Five little fingers......Photostory Friday

While we were in OH for Memorial Day, my sister-in-law had her baby. He is such a good baby. These hands are baby A's and his daddy's hand. We were all sitting around the fire, munching on s'mores. He was so content, lying there so peacefully, while all the crazy cousins were taking full advantage of a sugar high.

That is one of the few things about being in a military family that I don't like. You never know if you will be close to family. Close enough to be there for births, birthdays, and long weekends. We are only 5 hours from OH...close enough to go for the little things. I have loved being close to family again!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

weekend recap

It has been a great weekend. Laid back, not too hot, a bit of rain to cool things off, kind of weekend.

We each took a kid out on a 'date'. Husband and Livi went to Olive Garden. All the wait staff loved her! Will and I had just as much fun at TGIFridays. He had 'dirt in a cup' for dessert. After lunch out the kids wanted to go to the park with the dinosaurs. I am surprised they even remembered this one. We haven't been to that park in over a year! It was fun. The kids are already planning the next date.

The caterpillars are doing great. We put them into the net mesh now that all of them are in the chrysalis stage. They do not like being taken outside when it is in the mid-50s here! That is the coldest it has been since February!

The best thing all weekend...I am a winner! I won a blog makeover from Nap Warden Designs. I am so excited to see what she does. Go check her out, she does some cute stuff! That's right and she is going to pimp my blog! whoo hoo

Happy Sunday, y'all!

Thursday 13.....#35....the letter O

letter O, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

In keeping with the ABC theme for 2008, the letter O:

1. One: Husband and Olivia when she was one day old.

2. Olivia: easily my favorite O...this picture totally captures her spirit: free, silly, happy

3. Orange: the sky really was this orange....kind of freaked me out a bit.

4. Ocean: love love love to be at the ocean...(I delivered Livi about two weeks after this was taken!)

5. Oklahoma: Born there, lived there until I was the big 3-0!

6. OU: THE University of Oklahoma....proud graduate

7. Observe: I love to sit back and observe people, especially at a mall.

8. Occupation: now domestic diva.

9. October: favorite month....I love the fall.

10. Organized or anal, you choose.....I prefer organized.

11. Obsessive: I am obsessive about washing hands.

12. Olives: cheese, and crackers are my favorite snack.

13. Omaha steaks steaks: best beef ever!

Six Flags recap

Six Flags, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Last week during Spring Break, we took the kids to Six Flags. I went there many times as a child!

It was so much fun to see the kids ride little roller coasters, bumper cars, spinning things. For it being Spring Break, it really wasn't that busy in the kids' Looney Tunes section. Both kids surprised me how well they rode the rides. On the roller coasters, the kids had their arms in the air!

The weather was perfect! I can't imagine doing this in the summer when it is 100+ temps!

The kids lasted until almost 4 o'clock. After a short walk back to the hotel (the dang trolley was NOWHERE to be seen!) we got a quick bite to eat. You know the kids slept well that night!

Conversation with Will tonight

Beach house, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Tonight while putting Will to bed, he asks, "Mom can we go to our other house?"

I am wondering if he is talking about when we lived in KS....or even CA. I know he remembers going to a Wiggles concert when we lived there. I said, "Which house are you talking about, baby?"

Will: "Our beach house!" Like I am three degrees of crazy that I don't know what he is talking about!

I had to explain to him that we only rented that house this past summer. It is not ours! Boy that was not the right answer. He finally settled down after I told him we could go back when Daddy got home.

This picture is a some of the little houses that were just to the right of the one we rented.

I guess we will be making a beach trip in the spring before we move! I would hate to disappoint him and I know Husband would love to go with us this time!

Flowers and a Tag

I was tagged by Carrieb, so I thought this would be a good time to fill it in....



1. . My Love Language is Acts of Service. I've would love for it to be physical touch or even receiving gifts. But no, take out the trash and give the kids a bath...and I am good! So today when I got these.......

Oh wait that is the pic of the ftd.com flowers from their website.

The ones I received looked like this! Granted Mike ordered them from Iraq....maybe half fell out by the time they got here. All joking aside....I burst into tears when I opened the box. I am so NOT a flower person....but after the week I have had.......I knew my husband was showing me the only act of service he could. He can't be here physically, but he can bring a smile to my face even from the other side of the world.

PS....I was totally impressed with FTDs customer service. When i called to tell her the flowers were a poor interpretation of the picture on the website...she offered to 1. send out another bouquet or 2. refund my money ....I told her I didn't know how Husband paid for them (because you know I checked the only credit card statement that he has with him.) She said she had to email him about it....but she was really nice and didn't even want pics.

Okay, back to the tag....

2. One of the reasons my week has been horrid is Husband's granddad passed away yesterday. He has been very sick with cancer for a while. He is finally at peace.

3. Will is named after both of Mike's granddads. When we had Will, Mike got to name him and I named Livi....

4. We are at 50 days and they can't come fast enough.

5. This week I felt like I needed to just tie a knot in the rope and hang on.

6. I know I am hyper emotional because I am being a woman, but dang! This is getting old. I am way to old to be using BC pills. Any of you knocking on 40s door have any recommendations?

7....Yikes, that hurt to type 4-0....can it be that in 2008 I will really be the big 4-0....??? I certainly don't feel it.

You know how I feel about tags....steal it if you are post lacking anytime...

happy Thursday y'all

ETA: I joined the NaBloPoMo-- Short for National Blog Posting Month. .....so this totally counts as the first post for November!!!

Talk about a Manic Monday

under the tree, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Last week I started taking a new allergy medicine. I knew it had been messing with my sleep habits most of the weekend, but I didn't really realize how much. Finally last night after getting a tad drowsy around midnight, I decided to try to go to bed and hope to sweet Jesus I would fall asleep.

I kid you not, the kids get up at the a$$ crack of dawn. I get up at 6AM so I can have myself almost ready by the time they get up around 6:30-6:45 or so. I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON....so this kills me...but sleeping later is just not an option now.

1:00 AM- I look over at the clock that I have now covered with a wash cloth because those green numbers seem to flooding the room with light.. I am thinking...."okay, if I can just go to sleep now, I will get five hours of sleep!!" I can do that. My favorite sleep music is softly playing in the background. Still tossing, turning....getting comfortable but not feeling the least bit like sleep is coming anytime soon.

2:00 AM- Dude...say it isn't so....There is really no way I can function on four hours of sleep....I will now have to skip aerobics and come home and take a nap! It is too late to take a Tylenol PM....far be it I thought of that four hours ago!! Oh....well

a little after 2AM.....I must have gone to sleep a little after this. Thank you Mr. Sandman.

For some reason I woke up, threw the washcloth off my clock and looked at the time....OMG, that is LIGHT coming in my room. First, I sleep in a cave practically. We have this tint on our windows to lower our AC bill....and we have wooden blinds. At 6AM NO LIGHT should be coming in my window. That clock cannot be right, there is no way it is 7:47.....The kids have not slept late in ....well ever!! Why couldn't they have done this yesterday?

I jumped out of bed, I did not take a shower! But I did brush my teeth, threw on some tinted sunscreen and lip gloss. Thankfully I have pretty good hair that doesn't need to be washed everyday. I kind of fluffed it up a bit and hoped it didn't look like day old dirty!

Will woke up in the few minutes it took me to get dressed, as did Livi. Their clothes are already laid out, so the isn't the age old drama of "I don't want to wear that." While one was getting dressed, I brushed every one's teeth...made some sippy cups of milk, and threw some Cheerios in a bowl.

Just as we were headed out the door, I realized I didn't even have their lunches. But I pack their lunches the night before....I go so far as to even stick the whole lunchbox in the fridge. I grabbed a cold pack from the freezer and we headed out.

It is only an 11 minute drive to school (you know I have timed it!) Believe it or not, we made it there with one minute to spare.

As hectic as waking up late is, the kids were awesome....we just moved like clockwork. I do have to say I was impressed.

I got home, flipped on the coffee pot and took a long, hot shower! I did try to lay down. But no napping for me. Surprisingly I wasn't that tired all day.

Now it is almost bedtime and I am scared to take my medicine. As smoothly as the morning went, I don't want to do that often.

As for the picture up there, it is from Saturday at the parade field on post. Just kids, playing with sticks...it's a wonder they didn't start hitting each other with them!

happy Tuesday

VTC (video teleconference) time

We haven't done one of these in awhile, so it was good to actually see Husband rather than just talking on the phone. We actually got to visit for thirty minutes. The kids were wild and crazy, which drives me batty.....but I guess I can't sit still for 30 minutes, so how can I expect them to? See that little camera in the lower left corner....that is pointing at us so that he can see us. There are three tables shaped like a U in the room. at one point Livi was walking down one table like it was a runway.

Will was quite surprised to really see him....He just kind of acted goofy. Neither kid wanted to wear their Halloween costumes. Will wanted to wear his dinosaur shirt that he wore on his birthday though.

Livi was so excited to see him. She took her "Baa Baa Black Sheep" book and read it too him. She is such the performer, always wanting to be the center of attention.

After the VTC was over, I let the kids run around the parade field. See those bleachers? In 54 days we will be having our welcome home ceremony there. Whew hoo!!! I can't wait to be sitting here, probably freezing because it will be late December.....but it will be before Christmas. What more can one want but to be home with their family after being gone for 15 long months!

color wheel closet, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Ask and you shall receive....here is a picture of my closet....I couldn't get in there to take a picture of the entire length, but pants are off to the left. If you click on the picture, it will take you to Flickr to see the notes on it. There is also another picture there of the sweaters that are on the shelf above. They are separated by these silver dividers. It is finally starting to be in the 70's, so soon I will weed out those sleeveless tops and put more 3/4 and long sleeved shirts in the closet. Anything of the sleeveless that didn't get worn this summer will go into a Goodwill pile. I will make note of anything I need to replace. I usually stock up on summer sales of basics like white t's and stuff I know I will wear next year.

Weekend recap

We had a busy weekend of just hanging around here. I got all of the Halloween stuff out of the attic. We put a few decorations out. The kids had fun trying on their way--too-small costumes from last year. Will walked around with these glow in the dark teeth trying to scare both me and Livi. He kept saying, "I fink I need to go to da dentist." Then cracking up. His sense of humor is so cute. He reminds me of his dad so much.

Key words there: way-too-small......so that got me thinking. I wonder how many clothes in their closets are way too small. You know how I love to clean. I told Will that he could have an M&M for every pants he tried on for me. I am so not above a bribe. I was able to clear out two kitchen sized garbage bags of things from last year. I always keep a Rubbermaid tote in the bottom of their closet for clothes that I find on sale that I know they will wear eventually....jeans the next size up, shirts for school, etc. I hung up all his 4T clothes, took inventory of what I needed to fill in.

It felt so good to get all of that done. So....I headed to Livi's room to do the same. I was shocked to learn she is wearing a 3T and some 4T in certain brands. She turns three in two weeks, but she has always been on the petite side. To put things in perspective, when Mike left almost a year ago exactly she was wearing 18-24 month clothes!!! I can't wait to see how much she as grown at her three year checkup. I bagged two bags of stuff from her closet as well.

I didn't hang up her fall/winter clothes where she could see them.. She has these little areas in her closet that are tucked behind the wall of her closet, so I hung them there. It is still in the low 90s here....we won't be needing these for a month or so. I feel like I am trying to make Fall hurry up and get here....we are ready when it goes come.

That shirt is one that is in the too small bag. Her little daisy headband is a sticker! They were playing in these tunnels with the grandparents.....she is such a little diva.

Happy Sunday, y'all

Drive thru zoo.....

While looking for things to do in the few hours the kids aren't in preschool or napping has been challenging to say the least. .....so when Mike suggested this drive through zoo thingy not too far from here, I was all game.

Okay, first off...see the sign there on the left? It says, "Enter at your own risk." I think to myself, "How risky can it be?? " But no, there are even more warnings....Stay in your car in case of emergency. POUND your horn and FLASH your lights." <----That should have been a clue....a huge clue. Like someone really needs to stand at the cattle guard and hit you over the head with it kind of clue. But we entered anyway.

First off, we see the biggest ostrich I have ever seen. But come to think of it, I think this is the FIRST ostrich I have ever seen, but it was pretty big. Its legs were as high as my window, its body filled the window area, then its big neck and teeny head was at least 2-3 feet tall.....all this adds up to one big A ostrich. While we are still on the cattle guard, the big A$$ ostrich comes along side our car. I ask the other adults (my in-laws)..where do you think his feet are....should I go forward? We all agree we should and I push on the gas. My car just kind of stays there. Thinking I am only stuck on the cattle guard, I push on the gas harder. Whew hoo, we are finally free....only to see the big a$$ ostrich limping around....DANG! I must have run over its foot! My heart is beating a thousand miles an hour as I see this in my front window.

I just hear him now, "YOU want a piece of me?" You bet your pretty panties I had my windows up....AND I was afraid it was going to push its beak through my windshield.

Okay, we drive on.....oh that is a cute little mini horse, more the kids speed. Not some Big Bird wannabee trying to put his head through my car.

oohh, what's next? Some thing with big curled horns. I was not playing chicken with this thing. He looked like he could do some serious damage to my cool mom car. *Pic taken through the windshield**

The kids did like the tiger, at least it was in a cage.

About half way through the drive, Will said, "I see a rainbow." Just over to the right was a beautiful rainbow.....we had gotten lost on the way there and driven through a bit of rain. Though it was dry and dusty just a mere five miles away at the drive through zoo thingy!

Second mistake of the day......see every animal in the near distance eating stuff on the ground? That car in front of us bought the feed to throw at them....we DID NOT. Mike warned me to not get it because the animals are so used to it, they will stick their heads in the car. Talk about freaking my kids out! This zebra kept running along side us right at Livi's level.....She did not think it was cool at all!

Third and final freak-my-kids out of the day: See this mongo camel...yeah, the one blocking the entire road? He would not move. Again I was not playing chicken with something that had the potential to damage my car. Livi is freaking out....don't hit the camel, don't hit the camel!! Since my batting average with big animals wasn't too great, I made sure to swerve WAY to the right!

There was a petting zoo at the end. Will would go up to the fence of them. His favorite was this big white bird named Knock Knock. Livi didn't really have a favorite...she just wanted to leave!

Finally, saw this thing....not too sure if it is funny or sad. Who would do this to a plant??

A boy and his toys....

Aaahhhh, can you hear that....no of course you can't. because there is nothing...but both kids are finally in bed asleep.

My in-laws came in for the week on Saturday. Since they live so far away, I never know how the kids will react to them. Both both kids have been so happy to have them here. As soon as we pulled into the airport and gave them shy grins, it has been pretty fun having them around.

Will has loved having a man in the house to horse around with....Mike plays with him like that. I attempt it, but apparently don't quite pull it off. Livi calls them both "grandpa"....but then again, they both call my mom "papa" so, I guess it is all the same.

When M (my mother-in-law) came with me to pick up the kids today, the first thing she said was, "Where's Grandpa?" But later that evening while story time at bedtime, M was her "new best friend".

My father-in-law J LOVES sweets....so we went to a shopping center that has a German deli, a donut store With a drive through, and a cookie addiction place...he was in heaven. sad enough the German deli was closed. Who knew they took the day off?? So, by default we went to the cookie place. First off, there was a but allergy sign on the door.....so, I couldn't even eat any. But he still managed to come home with a sack full of cookies that filled a platter! Oh well, if grandparents can't spoil them who can? ***edited to add: The sign said NUT allergy...but I like but allergy better, so I am leaving it!***

I finally got a decent picture of Will. Livi still needs a nap after school but Will has moved past that. So we do "quiet time". Today his quiet time included cars. He was playing so nice and quietly and I pulled out the camera.

I asked him to pick out his favorite. He leaned down and gave them a hug and said, "Can I pick them all?" Sure baby, you can.

Kickety Kick Ball....preschooler style

I forgot to take pics of out dinner time, so I will post my Thursday's America at home assignment later. I have had fun doing these.

Tonight we had a kickety kick ball game. We had the 6:45 game...since my kids are normally in bed asleep by 7:45 at the latest...I REALLY don't like to play the late game. But oh well....it's all in the fun of seeing kids kick the ball and run around the bases. It does wear them out. None of the 'please read me this book for the hundredth time!"

Even though Livi doesn't play, she sits in stands and cheers them on....or plays in the grass hollering out, "Cheese me, Mommy!" One little girl's grandma showed her a cheer...Livi is so funny, she has a very good clap and the head wiggle down..."Go... Mosquitoes.... go...sting ...that... team!" It is quite the sight to see. Since someone laughed at her doing it once, she continues to do it. She loves to make people laugh!

After the games, the kids run through an arch...kind of cheesy but they love it. After running through twice most are still wanting to 'do it again'.

As we were leaving the field, I saw this beautiful sunset....yes, we were there that late. I had to stop and take a picture. I feel like I am trying to preserve in photos everything Mike is missing. I think I must be hormonal because it brought a few tears to my eyes. I was glad I had my sunglasses on because I try not to get too weepy in front of the kids.

Happy thursday, y'all

Does parenting ever get easy??

***Edited to add: When I picked Livi up, her teacher told me there was no need to have a meeting with the director. She said we need to give it more time to let her adjust. I agreed with her but did say that I do NOT want to address this again in a couple of weeks. If I am going to have to take her out, I want to do it now with just three weeks into the school year...rather than a month from now!!** I hope I am making the right decision...dang I wish I had a crystal ball!**

I think I have to break my little girl's heart tomorrow. I have to tell her she can't go back to preschool next week.

I casually asked one of her teachers how she was doing today (on Wednesday). When I got back home around 9 ish (only 30 min after I dropped them off) there was a call on the caller ID from the school. I think to myself, "That is strange...no one called my cell phone." I went to see if there was a message on the machine. Sure enough there was. It is the office manager. She said that Livi's teacher had spoken to the director about my 'concern' and that the director wants to see me. BUT she can't see me until at least Thursday sometime.

A little background info here: Livi is only two....She doesn't turn three until mid Oct. I was very reluctant to start her in August for that reason alone. Will started when he was three years and three months. Livi would be that age when the new semester starts in January08. But the director played me like a harp and assured me after paying out the wazoo for the assessment that she would do fine. Also, I didn't want to risk that there wouldn't be a spot for her in January. OK....I went ahead and put her in school. Doubt lingered in me most days...but she loves it so much!

There is also the potty training issue. She still has peepee accidents but no poop accidents. The first week she had accidents on two days. The second week, no accidents at all. I am thinking all things are going well.....Well this week, back to accidents on Monday and Tuesday. She cannot wear a Pullup at school. There is one kid who wears them but I have been told he has "bladder issues". Livi saw his Pullups in the bathroom and tried to put them on! LOL

Third thing...Livi is a thumbsucker. BUT she only sucks when she has bunny. Bunny isn't allowed at school. I wondered how 'oral' she would be since she didn't have bunny to suck her thumb. Well, apparently more than they would like. Montessori is very hands on....there are open shelves for all the projects. Lots of little things to shove into her mouth.

So I guess what this amounts to is "three strikes and you're out" ....I still haven't had my meeting with the director, but I am pretty sure this is what she is going to say. I feel so bad. I am wondering why I didn't listen to my heart when it was saying doubt means don't <----one of the few things I like that Oprah has said recently. I kept telling myself, she is only two! She really wants to be there. I just wish I had come to this conclusion BEFORE she ever started. Now three weeks into school I have to break her little heart. I don't know how she will handle it. My poor baby girl, I will definitely have to take her to Starbucks and get her a star muffin....and a pumpkin latte for me!

Since this is supposed to by my Thursday 13 post, here are 13 things we can do again.

• 
  
  go to the park


• 
  
  Ooyey Gooyey Friday


• 
  
  Open gym at gymnastics


• 
  
  story time


• 
  
  kindermusik


• 
  
  Starbucks


• 
  
  Target


• 
  
  playgroup


• 
  
  get our toes done (okay we have never done that, but it would be fun!)


• 
  
  chick a lay (what she calls Chick-fil-A)


• 
  
  shopping


• 
  
  snuggling on the couch


• 
  
  just being a mommy's little girl for a little bit longer

I hope she takes it okay.......dang it I am crying now....my face will be puffy tomorrow if I don't stop! Happy Thursday y'all.

Gotta stop and smell the flowers

Just a little note...I am probably going to get sappy here...

When Mike told me he was deploying, I got a pit in my stomach. We had to make up wills and have all kinds of conversations that you just don't want to face. That was a big slap in the face of reality. I knew at this time I could make one of two choices....become a gripy wife who hates the military life (and I know many who are like that) or accept I have no control over those choices BUT I do have control over the way I react to it. I realized alot of things that used to irritate the bejesus out of me really didn't matter. Does it matter that the toilet seat is left up or down? When you are looking at it in the same limelight as my husband is going to an wartorn country....I don't even care if the toilet seat is clean...(Okay maybe I do care if it is clean, but you know what I mean!)

I could let fear guide my every choice or I could accept it and drive on, continue to take my kids to the park, to kickety kick ball, to the sprinkle park, and just attempt to have fun. Sometimes it takes a two year old....make that an 'almost three year old' ...to remind me to stop and smell the roses..... or the geraniums each day.

It is a good reminder on this anniversary of today of these uncertain times. Like the old cliche live, laugh and love....just a little bit everyday!

99....Ninety nine.....

Let's see what these all have in common???

a highway??

Just thinking of 99 steps makes my thighs hurt!

99 bottles of beer on the wall....okay those look more like bottle of liquor but you get the idea.

Party like it's 1999...should I break out into song and dance??

99cent stores....

Wayne Gretzky's number

99 red balloons go by...

Some random race car.....

In 99 days Mike will be home! Whew hoo!!! We are down to double digits! We just passed the 11 month mark on the 8th. I knew the "less than 100 days" was coming....he reminded me today. Now I am getting antsy. Do I let the kids make the paper chains from 99 days.....?? Is that too long for them to get the concept? Cutting only one off each day would be a HUGE challenge for them! They would want to cut off several every day.

I am getting all giddy.....should I get a new outfit?? Do the kids and I wear matching shirts?? Should I order a cute banner? Oh whoa is me....so many things to start thinking about.

First day of preschool

I can't believe both of my babies are in preschool. Before we left, we had to do silly pics for Daddy. It has become the favorite since he deployed almost 11 months ago!

What has happened to the time...wearing one baby in a Baby Bjorn and pushing the other in a stroller....snuggling on the couch with one at my feet while nursing the other.

As we were coming over the little hill to their school, she hollers out..."My school!".....just last week, she would say, "Bubba's school!" I had no doubt she would love it. She has been looking forward to going every since she did her visitation.

Will was so ready to see his friends that didn't go to any of the summer "camps".....<--what the summer sessions were called. Livi walked in like she ran the place. I had to ask their teacher a question, but could barely get a word in because she was pushing me out the door. She kept saying, "Bye Mom, it is time for me to be a big girl. I'll see you later!" She is literally shoving me out the door and closing it!

I got out to the car ready to go do some adult-alone-time things. And to my own shock, my tears started to fall! I couldn't believe it!! What was happening to me!? I don't do this?! I celebrate my freedom! I have longed for four hours to do whatever my little heart desires. To do whatever I wanted....go to Target and not have to bribe a child for "just a few more minutes." To go to lunch with the girls without having to pack a snack box.

Will I ever stop calling them my babies? I doubt it! But, they today they are officially preschoolers! As I pulled out of the parking lot, I wondered how many other moms were going through the same thing. I couldn't cry too much because I get big puffy eyes and I had to go to aerobics.

When I went to get them, both ran to the door and gave me the biggest hug....like I had been gone for four days rather than four hours! Livi loved every moment, she didn't have any potty accidents either! She came home and napped for almost three hours! This is the same little girl who hasn't napped in about a month.

I realized at that moment, life's moving forward, we are growing up and it's all good. This was a moment that I don't want to forget! I wish Mike were here to see it, so photos will have to do for now.

As soon as we got out to the car, she immediately asked for bunny. Last year she reminded me to take Will chocolate milk every day when we went to pick him up. As we were walking in she said, "Now remember you have to bring us our milk....okay?? Don't forget!" She is such the mom!

beach aar...(if you know what an AAR is, then you are are geeky as I am!)

We are back.....should I do a The Good, the Bad, the Ugly...nah, let's just do a few quick words....

sunburned

exhausted

tired

kids had fun

great...(okay BEYOND great......I might even venture into AWESOME) evenings

long drives...really long drives...like 4-5 movies long

LOTS of tolls

CRAZY shopping for groceries

just a few pics

Favorite of Will...jumping in the waves...

One of my many favorites of Livi:digging for shells, lots of sand

I can't believe both kids start preschool in the morning!! I still have to pack lunches. More later...