Grass

I remember taking my kids to the park in Hawaii and meeting a family that had just moved to Hawaii the night before. The child (I can't remember if it was a he/she) was experiencing sand for the first time in his/her life. I enjoyed watching this child play for a few minutes. Then our family moved to Illinois and I saw my kids react to seeing snow for the first time in their lives. It took me back to that child in Hawaii at the park. Well last night I took my kids to a free concert that was held outside on our dentist's lawn. He just built his office and it is absolutely beautiful inside. What I never realized was how beautiful it was on the outside too, especially for Tucson, Arizona where it is all desert. The kids could care less about the country music group that was playing. All they cared about was running around barefoot on the nice, lush grass (and eating free hotdogs and popcorn.) It has only been a year, but you would think they had never seen grass before. I do miss grass (and the beach).

Yum!

The kids and I have been enjoying Mario's present that we gave him right before he deployed...a waffle-cone maker. When my friend, Lisa, was in town, she showed me how to make them even better...melted chocolate and nuts. I can't eat them without the chocolate and nuts anymore. I feel bad that we've used Mario's gift so many times without him. But, it makes a good dessert for compassionate service meals, etc. How many times has someone brought you homemade waffle-cones with a half gallon of ice cream? Erin and I made some today for dessert but the twins will have to wait until tomorrow to have theirs since they weren't reverent in Primary today. They told me they would have been reverent if they would have known we were making waffle-cones. I have often wondered if it is even a good punishment if we give it to them the next day anyway.

Come for a visit and we'll make you some waffle-cones with chocolate and nuts too!

Combat Training Part II

Hi Terri,

We're back safe.

Attached you'll find a couple pictures from yesterday's shooting event. I know it's hard to see in the pictures, but it was a very beautiful scene.

The training was pretty cool. We practiced turning and shooting. In other words, we walk in a line and the instructor yells out which way the enemy is and we all turn and shoot. It was definitely one of those times it was good to be able to delineate between left and right. We
also learned how to shoot using a vehicle as cover. We pull up, jump out, and start shooting over the hood, through the door jams, and around the doors.

While we were there, there were some shepherds close by tending their sheep. Some of the boys came to check out what we were doing, and to ask us for dollars mostly. They weren't one bit afraid of our weapons. The Marines with us shooed them off, but they kept coming back. Then
some Afghan Army soldiers drove up and notice the shepherd boys hanging around. The Afghan soldier drove to where they were, nearly running one of them over, got out and started beating the oldest boy, slapping him around. Of course, we all stopped shooting to watch. It was pretty weird. I've heard the Afghans, or Easterners in general, are a pretty violent and physical people and I've seen it for myself.

I love you,
Mario

Pedigree Dog Food Only

I found out the hard way that you should never give Buzz a pork bone. Every time I put my carpet cleaner away today, I had to get it back out. Finally I just left it out and then locked Buzz into the kitchen. He will be sleeping there tonight. I am glad it was me that gave him the bone and not the kids or Mario. I had no one to be mad at except myself today. Buzz will be on a strict Pedigree diet only for now on. I took a picture of the first mess and emailed it to Mario, but I will spare everyone reading my blog.

I really miss Mario especially when I have a mess like that to clean up. I told the kids they can't throw up until daddy gets home. He has always gotten up with the kids in the middle of the night and cleaned up the mess. I remember Mario following me into the bathroom about 13 years ago. He was cleaning up since I didn't make it to the bathroom in time. I felt so bad that he was so willing to clean up after me and that I am not so willing to clean up his messes. I can't remember him throwing up in our 16 years of marriage. He probably has but made it to the toilet in time. I do recall when we were dating and thinking about marriage, he said he wanted to see how I would treat him when he was sick. Fortunately he didn't get sick during our 5 month courtship or he may have not agreed to marry me!

Horseback Riding at the Grand Canyon

I recruited Missy and her kids to join us at the Grand Canyon in early June. I think I even talked Missy into going riding with Erin. I have a terrible fear of horses since falling off 6 years ago. I booked a room at a resort in Phoenix with a water-park so that should break up the long drive there. The kids and I are excited about our summer vacation. The best part will be getting through the summer so Mario can come home! We miss him so much. We are looking forward to our trip to San Diego with Mario in late September. Hopefully we can talk Grandma into joining because Zach loves his long beach walks with her.

I think Eric is awesome

he is so cool

Lisa and Jessie

I was thrilled when I got an email from my friend, Lisa, from Monterey asking if she could stay with us for the weekend. She was in town for a family wedding and reception. Her older girls were in Austria visiting Lisa's sister, so it would just be Lisa and Jessie. It was so nice to get the boys and Jessie together again. They played together often in California and frequently fought over who would get to marry Jessie (too bad she doesn't have a twin). We took the kids to a small indoor waterpark in Sierra Vista which is about an hour south of us. Then we went to church on Sunday and made a big dinner and played Settlers. It was so nice to see them and I hope we can visit again over the summer. We plan to meet them in San Diego in October again this year but maybe we can get together over the summer too. I like hanging out with Lisa. She is very relaxed and calm. I tend to not relax as much as I should so it is nice to hang out with people who have a calming effect on me. Thank goodness Mario has that effect on me too. (affect or effect? Too bad Eric isn't here to tell me which one to use.) I will post pictures of the Jessie, Nathan, and Zachary when Lisa emails them to me.