September 30, 2009

September 29, 2009

They Huffed and They Puffed

I love Boy Scouts. I love what it does for my kiddo and I love, love, love our pack leader. She's awesome and absolutely perfect for this group of kids.

The Raingutter Regatta was a few days ago and the kids had a blast. They huffed and puffed and blew those boats across the finish line.
It was so fun to watch. They were all excited about their boats and the prizes they walked away with. I think they were pretty excited about the cake too, thanks to Grandma Cleo and Aunt Wendy who made a sail boat cake in honor of the occasion. Even Dad ducked out of a meeting early so he could make it. It was so good to have family attend and great to have fun, wholesome recreational activities to participate in. Did I say I love Boy Scouts?


September 16, 2009

More time, please???

Could I just have a little more time please??? Could I ask for that for my birthday? I am not sure that will work for me, but I really want it too.

I think we have decided to sell our house. (Justin is still a little wishy washy.) That means I have to have it in SELL shape and on the market by Oct 15. So many worries go along with that, so many things to think about. I just keep thinking, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..." Or from Dory "Just keep swimming..."

Refit is just beginning and Justin's time is short with us. We are looking forward to getting this last deployment out of the way and done. In theory, as of right now, this will be his last sea deployment ever. Things always change though. You never know what is coming next.

Bug is loving school. I am sad we are going to have to pull him out before the end of the year. He is doing well and loves his teacher. I asked him how his Greek root word test went the other day and he told me "I aced it, as usual." Too smart for his own pants I think. Cute, as always, though.

Meg is two. And getting into the terrible phase. Or the diva state, I can't decide which, depending on the moment. Last week, after not eating dinner, she comes to me in the most dramatic voice ever and says "Mom, I NEED chocolate." Meg, I said, you NEED to eat your dinner. Nope, just chocolate, Mom. She's two and has a chocolate addiction. No comment on whose to blame for that.

So much to do, catch up with us when you can!!!

September 11, 2009

Hope

September 8, 2009

So many choices....

I am truly grateful for the freedom to make so many choices in our lives. It seems sometimes in Navy life there are a lot of things you don't have a choice in, so when you do have choices it's a good thing, right? Such as, the Navy says you have to move, but you have a choice, NY or San Diego. (Wouldn't it make more sense and cost way less money to keep us where we are???) Not one of the choices. The Navy does give us a choice as to live in Navy housing or not, at a rent more than double the rents in town. There is something to be said for living in a military community. People look out for you, understand you and know where you are coming from. Is it worth the extra cash? Maybe. The Navy says they haven't yet decided where you will go after this move, so you have a choice to sell the house you are in or rent it out. Do you want to come back to this area? YES! (We say that about most area we live, excluding Guam.) Do we want to move back to this house? Maybe not. So many choices. Anyone in the market for a cute starter home? It's all remodeled, and newly landscaped. If not, do you know a good property manager? Looking for a good, long term rental?

September 5, 2009

The Military Wife

Each one may look different and each is wonderfully unique,
But this they have in common:

Lots of moving...Moving...Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...
all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because
they won't go in THIS house;
Moving curtains that won't fit;
Moving jobs and certifications and
professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage:
her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...Waiting...Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent',
but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.
She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with
drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move........
all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbours that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS;
Locates a house in the desert,
The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,Leadership,Volunteering,Career alternatives,
Churches,And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves
and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands;
his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator
for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed;
the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because
she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because
she has lost her heart .

It was stolen from her by a man,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway
remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband,
She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author UnknownThanks for passing it along Melissa!

If anyone knows anything more about this poem, please let me know.

September 3, 2009

Bag of Tricks

I am not an overachiever, let's just clear that up before I start. I did a comment the other day while browsing someone's blog about beginning of the year teacher gifts. What? I am lucky to say thank you at the end of the year for all of the drama she put up with. This year is different though. We are moving sometime during the year and I just wanted to say thanks ahead of time. So when I found a tutorial for these really cute pillowcase bags, I had to give them a try. Even a novice like me can whip these out in no time flat. Seriously, 30 minutes or less start to finish. And how cute are these? I put notes on them for the teachers saying "This is for your 'bag of tricks' this year. Have a great first day". Fun, huh?

September 2, 2009

1st Day of school

My over-excited (not)3rd grader getting ready for school on his first day. Of course, Sis couldn't resist getting in on the picture action. She also insisted rather loudly on a love before he got on the bus. At least it wasn't me embarrassing him this time.