BUY USA FOR CHRISTMAS!

Let's give America an amazing Christmas gift!! I have thought about this a while, and I think it is actually a GREAT idea! I want to start a revolution actually ;) Re-post it if you like the sentiment. If we all bought only items "Made in the USA" (some of you remember this slogan from the 80's) Imagine the positive impact it would have on American jobs and our economy! Its the same idea of parents who put their children first and then they are too stressed to be as productive or live up to their own potential.... This year, lets put America first! No matter what your religion, we are all Americans, so let's support Americans by buying our gifts for whatever religious holiday you celebrate only "MADE IN THE USA" this year. I think it would help our country and we could better help others if we can help ourselves!! What do you think? I understand "some" things may be impossible as our children have their own ideas, but if we all TRY our best to saturate our gifts with made in the USA only, and limit those that are impossible to find other wise, I think it would be an amazing gift to the country and our fellow Americans who are so deserving this year! Please please please pass this or the sentiment along and let's start a great holiday season for us all to be proud of!

Here are some online links to made in the USA only products:
http://www.madeinusa.org/
http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/
http://www.americansworking.com/
http://www.madeinusa.com/
http://madeinusaforever.com/
http://www.toysmadeinamerica.com/



I also thought this was funny.

Great Pumpkin (basic puree to use in all your recipies)

GREAT PUMPKIN PUREE*

1. Find your great pumpkin Charlie Brown ;)

2. Wash your great pumpkin in warm soapy water, rinse, and dry well.

3. Cut the Pumpkin on a cutting board into wedges

4. Scoop out the stringy pulp and seeds with a metal spoon, leaving the firm flesh and skin.

5. Place a steamer insert in a Double Boiler or a steam pot and fill the pot with a few inches of water. When the water boils, place the pumpkin pieces inside, packing them in tightly so that they will all fit. Cover and steam for about 30 minutes, until the flesh is quite soft and easily punctured with a fork.

**you can also use a baking sheet, place small amount of water in bottom of pan, place pumpkin wedges cut side down and bake them at 400 degrees for the same amount of time, 20-30 minutes.

6. Process to a smooth puree in a puree machine or a blender. Simple season now as you like, light salt and extra light pepper. This will insure you can use this puree with all your recipes that call for pumpkin, deserts or savory meals.

7. Transfer the puree to a sieve (you can line it with several layers of paper towels or cheese cloth) and allow to cool and drain for about 30 minutes.

8. Place the puree in freezer bags or plastic containers, and either freeze or refrigerate until ready to use.

Say WHAT?! (repost from DCP)

See my sweet little 3 year old? Isnt she cute?

Even with her furrowed brow, still cute right?
And throwing a little sass being silly wild and trying to be funny, aww cute still!
And when her sister makes her mad, dropping the "F-BOMB" Umm, yeah that happened.... Guess I should stop thinking it's so cute before that becomes a daily word for my cute little girl!

boys will be boys

A dear friend of mine had a recent break up... All I can say is he lost his mind. But I did find some really funny sympathy cards, check out the link, too funny, I sent this one to her, I love it!
http://www.foxyblunt.com/product/with_deepest_sympathy.aspx

Also today is her birthday, Happy Birthday and a toast to you and that this year will be the best yet! xo

New Socks

I love new socks.... The problem with socks though is that as they are washed and shrink in sizes, the sizes are not that far apart. I have three little girls and they get mixed up, oldest with middle and middle with youngest even though we buy different style socks for each kiddo, SO, our solution has been for many years to label them... We have done this since we were in Germany and my amazing friend's husband had a theory to label socks and number them. It is GREAT and I LOVE organization... So, I have done this over the years, great system, HOWEVER< I watched the Jerry Seinfeld show "The Marriage Ref" and they had a guy on there who numbered and did Left and Right, and they totally laughed about it... I think it's funny too, but the fact is, it works and I wont stop! BUT, it did make me go less neurotic, so now it is just the girls FIRST initial on their lot of socks and no more numbers R-1 R-1, R-2 R-2, R-3 R-3.... Now were down to just "R" I could certainly go oerboard with organization if I could, BUT it is supposed to help add time to my life and the numbers added a short time to the sorting by trying to find the number match... It works for me, and I had to share my little sock trick ;)
1- bag of new socks (ahh, nothing better ;)
2- sharpie
3- label on bottom under toe so nothing shows when they are walking in them or in a show.
4- wah- lah, enjoy the extra time you wont spend laying out a million little white socks doing the size up game ;)

It's a small small Military world out there!

SOOO, today was a military COC (Change of Comand) I attended. I wanted to meet some military friends and support the new commander coming in, also my stud military man was a part of the ceremony.... Lets not mention I was late because it was so dripping hot out, I knew my middle lady would litterally have a melt down, so we waited and attended the.... well, lets just call it the "after party", yeah that's how we roll, lol. I mingled and chatted and met some ladies, got all signed up for some contacts, some hopefull friends in sight I think and low and behold, one of my close friends who lives far away, HER FRIEND, who I have seen for YEARS in scrape books, so I flet I knew her, was there, and NOW I am officially in the cool girls club! lol, yep, I made some friend contacts people!!! And I already know they are solid, so look what a little complaining and patience gets me! Look out world, I may find a mommy friend play date soon!!! WOOO HOOOO!!!!!

Speaking of new cothes

I had to post this picture because in my last post I wrote about my relatives being of dairy farming roots (this is not my relative) But take a long look at this picture... It annoys me. She has dishes piled next to the sink, she does not look like she is perfectly put together, she looks like she has been working, like a normal woman would look, I am annoyed because why is it we feel pressured to look good while we do the same jobs as our ancestors did? It is hard work to raise a family, we work our butts off and it is crazy to put more stress on ourselves. I mean if you google the 1950's, 40's, 30's house wife, you will see perfect woman in the kitchen in aprons, but the truth is those images are the only ones that made it in magazines, advertising or posing for a rare picture, not everyone had a camera in those days... But in reality, they had on their Sunday best and lip stick, it is not reality, in reality they dressed to work their butts off on a daily basis, and the house was not always perfect. Woman went throught heir husbands working long hours or being gone for war, they went through financial turmoil, are there parallels there, absolutely... I'm sure there was a little preassure to look good, but they only worried about that on Sunday... I made a post of this, and I truley dont wear makeup, I dont "do" my hair and I dont get dressed up on a regular basis, what you see is what you get, I will throw on a jacket, sunglasses, lip gloss and that is me getting ready.... I just hope my 3 girls are not sucked into this false vicious quest for perfection... It's BS, just like a clean house. I admit, my house is ubber organized, I love that, but it is clean when I clean it, and dirty the second my children walk in the door with their muddy feet and terrorizing ways. Then the cycle begins again... I dont want my girls to have a horrible house, of course not, but I also want them to be ok with a dish in the sink or a shirt in the laundry... Maybe the problem is I bought into it, and that is really what annoys me, I see it's not rational to be in a race witht hings that pile up, maybe if I can come to gripes with this, it will teach the girls much better than anyhting I could say, leading by example...

Organic cheat sheet

I'm noone's mother here but my three little ladies, so no lecture attached, I'll save that for them later on down the road. If anyone is interested in buying organically, I say this is a great cheat sheet to follow, on the left are produce to buy always organically on the right side, low pesticides... My rule is to try and follow this, it is hard when J is home, he battles me on everything, so this issue is no exception and also some places dont have the best selections of things... I also say ALWAYS buy milk with no added growth hormones... Organic is great too, but for me it's important just to make sure the meat and dairy you consume has no added growth hormones, they are good news for those who make money at that business, but in my opinion, bad for our bodies... Many people will argue this fact and it may just be me being cautious, but seriously, they used to give preganant woman drugs they said were ok, and then they said they caused birth defects.... It is a slippery slope for me I dont want to go down to argue the point of a dollar or two....
I will attach an article that debates the milk thing a little by Anderson Cooper, just so you know I'm really not trying to push my opinion on someone, I say make your own, but that's just what I try to do. I come from a line of dairy farmers from the old country who moved to Wisconsin and had a huge successful dairy farm... also my more recent relatives raised their own cows and milked them. All of them fresh organic milk because that is the way it had been done back in the day, so they raised them in the way of tradition, why are we leaping into this phase of hormones... (ok, ok, off the soap box ;)

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/09/got-milk-got-hormones-got-a-problem-with-that/

( I skimmed the article first, pun intended, and just now read the full article, so any parallels were coincidence, but it's funny I do feel that way)

Over the hills, "HILLS"

I cant help but be in love with this outfit... I love to get dressed up on Occasion, but on a daily basis, I am cooking and cleaning and running errands, I think this is perfect to wear jeans and a white t-shirt and then throw on an amazing jacket to go out and about or drinks with friends or date night, I love it.... J, on the other hand says you have to be a size zero, which I am not, to wear this outfit.... Oh well, I will dream a little.... So then maybe I dont get the jeans targeted at 18 year olds, but made to fit 12 years olds, the butt crack jeans with the amazing built in booty support... I've heard about jeans called "Not your daughters jeans" but those look too old, isnt there something in between new and old? It's not really the pants that pull this outfit off, it's the cool jacket.... So while we are going through a heat wave, I am preparing for the cool fall months already! lol, doesnt anyone else do that? You get so much of a better deal to buy jeans and jackets when the days are scorching.... Anyhow, I will keep you posted if I can modify this outfit and not look like I'm trying to be the next over the hills "HILLS" girl! lol!

R. Lee Ermey Geico Commerical

Ok, Ok, I'll stop complaining about not having a friend here yet! LOL!!

And my new sunglasses are..... Number 2! I have been wanting a nice pair of Aviators and searched all the brands and types and finally settled on Coach, they fit my face, which I obviously have a big head, which means a huge brain too! lol!

hellos and good byes

I have been through deployments. Long one's, short ones, and everywhere in between. This, however, is getting to me... A constant state of hello's and good byes. Not for long of course, and that does make it better, but there is an underlying unsettled feeling in our family, that post deployment talk they talk about where the wife is used tot hings her way and the husband is used to being in charge and running things his way, bound to end in misunderstandings. And while our new life brings these sporadic good byes, the realization of the stress does too. When they are gone for a while, the reality of long deployments sink in, you start to get on your own groove and you tread water until the Calvary is home. I could lie and say how well it is going, many spouses do. We want to be tough and strong, we dont want to burden anyone and think, "Come on woman do this everyday" The fact is most military spouses are not station near family or friends, and many deployments happen when you first move somewhere new before you can plant any roots, you are then faced with the stress of moving and being alone. As was the case for me and woman I knew, many of our deployments happened when we were not even on the same continent as our families, and it was by my good luck and fortune, that my mom was afraid to fly, refused to fly, so no breaks for me. (I have since broken her of that habit, and flown her out to see us as I posted in previous posts)
This new thing were doing is not typical, and it is hard... He is gone before the girls and I get up, home at dark or just before (and that is when he is "home") and as of last night the battle of who would put the girls to bed ensued.. This is just an example of many silly things that pop up, No one is right here, there is no right side to any of these little battles, it is just stress, and we are both under it. He is only home a short time before he leaves again, but my life has been this military revolving door of hellos and good byes and it is a hard road that no one wants to admit. I certainly dont... It is especially hard for me right now because I am searching for a friend here, someone to hang out with and who gets it... Someone who will get the stress of the kiddos, as amazing as my children and husband are, this is hard, harder than you know, and I have not blogged about a part that makes my stress unique to our family, but I feel that blog will be coming soon. I am new to this location and what makes it hard for me is two fold. One, I am not on a military base where it is much easier to meet people in like circumstances, and two... I am the second kind of personality. There are two kinds of people, extraverted adn introverted.. I am not shy by any means, but the difference in the two are like trees, some trees plant short roots, but many roots that stretch over a broad surface, and those like me, plant only a few roots, but plant them deep...I have always beent hat way, it is uncomfortable for me to be around people I dont know, but once I know someone, people think I am extroverted and laugh when I tell them I really am not... My husband is the opposite (who knew right!) I have been settling in the new house, gettign the girls life sqared away and trying to hold things together as much as I could, but this has been hard in some respects, easy in others... But the fact remains, I need to get out there and meet some military ladies. Newbies would be best, were all in the same boat, and even though I am introverted with my roots close to me, I make friends very easily and quickly, I think many military woman learn this trick, so me living next to civilians, who have the friends they had since school or at least for a few years to decades, they think it has only beena short amount of time and they will warm up to me soon enough, Military spouses dont have that luxury, we know we dont, so it is more like elementary school than middle school. Remember that, when you would walk up to someone and say "Hi my name is _ what to be my friend?" And you'd gallop off to play some game or bother the boys, lol! Military life is similar, "Hi, my name is Suzy Homemaker, originally from another state, stationed previously across the globe, working in jobs I can pick up and move at the drop of a dime or staying at home right now, where were you stationed, do you have kids? Want to have coffee with the kids sometime?"
We are a strong bunch and it seems what bothered me when we were first in, doesnt even make me flinch now... As you go down being a career wife's path though, new jobs in the military bring unique circumstances and it is hard to juggle at first... I know we will get a handle on this, we always do. It is just a hard road that is extremely rewarding, but you have to get through these storms to appreciate the rainbows...
The moral is, no matter what the military throws out at a spouse, the hellos and good byes, the highs and the lows, the blow seems softer when she has a friend to decompress with a warm cup of coffee or a cold glass of wine!

Dunkin Donuts Coffee, HA-mazing!

I guess living in the Starbucks Meca of the world, and even traveling internationally there is a Starbucks on every corner... You walk into a major multi story starbucks and there are reading rooms sitting areas, there is a feeling in there, kind of cool with the art and the wafting coffee, buisness men and couples dating late night sitting in these cozy configured seatting areas... I guess I had become a Starbucks snob.... No Dunkin Donuts where I lived for many many years, so when I heard they beat Starbucks, I thought, it must have been a close one.... a tight race.... Well, as I traveled on Post doing my by-weekly shopping adventure in the Commissary, to my surprize, they were out of my usual coffee, I buy K-cups for my Cuisinart coffee maker which I love and adore... With an annoyed deep throaty *sigh* I look at what my choices are..... What crap is going to get me through my mornings dealing with all the crazies all day now that summer is out... I grab a bag of Dunkin Donuts Vanilla flavored coffee.... "here we go" I think, let's see what all that hype was about. Totally preparing myself for a let down and to do as I usually do, use only a few scoops out of the bag and throw it out once I find my coffee is back instore.
So I get up, open the bag, hey this smells good I think, maybe it will get me through... I brew the cup, add my ussual, 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and 2 Tablespoons (who am I kidding 3!) of Italian Creme and stir it together with whatever plastic kids spoon was sitting on the counter....I warm my hands on the Polish Pottery mug I had to have for a Christmas present from J and pull it close to my face as I pace, take a deep inhale and a small sip.... HOLY MOLY! This stuff is GOOD! I take another sip, and then find myself gulping it down like it was hot choclate on a snowey day and I was 8 years old! It didnt have that bitter bite that Starbucks had... that most coffee's I have tried have, I could not believe it was THAT much better... I really thought it would be like a Pepsi/ Coke, one person likes one better, but this blew me away.... NO MORE COFFEE SNOBBERY, I am converted and am on a mission to spread the word!
For those of you who dont know the ins and outs of military life, one time honored tradition amungst wives is called "The Coffee" it is a social of sorts.... We get together when the boys are gone and serve, you got it, coffee... also tea and soda... ok fine, and wine! But we get a break of adult time and share gripes and laugh, it is a rough road were on, no bashing here, just mutual respect for the battle we face.... Swapping recipies, sharing new upcomming events and socilas, kids activities, games, just good old fun to get out of the normal hum drum routine we are on every day.... Well, I'm sure you know the point I am getting to, I will be serving Dunkin Donuts at any I host for sure..... They have fairtrade espresso in their stores and even offer light fare for breakfast, so I say to anyone waiting and thinking about it or just wanting a cool brand to frquent, SAVE YOUR TIME AND MONEY, Dunkin Donuts is where it's at! ;)

This is my dining room (the table pictured is not there anymore, it is an empty room right now with just a Hutch on the wall) and the table with the slate in the middle is the table we have been waiting on since JANUARY from Germany.... I am patient and now we are getting free shipping on this, but can I please have a dinning room table to eat at as we are playing musical chairs at the Kitchen Island! lol.... Good things come to those who wait I guess since this is the table I have wanted since we lived in Germany many many years ago, it is made out of reclaimed wood from farm houses in Germnay, France, The Netherlands, and Spain, all the pieces are amazing, and the people who build it are the nicest people with their base in Germany.
I am just on pins and needles to finally have a dining room table back, I will keep you posted, Poker table, still unfinished as we have had some Chimney issues and lots of small weekend warrior projects, home owning is constant upkeep, it is so funny how when we were in Germany or renting, my girls would do something and I would think, "no biggie, I'll hit it with the Mr. Clean Magic eraser later" and now I see them wreaking havoc and I think " Someone wants to die trying to destroy my house today!" lol, it is so funny the things I worry about now, are the trees too close to the house, should we repaint that, seal that, replace that... *sigh* and so it goes... So hopefully I can get my new dining room table, something that wont require me working on the weekends, something pretty I can enjoy and it is rustic enough if my crazies scrape, rub, poke it, it will look fine....
Now I have until it comes to decide which dinning chairs I should get, I am thinking a bench or settee on one side and a few chairs on the other?

Home made Outback Walkabout soup!

I have tried many recipes for this soup as the military has sent us around the world with no Outbacks in sight and it is a yummy comfort food of mine, this wonderful creamy onion Walkabout soup... Even my ubber picky sister in law who will litterally pick her food appart and hates vegies likes this as the onions are cooked super soft and mild... So FINALLY I have perfected it from a combination of a few recipes I have found, yumm-O, enjoy it if you dare!!

-Cut up a huge onion (or two medium) to the size you like to eat, (preferably very thin for me)
In a pot melt a Tablespoon of butter (or more if you like) and cook onions clear and let them get soft, (dont caramelize, but if a few do, you probably cooked it perfectly, just dont caramelize them all)
*In a separate pot cook 3 Tablespoons Butter, 3Tablespoons Flour, pinch of salt, and 1 and a half cups milk, combine, bring to a boil, done with this* This is to be set aside and let cooled slightly while you continue with your base*
- To the onions add 1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth , beef bouillon cube ( I prefer the package that has no MSG's in it-comes in a box not a jar), salt, pepper to taste (lots of pepper to get it right for the Walkabout), and stir until completely heated through.
- Cook that for as long as you think gets the onion nice and soft, softer the better, I say maybe 30 minutes, but you can pull it sooner if you like.
- Add your plain Bechamel Sauce you made and cooled, and about a cup or a cup and a half of your favorite cheese, I have used all kinds and found normal reduced fat shredded cheese works just fine and I have it on hand.
Mix together, heat slightly, serve it up with a small sprinkling of more of the shredded cheese to top it off and enjoy.
**This is super easy when your making it, and super cheap and tastes just like Outback to me, but adjust your seasoning to our own taste buds and enjoy!


Ingredients


* 1 tablespoons butter
* onion
* 2 cups chicken broth or 1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
* pinch salt
* pepper
* bouillon packet or cube
* 1 cup cheese

* Bechamel sauce

White Bechamel Sauce Recipe (this is the most basic recipe, but you can use other spices to spice your Bechemel for other soups, this recipe just needs a plain one)
* 3 tablespoons butter
* pinch salt
* 3 tablespoons flour
* 1 1/2 cups skim milk
(add butter then flour once combined add milk and salt)

Quotes for the 4th

I googled, yes I googled ;) So here are some amazing Quotes for the 4th that by the time I read through them, my eyes are filled with tears as I love this country more than I could say for everything it is , stands for and strives to be.....

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~Thomas Paine


He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. ~Thomas Paine


This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. ~Elmer Davis


The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation. ~Woodrow Wilson


Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have. ~Harry Emerson Fosdick


Let freedom never perish in your hands. ~Joseph Addison


You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die. ~Dwight D. Eisenhower


In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt


A statistician made a few calculations and discovered that since the birth of our nation more lives had been lost in celebrating independence than in winning it. ~Curtis Billings


Freedom's natal day is here.
Fire the guns and shout for freedom,
See the flag above unfurled!
Hail the stars and stripes forever,
Dearest flag in all the world.
~Florence A. Jones


This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith. ~Lyndon B. Johnson


For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail? ~Ralph Waldo Emerson


That which distinguishes this day from all others is that then both orators and artillerymen shoot blank cartridges. ~John Burroughs, Journal


Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty. ~Louis D. Brandeis


Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better. ~Albert Camus


It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you. ~Author unknown, sometimes attributed to M. Grundler


Liberty is the breath of life to nations. ~George Bernard Shaw


America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact - the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality. ~Adlai Stevenson


May the sun in his course visit no land more free, more happy, more lovely, than this our own country! ~Daniel Webster


We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls. ~Robert J. McCracken


If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace. ~Hamilton Fish


I prefer liberty with danger to peace with slavery. ~Author Unknown


I love my freedom. I love my America. ~Jessi Lane Adams


Without freedom, no one really has a name. ~Milton Acorda


Where liberty dwells, there is my country. ~Benjamin Franklin

All we have of freedom, all we use or know -
This our fathers bought for us long and long ago.
~Rudyard Kipling, The Old Issue, 1899


Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. ~George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, "Maxims: Liberty and Equality," 1905


It is the love of country that has lighted and that keeps glowing the holy fire of patriotism. ~J. Horace McFarland


The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on free men. ~Franklin D. Roosevelt


I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom. ~Simone de Beauvoir


The United States is the only country with a known birthday. ~James G. Blaine


Many politicians are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. ~Thomas Macaulay


Then join hand in hand, brave Americans all!
By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.
~John Dickinson


We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner


My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy! ~Thomas Jefferson


What is the essence of America? Finding and maintaining that perfect, delicate balance between freedom "to" and freedom "from." ~Marilyn vos Savant, in Parade


How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy. ~Paul Sweeney


From every mountain side
Let Freedom ring.
~Samuel F. Smith, "America"


We need an America with the wisdom of experience. But we must not let America grow old in spirit. ~Hubert H. Humphrey


Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln


Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. ~Moshe Dayan


And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood


It is sweet to serve one's country by deeds, and it is not absurd to serve her by words. ~Sallust


My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue. ~Author Unknown


Freedom is not enough. ~Lyndon B. Johnson


We are free, truly free, when we don't need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths. ~Ricardo Flores Magon, speech, 31 May 1914


Freedom is never free. ~Author Unknown


There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton

Happy 4th of July!!!

Today we will be going to the Military Base to celebrate with all the festivities they have to offer, I hear they have rides for the kiddos and plenty of fair type junk food to keep them awake through the cracks and booms of the Fireworks, which I hear is a pretty great show! I will post pictures tomorrow, but had to come on and say Happy Independence day, I truly bleed Red White and Blue, I have been to many places on this big beautiful globe, but no place on earth compares to the United States of America and all it stands for... God Bless the US!!! Hope you all enjoy yours and never forget the soldiers who are away from their families so that we can be with ours!!

Invisible Mother

A friend of mine shared this with me and I had to post it....

Invisible Mother

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?". Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it? I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel??".I'm the car to order, "Right around 5:30 please"

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude -but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, She's going, She's gone!?

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package and said "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she had given it to me until I read her inscription.

"To Charlotte with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees"

In the days ahead, I would read -no, devour- the book and I would discover what would become for me, four life changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals-we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of god saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof. No one will ever see it." and the workman replied" Because God sees"

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard god whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When i really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving. "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table. That would mean I had built a monument or a shrine to myself. I just want him to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friends, to add, "You're going to love it there".

As mothers, we are building cathedrals. We cannot always see if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great job moms!

Poker baby

I found this poker table on Craigslist, it is perfect for the rumpus room... So, I snatched it up for 140.00 and it is the big dog's fathers day present. Only thing is once we got it home, it needs some TLC, so I am thinking of painting it black and re-doing the faux leather top in black as well... It is a bumper pool table, card table, and poker table all in one. Also needs some cool chairs to go around.... I will post the after pictures in a few weeks, but had to get this up here before I found myself neglecting my poor blog again! ;)

A day full of fun making our own bubble wands with wire, look how much my baby has grown!! xo

I'm BAAACK!!!

Ok, after my long neglected days of no blog entries, I am back and ready to go full force. What exactly will I be blogging about? Who knows, but I'm sure it will have everything to do with being a military wife, stay at home mom, all things domestic, photography, decorating and renovating our new house (finally a home owner!) and especially my adorable little ladies (pics to follow)! Thanks for coming along for the ride and hope to hear from you all! xo