St. Barbara Ball 2010

Saint Barbara, the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat, was tortured and executed after her father discovered she had converted to Christianity.  Legend has it that after her father executed her, he was struck down by lightning in divine retribution. Because of this, she soon was regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death. She became the patron saint of Artillerymen from early on in the development of artillery pieces as early cannons were unreliable, and at times would explode wounding and killing their crews. Saint Barbara was invoked by these early cannoneers in the hope she would protect them from this fate.

Mary Ludwig Hays born in 1744 to a German dairy farmer in Pennsylvania. She began her career as a maid to Dr. William Irvine at age 13. She later retired to marry John Casper Mc Cauly, a barber. In 1775 he enlisted in the Colonial Artillery and Mary was there every step of the way. At the Battle of Monmouth she used a pitcher to carry water from a nearby spring to thirsty and dying soldiers, even to her former employer, Dr. Irvine. After her husband was wounded, she took over his cannon. These deeds earned her recognition from George Washington and her nickname, Molly Pitcher.

     Saint Barbara day is traditionally recognized by a formal Dining-In or military ball, often involving presentations of the Order of Saint Barbara and the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher. 

     On the 3rd of December from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, 3-7 Field Artillery came together for our annual ball.  It was held at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.  Our ball included the Alpha Wardogs, in my opinion were the loudest during the evening RUFF RUFF, Bravo Bulls, Golf Gladiators and HHB Hardcore.  Dinner included roast beef and chicken with mashed potatoes and veggies on the side, man oh man this was yummy!  For dessert we were treated to two different options, one spouse received a chocolate cake covered with chocolate moose and topped with different nuts, the opposite spouse received shortcake with, I believe, vanilla moose and topped with fruit.  For those pirates in us looking for treasure, there were strawberries hidden inside the shortcake!  When Anthony wasn't looking I'd cut up his shortcake looking for those strawberries, when he turned around to take a bite he looked at his bowl then looked at me, looked back at his bowl then (yup) looked at me again ... I never made eye contact after that!  After dinner we all watched while different Artillerymen prepared the Artillery Punch.  Now there are a couple of pictures below and I'm pretty sure you're going to look and think that's a girly drink because of the word punch but DO NOT let that fool you!  There's 9 different kinds of alcohol in that punch, I think, and items that cannot be shared due to the Code of the Red Legs (Artillerymen).  Each alcohol, and everything else included in that punch, represent something but sorry to inform you, I know you're dying to know but I honestly don't remember what all them represent.  After finishing the punch the soldiers that were being inducted into the Order of Saint Barbara (a military honor society, the award is named for Saint Barbara, the patron saint of Artillerymen) were given their medals as well as the wives being recognized by the Order of Molly Pitcher (recognizes women who have voluntarily contributed in a significant way for improvement) were given their awards.  This almost concludes our evening ... next up DANCING!  Anthony and I danced to 'Then' by Brad Paisley but called it quits after that because we wanted to get home to Ayden!!! 
     Overall our evening was great, we enjoyed each others company with great friends and lots of laughs.  I hope you enjoy these pictures, I wish there were more but my camera sucks!  (If any of you would like to contribute to my new camera fund please feel free, thanks!)

Aww the cute couple!

Artillerymen

SSG Melnyk and Heather

I have NO idea what Heather is doing, =)

In love

SGT Henington and Samantha

SGT Henington with the Artillery Punch, told you it was intense!

CALL ME!

Yes, us again .. it's my blog people =)

He takes my breath away!

I like to move it move!

We are just that cool that we need 500+ pictures of us!

Wow break it down now!

Aww good times!

A toast to ARTILLERY!

A perfect way to end the night, with a shot of tequila! 
*There was a gentleman sitting a couple of seats away, when we thought the waiter was bringing us our bill he said 'the gentleman over there paid for it', we all thanked him and he said 'NO THANK YOU ALL, EVEN YOU WIVES, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR ALL OF US!'  It gave us chills to know some random stranger cared about us!* 

Thanksgiving 2010

ATTENTION, ATTENTION THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!
ok so I'm late on 'posting of thoughts' so I should be saying ...

ATTENTION, ATTENTION THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE!  (happy now?)

     November 25, 2010 was a day shared with friends with beautiful hearts, food made with love and memories that will last a lifetime.  Thanksgiving, traditionally, is a day to give thanks for a bountiful harvest or feast.  We shared this day with our friends Brett, Heather and their son Christian along with many others.  We provided the Ham (the recipe we found last year we used again this year but changed it to our liking, it was so good Anthony went to the Commissary, bought another Ham just so we could have leftovers, true story!), Green Bean Casserole, Dressing (FYI readers there's a difference between Stuffing and Dressing, Stuffing is inside the bird & Dressing is outside the bird .. I bet right now your thinking and BAM you're having what is called a 'light bulb moment', all of a sudden it all makes sense!) and last Rotkohl (German for red cabbage, Anthony LOVES it, I don't).  Brett and Heather provided the Turkey and Mashed Potatoes, these Mashed Potatoes puts any other Mashed Potatoes you've ever had to shame!  (I wonder if I'm ever going to get that recipe .. psst Heather, I'm still waiting for that recipe for those awesome Mashed Potatoes!)  A couple of other families brought other sides and desserts which completed our feast!  After everyone was full, the boys went out for a quick game of football, hence the pictures at the bottom.  I am sorry to inform you that I did not get pictures of us or any other families.  Please don't cry, I promise to make it up to you by posting many pictures of the rest of the holidays to come! 

I am THANKFUL to share this day with my husband, I am THANKFUL for my healthy son and I am TRULY THANKFUL to be blessed with my family!  I am THANKFUL to know those who care for me have deep loving hearts and pure souls!



Here are most of the boys playing a game of football!

  



Anthony (my love) and Brett!







Ayden is in the background playing with the soccer ball!

  



He wanted to play with the guys.





Aww he makes me so happy!





He was telling the guys, 'here you go'!





Nothing like a rainbow in Hawaii!





Ayden setting the ball up for Daddy.





GO AYDEN GO!!!





Here you go Mama!





I asked if he would come play with me, he said 'nope'!





Well hello there handsome!

    

Friendship

   There are times in ones life when they come to a crossroad and they have to redefine who they are.  I believe the people you surround yourself with should be able to accept you for who you are but is able to accept the challenge of being honest with you even if it means hurting your feelings.  With that said here is the definiton of friendship for those of you who have forgotten.


Friendship: 

a person who gives assistance

a person who gives support

a person who is loyal

a person who honors the relationship

a person who is on good terms with another

a person who is not hostile

a person you know well

a person you regard with affection 
a person you trust

a person with whom you are acquainted

     I have realized I have went to long letting people in my life who I've trusted only to get hurt by their actions.  Some of these individuals I've come to understand they have never cared, if they have cared their actions are inappropriate.  I know at times I've swayed from the person I was taught to be but I've realized it ... hence the blog.  I was watching a show tonight, I look up and surprise surprise they are talking about two different kinds of personalities people portray, 'two parts of a person, a trader or an angel'.  While watching to this show I thought how weird it was to be hearing this discussion at the precise moment I was writing this blog.  Then I thought how simple 'trader or an angel' sums up how I was feeling.  Take my husband for instance an angel, my son (of course) and angel (duh), 2 friends of mine (no names) ANGELS ... the list can go on and on but the first step is realizing, second is coming to terms and the last is forgiving.  You would think I would be saying 'at this moment forgiveness is not in my vocabulary blah blah blah' but it's funny because I'm actually not upset.  In my heart I believe it's because I have an awesome husband and a healthy son which makes me complete.  For those friends I can trust I am blessed to know I have them in my life.  I know I can count on them when I need a good laugh, a shoulder to cry on, advice to give and clothes to share (which is a bonus)!!!
    
     At the moment I'm smiling, I look around and I know I'm loved; My heart is full of happiness and I know that could make the world bright forever. 


Jackie

   

     Today is Veterans Day and I would like to thank all the Veterans in my life.  My husband SSG Anthony Roberts, my twin brother George Salas, 3-7 FA Schofield Barracks Hawaii, all of my fellow friends and all of the men and women who had served or are still serving.  Anthony gets a four day weekend and you think we would be doing countless things but to be honest we don't have anything planned, just relaxing!  I'm pretty sure we will have a nice lunch out somewhere or we might BBQ, hmm BBQing sounds good!  
     Thanksgiving is coming up, I'm excited because Ayden is old enough to help cook!  He's been helping me cook alot, I tell him to grab his stool, wash his hands and off we go!  We made pumpkin chocolate chip bars the other day, the recipe was actually supposed to be cookies but bars sounded much better ... and easier.  They didn't turn out so well, didn't taste that 'pumpkiney' to me so I think I will have to tweak the recipe.  Our ball is also coming up, we won free tickets which is awesome because our child care is $10/hr!  I'm excited to go to the ball because I know no one will have my dress, a girls worst nightmare to look around and see someone else in the same dress, it's a NO go!  I'm going to attempt to do my own hair which might turn out to be a disaster but that's ok, it's long enough to just curl, pin up and be done .. nothing fancy!
     Other than that I've just been busy with the gym and helping Ayden learn to count, he has 1-15 down; colors, red needs more attention; attempting ABC's and he's been talking so much lately, which is so heartwarming to hear!  He's had a bit of a cold and has ALL FOUR molars coming in, a couple of times we've noticed his gums bleeding, tear!  Potty training is going great, most of the time he comes up to me saying 'potty' and he goes ... funny thing is as I was typing this he came up to me and said 'potty' and he went ... we did the 'YEAYYYY' dance!!!
     Well that is what's going on in our lives at the moment, it's time to get off and go 'splash splash', bath time if you didn't catch that one!
     Until next time ....
* We've got the whole wide world in our yards to explore, now it's time for us to have a snack, meet you next time when we're back, we're your friends, THE BACKYARDIGANS *

TRICK OR TREAT!

'WE ARE HERE TO TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT, TRICK OR TREAT.  WE ARE HERE TO TRICK OR TREAT OH HAPPY HALLOWEEN' ~ Little Einsteins Halloween

He was a bit grumpy, can you tell?

He was watching Dora, there was a witch flying, he grabbed his broom and hat then said HE HE HE! 

A PIRATE SAYS ARRGH!

It was character day at school, he went as a college student!

The Roberts Halloween 2010!



What's next in our lives?

     Anthony is now back from training and so far everything is falling into place YEAY.  Halloween is next week and we are so excited to see Aydens face as we trick or treat, he's been saying witch (hehehe),  ghost (boooo) and ahhh spider alllll month long!  Ayden is going to be a Pirate (Arrr Matey), Anthony is going to wear a Metallica shirt and I'm going to wear a gray shirt with a glitter ghost on it.  Friday we are planning on carving our pumpkins then we are going to our Battalions Halloween get together where I will be handing out candy while Anthony and Ayden get to enjoy all the activities.  Saturday is a train ride and of course Sunday is Halloween!  Tomorrow I will head to the Commissary to grab some sugar cookie mix so Anthony and I can make ghost and spider cookies with Ayden!
     This month ran by fast and before we know it Thanksgiving will be here which we all look forward to and this year Ayden is old enough to help cook!  For all you bloggers who love pictures I will make sure to take lots to share, sharing is caring!


Jackie

In Memory of all Lost Angels!

During Baby Loss Awareness Week, 9-15 October, we remember all Babies born sleeping, whom we have carried but never met, those we have held but could not take home or the ones that came home but did not stay. 

In Memory of all Lost Angels!

   A couple of friends of mine have gone through miscarriages, how do you begin to apologize for something like this?  You begin to say sorry but stop because you realize you should be saying a word that means more emotion but the only thing coming to mind is I'm Sorry.  I cannot relate and there for all I understand is what I see on the outside.  Tears that seem to never end, no more happiness because it has been replaced by sadness and pain ... so much pain!  

   One friend of mine, who I care very much for, has just gone through this and in my eyes she does not deserve this (NO ONE DOES).  She is such a wonderful mother/wife/woman/friend and she deserves all the blessings in the world.  When she called and told me what was happening I could tell how hurt she was and I cried along with her.  I wish I could've been there to comfort her but she's an ocean and states away so all I could give her were reassuring words of positivity.  In the end it was unfortunately confirmed, she had lost the baby.  I've prayed many nights hard and long for God to give her strength and guidance to look to the future, to walk with her in this time of sorrow and to help her come to peace with this.  I know she will meet this precious gift one day, God has BIGGER plans for this child.  In the mean time I will always be there for her, I will be a shoulder to cry on, hug to give, a voice for advice, a joke for laughter and a NEVER ENDING FRIEND!

For all of you out there who have gone through this, I am wholeheartedly sorry.

The Roberts Family

This month is full of ghosts, goblins, witches and pumpkins!

   It's October 6th and I feel like not just the last couple of months but year has flown by WAY to fast!  We've started decorating the house for Halloween, which is so awesome because I love to see Ayden get excited about all the lights!  We've got his costume all ready for him, he's going to be a pirate, ARRR!  If I can pull it off maybe I can get Anthony to dress up too but that's a day that everyone will have to wait for! 
   This month is not just about Halloween, it's about Anthony being at training yet again & my twin brothers birthday, meaning it's my birthday too!  Anthony left last night at 2am and before I know it he will be back!  This isn't my first training exercise so I know what to expect.  It doesn't get any easier and you never get used to it, you just learn what you have to do to keep yourself busy!  All of these days, weeks and months away are helping prepare our soldiers for their year long journey to the oh so fun 'sand box'.  After this training exercise we will have our soldiers until the next which isn't until January. 
   In the meantime my twin will be celebrating his 27th birthday, October 15th.  I haven't spent a birthday with him since 2002 and I wish I could be there to say SURPRISE HAPPY BIRTHDAY, one day that will happen.  Since Anthony isn't here I don't have any plans, I'm thinking Ayden will surprise me with pizza and a night full of The Backyardigans episodes.  When Anthony comes back I'm pretty sure he will have something up his sleeve, he's 'very very sneaky' (anybody know what movie that's from, no?  Mr. Deeds).  Anthony and I have this weird tradition that we have done since 2002, when it's my birthday I get him something and (that's right) when it's his birthday he gets me something.  This year this tradition wasn't carried out so I'm thinking when he gets home we can have a redo, sounds like a good idea huu?!
   Other than that this month will probably fly by like the rest.  All of you out there who agree enjoy all the moments you have with each other because before you know it the dreadful trip to the oh so fun 'sand box' will be here.


   Time is such a precious thing.  Never waste it! ~ Willy Wonka


Beware fellow Bloggers!  Ghosts, Goblins, Witches and Pumpkins are EVERYWHERE!


*Stay tuned pictures of the house are to come!*

Sore, oh sooooo sore!

Hello Bloggers, long time no post!  I've been on a journey that leaves me with questions like Why do I do this to myself, Can I just go lay down already, or my favorite DO I HAVE TO GO?  I'm wanting to lose 10-15 lbs, yes you read that right 10-15 lbs!  For the longest time I was at the weight I wanted to be at and slowly in the past year and a half the extra 15 lbs have packed on, tear!  I had surgery back in 2005, I've always struggled with my weight and after high school it slowly crept on.  I worked out on a regular basis but I think weight has always been attracted to me, no lie lol!  I'm NOT an emotional eater, I don't really like sweets, I don't binge eat but my weakness is Mexican food!  Now let me clarify that, I don't eat it like it's going out of style, it's just my food of choice!  Anyway back to the main topic, one of the many reasons why I'm on this journey includes the Military Ball.  Ours is on December 3rd, since I didn't make it to last years I have my dress ready so that's a major plus (and yes it fits).  I didn't make it because I was at the hospital with Spinal Meningitis, painful oh so painful!  I'm not trying to look smoken hot or anything I just know I would feel better about myself if I lost some weight.  Other reasons include the obvious, wants to be healthy, fit and in shape.  But to be all out honest, I'm not happy.  Yes I know, I know I should be and on a certain level I am totally happy with the progress I've made and I could easily be where I was 5 years ago but come on, I know I can do this.  I've been trying to make the right decisions about food, I've been working out and I know I have to be patient but I'M NOT!  Now I know when I say I'm not happy it doesn't mean I'm giving up because I'm not going to give up!  In the past I have because I get unmotivated but so far I've been doing really well!  I don't think I have unrealistic goals, the weight I want to be at was the weight I was at for a very long time so I know it is possible.  I've kept up my promise to the gym, hence the title 'sore..oh so sore' and it's been going very well!  Cardio Kickboxing is kicking my butt, which is a good thing, it feels awesome!  I found these pictures of myself a year ago and they are my motivation!  I've been telling myself to keep going, when I'm there I think of them and push myself to step it up...


Anyway I'm done with my 'rant and rave' and I'm pretty sure there are many more posts to come so follow me on this painful hopefully satisfying journey and with fingers and toes crossed I will get to where I want to be!


'Hey Mr Grump Gills
You know what you gotta do when life gets you down?
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming
Just keep swimming swimming swimming
What do we do we swim, swim, swim
OH HO HO How I love to swim
When you WAAAAAANNTTT to swim you want to swim'


IS THIS SONG IN YOUR HEAD?  IT IS?!  SWEEEET MY EVIL PLAN HAS WORKED!
MUU HAA HAA HAA

A Mom's Worst Nighmare

Every Mom, Mommy, Mama or Mother can relate to another when their child is sick!  Our Mama Lion comes out, we right away go into protection mode but we are helpless against this illness that has invaded their poor little helpless bodies!  Now don't get me wrong, when they do something cute or we have an aww moment with them we are putty in their hands!  I made a promise the MOMENT I held him, I promised to always love him no matter what, to always be strong for him in times of hardship, to always protect him from harm and to never I mean never ever give up on him ... or stop loving him, of course!!!!  Now on to the meaning of this post shall we? 
Ayden has been having symptoms that always have an out come of some kind of cold/flu.  Stuffy and runny nose, coughing, fever and sometimes ear aches and vomiting.  (Takes a deep breath)  This happens alot and when I mean alot I mean on average of once or twice a month.  So here is a little insight for the month of August...
*Sunday the 1st:
Anthony and I took Ayden into the ACC, Acute Care Clinic because he was having these symptoms and he was very lethargic so we thought he needed fluids which means an IV.  He was given Dimetapp, Tylenol and Motrin. 
*Tuesday the 3rd:
I layed him down for a nap, within 15 mins. he was up screaming and pulling on his ear so off I went back to the ACC.  Can you guess what was wrong with him, yes that's right an ear infection, he was given Amoxicillin.
*Sunday the 8th:
Ayden was doing a bit better and he was asking for the park, it had been raining so I took him to Burger King to play indoors.  On the way home he bit his tongue and the next couple of days were hell since he could not eat, drink or want to talk. 
*Tuesday the 10th:
This day was as a day filled with lots of vomiting and crying not only from Ayden but Mommy as well, the crying part that is!  That night he had a low grade fever, I gave him Motrin and off to bed we went. 
*Wednesday the 11th:
The difference between this day and Wednesday was his fever went away, yeay!
*Thursday the 12th:
When we woke Ayden had a fever again, I made an appointment as soon as I could.  His Pediatrician couldn't understand why he was having a fever while he was on Amoxicillin.  He came to the conclusion that the Amoxicillin was killing off the one virus but another one was invading his poor little body.  His Pediatrician told me to keep Ayden on the medication, add Motrin and to bring him in if the fever gets higher since it was just low grade. 
*Wait fellow bloggers, it only gets better I promise!* 
*Tuesday the 17th:
The vomiting only got worse, Ayden was laying on his knees with his head to the floor screaming owie and wouldn't even let me touch him!  He would start to gag which leads to vomiting followed by screaming, this time I was able to hold him then more vomiting.  He then would calm down enough to pass out but remember NO FEVER.
*Thursday the 19th:
I got an appointment with a different Pediatrician, she said it was reflux and ordered an allergy test. 
*Friday the 20th:  Surprise surprise Ayden magically got better!  All you Moms out there know how fast these kids bounce back from being sick!  I went and did the allergy test but did not fill his prescription, I do not think he has reflux because he has never showed signs of this before. 
*Sunday the 22nd:
Around morning, gosh I can't even remember the time because these days are melting together, Ayden woke screaming in pain, vomited cried vomited cried then passed out.  (Same for Monday and Tuesday all during the night and it was only one episode). 
*Wednesday the 25th: 
I got an appointment, his Pediatrician said it could be 1 of 2 things, constipation or intestinal intussusception which is when part of the intestine slides into another part of the intestine and can cause an obstruction.  Symptoms include nausea (check), vomiting (check), pulling legs to the chest (check), moderate to severe cramping abdominal pain (check) and usually no fever (check).  Pain only last for that episode not because it stops but because the part of the intestines stops contracting.  I was sent to radiology for x-rays BUT Aydens Pediatrician made it clear that they might not see anything because he wasn't having an episode, they needed to catch it when it was happening and sure enough his x-rays didn't show anything.  His Pediatrician told me as soon as Ayden started having an episode to bring him to the ACC or Tripler so they can run tests. 
*Thursday the 26th: 
Ugh this is the morning that I will never forget because it lead to a day that I never want to go through again!  Around 3:30am, Ayden woke screaming, right when I woke I heard him vomiting.  I grabbed him, cleaned him off, got him and I dressed, buckled him in and drove off to Tripler as fast and as safe as I could!  Checked in, was seen by 6:30am and this is when spiral of fears began.  They took urine, started an IV (which was so hard to sit there and hold him down while he's screaming 'Mama help please' and yes I am crying right now just thinking about it).  The Pediatric team (such an awesome team by the way) came down and sent us off to radiology for more x-rays and an Upper GI Barium Swallow.  Yet again the words 'Mama help please' came out of his mouth and I knew what I had to do, hold him down so they can take these images as fast as they could.  As they were doing the test they can see the liquid going down through his intestines and they could rule out some diagnoses they have been thinking about.  The Pediatric team went ahead and admitted him.  This was the first time he has been admitted to a hospital and hopefully last!  I was nervous because I wondered how Ayden was going to do, would he not be able to play, be couped up in his room and what about sleep...gosh how tired we both were.  I was amazed at how 'fun' the peds floor was!  The first thing I saw were all the colors and all the rooms were decorated with different themes!  (side note: as I am writing this Ayden is asleep and he just growled!)  They had a play room and push cars that children can sit in and you can take them around the hospital to explore!  Aydens room was decorated in flip-flops which was OK because he kept on saying 'Mama look, shoes!' and he had a nice size TV in his room!  The nurse team was awesome, they came in and Ayden wasn't afraid of them.  He wasn't allowed to eat anything until that night which was a clear liquid diet.  The peds GI doctor came to introduce himself, such a nice guy and told me that they are trying to understand what is going on.  They got all his lab results back and they were happy to say the scary things they were searching for came back negative.  He wanted to 'clean out' his system (side note: 'clean out' is pretty self explanatory!) so they gave him an enema followed by Myralax.  Boy oh boy did I have the most fun I have ever had in my entire life during the next few hours, I bet your oh so jealous of me right now!  They waited till around the time he usually has an episode but he did not have one, only the waking up crying happened. 
*Friday the 27th: 
YEAY WE GET TO GO HOME!  The GI specialist told me to watch Aydens diet for the next couple of days, soft foods and try to not give him red colored food so we can rule out blood when he has a BM.  He had oatmeal and applesauce last night and I have been pushing liquids like crazy.  Ayden went to bed around 8:45pm, I had to move him and he did not even wake up!  Although he did wake at 4:00am crying saying owie but he fell right back to sleep and woke at 6:30am!
*Saturday the 28th:
So far Ayden hasn't said owie and has been a happy little boy that everyone knows him to be.  He's napping right now and when he wakes I will get him ready because someone special will be here around 3:00pm!  DADDY IS COMING HOME! 
We have 3 more day left of August, this has been a rough month but so many friends have stepped up and offered to help with anything.  We have gotten so many prayers, everyone has kept us in their thoughts and I cannot thank yall enough!  Special shot out to Teresa for attempting to bring us some items we needed for the stay at Tripler but housing did not have a key for her, I will be paying them a visit Monday!  Also to Amanda for bringing us dinner, Ayden did not eat but I sure did!  Lisa and Jamie even though yall are a puddle away I'm sure yall would have come to our rescue!
This concludes my post, I hope yall enjoyed my novel!  Until next time ... 
 Peace Love and Chicken Grease!

His IV, tear!

Finally asleep after all the torcher!

They had to re-wrap it, during the testing it came undone.

Going for a ride to calm him down.

Hello Blog World

Hello fellow Bloggers and welcome to my page! 

I've thought of making a Blog for a while now but never had the time to do it, still don't but I said to myself 'self you should look into this so-called blogging world because you might like it' ... I'll get back to you on that one!  So far I've had a bit of trouble understanding how this all works and thanks to my friend I think I got it (almost)!  Wow just realized I forgot to introduce myself!

Hi, my name is Jackie!  I'm a Mother, a Wife and Loyal Friend!  Anthony, my husband and I have been together since May 2002 and we got married in December 2003!  We met in high school, we both worked at a Bar-B-Que restaurant, Bill Miller's and it's oh so yummy, together and we've been together ever since.  Anthony went into the Army in July 2003 and our first duty station was Fort Sill, OK.  Oh the joys of Fort Sill, don't get me wrong we actually liked Fort Sill believe it or not!  It had it's up's and down's but that's where we started our journey together!  We PCS in 2006 to Schofield Barracks, HI and that's where you can find me.  Anthony, and I that is, have endured two deployments and oh so many days, weeks and months of training apart from each other, tear!  During Anthony's second deployment he called me at 4am and says 'Babe, I think we should have a baby' .... umm what, wait, what?  Ayden was born July 17, 2008 and that has been the best oh so wonderful present he has ever given me!  He is the air to my lungs, the light to my dark and the beat to my heart, I'm pretty sure I can go on but those will do for now!  I love being a Mom even though at the moment Ayden has been sick more days than healthy and that's a NO GO in my book!  I'm doing everything in my power to find out what's causing this and I'll keep you updated.  I love being a wife too!  Anthony is off at training, surprise surprise but should be home soon!  Enough about THEM, let's talk about ME!  I'm trying to like working out but it's not going to well.  I've read the Harry Potter Books AND the Twilight Series, yes go ahead and just say it .. go on, I'll wait .. NERD!  Hey I like those books and you would to if you just read them people haha.  I'm looking for new books so if you have any in mind send the info my way.  I like to cook and bake, I'll bake and then give it away because we aren't that big on sweets.  I used to like scrapbook but if given the chance to scrapbook or sleep, I'll take sleep any day!  There's alot more to me but I have to go pick up Ayden, my Mr. Personality!