Her Posse

Actually - it's more like her fan club!

These little guys think Madi is "all that"!

I hear little knocks on the back door all day long asking if Madi can play.

And she does.

I think it's her stunning ensemble that grabs their attention!

All through the night

Grandma Dodee has taught 4 year old Emma how to call Chan in Guam.

Now if she can just teach her about the time difference . . . . .

A 5th grade afternoon

I consider myself a seasoned field tripper.

Yearly field trips growing up alternated between Hogle Zoo and Hansen Planetarium. Bringing a sack lunch (actually contained in a brown paper sack) that included an indulgent Twinkie and a can of Shasta (this was long before the days of the juice box!)

Flash forward to Madison's 5th grade "study trip". I've even chaperoned a few of these study trips while living in DoDEA world: Horseback riding among palm trees, hiking, cultural museums, even a trip to McDonald's in Iceland.

Never has one of these past experiences included dancing the YMCA, Macarena and Cubic Shuffle at Planet Hollywood with Japanese tourists watching in shock and awe (and probably a bit of confusion!)

That field . . . .I mean study trip beats a Hostess packed brown bag any day!

Happy Mother's Day

To all the "mothers" in our life . . . .

We say Thank You!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

There are no greeting cards for this day. . . .so let me just say I'm thankful to be a part of a larger family known as "The Military Spouse".

Flags appear more brilliant to you…

Parades draw out more emotion for you…

A patriotic song is a musical message played just for you…

A hand-over-the-heart is as stirring as an embrace for you…

A parting kiss can hold you for months…

A welcome back embrace can fill you up from lonely months…

A grave marker is a stark reminder of the meaning of devotion…

A tear shared is a stark statement on the meaning of sacrifice…

A duffel bag on a baggage claim gives you pause and connection…

An eagle’s soar gives you inspiration.

There you are…The military spouse, the one asked to be strong, the one willing to belong.

The one who is often required to do it all.

The one who is privileged to stand beside a true American - day in and day out.

There are military spouses around the world, beside soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors.

They share a bond, a unity and a duty to be there, always.

There. Said. Done. There are no better…anywhere.

One YW to be proud of.

David called me from work this afternoon.
He wanted to make sure I had seen the athelete highlight in the PDN (Guam's newspaper)
Click here to see why we were so excited.

Biba Inarajan!

The people of Guam love to turn ANYTHING into a party!

(or in local terms - a fiesta!)

Almost every month of the year you can find a different village (neighborhood) celebrating their own patron saint.

We were invited to Inarajan's village fiesta by Ann Flores - one of the ladies at David's work.

Prolific amounts of people, beer and FOOD!

The poor pig had no idea what he was in for when he heard he was coming to the party.

David wears his bestowed title of chamhaole with pride.

He kept asking if he should chenchule’* - in which they would all laugh and pat his arm in response. "You even sound locol!"

*Chenchule' is a contribution. Whether that be in the form of labor, food, drink or other supplies. However, money has become the most favored form of chenchule'.

That's Good. That's Bad.

The bananas are back in at the commissary.

We have a happy household.

That's Good!

I'm sure you've noticed how Survivor Micronesia keeps sending people home because of medical reasons. . . .

. . . only because this part of the world is just one big petri dish!

That's Bad!

Ai Adai!

Dave: Hey Hon - wanna run to the commissary with me? I need to get stuff for the BBQ on Saturday.

Chan: The commissary? Ai Adai!!!*

I don't know -

Is it pay day? Is a typhoon coming? Are any visiting ships in port (either foreign or domestic)? Are the freezers still broken?

No? . . . . . there may really be food to buy! Hurry - let's go!
Madi: (Hollering after us as we head out the door) Good Luck!

I guess the planets just weren't aligned. Ai Adai!

Seriously - the daily "commissary experience" is paving my pathway to a much hotter place than Guam!  (hopefully it's less humid)

I've known incredibly strong women brought to tears after a typical shopping trip!
Thank goodness for Grandmas and Priority Mail!

*Ai Adai (i uh-day): As best I can tell this is generally an expression of exasperation.

One typically will shake their head from side to side and make a "tsk-tsk" sound while uttering this phrase. Although I've also heard it used to express surprise or slight shock as well.

One of these things

Is not like the other.

No Spring Snow Here

High Today of 89. Heat index 97.

Bring the Sunshine Back!

It's a bird!

It's a plane!

No, wait . . . . . it's the 2nd counselor in the Talisay Branch!

Boonies of Guam

A sampling of "Boonies" . . .

In no particular order

What We Wish You Understood

Statements from parents with an autistic child

"You get nervous to go anywhere because you’re afraid of what he (the autistic child) will do."

"I wish people wouldn’t judge. It’s obvious when someone has a physical disability, but our children look normal. I feel badly when someone tries to "give him five" and he doesn’t respond normally."

"It makes me feel like I am a bad parent."

"You’ll never know how much power you have with your words – how much they can hurt us or heal us."

"My son once said, 'I think there’s something wrong with me… like they (other people) don’t like me.' I’m sad when I think of that."

"Having a child with autism has taught me how much Heavenly Father loves all of his children, and how all of us are special to Him no matter how talented or ‘un-talented’ we may be."

"Nobody will play with my son. Even if one child would come for 10 minutes and play video games, it would make a big difference."

Once my son wrote, "They think I’m dumb, stupid, and I don’t care anymore. And it makes me tired holding all my muscles from emotions and makes me sick and tired and frustrated." I wish he didn’t have to face such a confusing world.

"My child had a very caring teacher one year. I asked him what made her so special and he said, "Because she understands kids like me and she loves me anyway.' It may

not seem like it, but these children understand who cares about them."

"Autism takes such a toll on the family. It is rare to enjoy a pleasant family night, evening meal, or family outing. We try to make it as normal as possible, but autism affects the whole family."

"My child responds differently all the time. One day he will respond one way, and the next day, it will be different. Don’t expect the same reaction, but keep trying! Parents and close family get a different reaction all the time as well."

"His face will not match his emotions. He may be happy, but he will look sad."

"They are all so different. If you have met one autistic child, you have met ONE autistic child."

Dave and I. We're such . . . . Parents!

"MOM! Don't dance!"
- I guess it's not even acceptable in the kitchen anymore.

"I hate when Dad picks us up from school. None of his windows are tinted."
- There's no disguising the LT.
(Madison wants you to know it's not only his windows that is the problem.)


We walk to the movie theatre. (shudder)


Dad's choice of iPOD music (that he insists on singing while mowing the lawn . . . .obnoxiously loud)

I Must Mention . . .

Madison's Honorable Mention at the McCool Science Fair 2008.

Here she is with Logyn (1st in Kinder) and Ryan (3rd in 1st grade)

Who knew we had such smarty pants in the Talisay Branch!

We thank you for your patience . . . .

I don't think Continental Airlines will make my Christmas card list this year!

Even though I was getting sick and a tad bit disgruntled* with my little family - I left Salt Lake on my original flight Saturday morning

(more like the middle of the night - according to my mom).

*(David didn't want to pay the change fee for my ticket.
And Madison wanted me home for the science fair.)

Fair enough I guess.

I had enjoyed a great week with family -

which culminated in my birthday visit to

Good Things Utah! (Thanks to Misse)

After an 8 hour delay at the dreaded LAX airport, too many hours spent in long lines, grumpy passengers and tired travelers - I finally made it to Hawaii (almost halfway home).

Of course the ONE FLIGHT to Guam had departed the tropical isle 6 hours before we arrived.

Which meant spending the night in Waikiki and HOPING there's room on the next day's flight.

To make my incredibly long drawn out story short - I made it home to Guam on Monday night. Of course spending MORE than the $100 it would have cost to simply change my original ticket in the first place!

Auntie Chan

Happy Birthday Hottie!

Why do we love mom?
-Garrett: "Because she buys me stuff!" - said with a huge smile on his face while getting mad at me for interrupting him while he is trying to read his new book.

-Madison: "Because I love her!" - said with a grumpy voice because she's been put on the spot and embarrassed about having to say something nice.

-Dave: I love her for many reasons, but a few I can think of now are;
1. She is my conscience - I can go on and on about anything, but in the end she is the voice of reason.
2. She is well-spoken. When she talks, it always makes sense. She always has her facts in order, and she believes what she is saying.
3. She has a humorous way of dealing with her two "Aspergers Boys".
4. Of course, she is the best mother in the world!
5. She is organized and always has a plan.
6. She deals with my extreme organization habits (see #3).
7. It still takes my breath away to see her every day.

Happy Birthday & hurry home. - We miss you.

Happy Birthday in Happy Valley . . . . .

Lexie Lang always has her birthday dinner at Brick Oven in Provo.

"Not by tradition", her mom says. "It just turns out that way."

It just so happens that her birthday falls on a Monday this year.

Monday night + Brick Oven in Happy Valley = One Giant FHE!!!

And to conclude the spirit of the evening . . . . ice cream at the Creamery!