The day the music died.......

It was a normal morning just like any other morning of an eight year old girl I guess. Woke up, ate breakfast, got dressed kissed my Mother goodbye and walked to the bus stop to hurry up and wait in the cold. I was happy because Christmas break was almost here. While patty caking "Miss suzy had a boy friend...." with my neighbor Christy the warm yellow bus finally pulled up. My friends and I climbed up to the middle left side like usual I saw Casey Hornsbee in the back with his legs hanging in the aisle describing something with his hands and kids gathered round that had been listening to him from the prior stops before. I'm not quite sure what drew me to get closer to him to hear what he had to say but what came out of his mouth changed my life forever. "There is no such thing as Santa" I remember hearing ringing in my ears and seeing Casey and the others almost pan out like I had been viewing him from farther way. It was like the bus got longer almost. The aisle went on and on. My heart raced! What was he saying? Is this right? I remember reflecting on all sorts of things like the time I thought I heard Santa's sleigh leaving our roof one Christmas morning but also seeing that my Dad had some bells in his hand behind his back. Or all those times I waited for him all night in my room with my brother going over what I thought I might see under the tree the next morning. I thought of the times I just wasn't lucky enough to hear Santa come down the chimney. It was all starting to make sense. Afterwards I of course then had even more epiphanies "if Santa isn't real then that must mean there isn't a tooth fairy either... Oh no what about the Easter Bunny?". The rest of the day I don't even really remember. This terrible, horrible, no good very bad news was shaping my whole life. Well at least my day anyway. I dreaded going home and seeing my mother. The afternoon was so hard. I didn't want to devastate her with the knowledge I now possess. As soon as I walked across the street I think my Mom knew something was wrong. She waited for me to come to her. I had to find out if this was true or not maybe just maybe Casey Hornsbee was wrong. Inside though I think I pretty much knew. So on the side of her bed while watching Phil Donahue I asked the dreaded number two question (the first being "Where do babies come from?' of course) "Is Santa real?" At first my mom felt me out.... she wanted to know where this question came from and what I had heard and from who. I caught her up to speed. Well she unfortunately confirmed the terrible horrible no good very bad news. I do remember her saying though "do you think you could play along for a little while though for your brother because he still believes" I nodded......

So why am I sharing this story with you all you may be asking? Because yesterday my little seven year old man didn't ask if Santa was real... no, instead he told us Santa wasn't real. Ugh, I really didn't think that was going to happen so soon but oh well. I found myself reacting the same exact way my mother had with "what makes you say that?" questions and also asking him to play along for his little sister. Can I just push these kids down literally and make them smaller? LOL sometimes I wish I could.......

Can you say Physical Readiness Test??

Today was the bi-annual 1 and 1/2 mile run of the sailors in Norfolk, Virginia. This involuntary event ensures that your tax dollars are being used only to support military members that stay below a specific bodyfat percentage (somewhere around 22-25%). In addition to meeting the bodyfat requirements, sailors are required to do push-ups, sit-ups, and a 1 and 1/2 mile run, a 12 minute bike or a 12 minute elliptical. The bike and elliptical are new ways of testing in the Navy and have only been around for a year or so.

For the first time in my naval career I decided to do something besides the run to test my physical readiness. I normally run the mile and a half in 10 minutes or so. I've always enjoyed cycling and, as some of you know, I've been known to ride 10-20 miles a day on my trusty R600 Cannondale Road Bike. When we moved to Virginia and were forced to rent a townhouse, due to nominal military pay and high home prices, so I ended up storing my Cannondale outside and let nature take over. Nature essentially destroyed my trusty bicycle. This means that it has been over a year since I've gone on a good, long ride and I miss it more than you can imagine. I've wanted to start running and get into shape again, but I ran into a road block. In August I cut off half of the top part of my thumb (pictures coming soon) with a miter saw. It took a while to mostly heal, and now I'm able to work out once again. Who knows when it will be completely healed? Okay, back to my story..... I decided to try the bike test and in 12 minutes I burned 135 calories, which equates to running the mile and a half in approximately 12 minutes and change. Choosing the bike kept me out of the cold, but I was disappointed with my test overall. In the end it really doesn't matter as long as I passed. It did renew my passion for cycling, so I guess it is time to suck it up, buy a new bike, and hit the road with my newly shaved legs.....

Let's Get It Started!!!!

Where do I start? I'll assume anyone reading this knows our family already....... I (Jason) am still in the Navy, 15 years total service in February. I am a Culinary Specialist and just finished a two month stint working in Rear Admiral Goodwin's house, The New Hampshire House, on Admiral's Row in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a historical home built in 1907 for the Jamestown Expedition. My real job is to feed the Admiral and his staff at the office, which is known as COMNAVAIRLANT or Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. I am also currently attending Regent University, majoring in Christian Studies.

Laura is a Master Hair Stylist at the Naval Air Station Oceana Beauty Shop, specializing in hair color. When it comes to hair, makeup, or style in general.........Laura rocks out loud!!! I am trying to convince her to drop her current shop and open one of her own....only the future will tell.

Below is Laura and her peeps, Steph in the middle, and Fluff on the right.

We have three children, two of which are human; the third is cotton (what does that mean?). Our oldest son is Tristan and he is 7 years old and in 2nd grade. He is currently playing soccer in the NYSL Virginia Beach U-8 league. Megan is our beautiful daughter; 5 years old and in Kindergarten. She participates in tumbling/gymnastics at Gymstrada.

Our youngest and newest member is a Coton de Tulear named Hunter "Benson" Cascio.....the "Benson" is Megan's addition, which she pulled from iCarly technical engineer Freddie Benson on Nickelodeon (5pm/6pm Central)...LOL.

We'll try to keep you updated as life flies by. I don't know if we'll be as witty or clever as many of you are on your blogs, but I'm sure, at a minimum, we'll keep you entertained. At least I hope so...........see ya!