Everyone always says I should write a book about my adventures as a military wife and mother, so perhaps this National Novel Writing Month will be the time to make the attempt. Although, we are moving this week, so perhaps it isn't the best time, but when is it ever, really? Its hard to remember enough to say where to start, so perhaps it won't be from the beginning, because after all, where does life begin other than a random spot in time?
Before I begin waxing philosophical, I'll let that thought go. I haven't updated this blog in 3 years, and some of the things I said before are no longer relevant or true, but now, with four kids and at a place where we are starting to think we can establish a bit of routine life, now is a good time to look back at how and where we ended up where we are, geographically, emotionally and whatever else may be relevant. So, this evening when the monkeys sleep, this endeavor begins. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Thursday, September 17, 2009
A Last First
Does anyone else get sad when they think of all of the last firsts? Yesterday was C's first birthday and I am sad that it has come and gone. Oh, I am glad that he is growing up and it has been interesting seeing the little person he is becoming, but it is also bittersweet that my last baby has passed this milestone.
We celebrated at home with just the five of us, but I am thankful that the five of us were able to be here, and it looks like we'll be able to share the next year's worth of birthdays together, which is also exciting. Given our batting average with birthdays as a family, this is another huge milestone.
But C is now walking and has had his first birthday and first dental appointment; he is not that interested in talking yet and hasn't really gotten the hang of solid foods, but all-in-all, he's growing up fast and all of these little milestones are hard for me, since he is our baby, and likely our last. But he is an amazing little man, so I plan on enjoying every bit of the way.
We celebrated at home with just the five of us, but I am thankful that the five of us were able to be here, and it looks like we'll be able to share the next year's worth of birthdays together, which is also exciting. Given our batting average with birthdays as a family, this is another huge milestone.
But C is now walking and has had his first birthday and first dental appointment; he is not that interested in talking yet and hasn't really gotten the hang of solid foods, but all-in-all, he's growing up fast and all of these little milestones are hard for me, since he is our baby, and likely our last. But he is an amazing little man, so I plan on enjoying every bit of the way.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
A lucky woman
I really am a lucky woman. I have three kids who adore me and a husband who really thinks of me and of my feelings. We didn't do a whole lot today due to the creepy crud we've been fighting here, and now the princess is feeling rough too.
This afternoon the three kids went down for a nap at the same time (ahhhhh - angels singing) and I was able to relax a little bit (after doing the dishes, finishing a few loads of laundry, etc). While I planned out a trip to the grocery store after naps were over, my hubby calls and offers to pick up enough to get us through the next day or so, saving us all a trip out today. Such a small thing, but it reminds me how much he thinks of us and does his part to help out. It was a great gift and I am a lucky woman.
This afternoon the three kids went down for a nap at the same time (ahhhhh - angels singing) and I was able to relax a little bit (after doing the dishes, finishing a few loads of laundry, etc). While I planned out a trip to the grocery store after naps were over, my hubby calls and offers to pick up enough to get us through the next day or so, saving us all a trip out today. Such a small thing, but it reminds me how much he thinks of us and does his part to help out. It was a great gift and I am a lucky woman.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Turning NO into YES
This morning my little princess asked me to make Heart pancakes, and pulled out a heart shaped cake pan. I said, no, we don't use that pan for pancakes, and I don't really feel like making shaped pancakes with the cookie cutters today. The boys and I have the seasonal crud and frankly I haven't slept well in weeks and all I could do was think about how icky I felt. Yup - all about me.
Meanwhile, my little morning glory has happily moved on to helping me get the pancake ingredients (uh, not so hard - cheating and using mix today due to above mentioned cruddy feeling). As we mixed the pancakes and I got the frying pan into place, and scooped up some batter to make the first cake, I looked at the beautiful face of my little princess and thought about how easy it would be to make the pancake a "perfect" heart and brighten her morning instead of a round pancake.
And so I poured the batter into the rough shape of a heart and her eyes lit up and she was so excited about the "heart pancakes" that I made just for her. She was happy and a simple slip of the hand showed her yet again that I love her and want her to be happy. And yet, the whole thing started with a disappointed girl because my first instinct was a no. I need to again think about making no's into yes's more often. Such a simple change brightened both of our mornings.
Meanwhile, my little morning glory has happily moved on to helping me get the pancake ingredients (uh, not so hard - cheating and using mix today due to above mentioned cruddy feeling). As we mixed the pancakes and I got the frying pan into place, and scooped up some batter to make the first cake, I looked at the beautiful face of my little princess and thought about how easy it would be to make the pancake a "perfect" heart and brighten her morning instead of a round pancake.
And so I poured the batter into the rough shape of a heart and her eyes lit up and she was so excited about the "heart pancakes" that I made just for her. She was happy and a simple slip of the hand showed her yet again that I love her and want her to be happy. And yet, the whole thing started with a disappointed girl because my first instinct was a no. I need to again think about making no's into yes's more often. Such a simple change brightened both of our mornings.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Brunch and play dates, Tball and School
Well, since the oldest monkey has begun enjoying Tball, we are actually getting into a bit of a rhythm in terms of our daily schedule. I am hoping this will solidify a bit so that we can begin our official homeschooling journey in the near future. I generally find routine to be a bit stifling, but I am starting to see where it may be necessary with three little monkeys if I intend to get any official homeschooling done.
I am also hoping that we get a weekly or bi-weekly play group set up where the kids can play and the moms can have brunch. I had a small brunch at the house today and it was just fun to get back into the old recipe search and finding something we would all enjoy. I made Banana muffins and apple cinnamon waffles and a homemade watermelon punch. It was tasty - particularly the muffins and it was nice to get baking again.
Currclick.com has had free homeschooling ebooks each day this week, and although I missed last week, I have still gathered about 12 thus far. There have also been a few others that random people have told me about and it has been nice to begin gathering materials. Once we get a little spare change, there are a few books I want to buy to really get going with reading and math. At this point, Monkeys 1 and 2 will likely learn together as she is easily as advanced as he is at this point. And so, our journey will soon begin, and keeping Monkey 3 occupied will certainly be an interesting task while the others try to begin school. I'll need to start lurking on more sites dealing with homeschooling toddlers. Surely we aren't the only ones crazy enough to try and home school with more than one youngster about?
I am also hoping that we get a weekly or bi-weekly play group set up where the kids can play and the moms can have brunch. I had a small brunch at the house today and it was just fun to get back into the old recipe search and finding something we would all enjoy. I made Banana muffins and apple cinnamon waffles and a homemade watermelon punch. It was tasty - particularly the muffins and it was nice to get baking again.
Currclick.com has had free homeschooling ebooks each day this week, and although I missed last week, I have still gathered about 12 thus far. There have also been a few others that random people have told me about and it has been nice to begin gathering materials. Once we get a little spare change, there are a few books I want to buy to really get going with reading and math. At this point, Monkeys 1 and 2 will likely learn together as she is easily as advanced as he is at this point. And so, our journey will soon begin, and keeping Monkey 3 occupied will certainly be an interesting task while the others try to begin school. I'll need to start lurking on more sites dealing with homeschooling toddlers. Surely we aren't the only ones crazy enough to try and home school with more than one youngster about?
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Back from the dead
I was out with the plague and a family of plague victims and got out of the swing of chronicling here. But I think we are on an upswing and everyone is feeling better and if only the bugs would go away we'd be in the back yard every day, all day, playing in the pool. Next best thing is the lovely SplashPad that the city recently put up. The kids LOVE that place, and now that we are all back up and running, we're on our way back soon. They get outside (a.k.a. nap and sleep better), and enjoy playing and seeing other kids.
Speaking of naps, those have been an issue lately. The oldest monkey, nearing four, feels he is too old for naps, and perhaps he is right, but he has been a bit of a bear lately, and I have been 'forcing' the issue and 'making' him sleep. Fortunately for me, this has meant taking a few minutes to lie down with him and today we all passed out together. (Yeeee HAW!)
Perhaps that is why I am up in the middle of the night here, rather than snug in my bed.
Speaking of naps, those have been an issue lately. The oldest monkey, nearing four, feels he is too old for naps, and perhaps he is right, but he has been a bit of a bear lately, and I have been 'forcing' the issue and 'making' him sleep. Fortunately for me, this has meant taking a few minutes to lie down with him and today we all passed out together. (Yeeee HAW!)
Perhaps that is why I am up in the middle of the night here, rather than snug in my bed.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Parents and grandparents
Doctor Phil talks about how important the presence of grandparents in a child's life is to development. Now, I don't watch a whole lot of Dr. Phil, but what if grandparent(s) are dead? I've never really asked him. But, I have been thinking a lot lately about my life and my dad and how much I wish he could have met my kids and seen my husband and me as parents (or even seen us get married, but that is another train of thought entirely).
I don't know why, but more than ever lately I miss my dad. He died January 12, 2003 - two days before his 56th birthday. I think that is a terribly young age to die and I am always sad when I realize how much longer life should have been for him and many others who died too young. I realize that he made his choices about smoking and failing to deal with his diabetes and that these things drastically shortened his life, but made him content while he was alive, so perhaps it is not my place to judge whether it was too short or long enough to enjoy. I do know that it was a terrible loss on his part to never have known my children, as I think they are wonderful and amazing.
I also think he chose to miss out on the best part of me - because I now know that I am a better person because I have had my children and I am the best person I can be because I know they are watching and will learn from me. I am imperfect and human but a good person and a good mother, and my father will never know that side of who I am. He has five grandchildren and only one of them ever met him, and will never remember him. My grandfather on my dad's side passed away when I was 5 or 6 and I barely remember him, so I know a 7 month old (my nephew) will never remember.
All of this brings up so much I have to think through - a lot about faith and what happens when you die if you are not a person of faith. I know that today we are supposed to be tolerant of those with different beliefs, and even those who believe in nothing, but I struggle with what to believe - will we meet again? I'll not know until I am gone either, but for some reason I wish that even though he wasn't a man of faith, I wish he was able to watch, able to see what we are and who we are and what his family is becoming. And I wish he were proud, wherever he was.
I don't know why, but more than ever lately I miss my dad. He died January 12, 2003 - two days before his 56th birthday. I think that is a terribly young age to die and I am always sad when I realize how much longer life should have been for him and many others who died too young. I realize that he made his choices about smoking and failing to deal with his diabetes and that these things drastically shortened his life, but made him content while he was alive, so perhaps it is not my place to judge whether it was too short or long enough to enjoy. I do know that it was a terrible loss on his part to never have known my children, as I think they are wonderful and amazing.
I also think he chose to miss out on the best part of me - because I now know that I am a better person because I have had my children and I am the best person I can be because I know they are watching and will learn from me. I am imperfect and human but a good person and a good mother, and my father will never know that side of who I am. He has five grandchildren and only one of them ever met him, and will never remember him. My grandfather on my dad's side passed away when I was 5 or 6 and I barely remember him, so I know a 7 month old (my nephew) will never remember.
All of this brings up so much I have to think through - a lot about faith and what happens when you die if you are not a person of faith. I know that today we are supposed to be tolerant of those with different beliefs, and even those who believe in nothing, but I struggle with what to believe - will we meet again? I'll not know until I am gone either, but for some reason I wish that even though he wasn't a man of faith, I wish he was able to watch, able to see what we are and who we are and what his family is becoming. And I wish he were proud, wherever he was.
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