I'm Thankful For My Inheritance...

I always post about my wonderful immediate family, my mom & dad (Grammy & Welo), and my sis Tia NaNa & her dh NoMike. Growing up it was always just my sister and I (6 years apart in age). Although there is such difference in age between us, we're still very close. Because we were just two, I must admit that marrying, well, not just marrying but being introduced into DrillSgt's family was a very overwhelming experience. As I've said before, DrillSgt. is the third oldest of TEN children. My formal introduction into their family was at my (birth order #5) bil's wedding to his beautiful wife.

Let me tell you, there's nothing like a joyous occasion to be introduced formally to "the family". When I met them DrillSgt's youngest brother and sister were 11-teen and ten (yes, my youngest bil told me he was 11-teen). I remember feeling quite overwhelmed at family gatherings. There were always so many different conversations going on, often times right over your head, and the youngest two would stand in the middle of the room speaking loudly, just hoping that someone would pay attention to them. I remember sitting back, just watching it all happen around me, wondering how in the world they all did it, and feeling totally out of my element. I mean growing up we had extended family gatherings, but those usually involved separate groups of adults, kids playing outside; or if we were all together in one area, there was singing and guitars and other instruments being played (my uncles and aunt had a family band called "Los Santos").

So much time has passed since then, DrillSgt and I are coming up on 13 years of being married, so it's been 14 years since that first overwhelming experience. Through those years, I've been fortunate enough to get to know my inherited siblings very well (I say inherited because when we married, we married INTO each others family---it's a package deal). I've watched them grow, and change, and we've all been there and supported each other through both joyous and difficult times. The 11-teen and ten year old are now in their early 20's (getting ready to formally bring in a couple of newbies themselves). After all these years I've even learned to navigate and take part in all those conversations that still occur all at once, and now it's my little ones standing in the middle of the room yelling for attention. I have also have an AMAZINGLY nice mil, and am ever so glad not to have any of those mil horror stories to share. I'll have to admit, one of the best parts is that I've also truly been blessed with 3 super great SIL's (who married in like me), 2 BIL's one who's been a tour guide from the get go (he was there LONG before any of the rest of us), and a newbie we're all just getting to know (welcome!!), and before I forget...quite a few GORGEOUS/HANDSOME/SUPER SMART nieces and nephews!

Here's a few pics...hoping to catch the others on Thanksgiving (be ready every one!).

It Might Make Me "a little" Crazy...

So like I've said before, DrillSgt. is all about spontaneity and impulse sometimes, and sometimes it makes me a little crazy because I'm not really like that at all. This Sunday was one of those times. He decided last minute last night that we were going to take Da'Gorgeouses and do something with them. He hadn't decided quite what we were going to do, or where we were going to go but we were going somewhere to do something (this was at 4 pm mind you). So I wake LongRifle up from her 2 hour nap (I swear she'd still be asleep if I hadn't gone in to wake her) and we started to get them ready. He had mentioned maybe heading over to visit his brother and check out the new house they'd just moved into (but that would entail a hour drive---one way---and well, Da'Gorgeouses are usually in bed by 8:30pm). Then he mentioned pie, or at least going out to eat, and maybe heading to the playground. Okay, so by now, I've got it in my mind that we are definitely headed somewhere---he had that energy about him---so it was time for me to get with the program and roll with the punches (something that I struggle with daily).

We're in the car, still undecided as to where we are going and then he suggests dinner in a nearby town. Okay, we'll be there by 5:45, no problem. As we're driving he decides we are going to eat at a restaurant across the street from a Pumpkin Patch, maybe when we get done they'll still be open. It's a Sunday so that was a no-go. Then he decides we're taking Da'Gorgeouses to Adventure Park and we'll just scope out the activities and see how late they're open. So Miniature Golf it was, Da'Gorgeouses had a blast playing golf just like Curious George. They did a ton of walking and climbing over things and they were soooo ready for bed. Thanks DrillSgt. I really appreciate the fact that you're sometimes so insistent on being spontaneous, Da'Gorgeouses have sooo much fun when you do things like that (ME TOO!).

A Fitting Find

This was DrillSgt. $3.00 Saturday yard sale find.

A fitting find since they had been glued to the TV

watching the USA Women's Olympic Basketball team

win the gold----HOORAY!!

So he took them out later and showed them a few moves....

and they tried a few on their own...

Who says girls in skirts can't play basketball?!!

Casa Improvement: Playroom

Why didn't we do this earlier?! The playroom is finished, (except for the semi-bare walls & we still need a kids table and chairs), but Da'Gorgeouses finally had access to it today. They LOVED it!! They didn't want to leave the room, they cried, dragged their feet, thanked papá SEVERAL times for it, it was a HUGE success. They seem so much happier playing together in the playroom and there is plenty of space for them to do their own thing if they don't want to play together. It's safe, I don't have to stress. Watching them today made me tear up and my voice cracked as I thanked DrillSgt. for all of his hard work. I'll try to take a few more pics so you can see the entire room, but here's a couple for now.

The bright yellow color was already there.

The kitchenette was a DrillSgt. yard sale steal @ $5,

the cute desk was another yard sale find @ $3, and

those cute red chairs were another yard sale find @ $5!

That bookcase next to LongRifle is already full

of books. Yes, they really do have that many toys,

and they were all in our livingroom (without the

cute organizing bins). That gate spans the entire length

of the room AND my computer is right next to that empty

playdough box! EVERYTHING is bolted down and

super-duper safe!!! THANKS again, Papá!!

The Peanut Butter to My Jelly...

DrillSgt. has made plans. He just cracks me up! We are supposed to head out tomorrow to a local concert in the park, I'm apprehensive (all I can tell you is that I have a real problem with change and new environments) but I'm also looking forward to it. I'm so thankful to have married a man that is adventurous and daring and always ready & willing to try something new. What can I say? He's the yang to my yin, the peanut butter to my jelly...he completes me.

Now that he's home for the summer I'm enjoying reconnecting with him even more. Sure he's busy and out doing yard work or catching up on errands he doesn't get to during the school year, but we aren't as tired in the evenings and have the opportunity to actually have conversations that revolve around adult topics like the economy, politics, finances, our future and what we can do to make those strawberry margaritas even yummier! And laugh...boy do we laugh. I can tell you from the bottom of my heart, besides all the other reasons I've already mentioned in previous posts, I married him because he makes me laugh. Not a day goes by without laughter in our home, most often due to the witty conversations we have. Even during the tough times, the struggles we endured, the scary NICU days, DrillSgt. has always managed to make me laugh. We are at a point in our marriage where we can enjoy the laughter and rejoice in the sound of Da'Gorgeouses joining in, Pistol with her rumbling infectious belly laugh, LongRifle laughing so that her eyes twinkle merrily. I hope someday they will remember growing up in a house filled with laughter and happiness, built upon a strong foundation of faith, hope and love, LOTS and LOTS of LOVE.

Happy Father's Day

We had a nice relaxing Father's Day. We spent most of the afternoon and evening visiting my parents. The plan had been to go visit DrillSgt's family his brain wanted to go, but it seems his body didn't, he's hurt his back and it's really bad. He's having trouble sitting, standing, walking, sleeping, it's that bad. He doesn't know when it happened or how it happened but I think what's bugging him the most is that he can't pick up Da'Gorgeouses.

On a more cheery note, both Pistol and LongRifle said, "Happy Father's Day papá!" Too cute.