30 Days.... Boom, Boom!

     So life has actually been fairly.... calm lately! It has been so nice. John has been home *most* weekends, and last weekend when he had a trip up north we all got to stay at the cabin with my parents, so that weekend was still fun and we got to see him each day! I know his work schedule is about to get really intense again, until like September, so I feel incredibly blessed that this past month has been so low-key on the work end of things for him. 
     But since I sort of stink at keeping up on this blog, I'm giving myself a bit of a challenge! I saw it on a friend's blog. Its a list of things to blog about for 30 days straight. Plus, it will help keep my mind off of how horrendously bored I will be most nights!  So I start today, now that we finally have our computer back and working like a champ!

Here it is:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.  
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.

1. List 20 random things about yourself.

1- I'm a middle child, and very much have the "middle-child syndrome". I'm loud, blunt, and stubborn to the core. But I also prefer to go-with-the-flow. It isn't necessary to stress about every little thing! Save that for the big importants.

2- I'm crazy paranoid. It drives John nuts. I keep the apartment super locked-down when he isn't home, and I lock my car no matter where I am or where I am parked. And I look behind me about every 10 seconds when I'm outside and its dark. There are way too many more to list!

3- I love underwear. When I'm super-stressed about something, I go on an underwear shopping spree.

4- I'm a Harry Potter nerd to the core.

5- If I watch a horror flick/thriller, you can bet on the fact that it will take me about 4 hours to fall asleep. With all of the lights on. But I still love them.

6- Neither of our kids were planned, but I wouldn't change it for a thing. They bring more joy to my life than I could have ever expected.

7- John & I have known each other since we were 8. I still find it super cute, even in my own head.

8- Junior year I told John I could never wait for him if he joined the military (I know, I was a terrible person, but we hadn't been dating long!). Boy, did that ever change!

9- Spring is my favorite season. I love seeing everything be "re-born"

 10- I have huge feet. Size 10. And since having Jake I officially have to get a wide in most heels.... Its embarrassing.

11- I have dance parties with my kids to the closing music at the end of every movie we watch, it is my absolute favorite part of the day.

12- I love to cook, but am pretty limited in what I know how to make. A cook-book is on my birthday list this year!

13- I hate lettuce. And get criticized for it often. It tastes like a mixture of dirt & water, exactly where it came from. I'm perfectly happy never having a salad!

14- I'm a Republican. For the most part. 

15- I have always wanted to foster older kids..... But my husband is really against it. Not right now of course, but later in life. We'll see where the fight ends up :)

16- I love Disney Channel. I'm embarrassed to even mention how many episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place I watched late at night while John was at training last spring/summer.

17- I love to take pictures & scrapbook. I am soooo

18- I love art. One of my favorite days I can think of is when I spent 4 hours at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and got to go through and read about and delve into each piece.

19- I was not born with a green thumb. I have killed every plant my husband has given me. Thank goodness he generally saves them. Needless to say, last summer while he was gone, I only had a cactus.

20- I love to change room layouts & colors. Our living room furniture gets moved around at least every 6 months. If only I had the funds to redecorate that often!

Well, there it is, until tomorrow!

Ohhhh Those Tiny Booger Producers

Man, I feel like life has been going non-stop lately. I know, I know, its good to be busy and doing things and blah, blah, blah. But for real, I just want to be bored and have nothing to do for a few days! I think that is why I have SO been looking forward to this coming weekend.... John & I are going to this Strong Bonds Marriage Retreat thing that is through the National Guard. It isn't supposed to be a blasty-blast or anything, but it is a free weekend away from kids & responsibilities! And, not going to lie, the hotel looks sweet from the pictures online. And we get a date night! And a king-sized bed, without any tiny booger-producers climbing in with us at the butt-crack of dawn. Or, well, before it! Idk I'm just excited, and don't really have too many expectations for the weekend. Just that it will fun for some 1-on-1 time with my man, for more than a few hours :)

As I was babbling about before, life has been a tad busy. It all seemed to start about a week & a half before Christmas, when Jake got admitted to Children's for his RAD (Reactive Airway Disease) acting up again (aka oxygen levels dropping, wheezing like crazy, breathing so hard they thought his muscles were going to give out.... ya know, fun things).  Caused by..... *dun dun dun* a COLD. Seriously. Lets just say a 23 month old + oodles of needles + oodles of masked doctors poking & prodding at him = an interesting 4 days spent! He got back at them though, slowly but surely. First, he nailed one of the nurses in the head & eye with this huge boot-thing he had to have on his leg (to protect his IV since it was the 6th one they had put in...). He threw sippy cups at them several times, cried so loud they couldn't even check his breathing, and once he got the boot off, whipped toys when they started coming close to him. I mean, come on, the drs totally had it coming! I was fully rooting for him, except when he was crying, because that mostly broke my heart, and also made me feel slightly insane after so much of it.

So, we got through Christmas festivities with both kids being mostly sick the entire time, and Jake was crazy sick for his birthday again, but about a week or 2 into January everything cleared up and the kids have both been healthy since! Jake had his 2nd birthday party, had a blast, even though he somehow hates cake. So now we are transitioning slowly into John's "new" work schedule, which basically includes a lot of traveling. He works for the NG Event Team, so he brings the rock walls and obstacle courses and basketball/football games and other such things to events where recruiters are at and helps out. But it means a very, very busy spring & summer for him. So far he has been traveling anywhere between 5-10 days for January and February, and as time moves forward this summer he could be gone anywhere from 3-5 days/week depending on the events and everything... BUT the God-send in all of this is that we can travel with him when we're able, and that it will only send him within Minnesota. Soooo I'm going to try to be more appreciative about it, because really the whole job and benefits and everything is such a blessing to all 4 of us... I'll just have to remember that when he's gone!

Some updates on the kids:
Brooklyn was 3 (going on 13) on Nov. 18th! She is definitely my child.... stubborn to the core and will do anything to get her way! Haha so she keeps us on our toes for sure... But she is so very sweet & funny as well. She is always saying hilarious things, and has an amazing memory and can recall things all the time when we ask about them. Mostly slightly embarrassing things, but what better are kids for than for some solid embarrassment once in a while!? She loves to be cuddled with, and is starting to get very into all things girly. Princesses, barbies, littlest pet shop, dresses, HORSES; but she still loves playing boyish things with her brother. They play cars/trains all the time, and have wrestling matches that could go up against those of the "real" wrestlers in the WWE! She doesn't like to sit and just color anymore, but she loves to paint and do puzzles. Candy Land and Memory are her favorite games, and she can turn ANYTHING into a "mommy, daddy, and baby" and play with them. She is day-time potty trained, now we are starting to naptime potty train,, which has been going very well so far, no accidents! The next beast is overnight... That may be a little while!

Jacob just turned 2 at the end of December! He started walking a few weeks before Christmas, so is constantly trying to go faster and do different things. His favorite is to jump on his big sister's bed with her... And then turn it into a wrestling match. He loves all things having to do with cars, trucks, trains, buses, airplanes, and balls. He is very boy! Basketball is his favorite sport, and he always tries to get on the court when we watch John's cousin's games. He gets very concerned that they are not always trying to "shoot" the ball! He is working on his words and putting together 2-word phrases. He knows several, but not always ones he has done on his own. His physical therapist and teacher have been very happy with all the progress he has made since daddy got home from training! He loves to color, but still hates most food. The kid just will NOT eat most things. So he is still strictly on pediasure every day right before bed to ensure he has enough calories & nutrition in him for the day! Peek-a-boo, "night-night", and chase are among his favorite things to play. He tries to play with his sister's toys with her, but she just generally gets upset because he wrecks whatever she was trying to set up or play lol. He is starting to get interested in the potty and always wants to sit on it, but hasn't gone in it yet. But I am terrified to potty-train him! Anyone who has potty trained a boy I would love some tips! I know he is young, but he is interested! I just don't know what to do with his little thingy, I know, TMI lol.

I am still a nanny in Coon Rapids and love working with these kids :-) And Brooke & Jake love having playmates! Even if they do all fight like siblings ;-) And we're starting to look for a new place to rent this fall, 3 bedrooms, and can be an apartments, townhouse, or home! Let me know if you know of nice places with reasonable prices!

Just heard the sounds of Addison waking up, time to get back to work! Until next time :)

2011 - Its A Wrap

So a friend of mine did this on her blog, Meggan's Moments, and I thought it was cute/a good wrap-up, so here goes :)


1. What did you do in 2011 that you have never done before?
I was home alone with the kids for 7 months.... I'm not gonna lie, kind of feel like a rockstar for that one. Mainly for the fact that none of the 3 of us died. Went on an airplane completely alone, yes I was fully freaking out the entire time. Any and all things having to with the military... But my favorite was the first time I saw my man in his uniform (and figuring out how to take it off ;-) haha)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
 Uhmmmm I have never really made a "resolution" exactly... I just tend to make goals throughout the year. My main goal was to lose weight & go to the gym regularly this last year, and I did. I lost 12 pounds while John was gone, and went to the gym 2-4 times each week. Sadly, I gained 8 back since John came home (the man does not allow eggs & meat or chicken & cottage cheese for every meal), but have lost 3 of it again since the new year started.
Goals for this year = Like how I look in a swimsuit this summer - this includes losing more weight, hoping for another 15 pounds by my birthday, and shave off that other pesky 5 I gained back by June. Be more understanding and patient towards my kids - I should have known I would create super stubborn children, especially at the ages of 2 & 3! Bring them on a walk or to the park every day that it is nice enough out. Enroll Brooke in soccer camp (the girl loves soccer), and swimming lessons. Create a budget and stick to it. Make time 1 night each month for just John & I to go out on a date.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Kayla had her second baby boy. Meggan had her son. Solid chance I forgot someone, my memory is terrible!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My husband's best friend's father passed away very suddenly to cancer last spring.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Just different parts of the US :)

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Never having to "visit" my husband. I am done with that junk. Not because I don't love seeing him, I just don't want him gone from home again this year :)

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
 March 2nd - The day John left for Basic Training. I was such a wreck.
September 29th - The day John came home for good from training, I was so excited and happy and flipping out all at the same time.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Potty training Brooke. Jake walking - totally his achievement but I am just so stinkin happy about it!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not seeing friends enough. This year was so insanely busy, I missed my girls like crazy and didn't see them nearly enough.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope! Can't say the same about my sickness-prone little man though.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The slide-climber for the kids. New living room furniture. Everything having to do with the trip to DC. Gym membership.

12. Where did most of your money go?
Bills. Rent. Booooooo.

13. What did you get really excited about?
The trips out east, they were so much fun! And I know I'm a broken record, but John coming home. I was excited for 7 whole months.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Party Rock Anthem. I love it, the kids love it, and we jammed/danced like fools to it all the time.

15. Compared to last year are you:
- happier or sadder? Much, much happier, 2010 kind of sucked the big one.
-thinner or fatter? Thinner, thank God.
-richer or poorer? Richer, sounds weird to say rich in any way, shape, or form lol.

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gone to the park more with the kids. Jake just made it physically and mentally exhausting. We spent most of our outside time outside of the apartments.

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
 Less time spent at the hospital. Hoping that 2012 means Jacob's body kicking out that Reactive Airway Disease.

18. How did you spend Christmas?
With lots of family, it was a great Christmas season.

19. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Help was absolutely amazing. So excited to buy the movie. Every book I read by Jodi Piccoult. She is an outstanding author, and every book is so different.

20. What was your favorite music of the year?
Couldn't tell ya.... anything upbeat I loved this year.

21. What were your favorite films of this year?
Friends With Benefits, Harry Potter 7.2, Crazy Stupid Love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Criminal Minds. The Mentalist. One Tree Hill as always. And I totally watched a ton of late-night Wizards of Waverly Place while I was writing letters to John lol.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Spent the day pouting, because it was a super hard day with the kids. But that evening me & my sister went to MOA kid-free, it totally made up for the day! I turned 22!

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having John home the whole time. I am willing to bet about 12 trillion dollars I would have had almost zero breakdowns then, instead of at least 1 a day.

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?
Uhmmmmm Idk. I don't really have one ever. Its pretty much wear junk that fits, doesn't make you look like a hoe-bag,  and you think is cute. And some days it is 100% about comfort, thats what days off are for!

26. What kept you sane?
Letters. Phone calls. The internet (mainly the 3-13 ladies). Friends & family. Tuesday nights at the gym, alone. The kids' sweet moments. Having awesome bosses. Seriously, no sucking up needed, I think if I had any other job this past year I would have gone nuts. Jake turning a massive corner and going from screaming/crabby 24/7 to be so happy the majority of the time!

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
 Giving your large master bedroom for your 2 children to share and moving into their much smaller room is so worth it. It made them so happy, and has kept their crazy amount of toys *mostly* in one area. Also, always update the computer when it tells you to. Always hitting "Remind Me Later" leads to computer problems..... for the next 10 months. Props to my awesome cousin Sam who is currently working on fixing it. Sooooo excited to have a working computer at home again!!


Overall 2011 trumped 2010 by a mile :) And hopefully 2012 will be even better!

Hes Back, Life Is Good

    Hmmm its been a while since I've done this! Well, John is back home, and life is pretty much back to normal.

    I never thought it would be so hard/weird getting used to have him home again. At first it was like we were stumbling around each other (and on top of each other... hahahaha) trying to figure out what to do and how to do it. I wasn't sure if I should/could leave him alone with the kids (a lot of things change after 7 months when it comes to 2 toddlers!), but I didn't want him to think I didn't trust him with them. I learned to trust it, and to leave a list like a babysitter would. So that both children would leave the house with shoes AND a jacket AND in normal clothes, not pajamas..... oh yes people, it happened. But, that part is over, and we're back to what feels normal, but a better version of normal than when he left. Those months apart can really change a relationship! And thankfully it changed ours for the better. So, now, I am greatly enjoying having my man back, and the kids love having daddy back :) Brooke still worries every now & again though that he is going to leave for "army school" again. Especially now that his new job is full time with the Guard and he has to wear his uniform every day *that is my favorite part ;-)*, she tends to freak out that hes headed for the airport again. Hopefully she'll figure out Daddy is home for GOOD (until sometime 2013 they say) and she can just get used to him coming home at night.

    On another note, I have found some military wives to be a tad on the crazy/oversensitive side (btw check out Overly Sentsitive Military Wives on fb.... its awesomely hilarious).... Such as, this weekend I wrote I was excited for John to get home from drill. Because I missed him. Well, sure enough, I got a message on fb from a woman whose husband is still away at training (we became fb friends during John's BCT) telling me how rude it was to put that I missed my husband when he was only gone for 2-3 days, when her husband still won't be home for another 8 weeks. And that I need to be more "considerate" of other military wives and not making them sad because my husband is now home & gets to come home after a couple days of training. That I need to remember how hard it was having him gone for so long and how upset I must have been hearing other people say they missed their men when they must have had no idea what I was going through. That I sounded civilian. Well, I would like to say that YES I do miss my husband when he is gone. I miss him when either of us is at work. I miss him when he is gone for the entire weekend, our time to spend together now that he is home. And no, I didn't get upset that other people missed their husbands. And seriously people, I'm sounding civilian?! Who the hell cares! I AM a civilian married to a soldier. I don't do all of the training. I wasn't the one gone from home. But, anyways, I just wanted to say that heck yes I do miss my husband when he is gone. And I will shout it to the freaking world if I want. Because you don't need to earn your right to miss someone, or to say that you do. That is absurd. I absolutely remember how tough it was for those months. It sucked. And yeah, when I saw my friends' husband were coming home, it made me sad because I wished John was home then too. But I wasn't upset with these friends for it, I rejoiced with them in the fact that they finally got to get back to their normal. Ugh. Just amazed at how people are able to pick at every little thing. So, sorry if I'm not sensitive enough for you! Go hangout in your 100 "army wife" shirts and dog tags and sweats, feel awesome. Yep, that was childish. Darn. And really, go tell someone who has someone they love deployed overseas about your issues about your husband still being at training so that they can shut your mouth for me. Your man isn't in any real danger while training. You know for a fact they are alive at the end of every day. Gosh, I would love to see that conversation.
     So anyways! Now we are getting ready for the holiday season! Thanksgiving is this week. Pretty excited for that food coma! NUM. Annnnd for Black Friday! Which is my 2nd favorite holiday besides Christmas. No, it isn't because of the shopping. There have been several years where I don't have the money to get anything (which will include this year!), but it is the day that just makes it fun. Going to the stores with all the rest of the crazy people, and spending the ONE day every year where my mom, sister, and I get to spend time together completely childless & husbandless. We have a blast, while being crazy sleep deprived. Helping find the things on each others lists, and figuring out which stores have the best deals on them. Pushing and shoving through crazy people. Standing in line for 45 minutes, pushing our pile of stuff across the floor, wishing we could just lay down and fall asleep on top of it. Trying to avoid the bathrooms because of the horrid smells from people's Thanksgiving meals. Finally listening to Christmas music (I refuse before Thanksgiving). And this year our shopping begins at 9 the night before! Crazy stores opening up at insane times. But, at least we will get all night to hang out childless. Since in the morning the kids are coming with because John has to work. Thank goodness we will have the big stores done by then! I'm still holding out hope that John's boss will come to his senses and tell John they don't actually work that day ;-)

    Hope all of your have a wonderful Thanksgiving and are able to spend it with your loved ones! Stay classy.

From Every Trial, Knowledge Can Be Gained

It's crazy, there are only 3 days left until John is home!!! And we will be done with this stretch of his military career. And he finally gets to be with us. Every day. This seriously has been the longest 7 months of my life, but I feel we really learned quite a lot....:

• People in the military lie about how long BCT & AIT "feel". "It will fly by!!" <--- Never believing those words again. Lol. It didn't, it felt incredibly long, and this last week seems to be dragging on the longest.
• As much as it would suck, and there is a solid chance I would fully lose my mind, I am very capable of doing the whole single mommy-hood gig.
• I have respect for single parents, but I have extreme respect for single parents who don't have the other parent to "drop off" their kid/s with every-other weekend/week/whatever. It is hard. Being with your kids basically 24/7 and them only having you to rely on at home.... It isn't fun.
• I love & appreciate my family & friends dearly. Everyone has been so helpful, even as much as I hate accepting the help, the gesture is appreciated.
• As much as I love family being so helpful, I hate having to rely on them. I don't like having to rely on anyone.
• There is nothing dumber than having a fight 2000 miles away from each other.... it accomplishes nothing.
• I appreciate my job & my bosses so much... They have always been so flexible & understanding!
• I have missed having a guy to talk to at all times. I love my female friends, truly, but sometimes you just need a man to tell it exactly like it is, with zero drama! And that being said, I apologize to my male friends for the last 7 months, because I was probably much more talkative than usual, and I'm sure about weird, random crap. Lol. Thanks for listening to my rambles.
• I appreciate everything my husband does so much.... I may complain about Sundays when the NFL takes priority over everything else, but seriously, I can probably count on my fingers the number of times each month that I have cooked a real meal for me & the kids. I cannot wait to have time to cook again.
• I hate "visiting" my husband. It just sounds wrong.
• I feel I could "handle" a 9-month deployment now. With him having been gone 7 months, and both me and the kids came out with minimal scars, another 2 months would be nothing. I mean, it would suck, hardcore, but in the long haul it isn't as bad as it could be.
• I hate doing dishes. A lot. I'm ready to be in charge of laundry again and John be in charge of dishes.
• ACUs are sexy. End of story. (Yeah I'm not much of a fan of the dress-blues)
• Sex is a wonderful thing. Going without it for months at a time sucks.
• I cannot wait to see what our future holds. At the moment, it really is up in the air. I'm ready to make decisions and see where life leads us.

Thank you everyone for all of the encouragement, prayers, help, and distractions these past 7 months. Now to go to bed, and dream of the man I will be seeing in 2 days & a wake up :)

National Guard vs. Active Army - Our Decision

I swear I regret the day me & John told anyone we were debating switching to active Army. We should have waited until the decision is 100% final like we did with the Guard. We are thinking of possibly switch to being active within 6 months of John getting home. Or after that. But his recruiter said the waiting period they like to have is about 6 months for National Guards members switching to the Army.

But ever since, anytime it even vaguely gets brought up by anyone, it suddenly is a place for everyone to throw out things to try & make us change our minds. Now this isn't every single person, but it is a lot of friends and family. Huh, didn't know that what John & I decide for OUR family officially has to be 100% okayed by everyone else in order for us to do something. We aren't uninformed. We aren't being rash in our decision making. We are discussing (with eachother). We are researching. We are asking questions to people who are currently in the Army. And we are making this decision on our own. You may think I am stubborn as a mule, which I tend to be, but this isn't something that I see any budge room on. I have given people their say, but I am officially not discussing it any further with anyone until John & I have decided exactly what we want to do. And that isn't going to be anytime soon, it'll be sometime within the first 6 months John is home.

So this is the final thing I will say to these comments/concerns/opinions that have come from a whole mess of family & friends:

• You are taking the kids away from everyone that loves them! No, we aren't. We will still be there with them. And there would be new people where ever we would move to love & play with them. Where ever we go, we will build new support systems. And airplanes, remember those? Yeah, we are able to come home. Whenever we want and are able. John only gets a certain amount of leave, but me & the kids don't.
• But he is going to get deployed! & You will be all alone! Well, duh. He will get deployed in the National Guard too. That is inevitable and something I knew would happen no matter which branch he wanted to join. And the kids & I will not be alone. We can move home on deployments if we want to. Although, if we have been somewhere long enough and have on-post housing, or any housing that we don't want to give up, we may stay there. And just come home to visit a lot. That is something that would be decided at that time. And honestly, living on post with a bunch of families going through exactly what we are, and having that huge support system, instead of being home for that year or however long it would be with people who have no clue what is going on, even though they are family, would be nice. Idk what we/I would decide when we get there, but that is something that would be decided then, not now.
• Won't you miss us?! Clearly. I love all of our friends and family here. Remember those big metal things that fly? Airplanes! Precisely what they were created for. Visiting places & people. We would visit. You could visit if you want. There are also phones calls, texts, facebook, skype, email. A whole buttload of ways to communicate & keep up with people.
• What about being away from home? Minnesota will always be home. And we have already said we want to make Minnesota our permanent home after any commitment is finished.  But honestly, I have always wanted to travel around the country & the world. To fully go into different cultures (even if it is just a different culture in the United States), would be amazing. So yeah, I am downright excited to be able to get out of Minnesota for a while. It is one of the things that I see as a huge perk of the military.
• The Army is so unorganized! I don't think I have ever worked any place that has ever seemed organized. Besides nannying, because I organize it lol. Even when its chaotic. Yes the Army has a whole bunch of practices that aren't very organized, not everyone knows all of the information, some things people aren't allowed to know, many things are last-minute, and not every direction is plainly laid out for you. Is where you work any better? Yes the Army may be a 24/7 job instead of 9 hours a day 5 days a week; but in any of the restaurants or stores I have worked in, all of those components have been a part of it. The didn't affect my family necessarily, but they were all a part of work. This is just work, on a much larger scale.

This isn't at any one single person at all. I am not attacking anyone, I just wanted to get everything out at once, not 1200 different times. Because it is our family. No one else's. And for once, it would be nice to be treated that way. Whether you are friends or family, you need to accept whichever decision we make and leave it be and support us. Because we don't need drama-causing people in our lives. And especially right now when they are mostly just in my life.

Now I am going to go play with my kids and give them a great Father's Day, just like we would do if their daddy was here with us. I hope you are all doing the same :)

The Silent Ranks

So I obviously did not write this, but a woman posted this on a group on facebook and I thought it was beautiful.... To all you military wives out there!

The Silent Ranks



I wear no uniforms,
 No blues or army greens.
But I am in the military
In the ranks rarely seen.
I have no rank upon my shoulders.
Salutes I do not give.
But the military world
Is the place where I live.

I am not in the chain of command,
Orders I do not get.
But my husband is the one who does,
this I cannot forget.
I am not the ones who fires the weapon,
who puts my life on the line.
But my job is just as tough. 
I am the one that is left behind.

My husband is a patriot, 
A brave, a prideful man
And the call to serve his country,
 Not all understand.
Behind the lines I see the things needed
to keep this country free.
My husband makes the sacrifice,
but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married,
Soldiering is his life.
But I stand among the silent ranks
know as the Military Wife.


So I know it has been a while since I wrote.... But honestly I have been avoiding it. Lol. There has been a lot on my mind and I feel if I start writing on here I will never stop, and should probably organize my thoughts a bit more before putting them here! I shall write soon :)