I need a bath

I know I've asked this question before, but I'm going to post about it again.

What is your ME TIME moment?

I know that for many moms, finding that moment in time to just "get away" from it all, even if it's just hiding in your room closet can be rare. 

Al lot of mommies say that a good bubble bath is when they have their me time.  I, however, have lived in this house for almost 6 months and I have used this nice tub maybe twice.

Taking a bath was already too much of an issue when you have people knocking on the door to ask questions and say, "Moooooom, he won't leave me alooooooone!"  

Me time for me is escaping to my computer to read blogs or "play" on Facebook.  Now that the kids are out of school and I'm a full-time mom (hee hee), me time is usually just an escape in my mind and not necessisarily time alone.  It's that time I can mentally get away and IGNORE what the kids are doing or saying.  And I can do this well, until someone is crying.  You'd think that these twerps would cry less the older they get, right?  HA!  

MOOOOOOOM, he puuuuushed me!!!!

So where do you find YOUR me time during the summer, because as a full-time mom in the summer time, I'm NEVER ALONE!

Kay

Monsoons AND Fires? Oh, Arizona!

Late Morning today.

Must be the weather.

You know how I always say that the sun here in Arizona seems to come up way too early?

IT'S MONSOON SEASON!

The rains have finally arrived.

The day is cloudy, and other than hubs who had to be at PT at 5:30, everyone slept in until 10.  Is that amazing or what?  Well, it was amazing for me.  I haven't been able to do that since we got to this extremely bright state.

Now, while I'm excited to see some rain because of the fires, I'm sure I'll be back complaining real soon about how horrible the rain is and how I can't wait for them to go away.

But for now, Thank Goodness for the rain!

Okay, yesterday, the rain bought in some thunderstorms.  The lightening started yet another fire here on post behind the mountains behind really close to our house.

UGH!  Can't win for losing around these parts!

The Monument Fire was 90% Contained as of yesterday.  And if the rain got to the mountains, we may finally be done with it.  YAY!

This fire was put out in a hurry.  Saw lightening then heard sirens, went out to see what the commotion was only to see dark smoke coming over the mountains!  I really couldn't believe the fact that I was just panicked to no end about the HUGE Monument Fire and her goes another.

The planes were ON IT though!  Over our heads flew in the slurry plane. For those who have no idea what that is, like me, it's the stuff they drop on fires to get them under control.  They were up and fighting that fire.  I commend the firefighters for the great job they have done here.  I also see that a firefighter will never be bore in this state!  If you need a job, become an Arizona Firefighter!

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Also, my classes are DONE for this semester!

Can you believe that I have completed my first year?

Good News!

The doctors said, "2 years." 

God said, "Trust in me.  I GOT this!"

Three and a half years later, after a bout of chemo the MRI was clear and my dad's brain is TUMOR FREE! 

What a mighty God we serve! 

Family Pics 2011

Getting the family together to snap some good pictures is certainly not an easy task.  Everyone has to be at their best simultaneously.  That almost never happens.  

That means Miss Missy has to have a fresh hair-do.  

The boys have to have a fresh haircut.

Hubs, of course have to have a fresh haircut.

And me, well, I'm almost always looking my best.

Finally, everything fell into place.  Everyone was on top of their game... except for the fact that my hair was not cooperating, but I could handle that because everyone else looked great.

So I took the fam out to snap some picture.  Something we NEVER to as a whole.

Here is what we got:

Love when friends visit

I haven't had much to blog about since we moved here to AZ.

There is so little to blog about these days. 

I'm in a rut.  A repetitive rut.

Other than the fire, I have very little exciting doing on.  

I've gotta get out more!

We did get a visit from the East Coast.  Cam's 2nd and 3rd grade teacher (who was also CJ's 2nd grade teacher) came to AZ for a visit.  She toured the area with friends and made a day for us.  

I have to say, she was the best teacher for my kids and she would have taught Miss Missy if we wouldn't have moved.  She and I also became great friends over the years.

The kids were so excited to have their old teacher come to visit.  She'd promised Cam she'd come and he couldn't wait for her to get here.  

We spent the day doing mini golf and the arcade and then had dessert at the Cheesecake Factory  It was my first visit and YUM!  I had a Lemon Raspberry Cheesecake and it was so great.  CJ had the Red Velvet one and YUM!  And she had a Chocolate Sundae one and THAT I think was my fave, although they were all GREAT!  Why have I waited so long to visit that heavenly place!

Now, she's gone and I have to laugh because her pictures show her going more in Arizona in one week than we have done in the 5 months since we've been here!  I'm JEALOUS!  So, I've decided that since I have to be here in the desert, I may as well make the best of it!  

Off we go today... somewhere... anywhere!

Ft. Huachuca Wildfire update

Yesterday was a hard day.  My nerves were on edge as the winds went crazy here in Ft. Huachuca.  

On a normal day, the high winds in the 100 degree weather would have been welcomed with open arms.  The winds felt wonderful.

But on this day, the wind was the enemy.

With winds gusting up to 50mph, the fire spread like... well like WILDFIRE!  The planes were downed for most of the day for the safety of the pilots.  The winds were just too strong.  And boy did that fire take advantage of those downed planes!

Up to this point, the only thing we've been able to see from our home here on base was the smoke coming from behind the mountains.  Yesterday, the winds caused huge plumes of smoke to fill the sky again and flames were able to be seen coming over the top of the Huachuca Mountains.

I'd never admit this to my husband, but I began to panic.  I glued myself to the internet as the posts on Facebook updated every second and the police scanners kept everyone informed of what was happening.

Yesterday, people lost homes and businesses.  Reading to the desperation of people wondering if their homes were still standing and worried for family and friends safety was so heartbreaking...

Many of my neighbors laugh when I tell them, but my bags are packed and ready to go.  I have never been in a wildfire zone and although we are not in the pre-evacuation zone YET and the fire is still 10 miles away, I'm not taking any chances of losing or forgetting something important to me if they do call for us to leave.  These things seem to be unpredictable and, no, the winds are not blowing the Monument Fire in our direction, but when I can see flames from my house, I need to be ready to go at the drop of a dime! 

Open Heart

You know what's funny?  

God has a way of making you rethink some of the things you might think are the best choices for your future.  

Have you ever made a decision, then have a natural disaster have you second guessing yourself?

Have you ever thought you knew best then see commercials or TV segments with statistics that pinpoint the exact issues that you are facing?

I can't pretend that I know what roads are best, and because my faith is not where I want it to be, I can't pretend that God has spoken directly to me to tell me what's right and wrong.

But what I do know is that God sends everyone signs.  It's up to us to have a heart open enough to receive them.

Kay

Hair Horror!

I went scissor happy a few days ago.  I have been going crazy with my hair breaking like crazy, coming out from the roots.  So, I took the scissors and chopped off about an inch in the back.

I just heard every hairdresser GASP in horror!

Didn't really make sense now that it's done.  Cutting hair because it's falling out probably wasn't the answer.

It's the shortest its ever been.  Doesn't even touch my shoulders.  But it has been very unhealthy and I just want to get it back to growing and looking healthy.

I found a blog a little while ago with a lot of tips for black hair.  I was so intrigued by these tips that I went to Sally's today to buy some of the products she uses.

I haven't exactly been taking very good care of my hair.  Miss Missy's either.  Apparently, the key to black hair growth if moisture.  I haven't done well in keeping my hair moisturized and I thing Miss Missy's is just as dry.  And since we've been in Arizona, OMG the dry scalp is crazy!

So, here begins my journey to getting my hair healthy and growing again.  I haven't relaxed my hair since January.  Not sure if that's good or bad because I am now between nature and relaxed, but without the Georgia humidity, I haven't had a reason to relax.

Of course, Miss Missy is nature.  Her hair is thinning and shorter as well.  There is so much to do from this point as I am gonna to start washing her hair more than once as month, as I had been doing.

YES I said ONCE A MONTH.

So, Join me on my journey to regrow our hair and make it healthy again!

The Ft. Huachuca Wildfire

There's something to said about watching approximately 2400 acres go up in flames right in front of you. I could not believe the rush of adrenaline I had from the fear of seeing a fire start right before my eyes today.  With the Monument Fire only about 10 to 12 miles from the post, it was all I could do to keep from passing out when I saw smoke in front of the mountains closest to us instead of climbing to the peak of the ridge behind it.  

I started throwing everything I didn't want to live without in boxes and suit cases around mid afternoon today.  I'd already packed important documents, like birth certificates and tax papers, and pictures and memorable things that you just can't get back.

The clothes, well I figured I had time.  

Who woulda thunk another fire would start out of nowhere right here on base!

They put the fire out, but not before scaring me and the rest of the post half to death.  My subdivision was the closest to the fire.  

Like I said, I. watched. it. start!  

We would have been the first to go.  I glued myself to Facebook and watched the thousands of comments and updates on the fire on the Fort Huachuca page.  Thank goodness for Facebook.  It helped me to keep a level head knowing that someone was monitoring the fire's progress and keeping the families of updated.

Once the adrenaline came down, I felt like I could pass out from exhaustion!

So now, we've decided not to unpack the boxes as of yet.  The Antelope Fire, as it was named, is 100% contained and is of no threat.  In a way, it may have been a blessing in disguise as it put a barrier between us and the Monument fire by charring all of the grasslands in between us and the fire.

I've had dreams about the fire coming on base for the last few nights and haven't been able to sleep well.  I'm sure tonight will be no different.  The kids, however, seem to be taking it with a grain of salt.  They say they don't want to evacuate, but to them, they fires is more of a spectator's sport as they sit on the fence and watch it with their friends.  All they need is a bowl of popcorn!

Last night, they asked that the tenants of few other subdivisions here on base start preparing for pre-evacuation by turning on their sprinkle systems and clearing debris from their gutters.  Those areas are surrounded by more mountain than we are though, although we are actually closed to the fire.

As of now, we are okay.  This is so new to me, as I have never had to deal with wildfires.  I'm thinking I'll take the humidity of the east coast over these terrifying fires ANYDAY!

Fire near Ft. Huachuca.

I've got a lot to say today so I'm participating in Seven Clown Circus's Wordful Wednesday.  If you've got a blog, participate!  Go over and read what others who just have to talk have to say today!  Dream of fire kept me tossing and turning last night.  The wildfire has me worried.

It's only about 10 miles from our house here on base and that's quite scary! 

The Monument Fire, as they call it, started on Sunday afternoon.  I noticed it when I went outside to check on the kids that were playing around the bend in the street.  So I took a few steps to make sure that they were all together and off in the distance I looked behind my neighbor's house and say a cloud of smoke. 

Uh oh.  A new fire. I thought.  We already have one off in the distance which has been burning for about a month and a half.  The Horseshoe 2 first started back at the beginning of May.  Being that this is my first time in dry land, all of this wildfire stuff is new to me!  I was already planning my escape plan!  The fire was off in the distance and I could see it burning over the mountains.  To me that was close enough to run!

This one, however is much closer. 

Yesterday, I was on the phone with my mom on my way to the mall and she asked me about this new fire.  I told her that I'm riding in the direction of the fire and it really didn't look that bad.

I went in the mall to by Hubs' Father's Day gift, came back out about 20minutes later and my mouth dropped open at the site of a massive cloud of smoke in the mountains!

There were people stopped and staring all through the parking lot.  

The fire looked terrifyingly huge!

Okay, so I don't know why, but I was compelled to get a closer look.  We drove towards the outside of the city limits because honestly I'd never seem anything like this.  Of course, a sista like me was only gonna go so far!

But I had to snap some shots!

Scary, huh?  This sudden burst of smoke was apparently caused by a "fire storm", a period of winds from 40 to 50 mph.  Wind is the enemy right now!

Today the smoke has died down, but we're at about 5200 acres burned the last I checked. 

It's not in the least bit contained at this point, but they are working like crazy to get it under control. 

I'm just hoping the winds stay away!

Edited to say:  We are fine.  Although the fire is close, Fort Huachuca is to the north of the fire and right now the fire seems to be burning to the east.  But the winds are unpredictable, so we are still on alert.

She's everywhere!

Every Child has a TV in their room.

Every TV is on the same channel.

Every Child is outside.

And what do you think is on EVERY CHILD'S TV?

None other than iCarly!

Sigh... That's how iCarly became my soap opera of choice!

Falling teeth

Do you ever have strange dreams and wake up wonder the meaning?

I don't remember most of my dreams, but the ones I do remember, I sometimes wonder if they mean something significant or I've I'm just that creative (or crazy). 

The other night, I dreamed that my teeth were falling out.  You ever had that dream.  One by one and even 2 or 3 at a time (I didn't know I had that many teeth) they would fall out when I ran my tongue across them.  I kept spitting them out in my hand and wondering what the heck was going on.

So, curious me, I had to look up the meaning of that dream.  It must mean something, right?  I have this same dream often.

This is what I came up with on Dream Interpretations website.

1. Anxiety about how you look
2. Anxiety about how others think you look
3. Fear of being sexually impotent which may occur once you grow old.
4. You may be having the fear of being made a fool of in a particular situation.
5. Some interpreters say that since teeth are used to eat, bite, chew and even tear some particular food, they symbolize power. So if you lose your teeth it simply signifies that you are left with no power anymore.
6. Recent research also shows that women who are having menopause have such tooth falling dreams. This could be related to their anxiety in getting older.
7. Sometimes teeth falling dreams also signifies that you are insecure about your finances.
8. Fear of being lonely or deserted.
9. Traditional interpretation of such dreams would mean you are suffering from malnutrition.
10. Spiritually, a falling teeth dream represents that you are deviated from the word of God and are concentrating more on following someone else other than Him.
11. In the Greek culture, such a dream is associated with some sickness or death of your loved ones.
12. The Chinese say that you could have such dreams if you might have lied to someone about something.
13. Some say that the tooth falling dream is based on an old fairy tale. It represents money and if you can keep your tooth under you pillow you would earn a lot of coins.

I AM vain.  But not any more vain that I've always been.  :-)  I have however been pretty concerned about my hair lately and about how dry my skin is since I've been here in Arizona.  

I'm not afraid of being lonely or deserted.  My kids won't leave my side!

Suffering from malnutrition?  Hmmm.  Have you SEEN me?  Uh NO!

I could agree with the Greek on this one.  Sickness on a loved one has been weighing heavily on me lately.  My dad's chemo is taking a toll on him.  He's sleeping a lot and eating next to nothing.  He's down 9lbs in the past 2 weeks.  It's hard to be so far away and have to hear about it all over the phone.  So perhaps that's why my teeth are falling out in my dreams.  Smart Greek!

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Oh, and by the way, I WON the photo contest!  YAY ME!  Thanks so much to all of those that took the time to vote!  

Kay

Vote for me AGAIN and Memorial Day Weekend Pics.

Memorial Day Weekend Pics!

The Kids had a ball!

It was a fun wet Sunday at the Water Park.  The kids had a great time.  It wasn't too crowded and it wasn't too hot! 

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If you haven't had a chance to vote for our picture in Mocha Dad's Photo Contest, please do so!  If you've voted, vote again!  One vote per day.  Ends TODAY!  Puleeeeeeeeze!!!   I want to WIIIIIIN!  Click on the Link and type I VOTE FOR A SOLDIER'S KISS in the comments.

THANK YOOOOOOU!

http://www.mochadad.com/authentic-fatherhood-photo-contest-may-2011-a-soldiers-kiss-by-kay-w/

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My dad is going through chemo and it's taking a toll on him.  I hate that I'm so far away.  Being on the other side of America makes it hard to jump in the car and go see him.  He will be celebrating his 50th birthday on the 15th of June and he wanted to go to Michigan to celebrate with his mom and family but he's afraid that the chemo won't allow him to enjoy his time up there, so he may not go.  He'll be doing treatments for 3 months.  It makes him really tired.  I hope it doesn't get any worse. 

I'm very behind in my homework, so if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm playing catch up.  Been slackin' and getting sidetracked with things like FACEBOOK (someone take it off of my computer!), and kids.  I'm I'm gonna play catch up and get back with you guys soon.  There's always much to tell!