Happy Birthday Marines!!!

HMLA 369 celebrated the USMC Birthday on Thursday at Harrah's Casino and we had the best time. Its so crazy to sit through the hour long ceremony every year and still have chills the entire time. You can't help but tear up/cry like a baby out of pride, happiness, fear of being lonely again soon, friendship, love. A room full of 300+ men & women who are heros plus their loved ones celebrating the few and the proud, the HOTTEST...The Marines.

Color Guard

HMLA 369 Birthday Ball

Gunfigher Gals

Diana Chrissy and I before the Ball

Chuck and Bob Wives

All the ladies with Chad

The fella's

Gunfighter Salute

Chrissy and I

Happy Halloween

We had a great time in VA.....Happy Halloween

First full week complete

We did it...Alex and I made it through our first full week of work and daycare.  I can't say enough about Mabel and Thomas making the transition so easy for me.  I am so thankful I found them 20 hours before I started my new job.  I am loving my new job and feel like I didn't miss a day let alone 2 years and got right back in the swing of things.  Our mornings are pretty rough because Alex cries all the way down the street then screams bloody murder as I say goodbye and run out the door.  Mabel says that Alex stops almost instantly and has a great time all day.  I love seeing that smile at 5:15 everyday. Enjoy some pictures of Alex at daycare.

I GOT THE JOB!!!!

You are looking at (well the blog of) the new HR Specialist of Recruitment and Training for TERI, Inc in Oceanside, CA!!!!

www.teriinc.org

TERI (Training, Education & Research Institute) is a private, non-profit agency serving the needs of children and adults with autism and other developmental and learning disabilities, and their families. Through programs that enrich our clients lives and focus on the potential in all of us, we are able to provide families with supports throughout their child's lifespan.

I am super excited because this job is exactly what I want to do, exactly where I want to do it. Actually its too close because I am gonna have to drive farther to take Alex to daycare then drive back almost home =) I am feeling a little guilty about going back because I want to and not because I have to but its now or never.

RIP Julie Vernars

After a long and hard fight with cancer, my cousin Julie passed away peacefully at home with family. We will miss you at our crazy christmas dinners Julie but I am glad you are in a better place with no more doctors and pain. We love you and will remember you ALWAYS!

Decisions Decisions Decisions

I have been looking for the "perfect" job since before Alex was born thinking I was going to go back to work when he was 6 months or so. Well 18 months later still no job....every time I got close to taking a job I would feel so bad about leaving Alex and missing things I decided to stay home. Well the time has come and I am ready! I am waiting to hear back from a job that sounds great really close to home....but to take it or not, I am afraid I am gonna get that guilty feeling because I am leaving him for selfish reasons and not because I have to.

On top of the guilt, I have to find a daycare or preschool that I like...haha ya right...Alex and I are on our own schedule which is no schedule, and the boy is addicted to his "ba." I kind of feel bad for whoever is going to try and get this boy on a napping and bottle schedule. I have been to a few preschool type daycare and they are teaching 18 month olds algebra, well not really but almost. I want Alex to stay a baby for a while, so if I do get and take this job he will be going to a home daycare.

Can you tell I am having a hard time?

Bobby?!?!?!?!

Before Patrick got home I worked hard to make sure Alex remembered him and knew that he was "Da." SUCCESS, every time we pointed to a picture of Patrick Alex would scream "Da." Lately we get a full "Daddy," all the grandparents are "Pa," Every toy and tv show has a name but nothing for me **tear**

Well we all are aware of my child's addiction to Milk and his cup we call "ba" so for a few months we have had to listen to "ba ba ba ba...ba ba ba ba!" Don't get me wrong its awesome to hear Alex talk but when mixed with a whine its can make for a long day. About a month ago when looking at pictures on the computer he kept saying "Ba" when I was in the picture, next he said "Boon" when he saw the moon and his response to what does a cow say, "boo." Hey I think I am Ba, sweet I have a name =) This week I have graduated to a full "bobby," some might say oh no poor Alex has a speech impediment but don't worry when he wants something (his cup) bad enough he says "Mama baba." I love walking in the door and hearing "HI BOBBY", melts my heart.

Daddy Busters and Bobby

Silly Boy

Alex LOVES dancing to his drum at night!!!!

Poop Patrol

Home Improvements

We decided not to buy a house in Cali and we were sick of our stark white house sooooo we got to Lowes at 10am yesterday, left with some green paint, got a little lazy and only painted two walls by 2pm but WA-LA it feels 100 times more comfortable and much more like "our" home. Next step new living room tables....

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER

And one of my big helper

Congrats Congrats Congrats

Lots of Congratulations are in order these days; Babies, Engagements and Mommies to Be, my friends have had a great few weeks!!!!!

Introducing some super cute babies:

Tait Douglas Bjerke and Family

Ava Ann Thomas and Family

Lauren Alyse Mauro and Family

Engagements:

Matt and Lindsey

Lacey and Sean

Soon to be Parents:

Tyler and Nancy

We have friends expecting triplets at the end of 2009 but they have not told anyone but close friends and family...Congrats to you two too!!!!

LOTS of LOVE from the Richardson's

Happy 4th of July

Patrick, Kevin and Dave were selected/volunteered to do a 4th of July fly over from Huntington Beach down to Oceanside beach. A few of us decided to go to a look out point off of "THE 5" to watch them since all the beaches near us were shoulder to shoulder with people. It was nice to see them flying in the good old USA!!!

Coming from Huntington beach

Dave is in the 3rd, Kevin and Patrick are 4th

Heading to Oceanside Beach

Our Hero is Home

After 7 long months, the day we had talked and dreamt about was finally here.  I swore I wouldn't believe it until I had Patrick in my arms, but as soon as I saw those buses I couldn't stop the tears.  

The carpets were cleaned, Alex got a hair cut, we had our last girls dinner at Souplantation, then got the squadron around 8:15 to begin the waiting game.  After 2 bottles of Champagne and 2 hours of waiting 5 USMC buses pulled into the Air Station around 10:15 pm on May 26th. The gunfighters got off the buses and into formation behind them, it felt like an episode of Extreme Home Makeover...MOVE THAT BUS! As the buses pulled away the screams, tears and laughter began as 300+ Marines were reunited with their families and friends.  

Last girls dinner

New Squadron Building

The boys picture

Some of the ladies waiting 

My Handsome little man was excited to see Daddy

Some of the Chuck wives

Here come the buses

When my whole body started shaking

Finally being let go

The rest of the night was amazing and perfect, I got my kiss but seeing Alex and P together was the most relaxing, fulfilling moment!

OVER HERE OVER HERE

On a chair trying to get Patrick's attention

Complete

Not wanting to let go

LOVE

Pocket Pals

Richardson's

Not only was my family complete but I loved watching my friends reunited with theirs, I still cry every time I look at everyone's pictures from that night. 

DP's

Soon to be Lehman's (less than 4 months...YEAH)

Bjerke's

Congrats Gunfighters Gals we made it and I thank you for all the fun times we had while they were gone.  

Brianna & Chrissy...there are no words!