Passing The Time...

So communication thus far this deployment has pretty much blown! I got 1 email and a "technically 20 minute" Skype call--but the connection was so bad it was all of a 5 minute conversation.--

I know, I know...count your blessings...you at least HAVE heard from him. It still doesn't make it easier knowing that a friends ex husband has been able to call her 3 times as much (The Man and this other guy aren't at the same location).

So, to help me pass the time I have taught myself to crochet...well...really...YouTube taught me how to crochet but it is helping pass the time. So far I have only completed one project.

Those leg warmers took me about 2 days to finish but Little Miss loves them.

And now I am working on Little Man's blanket.

Hopefully I will be done with it by the end of this week.

Yarn has been very very therapeutic so far. Hopefully it keeps it up. My stress levels are amazingly low!



'Fess Up Sunday

Another week gone by another confession to make.

There was a pool party yesterday for the pool opening on base. Little Miss wanted to go. But I told her we couldn't because the wind is to bad (which isn't a TOTAL lie...it was blowing 40mph).

Truth is...it started at the same time nap time did....and they weren't missing nap time.

To make up for it I filled up the plastic pool in the back yard and let them play AFTER they napped.

So, did YOU tell a little white lie this week?!?! If so 'Fess Up and Link Up!

Out Of The Mouth...

We all know that children say things that make you smile, blush, cringe, ect...

They just have a way with words...

So, with that being said Little Miss and I had a conversation last night that was one of those giggle moments...

I was trying to put Little Miss's shoes on and she was throwing herself around on the ground like a crazed person.

I looked at her and asked her is she could just act like a normal person for two seconds?!?!

Her response to me...

"But mom, I not normal, I just Lex."

I guess we have taught her well. She is who she is...and no one is going to change her...not even to get her shoes on...

**Lex is Little Miss's actual name.**

Friday, Friday, Friday...

Wife of A Sailor

It's Friday again...so here we go!!!!

1. Do you think civilians, in general, understand the meaning of Memorial Day? I'd like to think some do...but the ones I know are all about the 3 day weekend and getting as drunk as humanly possible and the REAL meaning seems to sometimes get lost.
2. What are your plans for the Memorial Day Weekend? We have a big group of us getting together whose husbands are deployed who are going to be all crafty and stuff. We play hard lol...
3. What skill/talent do you wish you had? submitted by The 3 Turners I wish I could sing. Just so I could sing to my kids and it not sound like someone just grabbed a cat's tail.
4. Which came first: the chicken or the egg? submitted by I Married Into The Army I'm going to go with the chicken. Because I am mom...and I said so!
5. What is the best thing about your post (base)? The worst? submitted by Randomly, Robyn The best...EVERYONE agrees it's the worst base EVER. The worst...EVERYTHING. We make the best of it...but there is honestly nothing good about the base/location we are in.

1. Do you apologize to your kids? I do. I always feel bad when Little Man starts crying and I blame Little Miss (what...it IS usually her) and then I realize she was no where near him.

2. What color are your nails right now? Purple. At the request of Little Miss.

3. When you were growing up, how difficult was it for you to stay home from school sick? (As in, did you have to vomit or just say "I don't feel good".) I had to be on my death bed to get to stay home...but my baby brother once got to stay home because his toe hurt. It was never fair!!

4. When is the last time you bought a new comforter for your bed? It has been about 3 years. I really want a new one but I am trying to wait until we have a new bedroom set.

5. Favorite website(s)? Facebook, blogger, and YouTube (what they have a lot of how to crochet videos!)




I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Friday and a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend!



What's YOUR Song Link Up

Head over to and link up YOUR song of the week.

The Man and I love this song. We have been through our struggles but we have each other and our love for each other has pulled us through thus far.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

"D-Day" (Deployment Day) has come and gone. The Man is somewhere over the ocean right now and I already miss him like crazy. Watching him pack his bags was hard...though it did give me a good laugh. Don't anyone EVER expect me to be able to pack like that!

'Fess Up Sunday

Another week gone by another unintentional white lie told. So here it goes this weeks edition of 'Fess Up Sunday.

Little Miss was on a toddler rampage. She wanted chocolate before dinner and I simply sad "No. We will talk again after dinner." This did not work for her. So I told her if she kept up her crazy shenanigans she wouldn't get a birthday this year and she'd have to stay 2 all over again.

Well...that worked. Since as I said it The Man took all her nicley wrapped presents to "The Dungeon" not to be seen until she turned 3.

She will be glad to know that tomorrow she turns 3.

Oops.

So did you tell a little white lie this week to make things go a little easier...or just to get someone to stop screaming like a banshee?

If so tell me and Link Up!

MilSpouse Fill-In Friday!

It's Friday once again ao it i time for another edition of MilSpouse Fill-In Friday. So, here it goes!!

1. What is one of the things you always do special when your husband returns from a deployment?  submitted by Keep Calm and Soldier On  I cook his favorite meal and make him brownies!
2. What do you do to help your spouse and/or yourself re-adjust after a deployment or long separation?  submitted by Diapers, Dogs and Deployments I try and keep things as normal as possible. And we try and spend about 10 days just as a family..no extended family allowed!!!
3. Are you a crazy coupon clipper (I’m becoming one, so share your secrets with me)?  submitted by Married My Airman I want to be so badly. But I am terrified of becoming a hoarder because I would be the woman with 100 rolls of paper towels stacked in rooms just because I could get them cheaper.
4. What’s your most treasured memory of you and your spouse (not counting your wedding – that’s a given)? submitted by Scrubs, ACUs and One Crazy Ride My most treasured memory was the day he graduated basic training. He joined the Air Force to give us a chance at a good life and my heart was so happy the day he stood in formation on that feild at Lackalnd AFB.
5. If you could live anywhere overseas, what would you pick and why? submitted by Little Moments Like This Guam. I honestly believe I could get past island fever. And If I couldn't have Guam...Japan!

I'd also like to say that I am Guest Blogging today over at Sugar In My Grits! Go check out her "Women Left Waiting" Event she has going on until May 30th!!

We could have a problem...

I am feeling overly crafty today. I think it is to take my mind off this pending deployment...but nevertheless I have been awake since 5 a.m weaving and knitting away.

I need to learn to crochette...but that's for later.

So, as I am typing this it is 9:45. I have had to take several breaks from my projects because of my lovely b.r.a.t.s. but Little Miss has 2 new headbands, a finished blanket for her bed, and a new pair of leg warmers (well, they are almost done...it's a new attempt I am trying). And Little Man will have a pair of leg warmers if I can get Little Misses right.

I am doing everything I can not to rush out and buy all the yarn from the nearest Hobby Lobby. I just need to put all my focus and energy into something that isn't this waiting until the day The Man leaves.

So, crafting will be my go to outlet. Maybe one day I will post pictures of some of my crafting skills. I should get REALLY good at it this deployment.

Wordless Wednesday

Let's Talk Tact!

Ever since Little Man was born people around here seem to have forgotten when to shut shut their trap.

I know my mother always told me if you don't have anything nice to say, DON'T say anything at all.

See, when Little Man was born, he was born with a birthmark...not your normal birthmark...this one takes up the right side of his face. It is known as a port-wine stain.

As he gets older it will likely darken and raise off his skin slightly. We have been through the debate on whether we get it removed or teach him to love and adore it as much as we do.

As of now we have decided we will teach him to love it and love himself as much as we do. Unless it starts to cause medical issues of course. He is a happy, relatively healthy baby boy.

But some things I have heard out of people's mouths have blown my mind! So let me clear some things up...

*No, I did not burn my kid with a flat iron, it is a birthmark.

*No, I am not going to burn my child's face with a cigar to 'see if it clears up' just because you claim it worked for your son.

*No, mommy and daddy did not let him fall down and go boom.

Those are just a few things I have heard. Now, I know a lot of people have no experience with this type of birthmark, but you just don't say those things in front of a child.

What if he was old enough to GET it? Those words hurt.

I thank God every day for Little Miss too because when someone says something about her "Bubbie" she jumps in and says "It is his love mark. My bubbie is perfect, just like me and you."

I am going to work on making a page about port-wine stains simply because there is so much that goes along with it. We have had more MRI's, CT's, Ophthalmology appointments, Dermatology appointments, EEG's.

Little Man's first year was a big question...if he was healthy, if we would spend the next 10 years in and out of surgery's and therapy. But we have a clean bill of health. They have to run a few more tests at age 2 but for now, he is perfect.

Final Preperations

All that is left is to spend time together. Hug the kids and cherish these moments. The Man will miss Little Man's first steps, his first "actual words", summer vacation, his birthday, my birthday...

So is the life of the military.

Don't get me wrong...I wouldn't change it for the world. We have a GOOD life. But preparing for an extended goodbye never gets easier.

Don't tell him...but I will actually miss when he pokes me to intentionally bother me. I will miss the having dinner ready and him being late for the 3rd time this week. The little things in every day life that sometimes get under my skin...I will miss.

His bag is packed and sitting in the middle of the living room floor. It's real. It's happening. Soon.

I will get the kids through this deployment with dignity and grace. I will make daddy a part of every activity we do. I will make sure they KNOW their daddy loves them more than anything in the world.

So here we go...I'm off to stock up on flat rate shipping boxes. Care Packages are what I look forward to sending while he is gone.

'Fess Up Sunday.

So, we know we are all guilty of telling little white lies throughout the week. Whether it be to our kids, our significant other, our boss, the cashier at WalMart....

My Confession

Little Miss and Little Man were at each others necks Thursday night. I was getting a headache and The Man got stuck at work late. So I told them they got to stay up SUPER late and it was time for bed......it was only 6:45 pm.

Oops.

So, what is yours for this past week? Link up!!

MilSpouse Fill-In Friday

Head over to Wife of A Sailor and link up!

1. Which was the best day of your life- Wedding day or Homecoming day? I gotta say, homecoming. Our wedding day was to stressful. Homecoming is just us and the kids...perfection.
2. Were you a part of the joining the military question or did you sign up for the relationship when your man was already in the military? I was part of the equation. We already had Little Miss and when he brought up the idea and we had a couple months debating it we decided together it was best for our family.
3. What is your favorite Disney movie and why? The Little Mermaid. I love everything about it. And am jealous that they get to spend their days by the water. Living in the desert makes you a little bitter.
4. What is your favorite family activity to do on the weekends? We like to take the kids to the zoo and the park. If we aren't doing that you can find us at home in our pajamas not doing a thing!!
5. Where do you secretly wish you could be stationed with you/your SO’s line of work (realistically speaking, not everyone can be stationed on NAS Fiji)? We would both love to be in Guam. And hope in the next 6 years or so to be there! We use it as a threat a lot...'if you guys don't leave us alone we are moving to Guam'...but truth is...it is a dream location for both of us!

What's YOUR Song?

Go visit and link up!!

Toddler Road Rage

Yes, Little Miss has a SERIOUS case of toddler road rage. She gets furious with cars who aren't moving at green lights, and makes sure to take notice if the car in front of us is moving slower than the car next to us.

Riding in the car with her is always comical.

Yesterday we were going to get KFC for dinner and Little Miss got into one of her "moods."

The light turned green and the car infront of us decided NOT to go so Little Miss being Little Miss yelled as loud as she could...

"MOVE IT SWEET CHEEKS!!"

The Man and I lost it. We have never laughed so hard. Then she topped it off with...

"Ohmygosh, it's not that funny. I'm hungry."

Oh the things kids say.

Wordless Wednesday

Adult Assembly Required

Christmas and birthdays make my skin crawl because of those three little words.

This past Christmas Santa spent 7 hours doing adult assembly. Then The Man and myself spent ANOTHER 5 hours finishing what was under the tree.

Little Man's Birthday was 2 hours of adult assembly. And so far for Little Misses birthday we have spent 3 hours.

When we see those words in this house we don't only see "Adult Assembly Required." We see...."this will contain a million small pieces that are labeled wrong, You will be short a few screws (literally and figuratively). You will combine curse words you never thought would go together. You will likely thow a screw driver, maybe even the product being assebled. You need to go get a box of hair dye to cover the gray's you will get from trying to figure out what the instructions REALLY mean. And most of all we see....grab a beer, this is going to suck."

But we do it all in love, for those two little bundes of joy. So they can laugh, play, climb, spill food, and ultimeltly destroy it!!

So, if you see those three little words on a box and are thinking the kids would just love that. Think again, because mom and dad are done with them. For a long, long time.

Happy Belated Mother's Day

Since this house was sheer chaos yesterday I didn't get the chance to say Happy Mother's Day! So here I am a day late saying I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL day.

I for one spent the day with my 2 kids who were so well behaved I questioned if they were mine....and The Man, who HAND WASHED dishes, dried them, and put them up. It was all a little surreal.

But since The Man only had a one day weekend thanks to the Air Force we still had stuff that had to get done.

I learned just how full of hot air I was when I blew up the kids "pool" which we turned into a sandbox/ball pit. And The Man had to do some serious Adult Assembly Required (there will be another post of this VERY soon). But after 5 hours, 300 pounds of sands, 350 plastic balls, 28 decal stickers, and more curse words you could EVER imagine the kids birthday stuff has been assembled...at least the stuff we have gotten so far...

And to see them THIS happy...was worth every second.

Pre Deployment Woes.

There is nothing fun about preparing for a deployment. I am learning this very quickly as we get closer and closer to enduring our first.

The tensions are high, we are both very quick to anger, and the worst part...Little Miss realizes something isn't right.

As The Man starts organizing his stuff Little Miss starts putting it back were it goes.

She has endured 2 TDYs in the last 90 days...one of them lasting 40 days...so she knows she hates when The Man has to leave.

My heart breaks right now. She is such a daddy's girl. And for 6 months she will have to only hear his recorded voice, maybe a phone call if she's awake, and talk to her daddy doll.

Little Man seems to get something is up too. He may only be 1 but for the past 3 days he hasn't left The Man's side.

I know kids are resilient, I do...but it doesn't make it any easier for me to watch my babies hearts shatter as daddy has to leave.

And of course The Man and I both have our own troubles. I still haven't processed the deployment...and don't want to. He and I are both list people. The typical conversation is "Ok, what appointments do you have today and what is still left?" "I need to make sure this, this, this, and that are done before I leave."

I think we are just trying to keep things normal.

Normal is easier.

But for 6 months I will miss seeing this.

But with technology today, and the wonders of Skype, hopefully this deployment will be easier than I am planning for.

You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.  ~Frederick Buechner

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Because...let's face it...we are pretty much amazing!

But really, thank you for all you do. Being the woman of the house, and when needed the man. Being mom, but keeping dad in everyday life...even when he is far away. Being the fixer of all boo boos and the handyman...even if it isn't the prettiest. Being strong, even when you want to break down.

Each spouse is Wonder Woman in her own unique way.

I hope you enjoy your day. And remember, you are important EVERY day.

Dear So and So....The FIRST Edition

Dear Air Force,
You do an amazing job at screwing up every plan I seem to make. It's a good thing I have my big girl panties on.

Yours truly, The Dirty Mistress

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Little Miss,
I hate to tell you, but Little Man out smarted you. He has figured that when you run in circles yelling "nananabooboo you can't get me" that he can sit in the middle of the floor and trip you each time around. And I hate to tell ya....but it is kinda funny!

Yours forever, The giggling mommy.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Little Man,
When mommy says "No" that's what I mean. Not "Hey Little Man, look at me like I'm crazy, laugh, and go right back to it..." We gotta work on your listening skills....your turning into your dad a little early.

Love, Mrs. Repeat

~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Readers,

Go visit 3 Bedroom Bungalow. She always has something funny and witty to say!

Always, Amanda

Hey look, I'm Blogging!

Hi there. I'm Amanda. I am a born and raised southern girl...I just seemed to miss out on the charm and grace that is supposed to come along with that.

I am loud, outspoken, and very opinionated.

I met my better half in high school...though we didn't realize it until college.

After college, I got pregnant, we got married (yes in that order!), and then he joined the Air Force.

Today we have 2 awesome kids. And are living in the middle of nowhere New Mexico.

Enjoy my (our) journey in raising our 2 kids in this military lifestyle.

They are most definetly BRATS....Born. Raised. And. Trained.