Heidi, our furry first kid

A good friend of mine just posted pics of her brand new German Shepherd puppy and it has inspired me to post some pics of our five year old GS, Heidi. The decision to get a dog was a result of theft that occured in 2003 when we were stationed in Port Angeles, WA. Jay had been underway and was just pulling in to port this particular morning. When I went out to the garage to hop in the car to go pick him up, I was startled to find that the garage doors were wide open and Jay's beloved motorcycle was missing. I quickly called him on the ship to ask if he'd been by to get his bike (I know that makes no sense, but it was my first thought). Of course, he said no. Long story short, we filed a police report and at about 10:00 that evening, the police came to our door saying they'd found the bike. It had been abandoned a few blocks down after the thugs realized that they couldn't get it started. Aside from alittle damage here and there, the bike was pretty much still in tact. Phew! So while we were chatting with the officers and waiting for the tow truck to load it up, I could hear the dog in the back of the K9 unit that had responded to our case. THAT IS THE BARK I NEEDED!! Sure enough, it was an awesome German Shepherd and at that moment, we decided we were going to research breeders in the area and get our dog. No longer was I going to be home alone while Jay was out to sea. I needed that extra security and piece of mind. We decided on a breeder out of Graham, WA named Kerry Southern of Vonsudlich Shepherds. We visited the grounds when Heidi was about three weeks old and we picked her because she was the only one that didn't whine when we held her. We were finally able to bring her home when she was 8 weeks old. She has been the best dog and we consider her our "first" baby. She's Jay's best buddy and they go everywhere together. I used to be her favorite until the children came....I think she may still be holding a grudge toward me for bringing these boys home, but she is still very protective of them and of me. Ironically, the bark is what I wanted and now it seems all I do is tell her to be quiet! She is still my girl and very much a part of our family. If and when we have more property, I'd love to open up a GSD rescue. The breed is near and dear to my heart.

A Bit Corny

Not much to report....just wanted to share some recent pics of the boys at the corn maze. We went with Scott, Nik & the girls and it really wasn't much of a maze considering you could pretty much see over the top of everything....but then again, it's not made for adults. It was a festive activity nonetheless and we had a good time.

Keeping Busy

It's been 10 days since my last post and that's mostly because we've been keeping pretty busy since Jay left. Both my nieces play soccer, so Scotty and I like to go to the games as often as we can. There's at least two games a week and it's really fun to be able to support them now that we live here. They are amazing players and I am always so impressed with their athleticism and their sportsmanship. So nice to see kids out playing sports and being active!

My sister in law, Nikki, and I decided awhile back that when I finally move to Washington, we will start a BUNCO group. I played with a group of Coast Guard wives when I lived in Juneau and always had a blast. The game is fun and it's a great excuse to have a ladies night. So Nikki and I coordinated it and last Friday I hosted our first BUNCO night. I had so much fun prepping for it, making sure I remembered the game rules and had all the items we needed. The best part was the BUNCO queen hat that you have to wear if you call BUNCO. It's a hot pink "pimp daddy" hat and it was a hit with the ladies. The group of 12 consisted mostly of Nikki's fellow soccer moms and co-workers and a couple of our family members. We all had a great time; good food, good fun and hopefully we can keep it going as a monthly thing. In fact, people have signed up to host all the way through May! And we may even have more people joining us to make a group of 16. Pretty cool.

This week my cousin Elaine and her new baby came up from Portland for a nice visit. It's the first time we have met Baby Jack and he is a doll. The boys were great with him and so interested, especially Zac. It's crazy to think I had a newborn in the house just a year ago....time flies!

This morning BOTH boys let me cut their hair using the electric clippers. I was never able to get within two feet of Scotty with those things and now he sits still and lets me buzz his entire head without a fuss. PROGRESS! However, he moved his head once and I ended up chopping too much off one side, so now it looks more like a mohawk than I prefer, but whatever. It'll grow back. Zac was timid, but let me do it without trying to grab. Now they really look like brothers!

Bye Bye Daddy

This morning we said our goodbyes to Jay as he set out on his first patrol as OPS on the MELLON. We packed up the boys and headed out at 5 AM to catch the ferry to Seattle. After spending some time on the ship with Jay and helping him settle in, we said our final goodbyes and headed out. I decided to get back over to the peninsula and drive north to Point No Point in Hansville, WA. It's a small beach where we could enjoy the beautiful sunny day and wait for Jay's ship to pass by. It was a grand idea because the boys had a blast playing in the sand and water and we were able to see the MELLON in action. Scotty got a kick out of it. I still don't think he really understands what's going on, he knows daddy's just at work and that's about the extent of it for him. But he did enjoy seeing the big white boat sail on by. Unfortunately, my camera battery died just as the ship was RIGHT IN FRONT OF US! Wouldn't you know it. Hmm...maybe less pics of feet and sand drawings. O-well, the experience of it was the most important part. As for Jay, I don't think he could've been more excited about getting underway, but I know it's bittersweet for him to leave behind his boys. They will change so much in the time that he's gone and I can't imagine, as a mother, what that would be like. But I am happy for him because I know this is what he has longed for after four years at a staff job in Juneau, Alaska. I am no stranger to deployments. Growing up a Navy brat and having to endure my dad's deployments, and now being married to the military, I know what to expect and I do just fine. People often ask me how I do it and to that I can only answer "I just do". What else am I supposed to do? I am grateful for the fact that my husband is serving his country, he has a job and it's a job that he loves and the Coast Guard has been good to us, so what more can I ask for? I realize now it is a whole different ball game when you have little ones at home, but I think chasing two young boys, pampering a high maintenance dog and being surrounded by lots of family and friends will help make the time fly. Thank you God for giving us Seattle!

Pumpkin Patch

Took the boys to the Pumpkin Patch and as you can see, it was not a pretty day. But we were prepared and it was fun to let the boys get muddy. Fall is my favorite time of year!

Just Like Dad

As soon as Jay starts up the lawn mower, Scotty is always right there following him all around the yard. It is the cutest thing and I had to share. At least we know which of the many chores Scotty will take over someday.

Our Breezy Girl is Growing Up.....

Saturday was Homecoming for my 15 year old niece, Bree. Since I've been away for the past four years, I was never able to participate in the festivities leading up to any of her school functions until now, thus, I wanted to be a part of all of her preparations! I tagged along when she got her hair done, I took her to the mall to let her pick out the jewelry she wanted to wear, and then headed home where she got all dressed up. She was so beautiful and of course I cried because I remember the day she was born as if it were yesterday and now I am seeing her off to a formal high school dance. Our little "Breezy Girl" is growing up. One of the most touching moments was when, because Bree's date for the dance had to cancel on her at the last minute, her dad (my brother, Scott) surprised her with a corsage. It reminded me of the time I went to my 9th grade dance, he bought a corsage for me since I also didn't have a date. I still have the note card he attached to the box. What a guy. After she was all dolled up, a large group of us, family & friends, accompanied her and her friends to Olive Garden for dinner (of course the girls sat on the OTHER end of the restaurant away from us old folks) and then a few of us brought her to the school where the dance was taking place. It was a bittersweet moment for all of us. I am sure she couldn't get out of the car fast enough, but for us oldies, it was a precious moment in time and it brings tears to my eyes even as I write this. GET A GRIP, SHON!!

Wedding Bells and Baseball

Not much to report, just pics to share. This past Saturday, Jay and I attended a wedding of a dear friend of mine who I met in 2002 when we were both on the fastpitch team at Peninsula College. Danni is now a flight attendant for Alaska Airlines and she frequently had layovers in Juneau where we were able to catch up and spend time together. Now that we're actually down here in Washington together, we never get to see each other! The wedding was in Tacoma, Wash. with a beautiful backdrop of Mount Rainier. Weddings always make me cry and this one was no exception. Danni looked so pretty and I lost it during the father/daughter dance because the song "I loved her first" was so fitting and perfect. It was really wonderful to see Danni and Tim get married, and inspiring to see two people embarking on their new life together. We wish them all the best.

On Sunday, Jay, Scotty, my dad, my brother and I went to the last Mariners game of the dreadful 2008 season. Fortunately, they ended on a good note and won the game, but not before earning the record of being the first team with a $100 million roster to lose over 100 games. EEEK! But there is something to be said about their fans because even with the worst record in baseball, they were still bringing in an average of 27,000 fans at every home game. I am one of those faithful fans. As disappointed as I was in them this season, I still love my Mariners and will be there opening day 2009, with my entire family decked out in Mariners garb, ready to cheer them on.