Marine Corps Ball

What an honor and a pleasure to attend the Marine Corps Birthday Ball with our Marine Corps neighbors! There were 10 of us in all and oh what a time we had! It was so much fun, we all got rooms for the night and enjoyed the entire event. There was a pre-party in 711 and then there was the social hour with the fancy boys along with a stellar cake cutting ceremony then dinner, dancing, clubbing, post party, post, post party and then we called it a night! Some went on back down to the casino floor and brought in the dawn, I wasn't a party pooper but I did need some sleep, and I'm good with that! I was happy to wake early, check out and hit a new to us breakfast spot. 

Guys

 Girls

 The "fancy boys" in the really cool uniforms!

 
Posting the colors

They had a big birthday cake and it was extremely tasty...I might or might not have had two pieces...but in my defense that first piece was a corner piece, a very tiny corner piece that was very little cake and a lot of fondant at that. I did not feel bad wanting another and was delighted when the head Marine guy got me another piece :)

 The bringing in of the birthday cake was quite a ceremonial event, then cutting it was even more so with the big sword serving as the knife and the oldest and youngest present shared the first piece. Pretty neato! 
Happy 237th Birthday Marine Corps! 
Semper Fi!

 MiB & me

It's now three different service balls we have been to and what great memories of them all! Again, such an honor to get to participate in this event with awesome good friends!

Veteran's Day is today. I hope you pause to remember those who have given and continue to give so much for our nation. I hope you are thankful to your United States of America servicemen and women; they are the ones who afford us the freedoms we often take for granted, they are the hero's, they are the moms, dads, sons, daughters, sisters, brothers who do so much more then just a job! Thank a veteran daily, it does the body good!

For us it's a low key day and would have been even lower key had MiB not had a parade detail; but duty calls, in questionable weather and all. First it was supposed to rain, which for him and the others I am glad that at least the rain stayed to the west; however, we do have some major wind and just a little bit after he left they put us under a tornado watch. Let's just pray it's all good because what a great honor it is to be apart of these events that pay homage to our veteran's.

Thursday Thoughts

 Thoughts:

•  Happy Birthday to my dad!
• Weather has been GORGEOUS :)
• No comment on the events of 6 November...

Another one of those two possibly three trip kinda days...love my life though just notsomuch that drive :)

Many plans are being formulated regarding W727 (that's my new call sign for the wedding)! Thank goodness for Micheal's coupons, that has been awesome this week, with the 50% off! Candles are nearly all purchased. Along with the rose petals. Plugging away, we are!

Have a great day people, it's the only one you've got might as well make the most of it!

Happy 65th BIG Blue!

It's the 65th birthday of the USAF...

Going back to the BIG O

Seems too soon to be sending her back. Didn't she JUST get here???? UGH

Since we were having a gathering this evening, I did not make the airport run, the twins did. Of course, we did not snap pictures before she left the house. Thankfully, they did take a few at the airport as they were dropping her off.

 With Uncle G

MiB w/LilBlue

  Smiling...didn't know about the delay yet!

When she left the house it was all good as far as what the online status of her flight was...ontime! However, shortly after making it through TSA there was a weather delay announced due to storms in the Dallas area, specifically lightening. That went on for quite a while, her 4:25 departure turned into a 6:30 one but she did finally make it to Dallas. Then more delays due to weather. Her original Dallas flight was 6:45 but we knew before she left here that her connecting flight was also delayed so no worries on missing it. The Dallas delay was a concern for me as we did not want her stuck there overnight and we just kept praying something would break loose. Her flight got off the ground out of Dallas just after 10:00 p.m. And finally after 9 hours and some change she finally landed in the the BIG O shortly after midnight!  Since the BUD had to be a work she had to arrange an alternate ride home...thanks to BUD's family for that!

What a great week we all had, looking forward to next month when we will eek out another visit at an as of yet undecided location. Thoughts and plans are still forming, but I think water and most likely sand will be involved :) Can't wait. Course don't want to wish the days away until then so we will all work hard and make the most of the days until then, most importantly for LilBlue as she tackles Spanish IV.

Gathering tonight was as always F*U*N. We celebrated birthdays and promotions. I wish we would have documented better but I was on and off the phone with LilBlue throughout the evening keeping up on the travel saga she was living and really fell down on the job. In fact I felt a horrible hostess as I kept stepping away to speak with her or text back and forth. I know our guest understood but I still felt a little schmucky.

For some reason feet and flip flops were discussed and all those present wearing them decided a picture was in order...that was all but one :)

FlipFlop Central!

And ohbytheway the margarona's were a HUGE hit. Let me tell you I was not sure they would be with this crowd but they were. EVERYONE had one and liked it. I have some thoughts on tweaking it for next time but for this time I did it like this. Which is a little bit different then the recipe I was given, I went with light Corona and used Fresca instead of 7-Up. Next time I will make my own limeade using splenda to cut the calories even more.

Margarona's

12 oz light Corona

12 oz Fresca

12 oz can frozen limeade concentrate

12 oz tequila 

Splash of triple sec

Mix and serve over crushed ice. Simple and refreshing!

And she's F O U R !

Hard to believe she is FOUR today!

Happy Birthday myLittle Echo! Love you :)

And there was cake...

Since we were traveling on the actual day there was no cake until today...it was baked amongst the moving of the boxes. It was totally enjoyable. It has been enjoyed at lunch and dinner today. It has made his belly button smile. He is a cake boy, he loves his cake, especially chocolate with chocolate icing. He doesn't even care that the cake was made from a box mix and the frosting is from a tub. He is just happy to have cake.

 Happy Cake Boy :) 

It's been a very productive day and during our break from the moving we went roller skating. That was such a nice distraction from all the boxes.

Yes, it's not a great picture, but we are there!!!

We also took more donations to the Attic and we helped a traveler. That was so much fun. He had taken a taxi from the airport. Walked on through the gate to where he knew the lodging officewas, only to find out it has temporarily relocated...to the other side of base. So we picked him up and got him squared away and headed in the right direction. He was a happy camper and so were we!

Back home, more boxes moved, more unpacking, little work on the surf board (yes, MiB is building a surfboard!), and then dinner and now it is back to the old house to get some "work done" before heading to bed. I am doing better today since we got some OTC meds yesterday for my sore throat and drainage. Amazing what a little bit of medicine can do for ya!

Tomorrow will be finishing up getting the rest of our stuff over to the new place, with the exception of what we will need to be able to sleep and shower at the old place. Then wait for the movers to show up on Wednesday, clean and be totally out of here, the old place, on Friday at 3:00 p.m. I hope to have the new place in order quite quickly as well and that will go pretty quick once the furniture has been placed. I hope that goes smoothly but sometimes it takes me a while to figure out how I want things or what is going to work best. So we shall see.

Hope you have had a great weekend, it's been busy in our world but it has gone smoothly and for that I am VERY thankful!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is my MiBs birthday...I say HaPpY BiRtHdAy dude! It is also Twin 2s b-day, so happy birthday to him as as well! We made the drive home today and then took in a movie, Act of Valor. Amazing and a good see, our men and women in uniform rock. This film portrays the Marines, specifically the seal teams, they are the elite, the best of the best. They do the job, they take the losses and still move forward, they are the freedom fighters. The movie was stellar, it hit home, it made me proud and made me think about how much we take for granted.

On the way home from the movie we stopped and got a take and bake pizza. Gourmet veggie with red sauce instead of the creamy garlic, it was superb and we scarfed down half of it. What a yummy meal. We had stopped at Newk's on our way home and it was MiBs first time to eat there. He definitely thought it was a keeper. I think it is a yummo place as well. I really want to try some of the other soups, I have been on Friday and always get the tomato basil soup which is super good, but I am ready to try a new one. I tried the grilled veggie sammie this time and it was phenomenal! I will get it again, I liked it  a lot.

So while the pizza was cooking we made a few trips to the new house and have all the bedrooms now moved over. This is only the "things" the movers come on Wednesday and move the furniture. Tomorrow we will move the kitchen, finish the project room and some of the other miscellaneous things and start on the garage. It is going well. I will be glad when it is DONE.

So, Happy Birthday MiB, I do love you and I know it wasn't an overly celebratory day with the drive back and moving and all but it was still a decent day and I am glad we were together this year for your special day!

Night, I'm tired and tomorrow is another full day of moving and a commissary run, wow, the excitement in our life is just over the top!!! LOL

Happy Birthday Mrs Marine!!!

It is WW and we are celebrating Mrs. Marine's birthday.

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Mrs. Munsey made a red velvet cake, it was super yummy, I even had a little sliver. 

Each week we come together. It's not like we solve the world's problems or anything but we have a good time trying! It's a great group and we are brought together by a common thread, our husbands, who defend out nation. They have answered a call that not all do or can and we are proud military wives. We are instantly bonded. It's awesome!

It is always a fun get together on WW; to see what's new, who is doing what and when, plan the next neighborhood gathering, dish about the latest and share our life. We all come from very different walks of life but for a few hours each week we connect and I love it! These are some awesome women, I am learning much from them, not all good, but I am still learning! LOL

Happy Birthday Mrs Marine! Thanks for sharing a little bit of your busy life with us :)

Neighborhood Progressive Dinner

Oh what a night...the neighborhood group decided to do a progressive dinner so four homes, 10 people,  5 hours and full bellies later we think we will do this again, it was sooooo much fun!

We started off at the MUNSY house with some soup. The corn chowder was delicious, but I thought the tortellini soup was da bomb. After soup we headed to our house for salad, the wedge salad with the homemade bleu cheese dressing was a huge hit, but the tossed salad with the homemade ranch was also very tasty if I do say so myself!

 

The guys after salad...

The girls after salad!
 

It was then on to the GSC House for the main dish. Pork with balsamic vinegar, I tasted it and though it was indeed yummers. However, my favorite was the twice baked potatoes and green beans, dem be real good :)

 

 A Marine contemplating what he got himself into with all these USAF dudes!

Lastly, we went to the Marine House for the MOST AWESOME dessert ever. I love white cake, it is the mostest in my book, but this was white cake with strawberries and a bit of a not too sweet but yet lovely yum frosting. I am telling you it could easily make me happy ANYTIME to eat this cake! I loved it, I wanted to eat two pieces but I did not, cause ya know I am still fighting too tight jeans. YUCK! And it was in celebration of our GSC ladies birthday so we did a little birthday celebrating as well! I savored every bite! I love white cake, I love strawberries, it was heaven!!!!

THE Cake

 The Birthday Girl and the Cake Baker AKA Mrs. Marine

It was a great evening and we are planning to repeat it soon. But in March we will schlep to MAIN base and enjoy the hosting of Ms Speech Writer, however, we do have February to plan first and who knows what we will come up with on that!  What I know is that we are an unlikely group, but a group that works, it's quite fun when we get together and you never know what will happen at these gatherings but it will always be interesting for sure!

 Hmmm, what can I say? She writes speeches....

 My LOVE!

My LOVE and me :)

Happy Birthday LilBlue!

Oh my, can I just say I am having a hard time believing you are 21...it just DOES NOT seem possible! Let me just say I think you are ABSOLUTELY amazing...I mean seriously, you are incredible. You have faced so much in just 21 short years. You have braved many a path, crossed several bridges and literally jumped hurdles to get where you are. When I say, "you is kind, you is smart, you is important" I hope you believe it deep within you.

I have blogged about your birth already, and I have another post to share my thoughts of that day you were born, and then last year when you entered the 2's I made mention of that big milestone. So this year as you enter the age of what many refer to as "adulthood" I will once again share my thoughts...like there was any doubt that was gonna happen! And you may or may not be thrilled about that. Some may think you are a little old to hear this but I think most of these things bear repeating...so here goes! (And I did get the inspiration for these thoughts from another blogger, but I did not bookmark the page, I cut the info into a word document, so I apologize in advance and if you read this too and remember where, send me the www and I will link it - I am now starting using pinterest for saving many things and I have also started to paste the weblink into the things I save in a document not on this totally addicting website!)

1. EVERYONE is NOT doing it - you have heard this your entire life and it does not change ever...it can and will relate for the rest of your life. But I hope you know now that you are the legal to buy one that you will not succumb to any pressure to do things you know will forever change your life. Trust me, you are not the only one who won't and the sad thing is the ones who are, are most likely thinking and wishing they wouldn't of. And if all else fails see #7
2. Do not pretend you are dumber than you are...this is pretty self explanatory but it is worth reminding you on. I know that being the "stupid girl" can and often does have it's perks but it's a short street; so don't be dumb it's not cool!
3. Do modesty it IS classy - Cover yourself up appropriately always. Showing the world what you have is why men your fathers age are looking at girls your age and it's just wrong! You have a great I mean impeccable fashion sense; keep it and keep it covered, all of it!
4. Marry someone similar to your father...I know that sounds nuts but trust me on this. Your father is an absolute fantabulous husband. He loves me with all his being, he cherishes me and most of all respects me. You want someone like that...seriously! Also pay attention to how your potential mate treats his mother.  Lots to be said there.
5. SEX - yes, I am going there! I know many of your peers believe that casual sex is harmless and the world makes no mistake in advertising this as true, but it's NOT true, it's a big fat lie. It might feel right and all that! But the bottom line is sex was designed for marriage...no one ever regrets waiting til they are married; plenty do regret that they didn't. You get my drift.
6. Girls are mean - I know you know this, you have experienced it. So please don't be a mean girl, it's not becoming. You are still fresh enough out of high school and in the middle of your college life that this is still a player so just remember this. Remember to be the girl who let the drama roll and not be in the midst of it, starting it especially. Be the girl who treats others with kindness who rises above the meanness of others.
7. We can and will ALWAYS be your excuse, use us! We are okay with you using us as the reason you cannot or do not want to fillintheblank. It can get you out of many an uncomfortable situation and we DO NOT MIND being thrown under the bus, in fact we would love it. Trust me! We want you to be able to say no in your own right but you can always just toss out the "I can't my parents would kill me" or even "my parent's won't allow me to" or the one that would be spot on "my mom would have a coronary" it's sooo okay! REALLY! If it helps you NOT to end up in a bad situation that's the point and come up with whatever it takes.
8. We love you! I know we haven't done it all right, in fact we have probably done more wrong, but we did what we thought was the best for you at the time. Looking back we know we were wrong in some situations, sorry! We also hope you will stick with your roots and trust HIM, who never fails. It's fact, He don't mess up, we do...He loves you even more then we do, look to Him. He will help you to be beautiful on the inside and it will carry over to your outside, promise!

So daughter, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I know you are going to be an amazing adult, we are so so very proud of you, and we love you much more then you could ever fathom. And if you have read this far you deserve a little pictorial treat. So I leave you with the last 10 years of birthdays beginning with that most spectacular day ever, the day you were born!

 1991- Just hours after you were born! (OKC, OK)

1992 - Happy 1st Birthday! 

(Your party pictures are really dark and did not copy well)

1993-You were really into the blowers!

1994 - With your two favorite men!

 1995 - Hakuna Matata :)

1996 - Chuck E. Cheese was a huge hit!

1997 - Making cupcakes at school (COS, CO)

 1998 - Growing up right before our eyes!

 1999 - Requested homemade angel food cake this year!

 2000 - Oh gee, you are not a baby anymore! (DC)

2001 - Back to angel food and going double digits!

Happy, happy birthday LilBlue, we do most certainly love you...

Thankful for her...

Honestly, I am very thankful for all my nieces! Even the ones I don't really know...but that's another post, maybe. But since HER birthday is today she is singled out for some extra words...

She was born while I was away at college. However, when she was just over a year old, I got to spend quite a bit of time with her since I was "home" while waiting to join MiB at our first duty assignment. So we hung out lots and we had a great few months in those early years. Then I came home to visit for an extended time period the next year and we again re-bonded and spent lots of time together. She's a quiet one without many words. But there IS a giggle that she still has to this day. She doesn't ask for much ever and she is somewhat last minute on things, usually important things too...but she is who she is and we love her! She is the mother to "the Littles" as well!

 

She's the one in the wedding dress :)

Today is HER birthday, so Happy Birthday to SLC-M!

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important!"

The Help

Thankful for New Friends!

Today was the November Girls birthday lunch. What fun we had, the food was good but the conversations and laughs were the bestest! I am glad to be included with such a neat group. We have been many places and served with many faces but these are truly some of the best. The cupcake was awesome yum and I wanted to eat the entire thing but I had one bite! Yeah for me :)

I am thankful for the many friendships we have forged over the years as MiB has worn the blue suit, it's been awesome and we are still in touch with so many of these folks. They are so much more then friends in so many ways; they are family. We are thankful to have been blessed enough to cross paths with such a great group. In retirement, which really isn't that far off, we hope that we can reconnect with others that we have served with. That will be so much fun! We are both looking forward to that!

Happy Tuesday to you and a BIG Happy Birthday shout out to my own father as he celebrates another year...he is 81 today! While he does face some unfun stuff he is blessed to be surrounded by the Littles on a regular basis along with other immediate family in the area and they certainly do him good. The Littles especially provide him with much laughter and stories to share. He is doing okay despite a few areas that he wishes were better, I think for 81 he is doing swell!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Thankfulness...

This morning as I watch the news and such I am thankful I am not experiencing cold and snow in my world. I am also praying that the weather holds for our travels this weekend. We will be making a quick to trip to MO this weekend and LilBlue will be coming down as well, so I am praying for good travel weather for all involved.

I find as I mature (yeah, you can read that age if you want!) I prefer a warmer climate. In fact as MiB and I discuss retirement plans we are keeping that in mind. While we don't know where we will end up ultimately, we know if we have our druthers we will be choosing a warmer climate over a colder one to be sure. Course if the MiB has his way we will be in Hawaii and while I think that would be okay for a while I am not sure living there all the time would be thing either.

So today I sit here with a headache after a very little sleep night...not sure what's up with that. I have had a few days of uneasiness...that is usually not a good thing in my world. I am still trying to pinpoint the heart of it. I know I am juggling several things and feeling somethings are taking way too much of my time and other things I should be giving more time to, it's a balance. I still have not reached a balance here. I still do not feel connected here. I don't think that is really bothering me but maybe it is. The job here is bigger, has way more to it and I don't feel quite like I have a handle on it and the expectations are there. I know I will not be all things to all people and I have never tried to do that anyway; however, I do try to keep up. I try to keep the big picture in mind and not get too in the weeds, nonetheless, I do find myself out there, taking on too many little things that really someone else should have done at a much lower level but didn't and then it's really become an issue with someone or something. I am trying REALLY harder to stay out of those weeds...

I have a small to do list today, so now that I have had my cappuccino I should really get on to it. I hope the things I need to pick up do not prove difficult, I am once again on a mint hunt. I had this same hunt going on last year about this time for a birthday bash. I also need nuts, that will be the easy one!

I am outta here, enjoy your day. Oh, and it's an uber good friends b-day today so Happy Birthday LS!

Being Thankful...

November, being the month of Thanksgiving and all I am going to try and make daily post (I said TRY) of things I am thankful for... what are you thankful for? Even in the worst of times and situations I think there are always things we can be thankful for that we tend to forget and also take for granted. If you are living in America, you have the BIG ONE, your freedom. Too many of us take that one for granted.

That is the one I am using for today. I am thankful for my F R E E D O M and for the men and women who continue to bring it to us every day. I am thankful I am able to be around those men and women every day, they are awesome people! These folks are real heroes and they don't even act like it's any big deal, they are "just doing their job" Yeah right, but I also like it that they are modest and humble or whatever you want to call it about it. that makes them all the more cooler!

So thank you to all the men and women in the armed services, you are responsible for our freedom and I for one am VERY THANKFUL for that.

And today I also remember the birthday of one who has gone on...a neat guy, a real character so to speak! I know he is deeply missed by his family. They have carried on, become stronger, maybe a bit more tender, maybe not nonetheless they still think of you and talk about you ofter. 

RIP Papa

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 24

Happy Birthday Little #1

In just a few short days I will get to see this little guy again and I am so excited! I love him, he's my "buddy"! While MiB was deployed this past year I tried to spend lots of time with him and his little sister or "my little echo" as I liked to call her and I soooo enjoyed every minute with them. The two of them make up "the Littles" I have blogged about them several times! They crack me up every time I see them, they come up with the funniest things and they are a hoot to be around. And they love to dance.

I cannot believe he is 5, oh my, how they grow and the time is passing so quickly! I remember the day he was born I think we all do, bit of a surprise but we were all instantly in love with this little guy with the black hair and eyes. He stole EVERYONE's heart. Gigi and G-Pa especially! He has been the most inquisitive child I have ever been around, asking questions, I mean real questions continuously. He is such a deep thinker, although he has a sort of "worry" factor in his questioning as in, "what happens if" type thing, he also has a great imagination and gets on board quick with playing anything to do with movement, such as planes, trains and automobiles. I cannot tell you how many hours we spent building train tracks, racing cars with the most detailed scenarios I have ever heard. He also loves to play Legos and be read to.

In addition to playtime we spent many a lunch hour together at the counter, where in no short order he usually requested scrambled eggs with salt or noodles and crackers. He also made sure I was aware that I do not have a place at the counter...there is only room for himself, G-Pa and sister.  This boy likes his routine and he did not want me coming in to mess it up :) He would also like some peaches or applesauce with that too thankyouverymuch! And for a prelunch snack I would take two chocolate tookies please :) This might also be a request after lunch as well. This boys knows what he likes and likes what he likes; not an adventurer in the food arena to be sure as I would try to talk him into at least trying what I was eating on a regular basis. My plate usually contained food very different then what he was having :) He would have none of it, oh he might make me think he would try it but then he would tell me why he couldn't! Silly boy!


So Happy Birthday to you little guy who is getting so BIG, I miss you and I will see you soon! We will have fun as we plan for another BIG day, more on that another day!

31 Days of Military Life ~ Day 19

Happy Birthday Ladies!

Today we gathered to celebrate the October birthdays. What fun we had! We ate at a new Mexican place, ToMolly's. I thought it was tamales when they told me the restaurant, funny! Anyway it was pretty good, I had the enchilada special, which is every Wednesday, three enchilada's (cheese, chicken or beef) with rice and beans for $4.99. My kind of deal, I brought two home for my dinner!

 Our birthday girls!!!

JH made a gluten free cake, my first taste of such a thing, it was tasty, I had a sliver! Chocolate is not my first choice, gasp! I would prefer lemon, carrot or pumpkin, call me crazy but they are way better then chocolate any day in my book!

With the traditional sombrero, I mean we were at a Mexican restaurant. They also brought them a sopapilla topped with strawberries and whipped creme, now that I would go for, but I had already had my sliver of the chocolate cake so I said no!

After our lunch I did a little shopping, well I also did some before our lunch too :) The area were the restaurant is has lots of stores and I don't make it up to that neck of the woods much so took advantage of it while I was there. I scored at Target! They had cute paper goods marked down to 56 cents a package. That's a bargain in my book, 10 count dessert plates, 20 count napkins, oh yeah, next neighborhood gathering is covered for plates and napkins :) Then I headed south to World Market to pick up some new SF syrups. I got a bottle of almond and a salted caramel. Looking forward to trying those! We have tried the brown sugar cinnamon and won't be buying that again, I like the pumpkin pie, MiB not so much, vanilla is a keeper and so is English toffee, there are only about 30 others to try! Some don't ever sound appealing others I hope to get next!

I also sadly report that I am struggling with that horrid 7#s again...I know, it totally bums me out. I have got to make time to get back on the exercise wagon cause for me and my body it make a huge difference. I can watch what I eat, count my calories and all and what my fat and if I don't get my booty moving it just doesn't help me to keep the weight off. So I haven't been getting the walks and occasional runs in and this a.m. the scale (and yesterday and the day before) really told on me. With cooler weather and all the holidays coming up I have to get back on top of this. Right now I sit at needing to get back off about 5#s but I know that could easily be the 7 if I am not careful. And eating at Mexican places doesn't help :(

So right now I gotta run! LITERALLY!!! I just got a text from MiB he is headed to the gym so I am headed out for a walk and depending on how I feel since it's been a while I MIGHT run a little, but irregardless I am going to get this body moving cause that is a start and you gotta start back somewhere, CIAO!

Birthday PARTY!!!

The real day was yesterday but TODAY, today was the party!!!

The Bell wasn't sure if she wanted Tinkerbell or a Princess Party...the Princesses won out.

We met at the appointed time at the park and had some awesome cookout grub then got down to business. Cake and presents! She was ready for it all and looked too young to already be three! She is growing up waaay to fast!

The was her own personal little cake...guess who she shared it with? Yeah, me! Aren't I soooo special? She loves me lots! AND well I might have told her how much I love white cake!!!

Happy Birthday I-S-A-bell

Happy Birthday my "little echo"!

My "little echo" turns THREE today! She is a treat, she is so full of sass but not in a naughty way, she has a time with her brother, lately, she is somewhat more mother then sister even though she is younger. They are the best of playmates and love, love, love each other to pieces. 

She is a girl with many identities in our family, she is G-Pa's sweetie pie, she is most often referred to as "sister" by her mother, "sissy" by her brother and of course she is one half of "the Littles" to many as well as my "little echo".  In addition I began calling her I-S -A-bell several months back so we could start learning to spell her name. She can "spell" it now...by saying her first three letters, I, then S, then A, then completing it with the word "bell". It works for us for now, we will learn the rest later, she is only three after all!

Some things I love about this little one: her hugs are the absolute best...truly she is a great hugger, she is a "good manners" kid and will ask you if she is being good, she is a self entertainer if you have her by herself and when she is with her brother they play well together. She has a sense of humor, she loves Looney Tunes and that puddie tat!  She laughs when she plays with her babies and talks up a storm to no one in particular. She is little, as in petite. She wants to be apart and in the middle of what you are doing even if you aren't really doing much. She loves to ask questions, she repeats nearly everything her brother says, which is why I call her "little echo"! Those are just a smidgen of the many things I could tell you about her! She is a true delight! (NOTE: I may be a little biased on this...)

There will be a "princess in the park" party tomorrow complete with a buttercream iced cake, cause this child loves icing! We will celebrate and it will be all about her. There was a time that we were not going to be able to have this party you know? Yes, that is correct! You see you cannot turn three if you wear a diaper...I know, I know you may not have been aware of this rule and neither was I-S-A-bell but we had to inform her. At first we weren't sure she was truly getting it but we were persistent and told her we were going to be sad if we did not get to buy her presents and eat birthday cake with her so she needed to learn to use the big girl potty and get rid of those nasty, wet, stinky diapers. There were several good days then it was back to the diapers, a good day here and there but still back to the diapers; then finally it all seemed to click with her. She has been diaper free for over three weeks now with only an accident or two. Yes, I know this is HUGE and we are all sooooo happy and thrilled we will be having a BIG birthday bash for her tomorrow. It's just grand! I'm so proud of her and all the bags of M&M's we bribed her with, err, I mean rewarded her with! She's a true BIG GIRL NOW! And just for the record I DID NOT start this rule of having to be pottied trained before turning three, nosiree, that my friend I do believe came from Aunt Turtle!