"He went to Jared"

Jay surprised me with a weekend in a cabin....on the lake.








Then he surprised me with a box. When I opened it...I smiled and yelled, "He went to Jared!" I've been waiting to say those words...
Laurel made "Anniversary brownies" Yummo!

Part of Jay's present was a cribbage board, which is a reasonable copy of a board he used to play on with his grandfather...we played for hours.
While Jay and Miah played on the picnic table, Laurel and I took a walk:

















A view of the "cabin".

Just a few feet past the back door.
The view from the window.








Jay and Miah caught up with us after the game.

Water!

I didn't get any good pictures, but Dobby did go swimming with us, spending most of the time standing on Jay's shoulders.



Beautiful view...
Dobby cuddling with her family...she was tuckered out.

On the way home...we drove over a loooong bridge. I hate being on bridges, but love the way they look.
This was the best weekend in a long time. Laurel and I got lightly sunburned, but it was worth it. Not a person in sight, and it was all peace and quiet. Jay promises that next time we'll be in a tent instead of a cabin, because that is really my idea of heaven. I can't wait!

Laurel's first football game Sept 9th 2009

I just want to point out the irony of the CHEERLEADERS doing a routine to Taylor Swift's "You belong with me". The people you hear laughing hysterically are my husband and Miah. Jay is nearly 30 and even HE knows that this is not a pro cheerleader song. It's just way too funny!

It's Official

Dobby and Ben are playing. I'd be shooting video right now, but the girls are watching "Edward Scissorhands" in the dark. Dob and Ben are dancing around the room, and trampling Laurel (who is on the floor) Ben has the funniest bark! I think the two of them are going to be friends. How lucky is this? The only two dogs she has ever liked were Chet and my mom's dog Petie. Meant to be, I guess! Jay is on his way back from today's funeral, so I need to get into the kitchen and make dinner. Tomorrow Jay gets to bond with the new pup. Pictures later...

Okay, more pictures

The kids are in love.

Our New Baby

We met our new baby today. Dobby approved, and so did his parents, so he came home with us!


He was so good in the car!!

And likes the camera...

They love peanut butter! Laurel couldn't help herself.

We were a little worried about how Dobby would react to a new pup, so we brought her with us. She was so nice and well behaved we were amazed. Clearly she fell in love with him too! Right now the kids are napping on the floor with Ben, and Dobby is sitting nearby. They have been playing, squealing, giggling, and howling. I think Ben is the perfect addition. I feel for Nicki and her husband though, because it couldn't have been easy to watch him go. So far the only thing we are going to have to work on is the stairs. He's not excited about them. It's going to be really funny when Jay has to carry him to bed each night. I can't wait for that picture!

Happy Valley Barns Commercial

Need a storage building? Gazebo? Horse barn? Metal building? Storm shelter? Car port?
See my mom!

Make a Pepper!

Join Chili's in the fight against childhood cancer.

Create a Pepper.

Not a lot going on, so here are some Quizzes!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6 am

2. How do you like your steak? Well done

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? I can't even remember...

4. What is your favorite TV show? House/Army Wives/Drop Dead Diva

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? You know what? Edmonton Kentucky. No, Really.

6. What did you have for breakfast today? Bagel, garden veggie cream cheese

7. What is your favorite cuisine? My own recipe...Spinach pasta (Very Yummy)

8. What foods do you dislike? I do not like most kinds of beans.

9. Favorite Place to Eat? Yamato's in Clarksville, Tn.

10. Favorite dressing? Italian

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? An suv

12. What are your favorite clothes? Cotton pants and fancy t-shirt from target.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Italy

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Half empty.

15. Where would you want to retire? My farm

16. Favorite time of day? Sunset

17. Where were you born? Indianapolis

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? errr...Wipeout! (I hate sports)

19. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night person

20. Do you have any pets? Two kids, several fish, and a tiny little dog!

21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Going on a tiny trip for our ten yr anniversary!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Paleo-anthropologist

27. What is your best childhood memory? The valley, band camp

28. Are you a cat or dog person? DOG

29. Are you married? yes

30. Always wear your seat belt? Not as much now.

31. Been in a car accident? yes, but it wasn't MY fault!!

32. Any pet peeves? stupidity. hypocrisy, people who are always mispronouncing words.

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Spinach Alfredo

34. Favorite Flower? dandelions

35. Favorite ice cream? coffee

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Captain D's

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None

38. From whom did you get your last email? Facebook (update from Sheila)

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Credit cards are evil.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Not really

41. Like your job? What job?

42. Broccoli? What about it?

43. What was your favorite vacation? Maine

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? Jay

45. What are you listening to right now? Ellen talking about the 6yr old who stole his parents car.

46. What is your favorite color? Green

47. How many tattoos do you have? three

48. Coffee Drinker? Yup


*********************************************************************************
Finish The Sentence....

1. My ex lives in …... who cares?

2. Maybe I should.....finish getting ready for our trip!

3. I love... early spring mornings

4. People would say that I am... different

5. I don't understand.... stupid people

6. When I wake up in the morning... I wish Jay was still in bed, instead of at pt.

7. I trust... no one.

8. Life is full of... experiences, but the important thing is what you take from them.

9. My past taught me....not to trust anyone.

10. I get annoyed with...idiots

11. Parties are .... not my thing

12. I hope to....spend more time in my art room.

13. Dogs are...the best people

14. Cats are...independent, aloof

15. Tomorrow will…..be fun!

16. I have a low tolerance for...stupidity, and lack of logic

17. If I had a million dollars.....I'd put it in my savings account, and go about my life

18. I'm terrified of...I wouldn't say I was terrified of anything.

19. When I look at the night sky I think.....I wish I could float up there.

20. If I could be anyone it would be...Jay. I'd like to see what it was like to be him for a few months. (I'd totally screw up his career, though)

21. I hate...people who are famous for no darn good reason.


*************************************************************************

Let's see how much you remember!

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED? no
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? no
3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? I was scared, and mad at myself
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 17
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? home pregnancy test
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? B.J. (He refused to believe me!!)
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? yea
9. DUE DATE? May 19th
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Not really
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? Rice a roni
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? B.J. We had huge fights, and well, it was rough.
13. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD'S SEX? girl
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? nope
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 50 I think
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Yes!
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? I had horrible swelling.
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Glasgow, Ky
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? 23? ish.
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? my mom
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? no one, I was alone. My mom had been in the labor room, but not delivery
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? The dr lied to me and told me it was to help me sleep. I was exhausted. But that was just before the birth. I spent the rest of the labor undrugged.
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs 11 3/4 th ozs
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? May 29th
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HER? Laurel Emma Bailey Wilson


*****************************************************************************

Second Born:

1. WAS YOUR PREGNANCY PLANNED? nope. Accidentally got pregnant on my wedding night!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? Yes
3. WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION? Shock
5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 20
6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? home pregnancy test
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? Jay, My mom
8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? nope
9. DUE DATE? June 20th
10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? Oh, god yes!
11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? nothing that I really remember
12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? Jay. My hormones made me a horrible, angry witch!!
13. WHAT WAS YOUR CHILD'S SEX? girl
14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? nope, I was desperate for another girl.
15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? less than 15
16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? no
17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW?
18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? Hormones, and severe morning sickness
19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Bowling green, Ky
20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? a day and a half
21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? my mom
22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? no one, Jay was in training, and just missed the birth by a few hours.
23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? Natural
24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? no
25. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 7lbs 13 ozs
26. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? June 23rd
27. WHAT DID YOU NAME HER? Miah Amburs La Forest

Well, that cured some of MY boredom! Why don't you try these, and link me to your answers?
Have fun!

Stacy

Whatever you do, stay away from the tuba player!

I found myself automatically saying this to Laurel yesterday after she told me about what a huge wiener the Tuba guy in her band is. Oops. For the record, it's that huge Tuba they have to carry around, it makes them act crazy! LOL
My computer died, hopefully NOT taking all of my pictures with it, but at least temporarily rendering me incapable of really doing much on my blog. Not like there is a lot going on.
Miah is ill, and is on her second day of watching Scooby Doo in my bedroom. She has a tiny fever, and huge lymph nodes, and judging from the way people are reacting to the swine flu conspiracy...well, it's just easier to keep her home to be on the safe side. Her School nurse just called to make sure Miah is okay...which is sweet. Poor kid. Her homework is piling up as we speak! Good news though, the nurse said that they are being lenient about sick days recently.
Jay's mother decided to email me nastiness. I'm tempted to post her nasty words so that everyone in the blogosphere can shake their heads at her stupidity...but I don't think I want to admit to knowing Theresa Claire SanSouci. She isn't important, and is only lashing out because she ruined any chance of having her son in her life. I am going to have to do SOMETHING though, if she doesn't leave us alone.
Also, I turned 30 last week. Laurel made me a cake and my mom snuck down for a visit, but I was too ill to go anywhere. Bummer. Mom made me a huge and awesome scrapbook of our family, gave me a pair of silver earrings, and 140.00 gift card for Mary Kay (totally awesome!)
Jay bought me a turn table that will convert all of my dad's records into mp3 files. Now I just have to get my computer fixed!!

"Army Wives"

I'm recording a month's worth of Army Wives for my friend Sheila, and this song is featured during one of the more poignant moments. It's absolutely beautiful, and wanted to share the entire thing.

Thursday's Thoughts

First I must apologize for the failure to post these past few weeks. Small changes to my schedule and massive amounts of laziness caused me to fail to live up to my commitment. I frequently do things like this, but my dearest friend reminded me of my obligation. Hopefully I can get back on track.

Today's thought:

It's amazing to me that in the military we torture someone with an anal formation in order to thank them. - 1405 25OCT03

This was written close to the end of my first tour in Iraq, when all the end of tour awards were being passed out, it began to seem like the receiving of these awards took more effort than the earning of them. It reflects itself heavily on the detail I've been on this past month, and will be on for another two. I have been tasked to the Fort Gordon Installation Support Platoon. This is Fort Gordon's answer to post-wide taskings and details, the primary one of which is the funeral detail. Most people are familiar in one way or another with the military funeral honors, a right afforded to any soldier who served in the military and received an honorable discharge. There are two types afforded to soldiers based on how long the soldier served as well as other things. I had seen these ceremonies preformed on TV and in movies, but did not have first hand knowledge until this detail started.
I couple this information with this week's thought because I find myself in a curious situation. On the one hand I realize that this is on of the most painful days in the lives of the family, the day they lay the remains of their loved ones in the ground, the day they say their final good-byes. I feel for them, I sympathize deeply with their loss. On the other hand, however, each funeral leaves me more and more detached from the situation. It has become like a play, the desire to preform perfectly overwhelming the empathy.
This is rooted in the same place as any other military ceremony. As soldiers we desire that every thing we do be done well, especially if it is in order to honor another soldier. We do this not out of pride in ourselves, but in our tradition and in order to show respect for not just the individual we are honoring, but all that have come before us. I just worry that (this time in particular) we might loose sight of the goal in the minutia. I worry that when I present the new widow with a flag and recite the words I've been made to memorize that the lack of personalization may be a torture in itself. I worry that we may be torturing the family in order to render the honors these men deserve.

This week's thought was long, and a little out of my norm, but a bit cathartic. Have a great week, and I expect to be back to normal by the next time we meet.

First Day of School

On the way to school :

Daddy's turn to take pictures:

My turn:

It was a good one! No complaints, no issues! Miah got smilies and both girls came home with white pants still white. Yay!

I'm not holding my breath...those pants will be out of commission in a month.

Not a lot going on in my neck of the woods. One of my friends is nearby, and hopefully will actually get to stop and visit. I can't wait to take her to the Japanese place so we can try it out. I'll let you know how that goes! Life is dull. Simple. Uneventful. Which is what we were hoping for. I'm currently plotting my next move, trying to think of something to do that I can accomplish during school hours. The soup kitchen is in a scary part of town (at least the one I found) and I'm not sure I want to go back to the Red Cross. I'm open to ideas though!

Miah's Second day of school: (She wonders why the 2nd day isn't as important? lol)

Just because:

Miah is waiting to go to school, I'm off!