some favorite pics from christmas family and friends 2009

erica and blaster
donna and erica
erica and cassidy
aunt debbie erica and uncle paul
erica and great grandpa bill (popo)
the cousins
erica and uncle jim
mine and kim's families
our kids
me and erica
erica and scout
shyan erica and dylan

buds
shyan and erica
erica and val
me and Erica
grandpa hans and grandma bev and ericaerica and krystal
erica and liz

erica and aunt nancy
erica and sydney
erica and uncle chris
erica and aunt gerry picking up uncle chris lol
last goodbyes erica hugging grandpa bill, we thought he wouldn't be there

erica and brother bryan
erica and grandma cathy
erica and cousin jonathan
erica and grandpa bill
all smiles erica is ...

The day after MOS Graduation 12/15/09

The next day we (Bryan and I) drove to LAX to pick Erica up, she had to be on the bus and everyone said no way going to LA but yet it was closer that driving back out to 29 Palms.

Most people were flying home, so they were all on the bus for LAX.

So Bryan and I had a lovely day, lunch on the beach, driving around we finally stopped at Starbucks and luckily got one for Erica too because the minute we were done ordering she called saying they had just pulled in, we weren't far from LAX, so we drove to the Bob Hope USO and parked there and waited and watched them all get off the bus and saw Erica sign in and say good bye to her fellow classmates, some of them she might not see again. She actually was sad to leave, when she finally saw us .. she said 'stalkers' LOL. She loaded her stuff and we were on our way home for the Holidays.

Ericas graduations from her MOS communications school

12/14/2009
Erica graduated from Twenty-nine Palms communication school...short but sweet. They were running late, and of course someone got in trouble so they didn't get the full ceremony, which was a real bummer. Myself-mom, Brother Bryan, Grandma Cathy, Grandma Bev, Grandpa Hans and Uncle Chris we there. We only got to see Erica for a very short second... which some were frustrated by, but I myself now see..
we (family are last if not even on the list of the Marine Corp.. I mean they have gotten better, back when my dad was in, it was.. say goodbye cause your child belongs to us now, some now see if the parents are involved or around they do a lot for the kids so that they don't have to worry about some.
Well, after the ceremony if you can call it that, Bev, Hans and Chris left right away, we didn't because we thought we were going to their BBQ which we didn't, so we did some shopping at that commissary, went to thrift shops.. and finally we were able to pick up Erica's stuff which was a truck load, poor Bryan was squished. Erica was not aloud to come home until the next day. So long day but was worth it to me.. I am so Proud :)

twenty nine palm sculptures

Jacobs MOS Graduation at 29 Palms

I went to 29 Palms for Erica's friend Jacob's graduation.
Hoping to meet his parents, but alas they could not make,
so I took pics for them.
I was also able to see Erica and have a quick dinner
with her and I mean quick. It was the week of Thanksgiving.
The good thing about going out there, other than hanging around forever not knowing what I was doing thinking I might be lost or confused, LOL was that it made me to be able to know what to expect for Erica's would be much the same way..
although Erica's was much shorter :(
I really enjoyed it even the with the Long drive over 2 hours, but I took pics on the way, and got lots of pics of the base because I waited around so long and then afterwards went to Jacob's Companies picnic and had awesome mexican food.
Small world but a mom who lives just done the road from us and knew Erica had brought all the food. They were so nice and invited me to stay.
I even stopped in Joshua Tree at the gift shop and picked up some christmas gifs.

Where have I been...

You know how life is.. was so busing and my Marine had us running for a while. So I guess I'll back up to the last log in , if I can. Miss Erica was at her MOS school in 29 Palms.

I went to 2 graduations there. But more on that later. I will post some pictures I finally got from my Marine and some of her Marine friends and classmates. She's off on her new adventure and sad to say I dont get a whole lot from her, even though I keep asking, she is so different than me, I'm a picture'oholic lol. And journaling too and I've always done that, well at least on paper..

think most of those I need to burn, to much negative.. got to keep it positive. I know for my Erica she really has tried to keep it all positive, even when stuff has happened that wasn't so great for her she's tried to put a positive spin on it ... LOL thats funny my friend and his band just made a song called "Positive Spin". well it might take me a bit to catch up but I'll try...... to be con't