Money, Money, Money, MONEY!!!

Citrus Vino....delish! Courtesy of some fellow Pegas"i" who brew their own wine and beer. I'm way too lazy right now to fix the sideways pictures. This will have to do.

I love the hula~~~~~~

Tony and "Lunch Box" Katie's going to pop any day now!

Preparing that YUMMY fire cooked PIG!

Our trustworthy "Tiki Man" cup took care of us the whole night!

Check out all of those High and Tight haircuts!

Well, Monday night was the first time Tony and actually had to pay for babysitting services. I got a list of names from some friends and made the calls! I'll have to admit that I as a tad bit nervous leaving Darbs with someone other than a friend or family member, but a babysitter of my friends is a babysitter of mine :)

Germaines held a private Luau for Pegasus and their families...their way of saying "thanks" for a job well done in Afghanistan. This was the first time they held a private Luau, which was AWESOME! Some local business raised money as well, so everyone could enjoy the festivities for FREE! Luau + a lot of Marines = Good Times. A ticket to a Luau can range from $45-$85, so Tone and I figured the cash needed to pay the babysitter would equate to one ticket to a Luau...plus, we wanted to let loose!

Valerie, (babysitter extraordinaire) turned out to be FANTASTIC, but the going rate out here is around $10/hr...MONEY, MONEY, MONEY!!! She made an easy $60 off the D'Amicos, since the Darbs went to bed around 7 and she had 3 hours of Dancing with the Stars and what not. Oh well...the peace of mind was worth every penny!!!

The night turned out to be a blast...good Kalua Pork and many a Mai Tai!! Not to mention a glass Tiki Man cup of which was our "investment" for the night. We got a lot of good use out of him...

Slow Down Darbs!

February 2010July 2009

I was sifting through the farewell and homecoming pictures and couldn't believe how much Darby changed from the day Tony left in July until he came home in February. Please slow down little munchkin...you're growing too fast!

She's a 19 lb crawling/standing machine! I'm thinking she's about to start walking here in a few weeks. YIKES!

HOMECOMING!

Back together again...

Darby waiving her American Flag as we wait, and wait, and wait! The plane just landed. OOOHHHH the anticipation! View of Hangar 105 with Kaneohe Bay in the background. A PERFECT DAY!

Tony's home after an almost 7 month long Afghanistan deployment! The anticipation was great as the families waited around in hangar 105 on February 10th. The ETA was supposed to be between 5-6 pm, but as most homecomings go, it ended up being around 8pm when their plane finally landed (an hour past Darby's usual bedtime.) This was three days later than the first ETA. Spontaneity is what comes with the territory in the military. I didn't even blink an eye.

There are always some expectations with homecomings...that usually aren't met. Spouses and their Marines are briefed on how to act, what to expect, suggestions, blah, blah, blah. Spouses have been running the show and living their lives for 7 months. There is a transition period that is different for everyone.

The week prior to Tony's homecoming was spent getting everything ready. Christmas presents wrapped (as he didn't want me to ship anything to him out there), and household projects completed (thanks to mom and dad coming for a last minute visit). We knocked out some deck work, security doors, curtain rods, and last minute cleaning. Banners were made for the hangar and for our front yard, and of course dresses were purchased for mom and babe. It's exciting! The best part was knowing Darby was going to finally get to see her dad again!

Back to Hangar 105. Darb's and I got there around 5. You CAN'T be late for a homecoming, so you arrive an hour earlier than the first time given on the hot line. I loaded up the stroller with all kinds of things to keep the Darb's busy. Kids were running around in their nice clothes. A bouncy house was set up for some entertainment. Food and drinks sat on a table set off to the side and the Military Marching Band was playing patriotic music as we all impatiently waited thinking that this day would never come. What a 180 from how it felt 7 months ago in the middle of the night.

I've been around long enough to know now that bringing a cooler full of beer isn't a bad idea, in fact, I'd like to think it's encouraged. The guys haven't had beer for 7 months, and the wives need something to just take off the edge of anticipation...just a bit! I enjoyed a beer with a few of the ladies and there was plenty to share with the boys when they stepped off that plane.

One has to actually experience a combat deployment farewell and homecoming to really grasp all of the emotions involved. Adding a child into the picture changes things a bit as well. I was so proud to be standing on the red carpet that led out from the plane, holding Darby, on what was a perfect Hawaiian evening. Nothing compares to what I felt that night seeing Tony come down those steps as the Marine Corps Hymn chimed in the background. There's nothing like being a part of something GREAT!

Semper Fi!

Welcome home Tone and the rest of Pegasus! THANK YOU and JOB WELL DONE!

Almost Complete

I love an organized closet!!! To the right is the perfect painting by Aunt Court.

I took a stab at decorating the walls with this wall art purchased online. The yellow paint is "rubber ducky"...perfect! Ok, so it's only been 5.5 months, but the nursery is almost complete. I've got some more pictures to frame, still need a night stand that can hold books, and would love the finishing touch of a rug in the middle since we've got the worst color of carpet ever...white!!!

I LOVE Darby's room...not necessarily because of the way it looks, but because of the way it FEELS. Her room is full of so much love it's not even funny. The Darbs is one lucky little munchkin that's for sure...I find myself just sitting in the rocker pondering the day's thoughts...just because...

Let me explain...

1. A handmade crib made by Grandpa Z...absolutely beautimus!

2. Bedding/quilt/bed skirt was hand crafted by Nana D'Amico. Her design fit my vision perfectly and looks splendid on the crib!

3. The pillowcases on the rocker were made with love by Aunty T.

4. That once boring, cluttered closet was transformed with the built-ins designed by Tone (Dad) and Grandpa Z. The closet is just full of thoughtful gifts all for the Darbster!

5. The curtains above the crib were hand cut and "crafted" by Grandma Z and Aunty T...I was over 9 months pregnant and didn't have the patience to do such work :)

6. Let's not forget the adorable water colored horse rocker that was painted and framed by Aunt Court. She wants to "instill a love for horses..."

7. Artwork from Darby's Great Great Aunt sits on the white shelves, painted in Germany, by hand, just for Darby. A BIG Piggy bank also rests on the shelf courtesy of Grandma Z. Loose change will be filling that up for years to come I have a feeling...

8. Finally, Great Grandma Mimsy gifted her First Communion Rosary Beads that hang on the wall by the crib. They must be almost 70 years old...

Everything else that fills the room either comes from friends and family, or from mom and dad's hard work...actually, It's been so much fun seeing the room slowly evolve!

To be continued...I'm going to go rock the Darbs to sleep :)

FIRST timers...

Burger night at the O'Club...Darby's first adventure in the restaurant highchair. A big girl thing for sure!!! Darby's first time sitting in her NEW crib...specially made by Grandpa Z! More crib pictures to come...

Darby's first time sitting like a big girl in the Babies R Us cart...she thought that was the coolest!

Darby's first time digging up the grass and mud.
The past few weeks Darby has enriched her little life with some first time milestones, if you will. We've documented these exciting adventures for all to see. Having Darby has brought new light to the way I view the world. Everything is simple, fascinating and TOTALLY new.

Bronco Soccer PRIDE!

November 8, 2009

Today is a great day to be a Bronco. Today is a day of mixed emotions. Today the Boise State soccer team won the WAC Championship game against Nevada, a first for this "established" program. Now it's on to the NCAA Women's Cup.

Blood, Sweat, and Tears comes to mind. The thrill of VICTORY and the AGONY of defeat. That is why we love the game. I think I can speak on behalf of many of my Bronco brethren when I say that hard work, heart and drive was never the reason team's past didn't live the Women's Cup dream. Soccer was our LIFE. We came to Boise State wanting to be a part of something new, something BIG, something we could be proud of! We were Division I College Athletes!

So much has changed since 1999 when I first walked onto what was then the brand new BOAS soccer "practice field." We were sponsored by Diadora at the time...not Nike. We drove out to a multiple field soccer complex to play our home games, no scoreboard, and we were in the Big West Conference....you may have heard of it?? 2001 we joined the WAC. I was a part of the team that experienced some of the worst losses in the history of the program, but we also had some pretty sweet wins! Beating SMU will always stand out! So much changed just in the 5 years I was there...The logo even changed!

Today it is hard not to feel a tad bit envious of the Lady Broncos who are currently living a dream so many past Broncos worked so hard to achieve. I'm definitely happy for the girls who are a part of a successful program. A program I am proud to say my teammates and I helped build. BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS.

Those 5 years flew by, but they were some of the best 5 years of my life. I'm definitely a part of something big. I'm a part of Bronco Nation as cliche as it may sound. It was so nice to be able to pick up the phone after the game today and talk to a fellow BSU teammate, Molicious #11. It is nice knowing she has some of the same mixed emotions about this VICTORY for our program. It's pretty awesome having teammates...friends for life...who share a bond that can't be matched. Today has been a reminder...

I happened to be playing a game in my old women's league at the exact time the Broncos were beating Nevada. Little Darby was sitting on the sideline enjoying not only the action on the field, but the muddy grass as well. Maybe a future Bronco? I can only hope she has some of the same opportunities and experiences as me. I did get a little sad knowing I would never get another chance to put on that Blue and Orange jersey. Knowing I would never get to play with the ol' teammates in front of a sell out crowd. Knowing I would never go through another preseaon training camp. Knowing I would never get the chance to play in the Women's Cup.

That's OK though. I'm soooo happy for the Broncs and can't wait to see them play this week in the first round. I know how hard they've worked...

THE THRILL OF VICTORY!

It's a great day to be a Bronco...Touche!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween from our Darbster! She had a grand time hanging out with all the little Nemos, Puppies, Super Heroes, even a little UPS Man and Max from Where the Wild Things Are. Unfortunately, my camera ran out of batteries.

Anyway, I'm including some shots of our little ladybug along with the funniest video my friend took with her iPhone for Daddy...A perfect example of Darby discovering her voice :) LOVE HER!!!