Curriculum Choices 2013-2014

What a boring title. However, It will have to do since I don't have any creativity left tonight!

For the first time this year, I have three students! Gator is in 5th grade, Bull is in 2nd grade, and Monkey is in Pre-K.

I have no idea how I'm going to schedule our time this year. I'm still working on that! Fortunately, we won't start until after Labor Day, so I have a bit of time to figure that out!

I use this planner to help me get organized. It's especially helpful because it's geared toward homeschoolers. I don't have wasted pages like seating charts and whole-class attendance records. Because it's digital, I can pick and choose which pages/forms I actually need. Bonus: It matches my Erin Condren life planner (without the hefty price tag), too!


Here are our choices!

Gator (5th grade):
Bible: Abraham, Joseph, Jonah (Kay Arthur's Family Discipleship Plan)
Math/Logic: Right Start Mathematics Level E; Logic Links; Mind Benders
Grammar: Rod and Staff Level 5
Literature/Poetry: this reading list and our library
Spelling: Spelling Power
Vocabulary: Vocabulary Ladders; Caesar's English 1
Composition: Writing With Ease Level 4; Writing With Skill Level 1
Handwriting: AWANA verses
History: Story of the World Volume 4; add-a-century timeline
Science: Science Wiz Kit Physics
Art/Music Appreciation: World's Greatest Artists & World's Greatest Composers
PE: TaeKwonDo


Bull (2nd grade):

Bible: Abraham, Joseph, Jonah (Kay Arthur's Family Discipleship Plan)
Math/Logic: Right Start Mathematics Levels B & C
Grammar: First Language Lessons Level 2
Literature/Poetry: reading list (see above) and our library
Spelling: All About Spelling Level 1
Phonics: All About Reading Level 1 & 2
Composition: First Language Lessons copywork
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears My Printing Book & Printing Power
History: Story of the World Volume 4; add-a-century timeline
Science: Science Wiz Kit Physics
Art/Music Appreciation: World's Greatest Artists/Composers
PE: TaeKwonDo


Monkey (Pre-K):
Bible: Abraham, Joseph, Jonah (Kay Arthur's Family Discipleship Plan)
Handwriting: Handwriting Without Tears My First School Book
Phonics/Math: Letter of the Week Pre-K Curriculum
Literature/Poetry: reading list (see above) and our library
History: Story of the World Volume 4; add-a-century timeline
Science: Science Wiz Kit Physics
Art/Music Appreciation: World's Greatest Artists/Composers

So long....

I've come to the realization that I don't blog anymore. I really miss writing, but I have other things that need my attention more than the blog. I hope to come back to this place in the future.
For this season though, farewell!

Busy Bags

It was a moment of crisis. Gator and Bull were barely getting their schoolwork done. I was flustered. My "I'm-giving-up-my-afternoon-nap-and-you-can't-make-me-go-to-sleep-but-I'm-still-really-tired" 2.5 year old was bored. So, I scrounged up something for him to do, but realized that I was woefully unprepared for a school year with a non-napping toddler.

What does a girl do? Say it with me: Pinterest! I knew that other moms must deal with this, too. I typed "toddler busy bags" in the search bar. My sanity was restored! I pinned several ideas, made a list of supplies, and started crafting.

Then! An epiphany! I have three nieces and one nephew in the preschool/toddler age range. I immediately knew what they were getting for Christmas. I made an awesome assembly line and knocked out their gifts in a few days. The bags seem to be a hit with all the kiddos. They're easy to grab and put in your purse or diaper bag when going to appointments or errands. They are helpful during long car trips, too!

Here is the result:

The contents of the busy bags:
I Spy (poly beads, various novelty buttons and wooden letters from Hobby Lobby)
Duplo Counting/Matching (Duplos from our large stash)
Fabric Roads (denim stash, small cars)
Butterfly Symmetry (felt stash)
Block Puzzles  (3/4" wooden blocks)
Popsicle Puzzles (jumbo craft sticks, internet images)
Popsicle Color Matching (felt stash, jumbo craft sticks)
Pom-pom Transfer (pom-poms, artist palette, jumbo tweezers)
Button Snake (felt stash, notions stash)
Doodles Stickers & Stamps (note pad, pipsqueak markers, stamps, stickers)
Clothespin Color Matching (paint chips from a store, clothespins)
Marble Maze (felt stash, extra marbles)
I used these zip bags to hold each activity.

The Trinity of Being Healthy: Part One

It's simple, really. People have the most success in losing weight and getting healthy by attacking it from three angles: nutrition, lifting weights, and cardiovascular fitness. The biggest changes I made were in the area of nutrition. I'll cover the other two areas soon.

First things first: I had to learn what to eat and what not to eat. My trainer gave me a list of guidelines along with a grocery list and an example menu. (If you want more details, you'll have to hire her!) Basically though, I started "eating clean." I eat whole foods, prepared in ways that are close to their original state. I use spices for seasoning, not pre-packaged sauces. I eat lots of raw veggies with hummus. I try to shop mostly around the edge of the store (produce, meat, and dairy, some frozen veggies and fruit), and avoid the middle aisles which contain all the highly processed food that our bodies can't effectively digest.

I eat LOTS more protein throughout the day than I ever did before. Because protein is digested at a slower rate than carbohydrates, it gives you "staying power" throughout your day and doesn't make your blood sugar spike and then crash like carbohydrates will. When I replaced my daily afternoon Diet Dr. Pepper with a protein smoothie, I became a much nicer person to be around. I have been able to make it through the afternoon and witching hour without hitting an energy slump, or anyone else for that matter!

Don't get me wrong - you still need carbohydrates! I quickly learned that I had to eat the right ones. All carbs are not created equal! If I ate a slice of bread with a little bit of spray butter on it (70 calories), I was never satisfied and craved more bread like crazy. If I chose a handful of grapes and a few almonds (also 70 calories), I was fine until my next big(ger) meal. I now know my triggers for cravings, and avoid them as much as possible. It's like my body is super-sensitive to them now! I tried a little experiment a few weeks ago. I cut out bread for an entire week, staying within my calorie limit. Then, I added one serving of bread per day for two days, staying within the same calorie limit. I gained two pounds in those two days. I know my little experiment doesn't meet any kind of scientific standard. However, I also know that my body is really sensitive to bread. As a result, I eat it NO more than twice a week. Lysa TerKeurst says you crave what you eat. She explains in this video (the quality isn't that great, but the truth is!). Once I stopped eating the bad stuff, I started craving the good stuff!

I drink a gallon of water a day. I might have 2 cups of hot tea in morning/evening. Other than that, it's water for this girl. Nothing else will satisfy my thirst now.

As I've done more research and walked further on this journey, I'm learning that Hippocrates had it right. We are triune beings, made up of mind, body, and soul. Eating the right food restores and heals your body such that you are better able to deal with anything that crosses your path, whether it's psychological, physical or spiritual in nature. I still believe that modern medicine is necessary. The point is that you won't need modern medicine as often if you're fueling your body the right way. You can't control everything that happens in your life. However, you can prepare your mind, your body, and your heart in a way that minimizes the effects of those circumstances on your overall health. Try it and see what happens! I triple-dog-dare you!

Here are some of my favorite sites for recipes (there are so many out there!):
Paleo on a Budget
Fast Paleo
Bodybuilding.com
Gluten Free Homemaker
Gluten Free Goddess

I use the MyFitnessPal app for iPhone, though you can use the website, too. They're both free!



*Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist, a certified trainer, a doctor, or any other type of health professional. I am simply sharing what I have learned works for me!*

How'd ya' do it?!

We've had an intense seven months, both professionally and personally. I had to give up something, and writing in this space was it. While the journey of these last months has been hard, there have been many victories. 

The biggest victory has been a very personal one for me. Since April 16, I've lost 30 pounds, 34 inches, and 10 percentage points of body fat. 

So, you ask, "How'd ya' do it?" 

I wish I could say that it was easy, that there is a magic pill that you take to miraculously melt away the pounds and fat. There's not. However, I have made a lifetime change for my wellness. I won't go back to the way I lived before!

My Before: Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012

The first thing I did was hire a trainer. I had been running on a regular basis, but was unable to lose more than 10 pounds. After watching a dear friend completely transform her body, I asked her "How'd ya' do it?" She directed me to the lovely Meg McGee. Meg and I chatted for a bit and I hired her. Over the next twelve weeks, I learned how to eat clean, lift weights, and do more effective cardio. I managed to lose weight even though we went on two long trips (San Antonio, TX and Orlando, FL). I was shocked by the stability of my energy level throughout the day. It was incredible! I didn't have crazy cravings, the 3pm WALL disappeared, and I lost 17 pounds and 18 inches. 

After 12 weeks: July 5, 2012

But I wasn't where I wanted to be quite yet. I decided to continue with Meg for another 12 weeks. I learned even more about this new lifestyle, and really felt like I achieved and maintained the new heart and mindset. I also read Made to Crave  by Lysa TerKeurst during this phase. I highly recommend it! My friend, Jen, has an entire blog series on the book. Her insights mirror mine. At the end of 24 weeks, I lost a total of 30 pounds, 34 inches, and 10 percentage points of body fat. 

After 24 weeks: September 30, 2012

So, that brings us to today. I'm still trekking. My new goals include losing five more pounds and five more body fat percentage points, going down one more jeans size, and shaving a minute off my mile time. I've never felt better or healthier in my adult life than I do right now (even though I've weighed less than I do right now!).

Without further ado...(drum roll please)

Christie's Top Ten Lessons Learned

1. More than losing weight, this has been a journey of developing self-control and accepting discipline in an area that was woefully lacking both. (Galatians 5:22-23, Hebrews 12:11)

2. I NEED accountability and mentorship in all areas of my life. (Proverbs 19:20)

3. All things are allowable. Not all things are beneficial. (1 Corinthians 6:12)

4. Chicks can lift heavy weight, too (and shouldn't let burly boys get in the way). (Philippians 2:14-15)

5. I'm finally ok with how I look (with the baby-stretch marks, gray hair, etc.), and it's NOT because of the number on the scale. (Psalm 139:14, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

6. Eating clean can be appetizing and delicious. (Proverbs 31:14) 

7. 0500 comes every morning. What I do at the moment the alarm goes off defines the rest of my day. (Psalm 118:24)

8. I have an amazing group of encouragers. (Ephesians 4:29)

9. There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something. (p. 43, The Life You've Always Wanted by John Ortberg)

10. Be strong and courageous, and DO THE WORK! (1 Chronicles 28:20)

Just keep counting, counting, counting...

I'm not naturally optimistic, mostly a realist, I think. An optimistic realist maybe? Looking on the bright side of things has taken some serious mind and heart training for me. Hubs is an eternal optimist, and sometimes it drives me nuts. His optimism pushes me to think differently and pulls me out of my occasional doldrums.

This counting though...this has put me over the edge. My outlook on life is directly related to my counting of the gifts. So, Mr. Grumpy Gills, when life gets you down, you know whatcha' gotta' do? Just keep counting, just keep counting, just keep counting, counting, counting....what do we do? We count!

146. friends who can be trusted with the hardest conversations

147. the wonders of technology allowing us to chat even though we're half a world from one another!

148. having to let my prayers hug when my arms can't

149. Hubs unloading the dishwasher again and again

150. Monkey's little sayings...many having to do with poop

151. really healthy boys...Gator is 4'7" and 81 lbs; Bull is 4' and 50 lbs; Monkey is 3'1" and 33 lbs!

152. being excited about a study

153. new friends

154. OAMC - I only spent 15 minutes in the kitchen tonight prepping dinner!

155. looking forward to redeeming my birthday present - a massage and facial - tomorrow night!

156. learning life in a new place

157. getting used to having Hubs home

158. being comforted after a nightmare

159. remembering that it's alright to miss familiarity

160. knowing that familiarity will grow

Once A Month Cooking

My mother taught me how to meal plan. I've done it since I was in college. I saved money at the store, time on a daily basis, and pounds on (off?) my hips. I continued to meal plan when I got married, and then when we started having kiddos. However, when we started home schooling, I found it harder and harder to feed my family a healthy meal at home on a regular basis. I was exhausted at the end of the day! And really, who isn't? Regardless of our circumstances, we are all busy and have demanding lives. So, in my desperation, I reached out to my home schooling mentors and learned more about Once A Month Cooking (OAMC). It has really been a life saver for me. 

I haven't been able to do a batch of cooking since last October. That batch lasted us through redeployment and block leave. But then, we had to get ready to move, and had to empty the freezer. Those were some interesting meals! 

Now that we're settled, both physically and mentally, it is time to start planning again. After all, soccer season starts soon! That means practices twice a week for two kids! Ack! 

Two days ago, I made my menu and my grocery list (regular groceries as well as supplies for OAMC). Yesterday, I went to the commissary and stocked up. Today, I woke up and started cooking around 9am.

Most of my groceries for OAMC

I paid Gator to babysit Monkey since Hubs had to take the van into the dealership for a check-up. Gator kept him occupied while I chopped, sliced, diced, and chopped some more. By the time Hubs got home a couple hours later, I had finished all but one of the chicken meals.

Gator doing puzzles with Monkey

I needed Hubs help for that last meal. He flattened the chicken for me. See! It can be a family affair! 

Hubs goofing off with a frying pan

I had to take a two hour break to make lunch, help with the trampoline assembly in the backyard, and put Monkey down for his nap. Then, I got back to cooking. At the end of the day, I have twelve meals ready to pull out of the freezer, thaw, and dump in a baking dish or the crockpot: baked flank steak in tangy tomato sauce, chicken cacciatore, steak picado, Hawaiian chicken, beef fajitas, chicken parisienne, spaghetti, Italian stuffed chicken, pizza (so I didn't make this one!), baked jambalaya, continental beef, and cranberry chicken. To round out the menu, we usually go out to eat after ChapelNext, and have sandwiches on Sunday night before AWANA. [An aside: this has been a tough concession for me. I grew up eating a big dinner on Sunday after church with china, silver, crystal, and cloth napkins. Since we're a ministry family and Sundays are a "work" day for us, I try to choose another day to have our special meal.] We always have pizza on Friday or Saturday night. So, here is three weeks of food for my family, completed in roughly 8 hours! (As I was cooking, I realized that I forgot to buy the meat for one of the meals. I have all the rest of the ingredients though.)

All of my hard work, just waiting to be cooked!

Here are the cookbooks I use: Once A Month Cooking, Once A Month Cooking Family Favorites, Don't Panic Dinner's in the Freezer, along with a few family recipes. There are so many more available! Check your library first. That way, you can try it out for a month and see if it is a good fit for your family. 

There is so much information available on the internet, too. Just google "once a month cooking" and you'll get over five million hits! 

Many people take this a step further than I. They shop the sales and track grocery store loss leaders. I don't really feel a need to do this since I get all my meat at the commissary for a good amount of savings. Tracking sales will only save you more money! 

I suppose I've let the cat out of the bag. This is one of my sanity keepers. It's so nice to walk out to the freezer, choose a meal, and know it will be done without a lot of daily effort. 

Maybe it will work for you, too!

Have you ever had a good day?

"Have you ever had a good day?" 


His words pierced me. The eldest of my blessings was wondering if I had ever had a good day. Embarrassed and bewildered by his question, I answered in the overwhelming affirmative. However, I realized how my ingratitude had taken a toll on my family. 

The last months of the deployment and the first few weeks of Hubs being home had been tougher than I wanted them to be. I was so weary. Nothing particularly bad happened, but I had struggled to find the good. Ann Voskamp calls this the hard eucharisteo. I only focused on the hard and forgot about the thanksgiving....the thanks-living. 

Someone once told me that his wife set the tone for their home. I realized then that this was certainly the case for our home. Yet I have failed to show my children how to be grateful for the seemingly inconsequential, the simple things, as well as the big evidences of grace. 

Thinking that I had so poisoned my home with my ingratitude broke my heart in two. 

And so, with his words echoing in my mind, I chose differently that day and most of the days since. I work without (much) complaining. I (mostly) enjoy the simple and mundane. I (generally) keep a good attitude. I even have a little bit of fun. 

I reap what I sow. I have GOOD days. 

And I am sure to tell my deep thinker, too. 

a constant reminder at the end of my hallway

Counting the gifts...


66. Bull's incredible curiosity of late

67. answering lots of questions

68. an understanding husband

69. running for the first time in a long time

70. my foot doesn't hurt!

71. watching my blessings choosing to bless others through World Vision

72. Monkey's incredibly cute mischief

73. Gator's Spirit-led question

74. counting His gifts once again

75. a better-than-expected house

76. an easy transition

77. seeing familiar faces in unexpected places

78. reminders of good friends spread throughout my new house

79. a hot shower, a lock on the bathroom door, and a loud bathroom fan
80. a home that fits our extended family

81. being closer to family

82. good friends who send unexpected e-mails

83. music

84. new friends for the boys

85. hugs before friends deploy

86. friends to support like I was supported

87. our new chapel home

88. PWOC tomorrow! 

89. Hubs' new dream job

90. my life

Whew!

It's been a really, really long time since I posted here. I have missed it, but I've not had the extra time to devote to it. I'll do a really quick run-down of the last 5 months. FIVE MONTHS?!

We celebrated birthdays in October. Hubs got home safely for his deployment in November! We saw most of our family over the holidays. We celebrated more birthdays in December. Hubs' grandfather passed away at the ripe old age of 100 in January. We moved in February.

That's a lot of life!

We live in the Eastern time zone again! We are much closer to our family. We have a fabulous home with amazing neighbors. Honestly, we couldn't have asked for a more appropriate place for us right now. The boys have already adjusted and love it here. We had to think creatively in a few cases, but we're thrilled with the results. Here are some pictures of our new digs!

our front door with lots of new decorations

living room from the entryway

home school area from living room

back toward the living room from the home school area

kitchen with my awesome new rooster in the corner

kitchen from the dining room pass through

dining room 

coat closet to the right as you come in the front door
why yes - my pantry is in my coat closet!

coat closet is to my left as I look down the hallway 

1st door on the right: Bull and Monkey's room

1st door on the left: Gator's room

Gator's room

more of the hallway 

boys' vintage powder blue bathroom (the first door in the previous picture)

it's a long hallway!

Hubs calls it the Phone Booth (his uniforms are in this closet); I call it the sewing room 

our bedroom (last door on the right from the hallway)

our vintage brown bathroom

Eucharisteo!

Day 322

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

It’s the beginning of the harvest season. The cooler temperatures, the breezy days, and the slight change in the color of the leaves all testify to it. I have been watching the various stages of harvest. Fields are still green, some are ripe, some are being cut, some have just been cut, and still others have already been turned under. I have needed the reminder.

The first waves of Soldiers are just starting to arrive. And I am so thrilled for them! They have served well, and their families have waited patiently for them to come home. My head knows that their proper time is now. My heart is longing for it to be my turn!

Honestly, my desire is to put my head down and plow through the next few weeks. The temptation is so strong! But I would miss so much. I know that I need to slow down and look around me. We are back in the swing of things with school and activities. I could easily just get the stuff on the list checked off. I’m trying to remind myself to be present with my kids.

These boys are a wonder to me: Gator’s sweet nature, Bull’s sense of humor, Monkey’s explosion of personality. Gator has grown taller, stronger, and more coordinated. I’m curious to see how that translates onto the soccer field. He’s also in third grade and things just seem to “click” for him in an exciting way. Those a-ha moments are one of the best perks of home schooling.  

Bull is playing his first team sport ever and doing a great job! He’s in the proverbial dustball surrounding the soccer ball with his teammates, kicking toward the correct goal! He is making incredible progress in general, showing improvement in speech self-correction, strength and muscle tone, coordination, longer attention span, and improved fine motor control. His first attempts at reading are music to my ears.

Monkey has a deepening desire to communicate with us, and is starting to exert an independent spirit. While this causes some frustrating moments, he is right on track developmentally! His facial expressions rival those of Bull (which is quite an accomplishment). He’s such a wonderful, busy, happy toddler.

To think that I could miss all of this “stuff” mourns my soul. I am praying to have ears to hear and eyes to see all that is going on around me. I can’t afford to rush through these last few weeks, because I have so much to miss. So, here I am, slowing down, asking for the presence of mind to take in every moment and tuck it away. Because really, it will be over sooner than I think. 

Happy Fourth of July!

Today, I am thankful for freedom bought for me by the sacrifice of One and of many.

We miss you, my love! We are so proud of you!

Multitudes on Mondays

As we traveled over the last three weeks, I shared a room and sometimes a bed with my sons. None of them share nicely while sleeping, but one in particular (the one with whom I'm usually paired) is particularly greedy. You see, from birth, he has always been a cuddler. He naturally gravitates to the source of warmth in a shared bed. Usually, that's his brother. But on a handful of nights, it was me. As any mother can tell you, sleep is a valuable commodity. It's easy for me to be annoyed by this behavior, especially when I am travel-weary. Sharing a bed with this one can be painful. At the very least it's uncomfortable!

Really, it mirrors my relationship with him. He is the one who stretches and pushes me as a parent. He challenges me at my very core. He is passionate and physical. He needs me to be intensely calm. All too often, I allow his intensity to spin me out of control. But if I meet his depth of passion with the same depth of gentleness, he settles.

So, as he batters against me while he dreams - his arm across my chest (which barely missed my cheek), his knee in my side (just left of my kidney), and his sweet cheek on my shoulder - I'm reminded to be a firm and calm presence in his life, a rudder of sorts, helping him to navigate the thrashing and tossing to which he is prone.

#71-82 of the gifts of sleeping close to my sons for nearly three weeks

- sweet sleeping lips
- soft snores

- the oldest one still wanting me when he's scared

- the smell of the second one's hair

- a big enough bed
- a bed not empty

- mumbling as they dream

- big beautiful eyes staring at me when I awake
- being the first thing they see when they awake
- sleepy smiles and big stretches
- hands of the smallest one reaching up to me
- the reminder that others (two families particularly close to my heart) would give anything to see their little ones sleep again

Day 183

OHHHHHH! We're halfway there...

To be honest, I've had better months.

It was really great to see Hubs for two weeks in March. After we dropped him off at the airport, I asked the big boys what they were thankful for. Bull said that he was glad he could give Daddy some "squeezers" (Bull's tackle hugs that nearly squeeze the breath out of you). Gator said that he was glad that he didn't cry as much this time (as compared to Day 1). Really, that has been true of the last five weeks for the boys. They have done really well - no real drama to speak of.

I'm a different story.

Maybe it was the busy-ness of our calendar, or the pile-up of unexpected things. I'm still not quite sure. Whatever it is, I have not been on top of my game. I've been grumpy, harsh, and abrasive. The gremlins have shown up in various forms: a dead battery and A/C going out in the van, unexpected surgery for a kiddo, cancelled practices that I didn't know about, medical bills that arrive at my house by mistake, crazy weather swings, a clerical error that postponed our move for a month, blah, blah, blah. It's not any one thing. It's all of it happening at once.



I'm glad that we're on the upswing. Sanity showed up in a Honda driven by a gorgeous brunette accompanied by two really cute blondes. Comfort comes with laughter over dinner with new friends whose hubbies are deployed too. Encouragement arrives in an unexpected card in the mailbox. Solace is found in the steady (albeit slow) pounding of the pavement behind a jogging stroller. Healing balm flows from fellowship with this amazing sisterhood of wives surrounding me.  

Bull, C, Gator, A, and Monkey hangin' out

We still have a lot to look forward to in the next few months. Our new house will be great - I will have a dedicated school room for goodness' sake! We have a few exciting trips coming up and the summer looks to be full of fun. We'll start school in August. And Hubs will be home before we know it!



Happy Easter!

 Because He lives!

Christie with Gator, Monkey, and Bull

Hubs leading worship at the Sunrise Service in Iraq

A New Tradition

Fat Tuesday.

If we were still in New Orleans, this would not have snuck up on me like it has this year! We have been so very busy (as evidenced by my absence from this space).

However, when I saw that Ann's son, Caleb, would be offering his wreaths again, I jumped at the chance to own one. And look what came today! It is truly a beautiful work of art!

I am looking forward to adding the celebrations of Lent and Advent to our family traditions. I have mentioned before that these celebrations were new to me. I am hopeful that we will be able to slow down and recognize the steady rhythm and careful reflection that such celebrations offer.

Now to prayerfully consider my personal sacrifice...

One Thousand Gifts

You have to order this book! Ann Voskamp - farmer's wife, homeschooling mother of 6, and my favorite blogger - shares her story of learning to live a life of gratitude. You will laugh and cry and marvel at the poetic beauty of her words. There's even a book club that you can join! Angie and Jessica discuss each chapter of the book with Ann, and you can join the discussion too (intro video, chapter one video). What a wonderful new habit to embrace for 2011! What are you waiting for?

82 Days

Last week, we set a new record for the longest we've been apart. Mind you, this is not a record that I wanted to set and then break with each passing day. But each day apart means one day closer to him coming home.

The past 11.5 weeks have been both easier and harder than I expected.

Easier - There hasn't been as much drama as I expected from the boys. They are adjusting without many issues. Most rough spots are resolved with a reassuring hug and a Skype call. By the way, if I ever meet the people who invented Skype, I may embarrass myself. I am so thankful for this mode of communication. My boys love it too. Bull leaves the funniest voicemail messages for Hubs. Gator enjoys showing Hubs all sorts of new tricks and things he's created. And Monkey is so cute when he points, waves and babbles at his Daddy. I love that my baby knows his Daddy's voice and his face. As long as I have my phone, we can video chat anytime!

Harder - I am tired and rely on Diet Dr. Pepper WAY too much. Oh, how I wish I liked coffee. It's much warmer than DDP! The boys require a great deal of energy, as one may expect. The big boys miss their Daddy's physical presence. They've started beating up on each other (and suffered swift and appropriate consequences)! They soak up any attention they can get from our guy friends. Monkey has gotten a bit better about sleeping through the night. I thought that this weekend would be our breakthrough. Alas, we all have the sniffles and coughs/wheezes, so no one is sleeping well these days.


Easier - There are days that I really do forget he's on the other side of the world and fully expect him to walk through the door in time for dinner. Does anyone else experience this phenomenon? Maybe it's because the rhythm and busy-ness of our lives didn't change much when he left? I don't remember this happening before though, and it's a bit disconcerting.

Harder - The gremlins typically de-rail my day. Shoveling snow, dead car batteries, losing my keys for four days, rabbits/mice in the garage, snowstorms, viruses....the list could go on. I've accepted that these things will happen (thank you U.S. Navy for teaching me this at the beginning of my marriage!), and just try to roll with the punches.


Easier - It's been much easier to loosen my standards than I thought. Really, I haven't had a choice. There aren't enough hours to get "it" all done. Bedtime has gotten a bit later as has wake-up time. The house is much messier than I would prefer (it's winter though and we spend a GREAT deal of time inside right now). I've let dinner planning slide big-time (being remedied this weekend though!). I chalk all of this up to adaptation. I'm ok with it and working through it.

Harder - Everything takes more time, especially in the winter. The coats and the gloves and the hats and the snow and the boots and the mud...It seems that it takes so much longer to get anywhere and do anything. Maybe I'm understanding what the really important stuff is.


Easier - The boys are much better this winter than last with getting themselves ready to get out the door. They even get Monkey's jacket on him and get the dog in her kennel. I also know to start 15 minutes before we actually have to leave. Really, the kids have been amazing. They have stepped up with helping me more than I expected.


Harder - We have been really sick (for our family) this winter. There was the birthday trip to the ER in October for wheezing, the 2 weeks of Norovirus that got all of us in December (while on the road no less!), the sniffles, runny noses and cough that have plagued all of us at different times. Monkey still hasn't had his shots because he's been sick off and on for over a month!

Easier - We have hit our stride with school. Gator is accomplishing more in less time than before, and with a good attitude. Bull started pre-school this week, and I'm able to use free childcare for Monkey.

Harder - It's really tough to see guys in uniform all. the. time. They look so similar to one another (in uniform that is) that it's easy for my mind to play a trick on me and think that my soldier is walking toward me. I don't resent them or pout when I see them. I am looking forward to him being home though.

Easier - The community of which I am a part is absolutely amazing. I can't get over the support and the camaraderie that exists with this group of people. Though I have my "surviving" days, mostly we are in "thriving" mode. And when it's really hard (like it was a couple of weeks ago when our unit lost a Soldier), I know I have people who can sympathize and walk me through it.

I've heard that many hit a wall during months 4-6. What say you? Any ideas for making it through?

Monkey is one!

My sweet Monkey,
I can't believe that it has been a year. You are a delight!

You still have curly blond hair. Those ringlets are so sweet. They have become your trademark. Your eyes are greenish. I'm still not sure what color they will be! Right now, they look a lot like your Daddy's. However, since we're at your grandparents' house right now, I compared you to my baby pictures. You are (nearly) the spitting image of me as a baby!

It took you a long time, but you are finally eating table food. I still give you baby food at least once a day to make sure you're getting enough. You drink out of a sippy cup with ease, though I can't seem to figure out what you like to drink. Let me know when you decide, OK?

You took your first steps before Daddy left, but you are walking all over the place now (and have been for a number of weeks). You point at things all the time, wave, and charm with your four-toothed grin. You are very vocal when you want to be, and pitch a fit when someone takes something from your little fingers.  

You light up when you see Daddy on the computer screen. And your brothers are your favorite people. You call out to them and get louder if they don't respond in a timely fashion. You respond to your name now too. When I say "No!" you usually laugh at me unless I use a very stern voice which always makes you burst into tears.

We are having a little bit of trouble with your night sleeping. I am still not sure why you won't sleep through the night. We've got to work on this! Maybe after the holidays. I've figured out your daytime schedule! I can't believe that you gave up your morning nap so early. Then again, it was very hard to get a good one established. Usually you take a cat nap in the morning and a good afternoon nap.

You are getting over your first major illness. You've had colds and allergy issues before, but this virus really got us! Bull, Gator, Grandmommy, Granddaddy, you and me all got a nasty stomach bug.

We're going to have your birthday party after Christmas so we can celebrate with more of our family. Today, we had a mini-celebration for you! You got a new ride-on toy. Your smile was priceless when we sang to you.

Monkey, I am so glad that you are a part of our family. Your smile lights up the room and your sweet demeanor always encourages me during my hardest days. You have taught me to slow down and really enjoy this stage of your life. You'll be giving your brothers a run for their money soon enough! I am looking forward to seeing you grow over the next few months into a very busy toddler. I love you, sweet baby boy!

Love,

Mommy