Chamberlain's Review

On Friday night, we met my friend Angie and her husband and another couple at a fancy restaurant called Chamberlains. It was Angie and Niel's tenth wedding anniversary, and they wanted to celebrate with their closest friends who have been there through thick and thin. Angie and I have been friends for 11 years. And, man, have we been through a lot....her daughter, Haley's apendectimy, my pregnancy/adoption of Thomas, her wedding, my wedding, her 3 more kids, mine and Brad's fertility issues, her near death health issues....I could go on. It's been a wild ride, but it's been worth every minute of it. I'm very thankful for our frienship.

So, we got all dressed up, and headed out to Addison for a night on the town. I ordered the 6oz filet minon, cut butterfly (I just learned this term; it's where they cut the filet in half so it cooks more evenly) with garlic mashed potatoes. Brad and I don't frequent these restaurants so I was so excited to learn this new term.

I'm not quite sure what the red stuff was; I picked it off. The steak was great and the mashed potatoes were great. I ate the WHOLE thing. Brad got the creme brulee, and he said it was very good. We ended up talking and hanging around, and after 2 1/2 hours the host finally came over and kicked us out. He was very polite about it though. So, then we just moved the party outside and talked a bit more. It was a nice night.....with good company.

Here' what I've learned over the past few months....

1. I do not like butterscotch.
2. Jilian loves loves loves Little Caesars pizza (she asks for it every time Daddy is out of town because she knows I don't really cook.) Which leads me to number 3....
3. I DO NOT LIKE TO COOK. It sucks....I'm slow, it tastes bad.....I just don't get it.
4. I feel like my luck is running out with regards to driving ILLEGALLY in the HOV lane, yet I still do it.
5. If I buy a 50oz bag of Winto-Green Lifesavers, I can eat them all within a week.
6. While convincing my sister to take the girls to see Taylor Swift in March, I actually said the words...Jilian will be 4. 4? Are you kidding me? I will have a 4 year old soon?
7. I DO NOT like that it gets dark at 7 o'clock.
8. No matter how many subscriptions to magazines I sign up for, I still never read them.
9. As I get older, I am discovering things on my body that I don't think are supposed to be there, and when I discover them, I immediately call the doctor....one rib cages sticks out more than the other...called the docotor, bump near my collar bone....called the doctor.
10. I am not allowed to watch any crime shows (Criminal Minds, Law & Order, CSI) while Brad is out of town.
11. Grandparents are a huge blessing in Jilian's life. Thanks Pop Pop, Mimi & Poppi and KayKay & Grandpa. What would we do without you?
12. Jilian is very stubborn (just like her mother.)
13. I'm addicted to Chick fil a breakfast. I need an intervention.
14. My family is very important to me.
15. No matter how much I pick up the house, I cannot keep it clean.
16. My obsession with list making will never go away, and I will never have everything crossed off the list. EVER.
17. I cannot go another summer with the a/c unit that we currently have.
18. I do not have enough vacation hours at work to take all the time off that I need.
19. I LOVE the beach!
20. I will never make it to work on time when Brad is out of town.
21. I cannot spend more than $2.99 on an iPhone app.
22. I am thankful for all the people in my life, and I know that I should not take that for granted.

We've been busy....

And boy do we have a lot to report!

We went to the balloon festival in Plano a few weekends ago and had a blast! My sister and her family came and KayKay and Grandpa, too. We met a bunch of friends there and watched them take off, do a balloon 'glow' and fireworks after. Here are a few pics -

Tim and Brad...

Cousins (Ella, Jilian and Seth)...

Izzy, Ella and Jilian...

Pop Pop and the grandkids...

All of us, stretching from one pink arrow to the other!

Jilian's new favorite song is Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. Here we all are rockin' with 'our hands up, they're playin my song....'

Jilian's school had a Parade of Cultures last week. Her class was Scotland. They brought out each class, all representing a different country, and they walked around the parking lot. It was so cute! Jilian was very serious about her job. She walked around and barely smiled. But, heck, I would have been freaked out by all the parents standing around watching and laughing with video cameras!

Here are a few pics of the family. And one of Brad and I. We rarely get dressed up, so we took this opportunity to grab a quick pic.

Poppi, Jilian, Brad, Mimi and me...

So, you know Jilian loves loves loves to do her own hair with ALL of her hair bows, right? Here's the latest 'do.....

Last week, when it rained a lot, while driving home from getting Little Caesars pizza (which we do quite often because this cooking thing isn't working out so well), we saw a RAINBOW! It was so pretty; it was a full rainbow - went all the way around. I had a bad day at work and that day, Jilian went potty in her pants, so I was upset about that.....and just other stuff was going on. But, when we saw the rainbow, everything was just......better. It was the ray of light that we needed. We sat outside forever just talking about it - where does it stop? is there a pot of gold somewhere? where do they come from? It was....nice. :)

Last Friday, we had a nice little treat. My uncle and his wife were in town. So, we went over to Cynthia's house and chit chatted. They are very unique people and have a lot of life experiences that I love to hear about. They play in a Blue Grass band in Colorado Springs, and they brought their instruments with them. Uncle Bob plays the mandolin and Cindy plays the dulcimer. It was so great to hear them play. Jilian wasn't warming up to Uncle Bob, and he desperately tried to lure her in. But, she was sold on Cindy! She got to play the dulcimer which she really liked.So, my sister and I made a trip to Canton on Sunday. We almost needed a boat to get there, but we finally made it. A little rain won't keep any girl away from 1st Monday Trade Days in Canton! It poured the whole time we were there. We stayed in the covered areas, those were the only vendors that were there anyway.

Okay, so my sister has her heart set on BIG bows for the girls for Christmas. The idea is great - keep the outfits simple and go all out on the bows. She wants feathers in the bows. This was one of our goals at Canton - to find these BIG bows WITH feathers. I'm along for the ride. We bought a few. Let's just say that I probably wouldn't have picked them out myself, but again, I'd do it for my sister. I'm neutral....she has her heart set on it....she wins! Here they are....
We also went to the State Fair of Texas (I feel like a need a megaphone when I say that) this past weekend with my sister and her family and KayKay and Grandpa. A full report will be on the next post....so many great pics!

A Tribute to a Hero

And that it was.

Our friend Darryn was killed in Afghanistan (I never knew how to correctly spell that, but, unfortunately, now I do) on Friday, September 4th. He was married, has a two year old son and a daughter due in December. My heart hurts for them.

We attended his funeral this past weekend, and it was absolutely heart-wrenching.

His death has sent Brad and I searching....not sure for what....Faith? Comfort? Peace? Darryn is THE reason Brad and I met. He has a special place in our hearts. He became friends with Brad when they lived in The Village; he drug Brad out one night, and we all ended up at the same place. Darryn knew one of my friends, and the rest is, well, history.

Darryn was one of the most genuine people I knew. This past week, I would describe him as this... 'He was my friend because he was my husband's best friend.' That's not true. He was my friend. Period. He and I used to get into heated conversations about the war and his unwaivering feeling of committment and dedication to something he desperately believed in. He was a happy-go-lucky guy with an energetic view on life. As I have read on blogs and posts, we are NOT the only ones who believe this.

Darryn landed via private jet in College Station, and the Patriot Guard escorted him 90 miles to Cameron, Texas. What better day to welcome him home than on Patriot Day? When people heard the news that this procession would be coming through their town, they stood on the side of the road as it passed, hats off and saluting him. What a sight to see!

We attended his visitation on Friday night after practically boating to Cameron from McKinney. We were able to talk to his twin brother in person after only talking to him via email. We sat in the pews, waiting to talk to his wife, whom we've never met but felt compelled to speak to. After seeing her, I knew that all the emotions that I had been feeling that week leading up to the funeral would be back. But, I was also relieved. See, in my head, I figured she'd be curled up in the fetal position in the corner of the room because that's what I'd be doing. When we saw her for the first time, she was a grieving widow with a two year old and a life that HAS to go on for the sake of her son and unborn daughter. She was 'okay', and by that I mean NOT curled up in the fetal position in the corner of the room.

When we had our turn to talk to her, Brad told her of the night that him and I met, and how he wouldn't have all that he has if it weren't for Darryn. He got three quarters of the way through, and then I finished for him. I told her that he has a special place in our hearts. He was in our wedding for goodness sake. We were interrupted by the switching of the military personnel that were standing guard by the flag-draped coffin. It was a moment of silence when this happens, and we all watched and stared, maybe wishing that Darryn would be one of them, and this was all a mistake.

Saturday was the funeral. We had heard that 'the church that hates America' was going to be protesting his funeral. Luckily, we got there before they did, and we slipped into the tiny church before we saw them. And, the Patiot Guard was there again to ward them off. I, of course, was a blubbering mess the whole way through....ugly cry it was. There were more than 600 people at his funeral! They couldn't even all get in the church and had to watch it in the recession hall via video. Before the service started, I ran into his wife in the bathroom. She, once again, had it a bit together. I asked her how she was doing (duh) and re-introduced myself. She told me she remembered me and wouldn't forget. And, then she said she didn't know what to say.....strong woman she is.

Then, we learned what a hero he really was. We learned from his Colonel that he was, in fact, saving three of his fellow soldiers lives by pushing them out of the way of a rocket propelled grenade. Yes, a hero. His pastor said 'His community sent him away as a boy, and the US sent him back as a hero.' I don't know if I really believed there were heros among us, but I am convinced now. We didn't get to find out until he was gone. His pastor told us not to run from God but to run TO Him. I found great comfort in this, knowing that Darryn feels no pain, and he can't wait to show us all how much fun he is having in Heaven! This was especially comforting to me because it's so easy to question God and His decision to take this man from his kids that will never really know their dad. Brad and I questioned Him, rather, ran from Him, when we were unable to conceive. But, today, I know there is a reason why He makes the decisions that He does. I can't wait to see Darryn again, feeling no pain.

One of the pastors sang 'God Bless the USA,' and when he sang the verse 'And I gladly stand up, next to you, and defend her still today' we all stood....for Darryn.

There was an obvious presence of military personnel. His Colonel spoke of him and his dedication. The pastor got choked up thanking the Colonel for bringing him home to us. And, in true Darryn fashion, the pastor asked us all to stand and hug the people around us. It was as if we all knew each other.....because we were lucky to know Darryn. The Colonel awarded his family the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and his dog tags.

Then......they took him away. His flag-draped coffin was carried right by us, out the church and into the hearse. He, again, was escorted out by military personnel and the Patriot Guard. This community mourned his loss. As we walked out of the church, supporters, even kids drenched head to toe, lined the streets, holding American flags.....watching a true hero drive by one last time.

The true magnitude of this loss is indescribable....there are no words. The loss of this man has impacted so many people, and our lives are better because of him.

I was able to speak with his wife one more time after the funeral. I hugged her, and I couldn't let go. I could have stayed there all day and just.....hugged her.

Darryn truely was a hero, and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

What's in a Name?

Had to post this real quick....

Jilian just learned that Brad's first name is Charles. She said 'Oh, like the restaurant.' 'What restaurant?' we asked. 'Dos Charros!' (one of our favorite Mexican food restaurants!) :)

Summer's over...

Well, it's true, summer is over....but we had so much fun! We did things this summer that we have never done before and that we cannot wait to do again next summer (except put on 10 pounds!) :)

Jilian took swim lessons this summer, and, as we already knew, she was a pro. She did everything the instructors asked her to do without hesitation. This girl is fearless in the water - it's kind of scary. But, hopefully she learned some skills that she can keep with her. We practice them when we're in the pool, so hopefully they'll stick.

Brad raced in another triathlon this summer with 2 of his buddies. They all did real well. Although it's not really a spectator sport, Jilian and I and the family of one of the other guys go out and cheer them on. I think they secretly like it even though they say they don't care if we go or not! :) We did have a bit of a crisis - Jilian lost Marvin (her security toy.) Luckily Mimi was able to find a replacement. It's amazing that she did because Jilian has had Marvin since she was born.
We went twice in a row to Georgetown to see my sister and her family. The first weekend was for my precious nephew's birthday - he turned 1! Time sure has flown by! And, of course, we got to see KayKay and Grandpa. They came for Seth's birthday, too. I forgot to take my camera (can you belive that?) so I don't have any pictures - YET! Gotta get them from ALL the other cameras!

Brad is really enjoying his new job. It's so different from his last. He loves the traveling much better than sitting behind a desk - that's just not his personality. Jilian and I are willing to make that sacrifice so that he's happy. We are getting by just great. My mornings are a little rushed (Brad always had morning duty, and I had night duty). I can't make it to work on time to save my life, and now that the Richardson police are 100% enforcing the HOV lane violators, I can't even use that as a crutch. To be honest, sometimes I think it would be easier to get a ticket to save some time, but I'm way too scared of Brad. He'd make me sleep outside or get a second job to pay for the ticket! Can't take that chance! I've been experimenting with new recipes for dinner, and I'm finding a few good ones. In fact, I'm sending them to EVERYBODY with a comentary so that they can enjoy them, too! Hope y'all don't mind! :) We're adjusting to some nights without Daddy pretty good. Jilian had the worst meltdown EVER the other night - it was World War 3 at my house. She and I were just screaming at each other. She said to me "I'M NOT HAPPY!" and "I'M SO MAD RIGHT NOW!" Phew - that was a rough night, but I had to lay down the law - not budging.

Her school is going great too! She loves it, and she has so many friends that she talks about, and when we get there in the mornings, the same 3 girls are there (I think they are her 'best' friends) and they greet us 'Hi Julian!' It's so cute, I can't even correct them. I figure Jilian has already tried, and it's a hard name to say. She loves her teachers and they say she is doing great. YAY!

We ended the summer with a great get together of our friends and neighbors. We had a suite at the Frisco RoughRiders game on Saturday, and we had 15 friends join us. We had a blast! The kiddos could run around and not have to sit in a seat the WHOLE game. We could sit inside or sit outside in stadium type seats. And, one of the mascots came to the suite to say hello. We had a great time just chatting with everyone, and I *think* the RRs won. I wasn't paying much attention...

Well, after this summer, we need a break....
Bring on fall....

Trip to the BEACH!

We had so much fun! We went to Corpus Christi. We also took our niece, Ella, and the girls were so excited to get to the beach. This is all we heard on the way there..."Are we at the beach yet?" Yes, every 15 minutes...until finally....they fell asleep with about an hour to go!
When we got to the hotel, the girls were still asleep, so we drove to the beach to figure out where we wanted to end up. We ended up on Mustang Island, only 15 minutes from our hotel. By then, the girls had woken up, so we just changed in the car, and went to the beach! We never even realized how much sand was to come....

The girls absolutely LOVED the beach! They couldn't get enough of it. Jilian was a little freaked out by the salty water (she did NOT like it in her eyes) :) But, Ella loved to crash into the waves. Each day they both got more brave and would go out just a little more than the day before. Don't they look like little models, running on the beach?
We finally decided to go back to the hotel and actually check in this time....look at ALL the palm trees! We packed a cooler full of snacks, sodas and lunch meat, and ate our meals in the hotel room. The only meal that we ate out was dinner. It worked out great (and made for a cheap trip!) The hotel was a suite, with a seperate living area with a fold out couch and a refrigerator. Every night after dinner, we went swimming in the pool at the hotel. This was even after being at the beach for four hours! It was perfect for us...the girls had their own 'room' and so did the grown ups. They had a little slumber party!The next day, we went to the Texas State Aquarium. The girls had a lot of fun, but considering how much it cost, we would have rather been at the beach!

Then, off to the beach again!

Goofy Girl!

My two favorite girls!

We attempted to take a tour of the USS Lexington, but we only made it half way through! The girls were good, and they were very interested in the sights. I, on the other hand, was not fond of walking a million flights of VERY steep stairs with two toddlers. It was a beat down, and if you know Jilian, then you know that she has her mother's grace. I spent half the time picking her up off the floor! :) We spent about 4 hours each day on the beach (as you can see from my lobster skin) and just soaked up the sun. It's really funny how some much needed R&R can be found next to the ocean. Everyone was at peace...the girls had a million things to do and never argued once (on the beach, that is). They were just so....content. And, even Brad and I got some much needed beach therapy....

We can't wait to go back.....

(BTW, these are just SOME of the 365 pictures I took!) :)