Just a little Reflection

without sounding too cliche, as we are in the last couple of months here, a little reflection (taken with my phone while waiting for Will at the bus stop)

To be honest, this has been the hardest place i have ever lived.

Despite being moved how many ever thousands of miles it is from Oklahoma to Alaska, even that was easier. I guess since EVERYONE was far away from home, you either made friends or b!thched and moaned for three years. I choose to make friends and get involved. I made lifelong friends there.

Then we moved back to Oklahoma

It was going home. I already had friends. I went right back to my old job at my old school with my same old friends. Nice easy....I made a new lifelong friend again.

Then we moved to California.

I was big honkin' pregnant. Will was barely a year old. Despite having two kids under 16 months. I got involved in a MOPS group and an awesome playgroup. We were only there a year, but again.....I made awesome friends there.

Then we moved to Kansas.

Two kids under three, living on post in close knit living quarters. Many bottles of wine were shared with friends and neighbors. I made awesome friends there.

Then we moved to Texas.

The kids were two and three. Husband deployed after just a few months for fifteen months. So did 3/4 of the other husbands on the street. The wives that were left there not only survived but we bonded. Again, lifelong friendships were made.

Then we moved to Kentucky.

I have made a lifelong friendship. (Will hopes they will someday be his in-laws!) Seriously he told me that he will marry E, he just has to grow up and learn a job so he can earn the bacon to take care of E. It's so adorable how much he loves this little girl.

The other people in this community don't seem as welcoming and friendly to anyone that doesn't have three or more generations living here. It has been hard. Just now after almost two years here, do people seem to be opening up. As a military wife, I don't have two years to break the ice and just now start making friendships.

Even as hard as it has been, I have made a lifelong friendship. It is the little grain of hope that I take to our next duty station. I can make friends, I will make friends.

In honor of my cheesy reflection: I leave with some lyrics to Nickelback's "If Today was Your Last Day"

My best friend gave me the best advice

He said each day's a gift and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled

The first step you take is the longest stride

it's fall, y'all

five things i love about fall

*pumpkin spice creamer*

*a warm bowl of hearty soup: we had chicken tortilla soup tonight (i even cheated, it was from Sam's)*

*a fire in the firepit*

*the color of all the leaves*

*roasted pumpkin seeds*

view of my shoes last fall

Photohunt: artificial

that is one big honkin long neck, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Artificial dinosaur at Dinoworld .....who knew there were dinosaur's in Kentucky??

hosted by the wonderful TNChick....Next week the theme is ripples

Friday fill in: weekend update style

Graphic courtesy of Tonya! And...here we go!

6. At Dinosaur World the sun was shining. It was so hot, I felt like I was melting!

1. She had a great sense of style. Despite the fact that I laid out her outfit with matching shoes, Livi choose to wear these pink MaryJanes. But she did mention that they were NOT the proper shade of pink. This was a battle I chose not to fight.

3. I know this: Will has the bluest eyes.....even today, someone commented on them when he was getting his hair cut.

2. Husband is by my side, always. Thankfully, even after this weekend started out with him getting in a head-on collision, he will continue to be by my side. He is fine, though a bit bruised and sore. He is sad to have to say goodbye to his convertible!

4. I still hope Husband finds a car that he loves as much as this one.

5. These words apply to me: organized.


7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to pizza with the family, tomorrow my plans include dinner with Will's future in-laws and E and Sunday, I want to take the boys to get haircuts and start looking at cars for Husband!

PS, so sorry my Fill In is all wonky! I couldn't move the pics around, I could only move the text. Oh well! Happy Friday fill in on Sunday!!

Friday fill in questions courtesy of the talented Janet

Manic Monday

Imagine you're packing a picnic lunch. What would be in your basket? Are kids involved? PBJs, apples, baby carrots, juice and water. Adults: cheese and crackers, olives, some crusty sandwiches, and wine.

If your life were a weather vane, which direction would it be pointing right now? Which ever way the wind is blowing? Since school is out, it is going to be fairly laid back summer.

What's something that people do in traffic that really annoys you? Kind of funny you should ask this, I took this pic with my Iphone in traffic today. Do you see what I see on that truck? Look closer, just below the tag....yeah, those are truck balls. Now who in their right mind decides it is a grand idea to hang balls from their trucks? Not only that, but when Will asks, "Mommy, what is that?" Nice.....wait until your dad gets home, ask him!

Fleur-de-Lisa hosts the original Manic Monday here

Awesome weekend here....we did a little kite flying.

Will had his final soccer game. I had a Mother-of-the-Year moment: I had another game on my calendar for him. So I left before the end to get dinner started. I was so sad when he walked in the house beaming with his new trophy! Oh smell, it happens.

This morning, I dropped him off at his first camp. He is going to a half day soccer camp. He looked so little out there with all the big kids. He didn't say much to me about it except a minor problem in the bathroom: he couldn't get the faucet on to wash his hands! But when he was telling Husband about it, he went on and on about it. Husband said he hasn't heard him talk that much about anything!

First week of summer vacation has started!

tuesday with tommie

WHAT I’M READING: Reading the latest Real Simple magazine.

WHAT I’M WATCHING: whatever is on the DVR....I am almost scared to admit this: Rock of Love with Bret Michaels. Just the sheer pure joy of listening to Bret say "smokin' hot" about those girls is entertaining!

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO: The wind howling and the rain coming down...

WHAT I’M WEARING: Jammies...one kid is asleep and one is going to be soon.

WHAT I’M EATING: We had this DELICIOUS butternut squash soup with grilled cheese tonight. It was the perfect rainy day weather meal. You roast the butternut squash with ginger and onions....very good!

WHAT I’M ENJOYING: This weekend it was almost 70 degrees. We took Husband's convertible out and put the top down. It was a fun little drive....but sad because so many trees were down, snapped in half from the ice storm.

WHAT I’M SNIFFING: One of those plug in wall flower thingys from Bath and Body Works. I had it in the linen closet and it must have tipped over....when you open the door, it smells like some one's grandma who used way too much perfume! You know the one, she spritzes it like five times and then wants to hug you. Then YOU stink all day like grandma perfume.

PS, I am kind of liking the tuesdays with tommie thing....though I seriously doubt I can even begin to take a picture of myself every week. Last week I just happen to get a haircut and used the camera on my laptop. I DO NOT like to be in front of the camera. I am much more comfortable with a mongo camera and lens in front of me!

Ice Ice Baby

Arctic fox mittens that Livi is wearing were mine from when we lived in Alaska. They are very warm!!

Brrrrr......

Cell service was spotty...big tease. I would think I had service, then NOTHING!

Decided to watch Narnia since I couldn't watch my trash DVR'd shows.

Electricity kind of flickered, but never went out for more than an hour

Facebook could be accessed in brief pockets of service on my phone.

Games....played my share or Dora Dominoes this week.

Had homemade ice cream

I think this is the longest I have gone without blogging since I was at my mom's (aka the land of no internet).

Just so thankful we had food and shelter.

Kind of ice storm related: The faucet kept leaking, then it leaked under the sink. Not sure if it was related to the storm. But Husband installed this gorgeous new faucet.

Livi loved sledding down the big hill in our neighborhood

Made good food despite the icky weather

No cable or internet for the week

Only ice left as of this afternoon is a bit in the shadows in the yard...freaky!

Pizza night, we still had it on Friday.

Quite a sight, all the broken trees. We lost one tree. Others were touching the ground so heavy with ice.

Raced down the hills in the sleds

Sounds of ice-laden branches cracking off the trees sound like cannons going off.

Thankful we had water and power throughout the week

Until Sat, I had not left the house since Mon afternoon....

Washed a bunch of jammies this week....snow days = jammie days in our house

Xpect to be stir crazy after that many days in the house

Yes, I was so ready to leave

Zipfy sleds are the best! I even rode down the hill once or twice.

Every day should be a snow day

It was indeed a snow day. After sleeting late last night and snowing through the rest of the night, school was cancelled. Both kids were up and ready to go before I even had breakfast. Finally after a warm cup of peppermint mocha cream laced coffee, I was ready to face the cold.



Kids clothes, check. Warm jackets, check. Snow pants, check. Snow boots, check. hats and mittens, check. At this point I had visions of the kid in A Christmas Story...I just knew one of them would have to go to the bathroom. We were spared an undressing of the ten thousand layers....whew hoo!



The kids just wanted to taste the snow first.....it was light and fluffy according to Livi. After a few snowballs, some snow angels, it was time for a few sled rides. I pulled them up the very slight incline....I can't even call it a hill....just once. Then they took turns pulling each other. There is one great sledding hill in the neighborhood. But I am sure some family didn't want to be greeted by two goofy kids hollering at the top of their lungs at 9 in the morning!

Once we came in we had to warm up with some hot cocoa. I lit the fire until every one's cheeks and noses weren't numb anymore!

We had fun on our first snow day here......Will was so excited to wear his shirt...."every day should be a snow day".

Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Crazy full moon

002, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek



This full moon has thrown me into a funk. I have been all weepy about little things. Good things like seeing the kids asleep in their OWN beds. Crazy things like 'am I EVER going to finish getting this house together?"...Sappy things like 'Will I ever make new friends here?' Everyone seems like they already have all the friends they need. See...I am getting weepy just typing this.

So the other night, the kitchen was cleaned....the kids were in bed.....all was well in the Tuesday Update household. I stepped out onto the deck. There it was: the full moon....shining down on me in all its glory. I ran inside and grabbed my camera and tripod. I keep the camera out because you never know when that Kodak moment will come. Seeing that great big full moon put things in perspective.

I know eventually I will have this house turned into a home, clean and organized as always. The kids will eventually sleep in their own beds, even if they are teenagers by the time it finally happens! Finally, as one wise military wife told me (the one who introduced me to Husband), "You never know who will be your new best friend." I can honestly say that at every single post we have ever lived I have made at LEAST one lifelong friend. Sometimes I have made more than one. So, yes, I will make friends here as well..

I just need to let these full moon phases pass and soon it will all fall into place. Into its properly labeled place!

Day 3- yeah me

Day 3- yeah me, originally uploaded by tommiea1.

We got the dining room neutral color finished. I only do the Cornelian Red on one wall. That red also runs around the door in the entry way.

It was hard to get a shot of the Fragrant Clove in the bathroom. It is more like the darker part on the left edge. We still need to paint this color in the downstairs bathroom.

Will's room is now done. It was post-it note yellow. Now it blends more with his new planet bedding.

The picture of Livi's room does not do it justice. It seriously glows in the dark. It is a much brighter green. We do usually paint her room a color called Pesto that matches the bedding. We just ran out of time, so we will get to it next weekend.

Finally, our stuff will be here today. Two months and four days ago the truck pulled out of our TX driveway. It seems like it has been forever since we last saw our stuff!

because of him

Because if him I can only hope more people are living the life they have dreamed of instead of concentrating on the doom and gloom!

I could comment on the little painting we have done.....but I can only hope I live well and live fully.

Happy Saturday