer and closer until the climatic last verse where they sing triumphantly side by side while they hug each other with their necks. TA DAAAA! We looked at Jessica and Katie after our performance and they just giggled and we had no idea if they got the gist or not.

So tonight, we are teaching the third verse to the song to the girls. Jessica sings the song in the cutest voice I have ever heard. So she asks us to get the zebra and elephant and do it the special way. So we grab Annie and Harry and begin to do our big Broadway number. As we are getting to the last verse where the zebra and elephant reunite in joy, Jessica starts bawling. Not like whining crying...like full blown tears, sobs, frown and serious crying. We stop singing and hug her and tell her everything is okay and ask her why she's crying. She is trying to get out the reason but it just sounds like "I Love Lucy" when she tries to explain stuff to Ricky while crying. It's just a big blah of "waaaa waaa waaaa cuz waaaa". Finally, she catches her breath and says in a super dooper sad voice "I'm sad because they apart"!!!! Then, she begins to wail again. So to clarify, we said "are you sad because Annie and Harry can't find each other?" And she immediately says "yaaaaaaa. waaaaaa. yes, daddy...they apart!!!" And we said ..."but Jessica, they are so happy they find each other in the end and then they hug and they are so happy." And she said "but we going to be apart and it will take a long time til we not and I AM SAD!"

So guess what you guys? Our kids pick up way more than we think. We haven't told the girls Mike is leaving or that our family is going to separated or anything. But somehow, Jessica figured this out all on her own and found her little way to let us know it was bothering her. Needless to say, Mike and I felt like crap. We grabbed the girls in the biggest group hug and four corner kiss we have ever had and we told Jessica that our family will be together forever. And even though we might be apart for a little while we will always be a family and will always be loving each other no matter where we are at. And we told her how awesome she is and what a great heart she has and then we said prayers and kissed goodnight and came out in the family room and cried our eyes out.

I really can't believe how much a three year old can teach me each day. We'll be more careful about what we say in front of them and we'll be doing a lot more listening to them. I really need to stop what I'm doing and listen to my kids more. There is so much going on in their little minds and hearts. I just love that little chick.

CLARIFICATION OF LAST POST

Mike was very confused why there were pictures of our new furniture on my blog. He thought it seemed conceited and braggy and in bad taste. I told him to shut up and go away but then started thinking about whether he was right or not. So in case you were wondering if I was plastering my new stuff on the blog to make it seem like I'm so lucky and cool - I am so sorry. First, I am lucky and I am cool but that's not why I put the pix up there. My sister in law Amber and Heather wanted to know what the stuff looked like and I wanted advice about my coffee table so I stuck the pix up there. I mean, if you guys bought a new car/house/furniture etc. I would want to see it and I would not think you were being braggy. I think Mike is just so anti social that he doesn't get the joy it would bring me if somebody could give suggestions as to how it could all go together better or if someone warned me that my taste was horrible so I could reverse the damage. Also, we've not had nightstands or an actual headboard/footboard for the entire 16 years we've been married and have never had formal living room furniture so we really did need this stuff. Okay, I'm real right? I'm not pretentious am I? I would DIE if you guys thought I was uppity. I'm a disorganized, messy, lazy mess but I still think my furniture that I picked out is cute.

My new stuff...

Here are pictures of the stuff I bought yesterday. Please weigh in and tell me if you think my formal living room coffee table goes or not. The metal inlay piece in the middle has the same etching pattern as the throw pillows on the love seats.

Picture 1 is the love seats for the formal living room. I got 2 of them and they'll go across from each other.

Picture 2 is the round coffee table that will go in front of the loveseats to create a conversation area. The art of the wall is iron and old world style paintings with carved metal frames.

Picture 3 is of the end tables for the family room. The familyroom/kitchen/dining room is all taupe, black, white and poppy red.

Picture 4 is of our bed. The leather on the head and foot board is chocolate brown and the bed sort of curves into a slight sleigh shape. The legs of the bed are capped in brushed stainless.

Picture 5 is of the nightstand/chest on Mike's side of the bed. The leather straps are the same chocolate brown leather as in the bed.

Picture 6 is of the nightstand/chest on my side of the bed. I did a feminine/masculine night stand thing that is in style right now. The only question I have is do I do the same bedside lamps or do I do different lamps? I think the same lamps would tie in the tables together. They are the same height.

A lot of decisions made in the blink of an eye

Some people search for months and months for the perfect bed. They do research, study design magazines, watch endless hours of HGTV. So imagine my stress level when I realized I needed the following for our new house: new end tables for the family room, formal living room furniture (I have none), a new bed (I just upgraded to an Eastern King Select Comfort mattress/box spring) and nightstands.

When you have twins that are 3 - you have to make decisions quickly. Like...oh,no there goes the plate of macaroni and cheese. Do you try and catch it or let it fall and pick it up later? Or, quick...a three year old in barreling toward you with a chocolate chip cookie in one hand and a booger on a finger of the other hand. Which hand do keep from touching you? See, it's harder than you think.

So today, I marched myself into a local furniture store that I felt had cute stuff at semi reasonable prices and bought EVERYTHING on my list in a matter of an hour. And I just went online to view all of my purchases and the only buyers remorse I am having is about the coffee table in the formal living room. I'm not sure I should not have gotten something with wood, metal and glass instead of just metal and wood. But for that much furniture to only be unsure of one choice, that's pretty good right?

That level and amount of shopping should be a lot more fun. It was okay, but made me break out in a sweat a little bit. It was way too many decisions in that short of time. But it is impossible to furniture shop with 2 three year olds. My mom and dad came along and kept them occupied in the kids furniture section and in their stroller. Thank goodness for that! There's no way I could have done all that decision making and took care of them too.

I'll post some pix of what I picked out so you guys can see.

Tagged

Thanks Amber for tagging me. I feel so loved and included. XOXO


Joys
1. Mike, Katie & Jessica (and my mom & dad)
2. Christ.
3. Really Great Restaurants.
Fears
1. Being at the hands of a serial killer.
2. My kids being kidnapped.
3. People feeling pity for me.

Goals
1. Get strong and healthy.
2. Raise decent human beings.
3. Travel the world.

Current Collections/Obsessions
1. Blog stalking.
2. Top Chef
3. Diet Coke

Random Facts About Me
1. I hate grocery shopping.
2. I am very loud.
3. I am currently shopping for furniture for our new house and it makes me so happy.

Bossy & The Geek - Chapter 4

I just posted Chapter 4 - Red Dress Realizations on my other blog: http://www.bossyandthegeek.blogspot.com/

Hope you guys have fun reliving my Senior Ball with me!

Seeking Car Seat Cover Replacements

Help. If you know where to buy Eddie Bauer car seat cover replacements please let me know. I'm trying not to buy new car seats but the padding in mine has lost all it's pad and the girls are really uncomfortable and we are getting ready to take a big road trip. Anyone with any ideas please post a comment. Even if I don't know you. Who cares! I probably stalk your blog on a regular basis. Please just help a girl out.

I finally figured out why I am a big fat loser.

Hello my lovelies... I have had an epitaph. (Name that movie) I mean an epiphany. Light has struck my brain. (Name that movie) Seriously, I have had the motha of A-HA moments! Since spring has sprung and summer is upon us I have been extra unproductive. I mean, normally I am not the embodiment of productivity. I barely get dinner fixed on a regular basis, I play with my kids, make some chicken noodle soup, put them down for a nap and poof the clock turns to 7:30 p.m. without me taking a breath. I don't know how it happens. But lately, I have been EXTRA unproductive. (Insert the word lazy for unproductive. You know you wanna, so just do it already!) For a perfect example, my daughter just brought me two empty sippie cups saying "We want more apple juice. We WANT MORE APPLE JUICE!" and I'm not even considering taking my computer off my lap to go get it. Why? Cuz I don't WANT TO, gad dum it. I'm just not in the mood ya know?

So I've been contemplating why this could all be happening. I think it could be from a major iron deficiency in my blood bringing back a recurring (actual - not in my head) case of anemia. This COULD be the reason. Really it could. I've been feeling sluggish, extra sleepy and like I'm in slow motion all the time. But it's probably not anemia. And I wouldn't wish it to be so.

Then, I thought maybe I have some other serious illness that I am currently not aware of. Having a doctor for a husband causes a spouse to envision all sorts of ailments given very limited symptoms. Sore throat? Could be rheumatic fever. A runny nose? Possibly some sort of brain hemorrhage. Back pain? Kidney stones for sure! You get the drift. But these things are real diseases and people get seriously sick all the time. I can't afford the kharma of being a hypochondriac. I mean, if I'm always thinking the worst, eventually... you get shot in the butt with a kharma brain blip. So I feel it is respectful to others to keep my neurosis to a bare minimum. Or just keep them private and bug Mike with them late in the night when I can't sleep because I'm sure I have a rare tropical disease and he's trying to sleep.

In ANY CASE... I finally figured it all out today - why I'm just being super lazy. It's my first summer off work in like... my whole life since being a kid. I went to work for Pizza Barn at the Elk Grove Softball Complex snackbar the summer of 86. I even had to apply to social security early to get a permit to work before I was 16. I worked like a DOG that summer. Schlepping chili dogs, nachos and icees. Oh, the ICEE machine. One side cherry, one side cola. It was a chubby girl's downfall for sure! After that summer I decided food service would not be my thing. I ate way too many chili nachos and 1/2 & 1/2 ICEEs than any human should EVER consume. From there, I worked a steady summer job EVERY YEAR since. My mom would start bugging me in like April. "Amy, summer's coming up. All the good jobs are going to be taken. You better get out there and get something lined up." And then, if I didn't have a job by the time school got out, the next Monday, I had to get up, get dressed with mom and dad, and was put out of the house and I could come back in either once I had a job or at the same time they got home from work that night. They told me I would have to spend 8 hours "pounding the pavement" to find a job if I didn't already have one before the end of school. So I ALWAYS had one. I would get my resume' updated (yes, I had a resume' at age 16) and I would always have a job ready to start as soon as school let out. I did lots of stuff, from the aforementioned snack bar, to being a Youth Aide to Gray Davis' (our former governor's) Press Secretary. I worked at a sporting goods store, a photography studio, on my college campus and then my trusty summer jobs just became work and there was no "summer" anymore. So, for 22 years, I have not been off for the summer. 22 years people. No summer break. No summer vacation. No lazy days of summer.

So dang it, I'm taking back the lazy . I have three days left until the official start of summer and you know what? I'm going to be LAZY this summer. Yep, I'm going to go swim in my parents pool, and lay out, and read books, and watch cartoons in the morning and eat Frosted Mini Wheats. I'm going to get a tan for crying out loud. Take that, skin cancer!!! Now, mind you, I still have two 3 year olds to feed, entertain, play with and apparently fetch endless supplies of apple juice for, but still, I'm taking my summer BACK. I might just even walk down to the am/pm and get myself a freakin' ICEE.

Hooray for me.

Snow White Song

Katie asked for the Snow White song tonight at bedtime. I figured my best bet was Hi-Ho. Nope she said. So then I did a very high pitched worbly soprano version of Someday My Prince Will Come...wrong again. So I asked her what was the Snow White song and how did it go?

Apparently the song goes like this:

"Snow White, you are going to take a bite of that apple and you shoud nooooottttt. You will fall asleeeeeeeepp and your friends will have to waaaaaaake you uuuuup and then give you huuuuuugs and kisssseeees. Don't bite the apple Snow Whiiiiiiite!"

That Walt Disney was a cracker jack song writer man. Classic.

Dads

The influence of a Dad is the hugest thing in a girl's life I think. A mom is hugely important too, don't get me wrong. But for a little girl, a Dad that she can look up to and trust determines a lot about how she will turn out as an adult.


This is my Dad.



I grew up knowing I could always count on my Dad. He participated in every part of my childhood from taking me to school, coaching my softball and other sports teams, taking me shopping for my Homecoming dress, grilling both boys who I was dating and burgers for slumber parties. He taught me to cook, to write, to public speak, to be ethical in work and life. My Dad never takes short cuts because they are easy. He's always honest and does the right thing. He is bad at Math like me and both of us are horrible at managing money. We like to spend it just not keep track of it. My sense of humor, my need to tease other people and laugh at people's physical and emotional pain (not tragic stuff - just hammer to the thumb and when people freak out cuz of stress) comes directly from my Dad. We always did fun stuff together as a family and we are all still really good friends. Even though my Dad is a GREAT Dad, he's an even better Papa to Katie and Jessica. He's their favorite person on the planet earth. They love to ride in his big truck named "Rocket". They love to play with Papa, take a nap with him and play in his garage that is called Papa's play room. They love to share snacks with him at the kitchen table like Apples with Grey Salt or Peanut Butter. Papa (and Grammie too) live in Jessica and Katie's favorite house. They tell us all the time that they want to live at Papa and Grammie's house and not at our small house that is too small for us. They beg to go to Papa and Grammie's everyday. We're pretty lucky in the Dad/Papa department.





This is my daughters' Dad.




He became a Dad in 2005 but it seems to me that he was put on this planet for the single purpose of being a father to Katie and Jessica. From the moment they were born, he handled fatherhood like I imagine Brett Favre handled Pop Warner football. It's like just natural for him. He does EVERYTHING that I do for the girls. There's no "I'm a guy and that's a mothers job" for him. (except for buying them clothes, shoes and clipping their fingernails) He is their favorite playmate and they ask fifty times a day when will he be home. They look for him every morning and are always sad on Mondays when he has to go back to work. The look to him for fun, comfort, security, leadership, discipline, right and wrong, yummy snacks and kisses and hugs. Every week Mike will stop at a drive thru on the way home and bring home one chocolate milkshake and 3 straws for the three of them to share after dinner. Their favorite thing to do with their dad is play WonderPets. They could play WonderPets ALL day long saving everything from Dolphins, to teddy bears to Chick Fil-A moo cows with their dad. The girls LOVE Mike. Like a lot. A lot A lot.

Cherishing Each Day

It seems as though I have been notified in the past few days that friends of friends or relatives of friends have passed away tragically and suddenly. There's been like 4 people in the past 2 days that I have found out have lost someone close to them. Earlier this week, I was really mad at Mike. I was more hormonal than is even normal for that time of the month and instead of my usual weepy, crying sort of emotions I was feeling this overwhelming rage toward Mike. I think all of the fear and insecurity I have been feeling about him leaving for Afghanistan came bubbling to the surface and I honestly felt an anger that I have never felt before in my life. It was like I could have killed him. And all he did was turn on his computer to play a video game after we went on a date to the movies. I didn't think our date should be over so I flipped out. Like as in flip. I think I said something like "oh, and everyone is SO worried about you cuz you are leaving and I just get to stay here and do all the work. And if you die over there, you'll be this war hero and everyone will say how great you are and I'll still be here doing all the work!" (dramatic exit, door slams, end of scene)

My friend Kori lost her brother in law in a motorcycle accident yesterday. She wrote an amazingly funny and heart wrenching tribute to him on her blog. It really made me think about my own life and how little I am cherishing the moments I have with my family. I enjoy my kids, my parents, my grandmothers etc. But just yesterday I was telling my mom how hard it was to take Grandma Bea to Costco with the girls also by myself. I should be jumping up and down that she's still around to take to Costco with my girls. That I have the chance to build more memories with her. That my girls have the chance to know her. And the same goes for my immediate family. We just never know when in a flash it could all be over and as for me, I would be left standing with a big bag of should of -could of - would of's. I'm going to try and do better and appreciate those I have around me while I have them.

Friday Confessions

• My kids were so loud at lunch yesterday at Mimi's. I was with my Grandma Bea who can't hear. I just wanted to eat. So I let them be loud because Grams couldn't hear them anyway. Much to the other diners annoyance. Sorry Mimi's customers on Arden Way yesterday. I just wanted to enjoy my Small Bite Summer Special of grilled shrimp and asparagus with pesto aioli. I didn't have it in me to tell my kids to shut it.
• I fed my kids Bing cherries, strawberries and pistachios for breakfast today. I told them we were pretending we were camping and living off the land. Where on earth is a camp site near cherry and pistachio trees with a strawberry patch nearby? I just didn't want to make breakfast. But aren't nuts and berries good for you?
• A lot of times I don't understand what Jessica says. But I nod my head and tell her good job anyway. This could be good or could be bad. We'll just have to see.
• I taddled on the big kids at the bouncy place the other day. They were being rough and not taking turns on the bouncy slide and going down head first and I was afraid my kids would get run over. yeah, I was that mom. The one who goes and tells the manager that the kids aren't being careful. I couldn't even talk to myself after.
• The kids tore up their room and took down all the cute princess appliques I had stuck on their wall above their crib. (they aren't white trashy they were cute) Normally, I would have busted them for doing this but I figure it's one less thing I have to do before I move. I'm so inconsistent and lame.

Summer Fun

When you are 3, there are several things on your mind. Apparently, you think about swimming a lot because my kids are always making swimming pools with blankets, plastic bins, bowls etc. And being that we are not that far out of potty training, poo poo and pee pee are still a big occupant of our thoughts. So today, as Jessica called me in to wipe her bottom she said with great affection and gush...

"Look mama. Our pee pee is like a special yellow swimming pool for our poo poo. Our poo poo is SO SO lucky!"

Yes, Jessica. Our poo poo is indeed lucky. Lucky, lucky poo poo.

yuck.

Miscellaneous Ramblings...

I just wanted to post a few things the kids have said and done over the past few days that I want to share and remember...
We bought Katie and Jessica a gigantic zebra and elephant at Marine World and ever since they've been waking up at the crack of dawn because it's their job to "feed the animals". I bought peanuts (honey roasted) for Katie to feed her elephant and she happily reports that Harry is the elephant is a very good sharer.

• Jessica and Katie have learned all the words to the song "I went to the animal fair" and they are so proud of themselves.
• Jessica took her nap in my bed yesterday because she and Katie had to be separated due to all the giggling. I laid down with her and fell asleep and she woke up and snuggled into me and we took turns telling stories and jokes and laughing. Every time I told her she was funny she said "YES, I AM!" and would giggle uncontrollably. Her number one goal in life is to be funny.
• Today, when we were taking Luz to the train after she cleaned for us, Jessica was scolding Katie in the car because Katie was talking in English and she told Katie to only talk Spanish to "our little Luz". Every time Luz leaves Jessica says "I'm sure gonna miss that little Luz". I think on some level she knows we rely on Luz for our survival.
• I told the girls today that we were going to go shopping for Daddy's Fathers Day present today and they unanimously wanted to get their dad a super hero WonderPets cape so they can go around saving animals in trouble as the wonderpets. And this meant Jessica needed her own cape and so would Katie. So the 3 of us took off for the fabric store and they picked out all the materials and the stuff we need. This is what Mike will be getting this year for Father's Day. I don't think there has ever been a present that I'm more excited to give him.
• Jessica and Katie were laughing in the back seat and all of a sudden Katie stopped and said "Jessica Rose, why are you laughing" and in her 3 year old wisdom she replies "Well Katie, sometimes you just gotta laugh" and the two broke into hysterics once again. I'm so glad they are good friends.
• Katie had a first at the play pard this morning. This girls was being mean to Jessica and Katie jumped in, got on her tippie tows and gave her a piece of her 3 year old mind. She exploded at the girl with "NO, you not say that BAD WORD to my sister. You said a BAD WORD! And that's NOT NICE!!!" It didn't matter that the girl towered over her and Katie could have gotten her butt kicked in 2 seconds flat...it was good she stuck up for her sister. I publicly had to mediate the situation but inside I was cheering for her.

Legacy

These 3 women are sisters. Going left to right is my maternal Grandmother Isabel (Bea), her baby sister Sue (Susie) and her other sister Lola (Elly). Missing are their eldest sister Jean who passed away in 1981 from Breast Cancer and their brother Henry who passed away in 2001.

These sisters have lived long good lives. My own Grandma is the oldest living sibling at 88. They have embodied dedication to their family, raising 10 kids among them. They grew up in the small town of Waipahu, Hawaii where their father worked for the Oahu Sugar company. Their parents immigrated to Hawaii from Cadiz, Spain in 1912. They lived through the attack on Pearl Harbor. My Grandma Bea was living on Hickam Air Field across the street from her sister Elly on the morning of the attack. Hickam was adjacent to Pearl Harbor and she could see the Japanese planes flying low to the ground overhead and could hear the bullets and see the explosions. She ran over to Elly's during the attack and they got under the table. They saw the burning ships and all the sailors in the water in their underwear because it was Sunday morning and most had been asleep prior to the attack. After the war, there were no jobs working for the federal government because all the soldiers came home. So to stay employed my Grandmother and Grandfather, John, left their family and the small island which was all they knew and came to California. My Papa John had to come early so my Grandma had to make the trip with Elly and her husband Joe with 4 small little girls. My Auntie Sue lost her first husband when she was pregnant with her son. She later remarried and had two more children but I've been told she was in formal mourning for 5 years and did not remarry for 8 years. These women have survived being poor, immigrating to a new country (Hawaii wasn't a state back then), raising children, deaths of parents, siblings, spouses and countless friends and family members. They worked when they had to in order to make ends meet. They have kept spotless houses and when I say spotless - I mean it. You could eat off their garage floors with no plate and be just fine. They are generous, kind, thoughtful and funny. They love visiting and laughing with their cousins and family. I am so thankful for the love of family they instilled in me. Who grows up knowing their 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th cousins? And seeing them regularly? It's because of them that I grew up with a noisy, loud, laughing, colorful extended family made up of all types of people from all different backgrounds and nationalities. They taught me that women are the heart of a family and if you want your family to be close, you better work at it, cook really well, make parties and call everyone together once in awhile.

Thanks ladies. You are a huge part of who I am and I owe you more than you will ever know. God Bless.

Fun At Marine World Africa USA

Technically, this park is now called 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom but for us, it will always be Marine World Africa USA. Imagine a park themed around Sea life AND Jungle life with real animals, shows AND tons of rides & roller coasters with a little water park and petting zoo thrown in. The girls LOVE this park because it embodies all the things they love the most...animals, water, rides, play parks, treats, running free, sunshine and time with their daddy. We went for a fun day on Friday and took Papa with us. Unfortunately Papa was the official photographer and we don't have a single picture of him. Sorry Papa, but we're glad you came with us. Here are probably way too many pix of us at the park.


Jessica doing some window shopping. We ended coming home with this new Annie the Zebra and a matching Harry the Elephant for Katie. They are gigantic and the girls have been doing nothing but playing safari, feeding Harry peanuts (honey roasted) and having Baby Annie ride Big Annie's back.

Mike on Harold the Helicopter ride with Katie (waving) and Jessica


At the Shooka The Killer Whale show, the trainers have the whale demonstrate different whale calls over the microphone. Well, Katie decided she could do a whale voice and was convinced if she did her whale voice loud enough that Shooka could hear her. She really thought she was talking to Shooka. I swear, it was like she was 13 at a Hannah Montana concert. She freaked out! (in a good way)

Here is Shooka diving (I'm sure because Katie commanded him to in her whale voice)

Jessica has a moment of pure joy at the Dolphin show. When the dolphins would spin around in the air she would scream and kick the lady in front of us and squeel with delight. The lady probably didn't appreciate it but we sure thought it was funny!

Coming down the big slide together!

Jessica on the merry-go-round riding her favorite animal, a Zebra. We had to go on this twice in a row.

Katie on the merry-go-round riding her favorite animal, an elephant. They couldn't believe that they were riding a carousel that had a zebra and elephant right next to each other. The entire time they were doing zebra and elephant sounds and saying YEE HAW at the top of their lungs.

Happy Birthday to my Homefry Chuck

Mike's little brother Chuck really should be my little brother by blood. He's more like me cuz he's fun, and charming and cute and everybody likes him. Ha ha. My first memory of chuck is June 1989. He just turned 10 I guess (right?) Mike had just gone off to the Air Force Academy and had gotten a Top Gun style flat top before leaving. I saw this blur of blond and orange doing cartwheels across the front lawn. When it stopped - it was a little version of Mike in orange swim trunks and a blondish flat top. He ran up to me and said (very loudly) "Hi, I'm Chucky. Who are you?" and thus began my big sister type love affair with Chucky. I could not love my own flesh and blood more than I love Chuck. He is my friend, annoyance, cheerleader, advice seeker and giver, brother to Mike & me, uncle to my kids, father of my nephew and niece and husband to another one of my best friends. Chuck is one of my favorite people in the world to be around. I don't have to hope he has a great day because Amber will make sure he feels very special and do lots of fun stuff for him.

Chuck, I just licked my thumb made and fist and am moving my thumb up and down. That's what I think of when I think of you. I love you so much and wouldn't be me if you weren't part of my life. I wouldn't even know the words to that one Nelly song Ey-Ah or whatever it's called and that one with the Mercedes and the joint. Man you have enriched my life. Rock on dude.

To Uphold the Constitution of The United States against all enemies foreign and domestic...

Even though I like to think that Mike is a doctor, who works in between his office and exam room, has a swivel cushy chair, makes me cook stuff for office potlucks, starts work at 7:30 and is supposed to end at 4:30...it's just not reality. Today, I got a swift kick in the butt reminder. As I sat watching Mike raise his right arm and swear to protect our country, defend our Constitution without mental reservation or purpose of evasion, I realized that my fantasy of Leave It To Beaver, Family Ties, Cosby Show has never been and will never be real. When you are in the military you just aren't ever gonna be a Courier & Ives painting. You might get some Brady Bunch moments but if you are married to Mike, you can count on having MASH worm it's way in there every once in awhile. I found myself being more proud than ever today. Not of Mike though. But of the countless people who didn't get Med School and college paid for, and who make pennies doing important jobs and who continue to volunteer again and again to protect my freedom and keep my kids safe. I'm proud of Mike, don't get me wrong. I've never met a more patriotic and happy to serve fella. But there are many out there just like him. Some of them are at Basic Training right now, being called a maggot and told they are nothing so they can be rebuilt faster, stronger, better. When Mike leaves for the desert soon, I've decided I need to not whine & complain but freakin cowboy up and take it like a woman. It's ridiculous for me to boo hoo about how hard I've got it when there are other MOMS over there, sacrificing countless evenings of Good Night Moon and slobbery kisses to do something for me. Whether I believe in this war or not (i don't by the way), I am thankful that our military members just do their job, do it better than anyone in the world and quietly go about their business of protecting our country.

Thanks guys, we owe ya big time. And you look pretty cute in those uniforms!!!

Here are some pictures from today:

Mike showing the girls where to pin his new "jewelry"

Lt. Col Ward and Major Meeker


Jessica, Mike, Katie and Me After His Promotion Ceremony

MAJORly Excited

I just want to give a shout out to my terrifically awesome husband who became a majorly cute Major today. Pictures of his pinning on will be forthcoming. I am making lunch for all the staff at the clinic he works at. Wish me luck with that. I started thinking about alliterations today. You know...Perfect Purple Pansies and Terrific Tater Tots and Cute Chickens Clucking. Well, it all started with Major Mike Meeker and I started to think of all the things Mike has ever been or will be or currently is that start with "M". Let's make a list shall we?

• Michael, Mikey, Mike
• Meeker
• Man
• Major
• Mormon
• Married
• Missionary
• Medical Student
• Majuro (the little island he lived on)
• Micronesia (the mission he served in)
• Math Tutor (mine, age 17)
• Mumbler
• Multi Tasker (unfortunately, not often)
• Mad (fortunately, less often that the one above)
• Member (Costco)
• Massage Giver (to me)

okay, I'm really stretching it. I just should have stopped when this idea popped into my head.