Happy Birthday/Vetrans Day!!!

Ben had Friday and Saturday off this weekend!!! Friday night Ben met me at work and we went into Seattle and had dinner where we ate for our first date: Dicks in the U district. :) We then jumped back into traffic and went to the Sonics game (tickets courtesy of a partner at the firm I work for) It was actually a good game at the end, though we lost by a basket to Utah.
Yesterday morning I had my massage and then we took off for Tacoma, with a quick stop at the Super Mall first! Yesterday was the Marine Corps 232nd birthday and Duke's Chowder House was gracious enough to give a free entree to all the Birthday Marine's with ID. So we had lunch on the Tacoma waterfront and then hit the antique malls downtown... We wrapped up the evening quite early and just lounged on the couch the rest of the night.
... And the reason I'm bad at this: I again, forgot to grab my camera!!! I realized this just past Federal Way as I was admiring the Mountain and loving what a nice day it turned out to be! UGH!

Ben was supposed to have tonight off but wants some new toy for his guns so he took an overtime shift... Gun 'toys' come from overtime :) Not that I'm stingy, but if they came from the bank account, he'd have way too many! (As opposed to the just 'too many" now) Last Saturday we found out the the training class County was sending him to last Sunday was cancelled and rescheduled for today... So Ben's essentially working all day, on his holiday too no less... "Happy Vetran's Day honey, thank you for your service!!... Now go to work for 17 hours!" :) Don't feel too bad for him, before leaving he showed me what toys are going to be on there way soon, so he's pretty excited.

He's in Kirkland tonight so hopefully they all behave up there or they'll be sorry! Tired Ben = Grumpy Ben... The boy doesn't really like giving tickets as much as he like catching people... It's like me fishing - I like to catch them, but I really like to let them go more than keeping it and cleaning it, and then figuring out how to cook it, or if it's really edible??? I'm not a seafood person, can you tell?
For him it's all in the hunt! Though there are plenty of fools out there who just love to talk their way INTO a ticket... He has fun with them too :)

Sorry...

So the reason there aren't any pictures up from the ball is because i just don't have any!
I forgot my camera and then it turned out that no one from Ben's unit stayed for dinner, they all headed out right after the ceremony. Last year Ben's unit started to 'piggy-back' onto the other unit's ball so things aren't quite the same. We missed last year's ball becasue Ben was training for County, or we would have realized that paying for dinner was just a waste. The other unit didn't even acknowledge that anyone else was there. They had a guest speaker and gave him a gift and it was just from them... This other unit really bugs me anyway: They all have 'red tags', actual peices of red tape on their uniforms and tht signifies that they joined the Marine Corps ONLY if they never see combat! WHAT?!? I have to say that I was far from thrilled that Ben went to Iraq, but I am incredibly proud of him... and his courage to do so. Why join? I know that not everyone can go out into the field, but to join in complete refusal is just kind of cowardly to me.

And due to the fact that this unit's never been anywhere - some only have a few medals and ribbons, so they photographer they brought in was taking the pictures from far away... Ben's uniform is far more impressive with 6 medals and a ribbon to show off - and you can hardly see them with how far back the picture was, not to mention poor quality photography. I think what will end up happenning is that soon we'll stage another photo op.

Left to do...

It just occured to me that I'm not ready for the ball! When did I become so bad at being a girl!?!

Things to do before Saturday afternoon:

• Figure out what to do with my hair! (The last cut I had was really bad, so this probably means that I'll need to go to a salon and see if they can fix it)
• Get a pedicure
• Find nylons
• Wax/pluck my eyebrows
• Find a clutch/purse to go with my dress

Not to mention:

• Pester Ben into going to get his hair cut. An absolute must before tomorrow night as the sides are too long for a Marine to show up at drill with... And make the man part again this month with his side burns. Every month he has this sad week without the side burns :)
• Pluck or convince him to wax the two, thankfully blonde, caterpillars above his eyes - They're about to merge.
• Iron his Dress Blues
• Find his shiny dress uniform shoes since the move (and the white gloves)

And still 'manage' to have fun tomorrow night with Mike, Carma and baby Nykita at the new South Center Cheesecake Factory. I'm thinking this will be the easiest part of my to do's!!!

In the meantime (bored at work), I'll just sit and enjoy the cute picture sent to me from Moses Lake:

Ball

This weekend is the Marine Corps Ball. I spent 4 hours in the mall yesterday trying to find a dress that didn't look like a high school prom dress... It was tough! I wore the wrong shoes for shopping and my feet were killing me by the time I found the dress. I'd actually seen this same dress at 2 other places (with very minimal difference) but I have such a hard time spending a ton of money on a dress that I'll be in for only a few hours... I did this with my wedding dress too. Gotta love off the rack bridal sales!
This however is not a wedding, it's the annual ball. I used to get really excited to get dressed up with Ben and go to the ball, but it's totally not his thing. He's usually a bit of a grump for these: It's mandatory! No if's, or and's - your 'but(t)' better be there - which if you've met my husband you know he surprisingly for his occupations doesn't love to be ordered around... Then he must be there by this time and no later and Dress Blues better be perfect, medals alligned properly and in the correct order... and blah, blah... It really takes the fun out of it!

Anyway, I got a dress... On SALE! My mission for the weekend was accomplished :)

This is him going to drill a few months ago... He really doesn't like his picture taken and he's being a total pain here, but it turned out much better in the photo - and I think he's pretty cute. (Even when he's being a punk... well sometimes!)

Because I miss him...

This is the last picture I have with my Papa. It was taken this July 4th at his home on the lake. Though he was sick and exhausted from his cancer and treatment, he managed to keep his great smile all day long!

A few years back my grandparents started hosting what became the largest, most incredible fireworks display ever by just normal people (without hiring it out)... I use this term 'normal' lightly, the amount of time and money into these fireworks would make any 'normal' person crazy and broke!

My Papa loved his family and loved his country, therefore the 4th of July was just the perfect holiday to combine and celebrate them both! Not to mention his (sometimes not so secret) love for taking a great fireworks display from the neighbors, and after praising them and making them feel really good about it... Walk over to the boys and say, "Show 'em what it's supposed to look like!" My Dad described this attitude in relation to the entire Baumgartner family as, "Anything worth doing, is worth over-doing"... Let's just say there isn't another motto out there that yet fits this group as perfectly.

Is there anything better than spending the day with family and friends, great fellowship and conversation with a beautiful lake to swim, canoe or paddle through... Reciting the flag salute, "under God", before dinner and then bundling up and enjoying the fireworks over the dock? Don't even waste your time trying to answer, there isn't. ;)

Papa went home a bit more than a month after this picture. It's often so much easier to still just think that our schedules don't allow visits or that he's away on an extended fishing trip... but I'm not that great at convincing myself of this anymore.

I just miss him.

Tiger Who??

My aunt Cindy sent me an email of this little boy... he is seriously the coolest kid ever! It's such a great story... you have to watch it!

(I tried to embed the video but it's not working so you have to click on the links below to watch... It's a few minutes long, but very worth it!)

Part One

Part Two

All Aboard!

Aubrey jumped on the blog boat and now has one of her very own... She just posted pictures of our painting project this weekend (and of her little cuties). You can click here to see!

No more tax returns!

Today was the deadline for personal income tax returns on extension... Thank goodness!
I know I'll still see them trickle on to my desk occasionally for those who don't mind filing late, but for now until February - I'm going to work & coming home on time! During the last April busy season it wasn't so bad working late because Ben was on second shift working 2pm-10pm, but with him walking in 10 minutes before I leave and me getting home 3 hours before he goes... doesn't give us as much time as we'd like. This upcoming tax season will, I'm sure, prove to be a bit more difficult.

This weekend I drove out to Moses Lake to visit with Aubrey. We had lots of fun! Brandon worked, the girls were in Idaho with Grandparents and Brady was a sweet boy for us as we walked the Farmer's market, shopped and PAINTED!! It was quite a productive Saturday! Now all Aubrey needs to do is post pictures on her new blog to show off her beautiful house!

Oh and another thing that happend this weekend: my sweet little brother turned ELEVEN!!! He's not so little anymore... So sad! At least I can still get some really good hugs (when his friends aren't around) and he doesn't think I'm totally lame yet, which is really quite nice! I remember the day a few years back that I walked out to say goodbye to the boy who had to sleep with "Sissy" every time I stayed the night ~ he was playing with his buddies outside and ran up to give me a hug and kiss, only to turn around and be heckled. "HA! You kissed you're sister..." Poor Nick! I've never wanter to ring the neck of a little kid before that moment, but Christian almost got a beaten... had I been able to catch the little booger!

The weekend rundown

Friday was kind of scary: Ben and Rich moving an 800 pound safe from our front porch into the utility room! (gotta love 'curb side delivery') They managed to move it without breaking it, themselves/eachother, AND all my walls are in tact and scratch free!! I really wanted to take pictures but was afraid that the flash from the camera, or the irritation that I was documenting this event, would destract the boys and then it would be my fault if something happend... Sorry. I made them dinner and then Rich left so Ben could focus on getting ready for work.
My Grandma came over after Ben left and we watched Narnia. I love that movie! I definitely get my nightowl traits from Pink Gramma. The movie ended at midnight and then we chatted for a while before she left.

On Saturday morning I got a massage, but not the good relaxing kind - this is the kind that is trying to stop spasms in my back from after the accident, the kind that leaves bruises - not fun... Then Aubrey, Brady and I ran errands and I finally got our bedroom furniture ordered and paid for!! Sadly, Aubrey took the kids and went back home after our 'date'... 5 more days until I get to see them again...
Ben and I made dinner and watched football until he had to leave for work... It's such a bummer when his weekends don't jive with mine!

Sunday I was awoken by a cheerful Ben at 6:10, because he got to finally use his mace at work :) He's been whining for a year about how it just takes up space on his belt and he never needs it - now he can stop. Don't worry, the maced individual completely deserved it! Kicking a cop is never a good idea (Ben's partner was on the receiving end of that foot)
After the story, he climbed into bed and I slept in a little, just so I could snuggle up to him for once this week! Tried a new chinese place for lunch with my Grandma, got an overdue oil change, got my hair done, and then went bowling and to dinner with Jared and Emily!

(And... um, with the hair thing... I'm kind of a brunette now - we'll see how long this lasts)

They're here....

Unfortunately for Brandon - his job is in another big push to complete a project. Which means anywhere from 60-80+ hours in a single WEEK. Poor Guy!

Thankfully for all of us on the western side of the state, this means that Aubrey and the kids are back hanging out over here!!!

So if you can't find me - don't worry, I'm just out playing with these cuties:

Yes, do believe your eyes... That is a picture of Aubrey with Lexi! Take it in, she doesn't give us too many :o)