Arrow of Light

 I truly am proud of my Tobie and this great accomplishment, he received his Arrow of Light.  It helps that he really enjoys Scouts and it's always an added bonus when you have your Dad as your Scout Master pushing you...ha!

 Here's the incredible good looking Scout Master pinning Tobie...heehee...;)

 And here is Tobie struggling to get my pin on.  I think I took over after a minute or two because I didn't want to get blood on my shirt.

Theo got the idea to build a "bridge" for the boys to walk over to represent their crossing over into Boy Scouts.  He had a boy represent from each of the levels of Cub Scout come up and place a rock on the floor.  After the Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelo placed their rock Theo put 2X4's down and had the boys walk across it with the Mother's helping along the way.

It was a nice ceremony, and ended it with eating the Arrow of Light cake. :)  Now Theo and Tobie have been getting ready all week for Scout camp next week.  Tobie will actually be having his birthday while he is at camp.  I don't know how I feel about that...but Theo assures me it is going to be so much fun Tobie won't have time to be homesick.  I hope he's right, Theo has so many fond memories of Scouts that it isn't hard to get him involved in all the activities with Tobie.  I'm a little jealous, but really, with 4 girls I have a LOT of Girls' Camps to look forward to!

Terror Behind the Walls

 I have to say, this place was pretty AWESOME!  It's been Theo's goal to take me to a GOOD haunted house ever since I can remember, but I'm not too big on haunted places.  I should clarify that, I'm not too big on 'pretend' haunted houses.  I just can't disconnect myself from the fact that the people trying to scare you are just actors with make-up.  All they do is get right in your face, and I'm like, "Dude, personal space!".  It's not scary, it's annoying.  This place did a little of that, but it actually was successful in scaring me a bit!

 Eastern State Penitentiary.  The first official jail in the history of America.  It was housed Al Capone!  It's built like a castle to intimidate anyone who even thinks about breaking the law.  It's so menacing, what a cool place!

They still have the original heavy oak doors to the cells.  They focused on isolation as a recovery, so the prisoners had no windows, just a small vent at the ceiling.  They had a small courtyard right outside their cells, that they were only allowed to come outside for 1 hour a day, and the courtyard was enclosed also, so they didn't even get to interact with any other prisoners.  They even fed them their food through a slot in the door.  Pretty lonely if you ask me.

They did an awesome job of scaring throughout.  There was those few who would just get up in my face and stare, but their make up was unbelievable!  I was staring more at the make up than the whole scary picture.  The one place the really got me was this room where the prisoners were in cages yelling and banging on things, and then all of a sudden one would actually come out at you!  It wasn't the prisoners that frightened me, it was the anxiety of not knowing which one was going to come out at you.  Then they would redirect your fear, you would see you're coming up on something scary and then BOO! someone is waiting behind you!  They got me so many times with that tactic!  It was so good!  No wonder it's rated in the top 10 scariest Haunted Houses to go through in the nation.

I found myself trying to look around more in between the acted chaos just so I could get a look at the place, I can't wait to come back during the day to take the daytime tour!

Our Coast Guard Story

Back in 2000 Theo and I thought we were the luckiest couple because we were both employed at the same company.  A new up and coming phone company opened up in Mobile, and we both got us a job.  It was awesome, we drove to work together, we went to lunch together and then we got off work together.  We were making mad bank and enjoying all our time together.

Then in 2001 the phone company tanked.  Theo and I were both without a job.  We had just bought a house, but because of the money we were making and unemployment we were financially secure for a few months.  We lived it up that summer!  We went to the beach, the gym and spent every moment together just being bums.

When money started to get tight Theo got him a job at a car dealership.  He showed real promise and was the top seller of the new guys his first month.  In 3 short months he would get put on Insurance and we thought things were starting to look up for us again.

A month before Theo was eligible for insurance I got pregnant.

We thought, "What great timing! You have a good job, and soon we'll be covered.".  But the dealership had other ideas.  Apparently they have a system that once their new employees reach 3 months they fire them instead of paying for their insurance coverage.

I was pregnant and now we were both jobless with no means of insurance.  Theo had mentioned several times since we had been dating that he was really interested in the Coast Guard.  I always put an end to that dream because I was not going to be a military wife whose husband was gone all the time.  But now with a kid on the way the security of the Coast Guard was looking really good.

We went to a recruiter and talked to them, they assured me that Theo could get stationed in plenty of places without having to go on a boat.  His word cinched the deal and Theo signed his life away to the United States Coast Guard.  Before I knew it he was heading out to boot camp for 4 months.

They say that Coast Guard boot camp is "mentally" the hardest boot camp you could go through.  This is Theo after a week of hardly any sleep and working through a bug he caught while there.  He just looks drained to me.  But he did it, and I had no doubt that he would make it through.  He's really calm and laid back, but he's also really competitive, especially with himself.

It was a long 4 months, but it was the last few hours during the graduation ceremony that was the hardest.  I hadn't seen him for months and he had to stay at attention in line and couldn't speak or move.  I spotted him in line, but even though he was just a few feet away from me I couldn't go to him.  Our friend Mark Romesburg, who also was a Master Chief in the CG took this picture of our first embrace after 4 long months!

This picture cracks me up, and softens my heart at the same time.  I barely had a baby bump when Theo left, now I'm a huge 7 month pregnant behemoth!  Theo couldn't believe it.  What I couldn't believe is how skinny he is here.  I think he just transferred all his weight to me! 

So that is the story of our Coast Guard conversion.  Other than having some deployment time when we were stationed in CA, which wasn't at sea, Theo hasn't been on a boat.  10 years of land billets.  I know my luck has to be running out and that it is only a matter of time before he might be forced to do some sea time, but it sure has been a fun 10 years traveling the country and having kids all along the way.  The security the Coast Guard gives has more than made this military life worth it. I hope I'll still be saying that after the next 10.

Theo's Father's Day

For Father's Day Theo picked out this little toy!  It really was a great buy for him.  He runs a lot and is training for a couple of full marathons and another half coming up this year.  For his training it's good to have one of these babies to keep track.  He has been envious of mine that I've had for a few years, this is my fun toy:   

The bad thing about mine is that it is kind of bulky and mine doesn't tell time.  It's strictly for distance, but Theo's Nike+ is great for every day wear.  I guess now it's my turn to be jealous!  I really like my Garmin, but this just might be on my birthday wish list!

The Coach

Theo has such an easy going, but reserved personality that when he first volunteered to coach Tobie at Tee ball several years ago I was shock and apprehensive. I couldn't see this mild mannered man commanding the attention of these little leaguers. But he has really surprised and impressed me over the years in his ability to coach, and also his initiative to put himself out there.

But what is really funny is to see this mild tempered man resort to kicking, throwing his hat on the ground and muttering mild language (to himself of course, there are kids around!) when his kids don't quite make the play.

He blames me for his graying hair, but personally I think it's the coaching. But just like the hair, coaching suits him, and I love seeing him out there coaching his heart out!

Spring Break Beard

It seems that whenever Theo has an extended amount of time off from work, that translates into "Let's see how long I can grow my beard!". He has tried this tactic several times and I have come to the conclusion that I HATE facial hair.

First the whiskers poke my face whenever I want to make out with him. Then they turn in to sand paper that he just loves to torture me with, attacking me and rubbing his face all over mine and my neck! He may think it's funny, up until I punch!

Of course I don't punch hard, for one I'm usually in hysterics laughing too hard to get any real muscle behind it, and two I don't want to mess up that face! LOVE IT!

Then when the beard gets soft enough that it doesn't exfoliate my face, I have to deal with the feeling of hair around my mouth when he goes in for a kiss. YUCK!

So this time I devised a plan, obviously a little late in the game as you can tell by this picture, but one that I will be using from now on. I told him, if he doesn't shave, than neither do I! This picture was taken a few days before his vacation was up and was right before he shaved.

Game point - Me.

Halloween 2011

  The whole gang dressed up in our finest for the church Halloween Party.  Theo's a pirate, I'm a witch, Tobie's Wario, Miriam's an Alabama cheerleader (ROLL TIDE!), Emma's SuperGirl, Hannah's Minnie Mouse and Charlotte is my little chunky monkey!

Those stockings actual inspired my Halloween costume.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to be until I saw those awesome things in Target and the only way I could justify buying them was if it was going to be a part of my costume.  Now if I wear those out on a regular basis I consider it just getting my monies worth! ;)  I also have these crazy long eyelashes on that were black and pink, you know to match my tutu skirt, but I forgot to get a picture of that.  And those I will NOT be wearing again, I feel confident that I got my monies worth from those, so....we're good.

Also from the night I won the Dessert Cook-Off!  Yay Me!  I made a Layered Pumpkin Pecan Dessert which is just pumpkin heaven!  Maybe I'll post the recipe some time since I didn't take a picture of the actual dessert when it was finished.  I still have to get used to photographing food, it just seems so unnatural to me.  Right now in my mind it's: Step 1.) Make food; Step 2.) Eat food...see what I mean.  I have to add another step in there for the picture taking.  Maybe next time.

Halloween has always been my most favorite holiday, so of course I planned it that I find and marry a Halloween baby!  Theo turned 34 and he has actually been asking for a cookie cake for a couple of years now.  I finally got brave enough to try it.  This is his Tombstone Cookie Cake.

But of course I couldn't do just a plain ole' cookie cake, this is my Double Doozie cake!  That means sandwiched in between 2 large cookies is a layer of my Vanilla Buttercream icing.  Then to top it off I used marshmallow fondant to give it that smooth stone look.

You may be saying, "Holy Sugar Coma, Batman!" and you would be right!  There are no sugar dainties around here!  It ain't dessert unless your teeth fall out.

We had a great night of Trick-or-Treating.  I thought I was going to have to stay home with Miss Charlotte while Theo took the kids out, but then I got a brilliant idea (I know, I'm full of them!) to have the missionaries stay after dinner and hand out candy so we could go out as a family!  They get to do a service and Theo and I both get to enjoy walking all the kids around.  Win-Win!

I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Happy Halloween!!!  

BUY CHOFFY HERE

Thanking a Woman for My Father's Day

I just did a post exposing how wonderful Theo is, I seriously couldn't have put in a special order for a better husband and father. But without the help of one special high school girl I would never have had my happily ever after.

Theo wasn't born into the Mormon religion like I was. He grew up in a very strong Christian household, and he had a wonderful example through his mother as to the importance of having Jesus Christ and His gospel in his life. But it wasn't his mother that brought him to me.

In High School Theo was a bit of a rebel who had no interest in going to church anymore. That's when a young Mormon girl caught his attention and they started dating. As the dating turned more serious she began to share her beliefs with Theo. She introduced him to some wonderful missionaries and helped him really experience the Mormon family dynamic between Ward members. Through this young lady Theo accepted the gospel and was baptized.

Well, this young lady had dreams of attending BYU and through her efforts was accepted and prepared to move away for college. She made a decision that ultimately changed my life forever.

She broke up with Theo.

A heartbroken man moved away from his hometown in Georgia, away from his Mormon Ward family and moved to a little town in Alabama to live with his Dad. Instead of wallowing in self pity, or blaming Mormons for his loss, he found his local church house and without knowing a single soul went to church.

He was very active, going to all the Single activities and even came to Institute (a scripture study class for college students) and that is where I first met him. And the rest as they say is history.

Now I have a Temple marriage and 5 beautiful children, all because one girl was steadfast in her beliefs.

I got to met her after we were married, and I wanted to thank her for introducing Theo to the church and then dumping him...heehee....but that might have seemed a little too awkward not knowing her very well and all. I used to blog stalk her hoping one day we would be in the same blogging circle, but then she went private and I no longer can blogdrop (eavesdrop, but through blogging, I just made up that word. =)). But I hope that one day she will know the gratitude I feel towards her and her vigilance in being a good example so that my Theo could become the father of our eternal family.

Beggars Can't Be Choosers

Having 5 kids around the house is very taxing on one person alone. I have heard stories of picky couples who won't let the other spouse help out around the house because they don't "do" it the right way. They won't let their spouse fold the clothes, do the dishes and I have even heard of a wife who wouldn't let her husband cut the grass because he can't do it the way that she wants it. If you have the time and energy to make everything perfect the way YOU want it, then more power to you. But I am spent and spread thin and hey, any kind of help is good help.

Thankfully Heavenly Father blessed me with a wonderful husband that understands and goes above and beyond his husband-ly duties.

For example...

He folds the clothes. He may fold them without turning them right side out...yes, even shirts, but he folds them.

He does the dishes. He may not place them in the dishwasher the way I would to get full capacity, but he does them. And I may end up on a treasure hunt looking for my cooking utensils because they are never in the same place twice, but he does it without even asking me if I need help.

He vacuums. And this one he actually does more often than me. I'm so busy trying to make sure that diapers are clean and sippy cups are refilled that I don't think to look at the carpet unless there was a mishap with a bowl of dry cereal or when Hannah tells me she is done with her chips by dumping the crumbs out on the couch. He is really good about just pulling out the vacuum cleaner and doing a quick once over several times a week.

And after all this, plus many other things around the house, he goes outside and does all those manly duties like cutting the grass, weed eating, helping me with my garden, washing and detailing the cars and much, much more!

I would never think of telling him to stop helping just because things aren't done just so. I don't demand that he do it better, or even that he do things my way. In fact I don't ask him to do it at all, he just steps in and helps me with my load.

I guess I'm not much of a beggar then, only because I don't HAVE to beg him for help. Either way, I couldn't choose a better help meet than my Theo.