First Day @ the Dojo

Miss Sophia the Diva is officially a white belt, attending her first karate class today. I was a little doubtful of her listening skills, and nervous that she would be disruptive. Proved the momma wrong once again. So cute in a white uniform and pigtails, she bowed respectfully before stepping onto the carpet, and stood ramrod straight at attention as she listened carefully to her sensei...all with her tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth. Adorable.
In similar news, Dylan talked me thru my first attempt at driving a golf cart when I took him and a neighbor friend to their golf tourney yesterday. My own personal Tiger Woods got jaws dropping when he drove the ball straight onto the green on the first hit for several holes. Now to work on the putting...Really, it's a great feeling when he speaks golf: talk of bogeys, par, birdies, different tees, and a variety of irons. It's all gibberish to me, but how cool is it that my ten year old is excelling at something he loves to do. So freakin' proud.
I wonder what Liv will be into when it comes her turn. Can't wait.

"TEAM"

A good friend of mine (Hey, C!), after viewing this website told me how "interesting" it was that we used the term "team" in reference to our family, and that it did make sense after some thought on the subject. Funny, I guess I never gave the concept a second thought. There are those who can bring out the worst in each other. In our case, L and I always epitomized the best of ourselves when we are together. There were many, my bff's among them, especially in the development of our relationship who seriously doubted what I was getting myself into.
My fave gal from basic training and tech school, Ms. Jessi introduced me to a good friend of hers during one of my visits to FWB. At the time, I was in the midst of some pretty serious life issues and wasn't the least bit interested in anyone at all. I won't go into any of the sordid details...lest my children ever find this blog in the future...but we parted ways never expecting to see each other again.
A couple months later, L contacted me through what I thought was a pretty rude e-mail from Osan AB, but it sparked my interest nonetheless. And as L loves to explain it: "Phone calls every other day turned into every day turned into twice a day, and sometimes even more."
Those phone calls about nothing and everything became the highlight of my day; and it seemed everything else I did became filler for the times in between. Long story short, despite the "Are you crazy?!?!?!"'s from my concerned friends, six years later, we are still going strong.
Don't get me wrong, there are moments I want to strangle the man, and I'm certain there are times he wishes I had a mute button...marriage is damn hard work, and there are times we feel like we are working overtime without compensation...but there has never been a time when we ever considered not fighting for "us."
And why wouldn't we? We are the best TEAM I have ever known. He compensates for my numerous shortcomings, and I for his. There is this balance we reach. He is the calm when I want to rage...example:

Me: *something mean and insulting*
L: Why do you want to say such hurtful things?
Me: *Placated and stunned* Ummm...sorry.

Anyway, so that is why it is Team Ochoa. There really is no other way to build a life together but as a team. *sigh* Is it so obvious I miss my hub?

Twilight

Two nights before L was due to leave for the sandbox last year, I worried about how I would be able to sleep the first couple of nights w/o him here. So, L took me to the local B&N to purchase a book or two to bide the time w/o chewing my nails down to nubs. The simple black gloss and the lone bright ribbon on the cover caught my eye as it sat there in the display table of best-sellers. As I approached, I realized this book was accompanied by two others. "Neat, a triolgy!" I scooped up one of each book and promptly headed to the cashier.

And so, the rabid obsession with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga had begun, considering I totally neglected my children with microwaveable meals so I could finish all THREE books in the span of 24 hours. Really, really excellent reads! AND there's a movie coming out in December for the first book.
AND the 4th and final installment is coming out this Saturday! I am SO excited, like screaming for NKOTB when I was 11 excited!

Check out www.stepheniemeyer.com for more info.

Still Daddy's Girl

Funny, how when we were younger we try our darndest to establish independence from our parents. And even when we have grown and are raising our own respective families, there is still that innate desire to demonstrate your "adulthood" when they come to visit.
With L gone to Vegas on a business trip (he's swinging away at Nellis on an unlimited golf day pass--SO hard at work!), I couldn't bring myself to ignore the jungle of my backyard and so I decided to mow it.
In the midst of my pushing the giant orange machine down the lawn, here comes my dad (both he and mom are here for a bit), demanding for me to stop.

Dad: Turn it off.
Me: Huh?
Dad: That's bad for your back.
Me: It's self-propelled.
Dad: I'll do it tomorrow. Turn it off.

My relationship with my father was always a tumultuous one, most probably due to my inability to keep my opinions to myself. And so after everything, despite the need to prove my capability to run the household by myself, it was still a heart-warming thing to know I am still my daddy's girl.*sigh*

2008 Vacation Plans

As most of you know, we try to go on a big vaca on an annual basis. This year, we are looking to accommodate two big Rosales and Ochoa family events and plan a feasible itinerary around them. The Rosales family (L's maternal grandmother's side) reunion will take place Labor Day wkend, with various activities scheduled for it throughout that time. Then L's lovely cousin, Davina is getting married two weeks later. The former will be in Pueblo, CO and the latter in Denver.
Here's the tentative plan:
Drive south and catch I-70 instead of the usual barren ride thru WY. Maps.com estimates the entire drive from Layton to Pueblo as 12hrs. However, we are contemplating a brief stop at Arches NP to take some pics.

I am wavering on this b/c 1) the kids may find the trip a bit too much totalling at 14-15 hrs, 2) but we will probably have a harder time making it over there in the future, 3) gas prices (need I say more?), 4) I hate admitting to those that we've lived here in UT for 5+yrs and still haven't gone, 5) those pics would make priceless scrapbook pgs!
Reunion time. I hope others won't get too offended if we didn't attend ALL of the events. L and I are looking to sneak off to the Great Sand Dunes Natl. Mon. so the kids can sled down the dunes

and perhaps catch the cog up to Pike's Peak.

Two days of unscheduled destinations. Then off to Cheyenne to visit w/the girl who we credit for getting L and I together. I haven't yet met her darling son Andrew and her dog Sophie (hahaha). OUR Soph would get a kick out of that.
Here's another area of contention: Do we or do we not attempt an 8 hr trip to Rapid City, SD to see our other friends, the Ortegas, and see Mt. Rushmore. All factors being considered mirror those of the Arches stop. And if we opt out of this detour, what & where would we do w/the time?

Afterwards, we have reserved a stay @ the Keystone Resort thru Rocky Mountain Blue: There's no ? as to whether or not we're going here...it's too great of a deal to pass this up. Then we are headed off to Denver to attend wedding festivities (L is an usher), and back home we go!

Honestly, does this sound too much for the little runts? I'm hoping to schedule enough downtime in b/w but I suspect these guys'll be tuckered out when we get home. We have two weeks to kill and we want the kids to remember this as fondly as they do the Vegas/Disneyland/SeaWorld trip, or even the visit to L's 'rents in VA where we got to see the Luray Caverns, Colonial Williamsburg, and some days of berry picking. Anyway, would LOVE the input...
L is prob laughing at me right now and my inescapable tendencies to overthink and overplan.

Part-time Single Mom

Even while I was still in active duty, TDY's were hard to come by in my career field. L's, however, is chock full of opportunities to travel for a week or two. These next two weeks are one of those "opportunities." L left for Vegas two days ago, and I, as dependent wife, have slipped in once again into my role as the single mother. Part-time as it may be, this job position is not one I relish.

Already, I am repeatedly peeking out the window as the weeds slowly engulf the space we used to call our backyard. I have no motivation to cook, clean, do homework...NOTHING...except surf the Internet.

I did, however, manage to start up Sophie-So on my version of pre-school lessons again. That girl is so darn smart. I was relieved to find her attentive and eager to learn.

Which leads me to a dilemma I am having: To pre-school or not to pre-school. I have had many conversations about the subject, but yet remain undecided. Studies show pre-school lessons are NOT required to be successfull in kindergarten. As tight as the wallet is at the moment, that fact is quite a relief since pre-schools charge up to a C-note per month.

Yet, I want Sophie to be involved and learning. Currently at home, we have art days, crafting activities, and "lessons" on the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes, etc. Is that enough? Or do official pre-schools offer more than that? Soph gets to socialize with the neighborhood kids almost every day, so is there anything she will be missing out on by not going to pre-school? Any input on the matter is appreciated.

Camping...FINALLY!

After several failed attempts and cancelled campsite reservations, we finally made it to Payson Lakes on the Nebo Loop Scenic Byway. I was pretty nervous about the campgrounds, since we've never camped there before. The time we tried to scout the area in May, the road leading up to it was still closed due to snow. I was tempted to canx that reservation and go for a place we've been before. I will forever thank the camping gods we didn't.

Big East Lake---one of the three lakes surrounding our campsite.

The beauty about this lake, it is large enough that those seeking a more secluded spot can easily find one, but small enough that we were able to take a walk around its perimeter with the kiddies in less than an hour. Despite the elevation, the water was a pleasant temp, and kids were swimming and playing in the shallow end throughout the day. Tip: Bring an inflatable boat/raft and swimming gear. The trout there jumped at worms and snubbed Powerbait; there were a bunch of people coming from the dam area with a line of them.

The sites were set a ways from each other; we were able to get some privacy. The facilities in the loops consisted of those icky vault toilets (the boys didn't seem to mind). I don't know how anyone could stomach setting foot near those things. Breathing through the mouth did NOT work the only time I tried, and I spent the next five minutes dry heaving from the stench. My lung capacity isn't anything to brag about, so I couldn't hold my breath through the whole ordeal either. I had to resort to taking the one-minute drive to the day-use area by the lake and going to the flush toilets there. Needless to say, I only drank enough to keep me from the brink of dehydration. We definitely need to bring our own PETT toilets next time. (Review on that after the next camping blog.)

My 10-year-old baby got to start the fire this year, as his dad promised. L just supervised and talked him through it, and five minutes later, POOF! there was the crackling of the campfire. Good job, Dylan!

Dinner was scrumptious! Cornish hens rubbed down with garlic powder, salt and pepper, wrapped in aluminum foil and set into the fire pit for an hour. The juicy meat just fell off the bones. Yum!

All in all, total success! LOVE Payson Lakes!