Saturday, February 28, 2009

1 Week down...51 to go!!!

Well I am not going to say that this week has been easy (cause it hasn't ) but I have had far worse!! I think many things have helped me through! The support of some of my fellow Blogger friends, some actual true blue friends and mainly the love and need of strength for my children. I have pulled it together like no other (IMO) I have not cried since leaving the airport last Sunday and I acknowledge that those will not be the last of my tears! In all honesty I will actually welcome them when they come because the feeling of being numb is not one I prefer!

Ernie is on the second leg of his journey and at this point he is still excited about what is to come! Though he is not thrilled with the fact that he feels like he is in boot camp again! His new accommodations in Mississippi are not what he expected...Open Bay Barracks! For those who know, know that almost all of the time in all branches open bay barracks are only used (most of the time) in boot camp! It is one thing having to share a barracks room with some one but a completely different thing all together having no privacy whatsoever! Can you imagine having to go to the bathroom and anyone walking in and doing there business at the same time?! IMO it is like having to go at a department store!! I give my husband and his new friends props because I don't think (actually I know hence why I am a civilian!!!) I could survive what they are about to do!! So I just want them to know that I am thankful and I respect what they are doing!! They are all Hero's and will always be in my eyes and the eyes of my children!!!

I am super excited because some of my favorite people are soon moving out here to beautiful (but currently on the chilly side) Hawaii!! The last command that we were with is doing a change of home port and I can't wait I am actually counting the days till I can see them again! To all my girls be prepared for a card night and a few play dates with the kids when you get here cause I have missed you all bunches!!! Nothing could be better than having the girls I loved in Virgina in one of my favorite places in the world with me!!

One of my small indulgences is going to the salon and getting pedicures! There is nothing more blissful to me than sitting in that chair and relaxing while someone else cleans, softens and decorates my feet! I went today (a small gift to myself for our anniversary!) and left there as I always do feeling slightly prettier! I am one of those girls who likes to keep my hands pretty basic (typically a french manicure or clear coat), but on my toes I like to go a little crazy! Wild vivid colors! and most of the time some sort of design! Well this time I went for a watermelon pink and cute little bright green shamrocks! I LOVE Saint Patrick's day and try to always wear something green!! I am a small part Irish and embrace that part of my heritage full on!

Nothing really exciting has been going on here in "Paradise" lately (with the exception of the weekend before Ernie's departure) though Cami has said some pretty cute things!! Tonight we ran some neighbors to the airport and hit the sub base mini mart on the way back to the house. Most know when visiting or frequenting any base there are "artifacts" (for lack of a better word) all over the base most days the small (actually quite large) torpedo's catch her eyes and we try to explain what these are in a way a small child will understand most times with little success. Well there is a very large black and white missile (at least that is what I think it is) on the way off base that caught her eye this evening! and our conversation goes as follows...
Cami~ what's that mommy?
Me~ That is a missile
Cami~ A whistle?!!! (wheels turning as she is trying to figure out how to make it make noise LOL)
Me~ No a mm-missile (sounding it out so she can work on pronunciation)
Cami~ What's a mm-missile?
Me~ something the sailors and soldiers used a long time ago to make sure the bad guys didn't hurt anyone!
Cami~ how?
Me~ (contemplating how to explain this) Well the bad guys were hurting people, like the ones daddy is going to go help, so they would send them to the moon with the missiles! (hoping this doesn't open another can of worms with her!)
Cami~ Ohh...(wheels turning again) So daddy is gonna send the bad guys to the moon with a whistle!!?!!
Me~ yes baby daddy is going to send them to the moon with a whistle (giving up at this point)
Cami~ WOW!! that's cool mommy!!~~
Why are children's questions so complicated even when it seems like the most simple of answers to an adult?! Even though we live in a military community I am trying to somewhat shelter my children from the harsh truth that lies within! I don't want them to know what a war is at 3 or that there daddy is fighting it! Maybe I should just tell the truth about it but I don't want her worrying about it! The explanation of why he was leaving when he was on ship was so much easier because she knew daddy works on a boat and the boat has to go out in the ocean! When daddy is out in the ocean he is doing his job to help the people! Other than continuing that with out the boat hoe do you explain to a 3yr old why her daddy had/has to leave her? To me that is the hardest part of the whole situation! **SIGH** Suggestions are welcome! If you have been through this and have had to explain something like this to a young child how did you do it? Cause I am at a loss!
and on that note I am off to bed!

An updated look

Well Spring is in the air and even though I feel like I am freezing (laugh if you will my mother does cause she is in Alaska!!) my tush off, I know there are others out there who really are in need of a touch of spring! So I paid another visit to Cutest Blog on the Block (the ladies there are so creative and have some cute DIY tutorials on how to fashion there creativity into your own!) I am so not disappointed! One day I will have someone (probably Miss Becca) make me my own layout but for now till I can muster the creative energy to figure out what I want, these will ave to do! I would love to learn how to completely make my own but I would need someone standing beside me taking me step by step through how to do everything! Let me know what every one thinks of the new look!!! I am off to bed!!

Friday, February 27, 2009

A funny email

I have received this a couple of times over but never really paid it any attention til Ernie printed it out and brought it home one day!

28 Ways to Simulate Being in the Navy While at Home

1. Lock all friends and family outside. Your only means of communication should be with letters that your neighbors have held for atleast 3 weeks and have discarded 2 of the 5.
2. Surround yourself with 200 people that you don't really know or like: people who smoke, snore like Mac trucks going uphill, ad use foul language like a child uses sugar on cereal.
3.Unplug all radio's and TV's to completely cut yourself off from the outside world. Have a neighbor bring you a Time, Newsweek, or Proceedings from 5 years ago to keep you abreast on current events.
4.Monitor all home appliances hourly recording all vital information (IE: plugged in, lights come on when doors open, etc...)
5. Do not flush the toilet for 5days to simulate the smell of 40 people using one toilet.
6. Lock the bathroom twice a day for a four hour period.
7. Wear only military uniforms. Even though nobody cares, clean and press one dress uniform and wear it for 20 minutes.
8. Cut your hair weekly, making it shorter each time, until you look either bald or like you lost a fight with a demented sheep.
9. Work in 19 hour cycles, sleeping only 4 hours at a time, to ensure that the body does not know or even care if it is night or day.
10. Listen to your favorite CD 6 times a day for 2 weeks then play music that causes acute nausea until you are glad to listen to your favorite CD again
11. Cut a twin mattress in half and enclose 3sides of your bed. Add a roof that prevents you from sitting up (about 10 inches is a good distance) then place it on a platform that is 4feet off of the floor. Place a small dead animal uder the bed to simulate the smell of your bunkmates socks.
12. Set your alarm to go off at 10 minte intervals for the first hour of sleep to simulate the various times the watch standers and nightcrew bump around and wake you up. Place your bed on a rocking table to ensure you are tossed around the remaining 3 hours. Make use of a custom clock that randomly simulates fire alarms, police sirens, helicopter crash and a new wave rock band.
13. Have week old fruit and vegetables delivered to your garage and wait 2 weeks before eating them.
14. Prepare all meals blindfolded using all of the spices you can grope for, or none at all. Remove the blind fold and eat everything in 3 minutes.
15. Periodically, shut off all power at the main breaker and run around shouting "Fire, Fire, Fire" and then restore power.
16. At least once a month, force the commode to overflow to simulate a "black water system" boo-boo.
17. Buy a gas mask and smear it with rancid animal fat. scrub the face shield with steel wool until you can no longer see out of it. Wear this for 2hours every fifth day especially when you are in the bathroom.
18. Study the owner's manual for all household appliances. Routinely take appliances apart and put it back together.
19. Remove all plants, pictures, and decorations. Paint everything gray, white,or the shade of hospital smocks.
20. Buy 50 cases of toilet paper and lock up all but 2 rolls. ensure that 1 of these 2 is wet at all times.
21. Smash your forehead or shins with a hammer every 2 days to simulate collision injuries sustained on board Navy ships.
22. When making sandwiches, leave the bread out for 6 days, or until it is hard and stale.
23. Every 10 weeks simulate a visit to another port. Go directly to the slums of the city wearing your best clothes. Find the worst looking place and ask for the most expensive beer, drink as many as you can in 4 hours. Take a cab home, taking the longest route possible. Tip the cabby after he charges you double because you dress funny and don't speak right.
24. Use fresh milk for only 2 days after you leave port.
25. Keep the bedroom thermostat at 2 deg C and use only a thin blanket for warmth.
26.Ensure that the water heater is connected to a device that provides water at a flow rate that varies from a fast drip to a weak trickle, with temperature alternating from -2 to 95 deg C.
27. Use only spoons that hold a minimum of 1/2cup at a time.
28. Repaint the interior of your home every month whether it needs it or not.



Monday, February 23, 2009

Well he is gone...

And I am sad (of course who else saw that coming)! I miss him horribly and I know things will get easier as I fall in to routine but right now I am avoiding bed because I don't wanna go with out him (eventually I will have to but right this minute isn't the time LOL). He arrived at his destination and I was able to talk to him on the phone and via web cam, which is more than most get and I am blessed but it was heartbreaking! He is not holding very well! He is very sad and upset because of leaving us! I don't think he expected it to hit him this badly and I understand that but it hurts to know that he is second guessing the decision that "we" made! His motives for this are right! This is a move that will potentially help to forward his career and better himself! He is doing right by his country and most of all his family! In my eyes and more importantly his girls eyes he is and always will be a hero! He is doing this to help protect our country from those who want to dictate what we do and what we stand for as Americans!!! I have told him this and I think he is doing better I just wish I could send him some sort of motivational thing to make him see that what he is doing is ok!! **SIGH**
To see him hurt makes me hurt even more!

This deployment is greatly unknown territory for us! For those that know he is on a Submarine (typically, technically we are on what the Navy calls shore duty right now) A deployment on a sub is no easy feat I am sure! Imagine being on a boat under the water with the same 150people for 6mnths with minimal contact with the real world! I got a really funny email a while back I will have to see if I can find it and share LOL! We were lucky to have email and I know some wives who are seasoned enough to know what a submarine deployment was like with out email! (And a lot of the times the lesser seasoned of us can tell you what it is like also!) I know a deployment is a deployment know matter what branch of the military you are in, but as much as they are the same they are all so different (even one to another). I guess what I am trying to say is that I just don't know what to expect anymore this is ground we have never covered! At least with a regular (submarine) deployment I know what to expect! Unknown territory for me (and I am pretty much sure anyone else out there) is extremely scary and I don't care for the unexpected!

He and I as a couple a this point are fine and holding steady (no unexpected real fights have emerged before he left). Individually we are holding, not great but not horrible, as best as xan be expected at less than 24hours really! The one I was most worried about wsa Cami! And She is a TROOPER let me tell you as I walked through the airport shoulders shaking people staring sobbing my little momma was trying to tell me it would be ok from the front of the stretch limo (aka double stroller) as we walked past complete strangers she would tell them it is ok my mommy is just sad right now! I felt so proud and even more depressed at the same time! It is, in my opinion, my job to keep her strong! Not the other way around how did my precious baby girl become so incredable right before my eyes and me never even see it coming! **SIGH**

OK so my eyes are starting to fail me and as much as I am not ready to go to bed alone I am headed there!! Another **SIGH** and I will sign off for the evening (morning actually!) Stay tuned for a post later on about my Super awesome Valentines Swap package and how my baby girl's 3rd birthday goes!

Friday, February 20, 2009

I got my Valentine's Swap Box!!!

And It is fabulous! Ashley over at Chris Bliss did a great Job and I loved it! This girl is CRAFTY!! She sent me a small version of her DIY Project and it is SUPER cute I really needed something to dress up my desk a bit! She also sent super super cute bows for the girls! And one of my favorite movies is hers as well!! So here are the pictures of my package and all of it's goodies!!! Thank you Ashley and Andrea for a great swap!! It was so much fun I can't wait to do it again!!!What I saw when I opened the box!
I Officially LOVE big Sunglasses!!!
I have never found any of the Jackie O style that I thought looked good on me and Ashley found the best pair ever! (Thank you!)


While I am at it I need to say Thank you to USS Retired over at Spilt Milk 'n Mood Swings for giving me my first Bloggy Award"These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find friends and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships will be propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly- written text into the body of their award."

1. Andrea at My Chihuahua Bites~ Not only is she a fellow Subbie wife but she is down to earth and a sincere person. Her blog has everything from food and crafty ideas to fashion insight and makeup tips for those of us who are make up illiterate! Add in some down home and adorable fur babies and I just can't get enough!! Andrea you and your awesome blog ROCK!!

2. Hope from the Edge~ A fellow Sub wife and mom who has been there and done that just trying to document the lives of her family so that one day they can print it out to publish her memoirs! A true southern lady who's blog tugs at my heart strings and makes me wish for my roots on a regular basis! Thank you Miss Hope you Rock!

3. Miss Ashley over at Chris Bliss~ I have just recently started reading this blog when I was "introduced" to Miss Ashley via a bloggy Valentines Swap Hosted by Andrea! We both had a fabulous time putting together things for the other! She is recently married and full of life!! Miss Ashlee is so crafty and a little random at times (in such a good way) I never know what to expect to pop up on her blog but I love the suspense of it!

4. 'K' for Life With the Rowlands~ A fabulous friend in the Bloggy world as well as in real life she helped me through many tough tiimes!!

5. Becca over at Lovely yellow Ribbons~ Her whimsical submarine and military art are beautiful! She is such a wonderful mother and person!

6. Katie of Pass the Chopsticks~ An adorable sub family and there pursuit of random flavored Kit Kats in Japan! I love finding out what new flavors and the cool things they see and do there!

7. Shelia at A Simple Life~ A very Crafty blogger with one of the cutest little girls! Her beautiful bows and craftiness amaze me she has more talent with sewing in her little finger than I will ever have and that amazes me I love to see what kind of adorable outfits she makes for her daughter! I think her Halloween costume was my favorite!!

8. My SIL Alicia or the Lewis Family blog~ I absolutely adore seeing the pictures of our niece Savannah!!!

So I have some pictures of Ernie with the girls before he left! A very sad day it was but we have almost made it through our first week (the first week seems to be the hardest on all! Thankfully before he left I bought myself a web cam and we have discovered the wonderful world of SKYPE! We video call atleast once a day and it really helps Cami to see her Daddy! We understand that there is going to be some times that he isn't going to be able to but thankfully for this first week he has been able too!



We miss him terribly but he is there with good intentions!
BRAVO ZULU Honey!!!



Monday, February 16, 2009

A Long weekend (plus some)

So this has been an Incredible weekend! Long but extremely fun filled weekend! Friday we enjoyed having Ernie home and tried to finish up a few last minute things for Cami's birthday party! Not much really just hung out and had a good time with friends!

Saturday was fun filled!! We got up early and packed the cars along with 4 of our neighbors and headed out to Wailua, HI to watch a few of the guys jump out of an airplane!! It was fun to watch but I still would not do it! They kept trying to talk Ernie in to it and but sometimes I have a smart cookie for a husband and he wouldn't cave! The thing is that if he had done it and somehow gotten hurt he could have gotten in some pretty big trouble that would have cost him his career! I don't think my heart could handle my husband jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Heck it palpitated watching everyone else's husbands do it LOL!! But I got some fabulous pictures with my new camera! It is a Sony Cybershot and I am totally thrilled with it and got it for an awesome deal!! Original price 170...Sale Price 107....I love to get things that I need for such an awesome price!! Well after the skydiving excitement we went to the beach (where else would you go to BBQ with friends in Hawaii?) Good food with lots of friends in my opinion is a great way to spend a holiday that is about love!
The Plane taking off With the boys in it!
The Boys...
Robert, Brandon, and Mike
Brandon
Robert
Mike Sometimes I forget how fabulous this place is!! Not man places in the world your children can swim and play in the ocean in the middle of February!! The children having a blast



Sunday we had Cami's 3rd birthday party and she loved it! We did a small craft project and had a pinata but for the most part the all enjoyed just running around with friends and it was great to just be a little lazy and watch the kids play! I was so proud of the polite little girl she has/ is beome(ing) as she nicely opened all of her gifts and made sure to tell the guests that she was thankful for the things she received! The children played so hard and had so much fun it was everything I could have asked for plus some! We wrapped up the party at around 5ish and transfered things to the house it was really cool that we all as neighbors gathered (some drank a little) and continued just having a good time because no one wanted the weekend to end! Thankfully no one had to work on Monday so things carried on into the early hours of the morning! (I think things finally wrapped up around 12 or 1 in the morning!!!
The Tinkerbell Theme was terrific and her favorite thing by far! And her "Cake" consisted of about 48 individual cupcakes! Makes for simple serving! And it added a very cute scallop to the edges!
A nice game of touch football that ensued!
That is so my child barefoot and enoying her new life as a 3yr old!!! Such the ham for the camera! With mom as a papparazzi children shall never be camera shy LOL!!I do believe this is my favorite picture of her! In my honest (slightly biased) opinion this picture captures the mischievous, tomboyish, angel that I love oh so much! The one thing I don't see anymore though is that sweet innocence of a baby face! Oh how I am forever going to miss that when I look at her! Time flies when you are having fun!

I think the thing that I cherish most about the time we live in housing and have in the Navy is that the people we met and become close with become a family of a different kind we share heartaches and joy and the security of always knowing that when we need something (anything from a cup of milk to a friend to watch your child) they are and will be there until the military (no matter what branch) dictates where they need to go next! Unfortunately the majority of the neighbors who surround me are leaving (almost all of them within the next 6 months) it it is a really sad thing for me knowing that next year only 2 of the 6 families that we enjoyed the long weekend with will still be here! All I ask for is that the families who come in to "replace" them are as friendly and loving as the ones who preceded them!


Well I will have another post hopefully tomorrow if not at some point on Sunday after Ernie leaves:( Though expect non coherence as I go through the motions for a little bit!) I may actually just not post much of anything! The cruel cycle has begun and now I am going into that ridiculous cry at the drop of a hat phase! Those that no me and love me if you haven't heard from me or seen me in 2 weeks drag me out please!!!!!!!

Friday, February 13, 2009

A few pictures and a short blog!

So I realize that my pictures have been few and far between because of the lack of a real camera lately so I have been trying to be better about taking pics with my phone since (as far as camera phones go) it has a decent capability to it! So here are a few if you are interested in seeing more pics of the girls give me your email address and I will grant you access to there blogs! I had to set them to a private setting because some weird gut started following Cami's and I wasn't comfy with that!Addisyn and I in the Car getting ready to pick up my neighbors kids from school! Isn't my sling so cute?! And she absolutely loves it!!! Sleep is a given when she is snuggled in this!!! For those who need to know it is a Peanut Shell!!


Our Visit to the Honolulu Zoo a couple of weeks ago!! Proved to be a great time! We all had a great time checking out all of the animals and I got some awesome pictures of Cami and Ernie interacting together! Also while we were there we got to see the Sumatran Tiger Cubs were playing! It was incredible and they were super adorable! They were born on September 15, 2008 to Chrissie and Berani They were allowed out in the main habitat around mid December! Honestly I think I could have sat there all day and watched them play!! But Cami was hell bent on seeing the giraffes and (Z) eebras! Crazy girl had a blast and slept so well!






So in a previous post I told all about our decision to do homeschooling! Well I have found a super awesome free online program that seems super easy not only for me to learn how to better teach my child but to incorporate her learning into everyday situations, which in my opinion will better prepare her for real life! How many of you readers out there thought in high school (or any time in your school age years) thought man how will I ever need to know this in real life?! I know I myself thought it many times over that course of time! OK so anyway I will throw a link out there for those who may be interested in checking out the program! Keep in mind what works for one may not necessarily work for someone else! But anyway one of the suggestions that the creator of the site gave was that a "Learning Poster was a great way to keep the weekly lessons constantly in the child/rens minds! So I created my own! And I was so proud I showed it off to everyone! (Now everyone includes you guys) and then the demon side of my child came out and she ruined it! So I will be making a new one very soon (We start our first official week March 2nd! Wish me Luck LOL)


I had mentioned the new do in a previous post so I thought I would post a litte before and after! The first pic is the before (oviously back in October when I had Addisyn LOL that is the last time I was captured in a photo because I am always behind the camera LOL I kinda Like it that way!) And the after! Just a little wind blown but you get the general idea! The bangs come to the end of my chin and the layers are allover (since I started growing out my hair I have only done long layers in the front but I am totally digging the whole all over layer thing!)

Kind of a sad story but true none the less! One of my Best friends mothers (Who I am actually very close with) Was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in October of 2008! She had surgery just under 3 weeks after the initial diagnosis and shortly after that began undergoing radiation! What makes this story so sad (at least to me) is the fact that she has been going every October in the past with her elderly mother and never had any issues! In between Oct. 2007 and October 2008 Her mother passed away! A lot of people expected her not to continue with the regularly schedule exam but she persevered through the grief! This is one of the strongest women I know and I love her as if she were my own mother! My children call her Grandma! She is, has been, and always will be a part of our lives! Well my friend and I decided that to honor her and other fighters, survivors and those who have fought there hardest and lost the battle that we would get the support ribbon tattooed upon us! A constant reminder that a cure has not been found and there are people still suffering through with out due to it! My friend actually got hers at the begingin of the radiation cycle and I just got mine Thursday evening, Which this week commiserates the final session of Radiation! And hopefully between the surgery and radiation that all is and will remain extremely well! So here is the Pic of the Tattoo, which I placed just above my right wrist. My friend got hers just beow the back of her right ear! Painful but no where near what Mom was going through!
Well internetland I am off to watch a few idiots jump out of a perfectly good airplane!!

Friday, February 6, 2009

Another random...

post about nothing really!

Actually I have a vent about the sun!! LOL I know it is the sun and it isn't going anywhere! Everyone should be smart (especially if you are a white girl like me LOL) and sknow that sunscreen is your friend! Apparently I forgot that minuet detail this morning before I took my girls to the park LOL! Cami has been blessed with her fathers skin and doesn't burn but turns a nice shade of gold and I always slather her down even if it is for a little bit of sun time and addisyn was fully clothed and was wearing an adorable floppy hat (which she didn't like cause it covered her eyes!) Normally in my daily routine I put a skin moisturizer with a slight spf on and I am fine but of course this morning was crazy hectic and I totally skipped that part of my routine! I now regret that and will remind myself of this time and will resume my daily application of said moisturizer!! My face is the color of a LOBSTER!! Luckily though I have had so many of these sunburns that I really don't feel them any more! But it is annoying that an hour at the park and I look like I have a tomato sitting on my shoulders!! UGGHHHH Annoying!


So a bit of good news maybe one day (not sure when) my dearest hubby will be posting a blog! I know internetland isn't it a fabulous thought!! Now my hubby (this is a small warning) is really random so be kind to him when he posts lots of comments and praise! I really want to encourage him to post some things! He has a brilliant mind and much of the time he doesn't use all of the random knowledge he stores!

This evening the children had a glorious time playing! For cami it was especially fabulous because her Mimi got her a fabulous birthday present that we were inclined to give early!
A New CAR!!!
It is a very cute purple corvette! And my baby finally earned her drivers license back! Long story but she was riding in one of the neighbors trucks and took off down the road in it (literally!) that was about 5months ago and we haven't let her drive since then! But tonight she did a fabulous job of staying in the areas she was allowed and was too cute! This car is amazing (what is up with the toys that they have come up with these days) it has an AM/FM radio and an alarm system!! Seriously it has a key that starts the thing and on the key is a button that activates and deactivates the alarm! If you bump it while the alarm is set it sounds off a voice warning to step away from the vehicle!! WTF Her car is better than mine! Add in the fact that it doesn't take gas I want to drive one of these around LOL!!! So Thank you Mimi it is a FABULOUS gift and one that will last a while!!If anyone knows how to make a PRETEND drivers license please feel free to let me know how or if you are willing to make one for me! I am just not good with that kind of thing and I definitley don't have the programs to make one LOL!!

Well it is time to sign off again my pillow has learned to talk and it is calling my name!! good night all!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Mid week report!

Well it is the mid week and I figured I would post a bit!

Cami's birthday is slowly approaching and I am not excited about it LOL!! My birthday means nothing it is another day with a new number for myself! But my childrens birthdays to me mean that I am getting older! I know it is a sad thing to say but that is how I gauge my life! The achievements and milestones that I have helped my children through. Cami's accomplishments thus far are not any more important or impressive than any other almost 3yr old! But to me they are amazing! She speaks very well and clear for a 3yr old. She can ride a bike (with training wheels of course) and is very good at riding a RAZOR scooter! Her balance is amazing considering she is my child! (I tend to be slightly accident prone and my balance wasn't much better as a child though luckily no broken bones presented themselves at that point.) She has learned her ABC's and is able to count items up to ten but can count (without counting objects) to 20 though 14,15, and 16 sound very similiar! I plan to start homeschooling preschool after her birthday (probably going to start the first week of March!) Our biggest accomplishments though are potty training and learning to dress herself! Though she still has difficulty with those pesky panties! LOL sometimes they are inside out and sideways but putting on panties for her is confusing (I am sure it was probably difficult for all of us at some point!) I now look at her and her features have developed and she looks more like a little girl rather than the baby face I have seen in the past! It is very sad sometimes to look at her and see the little girl rather than the baby I have been so accustomed to seeing! Very sad!

Ernie goes back to work in the morning and it is bittersweet! As most military spouses can attest it is such a crazy time when they are working that the prospect of them taking leave is a beacon in the storm sometimes! I have enjoyed having him home and the family time that has been had! But in the same breath I am glad he is going back to work because maybe I can get some much needed house work done! for some reason that is one of the things that becomes slack while he is home! It just doesn't take precedence over the relaxing together and fun time! it is also quite sad because it means that we have a very very short amount of time left with him home!! As the days seem too become shorter the emotional rollercoaster of the deployment cycle begins! I will post more on the deployment cycle later for those who are unfamiliar with it. i just have to remind myself that time is short and that my irritations are because of him getting ready to leave!

I have not cut my hair in a really long time (I think my last haircut, trim included, was last March) and it has been something that I feel I was in dire need of not only for a change in pace but also because it was becoming quite the hinderance (is that even a word LOL!) It came to the middle of my back and was always getting in the way when doing everything so I would just pull it back in a pony tail and call it a day! Now I know this is A) not good for my hair and B) it becomes quite boring! So today I went and cut my hair! I still have no camera so pictures will come later! But I kept most of my length cutting only about 4-5 inches off of the back and about 7-8 in the front! I went with a very layered style and I like it alot! it isn't exactly what I had pictured but I am satisfied! And according to my neighbors and Ernie it is gorgeous and very suiting to my features!

So not much of a report but it is what has gone on thus far! But I am off to bed internetland! leave me some comments please!!!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Random thoughts and goings on...

Well internetland, all is going well we got some much needed tax refund money and have caught up on some things as well as made a couple of semi large purchases that were much needed! Ernie got himself a snazzy new laptop (I will be getting one in a few months while he is deployed)and I am taking my desktop into the shop tomorrow cause I am so tired of it not working properly! Hopefully things will begin to look up for the old thing!! I really would rather not have to get rid of it just yet!!

Ernie and I have been discussing some of what we would like to happen for our girls in the future! We are really having to learn to compromise and work together when it comes to our girls and hopefully the mistakes that we have made (and will continue to make) won't effect our young ones! One major thing that has been on our minds is how would we like them educated! Let me say first that I have nothing against the public school system! I myself was raised in it and it did not do me any justice! Ernie on the other hand apparently thrived well in the environment! Times have changed since we were in school and unfortunately (at least from my point of view) they are not what we deem suitable for our children! There is to much going on in schools that we would prefer not to risk subjecting our children to! some of these things are starting at a ridiculously young age! One of my friends children is 11 and in elementary school some of the girls in her age group are already having sex! Cursing and fighting are additional reasons I do not want them in the public school system! Our biggest argument on why we want to home school is the simple fact of the system doesn't so much want to teach our children anymore! They are more worried about testing and scores rather than making sure our children retain the knowledge that they are learning! The spectrum of what is being taught has narrowed because of limited time, funds, and focus on competing for who has the best test scores! Private schools are just to expensive and we can not afford them (some how we are in a recession but the cost of education is still pretty high). So we have decided that we are going to Home School! We are going to start Cami now so that we can see how things will hopefully go a little bit! It is a decision that we will constantly be reevaluating and revamping! If anyone has any advice or suggestions that may help please let me know!! I am open to anything!!Oh and just to let any of those teachers out there you are not so much the system you (in my personal opinion) are being worked as much as our children are! Flame me if you feel the need! But these are my personal experiences fueling my opinion!


I have excitedly gathering things for my swap partner, Miss Ashley!!! For those that haven't read from the previous posts A fellow sub wife, Andrea, decided to host her first ever Swap and I happily jumped on the bandwagon to participate! I won't spoil the surprise of what is inside but I hope Ashley and her family enjoy the contents. And my apologies because it is going out a day late! I "made" a special thing for her and I would love to show it off (I have actually been itching to post the pictures)but I will wait patiently till She gets the package and has a chance to blog about it herself!!!

Ugh, Ernie's leave is ending and I am not ready! The end of his leave means reality is almost here! We have done the POA's and we have made the appt to go get the Will's completed! Talking about wills and stuff has taken me on the subject with my own parental units! It is depressing! I don't want to think about what happens to my parents when they pass and I really don't want to think about what I want to happen to me if I pass I know it is something that has to be done, arrangements have to be made to make sure that my girls are taken care of!! It is so difficult having to imagine who I want to take care of them and who will give them the love and stability that I try to give them! UGH reality sucks!

Ok ladies and gentleman I need to head to bed after reading some of my Google reader!! I am really starting to love that thing I wasn't to sure of it at first but it has really grown on me! good night Internetland!