He stayed...

He stayed...

For those of you wondering, Brandon didn't go to bootcamp. He is home and on his way to becoming a college student. As far as the reason, well, there was a glitch. No big deal, no one is upset especially not me, and now he is taking a different path to his future. 

Brandon has enrolled in automotive technology, associates degree program at MCC. It's a good starting point. He was never prepared for college because he was head strong on going into the Marines. So he never took his SAT's. But all is good, at MCC you don't need them. And he can transfer in two years, if he chooses.

I am very proud of him. 

Even though I am hard on him, pushing him, I know he will accomplish a lot in life, and this is the next step connecting him to his future.

Brandon is leaving

Boot camp

Next Friday, Brandon leaves for boot camp in South Carolina. Even though I am worried about this new adventure in his life, I am so very proud of him. I wouldn't be a good mom, if I was worried, right? 

I can't believe this year went by so fast, hell, it seems like since he turned 5 and started going to school all day, years have been flying by like crazy. 

I am so very blessed that during those earlier years, I had/have such a supportive husband, that he let me work part time and stay home with the kids. I got to spend so much quality time and get really close to them.  I have had the great honor of being my children's friend, not only their mom.

I know most parents would say their kids are awesome and that they aren't being biased. I would say the same thing. I won't sugar coat it and say that Brandon or Vanessa is always wonderful. But there are those times, like last night, when one of them does something so unselfish, so sweet, that it makes you take a minute and think "wow, I really did raise an great kid".

For those of you who don't know, I recently got laid off. I am not sad about it, I wasn't going to be working except part time at the YMCA, this summer anyway. But money is tight, as you can imagine. And Vanessa wants to go to a concert on Saturday, and we don't have the funds to pay $50 for a ticket then give her spending money for food. Her brother graciously offered to purchase her ticket, for her upcoming birthday because he won't be here. Not only did this make her extremely happy, but it melted my heart. (And not only did he offer, but then he did a really great thing and said his condition is that she has to check in with him at the concert every couple of hours, so that he knows she is ok.) I hope she truly appreciates how wonderful of a brother she has.

I know that in a week's time, he will be gone, and we will miss him. She will miss the brother that makes her laugh all the time with his quirky ways, the one that messes with her on a day to day basis and the brother that she can always count on. 

I will miss him just being him, his silliness,  his being here if I need to talk, his being here if my truck is acting retarded and our COD battles.

But I know he will come back, stronger both physically and mentally, he will learn lessons that can't be taught in a classroom and he will grow even more as a person.

Good luck, baby, I love you with all my heart. You are my HERO everyday, and now you will be everyone's hero too.

Thank you for serving our country, for fighting to keep us free and for protecting our home.

Good luck on your new adventure.

Stay safe, watch your six, and always come back to us.

New Additions

The new additions to the family -

We recently received a gift from our girl pitbull, three new babies. Two girls, thoughtfully named Roo and Paris, and a boy named Gizmo.

They are not even a day old in this photo but as of today they are 5 days old and so cute!

I spend most of my time thinking about them, or thinking about getting home to them. Marley, the mom, doesn't seem to mind me holding them once and a while. But when others get involved she tends to be mighty possessive. She is a very good momma, except for the occasional sitting on them, then they squeal and she doesn't seem to care. I wonder if that is normal. There have been many a time, when I have had to run over because she won't get off them, and I feel like I have to save them, because they are screaming. Not sure why she does this, but I really don't mind. 

Roo and Gizmo seem to be the hungriest of the bunch. I think Gizmo outweighs the girls, by quite a bit.

The other night I had them all on me, and Marley joined me on the couch, and took a nap. She would have stayed longer but Vanessa decided to come take Paris, and Marley got upset. I don't have the heart to tell her that Marley isn't too keen on sharing with her, so I kindly said it was time to put them back in their bed.

How we came to the names we gave them is, Marley, the momma, tends to bounce around the house when she isn't preggers and I always thought she should have been named Kangaroo, so that is how I came to name the brown girl Roo. Vanessa dreams of going to Paris, so that is how she came to name the brindle girl Paris. And well, the boy got his name because of the movie Gremlins  so of course we call him Gizmo. 

Marley did and amazing job having them. I was worried about her for a while, thinking maybe she wasn't going to have them natural or that she might need help, because things weren't going according to my timeline. But on the 2nd of January, she was very clingy and wanted to be next to me, pretty much all day, so I knew something was up. Vanessa had a stomach ache late that night, early morning and came to tell me that the babies were on their way. Unfortunately, one of the little ones didn't make it. He was a brown and white male, and we refer to him as "little one". 

I will be posting more pics as they get older. They are truly a gift. 

Have a blessed day.

Hurricane Sandy

I hope everyone is safe and sound. Boy, that was an interesting night. The kids invited friends over and had a big sleepover. As the winds picked up, we all snuggled in and ate comfort food, played some Call of Duty, and enjoyed each others company. 

I know there are many people out there with destroyed homes, no power and even some injuries. My heart goes out to them. I hope they all find some sense of peace, in the wake of this hurricane's wrath.

The waves breaking on the Statue of Liberty was amazing, and also a little scary. What she represents to us and the power of the waves, yet she still stands. That is a beautiful symbol. We can all learn from her example.

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way."

School Started Today

Well another school year has started.

Brandon started 12th grade, this is his last first day of school ever, unless he goes to college (but military first). He is playing varsity football, working and going to school. He is going to have a very busy, happy year. He is so excited to drive to school this year, and he even drops his sister off in the morning on his way. He is such an amazing kid, so loving and caring. I am very proud of him. But I hope this school year, goes nice and slow, because comes July 15th of 2013, he will be going to Parris Island and then to boot camp, for the Marines. I will be/am a nervous wreck, right now I am trying not to think about it, but as the time draws near, I am sure I will be a mess.

Vanessa started 9th grade, and is not very happy with her school. She really wanted to go to school with Brandon, his friends and her friends. She would have gone to Olympia with Brandon, if Odyssey didn't move from Hoover Drive to Maiden Lane, and because Odyssey is 1/4 mile closer, she is being sent there. I did request she go to Olympia anyway, but she was 3rd on the waiting list, and she moved to 1st on the waiting list during the summer and she still didn't get in. Every time I called the lady at the main office had an attitude and would not assist me with getting my daughter into Olympia, I understand her job and that they only have room for a certain amount of students, but that does not explain why a friend of Vanessa's, who was number 5 on the waiting list to Olympia, got in BEFORE my daughter. When I called and asked, I got the run around and no answer. I know I am probably not calling the correct person, or yelling enough. This is very frustrating as a parent, when you know your daughter is unhappy. Vanessa sat alone at lunch today, because she does not know any of the students in this school, most of her friends are at Olympia or Arcadia. I know I shouldn't care if she has friends there or not, but I do. I don't want her to be unhappy, high school is alot of fun, and you get so many memories from high school. I don't want her to spend it miserable. I am hoping that I can transfer her if things don't improve. I know it's going to be a battle to get her into another school, but I will fight for her, she is my little girl.

And of course, I cried this morning, but only after the kids got in the car and drove away. Being as it is Bran's last year and Ness is starting high school, they are just too old too soon. I love them so much and want them to grow but why did it have to happen in the blink of an eye? I remember Jay and I used to take the first day of school off and put the kids on the bus, then we would follow close behind in our car, to make sure they got to their school and off the bus okay. I would always cry of course, because school to me, not their birthdays, marks another year older for them.

I wish them all the best this year, lots of new friends, and lots of memories. I just hope that it goes by nice and slow.

It's April Already...

It's April already, and this weekend is Easter, can you believe it? I want to wish everyone a Happy Easter and hope that you enjoy your day with loved ones, if you are getting together.
We have some family parties to go to. We are joining Gram at her house, with the rest of the Smith family for Easter dinner. I am creating a surprise Easter dessert, that the kiddies will sure love, I hope.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone.
We hope you and yours are having a wonderful start to 2012.
Lots of love to all.