Mission Accomplished

The dreaded shopping weekend has come to a close. I am proud to say the majority of Fam Och's Christmas shopping is done. And NO, I wasn't insane enough to join in the rabid throng of shoppers on Black Friday (all I did that day was pick up a book at B&N). My sis and I abandoned L at home with the three kids plus one (my niece) and went out Saturday morning to shop for the kids' lists.


Mister D had a list of about twenty-plus items in no particular order. So L and I had to pay extra attention to what he mentioned in conversation the most. I had given him my King Arthur and His Knights of the Round Table novel for his reading assignment in school, and he is devouring the text.
#1 Mega Bloks King Arthur Castle
#2 Mega Bloks King Arthur Warship
#3 Mega Bloks King Arthur Battle Bridge
#4 Madden '09 for XBOX 360
#5 Army of Two for XBOX 360
Easy enough. I am thankful he isn't as indecisive as he was last year, leaving me running around trying to find a Guitar Hero for Wii at the last minute.


Sassy S has a very specific list of three items:
#1 Spike the two foot remote control dinosaur (what a surprise)
#2 Star Wars Clone Wars Electronic Blaster--in her words "the Star Wars gun that shoots and makes noise"
#3 Play-Doh (this is banned from the house, and I have felt a bit guilty of depriving this little one of the endless hours of creative play)
I have been lucky in #1 and #3...but the darn gun blaster has eluded me. All the local stores and online equivalents are out of stock. I fear I may have to resort to paying the over-inflated price from a private seller. Ugh!


Ornery O, at nineteen months, has no clue about the Christmas season, so she is, a given, the easiest one to shop for. She is currently obsessed with the Wonder Pets, constantly singing her favorite part of the cartoon's theme song, ...Ming Ming, too!" over and over again so she'll be getting something that'll play the song at her whim and drive me crazy at the same time. (Aah, the sacrifices a mother makes to materially spoil her children.)

This year, we actually had a limit for each kid, and much to my surprise it has worked. The three will have a great Christmas morning, and my wallet isn't in tatters, thank goodness. Now, for the task of wrapping all of these goodies up without any of the runts peeking in to see...

What is Going On?

Humanity is in decline, folks. The ongoing tragedy in Mumbai, India has left me saddened despite my wonderful Thanksgiving celebration.

And get this, because of the Black Friday sale madness, a WalMart employee was trampled by a horde of customers and died!

Is it really worth the bargain merchandise, people?

Geez...it's so hard to wrap my mind around this.

Giving Thanks

So so many things to be thankful for. Yesterday was yet another fantastic Thanksgiving full of awesome food and the company of family.

We are truly blessed.

Seeing as Fam Och and Fam Rigby (my sister's) are the only real family we have around these parts, it's been a tradition now to gather at our place for the yearly turkey gorging. This year, L roasted the juiciest most succulent turkey EVER. And of course, he had to make his cheddar mashed potatoes or Abs would have burned the house down. I finally perfected grandma's stuffing recipe. The usual sides of corn and green beans were easy enough. And I tried a sauteed mushroom and spinach dish for just Abs and I (the boys refuse to eat fungus). I made a chocolate pudding pie for L. But my masterpiece for the day had to be my chocolate fudge brownie and strawberry trifle complete with homemade chocolate custard. Abs couldn't even wait for me to take a pic of the darn thing, she was ready to jump in the bowl herself.

Fam Rigby brought drinks and two yummylicious fruit pies. Afterward, as if we still had room, Abs and I attacked the huckleberry wine and drank half the bottle. After that supper, it is official: I can live on the sole sustenance of the calories I consumed for that meal until Christmas.

Christmas time will be another stuff-your-face event as L's twin brothers and lovely teenage niece will be over for a visit. I'm already in the process of planning that day's menu.

Gotta love the holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

My HUBBY: a love letter

As he turns a year older (officially stepping into the world of the old), I just wanted to dedicate this one entry to my wondermastic hubby.

A few things I lurve about this man...

1. L is a romantic through and through. During his time in Korea, he would play and sing songs to me over the phone. Occasionally, on a random day, he'd serenade me while we're driving in the car.

2. He hates to fight, almost as much as I have the propensity to. He is the calm voice that tones me down when I have my dukes up.

3. He always makes sure that we part ways with an "I love you"...even when he's just going to the other room.

4. L is the best father. He thinks his uniform is the ultimate drag, but he'll gladly wrestle on the floor with the kids for an hour after coming home before even thinking about changing into civilian clothes.

5. I've never heard him complain of diaper duty (and he does his fair share, most times, even more) and getting up in the middle of the night to put the little ones back to sleep (that, I never do).

6. He is as caring about other people as much as he cares about us. He gladly sits in the emergency room while one of his young troops is receiving treatment just so the kid has someone there with him when he wakes up. (This is why all the young guys seek him out as a mentor.)

7. When I get frustrated with homework or writing, he smiles and re-assures me I can do it, and I can see in his eyes that he truly believes in me.

8. He's a strong strong man. While at a bar, a brawl had broken out, and I was in immediate danger of becoming collateral damage. I was seated in a chair, and he lifted me and it out of harm's way in one fluid motion that I didn't even spill one drop from my drink. How's that for impressive?

9. He's a proud parent. You can tell when a parent is all about their kids when that is all he can talk about. Upon returning from the desert, there were so many of his co-workers who couldn't wait to meet the kids because of all of his stories.

10. L is adventurous. He is always game for a new adventure/vacation whenever, wherever, best if simply played by ear. (totally contradictory to my controlling nature)

11. L is an athlete. He is naturally talented and capable in every sport from volleyball to basketball to billiards to ping pong. He is competitive and LOVES to show someone up when challenged.

12. He is just about the funniest guy I know. L is quick-witted (unlike myself) and can pitch out a comeback out of nowhere. The guy can get me laughing even in the midst of non-medicated labor.

13. He'll gladly take on all three kids to give me some valuable "me" time in the gym or shopping or in the bath.

14. L is not afraid to admit he is wrong. Forget all that macho bulls* and pride, he is quick to apologize and make things right.

15. He puts up with me. Is there any other trait indispensable to a marriage than that? It takes a whole different type of man to put up with moi, and this guy is it.

If I were to expand on this list, I would never find a stopping point, because, thruthfully, there are countless more reasons why I adore this birthday boy.

Happy 35th, love!

Impatience and a Peculiar Sleeping Habit

S was already in the bath while L was pulling pajamas out for O. Apparently, her dad was moving WAY too slow for our little impatient one. She just could NOT wait any longer!
This one fell asleep with her fave hat on O's Boppy.

Proud

"Fine! Kill each other!" my father handed both my sister and I a steak knife each in the midst of one our more infamous brawls.

It was a classic love-hate sibling relationship. Born three years apart, our ages were far enough to have significant differences between us, but close enough to forge a close friendship. My mother would always shake her head in frustration, "Ka-da-dalawa nyo lang, nag-aaway pa kayo." (You only have each other, and still you fight.)

I suppose rivalry is an unavoidable factor between siblings, especially between sisters. As the older one, I remember feeling impatience with her stubborn and headstrong persona. I would boil over her expectations for me to pick up the pieces of her problems. But conflictingly, I relished in my role as the big sister, helping her decide what to plant in her new garden, making all the Christmas treats even when she came with the promise of "helping," and shouldering the ultimate responsibility of tucking her under my wing to protect her from anything that would prove harmful. Funny, when we were little, I would dominate and hit her at my discretion...but nobody else better dare because nobody hurt MY sister, except for myself, that is.

Today, I felt that urge to come to her defense once more in response to an unthoughtful and uncalled for attack from someone we both knew. As I seethed in my anger, I had to take a step back and let her deal on her own. As I observed her handle the situation, I could only feel an overwhelming sense of pride. She, who has overcome countless adversities to get to where she's at in her life right now, handled herself and capably responded in a manner only she could. My baby sister did not need me to come to her aid this time around.

My desire to protect you may never fully wane, and you may turn me away in the instances I offer unneeded assistance. Our roles may have turned us as into equals now, but know that I can never fully abandon my duties as the big sister, and the offer of help or advice or both will always be out there for you to take whenever you need it. I am SO proud of you. Luv you to bits.

TWILIGHT: a review

Number One Rule: Never EVER go into a movie adapted from a book expecting the same quality.

It just sets you up for a world of disappointment. Words read from the pages of a novel are free to be molded into the reader's vision, limited only by the constraints of his or her imagination. It is only a given that the director's vision would differ from yours.

I have been able to follow that fairly consistently, and have emerged from the finishing credits satisfied...as is the case with the much-hyped Twilight. L, D, and I went with the H's to the first showing Saturday morning to avoid the majority of the screaming teenage crowds. As usual, I came out of there with a content smile on my face.

I got into the series after purchasing the first three novels and devouring them back to back when L left for the sandbox last year. Back then, I was completely unaware of the hype it has stirred up. And to tell you the truth, because the plot revolved around a high school girl, I was a bit reluctant to share my enthusiasm with the grown-ups. Not until I discovered the whole circle was actually on the same page did I realize the extent if this series' success.

Back to the movie, I liked it a lot. Bella was as clumsy as I imagined her to be. Jasper, a little too deer-in-the-headlights slash creepy for me. Rosalie, the blond, had a bit too much Puerto Rican J.Lo to her ass. Edward, as angst-ridden as I had expected although I wish he didn't widen his eyes so much. And I do agree with most...I wanted to, more than anything else, slather some hot Nad's on that chest of his and rip all that hair off.

Other than those and a few minor items, the movie was faithful to the novel, even reciting dialogue from the book verbatim. I appreciated the organic nature of the special effects. I liked the comic relief. I especially liked Charlie's demeanor. I want to go and see it again. More so, I can't wait to see Eclipse, the third installment. I am not too much of a fan of New Moon (sorry Team Jacob). And I'm hoping the studio exercises their creative license and expand on the battle that never was in Breaking Dawn.

4 out of 5. Thumbs Up.

Quarantine

The Och household is on the mend, not from one, but two types of illnesses! Yuck!

After registering a 103 degree fever, Wee Care quickly diagnosed S with strep throat. Ingesting 24 hours worth of antibiotics will nix the contagious factor. Thank goodness. She is already bouncing off the walls, a complete 180 from the curling up in bed in her robe and sleeping all day yesterday.

O is much better, stomach still a bit yucky, but at least it's only coming out of one end now. Thankfully, her appetite hasn't waned, which has helped speed her recovery.

D, who we believed impervious to these bouts of sickness as he is the healthiest of the fam, caught us off guard midnight last night by chunks-painting the floor and walls and every other surface of the bathroom and the path leading to it (all except inside the toilet). Poor D. And poor L for having to clean it all up by himself while I cowered in bed, resisting the urge to gag from the visual of the mess.

L has not seen his workplace this whole week and has been ordered by the flight doc to stay away for its remainder. As much as I absolutely LURVE having my man home, this is NOT one of the circumstances I want him here, especially since he is infamous for contracting the same illness as all of us, only magnified by 100.

As for myself, my immune system seems to be the strongest of the whole clan. (although I am afraid I am jinxing myself by typing it out). I BETTER be ok, since Twilight is waiting for me!

So What's Up?

With all the craziness of laying this new floor and all the accompanying projects that piggy-backed onto it, getting set-up for Xmas, school, and whatever random thing that has come up to occupy our time, my postings have been, at best, sporadic. My apologies to my loyal readers...*smile*

Here's an hodge podge update of Fam Och...

The girls have been fighting off a cold lately, and Liv, unfortunately, the squirts also (eeew, you say. too graphic? hehehe. that was the point.).
We are STILL finishing up the trim. L has been fighting flu season as we speak, so I gathered up all the pressure and tucked it away in my pocket during his recovery.
D had his first parent-teacher conference of the year. And guess what topic was discussed? Yet AGAIN, my blabbermouth (or overly social butterfly) of a son has scored low in Following Directions and Classroom Behavior. This has been an ongoing issue since Kindergarten and no matter how we approach the subject, whether it be threatening or bribing, nothing seems to alleviate the problem. Otherwise, D is doing great on his schoolwork, and his reading level is a grade higher than his actual.
And some great great news. The stepparent adoption for D has finally reached a point in which the end is within sight. Our lawyer has practically promised that by the time registration for next school year has come, D will officially be an Ochoa. L and D are way over the moon with this news. Of course, so am I...but if you guys could only see the excitement threatening to bust those two open!

We attended a musical presented by the local LDS stake to support our neighbors. Boy, were we impressed! L and I had no clue had no inkling as to how talented our friends are!!! S & B, husband and wife directing team, also were featured in the show and they totally blew us away! Phenomenal! I wish I had videotaped the thing 'cause I want to hear them sing again so bad. And C, our ultra-talented dancer who choreographed a tap number...wow! You guys were SO good!

I already bought tickets to see Twilight this weekend with L and D. Excited!!!

Now, I am slowly but surely bringing the house and mountains of laundry back to manageable terms.

I think that's about it. Cheers!

Ta Daaaa!

Not exactly 100% finished yet, but the finishing details can't be seen on camera anyway. Still need to finish up the trim and molding, and the floor behind the couch isn't done. But doesn't it look purty?

The couch is new (cushions slipcovers are easily removed if in need of washing). Notice the window wall's new accent color. The tree came up today. Old tree, but new color theme to match the bolster pillows on the couch. How's light blue and chocolate brown for Xmas colors? And the FLOOR! Shiny, smooth, non-damp floor!

I love home improvement!

Announcement!!!

L's BOP got approved. It is now official! Fam Och is here in Utah until November 2010 at least! YEAY!

My 100

Ms. Jill, my wonderful neighbor and friend, inspired this post. I had read her 100 things list she posted in honor of her 100th post and loved it. So I'm gonna gank the idea and offer more little known? details of myself in honor of MY 100th post.

1. I am a cancer survivor...Hodgkin's lymphoma to be exact. It was brutal and I gritted my teeth and came out on top. Pretty darn proud of that.
2. I was born in Japan and spent the majority of my young life there. Sadly enough, I cannot speak the language. Why so? I was lazy.
3. Reading is one of my passions. I can finish a good-sized book in less than a day. Then I go back and re-read my favorite parts.
4. I love HGTV and any show that features decorating. Candice Olsen is one of my faves.
5. Dark chocolate is heaven! Especially wrapped around those orange jelly sticks.
6. I like my homemade cookies and brownies semi-burnt and crunchy. L and D always bake a batch a few extra minutes just for me.
7. I am the worst teacher in the world. I get it from my father. If D needs help with homework, he needs to go to his dad, 'cuz if he doesn't get it the first time I explain to him, I start pulling my hair out at the roots. When dad's not here, he's SOL.
8. I was in the varsity volleyball team in high school. I did double duty--I was also the boys volleyball net height checker...if I could stand up straight UNDER their net with the bottom of it grazing my head, then it was in regulation height.
9. I was the salutatorian in my graduating class. Impressive...until I say my class only had 21 people.
10. Utah is the place I have lived the longest. Before moving here, I believe I have lived in one place for at most 4 years.
11. I worshipped Olive Garden! I would get thoroughly annoyed whenever L cut it down as "not real Italian," until I went to Rome and had the real thing. Now, I just go to OG to have OG food, not Italian food.
12. I can disassemble an M-16 assault rifle and put it back together without having to refer to the manual.
13. I used to kickbox in my heyday. No, not aerobic kickboxing classes, but badass sparring. I made a 6'4" 220 lb man cry from a well-placed kick in the thigh.
14. L says I can find info on any given thing online. I suppose I should be able to with all the time I spend on the net.
15. Tunnels and bridges scare the begeesus out of me. I will scream my way through and over them each and every time.
16. The same holds for those road construction concrete barriers, and also having to drive sandwiched in between two trucks.
17. I have an escape route from every room in the house. Paranoid? Maybe. Prepared? All the time.
18. I am absolutely awful at keeping in touch. I rely heavily on blogging and MySpace to make up for my shortcomings.
19. I love to eat cold cold watermelon sprinkled with salt OR blended with tons of ice.
20. As much as I love watermelon, I cannot stand watermelon flavored candy or gum.
21. I can do laundry all day, I just HATE folding it, and HATE putting it away even more. Let's not even talk about ironing.
22. Until recently, I hated taking my contacts out at night...so I didn't. A severe eye infection later, don't think I'll be doing that again.
23. I'm a toolbelt diva now! I can officialy operate a miter saw, orbital jigsaw, and nail gun.
24. Guilty pleasure: weekly gossip magazines. I've cut myself off now, but L keeps buying them for me.
25. I love to cook. Everyday Italian by Giada DeLaurentiis always has recipes the whole fam can appreciate.
26. I enjoy sitting in the tub,in a scalding hot shower.
27. I eat SPAM, the classic mystery meat. It's a fave in the Philippines, and I grew up eating slices of it fried and served with garlic fried rice for breakfast.
28. Starbucks Cafe Mocha with extra whipped cream is a fave of mine, although the caffeine in the drink makes me drowsy.
29. I prepare pancit bihon (rice noodles) for each birthday. It's a Filipino tradition that is believed to symbolize long life.
30. I was selected through a taped audition to participate in the Pacific-Wide Honors Choir. A whole week of no school and only hours and hours of singing in Okinawa...can't beat that.
31. The only good popcorn is saturated in butter, or salt and sweet kettle style, eaten one kernel at a time. Even better when matched with Whoppers.
32. Orange juice consumed in amounts larger than a shot glass triggers migraines for me. Apparently, UTA weekends at the guard base seem to do the same.
33. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas and everything it entails: Christmas trees, ornaments, lights, commercialism, wrapping paper, tradition and peanut butter balls.
34. My high school senior crush was my best friend. I couldn't understand why he couldn't see me in the same way until after graduation, he confessed he was gay. Now he goes to parties in drag. Go figure.
35. I collect shot glasses. I have at least one from every state. But they're all stashed away in a box somewhere.
36. I hate dressing rooms. I have a habit of buying hundreds of dollars worth of clothes, trying them on at home, then returning what I don't like.
37. As a sophomore, I travelled to Tokyo to participate in a CNN Tokyo video-filming seminar for a week. We taped a news segment for CNN and it aired in the country.
38. I would love to be a professional photographer.
39. I would love to be an interior decorator.
40. I would love to be a chef.
41. Isn't it obvious I have no idea what I want to be? I am fickle and have momentary obsessive fixations on different career paths.
42. I love to write! THAT has always been a constant.
43. Digital scrapbooking is an awesome pasttime with a rewarding product...if only I can master Adobe Photoshop...
44. Strangely enough, I love the smell of bleach...it signifies cleanliness.
45. I HATE it when my left arm is more dirty brown than my other arm because of driving in the summer.
46. I can dance decently. It helps to have an awesome partner who can lead.
47. Next year, I will be running 5k's, and 10k's. So by 2010, I can run a marathon.
48. I have trained to run the Army Ten Miler Run in Washington D.C. A stress fracture in my shin prevented me from participating.
49. My friends used to tease me about my "finger toes" since they seem abnormally long and because I can pick things up from the floor with them.
50. I am obsessive when it comes to countertops. They MUST be free of random items, and gleaming clean.
51. With three munchkins, my OCD nature concerning countertops have been constantly aggravated on a daily basis.
52. I love the lines on the carpet left behind by the vaccuum. It's evidence I have cleaned.
53. My brain keeps telling me to get rid of my dogs. My heart breaks every time I think about it.
54. There is nothing more heavenly than the feel of itty bitty baby hands on my face.
55. I have three wonderful wonderful children. I have been forbidden to have any more by my physical therapist lest my pelvis gets whacked out permanently.
56. As sad as it is, I am somewhat relieved to know once O is potty-trained, diapers will never be a household staple ever again.
57. At boot camp, when wearing it properly on my shoulders, my duffel bag hung below the backs of my knees. It made marching extremely difficult.
58. I developed a major case of shin splints during boot camp. My stride was half that of a normal person's...again...marching sucked.
59. To make things worse, the TI's found it amusing to make me a road guard just so they can see me run my little heart out.
60. I gave birth to D and S without an epidural or any other type of pain meds.
61. By the time O was ready to be born, I had the epiphany I had nothing to prove to anyone and gladly welcomed a more comfortable epidural-relieved labor.
62. Only until I met L did I ever have a happy Valentine's Day.
63. Every single year, it rains (or at least sprinkles ever so lightly) on my birthday.
64. When I was a kid, I fell into an open sewage canal in the Philippines. EEWWW.
65. When I was six, my sister pushed me, three fingers first, into an electric fan. Clank! Clank! Clank! Severed tendon later, I cannot move the first joint of my left ring finger.
66. As much as we hate each other at times, I cannot live without my sister nearby.
67. I am a sympathetic eater. If I see someone eat, I need to also...hence, my current figure. I need to hang out with anorexics.
68. I am also a sympathetic vomitter. Can't stand to hear or see it. Hanging out with anorexics and bullimics would make me REALLY thin.
69. I did not step foot in the U.S. until I was 18. (But that was Hawaii)
70. I did not step foot in the mainland U.S. until I was 20.
71. I was accepted into New York University's Stern School of Business under the Honors program, and also Yale University. But I was stupid and stayed in the PI.
72. One of my favorite books: The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo. I plan to give all my kids a copy--it has such a great message.
73. I once had to play in a war exercise in which I had a backpack full of $1.5 million dollars. I had to form a makeshift "office" outside a tent with a cot, cash box, calculator, and four armed guards in 115 degree humid heat. Fun times.
74. O's conception was the lucky break that kept me from a tour of duty in Iraq.
75. I can float but somehow manage to sink when I try to move my arms and/or kick.
76. I cannot doggy paddle.
77. I had a driver's license before I learned to drive. I bought it in the PI, then learned to drive a manual afterwards.
78. I have the dirtiest sailor mouth in the history of short Asian women. Utah has somehow mitigated this condition.
79. I was a huge New Kids on the Block fan. My walls and ceiling were plastered with their posters...especially Jordan Knight (who is still hot).
80. Now, I have acquired a more mature taste for James Bond yumminess Daniel Craig and 300's Gerard Butler.
81. I once had my hair "styled" and cut as short as D's hair. EEEWWW. L forbids me to get this cut again (not that I ever would).
82. I love iced green tea with milk and sugar.
83. I will not tolerate multi colored lights, tinsel, or popcorn garland on my Xmas tree. It gives L justification to have his own gaudy tacky tree downstairs in the basement.
84. I am fluent in Tagalog, the main Philippine dialect. However, I am having trouble passing it on to my children.
85. I was once hypnotized in a show and jumped on stage and danced and lip-synched to Madonna's Vogue.
86. I would love to visit the Philippines again...if only to EAT all of the local foods I miss so much.
87. I am vacillating between the Philippines and another trip to Europe sans kids for the next big vacay.
88. My mind is constantly on-the-go, even when I sleep. According to L, right before I fall into a deep sleep, I am mumbling the next day's grocery list.
89. As a freshman in high school, I worked as a cashier at a McDonald's in Japan. I had to greet every customer with a "Irrashaimase!" (Welcome!) Needless to say, I quit after two months.
90. I love potato chips, the weirder the flavor, the better. But black pepper and sea salt chips are timeless.
91. When I was pregnant with D, I craved unripe green mangoes dipped in rock salt and I would also eat half a semi-frozen papaya all the time.
92. When I was pregnant with S, I craved McD's double cheeseburgers.
93. When I was pregnant with O, I craved Starbucks Cafe Mochas (de-caf of course). Can you tell which pregnancies got me fat?
94. I believe in Jesus Christ and his teachings of love. I am loving and accepting of all people, regardless of race, culture, religious and sexual preference. It is not my place to judge.
95. I want an IKEA kitchen complete with organizers and matching new cookware.
96. I want an orderly and weed-free backyard even more. Realization of my patio dream continues to elude me.
97. L and I stayed at a mansion in Key West for our honeymoon. It was only afterward did we learn the place is a well-known stop on the local ghost tours.
98. I almost got kicked out of the Sistine Chapel for touching Michelangelo's walls not once but three times.
99. Right before going to vacay in Disneyland, I found out I was preggers with O. I got suck waiting for L and D to ride the Matterhorn and Space and Splash Mountain. Booo!
100. This took me a whole week to come up with all this nonsense. Hope you enjoy.

Jumble Jumble Aftermath

This is how life has responded to my "Jumble Jumble" post.

Long story short, I had a myriad of complaints and grievances listed in the previously mentioned post last month. It felt good to vent. However, shortly afterwards, I read a post from one of my friends who reflected on her little boy's past injury and how thankful it has made her for her family's health and how it also re-affirmed her faith. Talk about a lesson in humility. I instantly felt ashamed of my material concerns and put the focus back on what is important.

The Lord has blessed my family in countless ways and I wasn't taking the time to appreciate them. I looked at how fortunate we are that S is now officially seizure-free, how D is such an intelligent and caring young man, and O hasn't had to use her Epi-Pen. L has a rewarding job that he loves. Not many families have the privilege of having a single income and making it work. I am cancer-free! Gosh, what more could you ask for, really?

The shift of focus put everything else in alignment. Once I got my head on straight, solutions to our "problems" started raining in on us. $$$ was an issue when it came to replacing our molded carpet. Out of nowhere, as a result from the generosity of a caring retired chief, the Air Force Aid Society heard of our situation and suddenly, we receive a grant to pay for the flooring! Apparently, we fit into the category of "Emergency Home Repair" because of the mold. Who woulda thunk it? The funds that L and I had managed to scrounge up then became the new couch to replace the ruined ones we have to throw out.

Things are looking on the up and up. L and I have enjoyed the flooring project immensely--we decided to nix schedules and just take our time. It has worked wonders, especially since I am generally impatient with getting things done and with L in particular. The house is in a state of disarray it has never seen before due to the construction, but right now, I'm taking it easy. I am looking forward to putting up the new trim and painting it and then re-decorating my living, dining, and guest rooms. And don't forget the Xmas tree! Funny, how all this stuff I whined about blossomed into these new and exciting projects.

Life is Good. I guess I just needed some reminding.

Honoring HEROES

This is an issue I've had with the Utah Department of Education. It is VETERAN's DAY and it is not honored in the school system. Right now, students are expected to attend school on this, of all, national holidays. WTF??? Maybe it's because Fam Och is a family of veterans that we take this as a personal insult. Refusing to honor this holiday is a slap in the face for all who have sacrificed for this country. Whether it is the ultimate sacrifice of life, or a mountain of little ones such as separation from family, and simply living the code...there are too many of them to be ignored.

L's two uncles, two cousins, father, brother all served honorably. His father and uncle both served 25 years and retired a Command Master Chief Petty Officer (the highest enlisted rank in the Navy). My father served 26 years in the Navy also, and retired a Chief Petty Officer, serving pretty much half of that time away at sea. L has given 14 years already, 7 of which was in Special Operations and all that entailed. I have dedicated 7 years of active duty myself, now choosing to serve the state in the National Guard. All in all, Fam Och has given this country and our fight for freedom a total of 110 years.

Veteran's Day is a holiday for Fam Och. That is why our boy is not in school today.

So long, farewell?

L and I knew it was inevitable, and although we have a sliver of a chance to get out of this, we have been notified a mandated move is in the early future for Fam Och. It's actually a bit depressing actually typing this out, and I guess that's why I've held off for so long (two weeks or so) to post it.
The mandate states: anyone at a base for more than five years is very vulnerable to orders. January will be the release date of the list of those who must comply. Another thing, since it will be a command-level move, the next location will be an "undesirable" one. Example: North Dakota, South Carolina, Texas (NO!!!!), etc.
We've broken the news to the kids, with only Dylan really being able to grasp the concept. As a team, of course, we are putting on an excited and optimistic air to the whole issue. There is no such thing as a boring place, right? Privately, L and I are terrified of leaving this safe little niche we've found here in this circle. Sell or rent out? What furniture comes with us and what goes to DI? Is driving two cars on a three-four-five day drive even plausible? List of decisions are endless.
L has applied for an "in-place-base of preference" which has already been approved base-level. We are crossing our fingers for the decision from headquarters. I mean, really, it is more cost-beneficial to the govt if we stay, and maybe the state of the economy will work on our side this time. If this gets the ok, then we're here for another two years guaranteed. If not, then we're outta here by next October.

Adventures in Laminate Flooring Part 3

So busy! I haven't realized I hadn't posted since Thursday. L and I are still busy with the floor. We started nearly a week ago, but with school, and the kids requiring nourishment and attention, it's been back and forth.
I am proud to say, however, that this project can be undertaken by one female! Friday, I was SO restless waiting for L to come home, I bravely approached that monster of a power saw and cut my first plank. Afterwards, I was on such a roll, I found I laid half of the living room floor before L got here. Toolbelt Diva!!!! I just need to find a pink toolbelt. hehehehe. Also, Saturday, L insisted on taking a 3 hour break to watch his football team lose...I decided to take on our new orbital jigsaw myself! All fingers intact! Yeay!
The main part of laying the planks goes by fairly easily and quickly. The only hurdles that will hinder progress will be the floor vents and any walls that are diagonal. Let's not forget doors! I officially despise doors and door jambs. We had to undercut the jambs with a saw, and if there are doors on your last row, you actually saw a portion of the jamb off and re-attach it later. We have also found our hallway walls are not perfectly square with the living room. This required us to be a bit more creative with the cutting process in order to have the floor edge covered by the trim that will come back up.
We are on our last long row today, and then it will be time for the floor molding to come in. I'm hoping to do this myself, but I think Liv is coming down with a cold. Finally, L will purchase new trim today (he broke a bunch removing them) and a tube of putty (Liv decided to use our right angle ruler as a skateboard and chipped a plank).
The floor is beeeautiful! L joked we can have house parties now and actually have a dance floor. The kids love sliding around on it. The dogs can't stand losing their footing, so they tread very carefully. (I did observe some rough playhousing and no scratches!) I, on the other hand, LOVE walking barefoot on the cool, clean floor. I do NOT miss carpet!
We will be finishing the dining room and kitchen within the month. But L insists we take a bit of a break to rest our bruised knees. Now, I'm trying to convince L to change our bedroom, too.
For those of you who will actually do this later on, we have an arsenal of tools and supplies free to borrow. This is actually a pocket-friendly renovation...our hallway and living room cost about $600, the rest will be an additional $300. Not bad, totally doable.

And the dinosaur said OK

This was supposed to be S' original costume for Halloween. She caught a glimpse of the T-Rex costume in Denver, and quickly reneged. (So much for saving $$$ on a costume.) But one of her neighbor friends held a princess party yesterday, and it called for guests to dress up as a princess. Initially, I was skeptical, thinking S would still insist on roaring her way through the party, but she pulled out the Snow White dress of her own accord. Yeay! And she wanted me to curl her hair under and put a red bow in so she would match the picture of the princess on her dress.

Me: So, no T-Rex today?
S: No, princesses are scared of dinosaurs. I'm a pretty princess today.

Sweetie, you're a pretty princess any day!

Adventures in Laminate Flooring Part 2

So, we actually got some planks down last night. Caveat: we only got a box of planks down. Pretty pathetic, huh? I know there are some of you who are seriously considering foregoing the nastiness of carpet for some laminate wood, so I will detail our "adventure" in this home endeavor.
We had already ripped out carpet a couple weeks beforehand. This is what we learned from the internet and our own experience laying the laminate downstairs:

1) The planks need to acclimate to your home temp for at least 48 hours. This eliminates warping and buckling of the wood due to sudden temp change. (This, I think, was the hardest part for me...waiting.)
2) You need to purchase underlayment for insulation and sound reduction, unless you purchase laminate with the underlayment pre-attached to its underside. (We have tried both, the downstairs laminate from Ikea required a vapor barrier and underlayment. This batch from Sam's Club already had it, which is SO worth it.)
3) Measure twice, cut once. HAHAHAHA. I already wasted one plank. It takes longer, but measuring again saves you in the long run. (We bought a 10" miter saw and a finer blade specifically for laminate flooring. SO much easier than a battery-operated hand saw, but we still needed to flip the plank around because the blade didn't cut all the way across. Also, you still need a hand saw to make detailed cuts for floor vents, etc.)

Cutting for the holes in the floor vents took the longest, not to mention getting everything set up and removing the baseboards without breaking them. I can't wait for L to get home from work so we can start on it again....but then again, I might just sneak off to the garage and play around with the miter saw to see if I can do it myself!

NOTE: The best thing to have for cutting detailed lines on the plank is an orbital jigsaw. Just found that out while perusing the aisles of Walmart.

Hopeful

"Normally" a Republican, but voted for the opposing party this election, I am excited and joyed to see that Barrack Obama will be the next president of the United States!

I have never witnessed an election day in which there was such a large turnout of those who exercised their civic duty. Such a patriotic day! Everyone, regardless of who they voted for should be proud they made their voice heard.

I think America simply wanted a change, and that electing yet another Republican president would contradict this desire. Obama as president means so much to the country in the form of change and hope. I am truly hoping he is what this country needs.

Adventures in Laminate Flooring Part I

We were optimistic heading into Buy Direct Flooring, a local store, since we had success with them in the past when we purchased the carpet for the basement earlier this year. We quickly lost our taste for the place when we had the ultimate displeasure of being "helped" by the biggest douchebag of all douchebags, TODD. Apparently, he is the nephew of the owner of the establishment, and feels it gives him the right to treat paying customers like they are way below his stature. I won't go into details...but the guy's a shmuck. Anyway, if anybody wants to do business with them, just make sure it's someone else who helps you.
But it still worked out in our favor. This has forced us to look elsewhere and we found an awesome deal at Sam's Club. They didn't have the exact shade of planks we were looking for, but the price won out in the end...$27/box versus $54/box at Lowe's and Home Depot for the same square footage! And Buy Direct quoted us for $1500 more than the total price for this stuff. Woohoo! And the underlayment is already attached.
Twenty boxes unloaded into the house later, the 48 hour wait for the planks to acclimate to the temp inside is driving me nuts! I am so excited to start laying it all down!!!!
I can see light at the end of the tunnel, folks! Before you know it, the floor will be done and then it'll be time to put the Xmas tree up!

DANCING NIGHT!!!

NOVEMBER 15th, SATURDAY

9:30 PM until you're too tired to dance

Free dance lessons at 9:30PM-10:30PM

Alright, folks, don't be the ones stuck at home bored again! It is time for the November dancing night out!!! Lou and I will be there at Studio 600 (non-smoking, non-alcoholic) in downtown SLC. Anybody interested in having a couples night out and learn some Latin dance moves can meet us there. As a reminder, there are free lessons at the beginning of the night. LOTS of couples show up for this, so don't think you'll be the only inexperienced ones if you show up. It was a spankin' great time when the Kelly's came out with us last month. Don't miss out!!! Hope to see you there!

Six Years

"A happy marriage is a long conversation that always seems too short."

- Andre Maurois

Six years doesn't seem to be a very long time. Especially when referred to in regards to the length of a marriage. I have certainly known couples who have been married for one or two quarter centuries, even more. When I think of how long Lou and I have been married, it seems that number in some way does us an injustice, as if it serves a perception he and I are still "new". But after successfully battling seemingly endless separations, cancer and all that comes with it, and of course the standard litany of marital obstacles, it already feels like we've graduated a long, long time ago from being newlyweds. Today is our second anniversary of the year, the first being our original civil wedding date, this one our ceremony date. And as anniversaries go, I am reminded to reminisce and be thankful.
I am known to be verbose, to put it mildly, but when it comes to Lou and I, well, I suppose you can say there are times I just can't find the right words. After several drafts of this post, I think I will just leave this as is. Louie, thank you for these six years. There is no one else in the world I would rather grow old with. I lurrve you.

Trick or Treat!!!

Another successful and safe Halloween for Fam Och. Mr. D, in the usual Mr D fashion, dressed as the superhero of the year, Ironman complete with bulging muscles and all that supercool jazz. S continues to defy girly tradition and decided to forego the Snow White ensemble for the more true-to-herself T-Rex. It was the cutest costume with the big fat pot belly and swinging tail. L, much to my dismay, continues to absolutely hate anything on her head, so her Olivia the Pig costume had to do without the cute pig head. There was one fleeting moment we were able to catch on film for posterity's sake, but that's all it lasted...one minute moment. Mizz M came over with her parents decked out as a witch, her face painted green and a humongous wart plastered on her chin.

The kids had a great time, and this year, the parents did, too, since the weather was uncharacteristically warm for this time of year.
The kids are already planning what to dress up as next year.