enjoying our new life

Such beauty! The Gulf of Mexico and the Bay.

We found a fun place to eat called Sidelines. Its a sports bar/restaurant with big screen tv's on every wall broadcasting all the important college football games. Evs was in heaven.   

Sage & Jade love catching sun rays out by the lake.

We have been really loving our new home, new area, and new ward. The weather has been beautiful fall weather. Evan is enjoying his job and has gotten lots of compliments from his supervisors on what a great job he has been doing. Such a proud wife. I have been unpacking the rest of the house and getting more settled. We have done a little exploring and getting more familiar with Gulf Breeze and Pensacola. I mostly stay pretty close to home and US-98 is a frequent route I stick to for now. Searching for a couch and for a job is on my to do list, but I will get around to it. Our super love sac will do for now. 

We were sad to see Momma Lolly go. It was so wonderful having her here to help me get organized and to toot around town with me while Evs was at work. Thank you for everything!

Holiday Opener

Happy Halloween!!

As you can see they are so thrilled to be dressed up once again. I thought they would be so much happier to only have a little hat to wear...negative...Sage (Frankenstein) just laid there grumpy faced until I took it off him and Jade (little Devil girl) well she posed like a statue until I took hers off. Good sports!

We didn't do much for Halloween. I at least threw some decorations up to feel festive.We were pretty boring and only dressed the dogs up. We went to the church for a trunk or treat. Those kids got so much candy I am glad that I am not the one paying for the dental bill. Quote of the night: A 7/8 year old little girl dressed as a devil, opened her bag, looked at Evan and said, "Load me up!"  It was pretty funny! We had a easy low key night.

travels of Thelma & Louise

It was my turn to make the trek to Florida. I am so glad I didn't have to do it alone. My amazing MIL gave up so much! She flew from Hawaii to Los Angeles, only to sit in a car with me and the dogs for 4 days and for over 2,000 miles. She is such a great person! She even got us some pretty decent hotels to stay in. Especially in Louisiana. That was like a royal treat to stay in that hotel. She took good care of us.  

I-10 East thank you for being full of gas stations, restrooms, and food. 

States we drove through:

Arizona, New Mexico, Texas (so close to Mexico), Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.

We made it! The drive definitely got greener as we got more east. But the restrooms seemed to get worse and more sketchy, which made for quick pee stops. 

We were packed pretty full with the rest of our stuff that I kept with me. Including the puppies. They probably had the hardest time..they didn't have much space to move, so all they did was sleep, but really how can you sleep 2,000 miles in a small cubicle. I felt bad for them, but they got pretty creative with trying to get comfortable. 

We didn't deviate from 10-E very much except when we wanted to go check out New Orleans, LA. We decided to just drive through the french quarters to say we were there. The buildings were so neat, old and antiqued. My sister, Jen, would've loved to photograph there. It was pretty busy so we just took our time looking around. It reminded me of a vintage Waikiki. Lots of stores and cute shops and lots of people. There were however some areas that had yet to be renovated from Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which made some areas look very run down and ghetto. 

{checking out the smells of New Orleans}

Our travel log:

Nuevo, CA to Tuscon, AZ

Tuscon, AZ to Fort Stockton, TX

Fort Stockton, TX to Lake Charles, LA

Lake Charles, LA to Gulf Breeze, FL

{Home Sweet Home}

oregon solo visit

I went to Oregon to visit with my Mom, sister, brother and their kids before I moved to the other side of the country. My Mom had been up in Oregon helping out my sister and brother with their kids so even though I was living at her house while Evan was in Florida, she wasn't there and I really missed her. It was a crazy time actually getting to Oregon because of the one day that California actually got rain. My flight got changed three times before I actually got on a plane. I ended up leaving on a plane headed for Las Vegas, NV and the connecting flight was delayed to Portland, OR. When we were finally boarded on the plane, there was thunder..so we were delayed again..I ended up falling asleep while sitting on the plane. I woke up an hour later and we were still sitting in the jetway. After I woke up, they make an announcement that the flight has been cancelled {the pilot timed out after all the delays and could no longer fly) GAY-extremely GAY! We unloaded the plane and all the passengers ended up sleeping in the Las Vegas airport. It was soooo awful. So awful. I slept about 1 hour. No pillow. No blankets. Just the airport floor, which I refused to sleep on...ANYWAYS. I finally made it to Portland at 8:30 am the following day. It was so good to see my Mom. I sure missed her. She had food ready and even warm clothes for me to change into. It was so wonderful. Right after I got there we started setting up for the twins little CUPCAKE party. We decorated everything with cupcakes and cupcake wrappers. We had the older kids decorate their own cupcake. We watched them open presents and then we sang Happy Birthday to them. Mom made them small mini cakes, but they weren't that interested. It was fun. Aliyah and Chiara turned 1 on October 12, 2012. They are so tiny for being one, but they are walking around and are very interactive. They are at such a fun age!  

The rest of my trip in Oregon we just had a good time together. All the kids had soccer games, which all started at 11am. We went shopping at the thrift store with Jess & the kids for costumes. We went to lunch. Walmart. We watched movies together. It was just a special time for me to have for myself. It was a quick trip but a great one. I love my family so much! I am truly blessed. 

love you Mom!

Sagers

You are so sweet. So protective of me. You are such a good friend. And such a good listener. You are less shy and will go up to people you don't know but still a little unsure. You are such a great doggy. And I love you!

Update from Florida

We pretty much speak briefly via text in the morning as I am just waking up and he is headed to work (2 hour time difference). I text him during the day and he replies when he has a moment (which is rare). He works about 12 hours a day and really loves what he is doing. We usually talk while I am on my way home from work and he is on his way home from work. Its nice. Makes my drive in traffic quick. Friday he gets to attend a Suturing course. He is getting all prepped and ready to help the Orthopedic Doc in surgeries. He is pretty stoked about that. I ask him to send me pictures of him looking so fly in his "business man attire" but he doesn't want to send me the "emo" kine picture where the phone actually shows in the mirror. He has sent me these pictures though.

Of course he would send me the USA Women's signed goalie jersey.

 Loving the scrubs!

First cast. Looks pretty good.

I miss him like crazy, but I am so glad that he is enjoying his job and gaining so much knowledge and experience in such a short time. So thankful to Heavenly Father for this opportunity!

New favorite

I love how this song puts so much into perspective. Its so uplifting.

Funeral #2

The Rosary Vigil was Sunday evening for my Grandpa Repucci. It was a different experience for me, not being Catholic and not quite understanding the meaning behind some of the Catholic traditions. It was a good opportunity to learn. It was hard for me to not actually see my Grandpa's body in the casket {per his request no viewing}. Even though I know his spirit was no longer in his body, its just one of those things that helps you come to closure I guess. The Funeral mass was Monday morning. Again, not something I quite understood, but I respect his beliefs and tried to understand. I did understand that my Grandpa was being remembered and the traditions of preparing his body and spirit to return to God. I have some great memories of my Grandpa Repucci. One memory, I learned about at the funeral, was when we used to visit Grandpa down at his vacuum shop in Carlsbad, and we would go get ice cream at the parlor, Grandpa would call every store on the way asking if they saw us kids pass by and then he called the ice cream shop to make sure we got there. So sweet and so funny, I never knew that about him. It was a nice service in his memory. The music was beautiful and the words of the Priest were nice. It was nice to be a part of Grandpa's service.

Rest in peace Grandpa.

Funeral #1

It took me a little bit to warm up to being in the room with grandpa {in a casket} and him not greeting me or making some kind of joke. I sat down at the furthest chair from his casket. My eyes would wander in his direction but then my eyes would start to tear up and I knew my nose was starting to turn red {Ballantyne red nose crying syndrome}. I just sat and took it all in and tried to think of my many memories and Grandpa's joy. When Rubi got there, she immediately wanted to know what was up with the guy in the casket. So I went with her. She was so inquisitive. I love how little kids respond at funerals. They dont cry, they dont mourn because they dont fully understand, yet I think they do understand. They are much closer to the Spirit & to heaven, which is why they just look and move on. They know that everything is okay. The services were nice. Grandpa Ballantyne's long and prosperous life was honored in many ways. 

Flowers from all Grandpa's 6 kids.

Flowers from all Grandpa's 26 grandchildren.

Flowers from all Grandpa's 46 great grandchildren {with 2 on the way}

His grandsons in attendance were his Pallbearers.

Many were there to celebrate his life.

Coordinating Cousins.

When we attend a wedding we are joyful, however when we attend a funeral we feel sorrow. This funeral I felt both. I was sad that Grandpa Ballantyne's presence no longer was on the earth, but I was joyful that he and Grandma B could together again, never to be separated again. I wonder what their first words to each other were? I wonder how their first hug felt? I am grateful for this knowledge of life after death. It makes death bittersweet.

 Grandpa's Burial took place Monday September 17th, 2012 at Riverside National Cemetery.

Corey, Mom & I rushed from Grandpa Repucci's funeral to make it just on time to Grandpa Ballantyne's burial.

Bria turns 4

And is Little Miss Glamour!

 She got lots of lip gloss, chapsticks, purses, fairy costumes, dresses, barbies, dolls, stick on earrings, princess crowns...etc ANYTHING & EVERYTHING having to do with dressing up and being girly.

{photos courtesy of: Jenfallanphotography.com}

We got her two purses filled with costume jewelry.

We got together for cake, ice cream, presents and swimming. Love enjoying moments with my family!

Happy Birthday Bria!!

The day after her party, Bria wanted to try out her lipstick, earrings and Dora outfit.

11 years has come upon us

Another year has come upon us. Another year to remember the day we were attacked. Let us always remember the courageous and those that lost their lives this day. We are grateful for the soldiers that continue to fight for our freedoms.

The man of 81 years

April 3,1931-September 11, 2012

Dear Grandpa Bob,

 I have so many memories of winters at the cabin. Coming into the mud room, I remember being so excited to grab our small stocking from the hook and find $5 inside. We would get all suited up in our snow suits, boots, gloves, and hats. Then being excited to play in the snow! We would drag our circle or rectangle sled up the small hill and fly down the hill only to do it a million more times. I remember the special expensive cheese with crackers you and grandma always had on the table for a snack. Many of my summer memories with you are at your house. We swam in the sometimes over chlorinated pool, having to remember to always walk and not run to the "non-bouncy" diving board and making a huge leap or cannon ball into the deep end. I remember you cooking hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill that sat up in its own spot away from the house. As you got older and less mobile, someone else grilled because your electric wheel chair couldn't get up there. So many good times.

When I told you I was getting married, you told me I was crazy and pretty much sounded just like my Dad did. You told me to wait and blah blah blah, just like my Dad. Good thing I didn't listen to you or my Dad or I would've missed out on a real good catch. You and Dad are sooo much alike.

You always told me I was so beautiful and I could always expect to being called more beautiful the next time I saw you.

One of the last times Evan (or Evans as you always called him) and I were there, like many times before, you tried to tempt us into having a swig of your Whisky or some other kind of alcohol. Instead I opted for a Shirley Temple and I think the cherry stuff had been sitting there a little too long and so had the maraschino cherries because it just didn't taste right. Thanks for your effort though. Our chit chatting was worth it all.

As I have gotten older, we have always received a cheese/meat tray for Christmas. Last year you sent it to Hawaii, even though we had been living in California for two years. But eventually it got to us. 

Thanks for always loving us! May you rest from your cares and enjoy being reunited in Heaven with both of your wives and many of your loved ones. It will be a joyful day in heaven. I love you Grandpa Bob Repucci!
Until we meet again.