Hey folks! All of you know I've moved over to Facebook, but I thought I'd make a courtesy post here. I didn't mind posting when I put new pictures up, but then I made my Flickr account friends-only so it seemed rather rude to link you to a site that you couldn't see :) Anyhow, what I'm saying is that 1) If you have a Flickr or Yahoo account, let me know and I'll add you as a Flickr contact and 2) As if I ever posted a lot here, now I'm posting even less. I occassionally put up a status update (at least more regularly than I blog here) on my Facebook so feel free to find me there (I think all of you already have, but, again, just in case I'll write something here).

I'll still keep this active, of course, (mostly for posting on other people's blogs!) so you can still reach me via LJ if you need to.

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Originally uploaded by bitmap78

Added a few new pics to Flickr -- These are from my cellphone over the last few months. Clicky Clicky Clicky

http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=78215

New pics up at Flickr These are from our last day at Tiny Tots, a county park program where 1 to 3 year olds get together once a week and play, do crafts, read stories, etc. C & D really loved it and came to be quite fond of their teacher, Aunty Sandy.

I love lolcats: http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=81496

http://www.lerman.biz/pics/Gallery62.html Music from unlikely sources.

Well I just figured out that I can feed my LJ posts to my Facebook page. Not that I use Facebook any more than Livejournal, but it's a better clearinghouse of information about me :) I'm considering using LJ to post links to things that amuse me. Currently I only send cute/interesting/weird things to Aaron which makes this a rather boring blog. I love being married to my best friend, but it sucks for the rest of you who are curious about the goings on at the ABCD house, heh. Maybe I'll also figure out a way to clue you all in when my Flickr is updated (the only thing I actually do update!).

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Originally uploaded by bitmap78

Just realized that LJ might do something like cancel your account if you don't post w/in 6 months :) No worries, fair readers! For the mighty Aaron returns TOMORROW! And hopefully that will mean the return of normalcy and the ability to spend my computer time on something other than emailing him, hehe.

I have been excellent at keeping up my Flickr page, so if you've missed me, you can browse there for stuff the kids & I have been doing. And check back in a few days when I have Aaron's homecoming pics up. Clicky Clicky

I really was kidding about waiting two months to post again, but the joke's on me cause that's what happened :) See, Aaron was deployed for two months, was home for the last two months, and is back out for six-plus months. So, while he was home I did nothing but spend time with him :)

Rather making a string of really long picture heavy posts, I'll just point you to my flickr page here

Some of the things we did were go to the Big Island
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602220741831/

Have Birthdays
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602220741831/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602598174546/

Go Hiking
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602435386262/

See an Air Show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602435457498/

Go to a Pumpkin Patch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602601066805/

And do some Trick-or-Treating
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602820335814/

Then it was time for Aaron to leave again :(
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157603128162215/

Saturday was the Aloha State Equestrian Games near here. We went mostly just as a diversion to get us out of the house while waiting for daddy to get home, but it was still pretty neat.

Here's one of the competitors taking a jump:


And doesn't every stable have a kitty? This one liked C & D:



The funny thing about these stables is that they're on the grounds of a decomissioned base. The base had an airstrip and evidently needed bunkers to hide planes from aerial photography-- These bunkers are now the stables! These are some well-protected horses, I tell you what!

And one last picture and I'm all caught up! Well, at least until the next time I don't post for two months, heh.


D posing for a fashing mag at the local playground :)

One more posting from Nichole's visit!

Here we are at the Waikiki Aquarium. Again, it's not very large, but it's a great diversion for little kids (big kids can just get snorkeling gear!!)


The kids watched "an informative video" with rapt attention.


Nemo fishies!


C recognizes Dory :)


Watching the big fish and sharks


Getting to hold hermit crabs (they tickle!)


We walked out in perfect time to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal show and feeding. This guy sees his trainer coming and is bellowing quite loudly!



Evidently getting a squashed penny was the highlight of C's day!

A couple times when Nichole was here, we went shopping.

Here the kids are all cramming into one of the car rides at the Waikele Premium Outlets:



Of course everyone wanted to steer, even D :)

Another time at the Milillani Town Center we just happened to be there the day it was celebrating it's 20th anniversary. There were local bands and hula dancers, people in costumes handing out candy, and free balloon animals! In the picture are a butterfly, a black tree frog, and Lightning McQueen.

Still working on my massive effort to get caught up. I apologize for drowning you all in pictures, but once I get going I might as well do it all in one fell swoop!

( EXTREMELY picture heavy zoo pictures! )

In august, one of Bree's friends ended up staying with us for a week and a half while waiting for a Space Available flight back to her home in Japan. Unfortunately, she was not able to get on any flights and ended up having to buy tickets :( But we did get to know each other and our kids had a blast playing with each other.

Here are some pictures from a trip to the park. I wanted to get a picture of C climbing the ladder to send to Aaron (who was deployed at the time). C is getting so much braver!


This is the resulting picture.


D, on the other hand, is almost TOO brave :)


Brianna taking D down the slide


C and Brianna fencing :)

We also spent quite a bit of time at the Space-A (AMC) terminal. Luckily, it's a comfortable place with this awesome kiddie play toy, complete with airplane suspended 15 feet above the ground. To my amazement, C (with a little help from the other kids) climbed up into it:

Here's some miscellaneous pics from Washington.


This is our hometown, Waterville, Washington


Same place as above, just different direction.


Aaron fixed everybody's computers while we were there, including this poor, poor, ancient thing.


Aunt B wearing my dad's old sailor uniform (circa 1950s)


C with Uncle J2


C with Uncle G


And lastly, at the airport waiting to go home.

A few days later we took a shorter hike (so we could bring the kids) up to Silver Falls.


The main falls


Family shot at the falls. C never once rode in the backpack carrier, he was so excited to walk the whole way.


Closeup of C


Local wildlife


C amused himself by tossing rocks into the water at any given opportunity :)


At the other side of the falls, you can walk under them (but only a fool would, it's a hefty drop!)


Other side of the falls.


some of the lower falls

On July 14th for my Birthday we went to La Fuente's in Wenatchee. OH WOW, I had forgotten what good Mexican food tastes like :) And yes, I got a big sombrero and a poloroid photo taken because it was my birthday :)