there was an old lady who lived in a shoe....

What do you do when you have 9 children to entertain for the day (actually they will all be here for three weeks for Easter Break!!!!)
Jaedon (1 yr old) is taking a nap so he is not in the pic.

You bring out the bin of dress up clothes and the dollhouse. ANd of course take pictures


Emma-4 Sarah,7 Anna , 5

Nahla-2

You call your husband who is working and allow him to enjoy the fun that 9 children bring!! (and be thankful that we stopped with 2!!)

Ryan-4

Michael-7 Alex-4 Mason-3

And then when it is lunchtime, you lay a mat down in the living room, put Dora in the DVD player, pass out everyone's lunches, and you sit down with the computer and enjoy the brief moment of quiet...or at least semi-quiet!!!

Only 2 1/2 more weeks to go!!!!!! (With a few more children here and there!!)

our new friend

Our new friend Anna came over on Monday to spend a few hours with us. Anna is 5 and a big ham!!! Her Mommy and Daddy just returned from a three month process in Armenia and D.C. and are settling back into daily life. Anna speaks very little English, but is learning something new everyday. I am sure she will blossom as soon as she begins Nursery at Beachbourough after Easter break!!

Three things she has definitely taken to are candy, Van Morrison's song, 'BROWN EYED GIRL', and vacuuming!!!!

happy easter

Can you make up a scenario for these Spring?????? pictures!!!!!!!

royalty in the house!!!

Today we were honored with a visit from Princess Emma Shea and Princess Nahla. We were so blessed to have such prim and proper-ness in our presence.

a girl's night out

Princess Aurora

On Monday, Michaela and I headed to London to see the Royal Ballet perform The Sleeping Beauty. The performance was incredible and Michaela was in awe--I think she has an understanding of the importance of daily practice and stretching now!!!!

i love to use scissors

Emma is becoming very 'crafty'--as in liking to do crafts, not sneaky:) Her new favorite thing to do is to draw shapes and cut them out!.

a great time with friends

Hard to believe Michaela is 9 days older!!!

Our trip to Alabama was great as it always is. We enjoyed visiting with Ms. Renea and the kids. Rachel and Michaela had a good time being goofy pre-teens together and Carley and Emma played fabulously together. It was a good visit that had to end too quickly.




Getting ready for the fashion show!!!

we are home

We made it back with little adventure--but you know with us there has to be some!!!

The flight from London to Detroit was uneventful--smooth flying the entire way. We made our connecting flight and then waited. We sat on the flight line for quite awhile, but we were finally able to take off. Halfway into the flight the pilot comes on and says we are having to turn around and fly back to Detroit (we only had 25 minutes to go until we arrived at CVG!!!) We flew back, loaded onto another plane and then headed to Cincinnati. Two hours later than expected we landed!

Michaela had planned on stopping at a restaurant once we landed. Since it was about 4am our time (UK), we headed straight to the house. The girls looked around and then crashed. Saturday we woke up late, went to BP to fill up with petrol(that was ugly!!!), ate at Skyline, and then went to Target for a few things. The next stop was Hannah's house. ***Oh yeah, I drove through the sub-division and all the way down Hicks Pike on the left side of the road and could not figure out why the idiot in the white truck would not get over--I became aware quickly!!!!!!

Hannah and Michaela squealed and hugged when they saw one another--you would think it had been 2 years since they had seen one another!!! We stayed and visited with Kim and the kids and ate Chipotle with them. Oh yeah, did I mention there was snow everywhere, so of course there was sledding. The kids stayed out for hours sledding down the hill. Emma and I left and went back to the house--Michaela of course spent the night!!

The rest of the week was filled with various activities--Bunco at the Rice's, ladies class at Debbie Curtis', lunch with Marvin and Sheila, dinner with Logan and Elizabeth, Don Pablo's with Kathy, Hayden, and Brianna, Sunday night dinner with the Spargos, McCamerons, and Beckleys, a sleep-over with Hannah and Abi Beckley, breakfast with Simona and the kids, and of course a trip to Alabama!!! The girls also ate lunch with Steve's parents on Sunday and went skating with Hannah, Lucas, and LeeAnn on Monday evening. This was in addition to the eating out and shopping the girls and I did together.

Welcome to Alabama--see the sunshine!!!

The flight home was scary--the trip from CVG to Detroit was AWFUL--thought we were plummeting to our death a few times due to the turbulence. We finally arrived in Detroit, ran to our connecting flight, made it as they were beginning to board, and then sat on the plane for TWO hours due to the snow and ice that was coming down!!! The plane was de-iced once and because of the amount of snow coming down, it had to be de-iced again before we could leave the gate. The flight was smooth once we got up, the girls slept, and we landed at Gatwick--very glad to be home.

Of course, what would a trip through Customs be without being detained!! We were only held for 20 minutes or so, given another 6 month stamp, and allowed to pick up our luggage and go see Steve!!!!

I believe we are all back on England time--Emma went to dance class last night, Michaela
went to school this morning and dance class tonight, and Nayla came this morning (her mom just started a new job and I will be babysitting her until they get at spot at the CDC). We are back to life as we know it!!!!

kentucky, here we come

Well, we are packed and ready to go.

I am not sure how much sleep the girls will get because they are VERY excited!!!

We are hoping for no ice or snow and warmer temperatures than there has been lately. At least we know that it will be warmer in Alabama!!!

See you in a few days!!

happy valentine's day

Hope your sweetheart sends you lots of love!!

where have my little girls gone?

I was looking at pictures while the children I am babysitting are playing.

It is hard to believe we are coming up on three years since we first came over here for 6 months and two years since we flew back over to live.

2005

NOW

2005

NOW

finally!!!

We decided to drive up to Lakenheath tonight and stay at the hotel. There is high, high speed internet in the rooms, so I have finally added links for some of the Venice pictures. {I had to use Shutterfly because I c/n figure out how to link to Photobucket.} I hope you enjoy them.

Steve is doing well at the new base. He has to get up at 2:45am, be out of the house by 3:45 so he can be armed and at guardmount by 5:00am. It is going to be a long, tiring 60 days, but WE ALL will survive it:):)!!!!

**** He fired EXPERT on the 9mm and M-16!!! Should I be proud that he can shoot guns well??????hahaha

Oh yeah, and I have survived turning the big 39!!. That can't be right can it? Surely I am still in my 20's!!!!!

siamo a casa

Ciao a tutti!

Well, we made it home. It was a good trip. We all enjoyed ourselves.
Michaela loved looking at all the Murano glass jewelry in the shops, Emma loved all the masks in the windows, and of course, they both LOVED the gelato!!!!

We left at 2:30 am for the airport and made it with no complications. We went through security with Steve setting off the sensor as he always does (it's that BB in his finger!!!) and then were made to throw away our toothpaste because it was over 100ml. (It was CREST Neat Squeeze and I had to send it over from the States:). We boarded the plane and took off at 6:25am. We were supposed to be landing on Treviso at 9:25, but after 2 failed attempts at landing due to the fog, we were diverted to another airport 15 minutes away. We then waited for the charter buses they sent for us to transport us back to Treviso. An hour after getting onto the bus, we arrived at the correct airport! It was raining, our morning was gone, so we loaded into the rental car (remembering to drive on the right side of the road) and headed to Aviano to check into the Mountain View Resort--gorgeous mountains all around and Austria just on the other side.

Sunday morning we drove to the train station, parked the car, bought our train tickets, and headed into Venice. The plan was to take a trip down the Grand Canel, climb Campanella tower, spend some time in the square and then walk back to the train station to head back to Aviano for church services at 3:30pm. (There is a group that meets at the base chapel so they have to wait for the Protestant and Catholic services to be over.) Unfortunantly, we were incorrectly told there was only one train every hour going back to Perdonone and we did not make it back to the station in time (Walking for 15 minutes and ending up where we started did not help!!) So with worship services missed, we continued exploring.

Monday morning we drove an hour to Treviso and parked the car near the airport and train station. We took the train in and explored for the next 7.5 hours. We walked EVERYWHERE!! The mosaics in the basilica were amazing! Gondolas were intricate--and everywhere. The palaces of the sinking city were unbelievable. The costumes for Carnevale were extraordinary!!!!

Exhausted, we headed back to Treviso and to the airport. We arrived home at 2:00am, the girls fell into bed, and were up at 8:00am for school--tired, but excited about the trip.

*** Pics to be added as soon as I can get them to upload to the blog--running very slow right now and pics are not being added?????

un'avventura di famiglia in Venezia

We are off on a three trip to Venice, Italy to mourn--oh, I mean celebrate, my 39th birthday. We leave at 2:30am {Ugh!!!} to drive to the airport for a 6:25am departure. We will have three full days of exploring the fabulous city of Venice and experiencing Carnevale di Venezia. Look for loads of pictures next week!!!

**Here is my few sentences of justification--because I could name a few people who are reading this and shaking their heads like we are children needing to explain a poor decision:) Yes, we were just worried that we had no job and no income, but I planned and paid for this trip a month before the Air Force decided to add some drama to our lives--so the money was gone whether we had a job or not! We are just glad we are still here and can go on the trip!!!!!!!!!

the official word

Steve just received the decision as to what our future holds!

He will be on orders at RAF Alconbury for 60 day-beginning on the 5th--and then will be put back on orders at RAF Croughton in April. We are not sure the reasoning as to jumping through all these hoops to get around a regulation instead of just issuing a waiver, but its the military way!!!!

Thank you for all who prayed for us during this time of indecision and worry.

michaela is devastated

Michelle, from Kentucky, emailed us yesterday to let us know that the Olive Garden in Florence is closed for remodeling. We went online and found out that it is being completely torn down and rebuilt.

It will be closed until September!!! {Just in time for our return}.

Michaela was so looking forward to stopping there on our way from the airport!!!! I guess she will have to wait until Saturday--she has already mapped where the closest one is! I am not sure what the second restaurant is on her list, but I am sure we will be there as soon as we leave CVG!!

*** Wasn't it great to be young and for the biggest worry you had was that your favorite restaurant was closed for a few months and where you will have to eat instead!!!!:):):)

americans go home

This is what met me as I went onto the base to do laundry this afternoon.

Once a month or so, the Quakers set up in front of the base gates to protest our presence in their country. I believe it is more the military presence rather than the American presence--at least I like to think it is!!!! The sign used to say, "Quaker prayer meeting for peace." It now just says, "Quaker meeting for worship."

They are peaceful but nonetheless it is unnerving to turn into the base and see a group of people who are praying for us to leave!!!

the update...correct as of this moment

Okay. so the information we were given last night (we have to wait for USA work hours to get any info.) is that Steve cannot go off orders and come back on to get around the 1095 regulation. They are still working on the waiver--this make take a few days to find out an answer--no need to mention Steve is supposed to be off orders in 6 days now!!!! If the waiver does not come through, he can go on orders at RAF Alconbury (a base about an hour away) until September 30. You are probably saying, "Well, that makes no sense!" Don't worry we have said the same thing. But it is the government and it is not for us to question the thought process.

So I guess this means--as of12:40pm British time, that we will be here until September. Stephen will either be working at Croughton still or making the hour commute to RAF Alconbury.

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

We will let you know as soon as we know.

a pet or something that belongs in a trap????

On Friday, Michaela spent the night at her friend Thu's house. At 9:00pm, we received a phone call from Thu and Michaela begging us to let her have a dwarf hamster. After telling them NO--very emphatically, that hamsters were nothing more than rats, I received the following emails.

FIRST EMAIL------

PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!! Let Michaela have a dwarf hamster. If she doesn't stay I will keep it for myself but if she does can she please!!!!!!!!!! keep one because they are absolutly ADORABLE!!!!(as u see in the pictures!) if you do let her get one she will promise me that she won't ever ever let you see the cute thing. She will buy all the supplies for the thingy mejig! PLEASE!!!!I'll make sure she'll do extra chores (mwahaha) to earn more money. When the hamster arrives you would be the most awesome person in the world. I'll make sure she begs on her knees when she comes home too ^_^ PLEASE you know you can't resist the adorable little thing!from THU!!!!!!!!!!

P.S pppppppppppppllllllllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!she'll be extra good!PLease!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^ ^_^

SECOND EMAIL-----

=( How long till you have to leave!!!!!!!If you stay can she have one and I will help look after hers as I'm not aloud one if I'm going too get a dog so its one or the other. I'll help with the supplies too and michaela(hopefully) will agree to be your slave for a whole week! Did you see those pictures they were adorable!!!!!!!!!!

Thu!

p.s btw you are not the greatest mum yet!!!(not until she gets a hamster!)
PLEASE!

THIRD EMAIL----

RE: thu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!-cutest thing ever!!!!!!!!!!(not a ugly fat rat!)‏
From:Thu Ta (lil_thu_qt@hotmail.com)
Sent:Sat 1/19/08 9:13 AM
To: Stephen Martin (stephen_martin91@hotmail.com)

oH YEAH i FORGOT i WILL PROVIDE THE CAGE!!!!!!!!!!

These emails have not swayed my decision!! It is still a furry RAT!

will the parachute open???

Today at church services we told the members about our situation. One of the members, Susan, stated that our life with the Air Force has been like we have been trapped in a whirlwind. {There have been too many times of the Air Force causing upheaval in our lives--it would take pages to list} I thought about that for awhile and decided that our three years with the Air Force have been more like a jump from a plane. We have been falling with the Air Force as our parachute and many times it has not wanted to open due to AF regulations and government stupidity. Luckily, the chute has always opened at the last second--- just before we smack into the ground. Let's hope that this fall will have a smooth landing:):):):)

**** Please don't get me wrong. I am very thankful that we have had the three years that we have had. The Air Force has been a God-send for us since Steve lost his job. It has allowed us to have once in a life time adventures, to pay off bills and to save money. I am not being negative or ungrateful--just slightly stressed about have 9 more days to figure out the next stage of our lives--8 months earlier than originally planned. It also doesn't help to be told by the individual in Texas that of the over 500 National Guardsmen that this regulation affects, Steve is only one of two people whose finance departments have tried to enforce it! I am glad we can be here to fight the battle!!

I have given it to God--or at least I am trying to.

prayer request

At 4pm on Thursday, Stephen received an email from the finance office in Springfield informing him that due to an Air Force regulation his orders would be ending on January 31st. This means that we no longer have an income, Steve has to be back in Ohio by the 31st, we have to store our antiques because 14 days is not enough time to arrange a moving company, figure out what to do with our two cars, and did I mention we no longer have an income, etc... There are many people trying to overrule the regulation, but as of today we have no idea as to what is going to be decided.

We are asking that you pray that what is best for our family will be done. {Of course I think what is best is that we stay until September:)}

We will keep you informed as to the decision.

got milk????

Did you know that there are still milkmen that deliver milk to your house? Last week I was researching the company on the Internet and decided to have our milk delivered to our door while we lived off of the base. So this morning, when we woke up, we opened the front door and there they were--5 glass bottles of milk!! Every Tuesday and Saturday we will have milk on our doorstep.

Who would have thought that in 2008 there were still milkmen!!!!!!

emma's family portrait

Emma Shea was writing on her easel the other day and drew her family.

Notice the knees on all of us!

AND .....there is no Michaela????? I asked her why Michaela was not in the picture and she said, "Because she annoys me." She did eventually add her--flying above all of us.