Here's to a long year to come....

John has his first class tonight, so from now on Tuesday through Thursday nights he will be in class til late, for this semester. Spring won't be any different time wise and the summer will only be only class a session, but he will be going at a higher pace. I just have to keep telling myself, its only a year, its only a year, its only a year (but, I'm forgetting he will then be completng it likely for his RN.)
So, please wish John luck in his studies!

In honor of schools starting....

Since schools are back in session, let's go back a little in time. What did you want to be when you grew up?

Occupation wise my switched around, marine biologist or astronaut were on there with me at different points in my childhood, but I think teaching was the biggest one that stuck for the longest. I still don't really know what I want to be when I grow up (nope, I'm like John, I haven't fully decided yet either.) But, the only thing that really mattered to me was wife and mother, and I couldn't have expected a better job!

Oh, and in case he reads this, Happy Birthday 39th Tommy! Enjoy the last year in your 30's!

Happy Labor Day!

Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekends! We had a nice time spending it away with friends in OC. John's coworker had us over with his 2 girls, who were quite taken with Bran (there will come a day that he enjoys young girls hanging over him) and we also met up with 1 of my friends and her family. So, now just the long wait until the next holiday time off, Thanksgiving, counting down the days, lol. Oh, and I got a snicker trying to explain to Bran that Labor Day was for those that labor, no, those that work, not necessarily those that go through labor ;)

Gonna get a complex

The past couple of days have been "funny."

1st we're in Wal-Mart, JJ's getting stickers from the greeter. This Amazon of a woman comes up saying how cute he is, looks at me and says in a disbelieving manner "oh, is he your baby?" Uh, no, I just stole him out of some other woman's arms (I guess one that's cute too) and decided instead of running to go into Wally World.I mean come on, he's only slightly darker than me and he has my eyes, nose, and lips (and John wasn't even 10 feet in front of me!) I guess it got to me because never once has anyone assumed I was a nanny, yet I know others have gone through that with their biracial kids from the start. I guess I was kinda proud that it was clear he was my kid, that I've left my mark. (and what's ironic, everyone has always assumed that Brandon is mine...)

Next, I was on the phone yesterday and our interperter was sitting next to my desk, she started laughing at me saying how she likes me accent (I was speaking Spanish) that its cute. I've never once thought about my "accent" when not speaking English. I know I say the words with the proper inflection, thanks to a good Spanish teacher who really pushed not having her students sound stupid, but it still made me wonder all day if my accent was really odd.....

tagged by Melissa

Four Things
Four place I go over and over:
WalMart
Work
Kristin's
McDonalds

Four people who e-mail me (regularly):
Ginny
Cyndi
Al
Bruce


Four places I would rather be right now:
Florida
Hawaii
OC (in a few hours!)
SO MD

Four TV shows/programs that I watch over and over:
CSI
Survivor
Big Brother
Lost

Four things I have for breakfast:
Sweet & Salty Bars
oatmeal
cereal
eggs & bacon/scrapple/sausage

Four animals I like best:
Monkeys
Dogs
Ducks
Panda Bears

Four beaches I’ve been to:
Paradise Cove, HI
Land-O-Lakes, FL
George Lake, NY
VA Beach, VA

Tag 4 people:
Ginny
Penny
Rhea
Michelle

Foto Friday

Gonna keep myself from posting a complaint, like I have the past couple of Fridays, so here's a pic of JJ, he was so good getting his hair cut, he even sat by himself (and mom could kick herself for not saving the pic she took of Ms Lynn cutting his hair.) And he told me afterwards how he likes Ms Lynn!

Also, if you get a chance, vote for JJ in the American Baby Cover Contest:
http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=282400007

My niece is cute too (great family genes huh), here's her pic if you want to vote again:

http://www.parents.com/app/sharemy/photoDetails.jsp?photoId=280500412

The Mullet

My son has a mullet, and no, I don't think its cool that he has "business in the front, party in the back." (I don't think its cool that I know that saying either.) But I can't touch it, trust me, there are pictures that show how bad mommy is with cutting his hair! Does anyone remember my almost bald son last year (but, to be honest, that was more Pop-Pop's fault there.) It just grows so quickly, it's so hard to keep up with! And when its long it gives me bad thoughts, such as how pretty it is and we need to try to have a daughter so I can put cute ribbons and barrettes in her hair, or worse, I'll just go ahead and put the cute ribbons and barrettes in HIS hair NOW (yeah, an opportunity for more pictures that he'd hate me for in the future.)

Thankfully, for the sanity of us all, it will be cut tonight!

Fly Your Flag!

'It is only the dead who have seen the end of War' (Plato)
'Today is never as bad as yesterday or as good as tomorrow' (Unknown)

GET YOUR FLAG READY! Please join us in this FLY THE FLAG campaign and PLEASE forward this Email immediately to everyone asking them to also forward it. We have less than one week and counting to get the word out all across this great land and into every community in the United States of America .
THE PROGRAM:On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, an American flag should be displayed outside every home, apartment, office, and store in the United States .Every individual should make it their duty to display an American flag on this seventh anniversary of one our country's worst tragedies. We do this honor of those who lost their lives on 9/11, their families, friends and loved ones who continue to endure the pain, and those who today are fighting at home and abroad to preserve our cherished freedoms. In the days, weeks and months following 9/11, our country was bathed in American flags as citizens mourned the incredible losses and stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrorism. Sadly, those flags have all but disappeared. Our patriotism pulled us through some tough times and it shouldn't take another attack to galvanize us in solidarity. Our American flag is the fabric of our country and together we can prevail over terrorismof all kindsAction
Plan:(1) Forward this email to everyone you know (at least 11 people). Please don't be the one to break this chain. Take a moment to think back to how youfelt on 9/11 and let those sentiments guide you.
(2) Fly an American flag of any size on 9/11. Honestly, Americans should fly the flag year-round, but if you don't, then at least make it a priority on this day.
(3) If possible, fly your flag at half staff in memory of those killed on 9/11 and those who have died in combat since fighting those who would harm the USA.

Where do you want to go?

This is just list of places I want to go, things I want to do for whatever reason - do you think getting away is on my mind? At least with the option of John going back to the military in the future we may have the opportunity to write some of these off on Uncle Sam's dime (or at least partially.)

- see an Irish castle, on the green Isle itself, sit in a pub with a real "beer"
- go to Australia, not completly sure why this has always appealed to me
- see the pyramids in either South America or Egypt
- go to Niagara Falls, just something about natural beauty & wonder
- VEGAS BABY (and not for gambling, I want to see the different hotels/casinos themes)
- while in Vegas take a day trip to see the Grand Canyon
- see Mt Rushmore
- go back to Hawaii, of course for time with family
- Italy, the old cities just look so full of culture, past and present

Add your own list, I'd love to see what appeals to everyone else too!

Thanks friends!

After the day from he!! I really needed to get out and be mindless for a few hours! Now I gotta go find the soundtrack!!!! Anyone in need of a good laugh, go see House Bunny, its worth it! Thanks Rhea!

And Bruce, thanks for sending me this too:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCdZwitrNoY

Friends are wonderful for making your day better!

DC Yesterday

What a lovely day to walk around out nation's capital! Spending time with family was great too, and JJ's been telling us how he likes Uncle Mike & Aunt Ginny. He's still talking bout the dinosaur bones too. We also went to the Holocaust Museum, something I've always wanted to do, and while yes, it is something everyone should experience, it is not something I can do again. I blame it on being a mom, but while sitting in front of an exhibit on the genocide of children and looking at the innocent face of my sleeping son in my arms, it hit WAY too close to home!

At least its Friday

Oh, what is it with the past few Fridays and Mondays, people are just being nasty! That's ok, at least I have a pick me up at home! (and yeah, as I've been told, he's going to hate me when he's older for the pics!)

"Momma there's a dinaswar, I scared."

(hurrying to get under the blanket on the couch)

"Momma, dinaswar still there *giggles*"

(I guess its good that JJ's invisible dinasaur is both deaf and blind since there was a lot of movement and sound coming from that blanket.)

Anyone else....

Is anyone else already thinking about Halloween? I'm trying to get matching costumes for John and myself, something work appropriate to though. JJ will probably want to be Spiderman the way he's going. I can't wait b/c he's going to be so much fun this year trick-or-treating! It's like each year Halloween is more and more fun!

And in the spirit of being someone else, I played around with http://www.dailymakeover.com/ and got some new looks. It's going to be awhile before I have the 10" needed to donate to Locks of Love and still have enough for some length, but I wanted to play around a little....

Oh, my brain is all screwed up!

Can someone explain to me something? My dad is 69, but he's not old. My son is 2.5, and he's old! I can't rationalize the way my own brain is working!