Ahhh... Christmas is in the air at the Eckert house! We have had our tree up, bare as could be, for over a week now. We finally decided to make time to decorate it! This year we did it a litte different than last year.....we let the kids take over 100%. That's what Christmas is about anyways - the kids, right? They did such a great job, too. 
How silly did I feel the day after I posted my "thankful" post when I read the following in an email from a co-worker.......
I'm thankful for freedom and living in a country where each personis valued and where all people - regardless of status, race, gender,ethnicity or religion - are free to express their ideas without fear of retribution. I'm thankful for all the men and women, both past AND PRESENT,who have willingly put themselves in harm's way in defense of this freedom.
~Paul Sullivan
I am truely thankful for being able to live in a country that allows me this freedom. The freedom to write this blog, the freedom to raise my children in a way that I see fit, the freedom to wear skirts and show my face, the freedom to speak my mind, the freedom to choose my religion, I could go on and on... but more importantly, I am grateful for all of the men and women that are halfway across the world fighting for this very freedom. May God bless each and every one of you!
The 10 things I am thankful for:
10. my dog, Sadie, for snuggling up with my each night
9. my dog, Daisy, for loving me after I punish her for pooping in the house
8. my kids, who drive me crazy every waking hour
7. my husband, for relieving me of my motherly duties
6. the Honey Baked Ham that is here in Panama
5. my new job
4. being able to pig out one day out of the year
3. my friends both near and far
2. my family, close and distant
1. no snow!
I want to wish all of my family and friends a wonderful & safe Thanksgiving!
Don't forget to thank God for all of the blessings you have been given!
Some call it an investment, others call it a necessity....we just call them fun! Ok, well my car isn't so much fun as the boat will be.... but I'm happy to have them both, regardless!
I haven't been big into volunteering, but I think that could change. I volunteered to help out in the Ironman Triathalon this year. It consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and a 26 mile run, and over 2,000 participants; and let me tell you...it was very rewarding!
Here you can see Jim and Tyler handing out cups of (flat) soda for the runners. We passed out everything from Gatoraid, water and ice, to bananas, pretzels, goo, and chicken broth. 
These runners started their day off sometime around 6am that day. By the time the first runner (who had completed the swim & bike ride) it was 12:15pm. Can you imagine doing that? I certainly respected every one of those atheletes! It made me want to go home and start working out.....but that feeling only lasted about a day " ) Then reality set in. lol 
Sorry for the delay in my updates.....I finally have a breather and can catch up on life now that I've wrapped up my PSY class this week " )
Halloween this year just didn't seem like Halloween. I'm not sure if it's the weather or what, but I usually get more into it than I did this year. O well...the kids enjoyed all of the fall festivities and trick-or-treating! That's what it's all about any ways, right? " )
Here Addison and Kristin (a.k.a. Princess Jasmines) pose a the squadron Halloween party. 
The boys' school threw the BEST fall festival I've ever been to! Here you can see Tyler trying to dunk SSgt. Principe (Prince) in the dunk tank. I think it took him about three tries, but he finally dunked him!
There was a silent auction that each class provided a "basket" for. Each class had a theme for their baskets and had asked for donations from all of the students to help fill the baskets. We ended up "winning" two of these baskets! We took home the "beach" basket and the "arts and crafts" basket. 
Addison is a Princess Cheerleader, Jayce is the Mad Hatter and Tyler, well...he wasn't into Halloween this year. He sat with me and helped pass out candy to all of our trick-or-treaters.
