Mom to the Screaming Masses: Memorial Day

Shamelessly stolen from my Facebook friend Christopher Barger:

Revolutionary War: 25,000. War of 1812: ~20,000. Mexican-American War: 13,283. Civil War: ~625,000. Spanish-American War: 2,446. WWI: 116,516. WWII: 405,399. Korea: 53,686. Vietnam: 58,209. Gulf War: 258. Afghanistan: 1,413. Iraq: 4,430. And those are just the "major" wars. In between all the picnics and BBQ today, please remember the millions of lives sacrificed in the service of this nation and its ideals.

I live in a very military area, and I'm surrounded by service members every day, at school, my husband's job and especially the martial arts studio.We live to the sound of jets practicing "touch and go"'s and see ship homecomings almost daily on the television.

I have been very lucky in that, of the many veterans in both my family and my husband's family - we have had no deaths. My father, father in law, brother in law, and uncles were all involved in various branches of the service.

My Grandpa

My Uncle

My dad

To the best of my knowledge, no one was harmed in the fighting of any wars.

We have been blessed. I know.

Today I'm taking my kids to the beach and this afternoon/evening, my neighborhood is holding our annual picnic. It's the most fun of the entire summer - everyone comes out, we congregate in the court and we bbq, drink, eat, play games, toss water balloons, and eat some more. It's a huge amount of fun.

Enjoy your day, and thank a veteran.

- one more day to enter to win a $100 Shutterfly gift card!

About Me

WANTED, Carmen, mom to the Masses, for dangerous undertakings inside and outside the home. Last seen with her partner The Hubster, and six accomplices (Nikolas 19, Allegra 17, Mackenzie 14, Gabriel 12, Emma 9 and Riley 8). This fugitive is considered armed (with epi pens and inhalers) and dangerous, especially when she hasn't had her morning coffee. She is particularly difficult to recognize due to an 80 pound weight loss (size 18-20 down to 6-8!), and has been known to hide beneath large piles of laundry. She's a fan of running races, has her Black Belt in Muay Thai and can be found reading, training Crossfit, boxing or running to the store for milk and bread. And coffee. Always the Coffee.