The blur that was last week

So here we are in MN. We've been here for over a week now. We left Thursday the 12Th at 2pm in the afternoon and arrived Friday night at 8pm, so we did make good time, but then again we did drive straight threw. I took the midnight to 5am shift of driving and the 9 to 11am shift as well. I have a hard time sleeping in cars because I like having my eyes on the road as well as who ever is driving. The kids were as good as you can expect, and so was Gracie. But never again, unless its absolutely necessary will we do that again, next time we are getting a hotel at night (with a nice bed and a pool, oh and one that will take dogs)

We've been busy. Saturday was Chris's sisters wedding, the kids were very cute in it. Hannah was a flower girl and Jordan was the groomsmen. On Sunday we went to the gift opening, then had a fathers day get together/slash birthday party for Hannah on my side of the family. Monday we had to run errands, and the kids wanted to go to Lego land so we headed over to the Mall of America for some shopping therapy. The kids each filled a pick a brick bucket at Legol and and we did lunch, then walked around looking at stores. We were going to do the rides but Hannah fell asleep so we packed up and headed home, plus Chris had to drop us off to head back out their to do A.C.E.S with my step-dad and they were going to do dinner before hand so we dropped the kids off with Chris's parents and my mom and me took advantage of dinner out with no kids, or husbands, it was nice and quite. Tuesday was and experience in itself. We went to the Minnesota zoo, my kids love that zoo. We did one of the indoor trails, then lunch and were headed over to see a dolphin show. Hannah was looking at the dolphins threw the viewing glass while Jordan was petting a sharks/sting rays in the small pool when we heard a splash and saw our son climbing out of the tank. Only my son could fall into a shark tank. He was not hurt and neither were the sharks or rays, though he was shaken up some. We dried him off, lectured him to be more careful and missed the dolphin show. I wonder if other kids/people have fallen into that tank before? That night we had party number 2 for Hannah's birthday with Chris's side of the family, where she got more gifts. I have no idea how we are getting these things home, Ill mail some I guess to help free up room in what will probably be an already packed van.
Wed. we did a picnic at Elm creek park reserve, a nice park that the kids loved, then we brought them back here to swim in the blow up pool to cool off. They have been busy as we have. We managed a date night, a rare thing for us and it was so nice. We also got to go ATVing, making us both want ATVs (not going to happen anytime soon) and boating, making Chris want a boat (not going to happen till he sells or pays off his very pretty truck) Sadly on Sunday Chris flew back. The kids cried, I cried and it was very hard. I guess this will be the longest we will be apart in the last year, its like 6 weeks, which in reality isn't that long for all the other times he has gone out to sea, but Ive just gotten so used to having him around. So now things are boring. I'm still unpacking, have laundry from last week to do and dealing with the dogs (our dog and my parents dog) I'm hoping to get the kids to the Science and Children's museum, bunker hills wave pool, the water park of America, and do many other things with them while we are here, to keep all of us busy.

I don't have much else to say, I'm tired, and worn out and my mind just isn't working as it should, so forgive me. I'm sure once Ive rested from the non stop activities Ill be able to function, and think more clearly.

Stressed

First off If I give my son a pop tart and chocolate milk for breakfast I am not a bad mom. I know someone who thinks that Chocolate milk is evil. I get there are people out there who don't do sugar with their kids, but I'm not one of them, my kids get sugar, they eat healthy foods too but they do get sugar so don't judge me.

Second I don't know why my daughter doesn't have hair yet. The doctors have looked and so far are not concerned by her lack of hair, I'm already worried and upset by her very thin, fine, blond hair that just isn't coming in and the fact that soon, by months end she will be 4, so please don't make me feel worse by making a rude comment, I cant do anything to make it grow, though I wish I could. The only thing I can do is give her milk, vitamins and will it to grow, and one day, maybe not soon but eventually she will have hair, or so I hope and pray or else I will need to invest in wigs so she doesn't get teased in school.

Third someone tell my daughter the big potty wont eat her or swallow her. Tell her its not scary because she wont listen to me and it has left us with having to bring where ever we go a potty chair and I am so sick of dumping out the potty chair (ick, ick, and more ick) that's just yucky. I know Ive vented before about this and I'm sure Ill be venting for sometime, but I'm so ready for her to use the big potty, so very ready.

Fourth. I don't think I will be able to fit everything in the Van for our trip to MN. I have 3 suitcases, one duffle bag filled with random things, one sea bag, a wii fit box, several birthday presents, a dog, a garment bag, a potty, a cooler, and all of us, plus the van topper filled with more stuff that I feel safe having on top of the van. oh, and lets not forget the overnight bag in case we do break down and stop for the night at a hotel or the kids need a change of clothing. I worry, but it all has to fit, I guess we will see Thursday when I pack it up, since we leave That night I have no choice but to make it all fit and still hope we can be comfortable because 24 hours plus of driving wont be fun if we aren't comfortable.

Okay I'm sick of numbering my random thoughts, so I'm skipping the numbering.

I hate high gas prices, as I'm sure everyone else does too right now. This trip is going to make me hate it even more. Today I filled up and it was 4.29, I wanted to cry, but still driving to MN was cheaper then flying for the four of us and the dog and lets us stay longer so we will drive, and when we fill up we will grin and bare it. (and cry on the inside when we pull the receipt after we are done filling up. Next summer wont come soon enough, that is when we will finally trade in our Truck (okay, its Chris's truck) and by my hybrid. We have to wait till then because the truck is only a year old and has lost value since people don't want big 4X4 trucks, meaning if we do it now we will go negative, and if we wait a year we will still go negative but we can handle it, if that makes any sense. I'm sure Chris is dreading the day, but not me, I cant wait. Yes its a very pretty truck and he loves it but we don't need a truck and a van, so bye bye truck (and sorry honey, I promise you can buy your bike when you sell it, so dont be too sad)

I think I'm out of thoughts spinning threw my mind, okay well Im not, but Im just to tired to continue. I should be sleeping, but I cant. I'm so tired but every time I lay down I just cant seem to fall asleep. I toss and turn which is keeping Chris up in the process and he has to get up at the butt crack of dawn. When I stress I cant sleep, and right now I'm stressing big time, to much to do and just not enough time to do it in, but Saturday it will all be over, and I can relax and start enjoying our time in MN, or at least I hope I can.

A Lonely heart

Chris comes home on Saturday! I'm very excited. Yes, its only been 2 weeks and yes we have talked to each other every day via phone and web cam but I still miss him. I know I have done 7 deployments, 1 7 month school in Groton and several of these little work related trips for Training where we have been apart, you think Id get used to it, but I never do. I still miss him like crazy, I still want him here with me and the kids and I still never get used to the goodbyes, no matter where he may be going or for how long. So I'm excited, and I can not wait for him to get home to us. Thank God when he does his month long school out of California I will be in MN, so maybe that separation wont be so bad.

I feel bad for the kids too. They totally understand and get why he is gone, they always do. But it cant be easy on them. I think even Hannah has adjusted to the whole being a military brat thing, she gets that and doesn't have many separation issues like I worried she would. I guess I shouldn't be surprised seeing as she was born into this life. I mean 3 weeks after she was born Chris had to go out to sea. Jordan took it harder, though he didn't come into this lifestyle till he was 3, so he didn't understand where dad was and why he didn't come home each and every night, now being 9 he clearly gets it and thinks his dad is the coolest.

I always worried the most about moving around, I know its hard on me, so I always worried about them, but right now they don't seem to mind. Jordan actually likes moving around and always asks me where we are moving next (he wants Hawaii) I'm sure though once he is older and in Middle/High school this is one aspect he wont be crazy about, but hopefully they will be strong kids and will adjust to life no matter what life throws at them, no matter where we move or what happens.

Anyway I have lots to do, with Chris coming home on Saturday and us leaving for MN next Thursday I better get my butt in Gear.