I Can't Believe It!

After 10 years, 4 moves, 3 different areas of the world, and many times in different ovens - my Pampered Chef rectangle stone broke.

I was making a cute, yummy pizza braid for dinner - I opened the oven to pull it out and the stone was in 3 pieces. It must have broke close at the end, because the braid looks cooked, and pretty much in good shape.

I feel strangely sad. Really.

Liberation Day

We just got back from the commissary.
Our big purchase included milk, cereal, and frozen pot pies. I guess you can tell when Dad's not around by our shopping cart. He's enjoying the land of plenty - San Diego. Seriously, he went to a Padres game last night with 30ish OB Jennifer - and stayed for the whole thing! He never did that with us when WE lived there. PLUS, he bought a new shirt for the event. Granted, it's because he's freezing his fanny off there - but I only get t-shirts and uniforms! Nope, not jealous. Just pooped from having to deal with my unusually sick 10 year old and haven't had a moment to myself since my airplane ride home from Utah in April.

One good thing about Madi's being sick - it's kept us here to actually see Guam's Liberation Day.
*little history lesson here*
Guam celebrates the 21st of July - when the U.S. Marines arrived back on Guam to liberate the Chamorro people from the Japanese occupation. It's really been quite interesting and stirring to hear some of the survivors stories from the "occupation". The concentration camps, what the Japanese did to the people, POW's etc. The Japanese attacked Guam one hour after the Pearl Harbor attack (Guam was under the US Navy at the time). The Japanese held control in Guam from December 41 until July 21st, 1944. Guam is the only US owned land that has endured "occupation".

It's very similar to the 24th of July with pageants, a little carnival (no rodeo, but you can ride a carabao) and of course the big parade . . . .with families camping out along the parade route. The kids and I drove up and down the route the night before and I was telling them how it reminded me of the 24th when I was little. But one major difference . . .every single canopy (Guam, remember) had a BBQ going. And I'm not talking portable propane - we're talking drums with charcoal. (Propane is such a haole thing!) And each canopy had HUGE plastic banners across the front saying things like "Biba Guam! Gumataotao Family" You could smell the smoke all over the island.
My party poopers wouldn't even watch the parade on the t.v. - let alone go sit in the rain to watch. They wouldn't even entertain the thought of going to see the fireworks! Humpf!
I'm off to attack the trail of ants leading around the tub. The kids are hollering up a storm about it!

Take one step forward, three steps back!

Madison has gone backwards probably a month today. Her rash is so bad that even Garrett noticed it while we were in the kitchen (I think he really made her feel bad with his reaction). She's had one of those "wall" type hits - she can't eat, very lightheaded, very pale, and terrible headache. And she was so looking forward to the Paula Deen cobbler I had made, but she just couldn't do it. I'm so down - I really thought she was headed in the right direction.

Garrett went to bed about 7:30 - after I spent what seems like forever telling him it's o.k. to go to bed early once in a great while. He agreed - but only to watch a show in bed. I think he was asleep before he hit the pillow.
The Bunns are good. A little stressed about the clean cage and laundry room - well Mama is anyway. I think Floppy relishes in an orderly bunny environment. Garrett kept asking why he was being punished and having to clean their cage . . .Do you think we've gone wrong in the whole parenting thing with him?

O.k. - I'm seething with negativity - I guess I'll just go sleep it off (even though Garrett tells me that all I do is take naps.)

Silly Grandpa, yes mangos grow in Guam!

Our weather is back to normal . . . . hot and very very sticky! We just got back from a party hosted by a local businessman to honor Naval Hospital Guam It was held at the "Gerber compound" (actually Mr. Gerber's yard, but ok, call it a compound). We're all pretty icky with big poofy hair. Madi came and ate A LOT of food - she doesn't do much of that since she hasn't felt good.

All the manamko (elderly) keep saying the mango trees are too full for this late in the year - and that means bad weather!
But on a good note - church is tomorrow which means we'll come home with our weekly supply of mangos. Oh - they are soooo sweet!

The ladies at David's work call them caribao mangos - because if you let them rot it will smell like a caribao left you something. No joke - a 60ish Chamorro lady uttered that explanation to me.

I'm just hoping we stay dry until after David gets home from San Diego. After seeing the winds last week, I really think 100MPH sustained might be more than I could handle right now. Our little 55 with 70 gusts blew out enough power, phone, water and cable. I would really hate to see this little island after a true typhoon!

At least I have mango puree in the freezer!