Flags of Our Fathers

We went to the Marine Corps Museum today. It was very interesting. Everything in the museum looks so lifelike. Going to military themed museums always gives me a greater appreciation for our freedome here in America and definitely a greater appreciation for the men and women who serve in the military. One of the main reasons I wanted to go to this museum was because I knew that THE flag raised on Iwo Jima would be there. Well, quite naturally, it was out of the museum for some sort of professional preserving something or other. BUT, the first flag that was raised on Iwo Jima was there. It just wasn't the big flag; the flag in the famous picture. So, we will have to go back.

We also went furniture shopping!!! FUN! Well, I don't think the kids had that much fun. It was just a place for them to get in trouble for touching anything. Poor things! We still can't find exactly what we are looking for, but that just means we get to do more shopping, right?

Dirty Jobs

Alright, so the septic system is not all that glamorous, but progress is progress!! There was also someone there putting tape and joint compound on the sheetrock, but he had just gotten started. No good pictures. The insulation people also came and blew insulation into the attic. The cabinets were supposed to go in yesterday, but they couldn't because the sheetrock is not all taped and finished. So, I see us as behind. The builder says we are still way ahead. I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

I love my family

I had a unique experience today as far as parenting goes. I don't think there is anything that tops watching your children have a good time. Watching them smile at something that really makes them happy, and losing themselves in something fun. I was fortunate enough to have that experience with all 3 of my children in one day. That doesn't happen very often.

The new Bratz movie is playing in a theatre near you. A must see if you are a 7 year old girl. I took Emily today. When the lights went out, she just shook with excitement. She waved her little arms in the air like she had just won a gold medal. And at the end of the movie when the Bratz girls overcame adversity, which, of course, they had to do, she was just beaming. She was so proud of them.

We saw a Nesquik chocolate milk vending machine in the mall yesterday. We couldn't believe it. For those of you who do not know how much Ethan loves chocolate milk.....Ethan LOVES chocolate milk. So, I bought him one. He was so happy. He took my halo down and polished it for me. He told me that I am the best mom in the whole world. Not another like me. It is good to be loved!

And I took John to the race track tonight to see jet cars race. Wow! Now that was an experience. It was sticky hot, loud, and crowded. All the things I hate the most!! But watching John was a joyful experience. He was so excited to watch fire coming out of the back of the cars. Evertime 2 cars pulled up to race he would tell me which one would win and why. Because it looked cooler than the other one, of course. He just talked and talked. It was great. He patted me on the back and reassured me that the jet cars were not going to explode. We got to meet one of the jet car drivers after the race. You would have thought we had just me the President, he was so proud. Good times! What a lucky mom I am!

The sheetrock is completed. Well, the taping is not done, but the sheetrock is on the walls. Picture me doing cartwheels through a field filled with daisies! We are getting closer and closer. I have picked out paint colors. Do I have any volunteers??

The Four Things Challenge

I have been challenged to do a 4 things list by my friend Carol who lives in Las Vegas. So, here goes.....

Four Things
4 Jobs I've had
1. Wendy's (not a huge success there)
2. Bank teller (that was fun)
3. Financial Aid Assistant in College
4. ER/ICU nurse

4 Movies I can watch over and over
1. Elf
2. All Christmas movies except A Christmas Story
3. Gone With the Wind
4. Anything with Humphrey Bogart

4 Places I've lived
1. Alaska
2. Ecuador
3. Texas (multiple moves here)
4. Georgia (two moves here)
5. Virginia
(OK, we move way too much!)

4 TV shows I enjoy
1. Whatever
2. 4 shows
3. John is watching
4. at the same time.

4 Places I've been on vacation
1. England
2. Ireland
3. Hawaii
4. Mississippi

4 Favorite Dishes
1. Beef fajita nachos at El Toro's
2. Tortilla soup (I make it myself)
3. Raspberry chocolate cheesecake
4. Chocolate anything

4 Websites I visit daily
1. my blog
2. my email
3. friends blogs
4. eBay

4 Places I'd rather be right now
1. MY HOUSE
2. the beach
3. shopping
4. MY HOUSE

Alright, there it is, The Fours List.

Treasure Hunting

We went to the Lucky Lake Gem Mine yesterday. A good friend came and picked me up. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We didn't get to mine our dirt. They just sold us buckets of dirt to dig through. And the stones that we found were planted. If we only found what they got out of the dirt there, it would all be feldspar. That is rocks made of compressed dirt. And that wouldn't be any fun at all. So, we found some Amethyst, some Aquamarine (The Mermaid's Treasure and Emily's birthstone), some Topaz, and Rose Quartz. Even though the pretty stones were planted it was a lot of fun. The kids felt like they were digging for treasure. And we got to rinse the dirt off and scrub the stones. I think just playing in the water made it fun. Ethan got soaked.

Frustrated again

My climbing monkeys! Aren't they cute??

I am frustrated again! This time for a different reason! The Durango has me stranded. It has a leak, HUGE, in the radiator. I was at a red light on my way to work and big clouds of steam began to billow out of the front of the Durango. And the thermometer was in the red! And then several nice men pulled over to help me......just kidding!!!....noone pulled over to help. In fact, a couple of MEN cussed at me as they drove by demanding that I get my heap off the road! Not very nice! Fortunately, I was right beside the hospital when it happened. After work John talked me through putting water into the radiator....not just into the resevoir....I was so proud. He's such a smart boy to be able to talk me through it from 3 states away! So, I got the stupid thing home, thank goodness. And John will be home tomorrow to fix it! And that's good news! We will be glad to see him!