Jonathan

Jonathan had his birthday party this afternoon at the Emerald Coast Science Center. He had a great time. In this photo you can see that he was participating in the activity we choose -- dinosaur dig. The kids loved using their tools to dig through a rock to get to a dinosaur inside.  Jonathan and his friends had a great time running around the museum looking at exhibits, eating cake, opening presents and of course digging for dinosaurs.  Such a sweet little guy!

Swim

We're off for the beach here on base and I wanted to post these delightful pictures of hot mess Mary.  Oatmeal on face? Check.  Jonathan's goggles on upside down? Check.  Sticky fingers? Check.  Adorable? Always.

Loving her bathing suit. Thanks Grandmother!

1 more thing...

Sam *should* be coming home around the 10th of May.  It is over a week earlier than projected.  I do not know if it is certain but I am crossing my fingers and toes. Jonathan graduates in cap and gown on the 13th so it would be wonderful if Sam could be there of his ceremony.  Please pray for his remaining time on this deployment and pray that he arrives home EARLY and safely.  (I can't believe he might come home early!!! This NEVER happens!!!)

Sleepover

Jonathan had his friend Connor spend the night last night. It was our very first real sleepover.  I expected chaos, madness, and total terrors.  However, overall the night went very well and everyone got along splendidly. All three kiddos were asleep by 8:30 PM.  (Granted, I made sure to wear them out by walking them, having them play in the sprinkler, and go to the park).  Jonathan and Connor were released early from school on Friday and they played hard all day and then Connor's mom picked him up today at 3:30.  Suffice to say I am pretty worn out and Mary and Jonathan are also quite tired.  Tomorrow night Jonathan is spending the night at Connor's house.  He is so very excited and it will be HIS first time to sleep at a friend's house.  I admit I'll be a little anxious but I know he'll have a blast being with his buddy.

Easter Dress and Stuff!

Mary looked darling in her Easter dress from Grandmother.  I surprised her on Friday morning and told her that she had a new dress from Grandmother and she instantly lit up with happiness. She loved her dress. She proceeded to dance around and requested Grandmother's photo to put into her Easter basket for school. She kept taking it out and looking at it and took it to school with her.  Adorable.

Goals and Birthday Presents

Goals:
I have lost 10 lbs since Sam left.  I had been exercising regularly and continue to do so 5-6 days a week since January 1.  However, I hadn't been counting calories or writing down my food consumption.  While I felt fit, I also felt fat.  Writing down what I eat, paying attention to labels, and doing my best to cut down on sugar has been the best for me for losing the weight. My goal is to lose another 8-10 lbs before Sam comes home in 5 weeks.  I think I can do it if I continue to track my food intake and workout using cardio and weights.  I want to fit in my clothes better and not be the person who always hides from the camera. I am sick of feeling fat and ugly.  I can and will continue to lose weight until I can feel good about myself and not hide from wearing a swimsuit.
I also want to drink more water. Not just for weight loss but just for general wellness. I drink too many diet cokes each day and I'd like to replace them with water as often as possible. It will save money, too!

Birthday Presents:
Jonathan has a birthday right around the corner so I have been asking him what he wants for the big 6! List of what he wants:  crocs, legos, bakugan, pokemon, and a cat.  Yes, a cat.  I already purchased a pair of crocs and my parents got him some legos.  I am sure I can arrange for him to get a bakugan and more pokemon cards for his party too.  The cat though is trickier. I would just love to get a cat.  I grew up with a cat and I love animals. Cats use a litter box and do not mind if come and go throughout the day.  Jonathan however does not realize that cats do require brushing, feeding, love, and attention. I took him and Mary to the cat shelter yesterday for an hour.  Mary fell in love with a cat named Felix. (We would have taken him home then and there if he wasn't spoken for!) She held him like a stuffed animal for 30 minutes straight and he fell asleep in her arms. It was adorable. Jonathan however wasn't as excited. He did really like a black cat that gave him attention and showed him his playful side. However, the cat (accidentally) scratched Jonathan hard enough to draw blood and Jonathan took it very personally. He thought the cat disliked him!  Plus, he really treated the "wound" like a major gash rather than a minor scratch.  I told him we could get a cat eventually if he could accept that cats scratch sometimes and that they don't always want to be held or cuddled. He said he'd think about it. 

Friday

Jonathan had such a fun day at school on Friday.  First of all, fridays are now Fun Fridays and he doesn't have to do school work at school on those days from now until the end of the year. He gets to play, do relay races, and enjoy being a kid instead. (Envious over here!)  Anyhow, so Fun Friday started off being great because Jonathan had a fun time at school.  The rest of the children, with the exception of the 6 graduating kindergarteners, were dismissed at noon.  Jonathan and his buddies next proceeded to Magnolia Grill for lunch with all three teachers. As you can see in the photo, he was dressed nicely and was quite excited.  He woke up early just to get "ready" for the day! He ordered his own food (a hot dog) and was able to pay for it himself with money he had earned around the house doing little chores.  With $14 in one dollar bills shoved into his camo wallet, he was set! He got to see the inside of a walk-in refrigerator, make his own ice cream sundae, and wash his own dishes! (I wish he got as excited about the washing dishes here at home).  After Magnolia Grill, the children headed over to the bowling center.  Riding in the teachers' cars was part of the excitement.  At 2:15 I met him at the bowling alley and he was still grinning from ear to ear.  His  teacher said that the children were well behaved and garnered many compliments on their manners and behavior.  Jonathan told me in the car that it was one of the best days of his ENTIRE LIFE! (Yes, he shouted that end part).  Ah the life of a 5-year old.
The next exciting date in the near future is Jonathan's birthday.  I have the invitations ready to go and they will be passed out next week.  
I am still sick and can't seem to get rid of this nasty cough.  Why won't it go away?! At least Mary is feeling much better.  I can handle my own illnesses much better than handling both my own and a little one.
We're off to Target in a few minutes to get a few things.  I think something I forget is how long it takes to do every little errand when Sam is gone.  Just "running in to get one item" can take much longer than anticipated.  Between a meltdown, a spill, and 2 potty trips, the "running in" to any store can end up being a crawl. 

Jonathan got a stripe at Karate today. He was the only kid who got a stripe today and it was for self discipline. The teacher came up to me after class and told me how impressive Jonathan's push-ups were today! I am so proud of my little karate kid.  He is a great little boy and I am so happy he is enjoying his new class.  Here are some pictures that he took. He told me he wanted to be tough!

Mary showing off her new skirt!

Mary loved dancing around the room!
She is wearing her new skirt. We were fortunate enough to win a giveaway from an etsy seller who makes the most fabulous skirts.  I highly recommend her to all of my friends with little girls!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/LimerickHollow

April 4, Monday

Today marks 3 weeks that Sam has been gone.
It feels like much longer than that!!! I double checked the calendar just to be sure!
We just returned from karate a few minutes ago.
 This weekend was pretty uneventful as I was sick with a horrendous head cold and sinus infection.  Being sick is never any fun but being sick with two kiddos and no husband is even less fun! I
felt awful not being able to do much with the little ones but I managed to take them to the
library, grocery store, and park. 
This Friday Jonathan is going to a restaurant with his kindergarten class and then they
are going bowling afterward.  There are only 6 children in his class so the teacher is going
to shuttle them in her minivan.  Jonathan has been earning money for the trip by doing
chores around the house and he is beyond excited to pay his own bill (including a tip!)
It's hard to believe that he is almost finished with the school year.  Only 6 weeks remain and
then it is summer vacation! 
My personal achievements:  losing 5 lbs and continuing with my workout routine. I workout
5-6 days a week either running or attending the gym for weights and/or the stairclimber.  Also, I
have really been working on how I discipline the children. I have been trying hard to not
raise my voice but to talk softly and firmly and stay calm.   I do not spank the kids but I
do put them in time out or take away a toy.  Jonathan responds most to having a toy put
in time out.  Mary has become more defiant since Sam departed and has been testing my
limits pretty much on a daily basis.  I guess the terrible two's are kicking in!
Today is my sister's birthday. Happy Birthday to Bethany who is 33 today! She is a wonderful
sister and friend and I am lucky to have her in my life. 

End of March

It's been over 2 weeks now since Sam has been gone. 
The kids and I definately are not sleeping as well as when he is here and Mary has been up a lot at night.  However, I am glad that we have made it through the first 2 weeks and are that much closer to his return.  Mary regularly looks around the house for Sam and asks me where he has gone. I answer that he is flying his airplane and that answer seems to be enough to satisfy her curiousity.  Jonathan, however, knows that he is gone but has been much better about talking to me about his feelings and emotions.  He'll let me know in simple language that he is angry and sad and feels that it isn't fair for his dad to be gone so much.  I know this is all normal and I empathize with him.
Next month my little boy turns 6! I can't believe how fast time has gone.  While he was reading aloud to me from his kindergarten book, I realized just how far he's come academically this year.  My little toddler is now a big boy reading books, adding and subtracting, and riding a scooter with ease down the sidewalk.  I am throwing him a party at the Emerald Coast Science Center in Fort Walton Beach and naturally he wants to do the Pokemon theme.  (I tried to convince him that Legos would be a better theme but I lost that battle).
Mary is extremely opinionated lately and the word "No" seems to have permanently stuck itself in her vocabularly.  It doesn't really matter what the question is. The answer is usually "NO!"  and that's that.  She still loves her preschool at Mary Esther Methodist Church and attends 5 days a week.  She is the youngest in the class but I think it has helped her speech trememdously as she is ahead of her age group for language. 

Glad it is spring! Happy Spring to everyone!

Just another day in the life of...

...a deployed spouse.

Started off the day by losing an earring down the drain. 
Made it to gymnastics this morning with the kids for open gym which went well! I was hoping to go home and put the kids to bed for a nap since they wore themselves out.  Not to be.... Instead, I got my first ER visit checked off the list.  5 hours at the ER! Wheee!! Apparently Friday is Fun Day at the ER because many of the patients had been having too much fun and wound up in the emergency room.  I was proud of Jonathan and Mary for both being composed and keeping themselves busy making funny faces and drawing pictures during the whole ordeal.  Well, most of the time.  Mary had been having stomach pains and severe trouble using the restroom and it was very reminescent of last summer's UTI ordeal.   Mary has urinary reflux and is on antibiotics for the next year to help ward off UTI infections.  She has not yet had one since being on the medicine so I was naturally very concerned when she spiked a fever this afternoon, complained of stomach pain, and refused to potty.  She said it hurt too much.  Fortunately (PRAISE GOD!) a urine sample revealed no bacteria in her urine but she does have a bacterial infection of some sort.  And she is constipated.  And of course Target didn't have Children's Suppositories.  And of course I slipped and fell off the curb on the way to the car and pulled something in my leg that didn't need or want to be pulled. 
And I know it is petty, but I am mad because I don't have any chocolate in the house.
Praying that the kids go to sleep at a reasonable time tonight....

Jonathan had his first testing at Tae Kwon Doe/Karate yesterday and got his yellow belt. I am so darn proud of him. The face he had when he got his belt was priceless.  He really enjoys doing this and it is great for him physically and emotionally. The picture with his look of surprise is my favorite -- the teacher brought out a wooden board for Jonathan to break with his hands.  Jonathan did it on his first try! It was so fun to see him in action! 

I get to break a wooden board?!

FRIENDS!!



Did not want to stop drawing light sabers to smile for me...




Little G, the Sweetheart



The Damsel



Look at Mini Shawn!



Buds!

Made Me Laugh ....

So today ended on an unexpected note -- I watched dolphins swimming in the sound right by our house. We took a walk around the block and stopped at the beach to put our feet in the sand and ended up having a personal Sea World show.  Ah, living in paradise!
Haven't heard from Sam today or yesterday and it always makes me more tense and frustrated. Hearing him, even for a few minutes a day, brings me comfort and needed support.  Taking care of the kids alone and not having family nearby is difficult and quite lonely.  I love it when people take the time to visit and I appreciate people sending packages to Sam and to us.  It makes the kids happy to know that while Daddy is away, others are looking out for them.
This morning I babysat two adorable little boys that attend Jonathan's Montessori school.  Having 4 children with me ages 6,5,3, and 2 was a lot of fun though also a lot like herding cats.  The issue I disliked was having to buckle in and buckle out 4 kids. However, it was fun watching them play together!! The three boys, especially the eldest two, (Jonathan and Grant), really were fearless.  I swear they were playing Survivor: Youth Edition.  They were like spider monkeys on the jungle gym and I got tired just watching them! Oh the joy of being a kid!
Well so far we're making it through spring break.  I didn't work out today so plan to go to the gym tomorrow morning and if the weather is nice, to the beach in the afternoon.  Ending the evening will be karate practice.  Overall a pretty nice day laid out for us. 

My favorite girl....

Fun Times!

My Favorite Boys

Days before Sam left we headed to the beach

Sam's face says it all

He's already learned to be a smart alleck and do bunny ears

Snake in the House

"MOOOOMMMMYYY, there is a SNAKE in the hallway." 
Never the words a mother wants to hear as she walks in from unloading groceries.
So in true crazy Carolyn fashion, I attempt to determine using my very savvy Internet skillz what type of snake it is -- poisonous or not.  The dang thing was moving so fast I couldn't get much of a look so I trapped him in my bedroom! Ha! Score 1 for me! Then I thought about trying to catch him with my bare hands. I do watch too much TV, don't I?!  So I calmly dialed base housing and explained quickly that someone needed to come over immediately to come and get the thing out of my bedroom. I wasn't sharing my sleeping quarters with a snake. No chance.  The first man sent over told me he was unable to catch the snake but that he "thought" it was harmless.  Fabulous.  But it was still in my bedroom.  Another man was called over and they both shut themselves in my bedroom with a bucket and a few other devices that looked like they were used in the tower of London to torture criminals.  After 15 minutes they emerged victoriously.  The bedroom furniture, they stated, was in disarray.  Fine by me, I said, as long as the snake is out and unharmed.  Turns out it really was just a garden snake who had lost his way. 
Oh the fun that happens when Sam is deployed.