A little bit of this, a little bit of that

WOW!  So much has happened since 2011 has started!  Anthony left January 8th to NTC and has a week and half (on or around) until he gets back.  During these times, while Anthony is away I try to be as strong as I can be and I'm trying to not let it bother me but this time it's different.  Anthony and I have been talking about upcoming events and we think it's because we have Ayden, he's 2 1/2 and asks for Daddy when he hears a bike or when he's in trouble!  It's heartbreaking to hear him call out for his Daddy but I know I have to be strong and let him know it's ok.  Ayden's been sleeping with me, mostly because I get a little scared at night and want him near me, but it's so nice having him there.  The other night he woke crying for Anthony, I carried him back with me and he kept saying 'Oh thank you Mama' and kissed my shoulder 100+ times!  I got woken up the next morning by a hard slap in the face and right away I said 'Owwie Ayden, you hurt Mommy' he rolled over and said 'so sorrryyyy' and fell right back to sleep!   Although those moments are priceless there have been moments where he's been such a handful!  He doesn't nap anymore and after bath time I do our usual: brush teeth, songs, read a book then he watches Leap Frog or The Backyardigans then bedtime.  That schedule is NOT working anymore, he stays up way late and calls down for me almost every 5 mins.  Again, I think it's because he's missing Anthony and I try not to let it bother me but as soon as I say GOOD NIGHT I would like to finish the chores around the house and then it's Mommy Time!  The thing is, Anthony used to do bath time so now since I've been doing it, it throws off his schedule!  (Even right now, I'm trying to write and he's in my face 'Mommy, Mommy, Mommy, Mommy' ... 'Yes Ayden' ... 'I Love You' ... *kiss*... 'I Love You Too, now go watch your Pirate Leap Frog so Mommy can finish up, after this it's bathtime' ... 'ok' ... and just like that he walks away) 
I try to keep him and myself busy, every week I've had a follow-up appointment with my Doctor and today I got my hair done.  Anthony loves when I'm 'girly' so next week I'll get a Mani and Pedi.  I'm trying to do something every week so they pass faster.  I've also been working out every morning, well almost every morning, I won't get to Friday, I'm going to go get our taxes done.  Stay fit and healthy is a must now that I have Ayden and loosing some weight would be a bonus too.  Anthony signed myself and him up for the 27th Annual Kaiser Permanente Great Aloha Run, Feb. 27th.  It's 8.5 miles and I've already told Anthony there is no way on this earth that I will be running in this great RUN but just participating is something I've wanted to do since we got here back in 2006.  I would love more than anything to say I RAN the Great Aloha Run, but I'm NOT a runner, I'll walk really really really fast or jog but I know that if I even tried to run I'd be taken away on a stretcher. 
With the month of January almost over I pray February through April pass by extremely slow.  Anthony has an upcoming 'trip' to the big 'ol sand box and when that happens I pray those months pass by faster than a blink of an eye! 
I hope everyones 2011 has started off with a bang, a good bang that is!















A GIFT THAT WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART

This year Ayden and I received the best gift a wife of a soldier and a son of a soldier can ask for, their soldier to be home!  This gift I speak of is one that will forever be one of my favorite!  Anthony got to spend the Holidays last year and this year with us.  We had a couple of great friends come over on the 23rd of December, an awesome dinner then played Pictionary Man, good times!  On Christmas Eve we did the norm, cookies and milk for Santa, marshmallows for his reindeer which was Aydens idea, wrapping presents then Anthony and I had a nice glass of wine!  I loved seeing Aydens face when he came down the stairs, he said 'OWW PRESENTS'!  We didn't go 'all out', I mean what do you get a 2 1/2 yr old for Christmas when he has everything already?  After we opened our gifts we headed to IHOP and had a nice little Christmas breakfast.  We drove around a bit, taking pictures of  the views.  We didn't do much during the day, we wanted to spend as much time together since Anthony was getting ready to leave for training. 
After everything is said and done, I'm glad we got to spend Christmas with each other.

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!