Friday Update and we are official

I just don't know where this past week as gone. Kenny has been working 13 hour days and it has been a rough week for him. I know he more than any of us, is looking forward to this weekend. Last week, my paddle board finally got here from Maui and we had to take it out. It was a blast and we all worked on our tan. Kenny well he worked on his a little too much : ( I also finally bought paint to get rid of the butterflies and the larva that were painted in our half bath. I couldn't take it any more. Here is the before picture of that bathroom and I will post the after hopefully this weekend when it is done.

I also said we are official, what I meant is we have a board to carry on the top of the car.

I have started looking into going back to school. What a scary thing and don't know how to manage it all. It has to be something in the medical field, that's just me and where I feel I need to be. I have a desire to work with kids or old people. I found out that since it has been so long since I went to school that I pretty much need to start all over. Science based classes expire in 5 years and most other classes expire in 10 years. I only had 40 or so hours, but still it upsetting to know that that time, energy and money is all gone. What the hell is that about??? The online classes seem to be great but so expensive. I don't know when to go and worry about the kids and all that other mom stuff. If Kenny could help he would, but I know that is a lost cause with his new job. I want another identity in my life. I love being a wife, mother and other those really important roles that I have, but need more. I have prayed and tried to listen about where I need to go and just aren't hearing those answers. I wonder if I am asking for too much and should just be content with where I am. I also know allot of women don't have the luxury to stay at home so I am grateful for that.

Kelsey has started piano lessons and loves them. She has a Russian teacher named Natalyia. We just found out yesterday that she will be taking a little break because she just got picked up for the TV show Lost.. I thought that was really neat, but wait I just paid you tuition : ) I guess those are the breaks when your next door neighbor is the executive producer of the show.

Hope everyone has a great weekend,

Ashley

Thursday at the table...

Well, not to much going on over here except trying to find my groove again. I finally started at the gym again and it is on the Marine Base. Let's just say I still feel the best Marine is a Submarine. I still feel sorta lost without my kids at home all day. I can get done what used to take me all day with them home to now I am normally looking for something to do before noon.


The post today is to come to Sam's table a little late, but I added chocolate so it's all good. I love rice crispy treats and needed them to taste a little more like chocolaty. I just made normal rice crispy treats with coco pebbles and about 8 sheets of graham crackers as the cereal mix. Then melted some butter with brown sugar of course the marshmallows too. I mixed that all up and then added some more marshmallows to the mix after taking it off the stove. I then added my crazy mixture to a bread tube so it has a crazy shape let it cool for a couple of hours. To any of you who know me then I have to add some melted chocolate to the top to finish off this fabulous treat. Something else that I have done is add some peanut butter chips to the batter or melt some peanut butter chips and top them off with that. I hope this added something decent to the table.

I also wanted to add that say that I am trying to live a life I love. I have met a person here that I could just do without. I thought that i needed to make the best of the situation and keep on keeping on. I love the life I live and no one is going to put a damper on my spirit. Having a different attitude and trying to see what their story is makes me think twice about people. I used to know this person and see her all the time. She had what looked liked on the outside the ideal life. She was beautiful, great husband and all that we all want in life. After getting to know her more and see her story I was sad for her. She had several medical conditions, cancer that she had beat once and other issues. I just thought to myself and thanked God for all that I did have. I know I wouldn't of wanted all her crosses to carry, and was disappointed in myself for being jealous. Moral of my story today is always be thankful for what we do have and love like there is no tomorrow and always, always have that piece of chocolate.

Love to all,


Ashley

I'm free again

Today the kids started their first day of school. Cort was all excited about wearing a uniform and Kelsey was not to say the least. I thought they both looked very cute and too big to be my kids. When we got to school, I walked Cort to his classroom. Kelsey was really nervous and wasn't sure she wanted me to walk her to her classroom. I guess she is at that age where I am no longer cool to be seen with. I knew it was coming and surprise it is here : ) She had so many boys in her classroom and very few girls. i hope they have a wonderful and positive first day. They do get out at noon today, so I guess I should run to get something done.

Be thankful for something today,

Ashley

Monday Update

I finally have a husband back at home and it feels great. You really never know how much someone does or what an impact that have on your every day life until they aren't there. Kenny got home on Friday and we had a busy weekend. Friday night me and the kids went to the beach to wait for daddy to be be ready to be picked up at the pier. That was a disaster and we left early and came home to wait for his phone call instead. Just let me say this, people don't watch their children as closely as they should. I understand it takes a village to raise a child, but the village should not have to watch them because your feeding your face. It was 10pm before we finally arrived at home with daddy.

Saturday, we went to the boat so Kenny could sign some papers. He said it was only going to be 15 minutes, an hour an 15 minutes later we were leaving. It was fun to see Kenny do what he does at work. I kind of felt like a fly on the wall and the kids were patient after they found the candy stash in his stateroom. Cort was enjoying jolly rogers (ranchers) as he called them.

Then we were off to a pool party at the Stevenson house. I made deviled eggs, smores rice crispy treats and then the never fail chips and dip. It was well deserved on Kenny's part to sit down a relax after being gone and stressing for the last 6 weeks. The kids swam and we enjoyed every ones company.

Sunday.... We went to church to thank God for our many blessings in our lives. I love our church, it's feel and the people are icing on the cake.

We had the CO's hail and farewell to attend to at PF Changs. I may hate when Kenny isn't home, but the group of wives to hand with are god sent. I enjoy all these women and what each of their personalities brings to the table. We had a great night and are HAPPY to welcome the new CO and his wife.

Today is my kidos last day of no school. So we will finally have a routine starting tomorrow.

Hugs, peace and chicken grease to all,

Ashley

Skater Dudes and Cool Chics

My kids are obsessed with their new skater things called wave boards. We live right by a skate park so they always want to bring them there. I love seeing them just play outside. Cortland now says he wants to be a pro skater and Kelsey is just there to have fun. I think the story behind these boards are even better: Cort realized he was 20 bucks short of having 90 to buy his board. So, he says can I call my granny? He calls, except his Paw Paw answers the phone and Cort just comes right and says "hey Paw can you send me 20 bucks, my mom won't give it to me and I need it" I thought I was trying to teach a lesson about saving his money, but Paw blew that up in smoke. I didn't mind cause the next thing Cort says was I guess I need to write Paw a nice thank you note. I guess he has learned something in his little life of eight years..Here they are riding their boards..

Like me or not...

I enjoy people and also enjoy meeting everyone. What I don't enjoy are arrogant people who think they are better than others. I had welcome coffee to attend today with eighty other officer wives from new to seasoned wives. It was a breath of fresh air to be among women who are confident in who they are not to have to wear their husbands rank to be liked. The coolest person their had to be the Admiral's Wife. She said to me people get caught up in being to serious and forget to have fun. What a true statement and it could not of come from a better person. I hope that I teach my children always to be a good judge of character. I want to always be liked for me, not for what i have or who I know or who my husband is. ...

Had a couple of the ladies over tonight for a pot luck dinner and it was great. The kids played and I had some missed adult conversation since all our husbands have been gone.

I also bought my first stand up paddle board today. I am stoked about it and it should be here from Maui on Tuesday. The was the most money I have ever spent without Kenny home. I think it will be a fun memory maker for the family. I also think it will be a great workout tool for me when the kids are at school. I want to make the most out of our time here, what an adventure. I also would like to get a two man kayak for those weekends when Kenny is home. I just don't know if a two man is the best plan. What do I do when he is not here???? I can't let the kids go out by themselves, or I go out with one of them. Then that still leaves a kid on the beach by themselves what do I do?? Today was a another great day the only thing to make it better would be to have my other half....

I hate Direct TV.. & early morning photos

I don't think I can say enough how much I hate these people. They called again this morning at 5:18 to tell me I have a balance of $60.83. Geez thanks you dumb asses... I know that and it gets automatically drafted every month like it always has year after year. The problem is our phone number, we took our Charleston number with us to Hawaii. It is the internet phone so you can carry your home number wherever you go. They see the area code and call at crazy hours for us, normal hours for them. I have called and asked for notations on our account saying that we are now in Hawaii time. So, finally this morning when they called I called them right back and gave them a pissed off chic who has no husband and needs them to stop freaking calling about asinine crap. I love it when she proceeded to tell me that they don't call anyone that early. I even asked her for her number so I could return the favor.

Enough about that, today is going to be a positive and productive day. I went outside and took some early morning photos. Here it what it looks like from the front of house. What a beautiful site.... As someone else put it: God really outdid himself when he decorated Hawaii..

Ashley

How long can we be in our PJ's????

I wonder how many days we can just take a bath and change our PJ's from day to day. I did actually get dressed today and try to mail some goodies out to some special people. Well my thoughtfulness didn't go very far. One box was going to be $115.00 just to go back home to LA. My brother and his new wife will just have to wait till Mom and Dad get her and hand carry it back for FREE. The other ones I won't be so lucky, I will just have to suck it up and just mail them out my way. I actually went look at some stand up paddle boards today. I really would like to get one and have one on hold. It was a great deal at $995.00 and that included the paddle. I have never spent money like that without talking to Kenny first, so I will wait till Saturday if you know what I mean. I also got to finally talk to my bestest shopping buddy today. I miss her so much.. Mrs T you know who you are. I love having friends where I kids get along and we can hang out for hours and love every minute of it. My kids are making friends and are actually looking forward to school starting. They don't start till the 19th and then every Friday is a half day... I guess that is the island life for you. Miss all you guys...

Ashley

One year ago...

A year ago I never thought i was would be kissing my grandmother hand as she had passed away. I remembering thinking she can't be gone she is still warm. It was a feeling like no other. All of her Carmelite sisters were there and one of them just finished singing Ava Maria. It was very peaceful and she definitely had studied the almighty book for a long time to prepare for this day. It was very strange it was still a funny feeling to have her just in the living room. I knew that it would feel final when the funeral home would come to get her. I also remember something funny from this day too...: ) My Paw Paw had to leave to go to work to get some important papers. I didn't want him going by himself and wondered what the heck he kept at work. For those of you who don't know he sells cars. So we get there and he goes to his desk and grabs a folder. It has instructions from Maw Lucy detailed how everything should work and even the hours she wants her body open at the funeral home. It made me smile because she was in charge till the end. After all this is done and I have to head back to my home in Charleston I take a couple things with my as memories of Maw Lucy.... I have her bible and it is amazing all the goodies she has in there. She has things highlighted, underlined and everyone I think I know she has their name on a piece of paper, meaning she was praying for them. But the one thing in their that is all of the above must of meant alot to her and here it is:

The Lord is my Shepard:I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. he restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will not fear no evil for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Ashley

Beach Bums

Today was a not so beautiful day to begin. I had planned a day with some of the wardroom wives to hang out at the beach today. It was really windy and then the sun was stuck behind the clouds. Not long after we got there, one of the twins, Maddie got stung by a jellyfish. But after she got treated by the lifeguard she just played outside the water and the sun came out a little and we had a blast. Cort became friends with the other twin Victoria and they played the whole time we were there catching anything that moved. Kelsey just loved hanging out with the big girls. It feels good to have those instant friends who know exactly how you feel when the boat is gone. There is one person missing from this photo and that is Pam, she is great and was off looking for Cort and Victoria. I know great mom I am worried about making a memory photo and not about where my child was. I finally feel like my time here will work out. My kids are asking if daddy can get a normal job here and we can stay. I am not sure I feel like staying just yet, but it does feel great to have happy kids.

Creative Juices

I got to do something I love doing today... I scrapbooked for four hours. I finally finished last years album and got several pages done in this years album. It is so awesome to look back on how far we have come as a family and see changes in the kids as we flip a page. I love looking back on Christmas cards to see everyone we have crossed paths with in this journey we call life. I think we have all met some people we could do without, but we wouldn't appreciate everyone else who is my term "normal". I think we are all caught in the trap of living for tomorrow and need at slow the pace and love what is front of us today. I have started making my kids say something that they are grateful every night at dinner. It started out really materialistic like thanks for my new toy or for allowance that we get. How sad did that make me feel as a parent. I want them to notice all the little things in life. Today we were grateful to God for the friends we have to play with, thankful for our rain and the smell of the new flowers that are in bloom. It is ok to fail as a parent sometimes, as long as we recognize them and correct it. I put a picture of my favorite page that i did today.. It was when my sister came visit us in Charleston and we had a great time. She is a beautiful young women with a bright future ahead of her. I can't wait till she makes the trip to Hawaii.

Miss all you guys who read this....

Ashley

Happy Birthday Maw Lucy

Today I woke up with a lump in my throat. It is my grandmothers 80th birthday and she is no longer here for me to call her. I have never missed someone so much as I miss her. I can't believe that it will be a year on the 9th that she is up in Heaven. It feels like just yesterday I was calling her asking her to sew something for me, or asking how to make her potato salad. She was the one person who always gave the best hugs. She knew me so well and always kept all her grand kids and greats in her prayers. She was the definition of a prayer warrior. Maw, I know you are watching me everyday and I feel your presence in all that I do. We noticed the other day that the kids school is St Anthony of Padua and that was the same Saint that was on your prayer cards. I just cried when I saw that I felt you were again telling me it was going to be ok. It was hard for us to find a school out here and it just affirmed that we made the right decision. A year ago today I went to Daspit grocery store and bought a big poster board and made you a card. We had all the grand kids sign it and anyone who came in the house to sign it for you. You were laying in the bed and just smiled at us all. You knew we were all there and we all sand Happy Birthday to you for the last time. It was a celebration if the wonderful life you led. If I could me half of the person you were to me and to everyone else...I would be successful..

If only I knew..

i would never here your voice again,

I would cherish your every world...

Every inflection of your voice..

with all my heart..

I guess that is why I still have you last message you left me still saved on my answering machine.. I even made Kenny save it on the computer so i will always remember your voice. I try to read a little scripture every night in your bible before I go to sleep. That smell that only brings back the best memories when i open it up. Your last words to me were "I love you" and then you said for me to tell Kenny you said bye and that you love him. Weren't you ever afraid ?

You always here time heals all pains, but I just miss you more. I still needed my Maw Lucy, how selfish that is, but it is how I feel. I keep telling myself it should be a celebration of the life you did live, of all the glorious and wonderful things you did do. Now that I can barely see through these swollen eyes to type.. I will just say goodnight and miss ya maw...

Ashley

Another day in Paradise

Today we finally did sleep in like we normally do during the summer. It was nice to know there are no more boxes that need my attention. It was even better to not have Mr. Peacock wake us all up at 6:00am. This peacock loves it our backyard, and he brings his peeps along to annoy us all. The funny part to me is that our dogs are scared of them. They actually like to taunt the dogs. For any of ya'll that know peanut he is the one who likes to chase them whenever he has a chance. My dad called today just to check in and I love when family calls. Being so far from home you don't want to feel like your forgotten. I can't wait for their vi st in October. They only other important thing that i did today was bring some pictures and documents of Kennys to get framed. That is highway robbery : ( it is so expensive to get anything framed and even more because we are on a freakin island. Well thats all I have for today, hope everyone had a great day and remember we all can make a difference..

Ashley

I had a husband for the weeknd : )

This weekend was fabulous by any military standards. Kenny got to spend the weekend at home with us and not on the Los Angeles. We made the best of our weekend and had great family time. Kelsey and Kenny got to have a daddy and daughter date at Starbucks. Cort wanted to go on a kayak with Kenny and he also got to have his day too. I just wanted alone time :0 Sunday we also had dinner with some new friends down our street. It was a great weekend and was very sad it had to come to an end.

I am new at this blog thing, so sorry for the short post..