One Word

So, Jessica has me addicted to blogs. It started when she gave me a few to look at which leads to a few more. Now my bookmark site is full of different awesome blogs. So, I was told about a blog that talks about one word that you pick and take on for one year. So, being the person that does not make the New Year's Resolution to lose weight, I thought I might actually be able to do this. So, my word for 2011 is "Embrace". I thought it would be a great word considering all the changes I have to embrace in the coming year. You can choose any word. I think it gives you a meaning and purpose throughout the day. In the back of your head you can keep your word. Just like the other day....I went to get Passport Pics done at Combat Camera. Go figure that they closed on Friday @ 11am. Bad part is that I was there at 1:30pm. I was getting so frustrated at the fact that I now have to come back and do this again. But, in the back of my mind was my word..."Embrace". So, I embraced this problem as best I could. On Monday afternoon, Sarah and I went and got our pics and done a few more errands. We ended our adventure out with dinner at McDonald's. Just us girls having girl time. It was fun. So, I am glad that I "embraced" our issue. It turned out Monday was a better day for us anyways. What is your word going to be? I wish you all the best of luck finding it and sticking to it. :) Have a great week. Embrace everything that comes your way. :)

Happy New Year!!!

2010 is already gone, and we are looking forward to what 2011 has to offer. We are gearing up for our move to Okinawa in May. I have too many things to do before then, but I am gearing up to start my "To Do" list. We have had a busy past month. My family came out for a visit. On Dec. 16 Mom, Dana, and the boys flew out, and we enjoyed a rain soaked week in CA. I have never known it to rain so much. Everyone took the weather in stride, and we still enjoyed each other's company. On Dec. 25, I was unexpectedly greeted by Joni, Jonathan, and Brandon. Mom and them had planned the entire surprise since Oct. and I never had a clue. I don't know what this really says about me. I am guessing I will never work for the FBI. LOL We hit the ground running with everyone on Dec. 26th. We got a tour of the West. First stop was Vegas. I think everyone enjoyed it, even if no one became a millionaire. We then drove to the Grand Canyon. I can never see it too many times. I love visiting every time. I am glad we got to show the boys one of the natural wonders of the world. We made another pit stop in Vegas for one night. After that, it was laundry time at home. We headed out the next day for a 3 day trip to San Francisco. The rain of course followed us, but we had a great time and ended up with umbrellas as souvenirs. We returned just in time for Mom, Dana, and the boys to have one rest day before leaving to go back to SC Jan. 4. Joni, Jonathan, and Brandon were able to stay until Jan. 8. We had a great time. Joni got engaged in San Francisco. So, I offered to take her engagement photos. I think she has a few good photos to pick from.

All in all I had a wonderful few weeks with my family. I am headed home for a visit in April before we leave for Okinawa. It is hard to be so far away from my family. I guess that just makes me treasure my time with them even more.

I hope everyone has a great week.

Here comes Santa...

Well, an entire month or so has passed with no news from the Ensley Household. It doesn't mean we have no news, just that I have been too busy to post what we have done. Thanksgiving has already come and gone. We were blessed to have Mawmaw Keller join us in November for a visit. I do treasure my time with her. She left on December 1, and the countdown for my Mom, Dana, and the boys started. They will be here in 8 days. I am so excited about their visit. It will be the first time flying for all of them. Mom is a bit worried, but I think with a strong drink, she will make it through. They will hit the ground running. I have so much planned for them to see and do. With us moving in May, I know they will not make it out to CA for another trip any time soon. So, we have to make this one worthwhile. I will definitely be posting pics of that trip.

As for Mawmaw's trip out to CA...it was a little more relaxed. I ran her ragged the last time she was out 2 years ago. So, she graciously said she would like to stay around the house and spend time with us. I did manage to whisk her off to Yosemite in the freezing snow. I know she loved that. LOL It was beautiful this time of year. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to visit while the mountains were covered with snow. It is hard to describe to someone how beautiful a place like Yosemite is. It is truly breathtaking.

For now, I am playing catch up. I volunteer two days a week in Sarah's class. I have to take the other 3 days and recoop. LOL I do admire her teacher for showing up everyday. I wish I could, but it does take a special soul to teach 5 year olds. I do not have this soul. :) I have yet to decide what I want to be when I grow up. So for now, I piddle around in a few things. I have a true passion for Photography. I try to learn as much as I can about it. We will see where that takes me in life. If nothing ever comes of it, at least I enjoy every moment of taking photos.

I am counting down the days until I can hang with Jessica. When family visits end and everyone goes back to the norm, we will start our moving list. We will have lots to do before May. It will be here before we know it. I am excited and a bit nervous. Maybe that is the "giddy" feeling I have when I think of it. Mostly I am excited, but there is some hesitation about living in another country. Everyone knows I am a talker. What do you talk about to someone that doesn't understand a word you are saying? It is the little things in life that worry me the most. LOL Oh, well, I will save that worry for another day. As for now I am headed to bed to get up early and do it all over again. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

It is October in CA!

Fall is upon us here this week. We have had cold temperatures and rain. Lots and lots of rain. I do see today that the sun is trying to peek out from behind the clouds. I do miss the Southern CA weather of sunny and 70.

We made out annual trip to Bates Nut Farm this past weekend. It was a lot of fun walking through the field and finding our "perfect" pumpkin. We finally found it and she weighed in at a whopping 109 pounds. She is a huge pumpkin. I have always wanted a "Big Mac" but we always decided on 3 little ones. This year, being our last year here, we decided to just go for it. So, we brought her home and she is even bigger here than she looked. Sarah had a great time at Bates. That is one thing I will miss when we go to Okinawa. There are no pumpkin patches there, so we will have to resort to the commissary for our pumpkin for 3 years. But, we will enjoy every opportunity we have been given. I hope you enjoy the pics of our trip to the pumpkin patch. Have a wonderful week.

The Ensley's headed to the pumpkin patch.

Our pumpkin weighing in at a whopping 109 lbs.

The Ensley's with our pumpkins.
The family
Sarah picked out her pumpkin.
My little pumpkin out in the field.

Family shot

Big Changes

Big changes are happening in the Ensley household. Since our last post, our little girl started Kindergarten. She loves it. Her teacher is wonderful, and she is learning so much. Jimmy has been attending the Advanced Course for Gunny's. Nothing like doing homework at night with a kindergartner and then helping Jimmy. :) I will be glad when he graduates on Oct. 15.

We also spent 6 weeks with The Bernardo's before they left to go to Okinawa. We had a blast spending time with them. As we were leaving the airport from dropping them off, Jimmy called to inform me that we have orders to Okinawa. We are ecstatic. I have wanted to go to Okinawa for a few years now. Life has a way of working out. I am so excited I get to spend 3 years with my best friend. I am hoping we get to experience all the things Okinawa and surrounding area has to offer. So, as of now, we are just enjoying our southern CA life. We leave for Okinawa in May, so for anyone who knows me, I gotta get started making my lists. LOL Hope everyone has a wonderful week.

The summer has flown by.

Wow, where has summer gone? I can not believe it is almost time for Sarah to start Kindergarten. I have tried to make the summer fun for her. We have stayed very busy starting with our vacation to Las Vegas. We just finished up with a visit from Rose and Zane who live in Okinawa, Japan. We had an opportunity to show them San Diego, and we sure tried to do this area justice. We are gearing up for Jess, Dom, and the girls to move in with us during their last month in CA. They leave in September for 3 years in Okinawa. The good news on that front is that the girls will be starting school together this year. I have promised Jess I will come for a visit, so I am starting to save for our passports. I will definitely feel like a world traveler with one. I am actually excited at the prospect of traveling to another country. I hope all the plans fall into place so I can visit her next summer. As for now, I am slowly winding down, as is summer. Sarah starts school on August 30. I am truly going to miss her when she leaves me all day. I have so enjoyed our 5 years together, every day. It will be hard to let her go, but I know I have to. I will post some pics of our visit with Rose & Zane and a few miscellaneous ones. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great week.

My little clown.

The World Famous San Diego Zoo

We went to the circus.

Rose & Zane

The Sea Turtles @ Seaworld

Alyssa, Sarah, and Zane

Sarah & Zane at Ruby's

Summer Picnic

Sarah and I met Jessica and the girls for a picnic at a local park. We had a great time. Malia had so much fun. No one has told her she is 1. She thinks she can do what the big girls do. It is fun to watch the girls play together. I treasure these moments b/c I know they are coming to an end faster than I wish they would. Not too many more outings and the Bernardo family will be moving to Okinawa. I am trying to soak in all the moments I can with them.

Sarah enjoying the slide

I thought I would be creative....

Group shot of our picnic

Sarah being a duck.

Alyssa being a duck.