Army Ball 2009

 We attended the Army Ball in St. Louis this weekend.  My brother-in-law, Don, was able to get us a room at the Hyatt for a discount. THANKS DON! My mother-in-law drown down from Indianapolis to watch the kids.  We got almost 24 glorious hours to be just "Jayme  & Jamison".  It was wonderful. 

The ball was nice.  The food was fine & the music was fun.  We snuck out before the speaker with our friends from our table & headed to the bar in the hotel.  Another friend, who stayed in the ballroom, sent texts with updates. (Thanks Jackie!) Once the formal part was over we went back to dance.  

This morning we got up & did the tourist thing in St. Louis.  We had breakfast at a little restaurant downtown that was about 6 blocks from the hotel. Then we walked around, saw the Arch, & went to the Louis & Clark Museum housed below the Arch.   

Army Ball Hairdo?

WHAT do I do?  I have all of this hair...bucket loads even.  While I am not complaining I do need to say that I often have no idea how to fix it.  

We are attending an Army Ball on Saturday.  Since I need to go & take care of the gray hairs & get my hair cut on Friday I do NOT want to go back on Saturday & pay more money to get it done.  

What to do?  Any suggestions?  

I am not a fan of tornadoes!

Several years ago I was visiting my sister-in-law, Lisa, in Indianapolis.  There were sirens, news reports, & a crazy storm & my very calm sister-in-law told me there was nothing to worry about. Being the BIG storm baby that I am I was not all that convinced.  

Yesterday Jamison left with Brandon for baseball and ended up coming home about 15 minutes later due to a raging lightening & rain.  About 10 minutes later the power went out, the post tornadoes went off, & the rain came down SIDEWARD. 

Being the BIG storm baby that I am I decided to take the kids, dog, a futon mattress, the radio, and my laptop into the interior bathroom. For the next 30 minutes the kids, dog & I waited for the tornado warning to pass under the mattress.  

When I was done I asked Jamison if he is trying to tell me something.  He has taken me to SC, home of the hurricanes, DC, one of the most dangerous cities in America, and now to the midwest for the total tornado experience.  I jokingly told him that I was going to home to live with my mother.  There are no tornadoes in Rochester, NY.  =)

The pictures are from the Belleville News paper.  The tornado did, in fact, touch down in 4 places around Scott AFB & Mascoutah.  

Camera Lost!

I think that I have lost my camera. Good Grief! I am so disappointed.

A few weeks ago I bought a Vera Bradley handbag as my own Mother's Day 

gift. I love it because it has so many cool pockets to store things like my phone 

& camera. After a trip to the Zoo with Brandon's 4th grade class I have misplaced

my camera. UGHHH. This is right on the heals of finding out that Jamison 

borrowed my iPod and ended up having it in his pocket of his gym pants when they

were washed. Did you know an iPod cannot survive a wash & dry? This has not

been a stellar week for the Hines & electronics.

Spring in in the Air

It is about time we got some more photos up here!  This Spring has been busy but fun.  It began with a USO sponsored trip to the St. Louis Zoo.  It was a fantastic, busy, LONG, day at the zoo. *Support the USO, that do such nice things for soldiers & their families.*

Easter was a lot of fun. Unfortunately Jamison had to work but we still had a nice weekend.  We enjoyed brunch at the Scott Club with a few neighbors.  We had decorated eggs earlier in the month & while it was a MESS it was a lot of fun.  

The ID makes the man.

In the military, the children celebrate their 10th birthday with a little more umph.  THIS is the birthday that the children get their very own Military ID.  Brandon turned 10 on a Sunday & we were at the ID card facility first thing Monday morning.  I cannot believe that they let me take his picture.  

Brandon is 10!

                                    

                          

Brandon turned 10!  Who allowed that!  

I remember being so young, 22, when I found out that he was going to make me a Mom. SUCH an overwhelming feeling.   Then, when he was born it was BY FAR the hardest & most wonderful change a person can ask for.