The Monkey and the Princess

Halloween 09
Well, Thanksgiving is right around the corner so I thought it would be the perfect time to post pictures of our first Halloween in SC.

All and all it was an interesting day. Of course I worked that night, and Tamy had her hands full with the kids, costumes, and making sure that everything that needed to be done before I left for training, was done. Much to Tamy's delight I managed to take off that night from work so I could be part of Joseph's first Halloween and Evie's third.

We always start with high ambitions to 'deck out' the yard with cool Halloween props and wear cool costumes, but then Oct 31st hits and we find ourselves scrabbling for a trash bag to put over our heads. This year it appears Tamy & I got caught. Tamy & I didn't even bother dressing up. We counted ourselves lucky just to make it out of the house! Joseph wore a cool Monkey costume that looked like a lion, and Evie was... a Princess!

With our kids ready to go we left for our Church that was hosting a dinner and 'trunk or treat'. For those of you not familiar with a trunk or treat, it is simply a trick or treat for small kids in a safe environment, where they collect candy from the trunks of cars rather than at different houses. The trunks are manned by our friends at church. It cuts down on time, provides a safe haven, and most importantly, maximizes your candy stock. Oops, I meant our kids candy stock.

The weather that evening was fantastic, try trick or treating in 80 degree weather!!! Better rethink your costume. Joseph and Tamy (in her long sleeve shirt and sweater) were sweating bullets in their clothes. After dinner we had a pumpkin competition and Evie got to have her face painted. After some good food and conversation we took the kids outside. One of the members of our church brought a tractor with cars attached to it like a train. For 2 plus hours he drove around the kids in 10 minute rides.

By the time we got outside, the rides were almost done, in hopes that we could catch one more ride we raced over to the 'train man' with Joseph & Evie. (Do your best British accent) "Please Sir, just one more ride."

The Train man nodded and I swiftly lifted Evelynn into one of the seats. Then I notice a problem, how would Joseph ride? He was too small to go alone and Evie wasn't able to help him out. I looked at those tiny seats, made only for small children and came up with a brilliant idea. "I'll beat I could fit in one of those seats," I said. With that I hopped into a very cramped and unwelcoming seat, but I was in. I picked Joseph up and sat him in between my two knees, which were sticking straight up in that tiny cart. The ride was a little bumpy for my taste but Evelynn was having the time of her life, as she sat next to her new best friend Emily, they laughed together the whole time. Joseph had a big ol' grin on his face too. He just loved it!

After the ride was all over we went Trick or Treating in the trunks. Evie met many couples all dressed up and their trunks 'decked out' with cool, or scary props. Evie still has a way to go before she figures out this whole 'trick or treat' thing, but she loved what went in her bag. Joseph got to hold a green glowing stick and had a big smile as we took him around with his big sister. Evie had a pink glow stick that she cleverly attached to her dress as a neckless.

It is absolutely priceless to watch the Princess and the Monkey together. Evelynn (Princess) loves doing things with Joseph (Monkey), and Joseph just stares at his amazing sister and gets so proud when he can do something she does.

Doing Halloween with just Evelynn was an awesome time, doing it with a Monkey and a Princess was even better. I can't wait to see what it will be like with 3! Maybe next time mom and dad will be ready.

Another Week Down!!

So week two was definately not what I thought it might be. I learned several things:

1. No matter how reliable a person is there is always room for disappointments. It doesn't mean they are a bad person, it simply means that you need to adjust.

2. Your children are always aware how you're really feeling and will act accordingly. They don't listen to words, they listen to tone, body language, and facial expression. Be prepared.

3. When one thing is going wrong it is a high possibility that other things will go wrong as well. It's not karma, bad timing, or divine chastisement. It's attitude. It is hard to turn things around when something goes wrong, but it's important if you want to stop the cascade.

All of this adds up to a good learning experience, but the most important lesson I learned this week was this: your spouse becomes your best friend because when you are learning the lessons above, it is he/she that helps you gain perspective, feel better, and give you the encouragement you need to step up and try again. Thank goodness for my husband!!!

On a lighter note, though the week was one of the not so happy ones, it does mean that Chris only has three weeks left!!! What a great thing. At least something wonderful came out of it!

Have a good week everyone.

Gone Again

So, we have been left to our own devices yet again! Chris has been gone a full week now to train in Mississippi. He will be back just after his birthday in December. Thankfully, this time is going so much smoother than the last time he left us. I have amazing resources in both the military and in the church and we are already in "dad is gone" mode with the kids. Chris calls at least once a day to say hi and keep us posted on what he's doing and we get to share all the funny stories that have occurred that day.

You wouldn't believe how much I got done this week! With a deadline like Chris' homecoming, it has really helped to motivate me in my home-projects list. I am almost done with both of the bathroom overhauls. The kids have a frog pond in theirs and we have a more sophisticated gold/wine theme in ours. It's really exciting to finally decorate things the way I want them. I had so much fun painting. Being 8mos. pregnant wasn't one of the perks, but it went smoothly and we've gotten several compliments from our realtor. It really helped to add some life to the rooms. I'll post pix of the rooms as they get finished.

This week it looks like I'll get some help with our yard (it hasn't been mowed since we moved in. No lawnmower!) and some help setting up the new crib that Chris got for me. It's beautiful, but quite large and heavy. I'm so excited to finally have a crib. We've never had a home big enough for one! So those are two projects that will hopefully get done. I finally put child locks on our bath/kitchen cabinets so I can finish unpacking all the stuff in those boxes. I also finally broke down and hauled out the unpacked boxes so they're not sitting in our office anymore. It's been a busy week, but I took it lightly.

The first week Chris is gone is always the hardest. It's the same when he comes home. The adjustment period is interesting. The kids are in the flow now and I'm getting better at managing my time. The fact that I have the car whenever I want now helps a bit. I've also set up babysitting at least once a week so that I can schedule dr. appts, base appts, and do the shopping or research that I need to. I also try to do one fun thing during those times as well. This last week I got our finances fixed on base, met with a dr., and bought some little home improvement items to finish the small projects I'd set for myself.

This Tuesday I have a budgeting consult on base to consolidate loans, figure out our expenses and get a system that works for our family. Instead of knowing where it went, I want to know where it will go! I also have a rep from family support coming out to meet with me to address some single-parenting concerns (with Chris gone) and help prepare me for our next baby. The AF is so supportive of their service member's families!

Cute moment of the week: Evie asked me to sing her a song I didn't know at bedtime. I had heard the melody, but I didn't know the words. She looked at me with her most patient and loving face, put her hand on my cheek, and said in the most grown up way, "Just do your best mommy, it will be okay."