Addicted

Yes, yes, my new addiction (thanks to my lovely neighbor) is the Andersen Officer's Spouse Club Gift Shop!  This place is AWESOME especially for home decor which is a really bad thing for me :) We have a love, hate relationship!  The things in the shop are from all over the pacific Vietnam, Korea, Bali, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Thailand.  The officer's spouses travel and buy things and fly them back and sell them!  My favorite countries tend to be Bali and Thailand. 

I went on Thursday evening and bought a few things that I decide I had to have....

My bee-u-tiful mirror

This picture sooo does not do it justice :)

ewww so does not look dirt till the flash

These actually show the detail

the mirror is in between light green curtains which make the mirror even prettier :)

Now for my wine rack serving bar

Well my wine rack, the vase,  and the plate with balls.  I was actually going to put the mirror over the bar/rack but decided it looked nice and tropical like this.  Now I just need 9 more bottles to fill it, but that can wait till Aaron comes home.

Needless to say I am smitten by my purchase!!!  Although now I have a new addiction that cost money but it's such great stuff I can't help it :) 

Okay Aaron the cats outta the bag....  That's how/why I got rid of the wine rack.... but isn't this MUCH nicer ;)  Love you!!!

Anywho, other than my shopping spree I haven't been up to much lately.  I did however buy my camera which I have NOT received yet.  It was suppose to get here on the 16th but EVERYTHING runs about a week late here so Best Buy said that if I haven't received it by this Monday to call and they would either send me a new one or refund my money.  So I will have them resend me it and have them express mail it or UPS it even if I have to pay the difference it will be worth it to KNOW I'll get it!

Right after I ordered my camera I ordered a backpack for it and my lenses, etc.  This is the one a choose since we are going to be traveling around and we go on hikes and stuff where I bring my camera.  This bag has a pocket which fits snacks, keys, wallet, etc. and a water bottle holder.  Now I just NEED my CAMERA so I can use both!

Last week we had had Blake's friends from school over for lunch and a play date.  All of the kids 6 in all had a blast and were to busy to make play doh which was in the plan but it'll have to wait till next time!  This next Tuesday we are all going to go either Jeff's Pirate Cove or Caliente's for lunch after school.... should be fun!!

February 10th can't come soon enough... my parents are coming and I can't WAIT!!!! 

Anywho, until next time...

TTFN

Playing Catch Up

I don't really have much to blog about since the last one!  

Last week I guess it was Friday we went with our neighbors to a small water park called Onward, so that all of the boys could play and burn some energy for the day and that they did.  We went to the ticket office here on base and then got to the park at about 11:30 and we were there till 4:30 that afternoon.  Although Blake told me he was ready to go home he never made it out of the pool he was in!  The two 4 yr olds had a blast in the kiddie pool and lazy river and Cory found some friends from school that he ran around with all day so us mommies got to relax in the sun and watch the 4 yr olds, great day in my book :) and to top it off they got along great all day!!

New Years Eve and New Years Day were just another day in the Gaither household.  I know boring right, but when you have a 4 yr old and your husbands deployed, mommy want her relax/quiet time on the couch with a movie, wine and maybe some popcorn ;) 

Movies~ I have been watching them a lot lately after Blake goes to bed.  My favorite that I watched 2 nights in a row "Leap Year", if you haven't seen it you should really watch it.  A love story/comedy and very cute! I don't really laugh at many movies unless someone gets hurt (ask my parents or Aaron and they atest to that) but this one has my laughing.  I also bought "Crazy Stupid Love" which was pretty too not Leap Year good but good nonetheless but it has Ryan Gosling in it which makes any movie better!  I have been looking for any other good movies that are worth buying so if you have any suggestions please let me know.

I also have been looking at cameras AGAIN like crazy and finally bit the bullet and bought one today!  The Nikon D5100 with the Nikkor 55-300mm lens which I bought from Best Buy and saved $400 dollars with my gift cards I got a while ago!  I am going to be selling my Canon so it won't hurt the bank to much in the end :)  This camera was a Christmas gift/birthday gift from Aaron!  Thanks babe you are the best :)

In other news today was Blake's first day back to school since Christmas break and boy did mommy need it!  I mean I love my little man and all but having him around all day everyday can wear ya down esp since he has been a little crab lately.  All is good now and he even had a nap for the first time in  I mean days although it feels like weeks!

Over the last few weeks I have had some GREAT news from one of my friends from high school and my parents... I'm going to be having some visitors in the next 4 months!!!!  My parents will be here February 9th-21st and Courtney will be here May 9th-16th needless to say I am beside myself with excitement!  I absolutely can't wait to see both my parents and Courtney.... now to figure out what do to. I have a few things up my sleeve for when my parents are here some to keep my dad busy, he may go home nuts from not go-go-going all the time :)  To my parents and Courtney thank you so much for not only talking about coming but planning a trip out here, I know it's pricey but I promise it'll be fun and so worth it!

I think that is all for now :)

TTFN

Presents

For our family stateside and daddy/husband...

Scrappy and her present

Lilli and her present

Blake (watch Lilli come over and inspect his gift with tail wagging)

Putting together his boats from Uncle David and Aunt Donna

Scrappy snugging with her new toy

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, I know we did even though Aaron wasn't here with us!

Merry Christmas From Guam

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Merry Christmas from the Gaither's

I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Strangers

You never know when your kids are truly listening and really understand and get the seriousness of what you say sometimes but I'm sure glad Blake paid attention with the Stranger talks we have.

We went to Wendy's with our friends today and while Glora, Joseph and I were standing in line to order Cory, age 9, and Blake went to find a seat.  Well a minute later Blake comes back to me and said "mommy a guy was talking to me", I said "what man and what did he say", he said he told me to come sit over here".  At about that time Cory comes over and I ask him if a man talked to them and what he said, Cory says "He said Victor come sit over here".  Crisis averted and some man will walk away unscathed :)

I am so proud of Blake for being such a big boy and not talking to him and coming straight to me.  Yes the man was not talking to him but Blake still remembered what to do and what we have talked about so many times.

I know it's silly since it was a false alarm but it is a wake up call.  So please talk to your kids about strangers cause you never know when they are listening :)  

TTFN

Mid-Week Update

I'm sticking to my promise... at least this week!

Just a little bit of what we have been up too since the last blog.  On Thursday and Friday Tracey (our neighbor) was home to study for a test so we (Glora and I) took the younger boys out and about!

  

On Thursday, Blake and I went with our neighbors and friends, Glora and Joseph, to Mermaid Tavern for lunch and then to Kmart to walk around.  Exciting I know but we have never really had the chance to actually look and take our time time and to be honest it was a waste.  Everything in the store is marked up by 1/3 of the stateside price.  So basically you get Target price for Kmart quality~ not good!

On Friday, we went down to Big Navy for Glora to finish up her Christmas shopping and so that I could look at the futons at the furniture mart on base.  It was a success and I came home with what I went there for!  I know a futon... but since I put the Christmas tree up I like how the furniture is arranged better now (it looks more homey) but that leaves a big empty space on one wall so I thought a futon would come in handy!  With people coming to visit this next year it will give me a place to sleep without using an air mattress and we can use it when we get back to the states in any room!

Saturday the Oliver's and Blake and I went to a Christmas thing in our neighborhood called Rota Walk.  Rota Dr. is a street where all of the commanders live and they are required to decorate their homes for the season and they all sit out by the road and hand out goodies like cookies, candy, food, gingerbread men, hot chocolate, snow cones and my favorite cotton candy :)  Some people had a choir, or the bell choir or a snow machine AKA small bubbles made to look like snow!  It was fun and Blake had a great time.  We were suppose to hang out at someones house and have drinks but I woke Blake up from his nap and we were out the door so he was ready to come home after the walk.  I would have had pictures but I was scared to take my camera with me due to the rain so I don't have any but it did pour right after we were done and had to run under someones canopy for cover.  Oh Guam how I love your sporadic rain showers and pours :) 

Monday and Tuesday, we hung out at home and played in the pool and trampoline, rode bikes, and went to the playground at the school.  We were suppose to go to Wendy's yesterday and to the Agat WWII memorial but Glora got sick so we are going to go there on Thursday!  For this I will have my camera and will do a post to share them :) 

Today, (Wednesday) we went to some friends of ours for Blake and their girls to exchange Christmas gifts and have a play date!  One of his gifts was a pack of gum and who would have guessed "this is the best present someone could get me" was what he said on the way home!  Should have done that dang-it!  He had a blast and thanks Lisa for having us over and treating us to lunch :)  Next week we are going to have them over to our house for a date and make play-doh, and swim! 

Well that's my wrap up for now!

TTFN

What's Up

I know I have been slacking and I apologize!  We have been busy the last few weeks with random stuff but not really anything in particular.  An uncle had a suggestion that I give updates a few times a week and then have a major blog every once in a while so I think that's what I'll start doing from now on!  That way at least our stateside family will be able to keep up with us... even if it's not much :)

So back to it...

If you remember I made a camera strap cover a few blogs ago, well I wanted to make some more so I went to our crap spectacular craft store to get some more fabric so that I could make some more.  I asked my friend next door if her daughter might like some since she love photography too (she said yes) so that way I get practice and I get to make someone happy :) So I made her 2 and one for me but want to get my camera before I make my other one!  Here are some pictures... 

the patch work one both ends and the back with the pocket

The dual fabric and patch work~ front

Back

I really like both and hope Tiffany likes them too!  I guess they are going to be a part of her Christmas gift but not sure.

Last weekend we went to Aaron's squadron for the kids Christmas party.  Santa flew in on a helo and there were games and prizes to be had and if the kids sat on his lap they got a present.  Blake didn't really do much and he wasn't interested in the present saying, "Mommy I can wait till Christmas for a present", so we left.  Here are some pictures I took of the helo flying in...

On Wednesday was Blake's Winter Wonderland Program at school.  He had fun although I think he was in lala land most of the time so it was hard to get a video of him really singing and dancing although I'll include a few videos anyways!

Christmas on Guam

 All week in school Blake has been doing holiday arts and craft stuff and he brought them home today and I thought I'd share his craftiness!

 

 I said we had been busy for the past few weeks and we have... we've been getting Aaron ready for his deployment.  He left last Friday and will be home in June!  We have been staying busy and I think that will continue.  Starting today Blake has Christmas break from school for 2 weeks, my parents will hopefully be coming to visit early next year... YAY, spring break, and then in May one of my great friends is coming for a visit... see you then Courtney, I can't wait :)  Busy busy!  Although we miss Daddy/hubby we will be staying busy and having a good time waiting for him to come home :)

That's all for now but I will try my hardest to stick to my bi-weekly (at least) post!!

Until next time :)

TTFN