Craving Pumpkins

We craved our pumpkins today. I'm hoping they don't rot before Halloween! Here are the finished products. Madison was in charge of what the pumpkins would look like; the daddy pumpkin is a vampire, the mommy pumpkin is a queen, and the Maddie pumpkin is a puppy.
Madison's first time feeling pumkin guts and remembering it! Ewe.

Day Trip

Madison and I went for a day trip to Temecula. We shopped the stores in Old Town, we didn't visit all the stores I wanted to hit but we still had fun. I have been wanting to go to Temecula since we moved here because I heard they had really nice antique shops. They do! So we shopped for a few hours, ate lunch at a little cafe and then headed to Peltzer Farms at three.
The farm was nice, the best place was that it fell like we were in the country even though we were only miles from home. While we were there we went on a train ride, petting animals in the petting zoo and Madison rode the ponies. The pony ride was the highlight of Madison fall break. I think she rode the ponies three times. She is in love with horses and while I don't share the same feeling about horses I try find any chance I can to get her to horses. She lights up, comes alive and I love seeing her like that. I'm hoping that somewhere down the road an opportunity for her to be around horses comes along. Anyhow the farm was really fun. We left with three pumpkins, one for each member of our family. Mommy and Maddie days remind me our how much I love being is Madison's company.

Talking to the goat, "sorry but I'm outta food."

I just love her expression is this picture.....

It's raining!

It's raining! I know it probably seems funny for me to be writing because it's raining but I love rain. It doesn't rain here much and everytime it does I get so excited. Even when it's only for a minute but it's better the longer it rains for me. You will not hear me singing, "rain, rain go away come again another day," at least while we are in California.

Fall, where are you?

It's October 4th and it finally has cool off a little here. Will is stay this way? I hope so but I'am doubtful. I needed some fall inspiration so I found some pictures on photobucket.com

One Year!

Picture taken Oct 2007

We have been in California for one year now. We arrived in San Diego, on September 28th. A Friday which met that we had to wait the whole weekend before we would have a chance to look at houses on Monday. Of course that all worked out and we are settled in, as settled in as you can get being military and renting. A lot has happened over that year. The things that stick out the most... the deployment, Madison starting kindergarten, my weight loss, and all the friends that we have made. I think most of the people we have gotten to know best are people from church, which is great. I have also started to like board games or at least Bunco nights. How could you not like Bunco night? Getting to spend a few hours talking with other ladies, snacks, gifts and oh yeah the game.


Life has changed since Madison started school. I had no idea how much homework kindergartens have, it's crazy. Everyday she has something that she needs to be doing. On Monday's she gets her homework packet and she has until Friday to get it finished. On Friday they bring the packet back to school so you would think that you are free of homework for the weekend. They bring a book home on Thursday. Everyday you supposed to read the book. I have to say that I have been slacking a little on the book but everything else gets done. I have been feeling a little overwhelmed with all the stuff going on here and was looking forward to the fall break which started on the 22nd or after school on the 19th. Yes I will have a chance to relax and enjoy time with Maddie. Not exactly what happened!


The last day of school before break, Maddie's class went on a field trip. I went on the field trip, it was fun. However I was ready to get back to school so we could start enjoying the break. I had a lot of ideas about where we would go and when just no set plans yet. After being home for a few hours I started to feel sick and by bed time I was not feeling well at all. The whole weekend I was puking, coughing and had a fever between 101 to 103 that wouldn't go away and stay away with meds. I decided to call the doctor on Monday morning but they couldn't get me in (military clinics suck). They forwarded my condition to a nurse who called me and I was told to take sudafed and tylenol, call back in three days if you are not feeling better. Wednesday afternoon I was still not feeling well and I decided that I would call now for an appointment tomorrow. Once again I was told that they didn't have an appointments available at my clinic or any other clinic, if I wanted to see a doctor I had to go to the ER. I was actually totally against going to the ER but I thought it's the only way I can see a doctor and I don't think I'm getting better. By this time I was totally annoyed to say the least with the military's healthcare system! So I get myself and Madison ready for a trip to the ER. We walked in and there were so many people there people where standing because there where not enough chairs. I was thinking great, this will be fun. I signed in and was about to leave the counter when I thought that I should probably have Madison checked out too since she was starting to have the same cough I had and she had been with me since I was sick. They checked us both in, we did all the paper work and vitals. We stood and waited for some chairs to open up. Shortly after we got the chairs and we had been waiting about an hour a doctor came out and said "There are more of you out here than we have doctors back here. However we will get to everyone who is here now but we are running behind right now. You are looking at a five to six hour wait! If you feel your condition has improved and you wish to leave you may but know that we will get to you." I was thinking five or six hours, we probably will not be seen until ten o'clock tonight. How sick am I really? Maybe I should just go. I mean I have already been sick for six days it will probably only be a few more days, I think I can handle it. Should I go up to the counter and tell them I'm leaving? Should I stay? Just then a nurse walks out and calls three people, one being Madison. We get into the room and the doctor starts asking me about Madison and why she is there. I tell her, I'm actually the one who is sick but I want her to get checked out since she has been home with me pretty much the whole time. Our charts where no longer together so she ran out to get them so she could check us at the same time. YES! Madison looked good. Me, on the other hand..... she's a little concerned with. "You need a x ray because I think you have pneumonia." I get the x ray and she comes back later, "you have pneumonia." I was thinking they were going to have to admit me, what was I going to do with Maddie? The good news is you can do it out patient. SO right now I'm taking my meds trying to relax and get rid of the pneumonia. I have to go to the doctor on Wednesday for another x ray to see how it's going. Hopefully the medicine is taking care of it because I think that I will have to go to the hospital if it doesn't get better. Right now I'm still having a hard time breathing. I have never had pneumonia before so I don't know if it's clearing up or not. I know that I'm ready for it to be gone so I can enjoy what is left of the break with Madison and so I can get back to workout. I know that even if they say it's gone and my breathing is the way it is now when I go back to the gym I'm going to be in trouble. There is no way I can run, jog or even do weights like this. I would be gasping for air to whole time. I think that we forget how important every breath is until we have a hard time breathing. I know that when I can breath normally again I will be thankful. This also makes me realize that I need to take better care of myself so my body will be able to heal quicker in the future.

Three Year Anniversary to the Chief!

Congrats, Honey you have been a CHIEF for three years! Also congratulation to all the new CPOs. Traditionally the Chief pinning cermony is held on September 16th. Since today is September 16th, I was thinking back on our journey to chief. I mean Paul's journy to chief, but honestly it was a family affair. I didn't do anything to increase the odds of him making chief but I was along for the ride. Since today is the day they celebrate the pinning I wanted to share something that I thought you might find interesting.

The anchor is the emblem of the rate of a Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy. Attached to the anchor is a length of chain and the letters "U.S.N." These identify a Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy. To a Chief, the letters and the anchor have a noble and glorious meaning.

* The "U" stands for Unity, which reminds us of cooperation, maintaining harmony and continuity of purpose and action.

*The "S" stands for Service, which reminds us of service to our God, our fellow mand and out Navy.

*The "N" stands for Navigation, which reminds us to keep ourselves on a true course so that we may walk upright before God and man, and in our transactions with all mankind, but more importantly, with our fellow Chiefs.

*The "Chain" is symbolic of flexibility, and it reminds us of the chain of life that we forge day by day, link by link. May it continually be forged with honor, courage, morality and virture.

*The "Anchor" is emblematic of the hope and glory, or of the fulfillment of God's promises to our souls. It is the golden and precious anchor, by which we must keep steadfast in the faith and encouraged to abide in our proper station amidst the storm of temptation, affliction, and persecution. (Taken from Lifelines)

Memories from the pinning ceremony:

I love you!

Reminder of the Greatest Love

Everyday you wake up and put on a face happy because you have stuff to do and a kid to take care. There is no time to fall apart. I have been trying to just suck it up and move on. One small set back after another and being disappointed in myself have left me feeling depressed. My weight loss is currently at a plateau. I'm trying to lose more but I'm not seeing results which results in me pulling away from the working out and watching what I eat. I think what the sense, it's not working. I think about working out at home....I could get on the elliptical but it's still broke. I have been trying to get it fixed and now replaced since Madison started school but it has been two months of frustration. We bought the machine so I could workout at home and I still have to go to the gym. Plus, I'm missing my husband. I miss his encouraging words and everything about him. The frustration of everyday things is starting to get to me. Madison was sick three days last week with a fever so she couldn't go to school but she acted normal. For anyone who doesn't know her, she's the Energizer bunny. Really that kid just goes and goes, even when she is sick. Sit down and relax. I think that being stuck in the house was the straw that broke the camels back. The downhill slide begins.

Last night I was in stuck in the muck, having myself a little pity party. This morning I wished that I could just sleep all day but I had to get up and get Maddie to school. Not to mention the list of stuff that I had to get done for the day. I got an email from my honey which lifted my spirts a little. Then for dinner tonight Madison and I decided we would have dinner on the deck. While we where eating I decided that I really need to trim some bushes. I trimmed the bushes but there were still dead leaves lying on the rocks below the bushes. It was time to get Maddie ready for bed but look I hadn't gotten all the work done I wanted. I looked at the flower bed, all the dead leaves were still on the rocks. Wait, what is that? A petal...a heart shaped rose petal layed on the rocks with all the dead trimmings. There was something beautiful. I went over to check it out. The first thing I thought was God Loves me. He's here with me even when life is loney and frustrating. He is here with me amd he will use all of my disappointments for good, whether I see it or not.

The petal laying just the way I seen it.

A message I try to read as a daily reminded to myself that my life is not my own.

I'm here to trust God to lead me to where he wants me to go.

I may not aways be where I want to be in life but there is always a hope for something better.

Georgous!

Imperial Beach

My sisters-in-law and I bought the kids to Imperial Beach today. The plan was to meet at ten to drive to the beach and at nine thirty it was raining. Can you believe it was raining today of all days. It NEVER rains here but it did today. It stopped by ten and we head over to the beach and it was overcast but nice. It spinkle a few minutes while we were there but we stuck it out. I think it might have been ten minutes max. It was funny see a few people running to leave when it started to sprinkle. People are so funny here, they are scared of rain and think that seventy to seventy-five degrees is cold. Now everyone but a few people. When we walked the pier I seen a few people in pants and sweaters. It's crazy. I think it is too hot here and I miss the cool weather. Mostly I miss fall! No changing of the leaves here, no cool crisp nights, and no day a the apple mill. The things you miss when you leave them behind.

Weight Loss Update

Hi! I thought I would leave a update on my weight loss. Friday's are my weigh-in days, I weighed in this morning. So far I'm down a told of 25 pounds, that's over a three month period. I have just under three months to go. I'm planning on surprising my husband when her get home. He knows how much I have lost but still it will be exciting looking so much better. Not to mention that I feel so much better. I have been working out at the gym a few days a week. I workout with a trainer once a week, which helps me know what I should be doing. But there is still the major step of actually doing what I'm told. I thought I was doing a good job until I realized that for two weeks (I think) I have only done two to three cardio sessions. YIKES!! So I was thinking to mysefl, "Girl, you have to kick it up a few notches and get going. The countdown is on and you need to move it. So get going!" That is exactly what I did. I got up this morning, brought Maddie to school and walked 3.41 miles. That's what I'm talking about. Kick it up and keep it that way until I reach my goal. Five pounds to 10%. I'm almost there and I will be setting new mini goals. I'm going to keep going strong.

Half Way to Homecoming!

I decided to have a party to celebrate the half way point in the deployment yesterday. It was fun and messy. So here we all are celebrating the half way point and hoping the second half flies by. I MISS YOU HONEY!

A Lesson On Life

I was looking on photobucket today and seen these. I seen these two and thought, how true. I was sent here to learn to love others. Yet it seems like a very small task, love others. All you have to do is care, show compasion for someone other than yourself. But is it really that easy? As I reach out to others I risk being rejected and pushed away. How much easier is it to just hate someone or show no feelings toward them? A few pages later I see the quote, "We are all sudents and teachers. I often ask myself, "What did I come here to learn, and what did I come to teach?" I was thinking, I came here to learn to love, to put others before myself.

What have I come to learn? What I have learned is that I have a idea of what my life should look like, God has a better plan. Being a military wife is hard but there is one perk I have discovered and that is meeting new people. I honestly can say that I have not always enjoyed being a military wife having to pack up and move so much. However after my last move I was thinking, how blessed I am to be able to move and meet so many wonderful people that I never would have met if I never left my home town or state. In the last two moves I have opened my heart to meeting new people and making friends. I have changed my additude of, "I'm not making friends because I'm moving soon, what's the sense." I see how having friends has changed my outlook on life. I know that everytime I put myself out there I could get hurt but I think it's worth it when you meet someone who cares for you.

The other thing I have learned is life is short if you don't like where you are heading do something to change it, pray for guidance. And let's not forget, practice make progress. I know Iwill never be perfect but I know that I can make progress.

As for what I can teach...... I guess what I learn. So let me close with a quote that I found when I was thinking about how blessed I'm with the people I have met throughout my life.

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints on your heart.

Charleston

Charleston
Originally uploaded by saolmsted2007

Good Morning! We have been talking a lot about moving to Charleston, S.C. in a few years when we get transfered. We still have just over two years here in San Diego then we will be moving somewhere else. Hopefully, Charleston! I really think that I would love living there. I know that we will have to see if there are any job openings when we are up for transfer and according to Paul, there should be openings. There are two different places he could get a position prototype or teaching at a school. Only time will tell be I still look forward to the possiblity of moving here. It's so beautiful.

The picture above is actually a bunch of pictures I like off from flickr.com Click on the picture and it will bring you to flickr and you can see who took each picture. All of the picture are awesome.

Madison lost her first Tooth

I was downloading some pictures on the computer tonight. I hear Madison behind me and she sounds like she is spiting. I said Madison are you spiting and she comes over to me and says mom my tooth just fell out. I hurry and grab the camera and take a few shots. So here is my baby girl with her missing tooth. The first picture in probably like 20 seconds after she said it fell out. It's was so exciting!!!

Lemon Festival

My friend invited us to go to the Lemon Festival in town today. Madison rode some rides with her son. He's such a handsome little guy. Anyway here a few pictures.

As you can see Madison didn't care for the Frog Hopper. She said it was too scary because it goes up high. I didn't think anything about it since she liked the swings.

Madison got this cowgirl hat at the festival too but my phone was full so I had to take the picture at home.

Gifts form Korea

We recieved the package of goodie today. Daddy got her a dress from Korea and for me, a Starbucks mug (we collect them) and a fan. I also found a few coins in the bottom of the box that I almost threw away but heard them jingle, jangle.