Cool Picture, Yo

So a few interesting going on's today...first I couldn't remember how old I was. I actually had to subtract 1974 from 2010..it is that hard to believe that I'll be 36. to make myself feel better about my ever growing age I ate a Whole Foods Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip cookie for lunch...

Also..check out Cpt Mikey! Gen McChrystal visited his "home away from home" and got a picture with the commanders. You can tell who McChrystal is..the one with 4 stars!! geesh..mike would have to be in for another 30 years to get stars like that.. Mike just hit 16 years in the army and is in his 7th month of this current deployment. Time is moving on for sure. I just hope it moves a wee bit quicker.

TWD's 2!

Okay..so it's nice that for two years gals have been baking along to Tuesdays with Dorie.. I've enjoyed it myself. as this has nothing to do with any new year's resolutions..I think I'm hanging up the baking..my poor belly can't take any more gluten and with mike gone it's really no fun anymore..because I'm left eating everything. I'm sure I'll start another weekly cooking/baking post, as soon as I figure out what to do (any suggestions?) it does help time go quickly, but, as much as I LOVE my Dorie Greenspan..I need another project.

maybe I'll browse through my ton of cookbooks, or head online, or check out other blogs..who knows...

the Colorado sun is out, the temps are going up, and my legs are ready to hit a trail. happy Tuesday!

Pretty Good Year

I normally love end of the year programs..you know, the ones where they do the “best of” news and music and books. I haven’t paid much attention this past week because I could care less about Tiger Woods, reality shows, Oprah’s favorite books, Lady Goo Goo, the balloon boy, or anything else that is of no importance to ones daily life. I like to pay attention to the less than known newsmakers. For instance, did you know that:

• December was the first month since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq nearly seven years ago in which no U.S. forces died in combat in the country?
• The worst food in America is the Outback Steakhouse Aussie Cheese Fries with Ranch Dressing? It rings in with 2,900 calories and 182 g of fat..yes, 182 not 18.2.
• The most read Blog of 2009 was not The Nitty Britty..it was TMZ.com. Surprising to anyone? You go America!
• The Dow ended the year with nearly a 19% gain..Woohoo! We’re rolling in the bucks now!
• According to NOAA, October was the third coldest on record in the US, with almost every state showing temperatures from one to ten degrees below normal. Some Parts of Colorado received record snowfall during October, starting the first week of the month… AND it appears that December is headed for a repeat, with temperatures ranging from one to fifteen degrees below normal. HOLY GLOBAL WARMING!!

I’m sure you feel more intelligent after reading those facts..so to lessen that feeling I’m going to give you my top lists:

Top TV Shows of 2009:

1. Mad Men (I love Don Draper..seriously love him)
2. Modern Family. If you have yet to watch it you must. It is hilarious! Cam is my favorite
3. The Office. I still love it after all of these years. Parkour!
   

Top Albums of 2009:

1. Tori Amos, “Abnormally Attracted to Sin” even if it were horrible she’s my fav..and I saw her in concert. Fabulous!
2. John Mayer, “Battle Studies” love it..love it.. love him…love it..
3. David Gray, “Draw the Line” this came with live versions with some of his older stuff..just great..
   

Top Christian Songs of 2009:

1. Hold My Heart by Tenth Avenue North.. I sing this obnoxiously while driving..
2. Forward Motion by Thousand Foot Crutch…man can I run to this song..
3. Let the Waters Rise by MIKESCHAIR…great song about struggles and trusting God..
   

Top Accomplishments of 2009

1. I climbed Pikes Peak!
2. I did a triathlon with Mike…hated it…but finished!
3. I went back to college…
   

Top Baylee and Jack funnies:

1. Baylee stapled her finger with a pink staple…hilarious!
2. Jack shot a golf ball through our back window..not so funny then but funny now..
   

Top Feasts:

1. Japanese New Year’s Eve at Yoshi’s…the food was so good I forgot to have a cocktail..
2. Thanksgiving Paella at the Senti’s. who needs turkey anyhow?
3. Macaroni and Cheese by Baylee. After a long hike I came home to Baylee’s mac and cheese..super yummy and NOT from a box. She does love me..
   

Baylee’s top Movies:

1. Hot Rod – came out in 2007 but she’s insisting
2. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
3. The Soloist
   

Jack’s Top Girls:

1. Debby Ryan (some Disney showgirl)
2. Julia (his crush from across the multi-purpose room)
3. Taylor Swift?
   

Top Family Trips:

1. D.C to visit the Lehenbauers (the Lehenbauers + museums =good times)
2. Chesapeake to see the McFadden’s (our favorite joke by Liam, age 3 at the time: A man walked into a bar and said, “Oops!”)
3. The top of the Manitou Springs Incline. Great views from the top!
   

Although I’m not one for resolutions because I’m not a very consistent person..I do hope that:
1. Mike comes home
2. Baylee gets above a C- on a History test
3. I be cool and stay in school
4. Jack goes above the 50lb mark

All very do-able, right?

Happy New Year Yinzers!

Getting back to "Normal"

Two weeks just flew by. When Mike’s not home I want them to but when he’s here I want the days nice and slow. Mike always says it’s easier being the one to leave but this stinks no matter which way you look at it. These are the times I feel a slight tinge of anger at married couples who see each other daily and barely get along.

Our time together these past two weeks was fantastic. Mike was able to relax, take a shower without flip flops, sit on a real toilet and not a porta potty, and his favorite….drink a nice tall glass of milk, REAL milk. The kids introduced him to what evenings are like with homework and I have to say I think that’s the only part of being home he is not going to miss!

I do have to say that as happy as he was to see us I think the man was happier when he saw his new baby..a Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe. Mike called about a month ago to tell me that some money will be coming out of the checking account..for a down payment on a Harley. Now..for those of you who know us you know the last deployment I told Mike he could get a motorcycle and when he told me what it would cost I nixed that idea real quick..I mean, how can we send two kids to college on the back of a motorcycle, right? This deployment he decided to not even ask..he just went for it. Although he didn’t pass through Household 6 first it is however a beautiful bike. He was able to get a great deal on it and, well, I think he deserves it (but don’t tell him that.) The bike was delivered Friday just in time for him to look at it, touch it, shine it, make a spot in the garage for it, and then say good bye to it. I asked him why he looked happier the first time he saw the bike than the first time he saw either one of the kids. His response was, “The bike is only costing us money for the next few years, the kids are costing us for the rest of our lives.” I’ll give him that.

So here we are again..another five or so months left before he’s back. The kiddies and I will get back on our normal schedule and Mike will head to a whole new area/job when he arrives back in Afghanistan. He’s been able to see and do some pretty amazing things so far and the Afghan’s seem to be for the most part appreciative. This is definitely a war that is going to take years but I really, really hope this is the last deployment.

The kids are back to spending time with their friends, I’m back to having a glass of wine with mine (thanks F and Y) and Mike is well on his way back to Afghanistan. We’ll push through the next half of this deployment and continue praying we’ll see Mike again. There are men and women who didn’t get the chance to come home for two weeks..and more who won’t be coming home so each day we have Mike around is another day that someone is missing their loved one…this is no time to be selfish.

Many Blessing to all this Christmas..make sure you squeeze your loved ones a little harder.