T-2 and counting

Ok. Zac is coming home! He is leaving Iraq today and should be home around Wednesday! I can't wait! It's been a long summer. Not sure about what time or anything yet, but let's just say it will be a wonderful homecoming. I need to run to Wallyworld today to get banner paper.

Makenna had her 1st grade orientation this morning. I can't believe she's already in 1st. I like her teacher. She seems very organized and soft-natured. This is her 1st year teaching, but her mom and sister and cousin are all teachers, so I know she has a lot of support. I like the way she spoke to us and her philosphy on discipline sounds great. I hope that Makenna will flourish in her class this year, and lose some of that "baby" attitude. Overall, I was impressed with the way the school handled the orientation... not like HNP did last year. Everything seemed organized and ready to go.

BOy, it is pouring outside! It's about time we finally had some rain. We got some drizzle yesterday, but nothing like we are right now! Too bad I didn't get the fertilizer down.

off to get some house cleaning done before Zac gets home!

almost had a heart attack!

Makenna and I were sitting on the couch last night when the evening news came on. The news guy reported that families expecting loved ones home from Iraq soon will have to wait because they have been delayed from returning. I freaked! Mom heard it too so I know I wasn't dreaming. And worst of all, Makenna heard it too. She got really upset and started to cry. I tried to reassure her, but how could I when I didn't know what was going on myself. I haven't heard from Zac in days. No email, no phone calls. Now I understand that he is in a war, but usually he will email me to let me know he is doing ok. He hasn't even responded to any of my concerned emails. It drives me nuts! LOL

Anyway, I called the base and they assured me he will be home as scheduled. Whew! I couldn't sleep at all last night due to my mind creating senarios.

I am calmer now, and very relieved to hear that he will be home in a matter of days.

the price of success... $1.99 (plus tax!)

Look at my little fish! It's amazing how far she has come with swimming since she put on a pair of goggles. It's like magic! Before she was scared to death to even put her head under water in the bathtub. Now she puts her head in the water, and actually swims. She's come a long way! I am extremely proud of her, and her daddy will be impressed to see how well she can swim when he gets home.

tick tock, tick tock!!

OMG, it's only a matter of days now before Zac gets home. I am jumping around like a kid I am so happy!!

Been busy the last week or so. Trying to get more painting done and clean the clutter. I still feel like I have so much to do, but I feel overwhelmed because I am running out of time. I need to mow the lawn (does someone want to come over and do it for me? Pretty please? LOL!) There's more painting, the garage, the truck needs to be cleaned, ARGH!! So much to do!

This last weekend I had a chance to meet up with one of my oldest friends. We hadn't seen each other in 17 years we figured out. Oh my goodness, what trouble we would stir up when we were younger!! We met when she was 13 and I was about 15. Her mother was dating a guy that lived on my street. So every summer she would come to visit. Well, from the very first day we met, we became instant friends. Almost like souls connected somehow from the past because it was like we had known each other forever. For 3 summers we were inseparable. Cindi & Wendy, Wendy & Cindi. From boys, to acting like models, going to the beach, and plain being silly. You name it... we probably did it! And laughed about it the whole time. Our driving lessons, sneaking out (sorry mom) and flirting with the boys!! Man, I really missed her. We never stopped laughing! When her mom and that guy stopped dating, we never saw each other again. And time created distance. Until recently when her family came to Destin for a visit and we met up. Now we are 32 and 34, married with our own children. She still looks beautiful and still laughing! I have to say, that Cindi is the one friend that I will cherish forever.

It was surreal to see our own kids playing together, now 17 years later. Her daughter is the one on the far right, next to Makenna.

(P.S.) There is something unfair about the way my face looks in that picture! LOL! The wind and the way my hair is at that moment. OH well!!!

what a deal!

Went to Wallyworld yesterday to get more paint, etc. I just happened to venture down the craft section and low and behold I saw this! Regular price $40 but I paid $15...

There was also a chocolate/stone colored one (which I can't even find from their website) but I like the green. Yeah!! perfect size to bring to scrapbook crops.

the face of content

Look at this adorable face. Just wanted to share.

{Rain! Glorious rain!}

I woke up early this morning around 2am to the sound of rain falling hard on the ground. What a FABULOUS sound. The forecast shows scattered rain for the whole week and I couldn't be happier. In fact, the skies are getting darker as we speak and I hear the thunder-a-rollin'!

Went to the gym this morning (as usual) and for some reason my spirits weren't very chipper. I mean, I am happy about my progress with the weight loss and all, and I am pretty sure that Zac will see the difference... but for the first time I actually see more work that needs to be done over the progress that's been made. I overheard one of the personal trainers and her client talking this morning and the trainer said, oh no... you're definately not a size 12. OK. See, when I look at her, I think she looks bigger than me and I know what size I am.(and no, it's not a 12). So, either she was pacifying her client, or I am bigger than I think. I see the thickness in the belly, and all the extra fat around the thighs and arms. It could be that while I was doing my lateral lifts, I was doing so standing next to another girl who has defined arms and an actual waist. (I really should be writing all this in my weight loss blog) I think it's my boobs. They are so spread out. I wish I could just get another reduction and then add some implants. Forgot the lift... I see what that did for me. I'd also like a tummy tuck. I know it all takes time, but thanks to genetics, I have that famous family trait, ie, the upper stomach. Ok, enough of the depressing, pity crap.

I think I want to look into have a vericose vein removed behind my right knee. And the bruise looking thing in the crease of my knee just popped up recently. It's really ugly looking back there. Where do I go for that?

Well, got my washer and dryer today. I love them, except I think they are going to have to replace the dryer. It sounds really funny. Even the delivery guy thought so. But they are nice. It's funny because I actually feel like I have to read the instruction manual so I can figure out how to wash a load of laundry! LOL

I had to add another post because blogger was acting crazy and wouldn't let me upload more pics... anyway here are the other 2 pics: one is my laundry room,(painted in the same color as the kitchen- aged amber) and the other is the guest bath painted in a color called wheat grass? Can't remember. Anyway, they all look like they are the same color, but they aren't.

So I stayed up late again last night as usual finishing the painting in the bathroom. These pics really don't show the true color but you get the idea. Here is the dining room and the kitchen as well. I started painting the laundry room before they delivered my babies, so in this picture, you can tell that it's not really finished. It's really starting to come together, and I love it!


Best part of all, Mr Phillips came over to help me install this piece of work. Isn't it beautiful? Love, love, love it. And it matches the new hardware I installed on the kitchen cabinets.

Tomorrow I will try and tackle the office/computer room. That should be fun moving that computer desk out!

Went to beach for about an hour today. Met up with Ed and the kids and Andrea. Had lunch at Cocodries. That place isn't all that. Anyway, I then drove my friend Julie to the airport. It feels like it's been a busy day! Oh yeah, then later Ed came over with the kids so they could all play and we chatted for a while about Krys! SHe is such a you-know-what. A real piece of work. And they way she uses her kids and puts them in the middle of her and Ed's divorce makes me so angry!

up late and can't sleep

Well, I got back from the Close to My Heart party around 1030. I knew that I needed to finish painting the bathroom tonight and I should at least paint the wall behind where the washer/dryer will be. I cleaned the floor and mopped... the painting will have to wait till morning. Sears won't be here till at least noon. I have time.

Mr Phillips is supposed to come by and help me install the kitchen faucet. Hope he remembers. Slowly but surely this house will come together. But after seeing MaryJo's house tonight and the way she has her daughter's room set up, I might have to move Makenna's room around now and add another white bookshelf. Think that will be a project for after she starts school.

Of course, I will post pics of all the changes soon.

Finally over my guilt about the washer/dryer. I took it apart last night and wow, I can't believe that I was actually washing clothes in there. There was a lot of rust, so apparently it's been leaking water somewhere for a while. So, if not now, it would have been soon. I have been researching other places that sell the same model so I can price match at Sears (they offer 110%)

Anyway, picked up a 125'garden hose today at wallyWorld. It sucks that I had to spend $27 on it, but the edges of the grass are so burning and none of the hoses I have reached that far. I don't know why the sprinkler doesn't reach these spots anymore. Mowed the lawn, planted the petunias in the container, replaced the crappy what-ever-it-was plant growing in the container by the front door. I bought a pretty hibiscus to put in there. I also moved the azalea from the side of the house so the sprinkler wouldn't be blocked anymore. Now I need to clean out the sandbox. That's gonna suck. I can't believe I have let it go this long!!

So much left to do, and only 3 weeks left to do it. I guess I will be painting tomorrow. yeah.

I knew I shouldn't have jinxed myself! LOL! When Zac's mom was here recently, I had just told her that my washer/dryer was over 10 years old and still in really good shape...
until today. I did a load of laundry and noticed that the floor under the washer was completely covered with water. Great! I headed over to Sears and purchased a new set... they are beautiful, but expensive!! $2000 later and delivered on Saturday.

Can't say that it wasn't time to upgrade, but I feel a little guilty about spending so much on them. I am trying to justify it by saying that even if I got the cheaper ones, it still would have cost over $1000 or so... oh well. I can't figure out if secretly I was waiting for the damn thing to break because I didn't hesitate at all to go out today and buy new ones.

Then on my way home, mom called and said that her friend's sister has a business fixing appliances, etc where it probably would cost me around $35 to have it looked at. Maybe it was just a hose... then again, maybe not. Oh the guilt!! I think I just wanted the new ones! LOL! Oh well, if it wasn't now, then it wouldn't be long where I would have had to go out and buy new ones anyway. Still, the guilt eats at me...

So Zac called while I was typing this thing out... I think he is wondering why I didn't just get the cheap ones. Now I really feel bad! LOL! Sorry honey! But they sure are pretty!

Off to a late start today. I didn't make it to the gym, but I picked up a "steal" from someone wanting to sell a weight bench... I got the bench which inclines, and also has a leg extension, 2 bars, clips and 12 weights for $20. I was thrilled, and I think that Zac will be too.

Speaking of Zac, he sent a pic via email. It's of him and his boss here from the base. Look at Zac trying to be funny! Anyway, he informed me that his replacement is set to arrive on schedule and he should be home as planned. What a relief. I was so worried that they would end up extending him because of poor planning. I know Makenna misses him so much. Tonight we were sitting on her bed talking and she was crying saying that she missed him "so bad". I felt bad for her... but it won't be long now. She is growing up so fast. I look at her and I am amazed.

Tomorrow is a day I dread! LOL I have to go to Build a Bear so the girls from my little girl scout troop can spend their money. ARGH!! Chaos and screaming girls, not my idea of a relaxing afternoon.

We're on the home stretch!

So much to catch you up on... where to start? Well, Zac's mom and sister just left after a week visit to see Makenna and me. It was nice. We stayed busy going to the beach and the pool. Since they were here during the 4th, we got a chance to watch the fireworks show here at the base. Cathy and Makenna danced to the sounds of the really great band that was playing.



There is nothing better than to be able to enjoy God's beauty with all the time in the world. Our day at the beach was nice. The weather was hot, but the breeze from the ocean made it tolerable to sit there in the heat. Here in Navarre beach, they are dredging the sand to create more beach since after the hurricanes pretty much destroyed what was there. So naturally, the seashells are abundant.

One of the highlights was when Cathy found this beauty mixed in the seaweed and sand. What a find, huh?




After swimming and playing, everyone took a break to sit and read a book.
I found it funny when Makenna sat down and started reading a book of her own! LOL! What a sight we all must have been



Since Zac's birthday is the 8th, on Monday we baked some of his favorite cookies to send to him. Chocolate chip... and Makenna made him some dinosaur cut-out cookies as well.
Not sure what they tasted like, as Cathy and Radha are strict vegetarians and don't eat eggs... so we used an egg substitute in the cookies. They had fun baking them at least while I finished painting the kitchen.

The visit was nice, but back to reality... this house is still a work in progress and I have so much to do before Zac gets home.