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.

Motherhood equals craziness

Do you ever have one of those days where your kids are just driving you nuts? You guessed it, I'm having one of those days. It started with Hannah getting up before me and playing with her peg puzzles next to my side of the bed, then leaving all the pieces there for me to step on when I woke up. Then there was Jordan not wanting to get up this morning for school and going back to bed so that was a struggle getting him out the door and off to school. Then the dog wants to be a butt head and not come inside but would rather sit on top of my new patio table, and I know Gracie is not my kids, but she is my dog, and there for apart of the family. Hannah all day has been testing her limits, and with all there is to do around here I don't have time for her to be a little stinker.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my kids, they are adorable, sweet children most of the time, but today its like they woke up and thought "lets push Mommy's buttons so she goes crazy" Why couldn't they do this when Chris was here, not off on a work related travel trip, at least then I can have help or get a small break when he is home at night. I should be a pro, I mean he's traveled lots of times, and done many deployments so it just being me and the kids is not un-common, but today Id say is just a bad day for me, and a stressed, busy day too. Now if Hannah would just go upstairs and clean her room for me things would get better. She helps pick up at everyone Else's house after playing but here she assumes Ill pick it up for her, a habit I need to break.

Speaking of my Angels who have some temper meltdowns and a sneaky side to them occasionally, something happened. Hannah has always been good when we go out. Never that I can recall has she had a meltdown in public and thrown a temper tantrum. Jordan did when he was younger, but Hannah never had, until last weekend that is. We were at Toys r us, and they had a display of playhouses up and one was a Disney princess playhouse that she loved. She played in it for along time, and didn't want to get out when I told her we had to go get what we came for. Well as we were walking by the playhouse again there was another little girl in there playing and Hannah lost it. She threw herself on the ground and started to cry and scream "get her out of my house mommy, that's my house, she cant play in my house" I at this point picked her crumpled self off the floor, handed Chris the toy he was to buy and took her to the car where she continued her fit. Yeah, my face was red with embarrassment to say the least. The funny thing was we had already picked up the same playhouse for Hannah as a birthday present. I hope that was a one time thing, but she is only 3 (hey, she turns 4 in a month) she is still young and probably will throw many more fits, especially as she is as I said earlier pushing the limits.

And why does she right now feel the need to pull out the clothing I just put into the suitcase and throw them on the floor? I have a feeling its going to take me forever to pack up the 4 of us, and I hate packing.

I need a spa day.

My Randomness for the day

Its still really nice out, and gasp, its supposed to get into the 80's (at least last I checked) with no forecast of rain (again last I checked) I love this weather. Its not too hot, there is a breeze and its a perfect day. I have all the windows open, Ive missed that over the winter months here. The breeze drifting in and out of the house, hearing the birds first thing in the morning as you wake up, this is my kind of weather.

Anyway that's not the point of my post, just a pleasant up side to my day.

So I am going to tell you a secret, but don't laugh okay, I know I'm not the only person who does this. Ive already started Christmas shopping for the kids. See, I think I hear some of you laughing. To defend myself Ive so far only bought things on sale, and for Hannah seeing as Jordan is at the hard stage to buy for and his taste is always changing, where as Hannah is in the stage of all things girl that usually lasts a long time. Toys r us in town had a huge clearance with an additional 20% off that, so we bought things we knew she would like. Hey, in days were everything but our paychecks is going up every penny saved is something, and that's from someone who never used to clip coupons or search for deals. Plus we always have started early, never this early but it helps not putting things on credit cards and still giving the kids a good Christmas, and debt is one things we don't want to be in for future goals of course. The tricky part of this is hiding what we buy from little eyes. Our house isn't that big and there isn't many places we can hide things so here is hopping under our bed (well the things that fit under there) will work. And yes, I'm well aware I have issues.

Speaking of little houses I really miss my old house. Well okay its not my house anymore seeing as we sold it making it someone Else's house, but I still miss it. The huge backyard with the high fence, the big garage and attic, the lovely big fridge that cost more then my wedding ring, all the big rooms, okay you get the idea. It was the best house EVER! well for us it was the best, and going from that to military housing and losing lots of square feet and going from a big backyard to a little one sucks. I keep wanting to buy a house, all our friends are moving out and I have the bug to buy too but I know it defeats the point, we wont be here long enough (2 more years, remember?) and to buy a house here for the same sq feet we are currently living in would cost us $1600-1700 a month not including utility's. So I can wait, and shoo the house buying bug off my shoulder and wait and save like planned. I can do it, yes I can....but I still miss my old house, and GA for that matter, just not the bugs, I cant begin to tell you of all the icky Black widow spiders that liked to make homes in the garage or on the outside of the house...I don't miss those. I have shivers up my spine just thinking about it.

I know, this is a very random blog full of random stuff, but I'm bored and avoiding doing the things that have to be done.

A day in the life of me

I decided to clean out the van yesterday while my husband was at work (seeing as he took his truck for once) with Gas prices being 3.83 a gallon here usually he drives the van seeing as though it doesn't get the best gas mileage it gets better then his Titan and his work is 20 miles away. Yeah, my husband can trash a vehicle. He came home to find me in the van and had a look like "shit, am I in trouble" he wasn't, though I teased him plenty about what a slob he can be. Guess I will have to make it a daily thing to clean out the van so it doesn't get that bad again. Husbands, that's all I have to say (as I shake my head in wonder)

As I am out cleaning out the van (because its so nice out, it feels like spring and I love it) I had Gracie out front with me on her leash (our Golden retriever) I have a small patch of dirt I guess you can call a garden up there with wood chips, and some plants and statues and tulips. Wait, I should say I had plants and tulips. Gracie decided she wanted to eat the tulips and took a bite out of each one then chewed on the plants branches (not the leaves) and no, the plants aren't toxic to dogs, I have checked to make sure. I wonder what goes threw her head that makes her think "I want to eat that smelly thing"

Hannah had fun helping me clean. Her Job was to help me wipe down the dashboard and center console. She loves to do things like this and the smile on her face was so full of pride. It helped having her in the car with me verses being in the front yard/garage or drive way where I had to keep an eye to make sure she didn't run into the road, and though she knows full well she isn't aloud in the road because of cars 3 year olds don't always listen.

And to top off the day I had to yell at a friends kid. I know, I am mean. Jordan walks a friends little girl to school and she doesn't listen. I could hear him this morning from the bedroom window yelling at her to get out of the woods that separate our house and the road, and I could see them, her weaving in and out of the tall bushes and trees and him on the sidewalk calling to her. Hes had problems with her running off and not listening or walking so slow he worries they will miss school. So today I had to run out there and tell her to listen to Jordan and hurry to school before they were late. I think Jordan might be done walking her to school from now on.

Now I'm sitting here tired, I didn't sleep well at all last night, just like every night wondering what to do today. There is so much to do before our MN trip and I just don't know where to begin, plus all the errands. There really isn't enough time in the day.

Yep, I did it again, I blame the OCD

Yes, once again I have deleted all my old posts and am starting fresh. I have a touch of OCD just a touch, and well, my old posts were bugging me and so when that happens they get deleted. Bare with me though, because here I am starting again. Blogging about life as a military wife, a mom, a friend, a daughter and everything else that goes on here. A place where I can ramble about whatever I want, no matter how stupid it may be. A place where I can vent.

My friends no me that read this, an my family, but for those of you who don't let me explain myself.

obviously you got the part I am a female, and the part I am a military wife, and have kids. My husband is in the navy, 7 years this Saturday. He is a first Class Nav ET and we are currently on our second sea going command. Well he is, I'm just along for he ride. We lived in Kingsland, GA for 5 years. (if you don't know where it is look at a map, just north off Jacksonville, FL on the coast right across the FL/GA state line) it was a tiny military town on interstate 95 mainly consisting off gas stations and hotels and fast food places for those traveling to FL on vacation. Chris was stationed on a Nuclear Sub called the USS Wyoming. After 5 years of living there and a brief stop over for some schooling in Groton, CT we moved all the way cross country to Silverdale, WA (Bangor Submarine base) again look on a map west from Seattle across the Puget sound and you will see us, another tiny military town. This time Chris is in Special ops on the USS Jimmy Carter. We will be here for another 2 years, so yes I am a military wife and I am pretty sure I will be one till Chris retires as even though we play with the idea of getting out in 2010 we are 90% sure he will make a life out of the Navy.

So how did I meet my Husband. I think I was 14, it was 1994 and we were introduced by a mutual friend and we became friends. We went to different high schools, and he was a year older then me and we were total opposites, he so wasn't my type at all but he was a good friend and we had lots of great times together just hanging out. We dated on and off over the years and in 2002 while he was away in the Navy he proposed to me and later that year we got married. This July we will celebrate our 6Th wedding anniversary.

And then come the kids, Jordan who is 9 and Hannah who turns 4 next month. They keep me busy. I had Jordan when I was in HS, and I call me my angel because having him made me grow up, made me change who I was and become stronger and a better person, and Hannah too was a special blessing. I really wasn't supposed to have any more kids because of possible complications that were life threatening to me (and possibly the baby) but we really wanted to have at least try for one more, and we had Hannah in June 2004. I was lucky and in good care and both of us were fine and safe and no problems. They are everything too me as most kids are to their parents and I consider myself lucky each and every day (even those days where they drive you up the wall, or spill chocolate milk all over the sofa or cut the dogs hair)

So that's me. Navy wife and mom to two kids and a dog (we cant forget the dog, she really thinks she is one of us)