Darby-Doo's 2!

This picture speaks a thousand words summing up the "week of Darby" perfectly! It has been one great celebration of her life! 2 years ago she made me a mama and boy am I a proud one...

Happy Birthday Baby Girl! You are SOOOOO LOVED!

My Easter Blessing...

It has been a blast bringing the magic back in celebrations.  I'm not sure when Darby will start having those first memories?  Every time we get on the bike, or play in the dirt, or even sing our bedtime songs, I wonder, at that moment, how that little mind is cataloging her experiences?  Hopefully with fondness...
Anyway, maybe Easter 2011 will be one of her first childhood memories?  She sure was involved, interested, and animated with the Holiday's events.
We shall see...10 or so years from now..

Diving into the chocolate in her eggs...

The Easter Bunny went a little crazy :)

Dyeing Easter Eggs...kind of...

Favorite "Cheeeeese" picture EVER!


ON TO OTHER EASTER THINGS...
This is Sadie the Citrus Dog.  She can smell an orange being peeled a mile away.  She will even wake up from a dead sleep when she gets that first smell.  Well, Easter Eve I discovered she does not discriminate.  She'll drool over lemons as well.  Weird dog.

Sadie literally drooled the whole time I was preparing the dish...notice the wet paper towel.  Crazy girl!

AND...
Let's not forget Easter Brunch.  Once again, an excuse to try anew recipe...love it!

I started the morning by cooking a Potato, chives, and goat cheese frittata!

My favorite was the Mint Asparagus...mmmmm!  Darby's too...

Lastly, I tried this lemon lavender cake recipe cooked within a lemon - Super moist, nice to look at, and pretty tasty.

GG made her famous potato salad...super mmmmmmm.



In conclusion...

Once again...Darbs with some stylin' shoes...

My little blessing...

We're back...For now

So, everything is either a mommy, a daddy or a baby in Darby world. As we ride around the neighborhood on our bike, she will point to the mommy cacti, baby cacti and daddy cacti. When playing with rocks, the big rocks are daddy's and so on...you get the picture. The other day the big round duck was mommy and the nice fit horse was daddy. I think it's time for me to lose those 5 lbs I gained back in January!


Mommy's or daddy's?  Don't answer!  These friends were outside my window the other night...javelinas...look like pigs but belong in the rodent family. 
Whoa...cacti, rocks, and javelinas - we're not in Hawaii anymore.

Darby...say goodbye to the robust ducky mommy's and javelina mommy's for that matter...

Pat's Run - SunDevil Stadium

It was only 4.2 miles, but it's a start.

Thanks Auntie T for a great morning - A great run for a great cause!

#42

Finally...

One must always end her evening on a happy note...

My Darby-doo :)

Hey girl hey...sassy shoes...

My Saiders...

I'm missing my Saiders...my guard dog when Tone is gone...my buddy when Darbs is asleep. 



Our first little addition to the family...2007.



Our little beach bum...
Now desert rat

Grandma and Grandpa are taking good care of her in AZ...keeping her from eating rocks, sticks and all that other desert goodness, but nothing beats adventures with her momma and Darbs.  I spoil her rotten...so what?  You know, Sadie can go to the moon... 

See you soon Sadie Baby! 

4 years ago...

Wow, it's been over 4 years since our big move out to PARADISE!  What a blessing it has been to have had the Hawaii experience.  Going through old pictures tonight was somewhat nostalgic?  Bittersweet maybe?  I haven't looked at these for probably 4 years...A LOT has happened since then...

With our departure date quickly approaching I thought it fitting to muse over some of our Hawaii firsts:

Kaneohe Bay Base Housing.  Our temporary home was surrounded by beaches.  This AZ girl never thought a 2 minute walk would EVER get her to the beach.  That was awesome!



The SandBar=Heavenly.  I've probably made it out there 10+ times and still can't get enough.  One of my FAVES!



Our first mainland visitors.  Jordan, Jesse and Jen.  They didn't waste anytime...taking full advantage of the Hawaii Connection...I think our household goods beat them here by a week!  Ha!  Boating out to the Sandbar...

  



The low tide at the bar...when the tide comes in this sandbar/island disappears under about 2 feet  of crystal clear water.

Megan and Felicia...the Salty Wives who showed me the ropes.



Aww...the Sound of FREEDOM.  The CH53D that brought us here:)



Iron Dog...WOOT, WOOT!

http://www.irondograce.org/about/  For those who have no idea what this is.  A grueling 2000 mile snow machine race through the heart, and very COLD (ha) of ALASKA!!! The name speaks for itself.  Those that dare to attempt, train just like one would train for a marathon. I can't imagine the mental and physical aspects involved with such an event!  Negative 40 degrees just doesn't bode well with me:)

NOW...
INTRODUCING...
The Geezernators!

D2

John Glass

(I hope they don't mind me posting their famous head shots...ha)

Joe D'Amico (aka, D2, Papa, Dad) and teammate John Glass - The oldest team to race!  May I add that they're sponsored?  Super cool!  They'll be racing against the likes of Todd Palin and other hardcore dudes and dudettes!
http://www.irondograce.org/race-tracking/2011-pro-class/teams/?team=27

The race begins tomorrow morning and you can follow the Geezernators, team 28, via GPS at the above link.

GO TEAM!!! Show those young speed demons that slow and steady wins the race!  Or in this case, FINISHES!

Happy Day of Love!

It was definitely a Happy Day of Love for me:

1.  I heard from Tony yesterday...Valentines Day in Afghanistan.

2.  I received the best hug ever when I walked in to help decorate sugar cookies with Darby's class. Pink gooey frosting hugs are the best :)

3.  I FINALLY got our plane tickets from DMO...we'll officially be off island in a month...I can take a breath. 

4.  I had dinner, wine and cupcakes with a couple of great military friends whose hubbies are also gone.  I love my military ohana.

5.  I get to sneak into Darby's room one more time before slumber...be still my heart.

And now I'm sitting here watching Bachelor as Brad and the girls frolic in Anguilla - Finding myself making "Tony" comments...Seriously?

Happy Day of Love!


Hey girl hey...excited for school.

 



My Valentines (minus Saiders)