Pretty in Pink

 I love being a volunteer combine that with the opportunity to raise money for one of my favorite causes Breast Cancer Research well sounds like the perfect reason to throw a " Turn your city pink" event here are my girls all dressed out in their pink tops for the cause



Below is a group photo of some friends who joined me for the cause...

A Walk To Remember

How many parents can say that their children know what the words Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage mean or that they exhibit these great qualities? Service members children being raised in patriotic families watching their fathers and mother serve in the Armed Forces. Growing up in a military family I was proud to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance placing my hand over my heart and reciting the words from memory. I am just not repeating the words I think of each word and what that word represents I think of the sacrifices of the military families, the loss of loved ones, the pride in being part of something great.  I am raising my daughters to know this pride and the freedoms and liberties that come with being an American citizen for it is on the sweat, blood, tears and hard work that our great country was born. One of our greatest tragedies was Sept 11th 2001 a day etched in history for all future generations to learn about. Children of Service members people who serve be military, police, firemen, and rescue workers...people who run into harms way to protect and serve those who are in need those are the children who know and live these qualities below is a photo from our Army Posts Sept 11th remembrance walk these little children walk for the fallen of that horrific day. They understand the fear and loss knowing that their father or mother walks into danger to protect our country. 

Sept 11th 2012 Remembrance walk for Sept 11th 

Raise them up and watch them soar

The beginning of our life changes we started as a family of 9 but now we are a family of 6...

Oldest left to get married see previous blog named "Oh how fast they grow", Husband deployed see previous blog named  "The Beginning of a Deployment 2012"

 When I became a parent it was important to me that my children grew up knowing that they could do whatever they wanted no dream or goal was too big for them to strive for...We don't say can't, we don't say fail because as long as you try, you have already crossed off can't and fail. Failure only comes from lack of action from not even attempting to reach your goals and dreams. When our kids are little we don't realize how fast time is going to fly by in the blink of an eye your baby goes from night time feedings to hugging their siblings good bye when it is time to head off to college. With pride and tears we sent Julianna off to college it was harder then I thought it would be I thought I was prepared but nothing prepares you for sending your baby off into the big bad world...

Julianna smiling as she tells Charlie she loves her and that she is leaving for college

Charlie handing Julianna the bag of her things she packed to go along to college with her. Julianna told Charlie that she couldn't go along to college with her because we didn't have her passport or a plane ticket the look of confusion and sadness broke my heart. 

Charlie was not giving up she decided if we didn't put her bag in the car then she would do it herself. The look on her face says it all "How can you say no to my adorable face?" 

The moment finally came when Charlie realized that she really couldn't go to college with Julianna with teary eyes and a quivering chin Julianna hugged Charlie tight one last time and then Sophia had to drag Charlie away kicking, screaming, tears flowing and begging Julianna not to leave her...This is my heart break and greatest joy at the same time we will miss Julianna but this display on sisterly love brings such happiness to my heart what greater reassurance can a parent have then knowing that long after they are gone their children will have one another a friendship, a bond, a love like no other...sisters

"Raise your children to be strong, confident, self sufficient and adventurous..Read to them so they learn to listen, listen so they learn to speak, encourage there dreams so they know they can be anything they dream of being and do everything they dream of doing teach them to fly so when they leave the nest they soar"
by LRRH

The Beginning of A Deployment 2012

So we dropped Pachenko off driving away the big girls in tears we arrived a family of 8 we are now a family of 7....to some that missing of 2 family members wouldn't seem like a lot in such a big family but it means less cooking and quieter nights..

Now that it is over and Pachenko is safely home from Deployment I will post a little about deployment and life during it. Right before Pachenko left we said good bye to our oldest Kathryn she decided she was grown and ready to go out into the adult world. She left home and went to Texas with her new boyfriend long story short she is an adult and even though I see this not ending well she has to make her own mistakes in life... So we are now down to 6 daughters at home making us a family of 8. Then the big day came we took Pachenko to the Hanger to send him off on deployment. People say it is hard on little kids the truth is look at the photo below our 2nd oldest Julianna knows she will be going to prom in a week, graduating high school in a month, leaving for college in 3 months and her daddy will miss all of this. Our 3rd oldest knows her daddy is going to miss her birthday, that she is going to be the oldest sister in the house in 3 months both girls know the reality of war, of  a deployment that dads and moms deploy and sometimes sadly they don't go come home. Look at our 4 little ones faces they know that their daddy is leaving that he will be home in January for the twins birthday. They don't see that as a long time because we are marking it off with big events Julianna will be graduating in June, then we have 4th of July which means a lot to military children, Ballet classes, Cheer leading Camp, Gymnastics and then a couple fun trips mom planned to kill time, then Julianna will leave for college, they will start back to school, Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas having those big count downs helped pass the time.. 

                                                No greater love then a girl and her daddy

No matter how old they get little girls still need their daddies