Working for the weekend...

It's hard when I start the week already looking forward to Friday.  And, by hard, I mean that it makes my week feel like it's sooooo long.,  On the weekend, Mr. Lovebug is home and helps out with the chores.  Yes, I realize that I chose to be a SAHM, but I did NOT choose to work without having some sort of break.  I feel horrible for needing a break, but, I'm not supermom and I don't have as much energy as I once did.  The house is clean, the laundry is (mostly) done and dishes are done.  Why do I feel so horrible?  I look around and see clutter and I want to scream.  I know it's just an accumulation of stuff from doing what we do:  live life.  It's certain to happen when you have a blending of households.  I should learn to not be so hard on myself about the clutter that is here.

I think that I'll do some spring cleaning this weekend.  I've got a few loads to bring over to the Airmen's Attic.  I love that the Airmen's Attic is there.  It's nice for the in-processing airmen who are awaiting shipment of household goods to be able to pick up a few necessities.  It's also nice for the out-processing airmen to get rid of the goods that aren't being shipped.  I'll admit that I like to browse the bookshelves while I'm there.  I know that I don't NEED any more books but I love to have the variety on my shelf.

On Sunday we'll have our ice cream date (like we do every Sunday) and pick up the last minute things we need for the week.  I'm sure that groceries will be on that list.  I'm so glad that we live within walking distance to the BX and Commissary.  It saves us a bit on gas.  Sadly, the price of gas is at $4.49 per gallon.  YIKES!  I remember in 2008 when Jodi and I were moving from MN to CO and how expensive the gas prices were then.  It was crazy but this is worse, I think!  I know it won't last forever.  That's my hope.  It went down after the last price jump, I'm sure that it will happen again.

I think that a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium is in order for this weekend too.  As a Christmas gift from her Aunt, Annika (and family) got an annual pass to the aquarium.  What an awesome gift!

It's time to take Annika to school... I swear the mornings go much too quicklly!

A hui hou!

My Earth Day, Birthday girl!

I woke up on Friday, April 22nd, feeling more excited than Annika about her birthday.  I don't know if there are words to describe it.  As I laid in bed, waiting for the sun to rise, I reflected on the last eight years.  Where we've been and where we are.  And, I looked into the future.  Where we are going. 

She has learned so much in eight years.  It's hard to fathom how much she will learn in the next eight, and the lifetime beyond that.  As I held her in the wee morning hours of April 22, 2003, I could not have imagined that life would take us here and that she would grown into the lovely young woman she has become.

My beautiful baby girl (the day that I became a mother)

 

 

 

 

 

 At 0448 on 4-22-03, my life was forever changed.  No longer was I just a woman, a wife, a daughter and sister.  I became a mother.  And, in that moment, I understood a love that made me want to be a better person.  To live my life not just for me, but for my child as well.

Celebrating her first birthday

 The road that she and I have traveled has been long and rocky.  But, it's shaped who we are today.  And I can only hope that I have had even a small impact on her life because she's had an enormous impact on mine.

To my sweet precious girl:  Thank you for choosing me to be your mother.  And for being uniquely you.  It is an honor to be your Mommy.  I love you with all of my heart.

Huntington Beach, SC (February 2005)

Annika, age 2 (June 2005)

Annika, age 3 (July 2006-on the day her cousin Kendall was born)

Annika, age 4 (August 2007)

Annika, age 5 (April 2008)

Annika, age 6 (August 2009)

Annika, age 7 (August 2010)

Annika, age 8 (April 2011)