Promises, promises...

Okay, look I never promised to keep up with this blog. However, from this point on I will try to keep up at least once a week. I emailed an old friend to check and make sure he was safe (you know how rumors get when they travel 3k + miles) and sent him the link and came here to check the last time I updated. Doh! Wow, I suck. I suck at keeping this up.

So all in all, said friend is fine, doing well. Other said friend is fine knowing this friend is fine as well.

Im thinking today that there is so much to update with I don't know where to start.

So Ill start with October. The last time I wrote an entry. October 16th I received probably what at this point was the most devastating phone call I have ever had to endure. Maybe because I am so far away, maybe because it was who it was, but I can remember it like a nightmare from last night.
I received an awesome oppourtunity to work as a vendor in the PX, some of you (not all) might know that as our "mall" here on post. I had bows, jewelry, photo books and odds and ends such. I started early that week. It had proved to be the most boring, slow week I have had in a long time. Friday, October 16th, Jeff and Rachel came up to spend lunch with me. Jeff left for home, but for some odd reason my adorable and loved friend Rachel decided to stay and hang out at the booth with me. On break, and glancing through some clearance racks in the PX, my phone rang. My mother, so I answered. She is crying, hysterically, I ask her whats wrong? The answer I got will change my life forever as I know it.
Mom says Uncle Rick has had a heart attack and she is on her way to the hospital. Not knowing whats going on, I start to cry, scared, hoping he is okay. I hang up, tell her I will fly home in the am. By the time I get back to pack up my booth, my cell rings again. This time its Kris' number popping up. This isn't a good sign. I know it. I lose it, answer the phone, Kris is crying saying shes is so sorry, have I heard the news, am I okay? OMG. This cannot be right, this isn't whats happening. Rachel is packing up my booth at this point as I am in the floor of the PX hiding, sobbing hysterically, and completely out of my mind. Other vendors come in to pack me up, Rachel walks me to the car, I get home and continue to vomit the next 20 minutes in the bathroom. My amazing friends, no they are not friends, but my amazing family here are already booking my flight home. Dee has it done and flight schedule in my hands. I leave on Saturday, make it home late that night and begin what was the strangest, most unbelievable week of my life. On October 16th, my Uncle Rick, the strongest, most loving, enduring, intelligent man I know suffered a major heart attack and died in the hospital. Still as I sit here and type it out it doesn't seem real. There were over 400 in attendance at his visitation. I spent a week at home, with my boys, and my family. It will take a long time to recoop from ths loss. It was the most unexpected death I have ever had to deal with. My family will remain strong as we always have. We love you Uncle Rick and there isn't a day that goes by you are not in my thoughts. Give mema and Dan a big hug and kiss for us! Tell them we will be on our way soon enough! XOXO RIP RICK SELLS OCTOBER 16TH, 2009.

Onto the holiday updates! Obviously my amazing husband is still here! He did not deploy, with above mentioned thank God he didn't. I don't know how I would have coped with that. Burying my grandmother while he was away was hard enough. He has had 2 steroid injections thus far, and has an appointment at the end of this month to determine the next step. Obviously he doesnt want anything drastic to harm his law enforcement career when he gets out next year. Steph (fairy god-mother) came and stayed every single month with us at least a week or two. From October, November and in to December. It was lovely! Thanksgiving was a hard one to swallow without Uncle Rick, Christmas even harder. I remember sitting in Jihang, South Korea last year with Bobby Kitchen talking to my family on the webcam and Uncle Ricks crying making me cry. Oh how I would have cherished that more had I known what was to come. Christmas rocked this year! We took a huge truckload of donations down to the Childrens Hospital, took care of a family in our unit, and just really tried to see the spirit in all of the modern day hustle and bustle.

Next week is the Twilight convention! I cannot even begin to tell you how stoked I am for that. Yes, yes, I know it was a hard conversion. I refused the Twilight saga for months, and then once I got a taste, couldnt put the damn thing down. Now the saga has sucked me in so that I am going to a convention???? W.T.H. Not only that, but Kris, Rachel, and Steph are all flying up here to go with??? hahaha....it really is quite humorous. But I eat crow on thinking I would hate it. And at least have to wait until Taylor Lautner turns 18 before I profess what a hot, rockin'...oh, wait...*snickers* Did I mention Peter Facinelli, and the Wolfpack will be there??? Oh, well, you better believe Ill be getting pictures together with them. There will be lots of pics from this trip! And you better believe we will bring down the house in Seattle! There will not be a hotter group of chics crasing this joint. ;) http://www.creationent.com/cal/twilight_wa.htm

Hair appointment tomorrow, nails next week, and shopping already done. The kiddos are all settled in still enthralled with the Christmas toys they got. Kyle sold all of his Diego stuff for GI Joe...when did he grow up? When did my baby boy start to sing the GI Joe theme song as opposed to "Go,Diego,go"...not that I miss the Diego theme song, but damn. At least I don't feel old. And Erica...my little chubby cheeky Erica. Her latest obsession? Makeup. She wants it on first thing in the am when I do mine. *sighs*

My sister and mom were going to come out in February, but with all this snow, looks like it will be pushed back again. Sister cannot take off work now that there will be snow days to make up. I seriously cannot wait for her to get here! I think she will make our trips to Forks in to the double digits. Next week when we haul the gang up it should be 9, lol!

Mom will be here next month. I am in the process of jumping through the medical hoops to get a hysterectomy, and it has to be done before the big kids get here in May. I will keep you updated on it as much as I can, although I truly hate updating people on things like health. Especially when it involves surgery, so maybe you will only know a timeframe when it happens and whether or not I am out of the surgery. Deal? mmkay. haha!

Halloween rocked here! Everyone got to go out with us. As you will see Ill post pictures of what probably was the cutest children on the face of the planet that night.

As always, leave your questions, comments, loves and hates in the comment box. I promise to read them.

Love and miss you all!

One more shout-out before I go, I will just tell you all now. I have the most amazing husband in the ENTIRE world. Who runs home just to ensure their wifes BLT doesnt go lonely without an avacado? *swoon* My husband, thats who. Know why? Because he is desperately love with me.

**If you are popping in from SK, or the SK FORUMS, *waves* to you. There is valuable info here on spending the next year with your soldier. Drop me a message, Ill help with the details as much as I can. Traffic bar shows a ton are coming in from there! I have the answers and solutions for ya.**

And if you are popping in here and are our SK family! Bobby, Olson, Monica, you all know who you are! We miss and love you guys and remember you every day! Stay strong!

Finally, our family in the sandbox, counting down until you are here! Both our Atkinson boys, Hoxit, and the rest! We love you! Soltero, you better come home safe! Jay, hope you are safe in your travels there, let us know! Ill go over and take care of Dee and the kids! :)

50 Cals are loud today, just sayin'. HOOAH!!!