A few tricks and treats

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I'd share a few tricks and treats from the Navylang life.

Treat: We had a couple of different trunk or treats over the weekend. We decorated the trunk on Friday and just left everything in place for Saturday. Garrett had a blast helping Maddax - I mean Bob the Builder gather candy.

Trick: We forgot our candy for Saturday's branch party. So we teamed up with the Lallatin family who had candy - but no trunk decor.

Dave wore his nasty Kiss shirt and actually played devil music from his ipod. Go figure.

It's always a treat when we catch a glimpse of these guys training and entertaining us with their tricks.

(parachutes after being dropped from the helicopter)

Treat: Molly Coconubs has been a hoot to have around. Being a dog living in the tropics - we just had to introduce her to swimwear and of course the jet-ski. But in true island style - she prefers being clothing free.

Trick: Being a very allergic household, we were so excited to find a Maltese because of their allergen free hair. It doesn't help us too much however since Madi is allergic to her saliva. We're giving it another week - trying a new allergen fighting cocktail. Of course we get more attached day by day - it's very tricky territory!

Introducing . . . .

Molly Coconut Nubs (buns spelled backwards)
* In true Guam style -name subject to change.

This is what I'll miss

Bunny time in the back yard after dinner.

Tonight's sunset was beautiful!

Warm thoughts . . . . .

We were thinking of Utah's first snow as we collected shells for Christmas ornaments.

Befuddled

Our normally mundane household has been dealing with drama the past few days.

School has caused a bit of a hassle lately. Something to do with backpacks leading to breakdowns.

And then Dave's employer threw us for a loop. After the "Fellowship Congratulations" - we found out we will only be in Hawaii For a year. One. (1)

We're 'penciled in' for Northern Command in Colorado Springs as our follow on.

Our options included Colorado, Nebraska, Pentagon, Belgium (but not really - we were told we've been overseas too much)

We ALL decided Colorado was the best option. (o.k., I'm still in the 'sort of' stage)
3 year orders means Garrett could have all but his freshman year in the same high school.
It also means Madi will move for her Jr and Sr. years. Pathetic!

This morning I sent out a very brief update to our own 'key and essential personnel' explaining the latest . . . .
I now give you a sampling of responses to that email:

April said: does this mean after one year in hawaii you are going to alaska to live?

huh?

Sidney said: So, does this mean you will only be Hawaii one year? If so, you'd better start an online calendar so everyone can schedule their visits! Steve & I are coming together - along with Lexi

Great! You can stay in the hotel room next to ours.

Esther wrote: ALOHA! Are you so excited? I can’t believe you are actually moving to Hawaii! Just a bigger version of what you are used to right? Are your kids happy about it? When is the big move? My kids were very excited about it

I don't even have the energy left to respond to that one.

Misse: Colorado. I am pretty sure you can get fresh produce there and there is probably a Target! Yeah!
Plus it's way easy to DRAW Colorado! Bonus!

Go go Colorado! Cheer with me now! Go go Colorado! At least it's not North Dakota... Go go Colorado.. You've got it now!

I am going to go practice doing straddle jumps and back flips to go with my Colorado cheer! You do the same!!!

That one actually helped. I needed the visual!

Last but not least. . . . Madison exclaimed, "Great! Now I'll have to use the high altitude directions on the back of the box."

Go UTES!

Have you seen the lastest issue of Continuum Magazine?

Click here and scroll down to the 90's.

Island Hopping

It's begun.

I know where we're moving to.

The move won't physically happen until school is out.

However - the mental exodus is creeping in.

Aloha!

Click here to learn more.

Wonder

I was helping Madison with math homework (I really dislike math homework)

As I walked back to my spot in the kitchen (making Cafe Rio salad for dinner) I heard Madison murmur to herself,

"oh MAN! When you look at it that way you're really old!"

I had to do the awkward over the shoulder glance at my own behind.

"My BACKSIDE looks old?!?!" I questioned.

"NO! When you do the math - you were my age 27 years ago."

"You were learning this math 27 years ago. No wonder!"

Crap! Now I'm wondering . . . .

SYTYMG

(So You Think You Miss Guam)

I thought I would serve up a little reality check . . . .

• Gas went up .18 cents. Overnight. On base!

• It's the rainy season.

And the lightening season.

And of course the thunder season.

• We got cold . . . . . OUTSIDE!

• So many millipedes . . . .Everywhere!

• Still no guaranteed ice cream at McDonald's.

• Still coping with cliques!

• The new BX opened up at Anderson. We haven't seen it.

a) I don't want to pack a lunch for the drive up there.

b) Why drive up there if nothing will be in stock. (come on - you KNOW I'm speaking the truth)

• We were up close and personal with the dolphins over the weekend. The babies put on a jumping/spinning show for us while we watched from the comfort of the new tube/jet ski.

Just Becousin

Hot Cross Bunns

It's only fitting

That Madison got her clarinet for 6th grade band

on Tyler's birthday (her uncle).Because "You know . . . . he plays 5 instruments"

These little piggies . . . .

Are ready to go WHEEEEEEEEEE!

P.S. Cabela's wins for fastest shipping EVER!

A moment to pause . . . .

What started out as a way to give our family a glimpse into our daily lives has opened an amazing new blogging world we had no idea existed.

We still have to remind certain family members (ahem) that we have a blog. . . . . .

But it's been a great tool to keep up with friends and make this world seem smaller every day.

NieNie's story and the power of this "blogging community" just gets bigger and bigger.

Read for yourself here

My daily enigma

Guammercials!
*Enigma: One that is puzzling, ambiguous, or inexplicable

Our new purchase

We went Jet Skiing today with the Bunch Family and Lallatin's (sorry Tara, I had to do this - not answer my tag). Bunch's pulled out their two-person towable. It was a big hit!

So tonight we decided to blow off the Navy Ball and Brunch at the Hyatt to buy this - extremely good call!

Now we just have to wait for the mail. But a big thanks to Cabela's for shipping to Guam.

You learn something new every day

Little did I know I would be taking my husband to his very first *youth conference!

And get this . . . his first Youth DANCE! I'm shaking my head even now.

HOW can you grow up in Utah (Mormon or not!?!) and never attend either one!

(someone even asked us on Friday night "How did you two EVER end up together!?)

True to his convictions - he still wouldn't get up and dance.

But together we made a killer dish washing team!

* youth conference (pronounced confernz) is basically a church sponsored "retreat" for ages 14-18.

I've been banned!

Banned from coming outside during the prime times when kids (ANY kids) are walking to school.

Banned from making eye contact if I happen to be in the school.

Banned from taking "back to school photos".

Seriously - I had to hang out incognito with my camera this afternoon to capture this moment in our lives! (you know, the 3rd day of school is so important!)

Madi was too observant and wouldn't play along with my sleuthing. But she DID let me walk home with her (because I had the umbrella!)

School on the morrow

It’s the night before school at the Lang house
And more than a few worries we’ve had to douse.
A new year. A new school. Finding a new batch of friends,
It’s no wonder both kids and mom don’t want night to end.

We need a new post

I love Dave - but I've seen enough of Gene Simmons ugly tongue when I bring up Navylangs.

Seeing Sidney and Chelle have such good luck with their wheat bread - we ventured out to find some sort magical dough enhancer on this island. I figured the Seventh Day Adventist food kitchen would be the closest thing to the Bosch store I could find.

We found half of the magic potion - vital wheat gluten (at $8 I figured it better work wonders!)

The bread turned out a bit lighter than usual - but honestly I think we need the other half to tell a big difference.

Either way, slather on enough of the apricot jam and anything's delicious.