Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Holiday and New Year!  The kids and I had a great holiday, especially having my father here to celebrate with us. My kids were spoiled this year!

Although, we made great memories, we will always remember that their daddy, my husband, wasn't home to celebrate with us. Due to unforeseen circumstances, his deployment was delayed and his return home would be sometime after Christmas.  I can't give out dates..OPSEC!  But, at least (I HOPE) he'll be home before my birthday!

I've been debating if I should keep this blog up and running.  Not that I don't have the time, it's just making time to sit and write.  I probably could share so much more...Lillian's first year in school, deployment stories and making new friends.

I've decided to go ahead and keep the blog going, but won't kick myself in the butt for not being consistent with it.  I can only hope, that someone somewhere will read and gain some knowledge about the things I write about.

Goodnight Everyone!  I will catch up soon!

Extreme Home Makeover

Wanna a sneak peek of the show?  I might be able to help with that, only if you are an Extreme Home Makeover fan!

I was lucky enough to get a chance to preview the season premiere for its new season beginning this Sunday, September 25 on ABC at 7/6c (and no this is not a paid advertisement). 

All I can say is “WOW”!  I enjoyed the premiere and all the special surprises! If, you generally don’t watch the show, I hope you will this Sunday.  Given the fact that my blog is geared towards a certain group, I think it would be a season to watch!

So, here are some pictures and a clip of the premiere:

Can you guess who the new team member will be???

Please come back and let me know what you thought of the season premiere!

2 Weeks

It’s official.  It has been two weeks since the husband has been out to sea.  What a transition for me and the kids!  Actually, they are doing much better now.  In fact, they are handling my ever so mean hearted witch like mood swings I've had since the arrival of my monthly visit from Mother Nature has taken place!  

Normally, daddy is around to protect our children from being persecuted for leaving crumbs on the floor, but he's not here right now.  And I've been trying really really hard to make a conscious effort to divert the inner witch, but my son has unleashed her lashings more than once (only because he finds it humorous until he's been punished) until my inner self was able to put her away.

I wish I could share stories of how hard and depressing it is without him...and I just need someone to be here to help...or the this is when I need my family the most type stories.  But I don't have any right now..  I do have some very close friends of the family who have lend their support, but for the most part, we're doing pretty good! Don't take me wrong...I do miss him a lot.  And the kids really miss him too.  I just think we know how to keep ourselves occupied so we don't think about his absence everyday.

I say this now, this is only a one month sea trial.  So, I might be singing a different tune when he's gone for four!  We shall see!

For now, I thought I would share some cool pics for you all.  They are not high quality, but still cool!  They are pictures of the day the boat pulled out.  The kids and I never saw this before (shame on me) so I found it pretty exciting!  It kinda made me proud that my husband was working that boat!

Best U.S. Military Spouse Blog Nominations

There are SO MANY Military Spouse Blogs out there and many of them are Wonderful!  The spouses are blogging on just about everything possible, but the common thread is being a Military Spouse.

Right now you can vote for your favorite MilSpouse Blog for the 6th Annual Milspouse Conference.  If you want to nominate your favorite blog, please remember to read the rules to make sure the blog is properly nominated.

Now, go nominate someone!

Pre-Deployment...Navy Style

OK, I really should say Pre-Deployment Sub Force style.  I say this, because surface ships and submarines run a little differently than what most people think. Both surface ships and sub boats will have similar sea trials (this is where they take the boat out to make sure all is working well), but communication is extremely different.  But, these sea trials really prepares both sailors and families for their 3, 4 or 6 month deployments, depending on the type of submarine they are on.

Currently, this family is in the beginning of our first sea trial.  It's been a good 3 years since our last big separation, so the kids are taking this differently than I expected.  Although, my sailor is only going to be gone for a month, Katie seemed to have taken it the hardest.  I truly thought, she would be OK, since she remembers all the other times daddy was out on deployment.  But this time was hard.  It was hard for me to see her so sad and then finally break down and cry.  She's much better now, as she now has her own email account where daddy can send her direct emails.

I honestly thought, Charlie would be the one who would have the hardest time.  But, he's taking this quite well.  In fact, he said, "I really miss daddy.  I need him to help me pass the next level for Lego Indiana Jones".  Yep, my kid only needs his dad for video games!

Lillian is still really young and new to the whole thing.  For a few days, it seemed as if she didn't notice his disappearance, until the day she took my phone away to call daddy.  She had the longest conversation with him, I only wish he was really on the other end to hear all her babbling!

And for me...yes, I really do miss him!  But, all three kids are doing a great job of keeping me very busy.  This is the part where I have to put together a new family plan, a new system, to keep us going and staying sane.

The communication aspect of being a submarine wife sucks!  It really really sucks! It sucks because there is barely any communication at all.  And what little communication we get is through sporadic emails that are not very personal at all (because they are screened).  AND, being a wife of a submariner sucks more when your sailor is serving aboard a Trident/Boomer submariner, versus, a fast attack sub.  To me, because we've done just about every type of submarine deployment, I like the fast attack sub life a little bit more.  There is actual communication, via phone and web chat because they port at different locations around the world.  And, if you are lucky enough, you can actually travel to the different ports to be with your sailor.

Every situation and lifestyle for each family aboard the boats are different, so above "sucky" parts just happens to be my opinion.

So, really, this is a sucky pre-deployment to gear up for an even suckier deployment.

PCS move, house and the beach

I first want to share with the world that my three children traveled from California to Florida like champs.  They were absolutely the most wonderful kids on the trip across country…it was simply amazing!  I’m still in shock and can’t believe that they were my children who were traveling with us!

I know I haven’t shared much about our PCS move from CA to FL, well, because I just haven’t.  The drive was kind of boring, we didn’t stop to view the scenery, and the weather was icky.  So, there are almost no pictures to share.

But, this move marks our return to another Sea Duty command.  We will be adding 3 more years of saying “HI” and “Bye” every three to four months as they deploy and return back home. I should be used to it, since our family has been through many long and short deployments and unaccompanied tours. But this time I will be adding one more kid to this crazy venture.  I think it will go well…I hope it will go well! We shall see

The exciting news is I might have more interesting things to blog about, because being a wife of a submariner who is assigned to a boat means there will be some sort of drama…scandal…something that will buzz around the wives group (and girlfriends too).  And for the rest of the world who might get mad that I say wives group and not a spouses group, it’s only because there are no women serving aboard submariners (at this time).  But, I am curious to see what will happen when female sailors are introduce to the boats.  From what I’ve been told, there will be about 3 women on a submarine among 150 (+ or – a few) sailors.  I hope they all behave well.

And yes, I know there are no submarine bases in Northern Florida.  Technically, he is stationed in Southern Georgia, but we chose to reside in the Northern part of Florida.  AND, we are now homeowners to a brand new house that is literally 10 to 15 minutes away from the beach, which is really the topping on the cake.  AND, no, I am not completely moved in yet and I still have boxes to go through.  I have no pictures and curtains hung.  And there is a total lack of design taste in the house too.  But, I guess I’m not in any kind of hurry, since I know I won’t be moving for a very long time!  OK…truthfully, it’s because I’m spending most of my free time at the beach

 

(These pics are SOOC…so feel free to let me know how you would edit them to perfection)

Merry Christmas!

Didn't want to forget a Christmas post.  I hope everyone I know is having a wonderful Christmas with their friends and family!  We are celebrating our Christmas with my dad in Temecula, CA, before we head back East to Florida!

So far, so good...except my son will have to earn Christmas next year!  Five year old boys are not fun to be around when they are in a crabby mood.  Now, I completely understand that he is not happy with our move, neither am I, but these past two weeks leading up to today has been hellacious!  I've dreamt of breaking a wooden spoon on his behind more than I cared to.  I can only hope that once we are settled and moved into our new home, he will be back to his old happier persona!

And now, for a quick update on our whereabouts. 

We have officially PCS'ed out of Travis AFB, CA!  This move has been so bittersweet for me. Not only did I make friends with other military spouses, I made friends in the Down syndrome Community as well!  Friends that I hope will last a lifetime.  The people who helped Lillian grow strong and healthy.  The ones who knew her potential.  I will miss them dearly!  But,  part of being a military spouse is learning to say hello knowing that you will have to say goodbye, even if you are not ready.  I've made many friends playing this role.  And I've cried many times.  It is never easy to leave the ones you love, knowing that you will probably never see them again. But yet, we still move, say Hello and start all over again.  However, the sweet part to this move is moving closer to "home".  I use "home" in quotation marks because I really don't have a home (moved all over being a military brat myself).  But "home" is where I went to college, fell in love, got married and had my child.  Home is being closer to friends and family that we knew we would see again.  So, it's nice knowing that we are going back home.

Merry Christmas Everyone and have a Happy New Year!

Just a few changes

Just like I am getting ready to PCS again (another rant post to come), I’ve been getting ready for and finally have my own blog design.  What do you think?  I really really love it and I have to thank Mrs. Muffins!  Who is also a fellow military spouse.  Mrs. Muffins did a great job interpreting exactly what I wanted.  And that is not an easy task! So, please go visit and let her know what you think…and me too!

So, if you’re inclined, please grab my new and fantastic button that she created…I happen to think it’s awesome! 

I kind of feel official now…my own blog design just for me and my very own button.  How fantastic is that? 

OH…for those who don’t know what PCS stands for, it means Permanent Change in duty Station.  Which is actually never permanent.  Go figure!

31 for 21: pt. 3

Our last PCS move was from Washington to California.  Honestly, the move was pretty smooth.  The drive down with three kids and one dog went better than expected.

The problem happened right after our pack out as the driver pulled out of our driveway.  I had my master bathroom designated as a no pack zone.  Our luggage and other belongings were in the bathroom.  Sadly, I also left my wedding ring in a closed bag inside a drawer.  This ring was beautiful!  He had it made when he was working in Bahrain.  It was white gold with a very pretty princess cut diamond.  The band for the ring was created just for it also.  Well, as I head up stairs to freshen up for dinner, I opened the drawer and opened the bag and half the ring was missing!  One of the packers took off with the ring…not the band, but the ring that had the princess cut diamond on it!  What made the situation worse was the fact this happened late Friday night.  All I was able to do was call base security and filed a police report. 

When Monday came, I called EVERYONE that was involved with this move.  The moving company wanted no part in the matter.  In fact, it took over a year for us to resolve it in their favor.  According to them, I had no proof it was stolen or that I was probably lying about it.  The military didn’t cover it because they will not cover high value items.  So, by the time I finally decided to claim it on our insurance, they denied it also, because the claim is supposed to be filed within 90 days after the incident…not after a year

So, today, at this very moment I still do not have this ring.  I still have our original wedding ring, but the stolen one was a little bit more special because he designed the ring just for me.

Moral of this story is this:  DO NOT HAVE YOUR MOVERS PICK UP YOUR THINGS ON A FRIDAY!  BECAUSE NOTHING WILL HAPPEN OVER THE WEEKEND…

I can only hope for a very smooth and final PCS move this time around!

Are there any other horror stories out there beside mine???

31 for 21:24 pt.2

You guys just learned about our PCS move to Hawaii.  Now I need to share our PCS move to Italy.

It was decided sometime in 2006 that we were finally getting our chance to go to Italy!  We were so EXCITED!  Because we lived in Hawaii and our things had to be shipped to Italy, our pack out date was at least a month before we left the island.  We also decided to leave base housing and rented a small condo about a block from Waikiki beach...pretty awesome!

Everything was going smoothly until about a week before we were due to leave.  He still had orders for Italy, but this time they changed it so he had to go without his family. Bummer, right?  At this point, I only knew that I had to go to Washington.  I had no idea where in Washington I had to go.  Everything was pretty sketchy.  So, it was decided that the kids and I would stay with my dad in Southern California and then catch up with him in the summer. (a 15 hour nonstop flight with a 21 month old is no fun!  I brought a change of clothes for the kids, but not for me...)

The day before we were suppose to leave was hectic.  Our car was towed because we forgot to move it at a certain time.  We ended up spending the day trying to get our car out so we could put it on the boat going to California.  That same day, he was finalizing our travel arrangements.  We decided to fly back to Florida and say our goodbyes there.  It also gave him the chance to see friends and family again.

We went back and forth over the phone trying to find the ideal flight for our family and dog.  When all was said and done, we spent the night at our friends house and had our final goodbyes.  PAY ATTENTION....a few hours before we said our farewells, we had to take the dog to be boarded first. By this time us moms and girls were crying and hugging and telling each other we would see each other again.  It was very sad to leave great friends, whom I considered family.  My very sad daughter cried all the way to the airport.  When we arrived to the airport, I started to realize that what I thought was our departing time was not the same time on our ticket!  I truly went by the million conversations I had with him about travel arrangements and didn't look at the tickets!  Needless to say, our dog made it to Florida and we didn't.

At this point, we are blaming each other for missing the flight.  What made it worse was the fact we had to call our friends to pick us up at the airport after our very sad goodbyes...the next morning the girls were so confused!  After I took care of things we were finally on our way to Florida...but with a 24 hour lay over in Seattle, WA.  Thank you lord for the USO!

By the time we got to Florida, our dog had already spent 3 days before us!  I'm not sure if I ever want to fly again.  Murphy is not my friend!

(Mili)ing it Over...video Blog

I was recently asked to join a great group of ladies who are part of the military via wife or girlfriend. We will each post weekly a video blog answering question(s) from Jenn at Chances I'm Taking (which btw congrats on the wedding)!!!

Meet the other ladies:

Mrs. K

The Marine's Wife

Mrs. S

Mrs. Ma'am

Kat

Sarah

Jenn

Sailor's Sweetheart

31 for 21:20,21,22 & 23 pt.1

Is that cheating?  Making four post into one?  I say not (only because I don't want to be a failure).

This post is mostly going to be Military Life related.  Because it looks like we are uprooting ourselves again and heading all the way back to Kings Bay, GA!  Well, technically, the hubs will be stationed there and we will all live across the border in Jacksonville, FL.

Now, just to recap our history from 2004 until now...just so you can see why this is such a big ordeal or not for me.

July 2004 we leave GA/FL and drive all the way to L.A., California, to ship our car so, we can fly to Hawaii!  The trip was not bad at all...and plus we only had one child at the time.  But, our arrival to the airport was not going as planned and we were running LATE.  We went to the domestic flight service area to get checked in and cleared for security only to find out that we needed to be in the INTERNATIONL flight service area!  WHAT, apparently Hawaii is considered an overseas destination...when I always thought is was part of the United States.  You probably can guess by now that we missed the flight.  It wasn't so easy to catch another flight and it took almost 2 hours to find the right person to help us find a way to get to our destination.  Would  you believe the first person told me it would cost $1200 a person to catch another flight...ummm no, that was not going to happen.  In the last hour before I thought we should just swim over, a very kind man came along and took great care of us.  He rebooked our tickets to leave L.A. the next day to arrive to Hawaii.  Thank you dear sir, wherever you are!

We finally arrive to the most beautiful place on earth.  Get checked into our hotel and start relaxing and having some fun.  Because he took some time off before he checked in, we cruised around the island and took in as much as we could.  Ohhh...how I miss that place. 

The time comes when he checks into his command.  Not one person knew he was suppose to be there.  NO ONE knew why he was there.  So, they stuck him in some class until they could sort things out.  Then, we head to housing to find us a home and people there started flipping out!  See, apparantly you are suppose to check into housing within 3 days of your arrival.  We checked in about 3 weeks into our arrival.  WHY?  Because no one knew we were coming, we didn't get the "housing packet" they said they sent, and there sure wasn't a sponsor or someone to help us sort through this mess. 

WHY?  Because before our move to Hawaii, we were suppose to move to Italy in the Fall.  When he came back from deployment he said we will no longer be going to Italy, and that we will now go to Hawaii.  This was May 24, 2004.  We had to be in Hawaii no later than AUGUST 2004!  As you can imagine, nothing was done according to plan...hence the madness in the housing office.

We get our house, sorry our 1950's townhouse, and a month later we get our furniture.  OK, let's go back to his class and the "new" command.  When his class was finished, they decided to send him to another boat.  A boat that was in the middle of their work up and  in San Diego.  He flew to San Diego to meet the boat.  And would  you know that not one person was there to get him?  Again, because no one knew he was coming!!! Luckily, he's a pretty smart guy and found his way to the boat and got things taken care of.  He arrives home two weeks later and is off again in October (which is when I become pregnant with child#2).  This goes on until his deployment date in February.

31 for 21:12

First, I would like to Thank Ms. Sally from Swiss Family Carter for her sweet comment of my Lillian and for asking me some questions!  But, she is also another mother in this fantastic club that I belong to AND she happens to live in Switzerland!
She asked some very good questions:

• What sort of therapies do you receive for Lillian right now?  Right now, Lillian is receiving Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Developmental Therapy and Speech Therapy (however we are taking a hiatus on Speech). All within the week for an hour each.  I believe, this is pretty typical throughout the United States.  Every state and county here will offer something or will try to find you the resources for your child.  Now, I could be wrong, but we received very good services when we lived in Washington and now here in Northern California.
• Are you happy with what you get?  I am happy.  She has a great group of people working with her and caring for her.  They are patient and stern when needed (she’s becoming very cheeky).  They also provide me with a lot of support and information.  Not only do they help Lillian, they are very good at listening to my concerns.
• Have you ever been to Europe?  YES YES YES!!! I am a certified genuine 100% Air Force Brat!  My father served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years and 22 of them were served overseas.  I lived in Spain, England, Japan and Korea.  I’ve traveled to Germany, Scotland, Wales, Holland, Italy and did a drive by through Luxemburg.  Now that I’m a Navy Wife, I spent a short amount of time in Italy when my husband was stationed there for a year.
• Ever likely to visit?  I think I answered that question above.  However, I know I’m going to go back one day…because I love Europe!  However, when I do go back, you will most likely be in Australia by then…so maybe we’ll have to take a vacation down under???

So, Ms. Sally, How about you answer these same questions???  I would love to know more about the services you Ms. J is receiving and I want to know if you have been to the U.S.  And will you make a visit any time soon???  In fact, if you are from another state or another country, please answer these questions!  I would love to know more and see how much different or same our services are.
And for the rest of you…I’m still open for some questions.  Email me if you like or just post a comment here!  Don’t be shy…

There’s no better cure for sadness than laughter…so Lillian says Laugh Laugh and Laugh.

At least once everyday!

 

Memorial Day

I. The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, "of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors, and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion." What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead, who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foe? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the Nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and found mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of free and undivided republic.
If other eyes grow dull and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remain in us.
Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor; let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us as sacred charges upon the Nation's gratitude,--the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan.


II. It is the purpose of the Commander-in-Chief to inaugurate this observance with the hope it will be kept up from year to year, while a survivor of the war remains to honor the memory of his departed comrades. He earnestly desires the public press to call attention to this Order, and lend its friendly aid in bringing it to the notice of comrades in all parts of the country in time for simultaneous compliance therewith.


III. Department commanders will use every effort to make this order effective.


By command of:

GENERAL JOHN A. LOGAN,
Commander-in-Chief

Date Night...watching Date Night

Yesterday, Bobby and I had the opportunity to go see a movie together. Our neighbor mentioned that he and his wife went to see Date Night and how funny it was. I mean, it does have Tina Fey and Steve Carell.  You can't go wrong with those two! He then said that we should go and see it, we'll laugh a lot too and really enjoy it.

So, me being me said, "Hey, does that mean you're offering to watch all my kids?"  And he said, "Sure"!  Well...I'm taking that sure as a big fat YES!  I promptly started an early dinner for the kids, made them eat, and shuffled them all to the neighbor's house.  Bobby went to get cash and buy treats (because even the base theater will rob you).  But, honestly, he and his wife are so nice and great with the kids, I didn't sweat it a bit (and because the last time Bobby and I actually went out together alone it was around April 2009!!!).

The movie was great!  Hilarious, even!  I now want to go to some fancy restaurant and take someone's reservation and see what kind of trouble we get into...well, not really, but it would be interesting!

But, the whole point of this post is really the importance of having a date night.  I can't believe that we waited that long to actually do it.  Really, for the most part, it's the fact that Bobby and I don't go out unless we have family in town to watch our kids.  And with us being in the military, the closest family is 8 hours away!  I think we need to find other people to watch the kids (hello Respite Care), so we can have more date nights and to find out what kind of trouble we can get into!

Lucky for me, he still puts up with my nonsense and I put up with his...it's all part of being in love.  Ughh...that was too mushy for my liking!