Tulip Alla Prima

All prima is italian for "the first time" which in the art world means done in one sitting.

the paint is still wet so it looks a little glossy..

Done.

So this castle painting is my first and only painting of a building. My first attempt as well..
Honestly, I wouldnt say It came out the way I wanted to at all. I wonder if I would have had a much finer brush and went slower if it would have came out less sloppy... but for now, let's just say it's impressionistic. :)

So..

Sometimes being a military spouse makes it difficult to blog about your life... Because half the stuff you want to talk about you're not allowed to; Especially on the internet.

pretty lame.

but at the same time I understand why.

oh well. So much for this blog post.

Bubbles

Lately, every night before bed I give Madison a bath. I fill the tub up a few inches with warm water, squirt some lavender calming baby soap into the tub, toss some toys in, then put her in.

We have a really good time playing with the water.

Madison giggles and splashes and gnaws at her toys in the tub.

Just to mix things up a bit I decided to bust out some good ol' bubbles.

I think I got a little carried away. I forgot how much fun bubble blowing is.

but Madison LOVED it, so it's okay. :)

looking for understanding...

Madison seems to be extra temperamental lately. I don't know if it's because she misses her daddy, or if its because she can sense my stress, or both.

I'm having second thoughts on whether or not I want to stay in Hawaii while Matt's gone.

I've been having a taste of what its going to be like raising Madison on my own without a helping hand around the house... and It's been rough. Matt's been working super late hours with no lunch the last couple days because the unit is busy getting ready to deploy. I usually look forward to Matt coming home for lunch or after work so I can have a minute to change the laundry, take a shower... or sit and enjoy the quiet. But here in about a month in a half I wont have that.

On top of the regular stress I will have from being on my own... I'll be worried sick about Matt being in a dangerous foreign country. I'm scared that combination of stress will effect Madison, and that would be no good.

I wonder if it would be better for Matt, Madison, and I if we just went back to California.
1. Madison will have more family to be around instead of just me.
2. I will have the support of more family and friends during such a hard time
3. Matt will worry less about us if we're back home, and not on our own.

I love Hawaii... and I'll be sad to leave. I hate the thought of going back to Antelope... but I'm just trying to make the best decision for my family.

Hanauma Bay all the way (sort of)

Welcome to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Where you can spend all day snorkeling with some of our friends such as...
humuhumunukunukuapua'a

and lau Wili Wili.
and of course our dear friend Honu...

Except for me.

I would rather be poked in the eye than snorkle with these water creatures!
I don't think they're cute.
The only fish I like to see up close and personal is this kind

The first time I went snorkeling (in the Bahama's on my honeymoon) a huge fish the size of a Saint Bernard with fangs, tried to get cuddly with me and I smacked it in the face with my flipper!

I tried to give it another shot the first time I ever went to Hanauma bay (6mo preggo) I had an anxiety attack, got stranded on a huge piece of coral (which i was terrified a huge eel would pop out of and bite me).. and cried my way back to shore with the help of my brother in law's girlfriend! People could hear me screaming through my snorkel under water every time a fish came even remotely close to me!

So this time I decided...
I think I'll hang out with the random Japanese tourist that don't speak a word of English and are scared of the water.

While my husband and friends enjoy the snorkeling.. :)

Just a couple more days 'til one of the BEST Holidays ever!

I Love Easter.

It's one of my 2 favorite holidays.

The other one being the 4th of July.

Call me crazy, but it totally beats Thanksgiving and Christmas.

1. Celebrates the Resurrection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (woot woot!)

2. I love BBQ's
3. Easter service is always my fav
4. Love seeing little kids in their Easter Outfits
5. I don't have to buy 3209202 gifts for people on Easter.
6. It's not freezing cold outside.

Like I've stated before in my previous V-day blog post, I don't usually get anything for anyone on Valentines day, and people think I'm heartless for it... but little do they know...

I get my man an Easter Basket on Easter! Because Easter is WAY better holiday than Valentines day!

and of course I cant forget my precious Princess Madison. Though she can't enjoy chocolates and treats yet I made sure to get her a little something too; Bath toys, a dolly, and some books.

As I was putting together Matt and Madison's basket, and began reminiscing about past Easters when I was a kid. One of the best baskets I got was when I was about 8 or so, it was from my aunt. It was humongous and it came with a large hand painted Easter tea set. It was ceramic, and all the spoons were shaped like little flowers with the stem as the handle, and the plates were flowers too. The tea pot was festively decorated with brown bunny rabbits. It was beautiful. While all my friends had little plastic tea sets, I had the real deal! I threw so many tea parties that year...

I hope everyone has a fabulous Easter :)