Trip home to Maryland

I went home to MD in August and got to catch up with family. We had a lot of good times. Some of the pictures are with my Aunt and Uncle and my cousin. Some other pictures are with my best friend from high school, Alix and her family. THe other pictures are with my sister and her boyfriend and his 2 great daughters.

Zack's football team

Zack decided to do flag football this fall. It ends on Nov 8th. Cliff was asked to be the assistant coach. Its funny because the team so far has only tied one game- the one cliff did all by himself. They have lost the other 2 games. Hmm..maybe he should be coach. haha. Zack was doing great in practice. He really liked being the runningback and quarterback. Both positions he did great. Then at the first game I knew he'd be nervous because the first thing he said when we pulled up was "man there are a lot of cars here." During that game, he decided to play with his flags, at one point chewed on the flag, and really enjoyed sitting on the bench so he could have strawberry gatorade (something he never really had). Luckily by the next game he was understanding more of the concept of the game. By the way, Aunt Rochell you asked what Flag football is...I am starting to understand now myself- instead of tackling they grab flags. Zack's position for the season ended up being center. He really enjoys this and he is the fastest on the team for hiking the ball. Hey, not everyone can be quarterback. He likes hanging out with the kids on the team and he has learned good sportmanship. Now he is asking to play basketball. Cliff is flying home really late the friday night before zack's last game to surprise him and the team. The team loves Cliff and the parents always ask how he has gotten so much patience. That is something cliff doesnt lack, but I do!! :-) Megan is signed up for dance class starting in 2 weeks. We get to go pick out a ballerina leotard, tights, shoes and also tap shoes tomorrow. Geez, that costs more than the class itself!! She told me how she can do splits...yeah ok Megan we'll see how it goes.
Here are some pics from some football games.

The end of summer

We enjoyed our first summer in North Carolina. Moving is never easy and we have definitely had our ups and downs here like everywhere else. This move for some reason has been the hardest for me. I think after moving 5 times in 7 years I am just tired of making friends then leaving them behind and making new ones. I do miss some aspects of San Antonio like our first house (that I know went to good hands), I miss the U of Texas, I miss my best friend there- Jeannie and a couple other good friends I made... I was really excited about moving back to the East Coast. But I have definitely lost a piece of myself since I have been here. I am not as motivated as I used to be about a lot of things especially in the effort to make friends. I have made a couple good friends but I am so bad about calling people. I guess military life has finally dragged me down and I am suddenly turning into that person that realizes home is where you sleep and that everything outside the home doesnt really matter. I realized this past week I am not going to become that antisocial person that I am turning into..hehe. So many changes are already taking place. I am getting my fat butt to the gym more starting next week (haha), I am going to call people more often, and I am going to start doing all the things I always love to. I realize we are here for 4 years and I need to make the best of it. Ok I am rambling. This almost sounds like I miss Texas and hate it here. That is definitely not what I am saying. North Carolina has been the best thing to ever happen to us. I love the small town we live in, everyone is so nice- total southern hospitality, fall here is absolutely beautiful and the weather is great, I love our house...etc. I have just been drained ever since we moved because the past 7 years have come and gone and it always takes a little piece of you away when you move. But that is the life of a true military wife. I dont think military wives who husbands never deploy and who never move truly understand the sacrifice and dedication it takes to follow your husband and change your life so they can support our country. I definitely feel like with every move a piece of myself disappears but at the same time, I grow and learn what really matters in this world- my family and friends who I can truly call friends and not someone who didnt make a difference in my life.

The kids have grown so much since we moved here. Zack is amazing. I had a parent teacher conference 2 weeks ago and his teacher said he is in 3rd grade reading now in 1st grade and that he is an Angel in class. Wow. My boy who used to give me headaches is now such a grown up boy. Megan is liking her school now to. Megan is also losing her first front tooth at 4- very strange. The dentist said she'll prob need braces around 8 years old. What?? I better get a job soon!! :-)
Here are some pics from the end of Summer.

Megan and Zack's birthdays

Wow, I have not posted in a long time. Wanna know why? One, I have no time lately to do much of anything for myself between Cliff coming and going, the kids in school, Ben teething, my Masters...etc...are you exhausted reading yet? We were planning for the past few months of Cliff deploying as well and then at the last minute it was changed to January. We are excited he'll be home for the holidays now but it is annoying at first to realize all the months of planning now has to be replanned. Got to love military life. It was a really good thing I had not told the kids he would be gone for the holidays. I have learned as a military wife to keep my mouth shut about a lot of things especially about telling the kids daddy is leaving. He left on Saturday for 3 weeks and we didnt even tell the kids till the day before. Oh the second reason I hadnt updated my blog was because I forgot my password to it. Yes, that happens when you are BUSY, you lose your brain as well.

Here are some pictures from Megan's 4th birthday and Zack's 7th birthday both were over the summer.

My Three blessings

I found some old baby pictures of Zack and megan and wanted to compare them to Ben...everyone tells me that they all look nothing alike but I see the similiarites when they were babies. Megan and Ben are clones as babies. I like how they are all different in looks and personality. (Zack-black and white, Megan with the blanket and Ben on tummy)

5 kids is not for ME!!!

So on Saturday the 26th I had a very interesting experience. I called the Wedigs to see if they wanted me to babysit their kids so they could get some unpacking done. I drove up to Cary, about a 35 min drive and took their two daughters. I was going to take Rock, but he was sick. So I packed up Gracie and Alice in the car with my three. I took them to chickfila figuring they would want to play in the AC in the kids play area. Gracie and Alice were a little nervous as there were older, loud kids in there. So after 5 mins there they wanted to go. So we ate lunch there. Their kids were angels...and they always get along well with my kids. So despite all the stares I received and dirty looks and shaking of heads of having 5 kids with me all by myself..we had fun.

Then my next adventure was to the park. Man it was hard trying to swing 5 kids or keep track. I was definitely counting heads. After being there about an hour the kids were thirsty. So we drove to target. I stuck Mary-Anne's girls in the cart. They were perfect angels until they were stuck in the cart together. You do not see how siblings can be around each other till they are forced to sit next to each other. My kids would do the same in the cart. They still were as sweet as can be. I was just having trouble breaking their fighting up, keeping Megan and Zack from running around the store, and trying to take care of Ben who was also screaming in the cart. Needless to say I got dirty looks there to with 3 in the cart crying, and 2running around the store. After 3 hours I finally decided I was done having 5 kids. I am so happy, we arent having anymore. I hear all the time "you have your hands full," Now I know its not really true, because it could be worse with 5. :-) Its funny though because I hate babysitting but it was a great experience for me because after spending that time with their kids I felt like they were my own. They are awesome little girls. Here is a picture of their family that I stole off your blog Mary-Anne..its too cute.

New Friends

Cliff and I have made several new friends since we have been here in North carolina. We met the Collins when we first moved here back in March but didnt really get to know them well because Cliff has left a few times since we have been here for training trips. Cliff started hanging out with Brent for lunch on Mondays. Suddenly all I was hearing was Brent this, Brent that. I was thinking man I better get to know Sarah better since Cliff and Brent have male bonded. Brent used to be military but now works as a civilian firefighter on base. We went on a double date to see the new Batman movie and went to dinner. We all had a really good time. Our kids all get along so awesome to. We are really glad to be have them as friends now. Its not often that cliff likes the husband and I get along with the wife. It usually where the wife and I clash or the husband and Cliff clash. hehe. We are definitely happy to have gotten to know them better and know they will be good friends forever.