A Renewed Spirit

I have really neglected this blog for way too long. I thought for sure I would write a lot when Dan was deployed, but the tasks of being a single mother for seven months sucked the energy right out of me. It is satisfactory to say I was in survival mode. Then Dan returned and I thought that I would be able to jump right in and keep up. Well it has been three months since his return and I have yet to write an entry. I have recently enjoyed reading so many of my friend's blogs that I have a renewed spirit to start blogging again. So here it goes!

Many have asked me numerous questions about Dan's deployment. How did I survive? What was it like not to talk to him? What was going through your head when you got the call from headquarters that his truck had been blown up? What was it like to go to a memorial for one of his Marines? All good questions and ones I have not really been able to answer. I am sure some day I will sit down and write out what the experience was like for me and how it continues to affect me today, but for now I have found a few blog entries from others that say so much more eloquently what I have experienced. I posted the following link to a blog on my facebook page recently because the words of this Army wife really touch the part of me that yearns to explain to others what it feels like to endure a combat deployment. So take a peak into this woman world, a world shared by all of us who have experienced a deployment. It is good to know we are not alone.

http://www.spousebuzz.com/blog/2010/02/have-you-been-through-deployment.html

Keep a look out for updates and new posts!

Pumpkin Patch 2009

I know I have greatly neglected this blog for some time. This deployment has proven to be a crazy time....more on that in a future post.

I decided that one of the ways that I could make it feel more like fall round here was to make a trip to the pumpkin patch. However, even with the decor of fall everywhere it was difficult to get over the 85 degree weather in Temecula's Wine Country. So I guess it was only fitting that we end the day with ice cream rather than hot cider. Here are the photos from the event.

American Idol Adventure

My friend Trisha and her daughter Lauren are dedicated followers of American Idol.  SO naturally when their favorite contestant was returning to his hometown of San Diego, Trish set out to find where they could catch a glimpse of him.  As it turned out he was doing a special military only visit to Miramar Air Station.  With nothing else on my schedule for the day I decided to tag along.  Oh what a day it turned out to be.  When we arrived we were about 40th in line.  We spread out our beach town and began our wait.

Jackson brought along some rubber snakes.  He absolutely loves bugs, snakes, and lizards!  What a BOY!

Shortly after our arrival the MPs (Military Police) came over and told us they had a situation in the building we were waiting to get in to and we would have to moved across the street.  So in an orderly fashion we followed the leader across the street.  We began to her sirens coming from all directions and soon every possible emergency vehicle was on the scene along with the bomb sniffing dogs.  I have to be hinest, I really wasn't feeling really safe just being 100 yards from the building they were sending bomb dogs into.  Having read my thoughts the MPs decided to move us further from the building and put us behind another building.  So we laid out the beach towel and prepared for our long wait.  Why didn't we leave?  Well, my car was parked in a parking lot that was being blocked off.  We had no choice but to wait it out.

Another girl in line with us brought markers and poster board and shared them with Lauren and she made a sign. 

Jackson was entertained with the iPod Touch (another purchase worth every penny) and Goldfish crackers.

Hannah was a trooper and sat in the stroller giggling and trying to cut those stubborn teeth that won't come in.

After several hours we were moved back to the original line and began waiting a little longer to get into the theater.  Hannah was a happy camper hanging  out in the Ergo.
After a long wait we finally were let into the theater.  We were four rows from the front when Adam Lambert sang an incredible version of the National Anthem.  It was a lot of fun and we had a good laugh at the situation.  So watch American Idol this week and look for Lauren and her sign (she was on of 50 chosen to greet his limo as it pulled up).

ZOO DAY...I know surprise, surprise

I have really enjoyed our weekly trip to the zoo.  This time a gal and her 17 month old daughter from the neighborhood Bible study/Play group came along with us.  Jackson loved having a little person along with us and I sure enjoyed the company.  

Jackson and Addison...most of the time she wasn't sure what to think of Jackson

This week we happened to stop by the Gorrillas just at the time they were feeding them.  I was able to snap some good pictures.  Jackson loved how close they were.

The trainer feeding the Gorillas had them do tricks in order to get their food.  Below is one standing up waving.

Jackson really has an obsession with feeding the bronze statues.  Eat up Gorilla!

Hannah sees the zoo in style strapped on my back in the Ergo carrier.  It is by far the best $100 I have ever spent getting this carrier.  She loves it and it is SUPER comfortable!

Jackson loves that he can stand up on the bars and look at the animals.  He is getting so big!

There was NO LINE to get into the Pandas.  Those of you who have been to the SD Zoo know almost never happens.  It also happened to be right before feeding time so the two Pandas out were very active.  Here is one of the females rolling in wood chips which is apparently one of her favorite past times.

Jackson LOVES the Rhinos.  All day he talked about the rhinos hiding in the water.

Lastly, here are a few more pictures of the great flowers.

Until next week....

The Flowers and Plants of the San Diego Zoo

One of the things I think makes the San Diego zoo so unique is the foliage.  Today I was really struck by all of the colors.  Here are some of the photos I took...oh how I wish I had a fancy camera so I could do a better job of capturing the colors.

ZOO DAY - Peacocks and Hippos and oh so much more

I really needed to stay and pick up the house today, but the cooler weather was calling me to be outside so I decided to make yet another trip to the zoo.  Jackson confirmed my plans when I got him out of bed this morning I asked him what he wanted to do and he said "see de animals!" Now I guess if I am to be honest he says this everyday, but I today I decided to give him his hearts desire.  

I am alway interested to see what animal he names that he would like to see first.  Today he wanted to see the "teacock in da tee" (translation: "peacock in the tree").  The peacocks?  Really?  Not the lions? tigers? bears? (Oh My!  :)).  Nope he assured me he wanted to see the peacock.  Lucky for us there was one showing off right as we walked in the door.

Jackson LOVES this Rhino sculpture outside of one of the gift shops.  He has to stop and talk to the Rhino every time we have passed it.

We happened to pass a little patch of fake grass along our route.  I am not sure why it was there and it did stick out, but Jackson decided it looked like a good place to run around in circles laughing his silly little head off.

Jackson's second mission was to see the Tigers and the Hippos.  This was the first time I had seen the Tigers out.  They are usually pacing at the top of the enclosure, but we got lucky today.

We also got lucky at the hippo exhibit.  There were very few people there and the hippo was right on the glass.  This is my favorite picture from the day.

Outside of the hippo exhibit is a huge bronze hippo that Jack decided looked hungary because he sat and "fed" the hippo any leaf and stick he could find within a 10 ft radius for a good 15 minutes.

The Mandrills are usually hiding so I was excited to snap this picture.

Jackson always has to visit the snake house.  He LOVED this Anachonda in the tree.  YIKES!!

Jackson also loves the "big wisards" (Translation: big lizards).  Here is a little Iguana family.

Jackson decided today was a good day for a starring contest with the Komodo Dragon.

This crocodile looked like a statue.  If I had not been to the zoo before and seen him swim around I would have thought it was fake.

Tune in next week for the next zoo adventure....