Its all very "Silly"

Each and every time I buy my kids a pack of these darn bracelets I cant help but wish I was the weirdo who invented these! Honestly stretchy lil bracelets that are shapes? Who knew they could be such a hit. The kids have millions...I do mean millions. In fact dear Pais who has about double the amount as Easton can layer them from her wrists to her elbows on both arms and still have some on her ankles plus a few laying around the house. I find them all over, the car, laundry hamper, floor, bathtub, they even stick them on me when I go to work to share with the sick kids (which never happens since Michelle steals them!) I can bribe my kids to do anything for a pack of Silly Bandz though so for that I am grateful for the dumbest invention ever!

 Here the kids are decked out after church one day...

yes they wore all those with their

 nice church clothes (I'm picking my battles!)

 Amongst the millions they each manage to have a favorite.

 I'm not sure what Eastons is but Pais of course is her

 favorite princess Sleeping Beauty.

After we took pics of all the Silly Band fun I put the camera down to take a lil nap and here's what happened....

 Pais took a self portrait...a pretty good one even

 Then E got in on the fun...cute kids!

Then of me napping...

They are so proud of this...in fact they said they were going to tell Grandma on me. The more I think about it the more I'm convinced I learned this from my mom. In fact...I remember growing up and my mom would make us have quiet times conveniently during the hours of Oprah or General Hospital...hmmmm yes I remember mom! Plus we all know Sunday naps are a must and she always indulges!  So go ahead and tell on me dangit!

And just a few more blog worthy items:

We get our Benji back in about a week! Can you believe we survived a year...a whole year!?! Its funny because I can remember so vividly when he first left and thinking about the day he had a month left then a week then a few days and I thought it would never get here. So much has changed this last year and its funny how different of a place we are in now then we were when Ben left. I cant decide if its all been good or bad but I know for sure I am ready for it to be over.  I'm done living in survival mode and I'm ready to be a family who lives together and get on with our lives and not have another deployment luming over us in a year or two. Two is plenty for this family. Ben is getting out of the Army the 1st of Jan and he is going back to school for Physical Therapy. I'm excited for him since I think this is a great field and he will be awesome in it but I'm nervous for the move. I enjoy moving but this one is different because of a few things and its not to my ideal location but it is only for about a year and then Army Baylor in Texas is our goal. I'm sad to leave our home and our dear friends but somewhat relieved to move on from Ft Stewart and I'm sorry but I'm going to admit it but my church responsibilities as well.  We are headed to the St. Louis area which puts us closer to my fam (yay) and since it appears they have winter weather there I suppose its time to invest in winter shoes and actual coats...I will miss my warm SAV!



Pearls go with everything...

I have to wonder if bedtime is this "fashionable" at everyones house each night. As I was calling kids in for family prayer tonight before bed I couldn't help but laugh at their bedtime attire. Honestly...pearls, a headband, and a leotard!?! Then we cant ignore E in his UGA hat (he considers himself a fierce fan) and the house robe. E insists on sleeping in his under roos but bc of 6 yr old modesty issues he walks around in his house robe til hes ready to be tucked into bed.  OK fine I will admit it...what cute kids!

I took the first picture and then dear Pais says "do it again mom and let me get comfortable" so she throws out the hip...hmmm.

I truly do love them but I find myself wondering "why o why me"...a lot.

Heaven On Earth...

When my hunka hunka man was home on R&R (yes I know that's been a few months ago) we were able to ditch the kids (million thanks Christensen Fam...Holla!) and escape to the most amazing place just 2 hours from our front door. For 2 nights and 3 days we lived in style here....

The Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island

With a lovely private beach

And a cute to boot husband...how lucky was I and am I!?! (Hes mine!)

It was just what we needed! We ate amazing food and layed out on the beach...I think I was born to lay in the sun. There is not a more peaceful and relaxing place on earth then the beach. When it got dark we swam in the pool and chilled in the hot tub, we stayed up late and slept in and guess what...NO KIDS or dog! Of course we did a little shopping at the adorable shops downtown. It truly was what the deployment dr ordered and I love that we will always have this special place we can get away to with great memories. A million thanks Benji! I love you...more then lipgloss and diet coke. (that's a huge place to be in my wee lil heart)

xoxo

This weekend....

We wont be found here...

because we are escaping to here...

seriously...

this get away couldn't come at a better time!

The only thing missing will be Ben but we will love

every minute we get to spend with our dear friends Muthu and KJ

I cant wait. I feel peaceful just looking at the pics

Hurry up Friday and get here!!!

Just Another Day At the Office!

When Ben was home on R and R he left his camera here, well today I happened to pick it up and start looking through ALL the pics on it and please let me share these lil gems I found. I guess after this Ill know if he ever looks at the blog. Clearly this day was both hard and very productive!

My guess is this is the end of the day! Look at that cute face!!!

Their So Vain They Probably Think This Post Is About Them!

(This is an awful pic from my cell phone but I love how they let me dress them alike! E doesnt love it but he lets me!)

See those cute lil faces above? Well... I have come to realize vanity is a problem at our house. Neither one doubt their cuteness and value in society...especially in the world of 5 and 6 yr old love. Every mother wants confident children but sometimes I wonder if they both could use a bit of reality. Here are just a few of our everyday conversations we have had lately.

Me: "Easton you look handsome today."  Easton: "MOM! I know! I hear about it all day long at school please don't make me hear it at home!"

Easton: "I don't have a girlfriend because how do I pick just one when they all love me?"

Easton: "Pais the girls in your class think I'm cute and stare at me that's why I come and sit by you in the car line now."

Pais: "Mom, have you ever known a 5 yr old with so many ex-boyfriends?"

Me: "Pais, how was school?" Pais: "Good, everyone loved my hair bow and shoes" Me: "Really everyone?" Pais: "yes mom, everyone ALWAYS loves my shoes and hair bows!"

Paisley was asked out for ice cream by a little boy Easton plays football with and her response to him asking her "Perfect timing I just broke up with all my other boyfriends!" then as we are walking away she says "I knew Christian always loved me!"

Sometimes I'm tempted to lock my kids in their rooms and hope and pray the world wont touch them. Ben has his hands full with Pais and the boys now what o what will he do when shes a teenager? We are already running into the issue of Eastons friends like Pais and Paisleys friends like Easton. What happened to girls and boys are icky!?! PLEASE make them stop growing up and PLEASE I pray they start believing in cooties!

Being An Army Wife

Much of this post is truly written out of hurt because of some things that have been said to me recently but it had me thinking this morning about this identity I carry around of "Army Wife"
First let me say this...I have always considered myself Bens wife. Yes being his wife makes me a wife of a solider, a solider who's currently serving our country for the second time. I have never considered myself "HOOAH" enough to be waving my proud Army Wife flags and wearing the shirts but that doesn't mean that I love my husband less.
When we first moved here Ft. Stewart was indeed the first place we had lived together especially in this whole world of Army. During Bens last deployment the kids and I stayed in PHX which was close to an AFB which I am familiar with and comfortable with due to the fact I was raised in the Air Force. My first impressions were awful. I meant countless lady after lady who not only proudly wore their army wife tag but they wore their husbands ranks, his awards, and counted down the days til they left because they needed a break. I was disgusted. Is this what being an Army Wife is about? Their cars are decked out in "I love my Solider" and "Half my Heart Is In Iraq" and yet their excited for this extra deployment money and breaks from their marriage. Maybe this is just a  way of dealing with this chaotic lifestyle of separations and moving around but I have always tried to value my marriage and put it before Bens job.
Here's my question. If you don't support Obama does that mean you don't love America or support our troops? No...right! So tell me this. Why is it that if I miss my husband I no longer support him? Why cant I hide under my covers and behind closed blinds when it seems a little too lonely or never ending? Who are you as everyday Americans, family, or friends to judge me because I don't answer my phone enough or I loose touch because its one more thing to deal with when I'm already dealing with enough. I support my husband and I am truly grateful for his job and the living that he provides for our family but guess what...I MISS HIM! I am in this location for him and because of him. This is NOT where my family is this is NOT where I would settle if it wasn't for him but I do it and want to know why...because I love and support him. Deployments are not like all the sudden being single again. It is having your best friend, soul mate, support, and lover (yes I blushed) taken from you and then you are forced to spin 25 different plates of your own plus your kids and his and not let them fall. People need to understand we are not victims but we struggle...this is a hard life.  Deployments are NOT an excuse...they are truly something that limits us as individuals and as families. We love and support our Soldiers but even though we picked this life the pain of separation isn't any less.
I have learned some very important life lessons this deployment...
1. I am a better person with Ben
2. When I'm overwhelmed I shut people out
3. Not everyone in your life needs to be there
4. Distance does not make the heart wander or even grow fonder
5. Our house makes a lot of noise and its not a burglar its just a noise!
6. I can fix plumbing issues
7. I can feel joy, love, resentment, happiness, and shed tears all in a matter of 30 min
8. We are fortunate to have Bens job despite the distance
9. Never bite off more then you can chew
10. I can be 5 places at once
but most importantly this too shall pass!
All those life lessons make me an Army Wife...not the magnets on my car (which I don't have)
Don't judge me because I let one of those plates fall and don't pity me either. I have a beautiful life and what doesn't kill us does make us stronger. I have a light at the end of my tunnel and for that I am grateful. These last 2 months are like the last part of a road trip...they take the longest but in the end we will be together in person as a family again so for that fact alone Ill wait...maybe not patiently but I never claimed that as a virtue of mine.