Saturday, July 31, 2010

I'm sorry my dear....and many thanks

Yes its true...I have been a very bad blogger lately, and I have missed reading all my favorite blogs and of course writing my own and hearing from all my lovely followers. I am sorry my dears and hope that you haven't given up on reading about my crazy life. I am sitting here eating a bowl of strawberry shortcake and trying to make myself wake up and realize that I am really here. It is finally all happening, and yes my hubby will be home soon enough and we will finally be able to live together and have our own home. All I can say is that I am so excited, but somehow it still doesn't even feel real. I can't believe we are almost done with this awful deployment and I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that I will no longer be cooking for one, or taking out the garbage by myself. I will have my love sleeping beside me every night and have him home to make fabulous dinners for. We can finally go on a date...since its been almost a year since we were able to do anything like that, and I get butterflies in my stomach when I think about all these tiny little things.

I am so blessed that the lord has been by my side each day and placed so many wonderful people in my life to help me along the way this past year. When I stumbled across some military spouse blogs back in March and decided to write my own, I had no idea that it would turn into something I absolutely love doing, and I certainly didn't realize how many amazing and supportive friends I would make via my blog. I realize now that the Lord had a hand in that also, and that he knew I would need the support of fellow milspouses and so's to help get me through this deployment. Being so far away from an actual base in Ca, it was hard because there was literally no military presence in my town.  I had my family and friends back home, and they were all wonderful, but sometimes it was frustrating because they just didn't always get what I was going through. My blog has been a place I could come and vent about my feelings, whether it be sadness, happiness, or frustration and I have had an amazing amount of support, compassion and friendship that has helped to keep me going, often times when I felt like giving up. So I want to say a big thank you and bravo zulu to my fellow milspouses and so's. You have really helped me through the hardest time in my life so far, and I hold you all very close to my heart.

Along with that thank you, I have many more thanks to give to my family for putting up with my emotions and helping to cheer me up and spend time with me while my husband has been deployed. My mama always used to say that someday my sisters were going to be my best friends, and I am so happy to say she couldn't have been more right. I know the lord used this deployment to make me a stronger woman, as well as help me to become closer with my family. One of the best things I can say about this deployment is that it has helped me have a much better relationship with my mama and has helped us both to overcome things in the past that we were letting keep us apart. I love my mom so much but it is no secret that we didn't always see eye to eye. I can honestly say however that this deployment and the lord has changed the way we relate to each other and treat each other. She reads my blog every time I write one, and always sends me cheerful emails to help me when I am feeling down or to encourage me. It is so nice to have that support from her, and means so much to me. I love you mom!! :)

And last but not least in my long line of thank you's, would have to be a huge thank you to my in laws. They have taken care of me the entire time my hubby has been away and always tried to make sure I was doing ok. My Mil especially always did her best to cheer me up and tried to stay positive, even when I was feeling down and sorry for myself. We have had many happy times together and always have lots of fun on our lunch dates or trips to target. I am so thankful for everything she and my Fil have done for me along this trip, and that they were here to help me with my move and getting settled into my new home. Right about now I am feeling extremely blessed and happy to have so many wonderful people in my life that love and care for me and my husband.

I am a little sad tonight, because tomorrow my Mil is going home and I am really going to miss her. I have been missing my family already so much this week and tomorrow the reality is going to set in that I am really living in Virginia and am 2700 miles from home. I have to admit its a little daunting at times, but I am telling myself it will all be ok. I know that the Lord has a plan for our lives and that this isn't the end, but simply a new beginning...the next chapter in the book of our lives, and I can't wait to see where he leads us.

P.S. Please say a prayer for the families of the two sailors who were missing and later found dead in Afghanistan this week. They need all the prayers, love, and support they can get right now as I'm sure you can imagine their worlds have been turned upside down.



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Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Lovely Thursday Five

This week Mrs. Gambizzle has decided to shake things up a bit and try out her new "Thursday Five" so if you wanna play just write your post and head on over to her blog and link up. Here's my Thursday Five: 5 things that have made me joyous, jubilant, exuberant, thankful, and merry!

  1. This week I am joyous that I am in my new home in Virginia Beach and that my in-laws and Grandpa have been here with me to keep me company and help me get settled in! :)
  2. I am feeling jubilant that my furniture will be arriving on Tuesday, and I will finally have some pots and pans to cook with!! 
  3. I am filled with exuberance due to the fact that I love my new home and can't wait to set it up all nice and cozy for my hubby!! :)
  4. I am so thankful for all my blessings and the fact that the Lord has blessed me with an amazing husband. Although we have our struggles and hard times, I love him so much and know the Lord has big plans for our life together. I love you baby!!!
  5. I am absolutely merry about my husband's homecoming!!! It is right around the corner and I can't wait to see his handsome face on that pier! I am going to jump in his arms and kiss him a million times!!!
Whats your Thursday Five???




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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Home Sweet Home...I love it!!!!!

After four days of traveling, 2,650 miles of driving, spending wayyyyy too much money on gas, hotels and food, I am finally in Virginia Beach!!!!! We made it here yesterday around 3 pm and went over to the district office to pick up our keys to my new home!!! Yesterday was an emotional roller coaster ride for me, simply because all the months of planning and waiting for this move to happen had passed, and the day was finally here! I was going to see my new home, the place where my husband and I will share our life together for the next three years. I couldn't sleep all night the day before so I was very exhausted and cranky yesterday. I was also terrified by the lady who works for Lincoln and issued me my keys. She so politely informed me that I will get lost ALL THE TIME. She let me know that traffic is crazy, which we witnessed first hand while driving in from Richmond, but its nothing I'm not used to since I'm from California. She definitely stressed me out and almost made me have an anxiety attack once we left there.

 I'll admit I was a little worried that my house wouldn't be as nice as I'd hoped since I knew we weren't gonna be living in one of the brand new, bright and shiny neighborhoods. But I was very pleasantly surprised!! I absolutely love our house!! Its so cute and the neighborhood is just adorable! We actually have three bedrooms: a master bedroom and two smaller rooms, but I guess they don't count the third room in the sq footage for some reason. All three rooms have closets but my room has a WALK IN CLOSET!!! I was so freaking excited when I opened it and saw how big it was!! I literally threw my arms out and twirled around I was so happy!! :) I also met my next door neighbor and she was very sweet and helpful and talked to us for about half an hour outside and told us all about the neighborhood.

So far it has been very quiet here, and the only bad thing is that my furniture arrived here before we did (that driver was just way too efficient I guess) so he had our stuff placed in a temporary storage unit at another companies wharehouse. He didn't even call me until yesterday to give me the number and name of the 3rd moving company I have to deal with. At this point I am so over it!!! They were supposed to deliver my furniture today but when I called yesterday the lady said they can't deliver until the 3rd or 4th of August since its a very busy time for them. Needless to say I was a little pissed, but theres nothing really I can do about it. I just feel bad for my inlaws and Grandpa because they are here with me and have nothing to sit on and no tv or anything to do, lol. We dont even have any pots or pans to cook with so that has been interesting.

 Hopefully my stuff will be delivered next week when they said, if not I am going to be really stressed out!! Then it will be crazy and hectic trying to get it all set up before my hubby comes home soon. I really want to have as much as possible set up and make our home  nice and cozy for him. I just want to make him happy when he gets off that darn ship!! :) I am so thankful and happy that the Lord got us here safely and that I have a wonderful family and in-laws to help me get through this move. I am going to be so sad when they leave and I am here all alone until my hubby comes home. I'm definitely a little worried about being here by myself and I know I'm gonna be so lonely!

I am excited though because there are so many wonderful bloggy friends that I will be able to meet now that I am on the East Coast!! I'm so excited to meet Mrs. Gambizzle and Samantha sometime soon!! Plus I will defintely need to meet up somewhere with Miss Jordan, Reina and Nicole!! Its gonna be fabulous.... :) Now that I have practically written a novel here, I'm off to enjoy a dinner on the floor with my family. We're having stouffers lasagna, garlic bread, and caesar salad!!! Mmmmmmmm I can almost taste it.... :)




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Saturday, July 24, 2010

Jimminy Cricket...I'm in Texas y'all!!!

Thats right, I can't believe we are already 1/3 done with this trip!! Thank goodness! It has definitely been interesting so far...we didn't get on the road until about 2 pm yesterday and we drove until almost 10 pm and made it all the way to Flagstaff, Arizona. About 50 miles before we hit Flagstaff it started raining so hard and it was thundering and lightening everywhere! It was really scary, cause by that time it was dark, but thank the Lord we made it to Flagstaff safe and sound. :) This morning we were up at 6 am and on the road by 7:30. We drove through Arizona and New Mexico today and ended up here in Amarillo, Texas. We're staying the night and then we will be off tomorrow and hope to make it to Little Rock, Arkansas by the time it gets dark. Hopefully I will have the internet up and running at my house sometime next week, but until then I will try and keep you all updated whenever I can find free wifi.

On a lighter and funnier note, I almost crashed today! There was a grasshopper in my car (I don't know how the little stow away got in there!) and he was hopping all over the place. In case you were wondering why this is a big deal, I absolutely HATE bugs!! They creep me out so bad and make me feel all itchy!!! So naturally as soon as it started raining in New Mexico this little Jimminy Cricket decided to hop all over me and crawl on my leg!!!! Eeeeeeeeekkkkk!! I totally freaked out, and almost swerved off the road, lol! I had to pull over on the closest exit and fling him off of me, and then I proceeded to try and smash him with a roll of toilet paper! He was a sneaky little fellow though, and I think he hopped away at lightening speed!! Oh well, at least I didn't crash in the process! ;) Tomorrow I am sure I will have more adventures and I just hope and pray that we can make our journey safely and quickly. Please say a prayer for safe travels and that all my furniture arrived in one piece to Virginia!! I am also trying to figure out whats going on with my furniture since it has already arrived there, and no one has called to tell me anything about where it is stored or when I will be able to get it all delivered to my new house. I'm praying things with my house hold goods go much smoother than my last fiasco with the driver not showing up. I really don't want to be stuck without furniture for another two weeks!! Please say a prayer that can all work out also!! :) Thank you all for reading, and I can't wait to get to my new home in Virginia and meet up with some of my East Coast blogging buddies!! :)



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Thursday, July 22, 2010

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me...

And I'm feeling good... Haha sorry I couldn't help myself with that one. I heard that Michael Buble song last night while I was listening to my playlist and packing up the last of my belongings. I stopped for a moment and realized how true this song was for my life right now. It is a new dawn, it is a new day and I am feeling pretty darn good. I was up until 2 am finishing the last of my packing and stuffing my trunk to the brim. This still doesn't even feel real to me yet. I can't seem to comprehend that in a few hours I will be leaving California and everything that I love. This place is crazy sometimes, and I'll admit that I have a love/hate relationship with the Golden State, but overall she's been good to me.
 
I am so extremely excited to start the next chapter in my life, and most of all to finally be reunited with the man I love. This deployment has been hard on us both and now that its winding down, I can hardly believe he will be in my arms soon enough! I'll admit I have been a bit down this week, and have been crying myself to sleep the past few nights...because I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn't gonna miss it here. And not just this place, but the people, the memories and good times, and mostly my family and friends. I think the hardest thing for me is going to be having to be without my sisters and my mom. I love them all so much and we have gotten so close as we have all grown up. I am glad that these past few months I have also gotten much closer to my Mom. She always reads my blog and sends me supportive and encouraging responses. So thank you Mom for all you do and all your love. It means the world to me!
 
I am definitely going to miss living three minutes away from my older sister Mel. She has been here for me through it all and spent countless lonely nights with me & a tub of popcorn or a batch of fresh brownies, indulging in our favorite tv shows. I don't think I would have made it through Isaiah's bootcamp, a-school, and now our first deployment if I didn't have you to hang out with everyday and cheer me up. I love you Mel!! And I will especially miss my lovebugs : Bailey, Keira, and Bella. My nieces light up my heart, and fill me with joy. They are the reasons I decided I want to have kids of my own someday. It breaks my heart that I won't be here to see them change and grow into beautiful young ladies.
 
Ok, I need to stop now because I am getting teary eyed as I type this. :'( So to all my friends, and especially my family : I love you more than you could ever know. I am telling myself that this isn't  "goodbye," but only "I'll be seeing you."




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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

If you just smile...

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking.
When there are clouds in the sky
you'll get by.

If you smile through your pain and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun shining through
For you.

Light up your face with gladness,
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what's the use of crying.
You'll find that life is still worthwhile-
If you just smile.

I wish I could say I felt like smiling right now..... :(




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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Change is good right?

At least that's what I've been telling myself lately...Things have been crazy around here! I finally heard back from Jake today and after going to see his doctor it has been determined that Jake won't be helping us move to Virginia. His doctor said that in his "professional opinion" that he really shouldn't go along since his eye is still swollen and not fully healed. I totally agree, and hope he can get better soon. So our plans have changed a bit, and now we have to leave a day early so we can try to make it to Virginia by Monday. That means tomorrow is my LAST DAY in California!!!! :(  Today I have been running errands like a crazy woman and trying to finish all the last minute details. This has been my day so far:
  • Went and picked up my medical records from my doctors, so I have them once we get to VA.
  • Picked up and paid for my homecoming dress from the tailors
  • Got some last minute toiletries and hair stuff at Wal-Mart
  • Bought a track bag to throw all my stuff in so I don't look like a homeless lady carrying around my belongings in a trash bag
  • refilled and picked up my bc (cause lets face it...we don't want any babies right away!!) ;)
Now I'm pooped, but I'm trying to keep my anxious nerves under control. Yesterday I was really worried and stressed about what we were going to do if Jake didn't come along to help drive my husbands car, but I prayed about it and asked the Lord to handle it. Now all I can do is try my best and stay calm, because freaking out is only gonna make things worse. I called my grandparents today and told them what was going on (that Jake wasn't going anymore) and my Grandpa reassured me that we can meet up with them in Nashville and he will finish the rest of the trip with us, so my father in law can get a break from driving the whole way. I feel so much better, and I love my Grandpa so much!! I guess this is a blessing in disguise because now I will be able to spend the last day and a half with him on the road, and he will be able to see my new home and stay with me for a couple of days!! I feel so blessed and loved to have a family that would go out of their way to help me at the last minute! Thank you to everyone who left me kind and encouraging comments, it really made me feel better to know that so many of you are here for me. Thank you all for the prayers!! :) Since tomorrow is my last day in California, Mel (my older sis) and I are going to the movies to watch Eclipse!! Now I know its already been out for like 3 weeks, but we wanted to wait until all the craziness died down, and we figure its safe to finally go. I can't wait to see Jacob and his sexy muscles!! Eeeeekkkkkkkk!!!!! Hope your all having a great Tuesday!! :)




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Monday, July 19, 2010

Prayers Please!!! :(

This last year and the last few months in particular, have been a roller coaster ride for me. Handling everything for this move by myself, and having just about everything go wrong is starting to get old. I think I should start calling myself Murphy, because so far everything that could go wrong has, lol. I am trying to stay positive, but sometimes its so hard and right now I feel so overwhelmed. :( We are supposed to be leaving on Friday to start our drive out to Virginia. Saturday was my Bon Voyage party and that day I found out some bad news. My husband's best friend Jake (who is supposed to be coming on the trip with us) has somehow gotten a bad eye infection. His eye has been swollen, red, and producing puss for the past three days and he is in a lot of pain. He has been to urgent care twice, and gotten some drops for his eye and some pain meds, but he is still not fully recovered. I am really worried about him, and not just because of the trip, but because I know that he is not feeling well. He is not a baby by any means, so I knew it had to be serious for him not to come to the party on Saturday. So please, please, pray for him that God can heal his eye and help him to get better. Even if he can't come on the trip with us I just want him to be ok!! As of right now I am sort of stunned and am trying to tell myself that everything will work itself out. If Jake can't go with us on the trip then we will have to leave a day earlier, which will bump our trip up to Thursday afternoon once my mother in law gets off work. Since neither she or I can drive a stick, that means my father in law will be stuck driving my husbands car the entire time! I am trying to stay positive and am a firm believer that the lord will help me get through all this, but it would be awesome if you could say a prayer for Jake to get better, and a prayer for me to have the strength to get through this and keep my sanity in tact. I spoke with my Grandparents today (they live in TN) and my Grandpa assured me everything will be ok, and not to worry. He says these things have a way of working themselves out. Well Grandpa, I hope you're right!! ;) If Jake doesn't go, my Gramps said he would love to meet up with us in Nashville and finish the last day and a half of the trip with us. That would be great since it would give my father in law a break from driving the entire way, and I would love to see my Gramps. So I am leaning on the Lord right now, and trying to tell myself not to worry about tomorrow, because today has enough worries of its own. I know it will work out somehow, and I know that somehow, and some way we will make it to Virginia by next Monday! Wish me luck and please keep us in your prayers!!




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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Todays the Day!


My "Bon Voyage" Party is finally here, and I am so excited!! I can't wait to see all my family and friends, and have everyone together again for the last time before I move. We are having a beach theme with the cutest purple and blue hibiscus flowers. My mama (who is a bomb cook btw!) is going all out with a Mexican feast! We're having carnitas, carne asada tacos, home made salsa & guacamole, with fresh tortilla chips and I believe my sister is even going to attempt to make a tres leches cake! I'm so excited for all the good food! Everyone knows Mexican food is my absolute favorite!! :) So now I'm off to get ready for the party, and  enjoy a day of good food, good friends, and my amazing family!! 
Happy Saturday everyone!!




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Friday, July 16, 2010

Mil Spouse Friday Fill in #4

Answer these questions and add your post to the linky at Wife Of A Sailor! :)

1)What food reminds you of your spouse? 
 Hmmm, this is a hard one because my husband loves to eat!! ;) But if I had to choose I would definitely say lasagna, because he love, love, loves when I make it!! I enjoy eating it as well, but I love making it for him cause he gets so excited! :) I would also say sushi, ribs and bbq chicken along with white rice. These are all some of his favorites. :)
2) Who would you rather sit next to on a cross country plane ride: an irritating non-stop talker, or a quiet stare-er?
Honestly, I like to sleep on plane rides or listen to music so I guess I would rather sit next to the creepy person who stares at me than sit by someone who won't shut the heck up!! Lol!
3)What are your best tips on how to save money?
First off I would say to sit down and go over all your bills. Write down how much you owe in bills every month and try to factor in gas, food, and fun into the equation. Compare this with how much you make each month, and you and your spouse should be able to agree on a certain amount you want to try and set aside each paycheck. My husband and I have our account set to automatically transfer a specific amount every check, and we both try our best not to pull from our savings unless absolutely necessary. Thats how we have saved to buy our furniture and for the money we need to move across the country. It works really well for us! 
4) What is your favorite summer memory?
This one is easy! My favorite summer memory is from two years ago. My husband and I were still just dating at the time and went on a family vacation with his parents and brother. We went to Encinitas and the second day we were there my husband asked me to go for a walk with him on the beach. I happily agreed and we went down to Moonlight Beach just before sunset. We walked for a long while, til there was almost no one around. Then he stopped, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!! :) It was such a happy day and I will always remember the look on his face when I said yes! :) :) :)
5) Do you believe in ghosts?
Hmmm, I don't really know. I mean, I have definitely felt creepy presences before but I don't know if I would say they were ghosts.





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Excuse me, Have you seen my brain anywhere?


I seem to have lost it somewhere along the way these past nine months...That's how I honestly feel lately. I think I have lost my mind! I find myself forgetting even the smallest things that I need to get done and just feeling so lazy...I don't know whether my brain has just been fried because I know the end is in sight, or I have just turned my brain to auto pilot and mentally "checked out" cause I am so sick of dealing with everything. I have no motivation to get anything done, and I have a bajillion and one things I still need to do before I move to Virginia next week. That's right...I said NEXT WEEK!! Meaning I only have 7 days to find my brain and get everything in order. Yikes!

I still need to:
  • Buy a travel bag to fit all my stuff in, so I don't look like a homeless lady carrying all my belongings around in a trash bag...
  • Order my transcripts from my college and try and order my husbands. I don't know if they'll let me order his seeing as he lost his id number and password and can't get access to his online account. Not to mention he isn't here and I don't have a clue whether they will let me order them for him without him actually being here. Thanks babe, that was very responsible for you to lose your account info!! ;)
  • Wash all my clothes and pack the last of my belongings in my trunk. 
  • Get my medical records from my doctors so I have them and don't have to deal with the hassle of arguing with stupid people on the phone. 
  • Pick up my homecoming dress from the tailor on Tuesday.
  • Go to Verizon and pay my cell phone bill, because for some reason it has never let us set up an online account so we could pay our bill online. ugh!
  • Pick up my sister and niece and drive out to Murrieta to my Mom's house. 
  • Help clean and go grocery shopping for my "Bon Voyage" party tomorrow. I can't believe its already almost here!! :) 
So as you can see I have a lot to do and very little time to do it. I hope I can find my brain in time to accomplish all this! :) I am so glad that its almost over with, and I am so thankful that I've made it this far!! :) Wish me luck!!



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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Hairapy and "The Dress"

I got my hair done today, and I must say I love it!!!♥ I'm so sad to be leaving my fabulous hair dresser behind here in Cali! :( We have so many hair memories together!! Rosa did my hair for my wedding and has been doing it ever since. Now I'm gonna have to start all over and find someone new. Does anybody in the Hampton Roads area know of a good and affordable hair dresser? If so please leave your suggestions. :) I'm also worrying about what all that Virginia humidity is gonna do to my hair, its natuarlly curly/wavy (ewwww!) and in Cali its not such a big deal cause its so dry, but I know my hair is gonna be frizz central once I hit VA!!! :( Hopefully I can find some good styling products to keep the frizz at bay and hold my curl, cause I don't wanna look horrible when my husband comes sailing in to port. Do you ladies who deal with the humidity have any suggestions for me?

On another note, remember this dress? The dress I'm wearing to my hubby's homecoming ceremony...

Well I got it in the mail a few weeks ago and it was a little too big on the sides (but the length was perfect, which was weird, cause I'm short) so I had to go take it to be tailored today. Damn this deployment, can you believe I lost about 4 pounds over the past 5 months? That seriously can not be healthy cause I'm already a twig!! Anyway, its only gonna cost me $15 so I guess thats not too bad. 

I also ended up getting these shoes to go with the dress, but I'm worried that my feet are gonna be killing me if we end up having to wait a few hours. At least I am to the point where I can see a light at the end of the tunnel and my husband will be home and in my arms soon enough!! :) I'm sure he wouldn't care if I showed up in a potato sack dress, but I guess as a woman I still wanna look gorgeous for my man!! ;)




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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

A Birthday, The Beach, and Bird Poo!

Saturday my family and I packed up our cars and headed to the beach for Bailey's birthday. I wasn't in the best of moods because I was exhausted from all the craziness during the past two weeks, but after awhile I managed to feel better and have a pretty awesome day! :) Since my mom lives about 40 minutes from Oceanside, we decided to go there, and although the weather was a bit gloomy we still had a blast. Bailey and Keira played in the sand and the water, and managed to get pretty dirty (like all kids do). Here are some photos for you to enjoy! :) 

This photo is me and Lindsey, my friend and a fellow Milspouse (her hubby is in the Marine Corps and stationed at Camp Pendelton). I was so glad she came and met up with us! We had a blast hanging out and talking and there was a pretty hilarious incident involving the bird poo, but I'll get to that later! ;)
This one is a photo of my younger sis Mary Ashton and my adorable niece Keira. She was so excited to play in the water!!♥
I love this photo, Bailey is just too darn cute! I'm gonna miss all my love bugs so much!! :(
As we were walking along the beach we noticed a ridiculously tall man with about 9 parrots! He was feeding them, and letting people take pictures with them for some tips. They were gorgeous!! We went over to see if he would let Bailey get a picture with the parrots. As we were standing there waiting for him to finish feeding them he pointed directly at me and said, "You, come over here!" He motioned me over, which I was terrified by (this dude was really tall and grouchy, lol!) and he began putting the birds on my shoulders and my head! 
 Eeeeeeeek!! I was so freaking scared that those things were gonna poo on my head or bite me, lol! And they were heavy!! But it was a cool experience, so although I was terrified I'm glad I did it! I got some really great photos!! :)
Not to worry, the birdies never went poo on me and it was actually really neat to see them up close. :) I love this picture cause the parrots look so cute behind me.
Once the grouchy tall man was done embarassing me, he moved on and let Bailey get some photos with the birdies! She's only 6 and she was way braver than me!! Just check out these pics if you don't believe me...
Look at how tall she's standing! She wasn't scared at all. (I guess her Auntie is just a giant wuss! lol)
 I also love this one, she looks so adorable! ♥ I swear she's gonna be a model someday!! :)
 After all the birdie excitement we headed back to the blankets and hung out for awhile. I enjoyed a delicious egg salad sandwhich (thanks mel!), some yummy cool ranch doritos and a delightful cream soda!! It was a perfect feast for the beach. 

After I finished stuffing my face, we were all sitting around talking and laughing when somebody screamed! My friend Lindsey was holding Bella, when an evil seagull flew over us and unleashed a giant bird poo all over baby Bellas face!! Agghhhh!! The horror!! It was sooo sad!! poor Bella was crying as the nasty poo dripped down her face and we all scrambled to get some wet wipes and clean her up! :( As sad and disturbing as this was, we all couldn't help but laugh at the situation. We all joked that we will remember this story forever and poor baby Bella is gonna be terrified of the beach from now on, lol! What are the odds of that happening on her  first trip to the beach?!? I told myself if I ever run into that seagull again, its gonna be on!!! Lol! Pobrecita Bella!! :(

After all the birdie poo was cleaned up we just enjoyed the rest of our day at the beach. It turned out to be a pretty lovely day after all, and I was happy to spend one more day in the Pacific Ocean with my family and friends. I think Bailey had a pretty awesome day too! ♥ 
I'm definitely going to miss times like these with the people I love, but I know that my life over the next three years is definitely going to be an adventure! I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for my husband and I, and as I spend my last 9 days here in Cali, I know that this place and these people will forever hold a special and irreplaceable spot in my heart. ♥





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