Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These were -really- good. I LOVE pumpkin and chocolate chips so these were heaven! They taste like pumpkin pie with chocolate mixed in. They were very cake-like and moist along with the gooey chocolate..Yum!! Will definatly be making more of these

Ingredients
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions
1.Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
2.Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
3.Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.

Peace Out October!

Another month is drawing to a close and I couldn't be happier to see it leave!! It was a crazy insane month and I am so ready for November! It looks to be a fairly busy month. I'm getting another year older. *I'm still young though..as opposed to BD ;-)* It won't be the birthday I planned but..it's just a birthday. That day I'll be with my lilibug trying to get some answers and if we can find answers for her that will be the BEST Birthday present EVER. And my mom is making a trip here to help me out with Lana while lillia has her testing done so I won't have to spend my birthday alone, another plus.
I Hope to have regular daycare again as soon as they process Lillias no dairy papers. It's been WAYYYY too long since I've had regular daycare. Just as I got everything scheduled for Lillia to start going twice a week for preschool I had to cancel it all bc of her health issues and them taking their time processing her paperwork. I also get to start planning Christmas. I'm hosting again this year and I'm SO excited! I LOVE Christmas. And I really enjoy hosting Christmas. It reminds me of Christmas at my grandmas years ago. It's been probably 3 years since I've had Christmas with my parents and this year they are coming for Christmas so I'm really excited. Why, may you ask am I planning Christmas in November? 1. Bc its fun, 2. I wanna and oh ya....because R&R is December!! WOOT!!!!! So I wanna have all the big planning done as when R&R comes around I won't be plannin NOTHIN. I've also gotta get all the food for the meals BD has requested when he comes home. Still no word on when he'll be here, I have a round about idea, but nothing forsure and won't know until a couple days before, but, If I go missing then he's home :-D (that's for all those wanting to know when he'll be home..I dunno and I aint tellin if I did know..hehe)
And for the part I am most excited about........I have officially reached my goal weight! I've lost 23lbs in 4 months! Even the jeans I could barely fit in when BD left, I'm serious, I had to say a prayer before *trying* to put them on, fit me and are loose!! I have no clue how many sizes I've dropped as I haven't been shopping but I do know it's really hard to find any clothes in my drawers that fit me and don't look really baggy. Now comes the hard part..maintaining. of course, who knows...I may end up gaining some weight after R&R ;-)

so..To October......See ya later!!!!!!!!! Don't let the door hitcha on the way out!

So, On a msg board I frequent they do a "Whats something that is annoying you today" and "whats something good that happened today" so I decided to carry that over to my blog-y blog *as Lillia would say* (Ps, I'd like to thank Yo Gabba Gabba for teaching my daughter to say every word twice and end the first word with a Y)


Something that Annoyed me today: *bare with me, this could take awhile*

- The fact that lillia was up at 6am while Allana slept until 8...Could they not get their sleeping in sync..perferably sleeping until the 8am hour, at least once a week
- The fact that people put babies in dumpsters
- That I got in a fight with the back door this morning...long story short, I was mad, dog was sitting in rain not coming inside, I hate wet dog, rug got bunched up, door got stuck on rug and I was too mad to calmly straighten the rug then close said door. yaaa, moment for a video camera
- The bathtub drain 'stopper' thing is on the fritz so in the midst of my nice warm bubble bath it kept making this rather annoying 'farting' sound because it wasn't securing tightly enough to the tub, which kinda put a damper on my bath. Although I do think it would be rather hilarious to be taking a bath while BD is home and have it make the 'farting' sound right as he walks by the bathroom. lol *sorry, thats my Jones humor* comeon, think about it...it would be really funny. It does sound like a horrible farting noise. lol



Something Good that happened today:

- Lana kept sayin "mama" when she wanted me, this is huge, my kids don't normally address me by name for the first 2 1/2 years of their life
- I had DQ for dinner.......I luv their fries
- I got to talk to BD
- I got a nice hot bubble bath...a short one, but nice while it lasted...I Looovee bubble baths..a nice magazine, really hot water..mmmmmmmm
- Lana kept giving me kisses today
- At this moment, my house is completely silent.......It's a beautiful thing.

PEACE!

Crazy busy week

What a crazy insane week! It seems like it's been the longest week of my life, yet also gone super fast. Monday we went to the pumpkin patch, it was the last thing I wanted to do with my daughters medical issues but I did it because my kids deserve to go to the pumpkin patch. If daddy was here we would have gone and just because he's gone my kids aren't going to suffer. It's not their fault their daddy had to leave, It's not their fault I'm tired and stressed so they deserved to have fun. I refuse to short change my kids bc I'm tired, busy, or stressed.
Lillias medical issues starting popping up again so I knocked down some doors and got her an appt w/ her specialist on Tuesday, which in and of itself is a Miracle. It's super hard to get into Specialists here because it's mostly military, all military has fabulous health care, which means if you need a specialist, you go, no questions asked. But, I got her an appt and her dr said it's time to start looking into some other options, like getting her a consult with a Pedi GI Surgen. Tuesday was a trip to her PCM *primary Dr* to get that referral. I LOVE Her dr. He's a wonderful, knowledgable Dr. Now, His office staff is about 2 tacos short of a combo plate and test my patience and sanity about everytime I need to get an appt but the -only- reason I put up with it is so I can see this particular Dr. He's just that awesome. So he gave me a consult for a couple surgens and also no questions asked wrote me a RX for Lillias preschool stating she can't have dairy. Nothing drives a mother more insane than needing answers for her child and not being able to get them 'fast enough'
Wednesday was my catch up day and wasn't any less stressful, piles of laundry, dirty house, cranky kids.
Thursday was our Brigades Fall fest which I used as our "halloween" as I'm not about to take 2 small kids out alone on Halloween. For-get That. It was crazy busy there and I was near frazzled but I did it and I pulled off my mommy duty and they looked super cute in their costumes. I almost had to smack the kid with the stupid pumpkin 'face' on going around scaring little kids, it was so mean. These poor kids were so scared. That kids very lucky he didn't try to scare my babies. I'd smack him on his punkin head and then take him to his mother to explain to her how her son is scaring poor little kids. Don't mess with me.
So yes, it's now Friday and I'm really hoping for some relaxation this weekend. On a scale from 1-10 my stress level is about a 20. Next week looks to be crazy busy as well. Also gotta stay on Tricare to get that referral taken care of. If I don't hear anything by middle of next week I'm gonna have to start knockin down doors again. :-D

I'll blog a bit later some pics of the pumpkin patch and the kids costumes but for now it's time for me to get ready to go on a run. The other day on my run I found a dollar..maybe today I'll find $10. Now if that isnt an incintive to run I don't know what is!

Peace!

Don't you REALIZE?

So, I don't quite know the reason for this post, but perhaps there is someone out there who is feeling or has felt the way I am feeling and somehow I can help or they can help me.

Lately I have been feeling so overwhelmed, which is sooo not me, I'm a go getting, a mover and a shaker, do all, Armywife here me ROAR kind of person. I've had people ask me how I do it, manage a house, kids, bills, dogs, yard, ect ect all while my husband is gone for a year to a war zone and my answer is "Oh we stay busy, but we are doing great" and its TRUE.. I'm -not- a moper, We have our schedule and I do it all and still have time for me. I'm used to being alone, I'm fine with it and we got it down. It's all so very true...until lately.
Lately I'm overwhelmed, tired, frustrated, stressed, exausted, worn down, D-O-N-E. I had it together more last deployment when I had a newborn and a 15 month old and had no daycare.

Doesn't the dog realize that I need him to stop barking because I'm trying to deal with my daughters medical issues that have arisen once again?

Don't my kids understand that I need them to NOT sprinkle..er..dump..powder between 2rooms and a hallway then mix it all with peroxide as I'm trying to skype with their father who is 8,000 miles away?

Don't the dishes realize that I need them to wash themselves bc I have to spend the evening cleaning up said peroxide/powder glue mixture?

Doesn't my child realize that I can't handle the 12yr old attitude I'm getting lately?

AND on top of it all I've had sick kids for....geez..3 1/2 months now and on top of all that I'm now sick.

I haven't had the time in nearly 2 weeks to exercise because it was too cold to run outside with the kids then the kids were sick, and now I'm sick...It's a miracle I'm still losing weight.

1/2 my house is possibly sinking

annnd it's looking like we're moving in less than a year which means it's up to me to get the house 'sell ready' all by myself... ya know..in my spare time

Don't you realize that I have the weight of the world on my shoulders??

These are all the big things, below these big things I have 10 million other 'little' issues that need to be taken care of that aren't getting done because there just aren't enough hours in the day.
If you think I just sit around the house leisurely reading all day you are mistakingly wrong.

What stumps me the most though is how in the world women have the time to cheat on their man while they are gone..honestly..how?! By the time my kids go to bed I have been drooled on, climbed on, and hung on so much that I do believe I will scream if so much as the dog gets within 10 feet of me. And it's the honest to God truth that I don't know a man willing to come into this chaotic, drama filled, busy, hectic house besides my husband and he kinda has to because they are his kids and his stuff is still here and I have the keys to his car. lol

is this just the mid deployment hump that I'm feeling and perhaps I just forgot from last time? I sure hope so.

My Plea to T-mobile

Every month I dread 1 bill and that is my cell phone bill. I dread paying it. Every month I call the nice automated lady and they have the nice system where you have to say everything as opposed to just pushing the buttons on the phone, which chaps my hide. Not only do you sound stupid saying "YES", "PAY MY BILL", "NO", "YES" in a loud monotone voice so that they don't, Lord forbid, misunderstand you and accidentally change your plan to 10 billion minutes, but I swear to you, everytime I get on that phone to pay that bill my kids knnnooowww!!!!

Like today, I wait until the kids are totally engrossed in their tv show, pull out my debit card and phone, push 611, *very quietly, may I add, so they didn't lose their trance* Miss 'nice automated voice' answers and no sooner than I say "PAY MY BILL" in a nice monotone voice so as 'Miss nice automated lady' won't misundersatnd me, do my kids start bum rushing me and yell "MICKEY MICKEY, MOMMMMM MICKEYYYYYY MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MICKEY MICKEY MICKEY!!!"
Or there is the sudden high pitched screaming cat fight *I have girls* that happens.
Those of you who have used that type of system know that when any other noise or voice is heard Miss 'nice automated voice' gets confused and cancels your services or signs you up for the 'I'm a millioniare texting plan' then you have to hang up and start all over again. I kid you not, I have had to hang up and start over again 4 times before because of outside noises!

So there I am putting my finger to my lips, making "SHHH" faces, whispering in that quiet but 'SHUT UP NOW!' voice and my kids DON'T GET IT! I don't have the -time- to redo this 5 times! This time ended alright and I did accomplish paying the bill the first time but I kid you not, I have, literally, ran from my children, to my bedroom, they barged in there, through the house, out the backdoor, SHUTTING the back door just to get the bill paid, *I believe that was the time I was on my 4th attempt and my patiences was fried*. I hate resorting to such embarassing displays but desperate times call for desperate measures. They would -not- quit screaming at me and a mother had to do what a mother had to do.

Okay..yes..I know I could wait until they are in bed or napping and I -do- try to do that, I really really do but obviously it doesn't always happen because those 2 times are the only time I can sit on the couch for more than 5 minutes and yes, I take advantage of it. Those times are also the only times I can get dinner prepped or do cleaning without it being undone 2 minutes later or return calls/answer emails, or write these funny, witty, informative blogs, now you wouldn't want me to stop doing that now would you..so cut me a little slack, I'm kind of a mom 24/7/365 :-D

My plea to T-mobile...CAN'T I JUST PUSH THE BUTTONS!! BRING THAT FEATURE BACK!! PLEEASEEE! This 'single' mom needs all the help she can get!!!!!!!!!

Transitions

so, Since I'm getting closer to R&R I'm starting to think about transitions and things that have changed around here while BD has been gone. When spouses come home for R&R and even for good it can be a hard transition. You're used to doing things a certain way, your spouse is used to doing their own thing, and your spouse also knows how things were before he/she left. Those 3 factors can cause a lot of unneeded stress and arguments. It takes patience on both parts, especially when there are kids involved, to get back into a routine. My husband is really good about standing back the first few days and just watching and being a 'help' instead of 'taking charge' It's easy for a soldier to want to take charge coming home when they are using to taking care of soldiers or being in charge of some aspect at all of their job, which causes clashes because as a mom, we're used to doing things a certain way on our own without outside help. They get so into doing their own thing, whenever they want, however they want, day in day out for 6-12 months at a time. As do we. It can bring out a 'mommy bear' if your husband walks in and starts being harsh or disciplining the kids when you're used to doing it all or doing it in a different fashion. You're husband has been 'soldier' for a solid 6 months, they are using to talking to soldiers and can come across a bit harsh
Something I do that seems to help us is before BD is supposed to come home I write him a letter and share everything 'new' thats gone on. Like the fact that Lillia doesn't take a water cup to bed anymore, she's only allowed a sip before bed, or the fact that Lillia doesn't -have- to nap during 'quiet time' she just has to be quiet for the set amount of time. It can cause a lot of fights when a husband comes home and tries to -make- a kid nap and you and the child aren't used to that then it turns into a fight bc you're mad that they are doing something they aren't supposed too and they are mad because they didnt even -know-. It's all about communication.
Another thing, go with the flow. If your husband wants to go out to walmart at 6:45 to look at something and you are normally getting the kids ready for bed....Whats the harm in giving a bit? Say "well, normally I'm getting the kids ready for bed but if it's a quick trip, then thats fine" In the end what's it matter if the kids are 20 minutes late for bed? Ya, they may be a bit cranky the next day but there's no fight, your husband is happy, you're happy bc you're not fighting and in the end, you're together so unless its life and death...give a little. It takes giving and taking. And in the end your husband may say "oh..well I didnt know that, we can just go tomorrow" Soldiers get into the mode of doing whatever, whenever.
And lastly..Give your soldier a bit of space if they need it. They've come from a war zone where they may have seen/heard things and whatnot. They've traveled days to get home, they are most likely tired. They are going from being 'single' to 'family' in an instant. It's all a bit overwhelming. If they need space to just go drive their car or nap or just quiet. Give them some time. Now, Im not saying let your soldier desert you the whole time, but, a little space is normal and okay. If they're distant, let them be, dont nag them. Ask once if they wanna talk, if so, let them..if not..dont harp on it.
It's all about give and take, patience, and respect. Now, this isn't true for all soldiers as everyone is different, just some food for thought. When you think about it though, isn't that what marriage is supposed to be all the time? Love, patience, respect, thoughtfulness, compromise. Being nice to your spouse, being thoughtful, trying to understand their point of view and trying to understand where they are coming from. Ya, your spouse may annoy you...but...at some point doesn't -everyone- we know annoy us at some point?

It's amazing how such commonsense can be forgotten at times. It's true, you never know what you have until it's gone! I learned that my first deployment and I try to remember that when my husbands home also. Don't take each other for granted, life is too short.