Blogger Anger Management

I'm having some serious and real anger problems when it comes to my blog. I love this blog and I think about blogging quite a bit. I just can't bring myself to deal with the technology that is required to change my background, pictures and whatever else I think I need to do to keep up with all those out there with this cute, crafty blog. It makes me angry. There is Original template and then Designer template. My problem is that I think I want Original, but when I try to do that it doesn't seem like the same blog I used to understand. So then I go with the Designer and then it never comes out looking like I want it to. I'm just smart enough to get the basic job done, but not smart enough to make it do what I want. So the bottom line is this...I want to blog, blogging makes me angry. I'm going to try to get some therapy over the issue and get back to posting about my awesome life as a Mommy. I really need to be blogging because with Christmas approaching I have heard some pretty awesome things in the last few weeks.

Time Machine Blog

Isn't it stunning how much children change in one year?

I feel like as crazy as my life is, and as hectic as it feels with two young children I just want to freeze time. They are precious. They are cute and funny without even trying. They still think I'm cool. They want to cuddle, hug and kiss me and they WANT to be with me. Sometimes this feels like a curse to have children hanging on you 24/7, but I'm already starting to think about the days, that will be here sooner than I'd like to admit, where they don't want to spend time with me. I find myself being a softy for things that I would have normally put the smack down on. The main example I can think of is Tucker sneaking into my bed at night. I really do want my bed to be MY bed, but if I stop for just a second and think about how that shows how much he wants to be with me, I often break down and make a little room for him. I know he won't always want to spend time with me, cuddle me or even tell me about his life, and I feel like I need to gobble him up as much as I can now. I love four, and really as much as she can push me to the edge, Addie is a perfect 2 1/2 year old. She is funny, witty, and a loving little girl. She has started telling me that she loves me. I love the look on her face when she says our "I love yous" to each other. I say, "I dub you, Honey" and she says, "I dub YOU, Honey". I really need to get video of that. I hope that's something we can say to each other forever, but I think it will always be more special to me...well until Addie has her own daughter to know this intense love, then she really will understand. Why am I crying??? This happens quite a bit when I'm blogging. Maybe that just means that I don't take enough time during the crazy day to realize how precious and intense motherhood really is to me. Tomorrow I will try to focus on the little things, appreciate the attention (even the negative attention) and know that one day, I'm truly going to miss these days.

I Am Warrior, Hear Me Roar!

My good friend Olivia asked me if I wanted to do the Warrior Dash and who would pass up the chance to hang with your friends, drink beer and get muddy? Not this girl.It seemed appropriate to run for CPT John Hallett for so many reasons. First of all, I've never been able to participate in Lisa's Run To Remember running group and this was my way to Run To Remember John. Also, the run was on September 11th and what a way to honor a soldier than to remember him on a day that forever changed the path of his life. And finally, I needed all the good Army Ranger vibes I could get! Thanks John, you didn't let me down! I felt strong, capable and I had a blast.
Clearly this is after the race! We were plastered in mud. I'm still working on getting some of the dirt out from under my nails. I know it sounds gross, but I've washed my hands, showered and soaked in a hot tub twice...and yet I can't get clean! So funny!

This was a GREAT GREAT day and I'd do it again in a second. As much fun as the run was, my favorite part of the day was when all my friends after the race were cleaning the mud and hay off John's picture so that people could see why I was there. There were a few people who said they liked my picture, but never really commented. However there was one guy, late in the day, who came up and said, "Excuse me, who is CPT Hallett? Can you tell me about him?" I wanted to cry, I wanted to jump up and down with excitement, I wanted to hug this guy! I think people were afraid to ask. But this guy, he made my day. I got to talk about John, Lisa, Jackson, Bryce and Heidi. I got to talk about the brotherhood that the Army is, both brothers in arms and us Army wives. I wish I knew his name, I wish he knew what that meant to me.

Warrior Dash was a blast! Thank you Olivia for convincing me that I wanted to do it and that it wouldn't be THAT bad!

Lake Shasta: Additional Photos

Addie had a long day on the boat and needed to wash it down with a Mike's Hard Lemonade in a Brew Thru cozy. Nice. This picture should have been first, but this was the incredible view of Mt. Shasta on the way to the lake.

In N Out--Retro Blog

In N Out: These are half of the burgers we ordered when we went into Redding from Lake Shasta.
In N Out: Double Double Animal Style With A Chocolate Shake. Nuf said.

The Vacation Crashers!

The Vacation Crashers strike again! First we crashed Lincoln City and now we conquer an out of state vacation at Shasta Lake, California!

Our family is lucky enough to know Gene, Patty, Stephanie and Emma. Anyone who knows them, loves them. They have the most fun, the best smiles, huge and genuine hearts and more love than most families I know. Tucker, Addie and I were lucky enough to spend 5 days, 4 nights with this exceptional family on a beautiful lake, with a fast boat and a cooler of beer. The only thing missing was Matt, but after I got home tonight I told him we need to start planning for next year so he doesn't miss it.

It was Tucker and Addie's first time in the state of California. Addie's first time on a boat. Tucker and Addie's first swim in a lake (sad but true). And my first time driving alone in the car with the kids for 8.5 hours! They did a great job riding that long! I'm sort of on a Mommy-high where I feel like I can do anything and take them anywhere. I love it.

I have way too many pictures to share and I only have the pictures that were taken with my camera! This might have to be a mini-series of blogs to get all the fun in.

Thank you Gene, Patty, Stephanie and Emma for making this one unforgettable vacation. You are very dear friends of ours and we appreciate your incredible hospitality. Your friendship is a blessing in all our lives and we love you all so much. We look forward to our picture sharing date! I'M ON A BOAT!!!! :)

August 25, 2009

Today my heart is heavy. Today a few will gather to honor a soldier. Today marks the first anniversary of the loss of a solider, a husband, a father, a son, a brother, a friend. Captain John L. Hallett, III was an outstanding, hardworking and loving man.

He could swim like a fish. He loved to cook (and thankfully was equally as good at putting out fires). That Vidalia Onion will get you every time, John! He had a smile that could light up a room. He LOVED his wife. There was a passion there that is unmatched in most relationships.

John loved to organize! We met John and Lisa at Fort Benning, GA in 2005 and from the time we met John he was "organizing my music". I never knew exactly what that meant, but it was serious business! When we all moved to Fort Polk, LA in 2006, John was still "organizing my music". I'm certain John never finished organizing his music because honestly, I don't think that would have been finished even if John had lived to be 90 years old. John loved the label maker. If you go into the Hallett home today, you can find all the places John labeled things, in the kitchen especially. If John was here, he would spend a whole weekend reorganizing the kitchen because last time I was there, not everything was in its place! He also had a hidden talent of rapping Too Short songs. I didn't even know John knew language like that, but he was so serious about it. We were all shocked at first and then laughing so hard we had tears rolling down our faces. The Halletts loved throwing dinner parties and welcoming their friends into their home. We shared many tasty dinners with the Halletts, and I wish we could have those days back.

John has left behind a beautiful and strong wife, Lisa and their three children, Jackson 4, Bryce 2, and precious Heidi 1. John never held Heidi in his arms, but I can only imagine the way he would look at her pictures. I saw him with Jackson as an infant and went to the hospital when Bryce was born, and he loved holding those babies! I'm certain his heart ached every time he looked at Heidi's picture wishing he was there to enjoy his only daughter. Heidi is a very special girl, and she will know her Daddy's love even though he is no longer standing by her side.

John, your service was honorable, your mission was intended to bring medicine to a village that was sick and you never made it there. The insurgents took you, the other soldiers and that medicine away from sick people. They have taken so much, from so many. You gave your life for the people of that village, and the Americans who are so thankful. I am grateful to have known you, John. Thank you for the blessing of your family, they enrich my life greatly. I will continue to stand by Lisa and be there for her and your three children. I won't let her down, John. You can count on me.