Rings Around Uranus

Pretty catchy, isn't it? Reagan's class is currently studying the solar system, and they each were asked to pick a planet and build a model to hang in the classroom planetarium. Her choice....Uranus. This weekend, she and I built a papier-mâché sphere and after it dried, she gave it a few coats of blue paint. On Monday evening, it was time to attach the rings. When basketball practice was over, I said to Reagan "Let's hurry up and get home. We have to put the rings around Uranus!!!" As soon as the words left my lips, I giggled a bit. I guess potty humor never ends for adults either! On the way home, she told me some interesting facts about her chosen planet like "Did you know that there's lots of gas on Uranus?" Again, giggles. We got home and attached the rings.....both of us were covered in glitter and glue!! This morning Reagan headed off to school with Uranus and we both think it looks great!

Lights....Camera.....ACTION

Instead of a traditional Den meeting, tonight the boys took a trip to LCTV-10 (local Camp Lejeune news station) to get a behind the scenes tour. After a brief tour of the station from Cpl. Hall, the station director, and a quick lesson on how everything works, they were let loose to operate the very, very expensive equipment by themselves. Did I mention these are all 3rd grade boys??? Aye caramba!! I was sure that complete chaos would ensue, but alas, the boys were on their best behavior and were very respectful and careful with the equipment. They were able to operate all the cameras, control the teleprompter and act as anchormen. On the way home, I asked Mason if he would like to be on TV when he grows up. He said he would be way too nervous to be on screen, but really enjoyed operating the camera.

Welcome to Sports Center. This is Mason "The Ace" Lopez. Tonight's top stories.....

Andrew and Mason

You stay classy, Camp Lejeune.

Hooray, Hooray....Another Snow Day!

No more snow, but another day off for Mason and Reagan! They were going to build a snowman this morning, but the sun came out and started to melt all the snowy goodness away. Our trampoline is in the shade, so it was still covered in snow and the kids had a BLAST jumping around in it!!

The snow has almost all melted away, but it sure was fun while it lasted!!

Snow Day!!

Last night, we got a call that school would be cancelled today because of the "impending" bad weather. A preemptive strike, I suppose. So, we woke up this morning (Adrian was off too because of the MLK 96) and immediately looked outside. Flurries were coming down slowly, but it was still too warm for them to stick. We didn't know how much we would get, or how long it would last, so Mason and Reagan went outside to try and catch a snowflake on their tongues!!

Around 10:00, the temperature started to drop and the snow came down with a fury!! We went to Chili's to eat lunch with our friends The Hoskins, and by the time we got back, there was snow everywhere.

We all had so much fun playing in the snow!! Mason and Reagan sledded down the hill (with their boogie boards!), made snow angels and then we headed down the street for a neighborhood snowball fight.

The Snowball Crew

(Andrew, Mason, Reagan, Alexis, Chad & Logan)

I know many of you reading this are from or have been stationed in places where they measure snow in feet not inches (I'm talking to you Crystal!!), but for us, this is some serious snow!! We probably got between 2-3 inches overall. I will forever remember this as The Blizzard of 09!!

Still Not on the Bandwagon

So tonight, I was convinced (against my better judgement, perhaps) to go see Twilight. I've never read any of the books, so I had no preconceived notions going in. The hype has been so over-the-top, I figured it must be good, decent at least. My conclusion......this movie sucks like a vampire on your neck (pun most definately intended!)!! Please don't lynch me, overly obsessed Twilight fans!! It seems as if am the only woman (or teenage girl, for that matter) in the free world that did not like this movie. Everyone says the book is so much better, but I seriously doubt that I'll be reading it (or any of the books in the series) any time soon. I found Bella to be extremely naive. I mean, come on......."Welcome to my home. Meet my perfect vampire family. I can climb a tree like a lumberjack on speed. I have perfect hair.".....HA! And they weren't even real vampires. They don't drink human blood, they drink animal blood (and have the nerve to call themselves vegetarians!). They don't turn to dust or incinerate in the sun, they sparkle like diamonds!! Seriously!! And Edward had a serious case of the crazy-eyes. And he didn't even woo Bella! He just awkwardly stared at her and then broke into her room and stared at her some more while she slept. No one else finds this creepy? And who knew that the Cullen family lived in the house formerly occupied by Cameron from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (a FAR superior movie, by the way)?

Although I didn't love the movie, I didn't think is was terrible either. I guess I can see why some would like it. I'm just too cynical, I suppose. I did get a small ab workout by laughing so much though!! And the company was AWESOME!!! Before the movie, Gia had us all over to her house for a pre-movie shindig. Some fun conversations were had (child birthing, breastfeeding....hehe!), and wine too, of course!! Gia, Lara, Jill and Renee were so cute in their Team Edward shirts!! Thanks Gia......you're the best!!

Heidi, Jill, Miriam, Tammy, Lara, Jacole, Stacy, Renee, Erin, Gia, Me & Shelby.

Me, Erica, Charline & Miriam

Lara, Tammy & Renee

Shelby, Erin, Stacy & Heidi

Needless to say, I was not swayed.....I am totally still TEAM WENDI!!!!

Happy Anniversary Adrian!

Ten years ago today, Adrian made the single most important decision of his life....he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps (insert OOH-RAH here!). When I think back to that day, all I can remember is how much I wanted to kill Brian Barcus (the friend who convinced him to join) and how sad I was to say good bye and let him leave me (little did I know, that would soon become a way of life!!). We got married when he was home on leave from boot camp (he promptly left me on our wedding night to go back to California!), and that's when the reality of being married to the military and moving away from my family finally hit me. All I could think of is "What the @#$% have you gotten me into??" Let's just say, it took awhile for me to adjust to my new life!

But now, all these years and duty stations later, I LOVE our life!! Adrian is a fabulous husband, loving father and an incredible provider and our hearts are overflowing with pride. To many, the life we lead is a meager one, but to us, we feel truly blessed. We have 2 healthy, happy, well-adjusted children and the two of us are still just as crazy about each other as ever.

Congratulations Adrian........you're half way there, baby!!