Today 10 years ago..I married my BFF 8/22/09

WOW!! Where did the time go?
I can't believe that 10 years ago we eloped in Folkston Ga.Because of being married before I had to have my divorce papers and well that was something I didn't know and a thing of the past.And didn't carry them around in my purse.
We went to a little wedding chapel here in Kingsland and found out we had to have blood taken..OMG I about passed out thinking about it.He let me go first so I didn't chicken out.And we told them that I had been married and that brought up another problem.So we were sent to the courthouse in Folkston to be sworn in and married there.No big deal...so off we went.It was a rainy day and I had worked midnights at the SO back home.Got off work at 8am and drove over to be with B.And had talked about getting married before he left for sea.He had just come back from deployment and we had set the date before he left.He got back on Dec 18th and had a bachelor party that I have only heard stories of.Something about singing I'm a Little tea pot and some boobies in his face...that's enough info for me.Knowing I was marrying a sailor I was prepared for the stories..LOL
We get to the courthouse and I had to take an oath swearing I was divorced and then we were directed to a little office in the back.We went in and there was an old old old couple in front of us eloping too!! It was so sweet and we both looked at each other and AWWWed!! We hope to be that couple one day.
One thing that sticks out in my mind most about this day was the little ole man that married us.He couldn't hardly stand up from his chair to deliver the ceremonial words or pronounce my name right but he made us husband and wife.We still talk about the "little ole man" and how he said this or that *making things up of course to fit the situation so that it plays out better in our little game* like you have to snuggle to my cold feet and warm them up too..that's what the little ole man said!!
We then went on our married way.Back to the geo bachelor barracks and drank some champagne.And I got drunk off of ONE GLASS! Passed out and that was the end of that...and he still loves me for it :D Never mind the fact that I had been up over 24 hours.. LOL
I can't believe how the last 10 years has made me more independent than I already was.I have done things I never thought I would.I have moved around the world,unpacked a house or 2 on my own *not without protest of course but when hubby's gone to sea you have no choice*,celebrated birthdays,anniversaries,holidays and many milestones alone.Not that I am happy about any of the above but it is what I have to do.Marrying someone in the military isn't for everyone.I believe that we are stronger than the average person and more understanding when he can't make it home for supper or the kids special events in life.We are all armed with cameras and video cameras to capture every small moment that they miss.
Rambling aside..I love my husband more today than I did when I met him 10 years ago! There were people who said we wouldn't last....! But look at us now :) We didn't have a wedding and do I regret it???.. not one bit!! Would I do it all over again..YOU BET!

Here are a few pictures of us from the past...I love this man so much! I guess I never really knew what love was until he found me.....And I am glad he did.
I love you BLSH ... To infinity and beyond!! Thank you for everything you do for me and have done for me in the past 10 years.Especially making me your wife and BFF! Here's to many many more!!

August 22 1999-The day after we met for the first time!!Little did we know that ESH would be born 5 years later on this day!!

August 22 1999-Getting ready to take the USS Pennsylvania back :( I love my hubby's smile!!September 19 1999-First time B came to Perry to visit me!

I wish I were a better blogger..I just can't find time in most days to sit and blog.And when I do think about it I am so far behind I don't want to play catch up..I SUCK! There I said it.. I feel much better now.

Here are the ages and relationships to the people involved
Girl 1-was around 7
Girl 2-was around 2
Boy 1-was around 3
Mom
Dad
Nanny-A's Mom
T-A's Dad
EX-my EX*has to be included here..*

Anyways...Here is something I thought that I would share.
When I was in high school I witnessed my neighbor's mother shot by her husband.It was around Christmas *a day or 2 before* of my Sr year in school.
I had known the family for a long time.I was BFF with a cousin of theirs.
The day started out typical...The kids *3 of them* were back and forth between my house and their house getting candy canes.The youngest 2 knew that we had them on the coffee table and girl 2 and boy 1 thought it was fun coming over and getting them when they wanted to.Girl 1 would come behind to make sure they were ok.
Their Nanny was staying with them because she had separated from her husband.
Mom and Dad left to take Mom to work and Nanny was there watching the kids and folding clothes.
Then we see Girl 1 dragging Girl 2 and Boy 1 behind her telling us that her papa was beating her Nanny inside of the house and they were in the bedroom.She was scared to death.The smaller 2 had no idea what was going on but were crying.Girl 1 said there was blood all over and she had to go back and get her Nanny.EX got my mama's pistol because we didn't know what was going on.I got on the phone to call 911 to have them send someone over.EX was standing just out the door .. I had the kids on the floor in the kitchen at the back of the house.I was dialing and went to step out of the front door just in time to see Nanny and T in the driveway.He had a shotgun and hit her in the head with the butt end of the gun.Then pointed it at her and she raised her hands to protect herself and he pulled the trigger point blank range.I was on the phone with dispatch when it all happened.It all happened so fast.There was no noise around me.I couldn't hear any yelling,cars,birds.Nothing..no sound at all.I heard the gun and that was it.You could see there was yelling but couln't hear it.I told the dispatcher she had been shot.Send someone now.I checked on the kids.Girl 1 was crying but comforting the babies.She was so strong to be so young.But she loved those 2 like she was the mama.
T stepped over Nanny and went inside.We didn't know what was going to happen next.It seemed like hours before anyone showed up.He brought out a blanket and tossed it over her,went to his truck that was out by the road.Put on his hat,grabbed a ciggarette and sat on his tailgate waiting on the police to show up.When they did he turned around and put his hands behind his back.By then both yards were full of police,ambulances and people.We were questioned about what we saw and asked if we wanted to seek counciling because of what we had witnessed.Now looking back I wish that I had.I had nightmares for a long time about T showing up at my mama's house in an orange jumpsuit and staring at me through the windows.
Dad came home and then Mom was brought back from work..It was all so chaotic.
We were later told that there were more shells for the gun one for each child.That T had made the remark that if he would take the things that were most precious to her and that was the 3 grandkids.And then he would take her life because he couldn't have her so noone would.There was so much said from both sides of the story that we never knew if anything was true about the extra shells or converstaions that happened weeks before with Girl 1 and Girl 2 at a park.T had asked them if the knew what Heaven was.And that there were birds and flowers in Heaven and they soon would be too.
They moved from the house and T was sent to prison.I went to several depositions and was questioned over and over about what we witnessed.It was horrible reliving it over and over.

The other day I got a message from Girl 1.She was like my little shadow.We went swimming at her house all summer.She drew me pictures all the time.She would get home from school and come straight to my house.She was the sweetest!!

Here is what she said:

"thanks for your words of encouragement and i never told you this but thank you so much for being there that day nanny got killed if it wasn't for you being home i don't know"


Reading this brought tears to my eyes.I was speechless.It touched me so much that I felt the need to blog about it.She is now 25 years old and it meant so much to hear this from her.I do know that we did the right thing and I would have protected these 3 little ones over again.I know if it weren't for us being there they might not be here today.


They all hold a special place in my heart.And she is the one who was smart enough to get the 3 of them out of the house and to safety.

Thanksgiving with friends..

We had a wonderful lunch with 2 friends at Cracker Barrel! The food was wonderful and the company was great!!
I was glad to see that we weren't the only ones that were out eating and not home cooking.I think that Thanksgiving is overrated anyway.I have a lot to be thankful for...don't get me wrong but all of the cooking and hype..just isn't for me.
I guess coming from a huge family of 4 uncles on my daddy's side and 4 aunts on my mama's side and a lot of cousins we always did Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter at our house.My daddy was quiet the hunter and cook.It was always done up right.But now I don't really relate to any of my family.I haven't talked to my half brother and sister since my daddy passed away 6 years ago and I am a Navy wife who has learned to make do.And if that means going out to eat for the holidays then that's what we do.
I was glad that we did get to spend the day with Lisha and Greg.They are so sweet!! And ESH really likes them too.Even though she was shy about it.When we got home she asked when we would see them again because she forgot their pictures that she made.AWW!
I guess that I have learned in the last 10 years that being alone isn't always so bad.
Friends come and go..but my hubby and daughter will always be there with me :)

Thanks for food fun and fellowship Lisha and Greg..If you are here next year..We will have to take the same table at CB again! It was so nice talking about the holidays and traditions with the 2 of you.I am glad that I can call the 2 of you our friends!

I will never catch up

Man...I don't even know why I still am allowed to have a blog.I am so far behind! I am shocked that the bloggy popo hasn't shut me down yet.
I don't know maybe they know that I need to vent and get my feelings out from time to time or share with everybody what we have been up to recently.
There has been lots going on and I just don't know if it's worth catching up on..and I surely don't remember where I left off! I think something about B getting SOQ..
We have been to Disney since then I think it was ... LOL And we are going again..BIG SURPRISE huh? When you have a DD who loves Disney as much as you do ... well you have to take her.Who can complain when her Christmas list contains Liv dolls and a toothpaste dispenser from an infomercial? So Christmas to us is going to be annual passes to THE WORLD and a trip!! We get to see Disney all done up for the holidays.B and I have been but ESH never has in all of the times we have been.YAY This is going to be fun fun fun!!!

I am going to skip ahead to what I am Thankful for (just in case I don't do it next week)

1-My family.As small as it is we have a lot of love between us.There is nothing that can break our bond.My husband is my BFF and so is ESH! I wouldn't ever take anything for their love and friendships.I don't think that I could ask for better BFFs than these 2.They love me for who I am and not what they want me to be.

2-My mama.I am thankful for her because if it wasn't for her ... I wouldn't be here today.We had it rough when I was growing up.She provided for me what she could.I was spoiled with more than just material things.I had love!

3-My life.I am so lucky to be a stay at home mommie.I never thought that the gig would be for me.I can't imagine life any other way.I am so thankful that I have a husband who serves our country and doesn't want me to have to work.We may not be rich or have a new car every so many years but we are happy.And that is saying a lot now days.

4-My health.I may not be a size 2 .. but I am healthy! I hope that I am healthy for many many many years to come.I want nothing more than to see my baby girl grow into a beautiful woman that I know she is going to become and for her to be happy in whatever path she takes.

And that's all y'all! I don't have many listed but I have to say that is the top reasons that I am Thankful! I could list things such as my light bill being paid..a roof over my head...yada yada yada yada but that all falls under one of the above 4 things.

I have a lot of other blogging topics going on in my head but they might not make it here because I am sure if I start I won't stop and the men in white jackets might come for me!! It would take days to rant about the things I have going on and 'PEOPLE' in general.So I'll save it maybe for some other time or maybe never...who knows I might just open up and become the outspoken one.But for some reason I doubt it.It's just not who I am.

If I don't make it back here before Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!!

SOQ

I am sitting here minding my own business and I get a text from B...It was about him going to Subway for lunch.I told him THANKS for making me sit here with nothing good to eat...*I have the car so I can get something if I wanted to..just trying to make him feel bad*
So I poked fun at him and he said he had trainers till 4pm.
Next I get a text from him saying "Going to the trainer now prob till 4 i got sailor of the quarter"
OMG!! WHAT???OMG!!!
I can't explain how proud of him I am! He has busted his butt this past year and deserves it to the fullest!

I told him we are going to celebrate tonight! OLIVE GARDEN HERE WE COME :)

And I bought myself the wristlet to go with my new Disney D&B purse :)

Off to get cleaned up to get ESH from school..and then to get B a card and something special!!

Happy Anniversary Baby!!

Thursday August 20 2009-We met with Ms Michelle and Miss Ma'am at Sonic for a quick supper.None us wanted to cook around my house and I don't think that they wanted to either.It was pouring when we left home but at least the bugs weren't out.So we all sat under the shelter and had food and lots of laughs.They brought ESH a gift...!! She was too excited that the presents had started so early.She got a Sleeping Beauty doll..YAY right up her alley....!!! THANKS GIRLS! Y'all know how excited she was about that :)


Friday August 21 2009-We were packed and ready to go.ESH was in a good mood.I would be too if I were turning 5 and had missed a week of school and was getting to go to Disney for my 5th birthday.
B had duty Thursday night but promised that as soon as he got off work that he was going to shower and head to O town to meet up with us.I hated taking 2 vehicles but you do what you have to do when you are in the Navy and they need you and your family needs you too.I started the morning by texting him letting him know that I was thinking about him on our 10 year meeting anniversary! You see..when I was pregnant and found out when I was due he said it would be cool if ESH was born on our meeting anniversary *she was due Aug 8th* UMM BUDDY that is 2 weeks apart! Well needless to say he jinxed me.I ended up induced and she wasn't born until the day AFTER our anniversary!!! I could have choked him.See I was married before and that was our wedding date * Aug 22 1992*...Just not a good time for our child to be born.But I have learned that it was a happy day because it is now ESH's Birthday.Just weird how all things connect in life in some way....ANYWAYS!!!
We packed up and took Nayla to the Pet hotel as ESH calls it...and were on our way...later that we wanted to be but oh well.
We stopped at the Crocs outlet *WE LOVE OUR CROCS* and ESH had to pee..IMAGINE THAT.We had to leave with no new shoes.But ended up in Claire's and she got new earrings with an E and some cat ears with a tiara *THANKS DRAN*.And we were on our way to BK for lunch.
Back on the road again....! I hate drivers of other vehicles.Especially from other places.I swear this weekend was full of crazy NJ/NY and NC drivers! They don't know that the right lanes are for passing not driving slow! I couldn't tell you how many I passed on the right because they were going 20 in the left lane.UGH!! Nothing I hate more..I want a sign in my window telling people what's on my mind.ROAD RAGE !! :)
So we get closer to Disney and start seeing the signs.I swear there use to be way more billboards and things up before you get to the resort area.I loved looking at the signs with MICKEY and the gang on them.Now it seems a little plain on I4.What happened?Were people tired of seeing the Happiest Place on Earth signs?Is it because there are so many grumpy people that travel I4 now? I just don't get it.
We take the turn and are welcomed by the GIANT WALT DISNEY WORLD entrance signs! WE MADE IT :)I get goose bumps still and I have taken this road a million times.
We follow the signs to Caribbean Beach Resort.I knew about our Pirate room but kept it secret.I have a dream and it is to stay at every resort on property.One day it will be done and we will start all over again!
Disney needs better signage too.I get so confused driving around.I guess that is why I am thankful for the buses.I only get confused when I drive.No wonder I have only done it 3 times.
So ... We find the resort and it starts POURING!! I mean it was coming down so hard till we didn't want to get out of the car.But we parked and sucked it up and ran through the rain.Our room was ready and we were in South Trinidad...Way at the back of the resort.We had a pool but we were far away from the Pirate pool.Oh well no biggie it looked like we were going to have to swim to the room anyway.I dropped ESH and Dran off and they looked while I parked.I got soaked.The van next to where I parked forgot to close the back sliding door.I bet they weren't happy when they found it flooded.
ESH was IN LOVE when we got into the room and saw JACK SPARROW! I had dressed her in her Pirate Minnie and Mickey skirt .. so she was super excited about where we were.I whipped out the birthday signs I made ... she found her towel animal and claimed it.The bathtub had the Flying Dutchman carved in the marble.The beds looked like pirate ships.It was super cool.
We dried off a little and headed to Downtown Disney for the night.We had planned on meeting B there but we didn't know how long the rain would hold off for us or how long he would be.

MORE LATER :) ESH is telling me she is starving again..

August where have you gone?

August has almost gone..And maybe I will start shopping for Christmas...What better time to start than now :) We are always last minute shoppers but it is fun!

So let's see..what has been going on around the House of Hayes?

Monday August 17 2009-My day I thought was going to go good because why wouldn't it?School has been going on for almost 2 weeks..The house is nice and quiet and then there is always the quiet after the storm then the storm starts up again...And Monday was the start of a awful week.
I picked up ESH from school and had to go to the bank to cash a check from Grandmother for ESH's birthday.I was going to take the easy route and deposit it through the ATM at the bank and then take the cash out too.I guess the ATM machine got hungry and ate the $100.00!! So I had to get out and go in the bank.I had not washed my hair and wasn't going to until before taking ESH to cheer later that day.So off we go.I go inside she tells me that she can't do anything and she is sorry that it will be available again in 48 hours.Glad this happened on Monday and we had a few days before our trip.So I thanked her and went on my way.Off to the parking lot and I step in gum!! OMG!! I was LIVID...What kind of people toss their old nasty gum on the ground?Inconsiderate ones that's who..or parents who give their kids gum and don't teach them how to properly dispose of it.We don't let ESH have gum for this reason.We chew it but we also place it in the rubbish bin or SWALLOW it if there is no where for us to get rid of it.It was strung all over my leg/inside of my vehicle and shoes...I was cussing like my sailor husband by then.And whoever invented it should be shot!!
So I got it off as good as I could and homeward bound we went.
I got out the mats and the Dawn *it takes everything off* and scrubby.I had 2 hours to get everything done before heading off to cheer.So I decided to clean the inside of the Xterra out and take it to be vacuumed out while ESH was doing her cheer thang.
We got out there and she was sparkling when we were done..Mats clean,gum gone and Armor All'd up :)
I get ESH dressed for cheer and dropped off.I hit up the vacuums and lo and behold I guess the same kid/adult with the gum hit the car wash too.I managed to step in more gum with the opposite foot !! More cussing !!! Now the bottom of my flip flops have blue gum on one and white gum on the other...All I needed was red! And I would have patriotic flip flops!!
I went to pick ESH up and they said she wasn't paying attention and just laying around..Not like her at all...So I got on to her and we headed home.

Tuesday August 18 2009-We get up for school and off we go.Praying for a better day!! 9:10 I get a call from the school nurse.I am working on finishing ESH's Birthday outfit and didn't get the phone in time.I call back and ESH was in the clinic with a 99.6 fever.She complained about aches,pains and she said she was just laying on her desk.She wasn't the chatty Cathy they have all come to know and love.So I call to get an appt with her dr.No such luck.I call back and ask where I can take her..and NO I am not taking her to the local walk in.I have issues with that man and his practices.I pick ESH up from school.She isn't her happy self.I talk to her teacher and she said that ESH wasn't herself etc.So I ask for suggestions of where to take her.She said Ameila Island.So that is where we go.
She is seen and diagnosis is swollen tonsils//glands/red inner ear and weird strep culture.Amoxil was prescribed and off we went...
Then the COUGH started *Dran came up sometime on Tuesday night for our trip that almost wasn't*

Wednesday August 19 2009-We wake up for school and Dran says she has coughed all night long.I call and make another appt for her.I got lucky and got in to see Dr Curry.She had yet another fever too.BLAH!!
Off to see Dr Curry.He said that her ears were perfect/tonsils were ok and glands just a little swollen.She had a fever still and the cough that wouldn't stop.So we got Dimatapp and were on our way again.She had to be fever free with no medicines to help control it.Well I knew she wouldn't go to school on Thursday either.By the time we got home she was ready for a nap and didn't protest it.Not like her at all.I put blankets on her and her temp hit 103.6 and she started sweating and when she woke up it was gone !! THANK GOD! I don't like seeing her sick but you never know when she is.The only way you know is if you take her temp.
More meds and she was good as new....

Thursday August 20 2009-Today ESH didn't go to school because it hadn't been 24 hours fever free..so another day home with Dran and me..She was fine and helped us pack up the suitcases...!! And praying that she was all better so we could leave out Friday for our trip....

TO BE CONTINUED...PAPA JOHNS JUST DELIVERED OUR FOOD :)

*Somewhere in there I managed to cut the side of my finger almost off! I was making bows and flip flops and well lets just say the gerber knife closed on my thumb.It wasn't a pretty site*

AWWW Moments

I have had a few of these here recently thinking back over the past almost 5 years.
August 6th came and went with a lot of tears..Then August 8th came and went too.That was ESH's due date but thanks to my wonderful hubby and his BIG MOUTH..She was forced out later in the month.2 weeks to be exact.And it wasn't pretty y'all! Anyway..I'll blog that later.
So here I sit one week into school starting back...My baby isn't a baby anymore.She may look like it compared to most of her Kindergartner friends but she isn't.
I told her that she was going to Miss Ma'am's birthday party at the end of the month.She told me that she was going to buy her something with the birthday money she gets.I told her no it was hers to spend that we would give her more to buy a present with.She is insisting that she uses HER money at Disney for her.So we will place extra in there for her spending pleasures.
She has been taking her lunch to school.Only until she gets settled into the routine and then we can pick and choose when she wants to eat school food.Well they serve breakfast and Monday she had said she wanted to eat breakfast at school.I told her I would walk her in one last time and then Tuesday she could.Well Tuesday morning she didn't let me forget.We grabbed lunch bag and backpack and were on the way out the door.She got out of the car with assistance from one of the wonderful employees of the school and off she went.I was sad seeing her walk away from me and not walking with me holding my hand like the little thing she was just a short week before.Big backpack and lunch bag and the back of her little self walking into that big school alone was a little overwhelming to me.I couldn't help but to worry if she was going to sit alone in there to eat.If she would be sitting with kids she didn't know just to have someone to talk to ... or if they would push her away because she was an annoying little kid...I got a lump in my throat worrying about her.I know she is very social and some kids just aren't.She will make friends with anyone and doesn't discriminate.She is a social butterfly and has a wonderful outgoing personality.And I just don't want to see her be pushed away.
So anxiously waiting to get her from school ... I loaded up my book and cell phone to have something to do in that long ole line.She came running to the car with her new friends' mom and she helped her into the car and the new friends mom said she is such a sweetheart and the 2 girls are becoming quiet the BFF's.
On the way home I asked the question I was dying to know the answer to.SO how was breakfast...? The reply wasn't something I expected *well yeh I would have but I expected a fine*...She said she was "MAD".I asked why...?She said because they didn't have any of those round things that I like with my chicken biscuits?I was like *CONFUSED LOOK* Hashrounds? She said YES !! I said well baby you didn't have Chick Fil A for breakfast you had school breakfast...And she said well what's for breakfast tomorrow?I replyed with Grits/eggs and toast.She said I think I am going to go back because I don't know what eggs taste like and I love toast.She never mentioned sitting alone or being teased or what happened.She thinks that everybody is her friends.So I guess it isn't as bad as I thought it would be.

A few weeks ago she said that she was going to have 21 kids and live with me and Daddie forever.I told her no way..She better be married,successful and out of my house before having kids.And to only have ONE!She said that she would bring them to my house only one at a time :) Yesterday on the way back from cheer she said she was going to move into the purple house across the street from us so she would still be close.Because you are family forever.Mommie's and Daddie's keep their kids forever and Kids keep their Mommie's and Daddie's forever.And she didn't ever want to leave our house.She said that when she moved into the purple house she would bring her baby over but wouldn't drive but get a 3 person bike.I said OK :)

She has been saying for about year now that she wants to be a vetrinarian.So when we took Brownie to the vet she told the vet all about what she wants to do when she grows up.And with encouragment from her she told us she told her parents at 3 also that is what she wanted to do and look at where she is now...So we can only hope and pray she keeps this dream!

Summer is over and now the house is quiet.All I hear is the sound of my ceiling fan and the dryer.It is a nice break but I do miss my baby!!

Missing Daddy Today

Today ... My Daddy has been gone for 6 years.Where did the time go?Why can't I have it back and have him here celebrating Erinlee's first day of school with us?And watching her grow up?
I know time is suppose to ease the pain but it doesn't seem to.
I was at peace with him and I am glad that he lingered at the airport before his flight.At the time I wish I would have known because I would have said so much more.I did say I love you and gave him a huge hug and kiss and told him I would call him when my flight returned me back home too.But that call never happened.He did call my house and left a message on the answering machine that Brandon kept for when I got back home and I deleted it after I listened to it.Only if I had known.
August is such a roller coaster of emotions for me...I don't know why everything centers around August but it has in the last few years.
I know in my heart that the only reason we have Erinlee is because he put in a good word for us and the Lord had to take someone to give someone life.I truly believe that the reason Erinlee is with us is because of him.When I found out I was pregnant I had a dream and it was about my Daddy's favorite song Desperado.I was in a car with younger girls who were playing it and singing along to it.I told them they were too young to know that song and they said no they weren't and they loved it.I woke up and told Brandon that either the baby was going to be due on my Daddy's birthday or the day he passed away *we did not at the time know how far along I was* and she was due August 8th.2 days after he had passed away the year before.Coincidence...I don't think so.The Lord works in mysterious ways and this is one of them.He was the only one who knew we had been TTC and hadn't had any luck.She also has blue eyes and LOVES pepper.Also traits from my Daddy.
Even though he isn't here with us physically I believe he will always be here in spirit.

I love you Daddy

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing