Cleaning out the Camera

Emptying out my camera today, so I thought I'd upload pictures from the last few weeks.

Joey had her first Oreo cookies this month. She loved them, but didn't like the mess so much. It was no surprise that she adored them, as they're both Eric and Rye's favorite cookies. I don't think they'll be an all the time thing, since they are so messy. But every once in a while is cool.



More pigtail pics. These pigtails are way cuter than the ones I posted last month. I put these in her hair for a trip to the park. She loves to swing but her hair is always getting blown into her face. So I tried these out to see if they would help. She didn't keep them in long after we left the park but they served their purpose. She looks so adorable. This first picture is a typical 'Jo in front of the camera' picture. She can't stand more than 2 pictures...then she gets erictated. This was the 3rd picture.
Isn't she just the sweetest, cutest thing you have ever seen.  Her smile is so infectious and so is her laugh.  She does the 'sucking in air' kinda laugh.  It is too cute.

Three random pictures over the last 2 weeks.
Rye and Jo being sisterly. They can be so cute together, and so maddening. I love watching their relationship develop.
This is the Lonestar State Cheesecake I made. I saw it on Cooking for Real on the Food Network and I just had to try it. I actually made the Steak Fajitas from the same episode and those were yummy too. This was my first time making a 'real' cheesecake. I used a spring form pan and everything. It turned out so so good. I will definitely make it again. I am going to try a pumpkin cheesecake next. Mmmmm.
Here is my newest tattoo. It translates (as far as I know) to "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine" in Hebrew. I might need to make a couple of adjustments to it. I really like it and I wanted to get it in Hebrew because, from what I've found online, that's the language Song of Songs was written in originally.  There will be more tattoo pics to come.  I am thinking of getting another this paycheck.  I have an addiction.  Sorry Aunt Georgie!
These are a few pictures I took of Joey today. She saw me grab the camera and started going, "Chee, chee." so I had to take a few pictures, since she never wants them taken of her.
This is her after I said, "Pose for Mommy"



I am now listening to her sing Twinkle Twinkle with her DVD.  So sweet!

New This Week

Let's be honest...I will probably never get my new release movies viewed and written about on Tuesday. Just not going to happen. Hehe. So I thought I'd just post them when I get to them and within the week. Sound reasonable?
So, the new movie I watched this week was Paul Blart: Mall Cop. It's about a State Trooper wanna be that takes his current job as a mall security guard (officer? the debate continues) very seriously.  When a band of urban jumping thieves tries to steal from his mall he makes it his mission to take them down, hilarity ensues.  As soon as I saw that it was a Happy Madison Production, I knew I would love it. Plus, I've heard nothing but good things from those that have seen it as well.  To be honest, if it had been anyone other than Kevin James in this role it probably wouldn't have been half as good.  He is just a comedic genius and you instantly fall in love with the guy.  If you're looking for a fun comedy that will make you feel good, grab this one from your nearest rental place.

Three other movies I have seen recently: Made of Honor, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans & Taken.  I love love loved all three of these.  They're great for each genre: Romantic Comedy, Fantasy & Suspense/Thriller.  

Made of Honor was very sweet, if not some what predictable.  How can you not love McDreamy though?  There was some flat out funny parts that made me laugh out loud, even though I was 2 hours past bedtime when I was watching it.

Underworld...I can't say enough about this movie.  Admittedly, there were one or two slow points.  But as a lover of this trilogy I was enthralled.  Michael Sheen (Lucian) was outstanding.  I wasn't a huge fan of him in the earlier movies.  I didn't not like him, but he wasn't my favorite.  I totally fell in love with him watching this movie.  He was great, the character he played was great.  Good story, that went well with what you learn in the 'later' movies, with lots of action.

And then comes Taken.  Wow!  This is how I imagine Eric reacting if anyone ever did something to our girls.  Liam Neeson was a total bad ass!  Which I couldn't really picture before seeing the movie.  Maybe I just like all movies but again this was a great one.

Lastly, I'd like to share about a book I just read.  It's called Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson.  It's a wonderful story about a girl with and imaginary friend.  A friend she meets again when she's all grown up and just might be in love with.  It is a truly beautiful story.  It's right along the lines of his book Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas.  If you're not in the mood for a tear jerker, don't read either of these books.  It amazes me that a man that can write The Women's Murder Club Series, Kiss the Girls & Along Came a Spider...such thrilling, sometimes mind bending, books can also write books that just touch your heart.  Art comes in many forms and the written word is one of my favorites.  If you're in the mood for a book full of romance, pick this book up (pick up Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas as well).

It's hard sometimes...

It's only 10 am and I can tell today is going to be a hard day. I am sad! I miss Eric so much. I just passed by an old family picture, I had to touch his face. I started to cry a little. I couldn't look at his face when I walked back by. It hurts too much. I don't like feeling this sad. I feel so lost without him. I hate days like this. Most days aren't this bad. I can kind of delude myself into thinking that he's just at work or that he has duty and that's why he's not home. Joey keeps asking for Daddy, I just tell her he's away at work. She loves to look at his picture on my phone. *Sigh*
I think my hormonal part of the month is happening. I started taking my supplements that help with that. I might start taking them everyday, but I don't want to get used to them too much.
Joey fell asleep on the couch. I'm going to go lay her down and take a shower.

Random Act of Kindness

I am blown away, my eyes even started to tear up.
My front walk is horrible. It is completely over grown. That was to be one of my projects. I am not a 'gardening' type of person. Point of fact, I HATE IT!! When I got home from the park today, the guys that do the grass everywhere had weed whacked that area. They usually don't touch it here. I thanks them like a billion time on the way to the door. I was going to save me so much time when I actually got around to doing the rest. I guess when they did some cutting in the back they cut our hose back there. It never gets used, so I didn't care. They brought a hose over to replace it and I told them it wasn't necessary. But thanks for the offer. Well....I just walked out to put some recycling in the bin out front and noticed that my walk was wet. I thought to myself, "Did it rain?" But no, my car wasn't wet. On my way back I actually looked at the side of the walk...they'd taken out more of the weed type bush that was in there, cleared out bits of 'whacked' grass and trimmed up this 'tree' by the door so it wasn't sticking into the path. It actually looks nice now. Then it looks like they'd watered it and rinsed off the path.
I know it doesn't seem like much but, even here, I'm almost crying. That area was such a burden, to even think about tackling. I am so relieved and so thankful. I am completely at a loss.

Monday

Monday's list has been started below.  I am going to try and have one decent sized project day that I can work on during Jo's nap.  Monday's project will be the bathrooms (at least one of them).  I'll do this until the house has been de-cluttered & cleaned, top to bottom...outside too.  Maybe the garage a little as well.  I also want to start working out again.  I have been lacking in this since Eric got home.  So I'll put that up there, we'll see how often it gets done.

We'll see how this goes today, I wrote most of this post last night & I've already strayed off my idea of how today would go.  I was going to get up a little early like I used to, before Jo, and work out.  I just couldn't get out of bed, that might have something to do with me staying up until 1230, reading this great book....which I'll tell you all about when I'm done reading it.

-Shower

-Workout

-Read Bible

-Clean Upstairs Bathroom

Mirror

Sink/Counter

Empty Trash

Sweep/Scrub Floor

Tub

Toilet

Raid Base Boards

-Clean Downstairs Bathroom

Mirror

Sink/Counter

Empty Trash

Sweep/Scrub Floor

Toilet

Raid Base Boards

-Dishes

-Laundry Away

-Clean off Kitchen Table

I know I have some pictures on my camera that I wanted to put on here, there were some on Eric's camera that I didn't get off before he left.  But I just don't feel like posting them.  These last few days have been kind of weird.  I'm just kind of in a haze.  Kind of numb I guess.  I feel like Eric is out in the field, or just at work.  I don't think it's really sunk in that he's gone.  Maybe if I stay in this haze it will go by quicker.  Our trip home really is my saving grace.  I need family and friends.  I just need them.  I feel so broken when he's not here.  He really is the best part of me.

I am glad I have the girls with me.  I see so much of him in them.  Jo is more like him day by day.  I really think she'll be his 'mini-me'.  I always thought Rye looked and acted like him, but that was before Jo.  Rye is becoming more like me as the days go by.  I'm not sure how good that is.  Haha!  

I guess I need to get out of this funk I'm in.  There's so much I need to do while Eric is gone.  I have a list of bills I need to pay off, a front walk way that needs to be weeded (I HATE GARDENING!), I need to start working out again (I always put it off when he's home, I want to look fierce when he gets home) and I have a house that needs a good deep cleaning.  At some point they will come and  gut my kitchen.  I need to find out their intended date for that.  I need to let them know when I plan to be gone.   I'll do that tomorrow.

I should go now, Jo wants cheese.

Waimea Falls

Okay, we took a trip to Waimea Falls up on the North Shore. It was really pretty. Lots of bug bites though. Must remember bug spray next time. These pictures are all jumbled up, sorry, I'm not very good at the putting them in order on here. Haha. 4 families went on this excursion. I have some more of the other kids but they were all turned sideways. Maybe I'll put them up later. There aren't alot of Rye with us because she wanted to be off with all the kids. You can swim at the falls, so Eric took Rye out. She had a blast. I'd definitely go earlier in the day if we go again.

Eric & Rye are on the left getting closer to the falls, Eric said it go harder to swim the closer you got. The current really pushed you away.
Charles
Must keep hydrated

Malinda, Charles & Austin
Rye getting ready to go in
Jo sitting with me watching Daddy & Rye swimming
The group at the top was with us. Charles parents, Austin crying, Charles & Sasha, Malinda, Chucky, Madeline & Emerald, then Dustin in orange. I do not know the people closest to me.
Rye wanted her goggles for a bit to see under water.
Dustin, Rye & Chucky
Getting ready to trek 3/4 of a mile to the falls. Rock on!
Jo and Rye
Eric packed up with our picnic snack
Taking off
Woohoo!
Gwen lent us a hat for Jo, it was a little small
She really hates when I pull out the camera

Hehe, she looks so tiny in this picture
A partial family picture in this tree covering in vines. Rye was off running with the kids.
Lots of scenery pics below!

Waimea Falls Scenery