Sept-early December 2010

More catching up to do....this was the night to at least get into 2011....so I am almost there....Hang in there...we do WAY too much to keep up with this blog some days.

Ok, I have to say the end of the year was so much fun and really crazy. Sorry for NOT bloggin it sooner. I am slightly addicted to FACEBOOK....instant and easy.

So the photos you see are Thorin being AMAZING. She decided to figure out what the BEST variables were for planting in Hawaii where we live. Seems easy enough. Well, 12 plants, measurements, watering (with a set amount)....you see where this is going....she was very detailed and busy with this month-long project.

She has plants inside, outside, different soils in each.....it was crazy. I was shocked at how cool it was. There were of course the strange broken stems outside (which she accounted for and made note when measuring).....so she won a slot to district out of every kid in her 5th grade..(4 kids went).
Then as if that was not enough to be proud of....the day after her dad went to Iraq she was still calm and detailed enough to BRING home the prize. 3RD PLACE in the entire district!...WOW!  Apparently she gets her green thumb from her dad....I can kill a cactus (and have proven that 3 times!) 

Then this amazing kid during this science fair timeframe also earned her BRONZE award from Girl scouts. This is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn. She earned hers in 3 weeks. She decided to make cookies for the deploying soldiers and got the community to join forces. Her goal was to give out 300 bags of cookies to the group from her dad's old unit before they got on the bus. She has NO idea her dad was one of the ones leaving until a week before the ceremony. This was out of her love and caring heart. So, she made flyers and SOLD everyone she came in contact with on her plan for them to help her bake cookies. WE thought she would get a few helpers and then we would be baking the rest....I mean an entire weekend BLOCKED off to bake these cookies. Her plan was SO successful that we had 500+ bags BEFORE we ever fired up our own oven. The photos show our fridge and tables. She was featured on the 25th ID website, the newspaper and several other forums. General Champoux commended her on being an outstanding example of a community supporter. He said that he gives coins to soldiers who do an outstanding job and that she had gone above and beyond earning that honor....SO, she now has a "strawberry coin" from the general. She also got a lei from Miss Hawai and 2nd runner up for Miss America!....BUT the shining moment was when Robert got to pin the Bronze award on her vest for all her hard work!...Every soldier in all units got homebaked cookies to eat on the bus leaving for Iraq. There were tears and emails of thanks from the soldiers in Iraq. Her heart is so amazing. I am proud to be her mom and see the world through her eyes.

 Of course we had a fun celebration with Ms cannon.....her birthday cake and shirt matched. She loved her cake and the adventures of ICE SKATING for her birthday. A snowy adventure in Paradise!

Then we said goodbye to Robert and pray for his safe return....hopefully BEFORE Christmas 2011.

Sept- mid Nov 2010

 Sept- mid Nov was loads of fun too. Cannon went to the aquarium and got to hold some fun stuff. The blowfish was her favorite. The girls attended another Father-Daughter Ball and had the best time. While all the little girls were crying around them because they KNEW their daddies were leaving....our girls were happily oblivious to that fact. REASON # 200 for NOT telling our girls super early. Life is best lived day to day.

 We also had a great time trick or treating...Thorin still has a blast with the costumes and planning. Robert wore a TUNIC!...so I am not sure WHO gets into it more. I think I will be a go-go girl or something CRAZY this year.

Sorenna got Student of the Month, Robert finally made it out to the Arizona Memorial...it was very beautfiul that day. We also did a ROUND TRIP tour of the island on his birthday so he could say he had seen it all before he left for Iraq.

Blue Angels Sept 2010

 We had the best time at KBay in Sept 2010.
The Blue Angels are the most amazing team of pilots. Such skill and perfection. I was scared and excited watching the near misses. The girls helped me capture some of the best photos. They were on guard to tell me where they were lining up.
LOVE the show!

Robert closes a base in Iraq!

Sunday, 27 Feb 2011 

Time to return a base to the Iraqis and I’m nervous as I think through the multiple issues that could derail this operation. My stomach is in knots and I left half my lunch behind. This feeling will get worse in the months ahead so I force myself to let go and focus on the moment. I let myself enjoy the feel of the late morning sun warm on my face and the feel of sweat underneath my armored vest. It’s a feeling of being alive and part of the world and I like it.

It’s a ground movement today and physical memory systems go into high gear as we activate the multiple electronic and security systems on the vehicle. The layout of the vehicle, to include where the turret gunner places his feet, all trigger memories of past missions. For the next thirty minutes memories will continue to flood my brain as we traverse Abu Grab in route to our base return. Abu Grab was my unit’s area of operations six years ago and I wonder how returning there will feel. 

We’re running late due to a coordination error so the long drive off base drags at my patience. When we finally exit the base the smells of town reach out to grab me and drag me back through the years. The dust, sewage, and ash filling my nostrils as my eyes start soaking in old sites that have changed. Many of the cement walls are gone, more people walk the streets, and the big mosque sweeps by my window. We pass the main town intersection and continue down a street I’d previously only traveled in the dark of night. The streets are still run down and filled with security but the shops on the other sides of puddles and trash are full of wares. The muffler shops even have new mufflers hanging outside where old recycled mufflers used to hang.

We cross the bridge that used to be blocked to all traffic and enter West Abu Grab in all its glory. There is the old house the IED makers operated from, then the street our snipers hunted IED emplacers. The main market area remains full of trash and debris but shops have an active clientele. I smile while watching a small child following her mother around a big nasty puddle. I could see the girl thinking how much fun it would be to jump in that big puddle. Her mom also saw her look and made the necessary verbal corrections to keep her on the dry path.

We drive by Iraqi security positions. The normal army positions and even some police who did not exist the last time I was here. I took a breath when we crossed the main check point bridge. The old hole from the suicide bomber was repaired and the bridge itself was open to civilian traffic. All normal things that were abnormal before. Kids are playing soccer in areas formerly forbidden and the town shops remain busy with all kinds of people. My mind is racing as we pass old landmarks, the prison, the “Evil Mosque” and even the propane plant all trigger visions of past misadventures. I say a brief prayer of remembrance and thanks and then let the memories go.

Soon we arrive at the base. The Iraqis are already manning the internal security positions on the American side and the US soldiers stood ready to leave the base. Being late had one advantage. We’d missed the Keystone Cop routine that seems mandatory before the Iraqi officials will sign the paperwork to accept the equipment left on the base. Even though we conduct joint inventories in the week leading up to the transfer the Iraqis always want to verify the whole thing before signing on the dotted line. They start running all over the base, counting air conditioners, generators, and light switches to make sure they did not run away in the night.

The final sign over is anti-climatic. The return trip is not as emotional. When we get inside the main gate I mentally check off one more base returned.

August-September 2010

It has been too long since I UPDATED my blog so I thought I would start where I left off and really do it right.

We were so excited in August when Sorenna's best bud (RAMI) surprised her with a visit. She was so happy and the girls enjoyed each other as if more than 2 years had not passed.

I think they could be college roommates some day...I might start working on that now.

My dad joined us shortly after and we went through the Plantation Maze. It was so fun! We finshed in record time....and had fun.
It is the largest MAZE in the world.

 We treated my dad to a Luau since Robert had not been to one and it was time he did.

 

 We also hiked up the Diamond Head Crater. It is a very good workout. More than 200 stairs will have you sweating for sure!

We also loved the museum exhibit on SURFING!

 Thorin and Sorenna helped their school win the 1st place trophy again. They are AWESOME runners!

Thorin enjoyed her 10th Birthday Party! We played BUNCO. Her cake(s) were giant DICE!
They were  very yummo too

The girls started school and I volunteered once again to do the group photos. They turned out great for what I had to work with. What is the deal with 5th graders? They are TOO young to be teenagers already!