Happy birthday Will and a whole lotta packing

Busy busy weekend around here.

Saturday we celebrated Will's 5th birthday (a wee bit early since we are moving before June 3). We had neighbors and friends over for a party in the backyard. We had the pool, sprinkle ball and a slip-n-slide. The kids had a blast!

A blast from the past four birthdays. I can't believe you are one whole hand now!

This is my favorite pic of him from this year. It shows his personality. He is always trying to sneak up on me or hide from me when I bring out the camera.

After all the party goers left, it was down to business. The kids helped bring down all the stuff from the attic: seasonal stuff, misc curtain rods that didn't get used in this house, a car seat that Will outgrew this year, old teaching materials.....all that stuff that does get used on a daily basis but you still need.

I also keep all the original packaging for most of our breakable and small kitchen appliances. Packed in their original packaging, they are less likely to get broken. We have had excellent moves the last five times (knock on wood)....with no more than a broken glass here or there. We feed our packers, provide a cooler of water, and keep the house cool. I truly think it helps to keep them happy and comfortable!

I also got all of the kids stuff packed. We have things seperated out for the beach, for the time at my mom's, toys for the road, favorite toys to play with until we get all of our stuff.

We got so much done today:

• confirmation for hotels/doggie spas printed out and put into a folder
• directions for each leg of the trip printed
• kitchen stuff we will need immediately
• gargage stuff they won't pack
• things taken off the walls
• all things going with us put into the master bathroom (Note to self: make a "Do Not Pack" sign for that door
• drain the propane tanks
• mowed and cleaned the mower
• clean the grill
• put all the outdoor kid stuff on the porch

I still need to pack my clothes, but that is it. The people that put all the stuff into boxes will be here by 8 AM! I don't know how often I will be able to post after that....but you know I will be checking whose wireless is unsecured!

Happy week y'all.

Photohunt::candy

I can see the tummyache coming...., originally uploaded by tommiea1.

I could totally see his "I am going to have a tummy ache tomorrow"-look.....but it is good!

next week : shoes
From a visit to the duck pond recently

Friday Fill in

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet



Questions courtesy of Jennifer this week, thanks!!! I'd love to feature your questions, if you'd like to leave some for future use!

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to jump out of a plane!

2. The 95+ degree weather, as well as all the thunderstorms remind me that summer is almost here!

3. I cannot live without my laptop.

4. Spin class and bread baking class are two things I'd like to try.

5. When life hands you lemons, make sure they are washed before you put them in your water!

6. Playing with all my cousins at my grandparent's house is my favorite childhood memory.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to picking out some pics for a birthday post for Will, tomorrow my plans include Will's (early) 5th birthday party and Sunday, I want to get all the original packaging boxes from the attic! The packers get here on Monday!

The hectic time of another move is upon us. This afternoon I finalized the places Josie is going to stay while we are in transit. One night in KY we might have to sneak her into our hotel if it takes more than one day to find a house.

We do most of the work before we even get there, so it is possible to find one in a day. We usually just visit 10 or so that we have found online or through our realtor. Look all morning, then by lunchtime we are writing a contract!

Thursday 13- letter T

In keeping with the ABC of 2008, the letter T:

1. Texas: we are leaving Texas in 13 days.
2. Target: easily my favorite store to waste time in
3. Thoughtful: I do think that I am....most of the time anyway.
4. Taco Bell: burritos with no sour cream or onions, yummi-licious
5. Tea-not a big tea drinker, but I do like a cardamon cinnamon one.
6. Timeline: our moving timeline is moving right along, I booked the hotels for the different legs of the trip. The hotels all had outrageous fees for Josie. So I googled 'pet boarding'....here is where she will spend the first night of our trip: Chenal Pet Palace. I found another one similiar for the second leg!
   
7. TJMaxx: love this place, but I really have to be in the mood to dig and shop. I usually come out with something great for super cheap.
   
8. Thank you notes: big stickler for them, though at Christmas this last year we never got them out. Husband had just gotten home, and well, they didn't get sent out.
   
9. Teacher: taught special ed for 12 years before kids.
   
10. TV: rarely watch 'live' TV, it is usually a DVR'd show so I can speed through the commercials
    
11. iTunes: tell me your favorite song you have gotten from there...looking for something good for my new Ipod.
    
12. tommie: duh.....I do like my name, not too many girl tommie's out there.
    

13. Tag Heuer Aquaracer: my dream watch....seriously thinking about getting this watch for my big 4-0 in July.

six days until the packers come, make that five days....where did I lose a day?

pink wildflower, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Another busy day of trying to get all things taken care of before the move. We have moved five times. After each move, I do an AAR (After Action Report)...I write down what went well, what we should have done, what we didn't need to do.

For example, when we get ready for the packers to come and put stuff in boxes, I put the remote to an item in a baggie. I tape that baggie to say the TV. TV and remote together, it's a good thing. This last move the packers gathered all those remotes and put them in one box. It was one of the LAST boxes we opened. It was labeled "garage stuff"......I guess that packer had a TV in his garage, who knows
.
So, into the AAR moving file: pack remotes in stuff to take with us! We usually block off one bathroom. Anything that is going in the car with us goes in that room. The kids get to take one tub of toys. We take a handful of kitchen supplies, one set of sheets, towels, etc.
It really has become a fine art. We move through the motions fairly smoothly. This is not to say that it goes off flawlessly, but we have gotten much better.

Mary Alice, a fellow military wife, of From the Front Lines recently told me: Leaving friends is bittersweet. Without the moves we would never had met them in the first place. There are new people that we will share laughter and tears with at the next post. We don't even know their names yet...but they will share our lives. It's kind of great really.

So, like this wildflower gracefully hanging over the edge of the pool, I am going to embrace the simplicity of life, just hang around, and see where it takes us.

so, what would be your best moving tip?

It's a sad sad day.....

(picture of Livi watching a movie Husband sent her from Iraq on her birthday....the only pic I could find of my laptop- taken October 16, 2007)


Yes, it is true....how sad for me. My little laptop has posted its last post, typed its last words, surfed for the last time. Yesterday I guess I worked it too hard putting music on my Ipod. The first time my laptop died.....so so sad! Last spring the monitor went out and had to be replaced. So I guess it has lived a full life. It is four years old. I kid you not, it is about one month past its extended warranty.

This morning it was pokey and slow, finally a little screen that didn't look very promising came on.

Depending how long I can tolerate the stinky dog toots, I will blog from the office. But, dang Josie can pass some gas that will make your toes curl! Maybe I will get some of all that stuff I mentioned yesterday done now.

weekend recap and a little manic monday

Wow, this weekend just flew by quickly. I think I am starting to realize the fact that the packers will be here in one week! In one week, I will have to have things sorted out to

• 
  
  take to the beach




• 
  
  return from the beach to a hotel for one night




• 
  
  take to my mom's for three weeks




• 
  
  go to Kentucky to find a house




• 
  
  Write a contract on a house




• 
  
  Go to OH to inlaws for fourth of July




• 
  
  Go back to KY and hopefully be able to move into said home

I really need to make a moving notebook. I'll whip out my label maker and make some labels. That should bring some much needed peace into my life.

On a lighter note, Mother's day was wonderful. The kids and Husband surprised me with my own Ipod. Every night I snag Husband's ipod to listen to my "sleep music". He then forgets it in the morning on his commute to work. So now, whew hoo...I have my own. I never thought a little piece of metal would make me so happy.

We spent the Sunday with friends. Two other neighbor couples that survived the deployment with me. There was much food, fun, laughter, and swimming.

At the end of the day, it is good to know that once again I have made a connection with two women at yet another duty station. We will be leaving in about ten days, leaving behind another house we made a home, friends that are truly lifelong friends. I think this is the saddest thing about being a military spouse.

If the statement, 'You are what you eat' was true, I would be a chunk of cheese.

If you had to have one piece of music (softly) playing in your mind for the rest of your life, what would you want it to be? Nickelback, "If Everyone Cared"...

What is the most important thing in any relationship? trust

Photohunt: Truly my favorite thing these days, a SOLD sign in our frontyard

this week: share ANY photo
next week: candy

My creation, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

so so happy to have this sign in our front yard......Kentucky here we come!

But if I were to pick favorite shots of the kids...this one of Livi captures her happy-go-lucky self!

This shot of Will and husband was mere minutes after he got home from a 15 month deployment . It is still one of my all time favorite shots!

Organizing tips from Tommie #4...winter clothes

finished pool, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Since we are supposed to hit 90+ degrees this weekend, I figured it was finally time to deal with the winter clothes. So here is another "tommie tips:"

I'll start with how I do the kids' clothes. Starting with the obvious, wash all jackets and coats. If it is something I think either can wear next year, it goes onto the far left of the closet on a different colored hanger. Livi has pink and white hangers, Will has blue and white. This was I can see at a glance if there are clothes I need to fill in on the next size (totally taking advantage of all the winter clearance sales going on now).

If it is already getting too small or snug, after washing, it goes into a trash bag lined Rubbermaid tub on the floor of the closet. These are passed along to cousins or the clothes closet at school. Livi has even gotten to where if she tries on something and it doesn't fit, she will put it in the tub for baby E.

In homes I have lived in that didn't have closets big enough to leave them on the left, I have stored them in clear flat Rubbermaid tubs. I fold sweaters with a white piece of tissue paper to prevent creases. Now get that handy dandy label maker out and label it sweaters, wool pants, wool skirts, etc.

While my feng shui side says not to store stuff under the bed, I have read that it is okay to store soft and cuddly stuff if you are lacking storage space/basement/attic. I have stored those thin bins under sofas even! You can get creative if you have to. Now to not forget where this stuff is stored, go mark you calendar in Sept or Oct (or whenever it gets chilly where you live): "winter clothes stored in ______ (fill in the blank with where you stashed them).

Throw in some of those little ceder chips in a sachet. Whew hoo, another year done.

Do you remember the big diggers for the pool next door ? Well, here it is finished. It is amazing. There is an outdoor kitchen, a hot tub, waterfalls, gorgeous landscaping.

Thursday 13.....#39....the letter S

In keeping with the ABC theme for 2008....the letter S:

1. Scott Kelby book: attempting to work my way through this.
2. Surfside City: the Beach house we are taking the kids to in a couple of weeks.
3. Shot at Love with Tila Tequila: <----guiltily raising my hand and admitting I watch it
4. SLR- well, digital SLR....favorite birthday gift last year
5. Shrimp and Grits: one of my all time favorite meals ever.
6. Sooner born and Sooner bred, when I die, I'll be Sooner dead, Go Oklahoma, OKU
7. Survived a 15 month deployment (but lost my sanity on a few of those days)
8. Swiss Army watch was a gift from Husband when we got married.
9. Summer: this summer (Which starts May 23 for us) will be hectic with a vacation, a move, living with my mom for three weeks, going to see the in-laws, buying a house, unpacking a house, painting a house, and finding a preschool....all before the end of July!
10. Simplify: I am really trying to simplify my life.
11. Second: My second grade teacher, Mrs. Odom, was one of my favorite teachers.
12. Six: I graduated with six of my cousins. There were only 46 in the entire class!
13. Senior: Finally Laski Gal from From the Cheap Seats asked to see our Senior Prom pics since it is prom season.......ask and you shall receive:
    

Just a few little thoughts about this picture. Oh me, oh my.....why would any one leave the house with white hose?? Not only white hose, but those white dyeable shoes? It was 1986.....but dang, didn't I have friends? Friends don't let friends wear white hose.

Next, why does it look like I am seven months pregnant? I promise I wasn't. I probably weighed all of a buck ten. One of my cousins was pregnant at our senior prom though!

I was the shortest girl in my class. I am barely 5'3". My date was the tallest guy in our class....at 6'4". ..... wouldn't you think that little streamer background would be taller??

Look at my mullet-sporting jock? Oh, young love... In fact my eyes are shut in my senior prom pic...I must have been dreaming about my man!

Finally, can you see the mongo ring on my forefinger. I spent hours dying waxed dental floss pink to wrap around the bottom since it would match my flowers! Yeah, lots of time spent color coordinating my flowers to the floss!

Just for grins and giggles...here is a prom I went to my junior year. I was going out with a senior, so I got to go to his prom. I think he was the shortest guy in his class. I think I wore ballet flats so I wouldn't be taller than him. That dress had to be taken apart at the waist to be hemmed. I think it is still hanging at a closet at my mom's house!

I dare you, no I double dog dare you to post your senior prom pics!

Bye bye butterflies

Bye bye butterflies, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

We have had a blast raising the butterflies. This morning the fifth butterfly came out of the chrysalis. The other four are now two days old. The little bit of sugar water, fresh flowers, and orange slices were enough for them for now. Since they were banging around into their little net house, we thought it was time to let them go.

This evening we carefully unzipped the little hut.........waiting patiently the first one flew out. It flitted around and flew into the tree in our front yard. I wasn't going to include this blurry pic of Livi, but it totally showed how excited she was. If you look closely, (or click on it, it takes you to the big one on Flickr), she kind of looks like she is three degrees of crazy.....not that that isn't too far from the truth!

One landed in the flower beds, long enough to snap a few pics. I think this was the one that was only a day old.

All in all, it was a great project. We will definitely do it again. It was almost two weeks to the day that we got five tiny, barely an inch long caterpillars and watched them turn in to beautiful Painted Lady butterflies.

Manic Monday and some butterflies (day 12)

day 12- caterpillar to butterfly, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Manic Monday brought to us by the talented Fleur-de-Lisa.

What name would you want have if you were the opposite sex? being that I already have a "boy" name (shortened form of my name), I will pick a girl name. I would be Stacy Lynn....but I want to spell it Staci...because that seems cooler ! LOL

Would you share the tooth brush of your spouse/significant other? Why or why not? Hell to the no! Maybe if we were on a desert island and it was the only one. But that just kind of grosses out my germ issues.

What is a song that you love to hate? Don't hate but I do like R Kelly's "Thank God It's Friday"....in fact I might even have the CD. Or anything from Tony Rich....

Here are a few shots of the butterflies. This morning another one came out of the chrysalis just as the kids woke up. In the big shot on the left, you can see the wings still curled a bit. We still have one in a chrysalis. But it took two more days than the others to even start the chrysalis. We will release them this weekend probably.

weekend recap

Livi and I did go get a mani. Note to self: a three year old does not have the ability to sit still for the time it takes an adult to get a mani. So we should stick to the mommy-done mani's, done at home! So there are no cute shots of her hands. The lady put a clear top coat on them, which just made them smudge better!

The boys washed cars. Look at him raisin' that boy up right!

Husband absolutely loves his Mr.clean car wash thingy. It has a place to put soap, as well as a spot-free rinse filter. Just hook it up to your hose and it does the work!

Plenty of sunshine makes for lots of time outside, riding Powerwheels, tricycles, and scooters.

Finally, two of the butterflies came out of their chrysalis's.....we didn't see them come out. But we did see it very soon after. The wings weren't even completely uncurled yet. We have put some flowers with the sugar water on them in the bottom of the net container. The paper that came with them also said they liked fresh oranges and watermelon. So we put some of that in their too. It is so amazing to see these little creatures right before our eyes!

weekly winners, April 27- May 3, 2008

Thanks to Lotus at sarcastic mom for hosting this fun way to see all those extra pics that I didn't blog about this week.

These are all from the Change of command we went to this week....apparently I didn't get my camera out much more than this! The caterpillars are still just hanging in the chrysalis stage, so no need to take their pics!

Will, just as the horses were charging across the parade field. The guys were shooting guns and hootin' and hollarin'....he loved it!

This shot just cracks me up, but it is totally all Livi. She was trying to imitate the band members as they walked in front of us. In no way, shape or form were they shrugging their shoulders....but in her little Liv-a-licious mind, they were.

I have come to love "the blur" so much, I have a set in my Flickr labeled just that.

I think these are donkeys.....but are the ones that pulled the schooner across the field.

We sat under this tree on a picnic blanket. It was a bit away from the crowded grand stands where the kids might be expected to be quiet for the entire ceremony!

A wheel from the schooner....

My favorite shot of the day, (well besides the one with the kids and Husband)....I swear this horse stuck her tongue at me just as I was taking her picture!

isn't is almost time for a glass of wine?

isn't is almost time for a glass of wine?, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

This week's theme: time

Next week: any picture you want.


If you’d like to play, click here

friday fill in

Friday fill in courtesy of the talented Janet

1. Two of my favorite ingredients in a drink are (not a big mixed drink fan, but I do like my wine)

2. May sound cliche, but my kids often amazes me.

3. You can keep doing that forever, the dog is going to pass gas that will make your nails curl.

4. Honey, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and chili powder, mix it all together and voila! You have an awesome marinade!.

5. If I had a yard with a garden, I would love to grow a pizza garden: tomatoes, basil, peppers, and onions.

6. uuhhmm bathing is best au naturel.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the family, tomorrow my plans include taking Livi to her first mani appointment and Sunday, I want to veg!

Change of command

Earlier this week we went to a change of command...<----Army speak for basically when one big dog takes over for another big dog. The big dogs hand over the leadership in symbolic ceremony....see those big flags? Each battalion/brigade has one. There are little streamers from each flag or guidons for each thing they have fought in. Since this was a division change of command, there were six battalions, which is a whole lot of honkin' soldiers.
This is a Cavalry division, so there was a Cavalry charge. The guys on horses race across the parade field with guns shooting and lots of whooping it up!

There was a band....what ceremony isn't complete without an Army_song: " Over hill over dale we have hit the dusty trail, As our caissons go rolling along."

The 'big dogs" doing a preview of the troops.....(on a side note: between these four guys, I think there are three general officers with about six stars amongst them. I used to say if I was going to "wear rank ", I was going to put a star on my shoulder! I wonder if their wife's ever said that?

Finally, once it was over, they rest the horses on the field so people can come pet them, take pictures, talk to them, etc...

Who doesn't like a nice piece of a$$?? I crack myself up!

The kids loved seeing what Daddy does at work, seeing the big horses, hearing the cannons, etc.