Another Recipe...

These are THE best brownies...and pretty simple.

Best Brownies Ever!

2 boxes Giradelli brownie mix
1 Hershey's Symphony Bar, broken up (can use milk chocolate or toffee chip and nuts)
ingredients for brownies on back of boxes.

Prepare first box of brownie mix as directed and pour into prepared pan.
Sprinkle chunked Symphony bar on top
Prepare second box of brownie mix as directed and spread over Symphony bar.

Bake as directed, start checking for doneness at 35 minutes, be careful not to pierce toothpick in too deep, second layer will be melted. Edges should pull away from pan slightly.

Another Busy Weekend...Does It Ever Stop?

Although we are going to be busy, it's a good kind of busy for the most part. I have a million errands this morning, proven by the fact that I'm sitting here blogging. (I'm the worst procrastinator). There is the Crossfit workout of the day...a.k.a. the W.O.D. that I'm dreading, 120 pull-ups and 120 triceps dips, and this is supposed to be the substitution for the actual workout of 30 muscle-ups...ugh!

The best thing about today is I have to pick up Paul from a week of camp! I hope he had a great time, it was his first experience at a sleep-away camp.

I'm working tonight...always a joy! Then tomorrow we are packing and getting ready for a week on the road. First to Virginia, then on to New Jersey for a family visit. The kids are excited to see their grandparents and cousins, and I'm excited for some of my mother's cooking! YES! On the way back home we are hoping to visit some old friends and Bush Gardens in Williamsburg.

When we return, we'll have about 10 days before school starts and the regular "rat race" begins...again.

YUCK or NO...

Today, my son went to his friends house to play and came home with SEVERAL caterpillars in a Tupperware with some parsley. He was helping his friend's mom in the garden and they discovered these caterpillars all over her parsley plants, so they looked them up and decided to see if they could be coaxed into becoming butterflies...and I inherited them!

For My Momma...

OK...I've Heard it All!

Today, as I dropped my oldest daughter at art camp for the morning, another mom doing the same commented "Oh, how wonderful, you also have a daughter from China."...referring to Charlotte...huh?

Another Milestone...

Today, after absolutely no sleep from working last night, I took my oldest son, Paul to his final swim meet of the season. This was the thrid day in a row of standing in the hot sun, yelling at a team that can't really hear anything 'cause they're underwater! It was the 11 and older group, jeez, some of these kids actually had hair under their arms! Anyway, Paul's relay team placed second twice and many came home with medals, including Paul! However, I am officially fried!

After we arrived home we had to get ready for Paul to leave for camp. It's the first time he's at a sleep away camp...for an entire week! When we got to camp, I helped him unpack a little, and helped him place the 2 electric clip-on fans around the top bunk, where he's going to be sleeping. We met his cabin mates and counselor, (they seemed nice), and then I started getting "the eye" that it was time for me to leave. I gave him a big, juicy kiss on the cheek, and a hug and turned around and left.

What am I going to do without my TWO Paul's???

MTACS-28...Here We Come!

Yikes, this makes me feel old! I used to pride myself as being the youngest wife, ah-hem, spouse, at all of the squadrons we have belonged to...in the past. I'm not sure when the tables turned, but I am now one of the oldest, if not THE oldest spouse in our squadron...and yes, this is a very young squadron.

Sometime during the middle of the night tonight, Paul will take over as the Commanding Officer of Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron-28 in Cherry Point. His hard work and dedication to The Corps has brought him here. I am extremely proud of his accomplishments, personal and professional. I'm only sorry that I can't be in Iraq to see the flag passed into his hands.

BTW...the USMC also has an acronym for my new job...C.O.W. (Commanding Officer's Wife). Moo!

Ooo-Rah, babe.

No...I've Not Been "Slogging".

It's been a busy week of work, swim practices, running around with the kids and playing catch up with everything! Now that the weekend is approaching, another lost cause for relaxation, and here's why. The final swim meet of the season is this weekend, and I have kids participating on both ends of the spectrum. This means I have to be there Friday evening for Paul, back Saturday morning for Drew and Saturday afternoon for Paul again. It's an all day event that runs from 7-4! Then I'm working Saturday night. Paul leaves for a week of camp on Sunday morning, so I'm trying to get him ready and organized for a week of "no mom" as well.

I'm exhausted...and to top it off, I had some email technical difficulties and was on the phone last night with some dude in India until 1:15 a.m. Does it ever stop?

Off to a Slow Start...

I am dragging this morning which is not a good sign of things to come. I didn't sleep well last night...not sure why, but I kept waking up and seemed aware most of the night that I was trying to lose consciousness in sleep.

I have to work tonight and tomorrow night, the first time since before Paul came home. I'm glad to go back to work, but dreading the consequences of minimal sleep over the next few days, and last night didn't help matters. All will be fine...it always is.

Another First...

This morning my Tigersharks, I mean boys, participated in a swim meet. Drew, a member of the Tiny Tigersharks swum in his very first event ever...the 6 and under 25 meter freestyle . So, with a little encouragement from his coach, friends, mom, brother and a promised ring pop at the end, he did it.

Paul, of course did well too! He swum in several different events, including a 50 meter fly...not an easy accomplishment!

I'm so proud of my sharks...just wish their dad could have seen it all.

Woo-Hoo!

Just found a $20.00 bill in the washing machine! Thanks Paul!

Overnight Guest(s)...

Since Paul's departure on Monday, a certain someone has moved into my bed...Drew. It was fine at first, "just for tonight", I told him. But after 4 nights I've kind of had it, and here's why. Last night he brought company to bed with US. A teddy bear, a book about bugs, a hard plastic happy meal dinosaur that he's grown far too attached to, and last but not least, a 4 foot rattlesnake (stuffed animal of course), complete with a rattling tail.

Yep, I bet you can guess my dreams were something out of a scary science-fiction movie that my husband would try to drag me to see...to include a large mutant teddy bear and T-Rex hunting me. Finally, at 3:00 a.m. I woke mid-nightmare, startled by a large snake attacking me. I was soothed knowing it was just the stuffed snake being thrown onto me by my co-sleeper.

Yes, I'm sleeping solo tonight baby! Just me, by myself, without kids.

A Great Way to Celebrate...

No, I'm not being sarcastic...of course it would have been absolutely the best for Paul to be here on our anniversary, and to have made secret getaway plans for a romantic spa weekend, or a cruise, or a long weekend tasting wine in Napa, or a trip to the Virgin Islands. But, I'm actually content to spend it with my 4 favorite people, Abbie, Paul, Drew and Charlotte.

However, I'm hoping this post acts as a big, giant HINT for next year...

Sweet Sixteen!!!

It's hard to believe that today is our 16th anniversary! Yes, I was a child bride and he was barely out of college, and brand new to the USMC, but here we are, 16 years later with 4 kids, 2 dogs, and a love for each other like no other.

On a side note, I heard from Paul this morning and he is finally back in Iraq.

Happy anniversary Babe.

Back to "Normal"...

I have to say, I thought it would be more difficult to get back to "normal" after Paul left, but it's actually not too bad! I'm back to blogging, back to crossfit, back to being busy...as usual.

Here We Go Again...

Hopefully this is the last time I'll have to take this picture of Paul with the kids right before we walk out of the house to take him to the airport.

What I Hate Most about the USMC...

Goodbyes...I feel sick.

Back to Reality...sort of.

We are back from the beach and home again. We had a great, relaxing time in Emerald Isle, enjoyed too many "refreshments" and we are all a little waterlogged. Beautiful weather was enjoyed by all. Ghost crabbing, pelicans, dolphins, fishing, boogie boarding, body surfing, mini golf, water park, sandcastles, shell hunting and relaxing in the pool...need I say more?

One more week of catching up and we'll say, "adieu" once more...til January.