I did it! I signed up! Now I get to choose books to review...
I've got a few blogging friends that work with this site as well. I'm very excited to be joining them!
Look for book reviews. I can't wait to get started!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
5 Years and Counting
Marriage. So common. So mysterious. So...many things.
My husband and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary this past weekend. I consider it a milestone. According to Wikipedia, 49% of all marriages end in divorce. The average length of "first" marriages that end in divorce is about 8 years. So if my marriage is going to dissolve, it's most likely half over. What a scary thought.
I've heard that the first year of marriage is the hardest. For Eric and I, it was a cake walk. We had a few financial issues (what new couple doesn't), but they were nothing. We had no issues with living together, no major adjustments. We became pregnant with our first child within 6 months of our wedding. My family was close by. We were able to travel to see his family. We both had jobs. Everything just worked out. Everything has always worked out. Our marriage is awesome!
When I learned that Eric would be TDY (temporary duty = training) during our milestone anniversary, I got pretty irritated.
Eric has never missed a birthday. He's never missed Christmas or Easter. He was TDY one Independence Day, but we were lucky enough to be able to go see him, so our family was able to be together. I suppose one anniversary is lucky in the grand scheme. I've just been pretty spoiled compared to some other military families/spouses.
I celebrated our anniversary with a nice steak, baked potato and grilled asparagus from Outback Steakhouse and a nice phone call with my love. We may be miles apart, eating separate meals at different tables, but our love is strong. It travels through cell towers and fiber optic cables to each other's hearts.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
My Time
I'm in love with my children. They make me smile, make me laugh, love me unconditionally, give me something to do, etc.
But I have to admit, my favorite time of day is probably after the kids go to bed.
As any other SAHM (stay at home mom) I am ON once the boys wake up. I get up, shower, change my kids, get breakfast, clean up from breakfast, take Logan to school, go to Jazzercise, come home, dishes or laundry, pick up Logan, make and clean up lunch, put boys down for nap, attempt to clean while fighting semi-sleepy boys who don't want to sleep, get boys up from nap, play with my kids, make dinner, clean up dinner, bathe boys, put boys to bed. All generic, not the same every day, some days more, some days less.
Some days I amaze myself that the schedule, which is pretty monotonous, doesn't drive me batty. I'm a conundrum that way -- I hate change, I hate when things are ALWAYS the same.
But after the craziness that is a typical Angel day, I can kiss my sleeping boys, slip downstairs and turn on my DVR. I flip the footrest out on the chair, lean back with my laptop, and catch up on my shows. It's mindless entertainment. And I love it.
I have to wonder if this makes me a bad mother. I tell myself that "a happy mom makes a happy house." How many experts tell us woman to take time for ourselves? So I try. And while I upload my photos to Facebook and watch Desperate Housewives, I giggle to myself at the funny things Logan said and marvel at the progress Ian makes every day.
And I thank God for what he gave me.
But I have to admit, my favorite time of day is probably after the kids go to bed.
As any other SAHM (stay at home mom) I am ON once the boys wake up. I get up, shower, change my kids, get breakfast, clean up from breakfast, take Logan to school, go to Jazzercise, come home, dishes or laundry, pick up Logan, make and clean up lunch, put boys down for nap, attempt to clean while fighting semi-sleepy boys who don't want to sleep, get boys up from nap, play with my kids, make dinner, clean up dinner, bathe boys, put boys to bed. All generic, not the same every day, some days more, some days less.
Some days I amaze myself that the schedule, which is pretty monotonous, doesn't drive me batty. I'm a conundrum that way -- I hate change, I hate when things are ALWAYS the same.
But after the craziness that is a typical Angel day, I can kiss my sleeping boys, slip downstairs and turn on my DVR. I flip the footrest out on the chair, lean back with my laptop, and catch up on my shows. It's mindless entertainment. And I love it.
I have to wonder if this makes me a bad mother. I tell myself that "a happy mom makes a happy house." How many experts tell us woman to take time for ourselves? So I try. And while I upload my photos to Facebook and watch Desperate Housewives, I giggle to myself at the funny things Logan said and marvel at the progress Ian makes every day.
And I thank God for what he gave me.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Bonus of the Air Force Base
I was able to not only see the Air Force Thunderbirds practice RIGHT OVER MY HOUSE this weekend, but our housing area on the base is close enough to the flight line that I got to see most of the show from my front yard. It's times like that I thank God I'm a military wife!
There are so many sides to this lifestyle that folks in the civilian world never see. Some are good (like free air shows with the coolest pilots to walk the face of the planet), some are not (don't get me started).
This weekend was a blessing all around. Eric and I went four-wheeling with friends (sans children, thanks to a wonderful fellow military wife). During one stop, I could only pause and stare at the beautiful New Mexico scenery. "I get to live here," I told myself. I don't have to, I get to. We've lived in 4 states during the last three years. How many other people can say that? How many people get to go from the white sand beaches of Destin, Florida to the Land of Enchantment? The military can open so many doors for you, if you just let it. If you just have that right frame of mind. If you just look at every move, every job change, every policy/law change, EVERYTHING as an opportunity.
I'll be honest. I do not feel so happy-lovey-dovey with our government every day. The days when my husband comes home and tells me one trip has been cancelled (hooray) so that he can go somewhere else (NO NO NO!!!!!) are not my shining moments of perfect wifedom. His unit does so much training. The kids and I get emotionally worn out sometimes from the hellos and goodbyes. But we do get the opportunity to visit some of these places with him (not often). And all of this training will help Eric get a civilian job when he retires from the Army (8-10 years down the road).
Today, I thank God for my blessings. God gave me this amazing soldier to love. My soldier has taken me all over the country (and hopefully around the world, say, Germany? next post???). He has opened my eyes to more than the Midwest (although I miss home greatly). My children have the opportunity most adults never get. I pray I can remain strong through it all and show them how to take this lifestyle and make the most of it.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Almost 30 & Still a Baby
In 57 days I will turn 30. And tonight, I miss my mommy.
Tonight as I took out some trash, I looked west and saw all the beautiful colors of the desert sunset (get a lot of those here in New Mexico). With all these people around me, I suddenly got lonely. Sometimes I just want to share things with my mom. And she's 1200 miles away.
My mother is my best friend. And not like a junior high girl has a best friend. This woman is my BEST friend. I have other family that is very special to me, but there's just something about a mama...
I'm so blessed to have the mom I have. She's been with me through everything, from sporting events and school plays, post-college job interviews and the birth of my first child. I lived within 35 miles of her until I was 27 and my husband went Active Duty. My mom has ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
But when Uncle Sam calls (or you call Uncle Sam and he says "Sure, come on over!"), the comforts of home need to change, because "home" changes. We've lived in three different states in less than three years, and we have seen and done some amazing things. I've made new friends, some of which were the type that just get you through your current phase in life, some that will be my friends til my last breath. Through it all, when I experience something new and exciting or find myself in a situation I don't know how to deal with, "call Mom" is my first thought.
For now, thank goodness for cell phones and email, text messages and Facebook...even though she isn't on Facebook yet...we'll work on that.
I have to wonder if this feeling will ever fade. I don't want it to. And it gets easier as time passes. I wonder if a part of me has yet to grow up, and if it ever will. I hope I can be as awesome of a mom to my boys, and let them know I will always be there for them. I've had a good role model.
Tonight as I took out some trash, I looked west and saw all the beautiful colors of the desert sunset (get a lot of those here in New Mexico). With all these people around me, I suddenly got lonely. Sometimes I just want to share things with my mom. And she's 1200 miles away.
My mother is my best friend. And not like a junior high girl has a best friend. This woman is my BEST friend. I have other family that is very special to me, but there's just something about a mama...
I'm so blessed to have the mom I have. She's been with me through everything, from sporting events and school plays, post-college job interviews and the birth of my first child. I lived within 35 miles of her until I was 27 and my husband went Active Duty. My mom has ALWAYS BEEN THERE.
But when Uncle Sam calls (or you call Uncle Sam and he says "Sure, come on over!"), the comforts of home need to change, because "home" changes. We've lived in three different states in less than three years, and we have seen and done some amazing things. I've made new friends, some of which were the type that just get you through your current phase in life, some that will be my friends til my last breath. Through it all, when I experience something new and exciting or find myself in a situation I don't know how to deal with, "call Mom" is my first thought.
For now, thank goodness for cell phones and email, text messages and Facebook...even though she isn't on Facebook yet...we'll work on that.
I have to wonder if this feeling will ever fade. I don't want it to. And it gets easier as time passes. I wonder if a part of me has yet to grow up, and if it ever will. I hope I can be as awesome of a mom to my boys, and let them know I will always be there for them. I've had a good role model.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Book Giveaway
As I mentioned in my first post, I want a new book. And one way to get it, is to have a blog and mention the giveaway.
My friend Sierra Tervo was fortunate enough to read and review a book before it's release. The publishing company was kind enough to give her two copies to give away. You can find details on her blog:
http://tervotimes.blogspot.com/2011/09/giveaway.html
Head on over and check her out. She'd love to have ya!
angel
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The Little Things...
A big transition happened today for my two year old. His crib is no more, having been converted to...dun dun dun..."THE TODDLER BED!" He is the second child, and as such is quite often compared to the first. The first, Logan, went from a crib to his "big boy bed" (a full twin, lucky guy) about a month after he turned 2 (not because we wanted him to, but we needed the crib for kid #2, Ian). So naturally, because Logan did it, so should Ian.
It's just another of a million milestones, milestones I've been through with my oldest. It was bittersweet with Logan, because it meant he really WAS a toddler, not my baby anymore. But not calling Logan a baby didn't hit me too hard -- I had Ian, 6 months old at the time, and HE would always be my baby. But...now my second baby isn't a baby either.
Yes, there were several instances of Eric heading back up the stairs to hand out the firmly stated "I said stay in bed." Yes, there were some tears shed from those sweet little eyes that didn't understand why he couldn't explore this new-found freedom. But he fell asleep relatively quickly.
I went in to check on him, as I do every night. And my little boy lay there, in the crib with just three sides and a little half-barrier. My eyes got a tad misty...kinda seems like he grew leaps and bounds in that second of laying down in his "new" bed.
Who knows...there may be another "baby" in the future. But for now, it's Ian. I keep reminding myself, especially when those boys push my buttons, that God gave me these precious children for only a short time. And I MUST enjoy the little things while I can.
It's just another of a million milestones, milestones I've been through with my oldest. It was bittersweet with Logan, because it meant he really WAS a toddler, not my baby anymore. But not calling Logan a baby didn't hit me too hard -- I had Ian, 6 months old at the time, and HE would always be my baby. But...now my second baby isn't a baby either.
Yes, there were several instances of Eric heading back up the stairs to hand out the firmly stated "I said stay in bed." Yes, there were some tears shed from those sweet little eyes that didn't understand why he couldn't explore this new-found freedom. But he fell asleep relatively quickly.
I went in to check on him, as I do every night. And my little boy lay there, in the crib with just three sides and a little half-barrier. My eyes got a tad misty...kinda seems like he grew leaps and bounds in that second of laying down in his "new" bed.
Who knows...there may be another "baby" in the future. But for now, it's Ian. I keep reminding myself, especially when those boys push my buttons, that God gave me these precious children for only a short time. And I MUST enjoy the little things while I can.
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