Yes, we are home!!

We made it home Monday evening. It was a long day and a bit stressful, but we made it! Since landing, we have been really busy and things won't calm down for a few more days. My hubby tried surprising us by not telling us he was coming home early, but I am too smart and figured his plan out, hehe! We had planned for our friend to come pick us up at the airport, but Brandon was going to surprise us by being there. A very sweet idea, but I am not a fan of surprises, so I am glad I knew about it before hand.

Here's a small, little scene from the airport..

Walking out of the airplane towards the waiting area..

Me- "Okay, Kyle, we are gonna see Daddy!"
K- "k, Mama!"

walking some more..

K- "k, Mama, run to my Dada!
Me- "Baby, Mama can't run, ok?"
K- "me run my Dada"
Me- "Okay, you can run to Daddy"

walking some more..

Kyle spotting Daddy..
Kyle taking off at full speed towards his Daddy's arms! =)

I seriously was about to start crying, but had to keep my composure in the airport. Kyle even got teary-eyed!! We are so happy to be reunited as a family. It feels great! Oh, and as if it wasn't enough to just come home.. but it was great coming home to a clean house! Yep, my hubby surprised me by doing his own five loads of laundry and cleaning up the whole house. *sigh* I love my husband! :)

Sale @ Limited Too

Limited Too is having a Buy One Get One free online sale (mix and match) on everything. You can also use the coupon code 758 to get an additional 30% off!! If you have a young girl to shop for this Christmas, this is a great deal!! Their sizes run big, too.. my mom can fit into the larger sizes (Arlene you can fit this stuff!!). Hope this can help someone!

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

To check out other slow cooking recipes, stop by Sandra's place!

Cheesy Chicken Spaghetti

Serves - 12 (1 cup each)

Ingredients:

16 oz. dry spaghetti, cooked

1 lb. Velveeta Light cheese, sliced

12.5 oz. can chicken breast, drained and flaked

10 3/4 oz. can 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup, undiluted

10 3/4 oz. can 98% fat free cream of chicken soup, undiluted

10 oz. can diced tomatoes and green chilies (Rotel)

4 oz. can mushroom stems and pieces, drained

1/2 cup water
1 small onion, diced

1 medium green pepper, diced

salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:
Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and stir to mix well.
Cook on LOW for 2-3 hours. Stir again just before serving.

*I just use enough boneless, skinless chicken breasts for the three of us, cooked and chopped.
** You can control how spicy you want this to be. I never use the whole can of Rotel, it is too spicy for me!

Birthday Girl!

Today, my niece Kylie turned 5 years old! I can't believe how fast she is growing up. I love my niece as if she were my own daughter (she even calls me her 2nd Mommy!!!). It is so hard not living near her and to not be able to watch her grow up! But, I am thankful that I'm still able to see her often. Happy Birthday, Kylie May! I love you!! :)

Holding Kylie's hand when she was just a few minutes old..


1st Christmas, just a month old

Kylie (9 months old) and I at a wedding reception.

Kylie on her 1st Birthday


Kylie and Brandon meeting for the 1st time

2yrs old

3yrs old


4yrs old


Kylie, a day short of turning 5!!

Wordless Wednesday - Sharing is Caring

To view other 'Wordless Wednesday' shots, or to post your own, go on over to 5minutesformom!

Input wanted!

I can't decide which one of these necklaces I want as a birthday gift from my hubby (although, I guess it's a present from myself since he insists that this isn't enough!). I love, love, LOVE both of them!! So, please, please, please tell me in the comments section which one YOU think I should get. Oh! And you don't have to have an account to leave a comment ;) I don't care if you put your real name, a made up name, or put anonymous - I just can't make a decision. So, help a girl out, will ya? Purty-please? :)

This one would say "Kyle & Leah"

And this one would say "True Love" and "06.04.05"

The Simple Woman's Daybook 11/17/08

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...
it is sunny, but a cold 54 degrees!

I am thinking...
that french toast for breakfast is sounding pretty good right now.

I am thankful for...
not catching the cold that went around the house last week! Five out of eight people got sick!

From the kitchen...
it is still slightly mess.. we had a mini Thanksgiving meal yesterday

I am reading...
recipes online... searching for a french toast recipe now, haha!

I am hoping...
I have enough room in our suitcases to get all of our stuff home!

I am creating...
a Christmas gift list.. totally slacking this year :(

I am hearing...
Cartoons on the tv, and Leah playing with one of Kyle's toy cars.

Around the house...
it is a huge mess from the weekend and a pre-Thanksgiving meal. Today is a cleaning day for sure!

One of my favorite things...
a hot, bubbly bath after a long, stressful day!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
this is my last week in California before returning home, so I am just going to enjoy it the best I can. There will be tons of pictures being taken, that's for sure!

Here is a picture that I am sharing with you...
Uncle Chris and Kyle riding around on Kylie's pink Jeep :-)
To read other Daybook's or to add your own to the list, go on over to The Simple Woman's Day book site hosted by Peggy!

I Heart Shoes

I'm starting to worry if I'm going to have enough room in my suitcases...

I used my birthday money (my Mom gave it to me early since she won't be in the U.S. for my Bday) to buy some clothes that fit.. and three pairs of shoes..

We went yard-salin' this weekend.. and I picked up two more pairs of shoes! Yikes! I have only been in Cali for 5wks!


My shoe fetish is slowly coming back. It disappeared right after I got married. Probably because I was pregnant and only wore flats or my Ugg's. A year later I got pregnant again, and went back to only wearing my flip-flops or flat shoes. Now that I am not pregnant and don't plan (I say plan because, God can make anything happen, right?) on being pregnant again.. I can start wearing shoes other than my flip-floppies!

Aren't these babies beautiful?!
(Oh! I think the most exciting part is that I only spent $34!!!)

You know, it's hard being away from my hubby. I miss him a whole lot. But over the past, almost 4yrs, of being together, I've kinda just gotten used to it. It's not as hard as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, not every day is just fine and peachy, it's just gotten a little easier. Thanks to this new base we are at, he's gone more than I would like. But I think the hardest part of Brandon being gone is having Daddy gone. Kyle is getting older and realizing that Daddy is really gone. He doesn't understand that Daddy will be home in a week or in a month. He just knows Daddy isn't with us.

While we've been here in California visiting family, Kyle has asked me numerous times to go home to Daddy. Once, he even told me that Daddy was mad at him (I guess he was thinkin' since we left first, Daddy made us leave or something!). Last night, the family was watching a movie and, of course, I was sitting on the laptop internet surfing. Kyle came to me out of nowhere and said "Mama, I miss Dada", I did the usual "I know, Baby, Daddy will be home soon, ok?". But I guess that didn't cut it for him. He started crying! It wasn't whimpering either, he had tears rolling down his face. And then he wanted to go to bed. Aye! That little boy sure knows how to make my heart hurt.

Thank you, Babe, for working and supporting me and the kids. I know it isn't easy being away and having to miss out on so much, but we definitely appreciate you! You take great care of us, and we love you so much. Time can't go by soon enough!!

To Die for Crock Pot Roast

To browse other slow cooker recipes or to participate, head on over to Sandra's place where she hosts Slow Cooking Thursday!

1 beef roast, any kind
1 (1 1/4 oz) pkg. brown gravy mix, dry
1 (1 1/4 oz) pkg. dried Italian salad dressing mix
1 (1 1/4 oz) pkg. ranch dressing mix, dry
1/2 C. water

Place beef roast in crock pot.
Mix the dry mixes together in a bowl and sprinkle over the roast.
Pour water over top.
Cook on low for 7-9hrs.

My sister has made this twice since I've been here at her house and I absolutely love it. I can't wait to get home to make it for my hubby! I am sure it would be great with veggies added in, too.

She did it!

Leah just took three steps all on her own!!

I just posted the video of her walking around the coffee table saying how she was so close to walking. And look what she did!

I had just taken her out of the bathtub and was drying her off when she took those precious steps on her own. It was like she was running away so she wouldn't have to put her diaper on, hehe.

I wish I could have gotten it on video, but she totally surprised even me! I screamed so loud!! :~)

She's taken a few more steps on her own, but not when we were recording! That little booger. She just needs to wait it out a little longer, so Daddy can be home to watch this huge milestone!!

I am such a PROUD Mommy! I love my life!! :~)



*photo was taken November 8th, 2008

Wordless Wednesday - Santa Monica Bch./Veteran's Memorial

To see other Wordless Wednesday photos, go here.

Simple Woman's Daybook 11/10/08

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window...
it is dark and chilly. I can also hear all the trees swishing and swooshing around.. it's very windy outside!

I am thinking...
how great it was to eat at On the Border again! I haven't eaten at a On the Border in almost 2 years!

I am thankful for...
yahoo messenger.. without it I wouldn't be able to "talk" to my husband while he is deployed.

From the kitchen...
my sister is making some tea.

I am wearing...
plaid pajama pants and my BIL's t-shirt.

I am reading...
the latest Cosmo mag.

I am hoping...
that we are able to go to downtown LA this week!

I am creating...
memories with my family.

I am hearing...
Tom and Jerry on TV and my sister and mom talking about Bath and Body Works.

Around the house...
you can tell that there are eight people staying in one house.

One of my favorite things...
a big glass of chocolate milk!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...
enjoying the last 2 weeks I have with my family before I return home to Florida!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

To join in the fun, go on over here!

She's SO Close!!!

To walking!!! I keep telling her that she absolutely cannot start walking until Daddy gets home!!

P.S. if you can't read her shirt, it says "I'm Proud My Daddy Is In The Air Force" =)
P.SS. did you notice that Leah's voice has changed?? so weird!

Such a happy baby girl

These videos were taken the day after Leah turned 8 months old. I would just look at her and she would start laughing.. I had to get it on video. I suppose I should have turned the lights on! Whoops.

Chocolate Drop Oatmeal Cookies

I've made this twice in the past week.. my family loves it and it goes very fast (there are 7 of us here right now though). That's the reason I don't have a picture to show. Just take my word for it, these are yummmmmy!

• 1 Stick butter
• 2 c. Sugar
• 1/2 c. Cocoa
• 1/2 c. Milk
• 2 1/2 c. Quick-cooking oats
• 1 tsp. Vanilla
• 1/2 c. Creamy peanut butter
  

Bring butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a rolling boil. Remove from heat and blend in peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and let cool. Enjoy!

Thoughts

Brandon posted this in a bulletin on MySpace, I thought it was great so I wanted to share it here.

Since the Democrats are taking over the White House and Congress the military probably wont get a raise for the next 8 years or more. Inflation will continue to go up, but we will get next to nothing for an annual raise. So I will be standing next to some of my military buddies in the welfare line in the next few years. Dont get me wrong, I think its great that America was able to elect an African American as President, but to me it has always been about the issues. If it would have been a conservative republican African American I would have gladly cast my vote for him. I am just curious to see how many of the Obama Movement hopes and dreams will actually come true. Maybe the redistribution of wealth will work out for me, but I sure would be ticked off if I worked hard my whole life to become wealthy only to find out that this wanna be Robin Hood character is going to take my money and give it to the poor. Call me crazy, but I am still hoping that some day we can ban abortion all together and that is never going to happen under a Democratic Washington. There are more reasons why I didnt want Obama to be our next President, but this ranting has gone on long enough.

Wordless Wednesday - Costumes

I am not a fan of Halloween, but I sometimes let the kids dress up and go trick or treating. That's it. Each year we make a new decision and usually it's last minute. This year I pretty much dressed the kids up because I didn't want them left out and I didn't want my niece to go trick or treating by herself. Anyways, enough of that. Kyle dressed up as Batman (again, it was a last min. idea.. he's wearing pajamas, LOL), Leah was a poodle, and my niece pretty much just wanted to be girlie, but I guess the costume was supposed to be a Flapper.

To see other Wordless Wednesday pictures, go here.