Sneak Peak

I thought you might enjoy a look into my life and a great way to look at my life in real time is to follow me of Facebook. I can post a million comments a day or none for a week. I am probably one of the most open people you will meet. So here are some of my facebook updates from this week. I don’t mind the neighbor’s cat leaving us gifts on the porch but I do mind my kids trying to keep them by hiding them in Ziplocs. (Update: that poor rodent stayed on my porch for 2 days while I convinced the kids we were not going to dissect it. ) But how many days until Michael comes home? When do the girls leave? Why do they have to go to camp? (Someone has some anxiety when everyone is not home) You did it mom, you are just like dad now? (After I drove our suburban up on the curb to get closer to a door to unload) A certain little boy is not happy with all the kids going to camp; he said they do not need to go to camp? Mom, you are missing pants, when I do not wear pants you tell me to find my pants. (sometimes, okay all the time I get out of bed and take meds and let the dog out before getting dressed) Nothing like driving 45 minutes to pick blueberries to find out they decided to close for the day. Mommy mistake #1 today, getting a call from a child saying mom you turned the alarm on before I could get into the car. Please let me out of the house. Black bean brownies are in the oven and Banana pudding cake cooling in the fridge. Now how do I spend the rest of the morning? (I was baking for a group of people, we had spaghetti, salad and dessert) Just saw that ice cream can be as addictive as tobacco, no wonder I cannot eat enough. (Later I made banana ice cream) I am constantly assuring my precious boy that Michael will be home in a few days, he doesn’t understand why he cannot just call him. Dinner must be good because the kids are on their third serving and asking for more. Mom can we play house? You can be the mom? Just sent my mom back for a massage, after spending the week with me she needs it, before going home. (it was a surprise, should have reminded her to shave first). I hope you in enjoyed a look into my life and the little notes so they would make better sense. What was the funniest facebook update you saw this week. Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What's your favorite childhood snack that you still eat as an adult? Herr’s potato chips, so yummy. Sadly hard to find it. 2. What food will you not eat the low fat version of? I know this was my question but really I do not have an answer. That is unless they come up with a low fat chocolate chip. That would kill me. 3. What's your favorite way to cool off during the summer? Setting in front of the fan reading a book while drinking a cold drink. I actually cannot stand to be hot or to sweat. Oh man, it is going to be 105 Degrees today. How is that okay, my children will have to stay inside, my dog will have to be inside. This is going to be bad. So we make sure we play early. Wake up, eat breakfast and then go run some energy off outside. 4. What's your favorite summer read? A good Beverly Lewis book or any book about Amish. 5. What are you doing to stay cool in this awful heat? Last night, well this morning I was laying in bed thinking okay if I take wash clothes and put them in Ziplocs between ice in a cooler we could use that to help us cool down. I have a mister bottle that we can use. I seriously do not even look forward to taking the kids to see the fireworks because of the heat. Pamela

Feeling Beachie

1. My neighbor’s cat__makes me laugh, she leaves dead animals on my porch as if it is going to change my mind and feed her and let her in. 2. Sometimes, no all the time animal cops___makes me sad, makes me angry and makes me want to shake some people. 3. My _life through deployments__ look so much easier ___ after _they are over and he is home safe. __ 4. When I hear _my children laugh with (not at_) each other__ I _smile and know I will miss it one day__ Pamela

Faith

This little girl loves kids.

It does not matter whose kids it is. The other day we were at the park and she spent most of her time pushing kids she had never met on a toy. Pamela

Bake at 350: Desserts for Dudes: Cookie French Fries with Butte...

Bake at 350: Desserts for Dudes: Cookie French Fries with Butte...:   I'm not sure why the whole "Desserts for Dudes" theme has me making junk-food related cookies every year. Beer & Hot Dogs?   Check. ...

Winner Winner Chicken dinner

I recently had two giveaways. I love hosting giveaways. First I gave away Journey 2 Mysterious Island DVD. The winner of the DVD is Jake who said: Being in the Army you learn about adventure, now to be able to sit back and see on a movie would be awesome! I am so excited for you to see this movie Jake, please send me your address so I can get it sent to you. This week I also gave away two amazing books. I loved reading these books. Jerry Eicher is a amazing author. The winner of these two amazing books is: Mary K Troyer who said I've read 2 of his Sarah books. Really good books. Please send me your address so I can get them sent out. Pamela

Miscellany Monday

This week we grilled hot dogs. Grace was concerned we would not have enough hot dogs. Then she decided to see if she could walk across the room balancing hot dogs. Speaking of hot dogs I have a complaint. I am a oscar meyer kind of gal. I love a turkey hot dog. Six months ago they could be found for less the $2 a package and now I rarely find them for $3.50. Makes me so sad. When my mom visited she brought new pajamas for the kids. You would have thought she was handing out hundred dollar bills. They were so excited. Pamela

My week was crazy to say the least

What a week, no wait not a week 8 days! My mom came to visit and we kept her moving. No sleeping in, no relaxing. She arrived Friday night just in time to find a child with staph and another one upchucking. Welcome Oma! I woke her up on Saturday to walk the track with me, you know since it was beyond hot and sweaty. Then we picked up our precious girls from summer camp. Made some stops but really cannot remember what all we did. Woke up Sunday and had breakfast. Made ooey gooey bread for the first time. Then we went to the outlets which are about 90 minutes away. This in itself was fun but add in toddlers and strollers and a ton of walking outside and you are talking about an adventure. Monday we went to thrift shops. It was nice because I got to visit with a friend for a few minutes while we were at a thrift shop. Came home and took my son to youth. While he was at youth we walked the track. Tuesday we went to the zoo. The kids loved it and so did my mom. Then we came home long enough to cool off before heading to boy scouts. While Michael was at scouts we walked the track. We got home just in time to collapse in bed. Do you think my mom was tired of walking the track with me? I have come to realize walking the track keeps the kids moving and that helps everyone. Wednesday was wonderful. We woke and went blueberry picking. I did not get nearly as many as I wanted but we had a great time. We left there and went for a picnic at the playground. Went birthday shopping? Came home and made fresh blueberry muffins. I am excited to go blueberry picking again soon but we are going early in the morning next time. Thursday was amazing. It was my daughter’s birthday. All she wanted was a day at the beach. So we spent the day at the beach before coming home to have friends come over to eat dinner and cake. I think she had a great day. Friday was supposed to be a down day but we hit the ground running. We went to more thrift shops and ran a couple errands. Then we dropped the kids off at a friend’s for a night alone. We went to dinner and then I surprised my mom with a massage and then to the movies. It was wonderful to have time to just talk with my mom. We did not get home until after 10. Saturday was the day my mom left. We woke up and had pancakes for breakfast before running to the one store I kept forgetting to take her to all week. Then we dropped her off. After that we still needed to get Michael a haircut and a patch sewn on his uniform before coming home to make sure he was packed and ready for camp. Today is Sunday and well I am determined to relax. I made muffins this morning before dropping Michael off camp. I am home now and refusing to move off the couch. I have dishes that need done and laundry that needs folded but it can all wait until tomorrow. So how was your week? Do you have anything fun going on this week? This week I plan on spending time with friends and getting my girls packed. They are going to grandmas for almost a month. They are so excited. I bet I could ask them to do a year’s school work this week and it would happen. Sadly I did not take a bunch of pictures this week. I think I was too busy enjoying myself to think about pictures. I love having pictures to look back at. And this is a boring blog post without pictures. Pamela

Her bad eyes

Mom these glasses really help me play on the phone. I guess if they are good enough

for Mr. Potato Head then they are good enough for my little girl. Pamela

This week I took abby to her second puppy class. I love our trainer at Bon Clyde. She understands that she is really training me more than Abby. I was really impressed with how quickly Abby caught on. Abby does not like to be in the car without a child's lap to set on so she tries to get as close to me as possible.

This week my house is having it's yearly inspection, which means I am totally stressing. I know it was my idea to rent a home instead of buying a second but I hate someone walking through my house. So this week I will definitely need my Supermom vitamins.

I am curious what kind of vitamins everyone else takes. I love this picture of Grace, just listening in church and soaking it up.

Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. What do you keep a stock pile of? Right now I have 16 cases of cereal because I found it on sale. But I must keep a stock pile of toilet paper. What if I got sick and could not go shop for more. The world would end. 2. If Ben & Jerry asked you to invent an ice cream, what would it be? No calorie, no fat, no making my stomach hurt pumpkin cheesecake. 3. How do you blow off steam? Taking a nap, taking a walk, but my favorite would be gabbing with a friend. 4. What would you do if you had an hour to yourself anywhere within a ten mile radius of your home...no kids, no hubby, just you? If I had one of those nice bathtubs I would say a hot bath, a long hot bath with a good book and maybe a ice cream sundae. 5. When you were 16, what was your curfew in the summertime? Don’t remember having one, my mom was one of those moms who just knew I would be home. Pamela

Feeling Beachie

1. I love a _good book, a cold drink under a blanket in a chilling room.__ 2. If I could _take my mom___ anywhere I would _take her to Australia___ 3. When I grow up, I want to _a professional cook and baker, only not for sale. I want to bake and cook for many people but give it away. _______ 4. The best __I am, is all I ____ I ever __need to try to be. I need to stop worrying about what other people think of me and worry about what God can see going on in my heart. ____ Pamela ***Don’t forget about my give away for two amazing books, you can enter right here.

Lack of paper

What do you do when you run out of paper? Well write on your sisters back of course! Pamela

Strawberry leather

I love Pinterest. I love all the new recipes that I have found. This was one of my favorites. Take a couple pounds of strawberries and dice them up.

Add a couple of teaspoons water and then boil it down until it is it is all soft. Next put in a blender. You may want to add a dash of sugar but it is not really necessarily. Now the fun part turn the oven on the lowest setting it has. Lay parchment paper on a bar pan, spread the beautiful strawberry mixture out on the parchment paper, bake for 6 hours, then turn it over and bake another 6 hours. Once it comes out of the oven let it cool and then cut and eat. If you want a more detailed recipe then look for the link that I used on Pinterest.

Wounded Warrior Updated

Do you know a veteran? Do you know a wounded warrior? I have known several veterans in my life time and would like to talk to you about a few of them. First I want to tell you about my husband. He is a true hero in my eyes. I often refer to him as my hero. My husband has deployed to Bosnia, Albania, Afghanistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iraq and for the life of me one other time and I cannot remember where. That is almost sad. I do not understand how this wonderful man has stayed strong for so long. He has seen things that I can never imagine. I’ve watched him suffer with PTSD in ways that broke my heart. I have seen him leave babies before they can walk and return to babies who did not know who he was. I have seen him work late into the night just to make sure we have everything we need while he gone. I could not ask for a better father for our children. I see pride in his eyes when he looks at the flag. It is not a job he does only for the pay but because he wants to protect our country and keep us free. I love this man so much. Last fall a friend from high school became a wounded warrior. It hit home, although we have not talked in probably 20 years. He was injured in Afghanistan. I have watched him and his wife for months and watched how they have grown. I have watched him continue to honor his country. Honor his country when I am sure the mental and physical pain is more than any of us could imagine. Thank you, Robert for serving our country. Thank you, Angela for supporting him through this. You show me what a military spouse should be. A couple of weeks ago I got a message from a dear friend. Her step son Josh had been involved in a accident in Afghanistan and lost both of his legs. This young man has not been in the Army or married a couple of years. He is so young and yet he served his country and gave his legs for his country. I have watched him continue to do so with dignity. I ask you to continue to support our military men and women. So many times they can feel left behind. I have found a great organization that is willing to help with supporting them. This summer marks the start of Sears' annual spring renovation campaign with Rebuilding Together in support of Wounded Warriors across the country. To date, Sears has raised more than $16 million and has helped over 62,000 military families receive the home modifications necessary for healthful and comfortable living through its Heroes at Home initiative. There are currently 150 rebuilds underway across the country already this spring and summer, and together we can reach more military families. Sears is encouraging Americans to give back by donating to the work of Heroes at Home either in-store at locations nationwide or online. They also have some great suggestions on how to help our veterans. Do you carry a deep appreciation for soldiers of past and present wars, but aren’t quite sure how to show it? There are a number of ways, big and small, to express your support that can directly affect the life of a veteran in a positive way. According to a recent survey conducted by Sears, nearly half of Americans surveyed said they plan to volunteer, donate to a military related cause, or thank a veteran this Patriot Season (Armed Forces Day through Labor Day). Here are a few quick tips on how to show your gratitude for a veteran this Patriot Season and throughout the year: * Donate money to charities that help veterans. A great way to give back is to support organizations such as Heroes at Home and Rebuilding Together as they build, repair, improve or modify homes for veterans. Your donation can help extend the impact of the work these organizations do that affects thousands of lives. * Volunteer with organizations that help veterans. Get your hands dirty and your family involved. Many organizations can benefit just as greatly from your time as they can from your money. The Sears Heroes at Home initiative is just one of many that support veterans and rely on the help of volunteers. Check with local volunteer organizations to find a veteran-focused charity that is of interest to you. Your local American Legion or VFW post is a good place to start if you need help finding a charity. * Send a care package to a soldier serving overseas. A simple way to bring a smile to the face of a serviceman or woman is to send a package of fun items: candies, cookies, books, games, magazines – any taste of home. There are a number of organizations that coordinate the sending of care packages to soldiers stationed across the world. Operation Gratitude is one of many organizations that coordinate these efforts, and your local veterans organizations may be able to help put you touch with groups that support soldiers from your community. * Shop at stores that make efforts to employ or otherwise help veterans. In the same survey, an overwhelming majority of Americans (78 percent) also said they were more likely to support a company or brand that supports veterans or wounded warriors. Today’s veterans face numerous challenges when reintegrating into civilian life – one of which is finding steady employment. You can help ease this transition by supporting businesses that are committed to hiring veterans and supporting reservists on staff who get called into active duty. For example, Sears provides recruitment programs to help place veterans in jobs within their organization and will hold positions for deployed veterans for up to five years. There are also a number of nonprofit organizations that help provide job skills and career counseling for veterans, which could also use your support I encourage you to take a moment to read and see what you can do to help. If you already help a veteran I would love to know about it. I would love to hear the stories of the veterans in your life in my comment section. If you would like to donate please head over to Heroes at Home and make a donation. Pamela

Amish book Give away

What type of books do you enjoy reading? I love Christian romance. I also love any book about the Amish. Recently I got to enjoy my love of both types of book. I received not one but TWO books from Jerry S. Eicher. He sent me Following your heart and Missing your smile. Okay, I will say that I became quite addicted to these books and could not seem to put them down. I would be doing the dishes or baking bread and thinking hmm I wander what will happen tonight when Susan and Teresa…….. You didn’t really think I was going to tell you the secrets to the story did you? I will say that I love these books because they not only kept my interest but I felt like I was reading a romance novel without the grime you find in some books. This book inspired me and reminded me that life is not always pleasant but that does not mean you have to give up. You can still have a sweet smile and keep trying. Are you excited about these books yet? Have you read his books before? What if I tell you I am giving away copies of both books right here on my little blog? Would you like a chance to win these books? That’s right there are several ways you can enter to win these books. You could: Leave a comment telling me what kind of books you like to read? Have you ever read his books before? Facebook and/or tweet about this give away and leave a link to your post Please leave separate comments for each entry and feel free to enter daily. The giveaway will close next Saturday the 23rd. Please make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win. It would be sad to win and not know it. Pamela And if you like giveaways, don’t forget about my give away for Journey 2 Mysterious Island that ends soon.

Feeling Beachie

1. There never seems to be _patience to go around___ 2. I love to _people watch, I know that sounds horrible but I do. So much fun__ 3. I could _train jumping out_____ outta ___of my dog if I took more time and ignored my kids_____ 4. The last time I saw a movie______, _was with my son and it was wonderful to have time alone with him. ______ Did you know I was giving away Journey 2: Mysterious Island. I do not think there are any entries yet and it ends soon. You can enter here. Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Would you grow your hair out to donate it? I have more than once. I think it is a great idea 2. What song makes you think of summer? Any Beatles song, any 80’s song 3. Are you a flip flops or sandals kind of person? Flip flops. As long as they are comfy 4. Favorite summer treat (ie ice cream, snow cones, etc)? soft serve ice cream. I love a good soft serve ice cream 5. Do you do something special for the father of your children? This year I did something very special but I will tell you about that later. I do try to have the kids do something and we make it fun for him. Sadly this year I will be shopping at the outlets because my hero Did you know I was giving away Journey 2: Mysterious Island. Please head over and enter. Only a couple of days left and I do not think there are any entries. Pamela We would love it if you link up and answer these fun questions with us.

It really works- Wordless Wednesday

Put a wooden spoon over a pot and it will not boil over. Try it and let me know how it works for you.

Do you have any other tips to share? I know if you throw spaghetti on the wall and it sticks it means the spaghetti is done. Pamela

Wordless Wednesday- cups

These cups drive me batty, I have finally just thrown them out.

I love that we have moved onto regular cups for the most part. Pamela

Finger shoes

I love my new shoes but I have one question, what do you do when you get sticks stuck between your toes.

Pamela

Journey 2 Mysterious Island Give away

Have you seen Journey 2, Mysterious Island? I have not seen it yet but cannot wait. I think my older children would love it. I was recently offered the opportunity to let my readers win a copy. I was so excited. Although, I think if you win you should invite my family over to watch it with you. You know pop some popcorn with m&m’s in it and watch it together. There are several ways you can enter to win a copy of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island *Take the Mysterious Island quiz and post the results in the comment section *Tell me what your favorite adventure activity on the blog app was? * Pin the activities to my blog via Pinterest * share the giveaway on twitter or facebook and leave me the link. *Leave a comment telling me if you have seen the movie. ****make sure you leave an e-mail address so I can get in touch of you if you win. This give away will end on Sunday night, June 17th Pamela

Wounded Warriors

Do you know a veteran? Do you know a wounded warrior? I have known several veterans in my life time and would like to talk to you about a few of them. First I want to tell you about my husband. He is a true hero in my eyes. I often refer to him as my hero. My husband has deployed to Bosnia, Albania, Afghanistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iraq and for the life of me one other time and I cannot remember where. That is almost sad. I do not understand how this wonderful man has stayed strong for so long. He has seen things that I can never imagine. I’ve watched him suffer with PTSD in ways that broke my heart. I have seen him leave babies before they can walk and return to babies who did not know who he was. I have seen him work late into the night just to make sure we have everything we need while he gone. I could not ask for a better father for our children. I see pride in his eyes when he looks at the flag. It is not a job he does only for the pay but because he wants to protect our country and keep us free. I love this man so much. Last fall a friend from high school became a wounded warrior. It hit home, although we have not talked in probably 20 years. He was injured in Afghanistan. I have watched him and his wife for months and watched how they have grown. I have watched him continue to honor his country. Honor his country when I am sure the mental and physical pain is more than any of us could imagine. Thank you, Robert for serving our country. Thank you, Angela for supporting him through this. You show me what a military spouse should be. A couple of weeks ago I got a message from a dear friend. Her step son Josh had been involved in a accident in Afghanistan and lost both of his legs. This young man has not been in the Army or married a couple of years. He is so young and yet he served his country and gave his legs for his country. I have watched him continue to do so with dignity. I ask you to continue to support our military men and women. So many times they can feel left behind. I have found a great organization that is willing to help with supporting them. This summer marks the start of Sears' annual spring renovation campaign with Rebuilding Together in support of Wounded Warriors across the country. To date, Sears has raised more than $16 million and has helped over 62,000 military families receive the home modifications necessary for healthful and comfortable living through its Heroes at Home initiative. There are currently 150 rebuilds underway across the country already this spring and summer, and together we can reach more military families. Sears is encouraging Americans to give back by donating to the work of Heroes at Home either in-store at locations nationwide or online. They also have some great suggestions on how to help our veterans. Do you carry a deep appreciation for soldiers of past and present wars, but aren’t quite sure how to show it? There are a number of ways, big and small, to express your support that can directly affect the life of a veteran in a positive way. According to a recent survey conducted by Sears, nearly half of Americans surveyed said they plan to volunteer, donate to a military related cause, or thank a veteran this Patriot Season (Armed Forces Day through Labor Day). Here are a few quick tips on how to show your gratitude for a veteran this Patriot Season and throughout the year: * Donate money to charities that help veterans. A great way to give back is to support organizations such as Heroes at Home and Rebuilding Together as they build, repair, improve or modify homes for veterans. Your donation can help extend the impact of the work these organizations do that affects thousands of lives. * Volunteer with organizations that help veterans. Get your hands dirty and your family involved. Many organizations can benefit just as greatly from your time as they can from your money. The Sears Heroes at Home initiative is just one of many that support veterans and rely on the help of volunteers. Check with local volunteer organizations to find a veteran-focused charity that is of interest to you. Your local American Legion or VFW post is a good place to start if you need help finding a charity. * Send a care package to a soldier serving overseas. A simple way to bring a smile to the face of a serviceman or woman is to send a package of fun items: candies, cookies, books, games, magazines – any taste of home. There are a number of organizations that coordinate the sending of care packages to soldiers stationed across the world. Operation Gratitude is one of many organizations that coordinate these efforts, and your local veterans organizations may be able to help put you touch with groups that support soldiers from your community. * Shop at stores that make efforts to employ or otherwise help veterans. In the same survey, an overwhelming majority of Americans (78 percent) also said they were more likely to support a company or brand that supports veterans or wounded warriors. Today’s veterans face numerous challenges when reintegrating into civilian life – one of which is finding steady employment. You can help ease this transition by supporting businesses that are committed to hiring veterans and supporting reservists on staff who get called into active duty. For example, Sears provides recruitment programs to help place veterans in jobs within their organization and will hold positions for deployed veterans for up to five years. There are also a number of nonprofit organizations that help provide job skills and career counseling for veterans, which could also use your support I encourage you to take a moment to read and see what you can do to help. If you already help a veteran I would love to know about it. I would love to hear the stories of the veterans in your life in my comment section. If you would like to donate please head over to Heroes at Home and make a donation. Pamela

Act of Valor winner

Thank you Darcy for sharing your husband with our country. You are the winner of the DVD. If you will send me your address I will get it sent to you. Pamela

Miscellany Monday

The last week was a crazy week but this is going to be a crazier week and I am totally looking forward to it. This week I took the girls for haircuts. Have I told you how much we love the lady who cuts their hair? I normally do not get their hair washed but Grace convinced me. In the middle of Grace getting her hair washed I looked over and saw this. Any idea what happened next? A couple of weeks ago we were traveling and I found these in a gas station. My son loves PB&J. I did not know how it would taste covered in chocolate. You know what it was pretty dang good. You tasted the chocolate first and then the PB&J. My children wrestle constantly. They either are arguing or wrestling and loving one another. I love how they love being together. Pamela

Sleeping

I love to watch my children sleep. I love how some nights they are all over the bed and some nights they are so tired they just do not move when you tuck them in. Pamela

Feeling Beachie

1. When I _drink a lot of water__ I _have to stop at a gross gas station to go potty___ 2. I wish I was _able to get over hurt feelings when someone hurts my feelings.__ 3. If the world is my oyster then __I can eat all the chocolate cake I want to_______________ 4. My favorite meal of the day is _lunch or dinner_________ and the food I think would be my favorite to eat then would be _chicken with mash potatoes, green beans and mac-n-cheese_________ Pamela

5 Question Friday

1. Did you do anything special for your kids on the last day of school? Or did you parents do anything special for you? We are still doing school, I wish I did something special. 2. What's your favorite summer tradition with your children? Really this sounds so bad but besides sleeping in later we do not have many. School goes on most of the summer. 3. What was your favorite thing to do during the summer as a kid? Spend time with my Big sister through big brothers/big sisters. Her parents had a pool and I remember spending hours there. 4. How old were you when you were married? Were you a Bridezilla? Since we did not really have a coordinator or anything I would say I was a normal person, well maybe a bridezilla on the day since I had to know every detail of the day. 5. What is your favorite girl name? (I'm needing suggestions.) Hannah Joy will be our next name for sure, I love the name Mercy and Liberty too. Boy oh boy, my answers are not good this week. I should really do not sound very encouraging. Pamela

Glitter

Can someone please tell me why it is so hard to get glitter out of hair? And if you can figure

that out can you tell me why glitter last so long and is so cheap but crayons are crazy costly and do not last a day. Pamela

Two peas in a pod

These too are so cute. They are setting in church, we were early so they set and listen to the praise choir prepare.

Pamela

Wordful Wednesday

Mom, I am tired of being in this vehicle. Okay, if I have to be in this car and listen to this music then I am going to go to sleep

Mom, I am tired of being in this vehicle.

Pamela .

Time Out

These too crack me up. They love each other one minute and

would think they were at war the next. Too cute and too much fun to watch. They definitely get daily lessons on getting along. In this picture they were having time out together. It started just setting and being together but within minutes they were showing each other boo boo's and giggling. Preschoolers ROCK! How do you handle time out in your house? We have a couple of places that are time out specific but sometimes time out is in the middle of the livingroom floor or in the middle of the playground. To me it is about getting back to the sweet nature I know you have and learning to communicate. Pamela

Act of Valor

Have you heard of the movie Act of Valor? It comes out tomorrow and I cannot wait to see it. Here is a little more about this amazing movie: The only easy day was yesterday. In the Bandito Brothers’ ACT OF VALOR, an elite military force, portrayed by active-duty U.S. Navy SEALs, carries out an impossible mission with insane courage and incredible teamwork in one of the most gripping and emotionally charged movies of the year. A fictionalized account of real life Navy SEAL operation, ACT OF VALOR features a riveting story that takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled, edge-of-their-seat journey. When a mission to recover a kidnapped CIA operative unexpectedly results in the discovery of an imminent, terrifying global threat, an elite team of highly trained Navy SEALs must immediately embark on a heart-stopping secret operation, the outcome of which will determine the fate of us all. In ACT OF VALOR, the audience gets to witness the heroism of a group of active-duty U.S. Navy Seals. Though the film is a work of fiction, it allows the audience to take a peek into the risks and sacrifices these men and women do for their country and their family. To celebrate the DVD and Blu-ray release of ACT OF VALOR and to help honor current US Navy Seals, we will offer some tips on crafts you can make to give as presents to the officer in your life including a “Welcome Home” banner and photo frame. Since I am dying to see this movie I thought it would be great if you did to. I am giving away one copy of this movie starting today. To enter all you have to do is leave me a comment telling me why you want to see this movie. Or if you rushed out and saw the movie then tell me something to make me want to see it. This contest will end on Saturday or Sunday. Whenever I get a chance to set down this weekend. Extra entries if you have a friend enter. Just leave a additional comment telling me which friend left a comment. Pamela ***I was not paid to right this but was given a copy of the movie to give away to one amazing blog reader.

Miscellany Monday

What a wonderful week. First, I had a friend come over last night and I took zero pictures. She came over to pick up something but I convinced them to stay for chicken. Only her husband cooked probably 10 pounds of chicken. I wanted chicken for the week and have never tried grilling. This week my friend Kristi’s stepson was involved in a accident in Afghanistan. This breaks my heart, this scares the snot out of me, this reminds me how precious life and marriage is. This reminds me how strong God is and how much he is in control. Please pray with us as Josh heals. This week was so funny. We took a friends baby to the grocery store. First someone assumed it was my son’s baby and did not believe him when he said it was not. Then the bagger thought my son was my husband and went as far as to ask Grace how old he was when I was buckling the baby. Cracked me up! This week while we had this precious baby at the store he pulled his apnea monitor went off. His alarm started beeping louder and louder. I am trying to stay calm and remember how to turn it off and keep up with 2 carts of kids and groceries. This lady behind me actually complained about the noise. SERIOUSLY, this blessing has to use an apnea monitor and you are complaining about a little beeping. This week I caught my son with a basketball in his hands. This may seem normal to some people but if you know Michael you know how that thrilled me. Pamela

Mil Spouse Fill in Friday

1. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed? I would not have stressed so much about my home inspection. And I would have kept my house cleaner always so the inspection did not mean spring cleaning. 2. What was your favorite thing that happened in May? We took a trip to VA to our first POW WOW, it was amazing and the kids loved it. 3. June includes the first day of summer… what are your plans for the summer? Summer camps, it is not normal for us to have so many but we have 5 summer camps this summer. It is going to be amazing. 4. Do you use the services on base (gym, financial planning, family services, daycare)? And if so, what’s your favorite one? (thanks to Shanon at Modern Meets Traditional for this question!) I honestly do not. We do go to chapel on post and use the commissary but really that is about it. It is 25 minutes away and just not worth the drive. 5. What are you looking forward to in June? I am not looking forward to my baby girl turning 12. I am looking forward to my mom visiting. She is coming down for Faith’s birthday and the kids love having her here. We will stay super busy while she is here. Pamela Want to link up with other military spouses, visit Wife of a Sailor