Act like it is Sunday when you read this......use your imagination

Today I turn 39. It’s an odd thing. I sure don’t feel 39. I live in a state I never thought I would be in....No, you crazies, not a state of chaos....the big Texas! I have two wonderful kids under the age of four. Who knew? In my life-plan...it so didn't include having a preschooler and a toddler when I was knockin' on 40's door. I have a wonderful husband...a deployed husband, but a wonderful one all the same. If he were here, I would get to sleep in. He would get up with the kiddos and go to Starbucks for my favorite mocha choca loca latte. It would be on the nightstand when I woke up. He would then make pancakes and sausage with the kids.

Today throughout the neighborhood, I will hear fireworks and still wonder if they are all for me...... I’ll enjoy it every time.

When I was 20, I wondered what it would be like to be nearly 40. None of my guesses were close. As I look at my 20s I can see what I learned from a great mistake.......My 30's brought husband and kids. No one told me that having more friends and a better body image would feel like a good tradeoff. And if you told me I could have my twenty-year old body again, but I had to take my twenty-year old brain with it, I’d pass.

I love my husband. I love my family. I love my job...damn straight staying home with two kids is a job. I love my life.....okay not the deployed part....but all the rest. And I love me too, even when I am grumpy. And I love being 39.

Here’s what I want you to do for my birthday. Send someone an e-mail and tell them how much you appreciate them, or love them. Do it right now. Then tell me about it in the comments. That’s what I want. It’s my birthday so you have to do it.

Go.

Friday fill in #2 I think....

Friday Fill In, #2
If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!
All questions thanks to MB!
1. On a hot summer's day _____ is my favorite thing!

2. When I think of summertime fun, I think of _____.

3. _____ is my favorite flavor of ice cream.

4. My new favorite drink is _____.

5. One of my happiest summertime memories is _____.

6. The best place to watch fireworks (or submarine races) is _____!

7. What are you doing this weekend? Tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

1. On a hot summer's day a glass of a light crisp white wine is my favorite thing!

2. When I think of summertime fun, I think of lounging on the porch with hubby while watching the kids play.

3. Cappuccino chocolate chip from Braums is my favorite flavor of ice cream.

4. My new favorite drink is didn't you read #1......??....I don't need slow people reading this blog....I have to deal with enough stupid people in real life.

5. One of my happiest summertime memories is having my little boy.

6. The best place to watch fireworks (or submarine races) is .....the boat parade we went to in OH.....kind of hokey, but fun! Definitely not Alaska....too much daylight in the evening!

7. What are you doing this weekend? Tonight I'm looking forward to vegging out, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and playing with the kids and Sunday, I want to sleep in, but that won't happen!

Rainy sick days..

I had two sick kids on my hands all day. Yesterday afternoon Will was feeling warm to the touch and took a little cat nap on the couch. I just knew it was going to be a power nap and he would be up all night. Nope, by 7:30 he was in bed asleep! So then I knew he was sick.

I got up like normal at 6AM....totally not realizing I snoozed my alarm and didn't really get out of bed! Oops, at 6:40 I jump into the shower and wonder if I have time to do the whole wash/dry/shave routine. I figured I am going to work out after I drop Will off, so I will shave but fore go the whole hair washing routine. Livi doesn't have a class on Thur so I can come home and shower then.

By 7:10 AM I am dressed in my workout clothes with my nicely fresh shaved legs. I get my coffee started. That is Livi's responsibility (she just clicks it on) but seems like she is sleeping in a bit. I even have time to roll the trash down to the curb for trash day. This is Will's responsibility but seems HE is sleeping in as well. These are the two children who never fail to be up by 7 AM at the latest.

By 8 I am wondering what he going on....of course I have gone in to check on them...Will is warm to the touch....Livi's nose is stopped up and breathing out of her mouth like a freight train coming into the station!

By 8:30 I call Will's school and tell them he won't be in today.

Livi finally wakes up...by now I am wishing I could have gotten the memo to sleep in....oh well...

Livi is what my brother calls a secret thumb sucker. She has to have Bunny in her hand to sick her thumb. She holds one ear and rubs the ear of Bunny. To have a stopped up dripping nose is the worst for her. She would take a little suck on her thumb, then have to stop to breathe out of her mouth.

But in true Livi style...she saw my camera and perked right up....."cheese me, mommy" <---Livi speak for "take my picture."

By 9, my little boy is still asleep, or so I thought. I sneak in to take a picture.....Dang, I forgot to turn off the flash. I hear him, "Mommy, did you picture me sleeping?" Oops!

So needless to stay, we just all snuggled on the couch a lot today, ate what little they could, and watched Lion King a couple of times. It was raining so we just chilled and snuggled all day.

Speaking of the rain, this is what part of the front flower bed looks like. Note, there are no cute flowers in this corner....We had gutters installed last week, but just a tad too late for those flowers. So I had to cut them back or pull them out because they were damaged too badly. But this little crop of mushrooms seems to be doing fine there.

This little visitor seems to have camped out on the porch as well. Can you see the cricket on the brick? I was hoping to catch him trying to eat it...but no such luck.

But the hanging basket looks amazing! I will say two positive things about all this rain....my electric bill is half of what it was last summer! Also, my grass looks amazing!

happy friday y'all

Thirteen things to not say to a wife with a deployed husband:

1. I don't know how you do it. **Me: I don't know either, but I just do. Anyways, do I really have a choice.

2. I could never deal with it if my husband were gone that long. **Me: Yes, you could. You would be surprised what you can do alone. It is almost empowering to know you can do it. But after nine months, I am empowered enough....get on home quickly now!

3. Are you scared that something may happen to him while he's there? **Me:This one is the one that really perplexes me the most. uugghh, let me see, he is in a combat zone....that would be yes!

4. Do you miss him? **Me: Every time I was asked this, I just wanted to respond "Oh, no, definitely not. I like it when he's gone. It gives me the chance to be all by myself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a 2 (and don't forget the half) year old and a four year old. Who wouldn't want that?" Of course, I miss him. Wouldn't you miss your husband? If not, sister, you've got more issues than me. And I am all about issues!

5. I know just how you feel. My husband was on a business trip last month for three days and I just thought I would die. **Me: Are you kidding me? First, I barely notice now if my husband is only gone for three days. Second, unless his business trip was to a place where everyone is openly carrying a gun in the street trying to kill him and suicide bombers and roadside bombs are prevalent, its not remotely close to being the same. The only thing I may give you on this one is that you know what it's like to sleep in an empty bed.

6. Do you worry about him cheating on you? **Me: Well, people, it is a little thing called self control. That and a love for my husband and respect for my marriage. Do some people cheat? Sure they do. But people cheat in civilian marriages too. Being in the military has no bearing on that.

7. How can you sleep at night knowing your husband is a murderer? Won't you be afraid when he comes home? **Me: Personally no one has ever said this to me. This one sets me off more than any other. No soldier is a murderer. Have they had to kill someone? Quite possibly. But there are a great many soldiers who never have. It's not something they talk about in daily conversation. Regardless of what they do overseas, it does not make them a murderer. They are in a war zone and following orders. I have never once >ven had an inkling that I should be afraid of my husband because he is a soldier. If anything, I feel more protected and safe.

8. I'm so sorry your husband had to be deployed. Don't you just hate President Bush? **Me: My husband joined the military of his own free will knowing full well that there is a potential to be deployed. The President may be the one running the show, but I knew he was a soldier when I married him. I'm proud of him and his accomplishments. And I don't discuss politics or religion with anyone.

9. If you truly supported your husband, you would be protesting so...he wouldn't have to deploy again/could be brought home/the war would end. **Me: Really? My definition of support must be much different than the definition of support by these people. Supporting my husband means supporting him in what he does and what he believes in. It does not mean disrespecting the men and women who volunteered to defend our country and our rights. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't have the right to protest in the first place. I'm certainly not putting myself in a position where it could be construed as anything other than 100% support for our troops and their families. I have blogged about this one before when I saw the Harley Davidson patriot guard. What they do is so much more worthy than any protestor standing on the road leading onto post.

10. I can't believe your husband did this to you. Aren't you mad at him? **Me: Um, what?! My husband didn't do anything to me. He honors his agreements and he follows the orders of his superiors. There's certainly nothing sad or maddening about having a husband who fulfills his commitments. Don't feel sorry for me. I'm proud of my husband and I completely support him.

Since I can't think of any more things...I give you three hopes that I have. I think most military wives are hopeful. Formally defined, hope is belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life and implies that the outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

11. I hope that civilians realize the sacrifices we make and appreciate what we give.

12. More than anything, we hope that our children know what their family’s service means and the pride they should feel, and we hope our soldier knows how much we love him.

13. Dear Lord, honestly, we just hope we can hold it all together.

Just another silly Tuesday

Since Mike has left, I have tried to get the pics to take pictures in front of this pantry door. It gives him a perspective of how tall they are. BUT every time I tell them to stand there, they automatically think we have to do silly pics. The first time we did this was on Crazy Hat day at his school, so we have to be crazy all the time. So here is out little adventure into pictures today.

Me: "Hey guys, let's take a picture to wish Daddy a happy Fourth of July.....

Them: (lining up)....Livi: Let's be goofy! But I wanna hold your hand."

Will: "No, let's make funny lips.

Livi: (doing some funky 70's dance moves) "oh yeah, that looks fun!"

Both: "No, pull your lips. That is always funny." Where do they get that pulling lips is funny? Somewhere in my head I hear some old woman, probably my grandma saying, "Quit doing that, your lips will stay that way!"

Will: "Take a bow, we are almost done." I must have gotten that look that today is not the day to get a cute picture. Also I think they heard the timer go off. Mike set a timer to go off at 8AM.....the time we have to be heading out the door for Will to get to school on time.

Both: Yeah we are done!

I was going to get all sappy on this because yes, Mike is gone for another holiday. But I am not all that hormonal. So I will save it for another one!

On the sleeping issues with Liv: tonight it was only two times in 42 minutes until she was sleep!!! I did take her nightlight out of her room. I have not ordered blackout blinds, but I have ghettoed up her room with a wool blanket over the window. Because it is so heavy, it is putting a hole in the drywall. But DUDE, she is sleeping!!!

I was going to make it a drinking game and take a sip of a wine every time she came out of her room. I camp out on a chair in front of her door...BUT she came out 22 times in about a 2 hour period the other night. I would be lit by 9PM on that schedule. So I will stick to catching up on the magazines.

after the VTC....the after party I guess...

After the VTC yesterday, the kids spotted a helicopter and tank on the parade grounds in front of the building we were in to do the teleconference. Since there was actually a breeze blowing, it was cooler outside than it was in there.

Can you see she is still talking to herself as she is walking along? It is kind of like old people when they are driving down the street...they describe everything. Well, here is a bit of what she is saying: "The grass is green today, I wonder if it is green every day? It looks like the lawn boys have been here. I bet they have fun when they get to ride real fast. (note: our lawn boys have this huge riding thing that they hover on the back of the mower....they fly through the backyard! ) Oh, look at that little bird, I can be a bird...(starts flapping arms like wings and squawking more like a bird that needs to be put out of its misery)....oh neat, a little flower (which is really a weed)...Mommy, mommy?? Where are you?? Oh (kind of laughs) there you are, take a picture of my flower."

This goes on ALL DAY LONG!!! She even talks in her sleep. I am paranoid so I still use a baby monitor, but the mumbling just might break me of this habit!

I love pictures of the kids from behind. I wonder where he will go and what he will do.

Then of course, we had to do silly faces. When Livi saw this one in the display, she said, "It looks like I am thinking real hard." I was just surprised she wasn't stretching her mouth out like she normally does.

Not sure what is up with this one either, but they both want to take "silly pictures for dad since it will make him laugh"...so, husband, I hope you are laughing!

I am proud to announce that Will is no longer in a car seat and is using the big boy booster! I am kind of paranoid in thinking I should have left the car seat in and just taken the straps off, but he is way within the weight and height limits for the one built into the car. He already has been warned the moment he unbuckles in mid drive, the car seat is coming back!

Can you hear me?? Can you hear me?? VTC....Video TeleConference

What can evoke such emotion from a little girl who will let you know "I am not two, I am two half"???....<----Livi speak for two and a half.

We were able to go to post this afternoon to do a Video TeleConference (VTC) with Mike. We get to the building.....a huge building I might add. We finally found the right door to go into .....(I am trying so hard to keep this post positive, because I could really rant right now about the stupid doors!!) BUT....

where was I??? Oh yeah...We got there about 15 min early. Some times if no one is scheduled before or after you, you can get a little longer time than the fifteen minutes allotted to you. We wait in the waiting room....which by the way has no air conditioner...this is basically a glass building in 90+ degree Texas heat....can you say sauna?? Let's say it all together: sawwwwnnnaaa...it was H-O-T-T hot!

We finally get in to do our VTC....after the initial hoopla, the kids settled in like old pros...you can only talk when the button on the microphone is red, so both kids made sure their microphone stayed red. There is a bit of lag time in the transmission, but not that much.

Believe it or not, fifteen minutes is a long time. Since we get to talk on the phone several times a week, it is really just a chance to let him see the kids. See how big they have gotten....see how sassy they are, or I should say she is!

So after a bit, Mike starts playing peek a boo with them. Again, they think this is hysterical! They snuck under the table and started running for the big screen (that screen on the wall is pretty big. Mike is on the right, and what he sees of us is on the left. So I can tell when the kids get to close to that camera, because he can't see anything!

We had a great visit. Afterwards we ran around some of the old armour they have out there. I will post some of those pictures tomorrow.

happy Saturday, y'all

grocery shopping with a toddler

Okay, for the love of all that is good in this world, can we please not curse in front of my kids....here is a recap of my day.

Livi and I drop Will off at school...He is so excited because his daddy called him just as he was waking up. It was a great phone call and started off a great day. We then took him to his preschool. It is a swim day on Friday so he is pumped.....whew hoo....great day so far.

Fast forward a bit...Livi goes to her Ooyey Gooyey art class...we make all kinds of fourth of July 'crap'...a windsock....some sand art, (you know this is going in a box to the in laws or daddy!) whew hoo a great day so far...

Oh yeah, we need a few groceries...we have some time...So let's go over to the commissary on post. We can save some $$$ and get some fresh sushi. I love to go the the commissary farthest from me because there is a sushi chef there preparing whatever your little heart desires. They even make it with brown rice if you want now. So while we are shopping he is making me some great little pieces of delight.

Totally forgetting it is payday weekend.....I manage to survive the trip. I pay....for those of you unaware of the commissary shopping etiquette...the baggers work for tips only. Note: I am an excellent tipper. Bag my groceries....I will automatically tip you $3 per $100 spent. See....not a bad deal.....if you say, "hi, how are you doing?" on the way to the car....dude, your $3 just went up to $4 maybe even $5 if you continue the conversation.

I totally got rock-star parking, so I was the first one in the lot.....I get Liv loaded into her car seat...from the rear of the car, I hear said grocery bagger..."dammit"

Woah dude...I have Pete and Repeat here, I am buckling her in.....I can see her looking all worried and wondering to myself, "how much is she filing away in her little recorder?"

I get her buckled in....then I hear, "$hit".....okay dude...WHAT is going on back there?? I mean I know I bought alot, but...dang, just load the groceries! By now Livi is worried...she says..."Mommy, she can have one of my Hello Kitty band aids."...<---which we just bought, it was in one of the many bags she is loading.

Apparently she hit her head on the opening of the back of my car...I drive a wagon, ....a super cool mom wagon....but a wagon..so she hit her head on the top of the car.

Before she got a chance to say anything else, I had to speak up...."UUhhmm, could you please not curse in front of my kid....???"

She only got a $3 tip on what COULD have easily been a $10 tip! DUDE, quit cursing in front of the kids!

Because Kristine is cleaning out all kinds of junk....we get this assignment: "Show me your favoritest ugly creation that was made just for you. For those of you that don’t have nieces, nephews, children, teenagers…*cough* bitch *cough* and have nothing to post, show me your ass. Yes, you heard me right. Your ass. Pull em down and take a picture for us. Oh wait, you suddenly remember a knick nack or crazy picture a kid drew you. Thaaaats what I thought."

Since I am not up for sharing pics of my back end for all to see, I found these pictures of Livi from her Ooyey Gooyey art class. These are what we made last week.

This is a stepping stone made out of plaster of Paris. We covered the top with wax paper so she could press her hand into it. Then she put those little glass pebbles all over it. The hand is covered with colored sand. She was really upset they didn't have purple sand. I don't know if you can tell, but I tried to mix red and blue sand.....pretty basic concept you learn in preschool right?? Well, it doesn't work with colored sand. You just get red and blue sand ....all mixed up! It has been so wet and humid here though that it still hasn't even dried a week later.

When Mike gets home, we are going to dig out some grass and do some more landscaping....maybe just maybe she will forget about it by then. If not, I am sure we could find a spot for it in the new beds.

The other thing we made last week was this bug. It is made out of a toilet paper roll with colored polka dots all over it. We were getting glued to the tube until I realized I could put glue on the tube and roll it in the dots. Way easier!! When she finished, she flew it around the room singing the song to Miss Spider. I don't even know where this one ended up because it is not in her room. Better than that, I have not been vacuuming up all those dots all over the house!

Little side note on the sleep problems I have been having with her.. ..after reading this book, (Thanks nice friend J...I'll be getting it back to you in a week or so), today she has managed to sleep in her own bed for a two hour nap and go to bed, stay in her bed, and go to sleep on her own in less than an hour. Yes, she came out 7-8 times, but she eventually went to sleep on her own. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!

happy Friday y'all!

Thursday 13....number seven...shows on my DVR

Thirteen shows on my DVR...

First off, I could not live without this thing. The kids only get to watch PBS or Noggin if they watch anything.


So if I am to watch anything, I record it and watch it while they are in bed.
....here it is:

1. Brothers and Sisters 6/17 and 6/24 ( I guess I am behind on that one!)
2. Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List 6/26 (See why I don't watch it with kids around??)
3. Namaste Yoga 6/26 and 6/27 (oops missed a day!)
4. Starter Wife ( I am having trouble getting into this one.)
5. Real Simple (on PBS, I love this show, but it is my favorite magazine!)
6. neat (of course I would love this Discovery Home show)
7. Gay, Straight or Taken (this show is great when I need a laugh)
8. What Not to Wear (a girl can always gleen something from Stacy and Clinton...heck, I would front my own money if they would come shopping with me!)
9. Army Wives...haven't watched this one yet...but I want to see how "real" it is.


the kid shows
10. Classical Baby, The Music Show..(on HBO...wonderful 'sleep' music)
11. Curious George
12. Veggie Tales
13. Little Einsteins

There are many more kids shows...in fact there are 79 shows in all on there. I don't think we ever watch all of them, but I like the option of knowing it is there if we need it!

need=sanity time while I prep dinner or get dressed!

WCW: H....Home decorating from Hobby Lobby

From The Kept Woman who is keeping little girls in tutus all over the Land of Snow and Cheese.

I finally got these gates hung. A friend of mine has a real antique gate that is hung just below the bar in her kitchen. I totally loved it. I looked at the place where I got the big rusty rooster... but all she had were some ivory ones. I didn't think ivory would work well in my home. So when Hobby Lobby put all their iron work on sale half off, I knew I would find something there.

I grew up fairly close to where Hobby Lobby started. I never realized they were just a regional store. I can go in there, and depending on the kids' behavior, an hour will have gone by before we know it. There are crafts, framing, party supplies, furniture, and lots of rusty iron things.

This one is actually two gates butted right up next to each other. Trying to hang a gate on little nails with no help is a pain. I think they kind of lean into the center, but they are staying that way until Mike gets back.

***Getting off on a bunny trail here***

It was in the paper and mentioned at the Town Hall meeting last night that his group will be home between Christmas and mid January!!! Whew hooo!!

Back to the gates.....when my friend saw them, she really liked the painted wall behind them. She has a very eclectic home, so I can't wait to see what color she paints behind hers. It was white...but I doubt she can leave it that way!

Happy Wednesday...or almost Wednesday y'all! Did you play??

Don't you just love surprises!

As I have said before, going to get the mail is one of the highlights of my day! Despite shredding 3/4 of it (but I love my shredder), I still get all giddy. We have one of those community mailboxes so the poor little mailmen only have to stop at one place instead of 24 houses. So I get my little golden key as Livi calls it, and go across the street.

I got the new Pottery Barn Kids catalog. There are some very cute backpacks and lunch boxes. I earmarked a few pages because we will be needing some cute ones in a month or so.

I get some magazine for Mike....make note to self to cut off address before I stick it in his next box going out. ooh wait. what is this?? something I don't have to shred??

Then what do I see??...what is this cute little envelope from Starbucks?? I know I tried every dang day to enter when they were doing the free t-shirts on their website. I never did get one. I am sure they gave out like three a day, but I was there every day trying! I kept trying to remember if I entered my birthday on their website. I mean, I know I go to the one here a lot. But since I started going to Jazzercise, I had cut back considerably.

Call me slow, or more likely, exhausted. But I was wondering what I had done to get a gift card from Starbucks. Then in teeny tiny print at the bottom is a note from my husband.

I have already gotten my birthday gift of the new camera when Will left our the old camera out in the rain. My birthday isn't even until July, so I was quite surprised.

Livi and I just might have to go have a latte and a star muffin tomorrow. Thanks husband!

Just A Lazy Saturday

This afternoon neither kid took a nap, so we had to do something to keep busy. Having nothing to do is the root of all chaos around here. I knew I would go stir crazy if we stayed inside all day. I had gotten these popsicle things at Target last week. We basically made a raspberry orange smootie and froze it. After a couple of hours of quiet time we headed outside, slathered down with sunscreen and swam. For it being late June in Texas, it really wasn't that bad outside. We have some trees in the yard, so I was able to stay in the shade. Far be my delicate flower self be in the sun!

When Livi saw me haul out the camera, she pointed her popsicle up to me and said, "Take a picture for Dad, he might like a bite." I nearly started crying.** I am not sure if she thought if we took a picture the he could taste it or not, but here it is. ....a bite of Raspberry Orange popsicle. Enjoy!

While Will had talked to Mike this morning, he said he would do a silly picture. Those have become the favorite around here now. For all my trying to get a picture that doesn't look posed, they usually turn out to be silly. You can't really tell, but he is rolling his tongue in and out like a lizard. He had had enough of Livi spitting the little raspberry seeds out and putting them on his shorts.

**I am not sure why I am in such a funk lately. I thought it was a girl thing, (TMI alert) but that came and went and I am still antsy. I know I have been having problems sleeping, so for now that is what I am blaming. I am too paranoid to take Tylenol PM or anything with a sleep aid for fear that one or the other kid will wake up and need something. If I didn't hear them, I am not sure what I think would happen, but the fear is still there. Oh well, 8 1/2 months down, 6 1/2 more to go.

Stuff Portrait Friday - Air Freshener

Because Kristine is a cleaning fool this week, she asks: "How do you keep your house smelling good? Is it open windows? Is it Febreeze? A fan? Removing all children from your house thus removing teenage FUNK stank?"

Anyone who knows me or even reads this occasionally knows I am a overly organized person who does the Flylady thing adapted to our family. I do a little bit of cleaning everyday. Once a week I do an hour of a house blessing, I spend 10 minutes doing each of these things: dusting, swiffer the tiled areas, mop the tiled areas, vacuum the carpeted areas, purge magazines and shred junk mail, and change bed sheets. It should only take an hour, but it usually takes about an hour and a half with all the interruptions. Everything else is done on a daily basis that I never really have to stop and spend an entire day cleaning. I wipe down the sink and counter every day after I finish my morning routine. The kids do the wipe down in their bathroom. I still do their toilets, though.

I should mention I use this stuff that came with my vacuum cleaner once a week. The stuff is this moist powder that you sprinkle on the carpets. It magically absorbs any skanky smells. Once it is dry to the touch (about an hour) you can vacuum it up. I know Target carries it.

The other thing I use is this little thingy I blogged about in Feb. Here is a recap of what I wrote:


I went to lunch with a new friend today. I think that is the hardest thing about moving.....having to find, make, and keep friends. This mom has a daughter that goes to Will's school. I have volunteered with her for a few events. Her little girl is always dressed so cute. I mentioned to her that she should sell her daughter's stuff on Ebay. So one afternoon she came over and I showed her how. She suggested we go to lunch sometimes. Since my babysitter comes over on Tuesdays, I suggested a little hole in the wall Thai place I had been wanting to try.

Well, I am so glad I did. We had the greatest time. She brought me this diffuser from Pier 1 called Ember. I was hesitant to even open because I am very picky about smells. I am not a fruity sweet type....this has rich scents of oranges, clove, cinnamon and more. Place the reeds in the glass bottle filled with fragrance and allow it to gently waft through the room. I am so impressed she noticed the couple of candles I had were very fall-ish...if that is a word.
I wanted to take my camera and take a picture of my Thai tea...but with the making-new-friends thing, I wasn't hesitant to bust out the camera and start snapping. Don't want to run her off too quickly. We had such a good lunch. It was 3:30 before any one noticed the time. (We met at 1.) We have already made plans for our next girls lunch at another place.
So here is to new friends.....I have definitely made a lifelong friends at each and every place we have lived.....from big Lawton America to Alaska, out to the beautiful bay of California, to the cornfields of Kansas...So now it is time to do the same here. I am trying to keep a positive outlook about this and things are looking up.

Thursday 13....number six...location, location, location

Thirteen locations on my sitemeter:

1. Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest, Belgium **farthest from me with 5060 miles**
2. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
3. Dryden, Ontario, Canada
4. France
5. Kabel, Nordrhein-Westfale, Germany

6. Reigate, Bromley, United Kingdom

7. Chelsfield, Bromley, United Kingdom

I don't have 13 seperate countries, I'll fill in the rest with the first thirteen from the United States of America

1..Olney, Maryland, USA

2. Hampton, Virginia, USA

3. Portland, Maine, USA

4. Houston, Texas, USA

5. Bemidji, Minnesota, USA

6. Bemidji, Minnesota, USA

7. San Jose, California, USA

8. Ontario, California, USA

9. Smithsburg, Maryland, USA

10. State College, Pennsylvania, USA

11. Fairport, New York, USA

12. Seattle, Washington, USA **farthest in the USA with 1730 miles**

13. Arlington, Massachusetts, USA

Little did I know when I started this blog that anyone besides my husband and immediate family would even care to hear me drone on day after day about my kids. I started this blog so Mike could keep up with the kids while he was gone. I used to send an email out called "tuesday update" to our friends and family. I would get emails bounced back and such, so it evolved into this blog.

Happy Thursday

Watching the Father's Day video

What does it take to get two kids to sleep in on the weekend?? Don't ask me because it is not happening here. Sunday morning we woke up to our usual routine. I was hoping the kids would sleep until at least 8....yeah right, not in my little world.

First Will woke up around 7. This is the time he has to be up during the week, so I guess it really is good that he stays in his routine. No, really, help me feel better about having to get up at the crack of dawn! He came and got in our bed. I always make him go potty first, because I am just not convinced that he is completely potty trained. He has only had one accident in 8 months...but still that fear of being peepeed on is high on my list of "don't want to deal with".

We were almost ready to doze off and I feel this little poke-poke-poke of a little hand full of a not-so-fluffy bunny. Livi was right beside my side of the bed. I swear she should be some type of a person who needs sneaking up on people skills because I NEVER heard her come in the room, much less creep within inches of me.

So we all crawled into bed to do a quick snuggle. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite things on the weekend. Mostly because I can almost doze off and not feel guilty that I should be watching one or the other.

Anyhow, every Sunday we have pancakes and sausage. Way back when Mike and I were dating and before kids, we used to go to IHOP for breakfast. Well, two kids in within 16 months will cure you of wanting to get up early on the weekends. So we do it at home now.

While I was mixing up the pancakes, I flipped the laptop on. Mike has sent us a video of him opening his father's day box. The kids actually think he is really talking to him like when we do the Video Tele-Conferences. They sit and watch them over and over.

Will really didn't want me to take any pictures...so he said he would do a 'silly face'....apparently in a four year old's world that mean putting your tongue on the side of your cheek like you have a big wad of Skoal in it. I guess we have been in TX long enough for him to gain some skills.

Can you tell how tan he is getting?? We swim quite a bit. Every Friday they do water activities at his preschool as well. I slather both of them down with sunscreen, but they are really getting that golden color.

Happy Tuesday all....I am off to grill some chick chick chicken....

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day, husband. Another holiday spent away from us. I do hope your album will help you feel a little closer to us. The kids had fun picking out what pictures they wanted to put in there. I love the silly one taken on Crazy Hat day.

You are much more than a father, you are a dad....Can you hear Will singing the "D-A-D" dad song from Sesame Street? Though he usually says D-A-E, we are still having some problems getting the last D. Every night when he goes to bed he kisses three pictures...1.) the family picture we had taken in KS 2.) one from the aquarium in Monterey Bay with both kids in the double stroller in front of that Bubba Gump's restaurant and 3.) the one of you and Trigger in Iraq.

I think this picture is my all time favorite picture we have taken since you left. Will was having Crazy Hat day at school. These are the matching madras shorts and hat that I so love. He finally grew out of the blue and white ones he has worn the last two years. The teachers at his school were joking that this is the last year I can make him wear matching hat and shorts!!

I tried to have this one made into an iron on to put on a pillow case, but they said the resolution wasn't high enough. This was taken with the old camera. But every time I look at it I laugh. I hope it makes you laugh too!

Will reminds me so much of you. He can be so silly, caring, loving, goofy and kind. If he grows up to be like you, I think we could say "Job well done!"

Livi is truly a Daddy's little girl. The entire time you were home, she didn't want much to do with me. I knew she needed to get in all her 'daddy-loving- time'. I hope you can enjoy your day even though we are so far apart. I also hope we get to talk to you today. I am sure the phones will be busy with everyone wanting to talk to their families.

Hurry home, we love you and miss you!

EDITED TO ADD:

Sunday Six - Father's Day

1. How do men become Dads?

W: They build.

O: I don't know.

2. Is your Dad Special?

W: Yes.

O: Yes, ma'am.

3. What does your Daddy do?

W: Go to Iraq...(this made me tear up!)

O: In the 'puter. (He sends us videos and we watch them over and over!)

4. What did you do for Father's Day?

W: Make a card.

O: Paint a picture

5. What makes a good Dad?

W: Daddy is a good dad.

O: Muddy mud pits...(from some cartoon I am sure!)

6. Who's your Daddy?

W: Daddy, I just told you.

O: Your husband. (that one cracked me up)