Smokey's tattoo

Smokey is now imprinted on Mama forever. Just like Pooh Bear on the opposite side. May is Pooh Bear's birthday month. Its the month he also passed away. And I figured it would be a sentimental time to also add Smokey. So on May 1st, we got it done. I chose the paw print because I always cradle him paws up and nibble them. The heart because on Pooh Bear's tattoo, he has a heart shaped nose. 

#crazycatlady

Tornado!

Last week before our Easter camping trip, we were under a Tornado warning. We had a tornado pass right by Goldsboro! We had them close by during the Hurricane last year, but this was a very close call. Goldsboro was on The Weather Channel. We had sirens going off. We had to take shelter for a good 30 minutes while it passed. Mom and Dad were a little concerned this time. Mom had cleared the closet under the stairs to make room for us to take cover. Dad got Smokey and made sure he kept close by so we could grab him. The kids were calm and didnt notice how close we were. They were distracted by an Easter gift delivery from Mimi and Papa while the sirens were going off. 

Then we kept them distracted by filling the living room with stuffed animals! Right after the warning was lifted, we went out for Tacos! lol!

May 2017, Our first camping trip

Our first camping trip was just a few days after Pooh Bear's 16th birthday. We camped near by since we had no idea what we were doing. We had no idea what so ever, it would be a camping experience we would never ever forget. I wish I had known it would be Pooh Bear's first and his last trip with us. If I had known, I would have made more moments become memories. He enjoyed it a ton. We almost didnt bring him with this. Thank you God, something clicked that day that just made us realize he needed to go with us. 

He loved the window views. He loved watching us through the font door. It actually really kinda hurts looking at the above picture of him at our camper door. So many times I look at the same door and see Smokey. It's going to be so hard to let this camper go when we move. It will be one of the last remaining places our Pooh Bear has physically been with us. Although I know he is always with us, this will be hard to let go of. This base will be hard to let go of because it was here that he was last with us. However, we are going back to Guam where he was with us. Its just hard to be places without him because I still can envision him with us. He will have been gone 2 years next month, and it still feels like yesterday, and 20 years ago. Just yesterday I found 2 of his long orange hairs on various clothes hanging in my closet. 

He enoyed breakfast at the table with the kids, just like a kid. There was bacon, and nothing ever got in the way of him and bacon!

We had no idea just days later, he would be gone. 

Our Pooh Bear's 16th birthday

May 2017 is a month I dont really want to remember most days. Although I am thankful for the memories that were made. As time goes on and I look back at the moments we had, it seems like the moments were somehow planned out to absolute perfection. 

We found the house we would call home for our first year at Seymour. Little did we know, that Pooh Bear wouldn't make it to Misty Lane with us. 

May 5th we celebrated is sweet 16 birthday. We had a party for him in TLF! Birthday hat, decorations, fancy feast dinner, cupcakes and all. I even remember telling the housekeeper it was his birthday!

Soaking in the love and attention of his 3 favorite siblings. 

Here we are singing to him while he eats his fancy feast birthday meal. 

Dad and Papa were gone most of the day. Dad stumbled and hesitated all morning about buying our first camper and finally he gave in and did it. So he and Papa had been gone most of the day doing paperwork, and picking up our camper. The kids had no idea so when Dad pulled up in the parking lot, camper attached, it was a total surprise!! We eventually named our camper "Howie" and he adopted him on Pooh Bear's 16th birthday! (Howie- Hotel On Wheels)

Our arrival to North Carolina April 2017

Every now and then Im going to back track on blogging. Starting with our arrival to North Carolina from Korea 2 years ago this month, in April 2017. One of things I will always remember is being so shocked and so incredibly happy to be able to SEE. To be able to physically see through the air. To have a blue sky. To have warm bright sunshine. It was so clear. Korea was always foggy, dusty, cloudy, dim. We didnt get hardly any days in 2 years that we could see a blue sky. We were so happy to be able to BREATHE clean air. We spent a lot of time outside in TLF among the trees. Carly had never experienced squirrels before, so she fed them peanuts nearly every day. 

Our Pooh Bear was happy. Little did I know how tired he really was. In Korea, I just hoped and begged him to make it out of Korea happy and healthy. And the universe, and he had heard me. He did just that. Although now 2 years later, I hate driving past TLF on base each and every time. My heart sinks each time, because those were the last memories we made together. In that room, in TLF. I will never forget the kids and I waving at him through the window while he napped on Carly's bed on that pink Minnie Mouse blanket. 

Kayla's last selfie with our Bear. So thankful she was being goofy and took this picture. 

A couple weeks after we arrived to SJAFB, Mimi and Papa came to visit. The kids didnt know about the visit so it was a total surprise. 

Also, a couple weeks later, Mom and Dad bought a new car with a whole new purpose behind it. 

So we could tow our very first camper! What an April it was! So many new things and changes for the family.