Is bigger really better?

Why is it that men think the biggest toys are always the best? Our 10 year old TV in Germany was 27". It was a monster of a square box. So, we sold it before we left, figured we'd save on weight and upgrade when we got here.

So, MY idea of upgrade? 37-40"

Dennis's idea of upgrade? 52" plus

REALLY!?!

I understand the appeal of watching an action flick in surround sound on a big screen...isn't that what the movie theater is for? I really don't need a wall of What Not to Wear or Clean House. (My two favorite shows)

So, marriage is all about compromise...ours is 46"...the widest our tv stand will accommodate...(I know, I know, Dennis, yes, it WILL take more weight...but the width IS maxed out.)

I still think it's a little overwhelming. But, the boys have to have new toys every now and then. Gotta love 'em.

Week 2 of unpacking and getting on track...

Ok, so I thought I was smart...Isn't the unaccompanied shipment supposed to be the one that is flown over with the stuff you need up until the last minute and the first stuff you'll need when you get there? I put in our silverware, pots and pans, sheets, the kids' soccer cleats (for the season that started this week), our tennies, hampers, the kids' computer, the bulk of Sabrina's diabetic supplies, plus more necessities. And, it's STILL.NOT.HERE. Our main shipment was delivered 12 days ago. What's up with that?

We did get to our new ward this past Sunday, though. We were welcomed with shell lei's and big smiles. It looks like a smaller ward, but I think it's a larger ward, just about 1/2 active. Sabrina is one of only about 6 young women. McKenna is the only girl in her primary class. A woman sat next to me in Relief Society and said her son thinks Sabrina's pretty, said he was being obnoxious to get her attention...she said it twice. So I asked Sabrina about it after church. Yes, apparently Jason was acting silly in class...she noticed. And, DAVID passed her a note that indicated he thought she was cute. Two boys, in 2 hours. Not bad...are we in trouble here?

Sabrina has definitely started to feel at home. She likes school (although the fact that homework has been all but non-existent could have something to do with it). She's made friends. She has boys following her. She has been doing really good getting out the door at 6:40am for the bus. Her attitude has changed, and she has been doing her chores without fail. We just found out that she's been getting lazy with checking her blood sugar and taking insulin...not a good thing. I guess it was getting TOO good...

Hayden is a new kid in school too. I told his teacher he likes to get up and help other kids when he is done with his work, and she said he just cracks open a book and reads! That's not like him. But, he does like his teacher and his class. He's doing well and started soccer this week. Boy, is that a workout...1.5 hours and hard core running and work in 88 degree weather. He is working hard.
McKenna started Kindergarten this week...she didn't even miss me! She's having a blast and loves to walk to school with Hayden. Her teacher is so sweet and McKenna is really taken with her. She starts gymnastics today and has been enjoying coming home from school and playing out back in the blow-up pool.

Dennis is working long and hard. He leaves for work before 6:30am for meetings and had some pretty physical, not to mention hot, PT several days in the week. He is exhausted when he gets home and, frankly, not really excited to be still putting furniture together. I don't blame him. Apparently, bolts and screws to two things are MIA.

I have been living at Walmart and Target getting curtains, returning curtains; getting a can opener, returning a can opener; getting a hose holder, exchanging for another. It's getting old. And, I'm down to the last few things to really finish setting up HOME. A few pictures left to hang, the other shipment to arrive, and I'll be happy. I am, however, knee deep in putting away the craft supplies...but have made quite the progress there, too. I'm loving the space. And, happy to have somewhere to put things away and pull them out when I need them.

We had our first Gecko lizard in the house last night. And our first Hurricane warning...that didn't pan out, thank goodness. And, we have had little crickets alot. Man they are fast! I can't figure out where they are getting in. And earwigs...but that's about it. It can be worse...we've been warned about centipedes and cockroaches and other tropical loving pests. I'm listening to the housing lawn crew take care of our yard right now. How awesome is that?! Even if it's a little disconcerting to have strange men with weed wackers outside your front door, I'm sure I'll get used to it.

As a family, we have been spending lots of time together, although Dennis says it's not quality family time to be out shopping. Not fun for who? ha ha. But seriously, with one car, I have to run errands when I get the chance. We have been preparing dinner together, jamming to IPod music, sitting down for family dinners (sans bench...one of the missing screw pieces), and gathering in the living room to watch Shark Week on the Discovery channel. (I love HGTV and watched 3 episodes of Clean House on the Style Channel yesterday.) No car, so I'm most productive in the mornings at home. Eventually when Dennis's car gets here, I plan to go out and get a part-time job. Lucky me.

But, we are getting on a schedule and feeling at home. It's a feeling I've missed.

My Love/Hate with Facebook...

Ok, I've wanted to post this for several days now, and I NEED to get it done so I can blog about the real life stuff.

FACEBOOK: Ok...I did it. I took the plunge and already have 56 friends...which I have mixed feelings about. We all know those aren't "close" friends. Some I may not have spoken to since my teen years. But, I guess as long as we go into this "relationship" knowing it's casual, with no commitments, just to connect and check up to see what our "friends" are up to every now and then, it's all cool. But, some of those ARE people I'm close to. So, can't we keep connected with email and blog? That's my plan.

And, the other side is, if you don't talk to someone for that long, are you really missing out on anything? Just a devil's advocate sort of question...I mean, you're going along fine with the people you actually connect with daily, do you need or want those "blast from the pasts"? I guess it is possible to re-connect and CREATE a relationship, but realistically? I'm across an ocean...or two...from most everyone. How many of you are going to come visit? And, me to you? Not likely, unless you live near family where we most likely will be spending all of our leave trips.

And, what is with this whole "be my friend" thing, anyway? Isn't that so Junior High? Can't Facebook come up with some other way to add people you might know? And, what if someone wants to "be your friend" that you either really can't remember, or don't wish to keep in contact with? What if someone did that to you? It would probably bother me if someone declined my "friend invitation." So, do you just accept everyone's invitation? Then it's not really a true representation of your friends, now is it?

Also, what's with the wall? It's all out there for any of your "friends" so see and post. Where's the intimacy in that? Just send me an email...and it's between us. No one else will get our conversation and connection, anyway.

Just some of the wrestlings I still have with Facebook. I want to keep connected with people, especially being so far away. And, it has been neat to see some of the people that I have found on here. I haven't gotten to go to everyone's page yet, though...that could take me hours to look through it all. Just the emails in my gmail account notifying me that someone has posted on my wall, sent me an invitation, or commented on my photos has really bogged my email. I'm probably just being cynical, and it will probably slow down once the "new-ness" of me joining has worn off. But, I'm barely keeping up with email and my blog, which I really do enjoy doing.

So, be patient with me. I will reply to posts on my wall. Especially ones that ask me questions. I also will post pictures periodically. I will not, however, be responding to polls, becoming fans, or participating in causes or games. It's nothing to do with you, I just don't have the time. I would rather respond to an email from you about what's going on in your life and tell you what's going on in mine. I also will not be pressuring any of my facebook holdout friends to join. Believe me, I've been there.

There, rant done. Love ya!

Getting settle update...

Here we are, moved in to the new house on Wednesday, and we had a call on Thursday that our household goods are here! What luck! Also, they couldn't get us an appt to install phone/internet/cable until Aug. 13th, but called us on Thursday and will be able to fit us in this week. Yay! I'm severely in withdrawals from my lack of internet...it's killing me not to be able to get on when I need to. No email. No blog. No digital scrapbooking downloads....UGH! Right now I'm grabbing some free internet, just to get this done.

We did finally get the kids registered for school. There were issues with the TB tests...not showing on their records, so we had to do it again. Hayden was supposed to start on Friday, but both him and Sabrina were throwing up during the night before, so he missed his first day. McKenna starts on Wed, then goes again the following Monday, then full-time on the 11th.

Sabrina starts on Monday. I have to take her in to take all of her diabetic supplies, but after that she'll be riding a bus....at 6:45am! It's a crazy system...they pick up the kids on base, drop them off at school, then go out for another run at another base. So, she'll be at school almost an hour early every day. Did I mention we have to PAY for that service?

They have a short day here, 7:55am to 2:05pm. On Wednesdays it's even shorter, getting out at 1:15pm. I guess Wednesday will be my stay-at-home, get-everything-done day. No point running out to rush back.

The house is really nice...only opened up in November. The family that lived here before us was a forced move, lived in old housing but PCS'ing soon, so they only lived here 5 months. The kitchen is really large with, get this....22 cupboards and 9 drawers! (To all my friends in Germany: I'm loving returning to the land of cupboards!) I'm really at a loss with all the space! Lots of counterspace and a bar the length of one wall into the dining room. It's really a good layout. The utility room with the laundry is large enough to put my sewing table in. So, it will really work out well. I can't wait to get our things and play around with putting everything away!

I was also able to connect with another family that moved here a few weeks before us from Ramstein. She ran into Dennis in the housing office. They haven't been as lucky to get the new houses and their stuff isn't here yet. So, I'm feeling really grateful. We still need a few things...a TV, mattresses, etc. But, we're getting there.

We have been spending lots of family time...running around together. Lots of opportunities for funny things out of my kids' mouths. Last night, Sabrina picked up a rather large cutting board that had markings for rolling out pie dough and measurements etched on the right side. She said, "Hey, I can used this to measure my liquids!" I think she was referring to the conversions all listed on the side, but it was super funny....being a flat cutting board, and all.

Then last night, McKenna asked for a cheeseburger and cinnamon melts from McDonalds for dinner. She has never finished an entire cheeseburger, so I was skeptical that she would eat both, but I thought maybe the treat would be a good incentive to eat the entire burger. I was right and with a little prodding she finished the cheeseburger. Of course, I had to pack the melts in my purse because she was full. When we got to the car, I handed them to her, she put them between her legs. I then turned around about 5 minutes later, and they were half eaten. I asked her, "McKenna, wow! I don't believe it, where are you putting it all?" She said," In my lap." Isn't it funny when they take you so literally?