Ending the Year with a Bang!

I cant believe that Christmas is here already and 2013 is almost over!  This year went SO fast!!!!  We moved half way around the World this year and have now settled here in Cali.  We are loving our house, our neighborhood, and our friends!  We definitely made a great choice to live where we are.  

2014 will bring MANY different things!  We will be without Bill for most of the year due to his deployment.  Im not looking forward to being without him but it is his job to serve the Country so we stand behind him.  Hopefully Kadynce will start Preschool this next year.  She is super excited to go to a School and make new friends.  

Bill and I just had a photo shoot of JUST US!!!!  We never had Engagement or Wedding pictures so I thought after 6 years, we should have some romantic ones taken!!  They turned out AMAZING!  Bill made a huge frame to fit a lot of our poses in and it is not hung on the wall!  I LOVE IT!  

CHEERS to a NEW and GREAT YEAR ahead!!!!  HAPPY 2014!  :)

LoVe

Theres something about getting the "butterflies in your tummy" feeling that I LOVE!  I get them everyday when I see Bill walk in the house.  I love this thing called "LOVE"!!  :) 

Emotions up....Emotions down....

Emotions in life are rough.  There are highs and lows.  You just have to deal with what has been given to you.  Life is full of mystery, could have, should haves, and what ifs.  

There are a lot of person things going on in my life right now that have my emotions spread all over the place.  BUT.....one good emotion....EXCITEMENT!  Bill comes home in a couple days and I cant wait!  It seems like forever!  When you are so in love with someone every moment that you are separated take a piece of your heart.  Hes our everything and miss him so much while he is gone!    

Proud Moment

Today, Bill got promoted to Gunnery Sergeant!  Im SO happy for him.  He definitely deserves it.  It sucks that the Kids and I couldnt be there to help pin him on but Im happy that he got a "field promotion".  

Hopefully we get more GREAT news this week!  Ill keep you updated :)

California Dreams...

OMGosh....life has definitely brought us to a gorgeous place called California!!!  We have been here a few months now and are LOVING it!  We have a gorgeous house, great neighborhood, and wonderful surroundings.  We have already had a few visitors here to see us which has been GREAT!!!!!  Seeing my Dad has been the best part so far.  I missed him so much.  

As of today, my Husband is now a Gunnery Sergeant!!!  Im SO proud of Bill and all that he has been through.  Hopefully this next week we will find out the results of the Warrant Officer Board.  SO much is up in the air right now.  If he gets WO then he goes to Virginia in January and then we all move to Oklahoma in April/May.  If he does not get WO, he will be deploying in the Spring.  We are unsure of where he will be deploying to (you know the Military, it can change at ANY time!)  I will be happy either way because I know either will make Bill happy.  

Who knows where we will be in 6 months....California or in Oklahoma?!? :)

Counting My Blessings....

As I sit here on the plane to Seattle, I think of how lucky I am in my life. Not only do I have an AMAZING Husband, but I have great Kids. I am SO blessed.

Of course my Kids irritate me and stress me out! Thankfully, I have Bill around to help me. Not every Military Wife can say that!!! As a Marine Wife (or any Military Wife for that matter), we put in long hours of single parenting. Honestly, I think I have been a "single" parent more than a dual parent family. We support Bill in all of his career choices....that is our Job and sacrifice for him. He puts in LONG hours and also sacrifices a lot for our family. He misses a lot of important events/milestones when he has to be away.

Many (ok, almost all) of our family and friends do not know that Bill is suppose to Deploy within the next year. I will NEVER be "ready" for him to be away from us. Knowing ahead of time so we can plan and get ready has been a HUGE help. I havent figured out yet how to tell Kadynce and Bradyn....they dont quite understand. They HATE when Daddy is gone.

After preparing Kadynce for this big more to California, the time is finally here where we GO!! We have been telling her about it for about 5 months now. She is SO excited because she says that Santa and Tinkerbell live in California too! Haha. We ordered their new "big girl/boy" beds yesterday. Both Kids got to pick out what sheets they wanted. Kadynce picked Dora and Bradyn picked
Spiderman. I just hope that they are just as in love with them when they get delivered as they were when they seen them on the computer.

I hoping that this move goes smooth. Im not too sure how we will all adjust. This is our first BIG move since the kids are older. Okinawa is all they know as a HOME! We are all excited for the new house an to also live on base. We have never lived on base before so again, this is ALL new.

Being a Military Spouse can take you to amazing places. Places that you may not ever see if it werent for the Military. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to Japan. Never in a million years did I think that I was going to LIVE there!! So many of our friends and family always asked why I take so many pictures.....I may neer get that opportunity again!! I want my kids to know that they lives in Japan when they were younger. And, I want them to have pictures of things that we did and places that we went while we lived there. Also....because I had to share my "life" with everyone back home since they werent there to experience it with us!!

I hope that my pictures have shown my friends and family the life that we had the opportunity to live. Maybe someday we will be able to live in Okinawa again....maybe the Marine Corps will take us to another tropical island.....who knows, only time will tell! 

Bittersweet Goodbye

:(  Our last week here in Okinawa!  It is soo sad to have to leave the place that we have called HOME for the last 3 years.  I am going to miss it very much.  The Kids are already sad to have to leave.  It is a HUGE change for them so I cant imagine how exactly they feel.  Im sure that Kadynce is going to be happy once we get to California and get settled in.  Im in love with our house there....so far!!  I cant wait to get my NEW car!  Ahhh......so excited for the new things to be happening in the next week!  :)

Pampered Chef....Here I Come!!!!

I am now a Pampered Chef Consultant!!!  Im pretty excited about it!  Hopefully I can get it all started without any issues.  Obviously it will take a little time to get new Hosts but it is ok.  It is not something that can be rushed in to.....it is a Business!!!  Im ready for this new adventure and starting to get to know new people!  Ready....Set....Here I Come.....!!!!  :)

THAT person...

You know when you have the ONE person that you can talk to about any thing, anyone, any problem, share laughs, or share tears??  I do have that ONE person.  Her name is Patti Adams.  She is the ONE person that I can go to no matter what.  If I need advice, suggestions, an ear, or a laugh....she is THAT person for me!  I cant believe that only 5 months ago we starting talking and getting to know each other.  Where has she been my whole life??  I CANT wait until we have Girls time in Vegas!!!!  

Patti.....you are VERY special to me and my family.  You are definitely a Sister to me and an Aunt to the Kids.  We love you very much and cant wait to see you.....only 31 days until we arrive in Cali!!  <3 you Girlie!  

Crabs, Crabs, and more Crabs!

Today the kids and I went to the Beach.  We had such a GREAT day!!!  We got tons of crabs (about 30 or so) and also more sea glass.  Im definitely going to miss the beaches here in Oki.

My Babies Are My World

Today I did a little photo shoot with the kids.  It makes me realize how proud I am to be their Mommy. My Kids are amazing and I love them SO much!  I am not too sure where I would be without them.  I cant imagine my life without them in it!!!  My Little Family is the most amazing little family that anyone could ask for!  Im so in love with Bill Denney and couldnt ask for a better Husband or Father.  <3

Packin' up and Hitting the road....okay, the Ocean!

Moving Day #1 was a SUCCESS!!  Almost all of our belongings are packed and on the way to California!  It only took 3 Guys about 4 hours to pack our entire house!  We have 1 more day of packing but that isnt until a few days before we move out of our house....and they will just pack everything else in the house so no need to separate and sort!!! :)  Its such a relief to have it all over with!  Only about 50 days and we will be in California.  We get the keys to our new house 2 days after arriving there....so that is EXCITING!  SO glad that we dont have to be in a hotel for that long before getting a house and our stuff!  :)

Time at the Zoo

The Kids and I went to see the animals at the Zoo.  The Kids ALWAYS have a BLAST there!  It is so nice too because we only have to pay for me to get in....the Kids are free!!  :)  Its a great place to go, run around, eat lunch, and get exhausted!!!  The Kids favorite part.....feeding the fish and birds!  We always have a good time!  We will be going back soon!  We LOVE the Zoo!!!  I cant wait to go to San Diegos Zoo!!!!  :)

A Pretty Princess And A Handsome Prince

Yesterday we went to Kurashiki Dam for a little bit before going to Chilis for Bradyns Birthday Dinner.  I decided to take my new camera (Canon T4i) and see if I could snap a few photos of the scenery since we had never been there before.  Well, I got more of my kids than I did of the scenery....but I am okay with that!  I love taking black and white photos....Id rather take B&W instead of color.  Not too sure why I love them so much but I just do!  :)  Anyways, I was so excited knowing that I took a few AMAZING pics of my kids!  Of course, I posted them to FB as soon as we got home but I am still in love with the pictures!  

While walking to the car, we saw a Japanese Phone Booth.  We decided to go to it and take a couple pictures!  The kids LOVED it!  They both thought that it was funny!! :)  

Here are a few of what I took yesterday.  If you want to see more, look at my FB!  haha

I <3 my Babies!

Time at the Beach!

One of our FAVORITE activities....going to the Beach!!  The Kids and I went since the weather was SO gorgeous!  We played in the sand, ran in the water, found some shells, and even some red and blue sea glass!!!  It was so much fun and cant wait to go again!!  :)  Come on Okinawa weather.....get NICE and stop being rainy this week!!!!!

When Realization Hits....

ahhh.....the moment that you realize that you are MUCH happier without some people in your life!!  I have come to the conclusion that I couldnt be any happier that I have very few family left in my life.  We have who we want and need....anyone else is a bonus.  I REFUSE to FORCE someone to be in my life or my childrens lives.  If you dont want to be there, dont be!  It is your loss, not mine!!  My kids are smart, healthy, cute, well taken care of....etc.  They dont need the drama and stupidity that some people want to drag them in to!  I WONT let that happen!  I will NOT go out of my way to contact someone if they make no effort in return.  If you want to talk.see my kids....by all means, you know how to call, Skype, or write a letter....go for it!  I also will NOT reschedule my plans just so you can "MAYBE" get online to skype.  I have better shit to do than sit around and wait when you wont even be there.  I also will not tell my kids that you will be calling them just in case you dont.  I WILL NOT allow my children to be hurt or cry for any reason especially because someone broke a promise to them.  They are MY KIDS and I will make the rules that I want for them.  If you dont like that, too damn bad!  Kick rocks and move on....  

A Year Has Come and Gone...

It has definitely been a tough year. Today was the 1 year anniversary that we lost my Brother Tim. Last night was pretty rough for me. I had all of the emotions that I had that day. Thankfully, I have Tim in my house. That has definitely kept me sane. I can sit, talk, cry, bitch....whatever I want!! I also have the quilt that I made from his shirts so I can wrap that around me whenever I need to. It has NOT been easy but I dont honestly think that it has completely hit me that he is not here anymore. I think that it will hit me more when I am in California and cant just text him. Im not looking forward to that, but I know that Bill is next to me no matter what! Bill has been my rock through all of this. Through losing Tim, letting "family" go because of their drama, and now getting ready to move to California....its rough! I will NOT say that it has been easy at all!!!


Tim, I love you and miss you SOO much!! You will always be here with me no matter what! I am SO happy that you are here in Okinawa.....you always wanted to travel here, and now you have "lived" here!! I love you SO much!!! <3

Trip of a Lifetime!

Bill, the kids, and I just returned from a trip to Tokyo.  We rode on the trains, went to Tokyo Disneyland, the Tokyo Tower, a Shrine, Camp Zama (an Army Base), and also Atsugi (a NAvy Base).  It was definitely a FUN trip....but SO glad to be home!  We didnt ride on ANY rides while at Disney but there is NO WAY I was going to wait a MINIMUM of 80 MINUTES in a line with 2 young kids!!!  We watched the afternoon parade while there and seeing the kids' faces made it all worth it!!

It was a GREAT family trip!!  Now, its time to focus on moving to California in 2 MONTHS!!!!  :-)

Wonderful Times...

Last weekend we went to a place called "Bios on the Hill".  We had a REALLY good time.  We got to ride on the Water Buffalo Carriage, and even got to walk the Buffalo.  Kadynce LOVED to do that!  After that we went and ate some treats in the little store that they have.  We decided that we would go on a boat ride next.  It was pretty entertaining....except we dont know Japanese so we have NO CLUE what they are talking about.  We had a good time on the boat.  Then we decided to just walk around and we ended up finding the GIANT swing.  We all got a turn on it.  It was BIG!!!  

We got to do a few other activities while there.  We got to feed and walk the goats (Even though Kadynce let one loose and I had to chase after it.  We got to try walking on stilts, jump roping, playing frisbee, and just running in the open.  The kids definitely loved this!!!   Here are some pictures of our fun (the day had just begun!!!   

I highly recommend this for anyone living in Okinawa!!!!

A Day At The Sea Wall...

Today, the kids and I spent some time at the Sunabe Sea Wall!  We had a FANTASTIC time!  Of course, I took plenty of pictures!  I do have to say.....I have some ADORABLE kids!!!!!!  :)  I am definitely going to miss Okinawa, but at least we will be in California and there are still beaches!

Lets get this started!!

The time has come.....lets get this new blog started!  It is time to start writing things down that we experience in the last few months of living in Okinawa!  Im SO excited for a new adventure in California but will miss Okinawa A LOT!!!

Another March 1st...

Another March 1st has come and gone.  All of the feelings of hurt, anger, pain, sadness, etc. were felt.  Baby Jadyn is definitely looking over us.  I took Kadynce and Bradyn to the Beach to play in the sand and the Ocean and what did we see above us.....??  The clouds came apart and made the shape of a heart!  It definitely made me feel at ease!  I would not have my amazing kids that I have today if it werent for Jadyn.  Jadyn is our angel in Heaven.  Kadynce and Bradyn will definitely learn about what happened when they get older.  Jadyn and Uncle Tim were probably playing up there.....lol!  I miss Jadyn EVERYDAY but when I look in to Kadynce and Bradyns eyes, it was all worth it!  

Jadyn, dont ever forget that Mommy loves you and misses you everyday!  You are my Angel!!  I love you very much!  <3 

A Happy Day! :)

Today was a pretty good day!  I bought the kids a "new" table for them to color at, eat at, or sit at!  They love it so far.  

I cant wait for Bill to be home (only a few more days)!!  Ive missed him a lot and so have the kids.  We will start getting more things ready for the move to Cali when he returns!  Im trying not to stress, but who can move across the world and not stress....?  lol.