If What I've Done Isn't Enough...

Well I've emailed all the ladies from church about this, AND I've put it on my FB page, so why not exploit some more people by putting it on my blog as well...hey there's some variation on who reads what, right?? Anyway, Dalin and Destinee are selling Yankee candles and all their yummy counterparts for a school fundraiser...now most fundraisers for a school are lame and you end up knocking doors with your kid just hoping and praying that somebody will buy SOMETHING just so your kid doesn't feel like a complete failure out there.....BUT with that said I think this is a great product and I use it frequently so I hope/guess other people will too!! Anyway, you can view the catalog on-line for those "out-of-towners" (i.e. Mom and Diana esp!!:) at www.yankeefundraising.com and you can click on the fall/winter catalog (at least I think that's what it says) and tell me through email or a comment if you see anything that suits your fancy and I will gladly ship it to you in the end....Well happy looking!!

ADIDAS...do you know what it stands for??

Well in case you didn't it's "All Day I Dream of Soccer" so that brings us to this post....Dalin's first game was today and how about those uniforms...we didn't even get them 'til 10 minutes before the game...awesome colors!! Anyway, I'm sure you can figure out what all the pics are but the first huddle is what happens when a teammate gets hurt..I thought the team huddle was very good sportsmanship, and then the next huddle is in response to "Who wants to play goalie??" and as you can see there are quite a few hands....and then there is Dalin playing goalie...he actually did pretty well for his first time ever playing since everybody else on his team has played before...I wish I'd gotten a pic of him diving on top of the balls to stop them but hey it stopped 'em and it gave everybody a kick!! ;) Then there's a happy, cute, sporty boy ready to play again!! ;)

Air Force Ball Preface

These pics were part of the AF Ball as well just like the post underneath this one but I thought it deserved its own post and explanation, I love the way that in the military there are so many things that mean more than what meets the eye...and this is one of my favorites. This is the POW-MIA table...*

Moderator:

As you entered the banquet hall this evening, you may have noticed a small table in a place of honor. It is set for one. This table is our way
of symbolizing the fact that members of our profession of arms are missing from our midst. They are commonly called POWs or MIAs,
we call them "Brothers." They are unable to be with us this evening and so we remember them.

This Table set for one is small -- Symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner alone against his oppressors. Remember! (ring bell)

The Tablecloth is white -- Symbolizing the purity of their intentions to respond to their country's call to arms. Remember! (ring bell)

The single Red Rose displayed in a vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades-in-arms
who keep the faith awaiting their return. Remember! (ring bell)

The Red Ribbon tied so prominently on the vase is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn upon the lapel and breasts of thousands who bear
witness to their unyielding determination to demand a proper accounting of our missing. Remember! (ring bell)

The Candle, the candle is lit -- Symbolizing the upward reach of their unconquerable spirit. Remember! (ring bell)

A Slice of Lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate. Remember! (ring bell)

There is Salt upon the bread plate -- Symbolic of the families tears as they wait. Remember! (ring bell)

The Glass is inverted -- They cannot toast with us this night. Remember! (ring bell)

The Chair -- The chair is empty. They are not here. Remember! (ring bell)

Remember! -- All of you who served with them and called them comrades, who depended upon their might and aid, and
relied upon them, for surely, they have not forsaken you. Remember! (ring bell)

Remember! -- Until the day they come home, Remember! (ring bell)

*I know it's a long post, and I was lucky enough to find the whole ceremony off of Google so this is actually how it goes and I love the sentiment of the whole thing, so please take the time to read!!*

Air Force Ball 2009

Well Chris and I figured out with college ROTC included that this was our 8th AF Ball, when so many other ladies that I know have never even been to one because their husband's don't like to dance, or don't like all the formalities (pulling the chair out for your spouse and all that stuff that they don't usually do, but really should,right??) so what a good hubby I have that he would take me to so many...this is the best picture that we have of us right side up (the airman taking our pic wasn't the brightest crayon in the bunch I guess) Thanks so much to Clarissa for the jacket and jewelry..it was a big hit. And the hair pic is just to show off my handiwork, maybe all that hair doing on Destinee is paying off to where I can do my own without even being able to see it!!
The other two pics are of the AF's "Strolling Strings" from Bolling AFB here in DC and they were truly a wonderful sight to hear and see...they actually "strolled" among the crowd too. And the last pic, or rather the first in this line-up I guess is the display that Chris's squadron set up for a competition to determine who best "captured" the past and present years of the AF...His squadron's truly was the best so we're all glad it won. So that pretty much wraps up the AF Ball for this year, see you next year...same time, same channel!! ;)

Animals and Amateurs...

Now the animal part of this post is pretty obvious, but the amateur part refers to what Chris calls himself in the photography dept. but I just love doing photo shoots where I'm the "poser/designer" so to say and where he is the "deliverer of such designs!!" So we get a pass to the Washington Zoo (did anybody else know that the zoo part is free, you just have to pay for parking...who know?? Oh yeah obviously not me) and spent the last day of my mom's visit here with us in MD visiting the zoo.....much better than what we usually do when she visits..(i.e. have wonderful ideas and plans of things to show and do that never materialize) and these are just a few of Chris's pics..the chameleon on top is sideways but I couldn't figure out how to turn him but if you blow it up (by just clicking on it I think) the detail is amazing.