A Long Time in Coming!

On May 3, 2006, Jonathan basically signed his life (and mine, and Lucy's, because we found out like 3 days later that I was preggo) away by committing NINE years of service to the US Air Force. The recruiter even let Jon keep the pen he signed the contract with because it was such a life changing event. So, in light of that momentous occasion, I would just like to say, this is the beginning of the end, Uncle Sam! The first four years were devoted to school of course, so although it was a looooong journey we knew it was what we wanted to do, then last year with the AEGD Air Force residency, it was a year that would only be "worth it" educationally but not count towards any of our four years of payback we owed, but this, our first year of ACTUAL PAYBACK-- from 2011-2012, feels like one of the biggest "ticks" off the nine year journey. So you know what that means: only 3 years left! Just imagine how this feels... To look back and see only 3 years left, after we've already completed 6 feels really, really good.

Here's to you, kid. Three more years of slaving for the military and then WE get to decide where we live, where we work, and how and where we spend our time!! Hooray!

RIP Blueberry Sparkle!

Well, I guess fish (unlike cats) do not have 9 lives. About a week ago I noticed our fish-of-many-aliases went belly up, literally. I then had a horrible dilemma on my hands, I could a) hurry to Petco and replace our little beta Blueberry Sparkle with a look alike, b) dispose of his remains quickly and quietly and hope the kids just didn't notice, or c) somberly gather the kids round and tell the truth of what happened while wisely turning it into a great FHE lesson about the Gospel and life and death, etc. Naturally being the lazy bones that I am, I opted for "b." Unfortunately, that lasted about 3 days before Luce went to feed BS (Blueberry Sparkle from here on out) and totally FREAKED. OUT. Now I was reeeally stuck! I tried a bit about how he was on vacation for awhile, but that didn't go over so well, so I was stuck with telling the truth about how BS died. Now I know how my mom felt all those years ago when she ran over our cat and had to tell us she killed it... That was awfully traumatizing. Poor Lucy cried for a good 20 min. but Jon (the better parent) stepped in and turned it into a great teaching tool. Now Lucy looks forward to seeing BS in heaven. As for Zachary, he hasn't even noticed the fish is missing. I was 1 for 2!

A picture of happier times enjoying Elmo-Wubba-Heart-Blueberry-Sparkle who joined the family last February. I love this picture. They were SO excited to get their first pet!! And just so you don't think I'm totally heartless, I saved that fish from an early death by insisting he come with us on our across-the-country road trip last summer. Jon wanted to flush him because he didn't think he'd survive 5 days in a hot car, but I knew how much he meant to the kiddos, so we strapped him into a shoe box and took him with us wherever we went (including the hotel room). And yes, he lived, but I believe the arduous journey was too much for the little guy and he was never the same since. He missed Vegas just as much as I do. RIP Blueberry Sparkle!

This picture doesn't need a whole lot of explaining if you read my post a few weeks ago about little Ratatouille. I turn my back for ONE second and he is COVERED head to toe in flour. I mean seriously, his face and hair were white, like the makeup artists from "Twilight" had gotten a hold of him. Aaarggghh!!

So, I realize it's been awhile since my last post, but here's proof that we are alive and well (picture was taken today!). There's not a whole lot of bloggable things happening in lil ol' Pinehurst so I'm gonna have to get creative this summer if I'm going to have enough material to make a book out of it. I did spend all weekend watching "Whale Wars" episodes on Animal Planet (so interesting! so controversial!) so that tells you how exciting things have been around here, or just how pathetic our life has become. :) We do have some fun things to look forward to this summer though, with a trip up to Richmond and DC over Memorial Day, a sister visit from Whitney in June, some beach trips planned to the Carolina coast, a trip home to Idaho and Washington, and a girls' weekend in NYC, so stay tuned faithful readers!