My Life As An Army Wife

That -is- the name of my blog so I thought I would share with you my day.

Thursdays are typically "family day" and they get off at 3.....ya..okay. right. That's a pretty dream someone thought up..but play along for a second will you..... (This is all texty talk also..that adds another annoyance factor)

I've heard:

"yes I'm getting off at 3"
"nope, I'm not"
"maybe"
"I'm in training and blah blah blah must be done first" (he didn't say blah blah, I did because it was all Army talk)
"training is done"
"ohhh sorry, they threw last minute stuff on me at 2:50"
" disregard..I gotta just talk to Sfc blah really quick" (more Army names and talk)


Now, Let's recap lunch.........
He was going to take lunch....he forgot
"I'll just skip"
"ok just bring me something"
"nevermind, just come here and we'll go get something"
so I go..and I wait...and wait..and wait.
"sorry, still in training..be done soon"

5 minutes later................

"yah, just go get something and come back"

So I do..

"I can only grab the food and go" so I prepare to lob Tacobell out the window as he comes to the car just to hear:
"nevermind..I can stay a bit"

*whimpering*..............basically I just respond with an "ok" and all is good. Not worth the energy to get upset or stressed over.........

Semper Gumby!!!

A job at Walmart where he HAS to clock out at a certain time is starting to sound real appealing at the moment........................

If you never read another blog I post, please read this one!

I'm publishing tomorrow's post tonight.. I would like for it to get as many views as possible. If you have a blog, please consider reposting this for me!

This post is real simple. I'm doing something I don't normally do on my blog.. I'm asking something of you..pleading with you...

Today, please pray, or send good thoughts, or whatever it is that you do, to my friend and her unborn baby. Her name isn't necessary, the situation isn't necessary.

This isn't about religion, it's not about an agenda, it's about an amazing family and an unborn baby who desperatly needs prayers today.


Thank you. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you!


So please, I ask that you take one minute out of your day and devote it to this family.

Everything Fall

Fall is in the air! Okay, it doesn't quite look like that outdoors nor does it feel particularly 'fallish' but it's cooling down to where I can wear jeans all day without sweating to death. So to me, it's fallish.

I am feeling fall full swing. All my fall decorations are out, I'm starting to plan the girls' Halloween costumes, My mind is on carmel apples and pumpkin goodness. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin waffles, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pie..oh my!

I am lacking one fall must have. My fall Yankee candles! Pumpkin, fall leaves..mmm Hopefully I can remedy that this weekend. My lemon and berry candles just aren't cutting it anymore.

We decorated Halloween cookies with the girls last night and I plan to stock up on pumpkin in the next couple weeks. It's also time to stock up on fall bows (OHH MISS APRIL!!!) Big Girl wants to be Jesse off of Toy Story and lil miss wants to be 'gee goo gaw gee' (If anyone could tell me what that is I would ever so appreciate it) It's time to get the girls their customary Halloween T-shirts.

Cozy evenings filled with carmel apples and pumpkin bread...


Love.

Tuesday's 10

Hey hey, it's Tuesday again!!

1. I was in no mood to get up today, thankyouverymuch.

2. I would not trade my kids (all 3 of them) for anything in the world! No career, no fancy college degree, not the prettiest sights in the world.

3. I prepped dinner yesterday for the next 2 nights.. I'm proud.

4. My 4yr old has brought home an attitude from school, complete with 'whatever', 'riiiiiiiiiight' and arm crossing.

5. I had quite a bit of energy yesterday but today doesn't look as promising..I'm already ready for a nap.. at 8:15am

6. I totally gorged myself on Lofthouse Sugar cookies...oh..em..gee..delish

7. On Sunday I had a warm, fresh Krispy Kreme.........it was amazing.

8. I am SO tired of going to the store for 1 or 2 items. I just can't get myself together.

9. Anyone in my area know about any fun fallish type stuff? Pumpkin patches, ect

10. I am craving carmel apples...not just any carmel but the carmel my mom makes, all melty and cream cheese (I think) mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Our little L.T

Our little L.T is growing, growing, growing. Tomorrow I hit 9wks. Everyone keeps joking with me that it's twins..twins run on my side of the family..not a funny joke. lol I already have a sizable baby bump (for only 9wks) Regardless, I will take whatever is in there!

My queasy stomach has mostly subsided. Thank goodness. I am still so so tired though. It's getting a little frustrating because I am such a go-getter, never stop kind of person. Last night I was in bed by 830, slept until 7am and by 9am I was ready for a nap. Finally got my 2 1/2 hr nap at 1 but I still didn't feel rested when I woke up. I'm.. exausted. Yes, yes, I get that I have 2 others but one is in school during the week and during the weekend hubs -more- than pulls his weight. I have it pretty easy.

I go to the dr in 2 wks for my first blood tests, ect. (yes, I'll already be 11wks) I cannot wait to hear L.T's heartbeat and "see" little L.T. I have a 'mommy feeling' as to what L.T is (boy/girl) but I'll just let you guys guess. :-) In a week or so I plan to blow the dough for the intellegender test you can buy at the store. One of my friends tried that with her baby and it was right. So I will update you after I do that and let you know the results. You're supposed to wait until 10wks but I will probably do it sometime this week. We'll see if my feelings and it match.

What do I want..... I want my baby to be healthy! A girl would be SOOOO much fun again! bows, pink, princess, ah, love it. But, I want to give hubs a son, and there are some -really- cute boy stuff out there. Frankly though, Boys scare me. lol I don't know what to do with a boy! Boys seem so foreign and scary. I will gladly take either one though!

I feel happy and glowey and amazing. Everything that pregnancy should be. I can't wait to have this baby and hold this baby and give L.T snuggles.

Our babysitter in Killeen is about to have her baby. Unfortunatly, they've been told her baby won't live long. She is a beautiful, strong woman! (I wish we coulda brought her with us) You have to check out her blog. She's an AMAZING woman and her strength is amazing! I hope to have half the strength, love, and grace she has. She is a true inspiration! You can check out her blog at www.rydaysalt.blogspot.com
If you pray, please say a prayer for her and her baby! This family deserves nothing but the absolute best in life!

Oh How The Tables Turn

I'm sitting on the couch and I haven't moved in 40 minutes. Yes, my kids are still alive in the house. I literally have not move my butt from this couch in 40 minutes. Why you may ask?

Well, it all starts last night as hubs and I lay in bed and in his sleep deliriousness he says "baby, you should just relax, all evening. I'll do everything" so, being the good wife that I am I held him to his word........

At this moment there has been a gallon of water spilled on the floor, 2 kids that are 15 minutes late for bed, I'm giving it 10 more minutes before they are actually IN bed, no baths were done, He's literally rolling on the ground trying to get big girl's pigtails out, and the kids got cheese for dessert. Can I also add that I am sitting here laughing my lil socks off. This is fabulous. I've done this for 2 years. I'm lovin' this.

Here are some phrases I've heard yelled in the last 40 minutes:

"I NEED A DRINK"
"I'M REALLY LOSING MY MIND RIGHT NOW"
"STOP SPLASHING IN THE PUDDLE THAT I'M TRYING TO CLEAN UP"
"I CANT LEAVE YOU FOR FRICKIN 5 FRICKIN MINUTES WITHOUT YOU TOUCHING SOMETHING"
"IM REALLY SERIOUS RIGHT NOW"
"MY BRAIN IS GOING TO EXPLODE"
"DO YOU SEE THAT I'M DOING 10 THINGS RIGHT NOW"
"I NEED A BOX OF DONUTS, A PACK OF CIGS, AND 4 MARGARITAS"
and the winner:
"HOW DID YOU DO THIS FOR A YEAR? THIS IS JUST BEDTIME, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE PAYING BILLS, THE HOUSE, THE YARD, THE DAYTIME!!!"


Oh how beautiful this is! Moms, I highly suggest you try this little exercise with your husbands.

I have to say I give him MAJOR props! I've told him numerous times that I would get up and help and he's told me, quite forcefully, no, stay where you are. What a guy!

Poor guy has had a rough evening anyways. Big girl told him that she had a boyfriend named Jesus (the Mexican pronunciation)and she was going to kiss him and marry him. I really think his brain is close to exploding.

365 days I did this, day in, day out, 24/7... I don't think an hour is too harsh? Do you?

One thing is forsure, he will -really- appreciate going to work tomorrow.

Tuesday's 10

1. I'm lacking serious motivation today

2. I'm at the stage in pregnancy where I'm hungry but nothing tastes good..that sucks. If I choose something that my stomach did not like then I get a horrible case of queasy stomach alll daayyy looonngg.. It's kinda like playing Jenga. It sucks.

3. My jogging stroller has a perpetual flat tire so until it gets fixed I've had the car..I can't lie, I'm kinda enjoying it.

4. I didn't have to take Hubs to work this morning. What an amazing treat! I don't have to leave the house until 1030am. Beautiful.

5. Brats or chicken alfredo......That is the question. Either one requires a trip to the store..again..so no help there.

6. Theres a big ceremony, todo at Hubs work and rumor is that after said ceremony they are done for the day............Really hoping that rumor is true..of course that sounds too good to be true.

7. It's impossible to keep a 745sq ft apartment clean to my standard (my standard of claen is much different from other standards of clean)

8. I have OCD when it comes to my house. Now, it's not debilitating OCD to the point where I cannot leave until it's perfect, it's more mental OCD, as in, it just keeps rolling around in my brain until I explode and yell at everyone for not keepin their crap picked up

9. School nights are exausting. Dinner, bath, reading homework, bed all in 2 hours.

10. School in and of itself is exausting. Find a matching outfit, make sure child eats, get to the bus stop on time, pick up kid, go through backpack, deal with sisterly fighting that they've kept pent up all day and then the nightly routine begins.... I'm not looking forward to next year when I gotta have her to school by 745. uughh

Carlsbad Caverns

We took our first day trip 2 weekends ago.. Carlsbad Caverns. I hadn't been here since I was young and wanted to share it with my kids. It was just a short drive away and was pretty cool.

These were called the Lions Tails

This was really cool, it had water running down it, shaping it as time goes on. There was Beautiful crystal clear water underneath it.

Cheese!!

Chicken Enchiladas

I can't take credit for these chicken enchiladas. Hubs found the recipe and made them and they were a hit! I normally use a crockpot recipe for chicken enchiladas but these are good if I'm in a time crunch and I fail to put the stuff in the crockpot. OK, they are just good, period


First, ya take some chicken hooters. About 4.. I used 8 this time but they were A cup hooters, and ya cook em. I Like to boil them. Makes them eaiser to shred. Boil them until they are cooked.

In another pan you take a brick of cream cheese and 8oz of salsa and melt those together. Add in 1 15oz can of pinto beans and this time I added a couple tablespoons of fire-roasted green chilis. It gave it a nice zing. If you don't like zing you could definatly leave them out. Melt all that together until its all harmonious.

Add in your chicken hooters, which have been cooked, cooled and shredded (Cooled just enough that you -can- shred them, don't burn any digits) Let it all get all happy..about 5 mins or so.

Take your goop (it really does look like goop, but it tastes amazing) and put it in tortillas and roll it up. Top it with enchilada sauce, We only eat green chili enchilada sauce but do whatever your tastes desire, if you want, you definatly don't have to though, One time we didn't and it was still really good. Top with some cheese and put in the oven, 350ish, until it gets all bubbly and yummy.

I usually keep it in the oven while I make some rice. Out of a package usually, I could make from scratch but..well.. I don't..Don't judge.

Eat up!

Crockpot Tuna Casserole

Today you are getting a treat! Two Posts!

I just made this recipe tonight for dinner and it was soooo good. A hit all the way around. I was a bit skeptical but definatly a winner.

I've been getting my crockpot recipes from http://crockpotgirls.com
Check them out!

Tuna Casserole

2 cans of tuna

10 oz bag of frozen peas

1 can of cream of mushroom

1 can of broccoli and cheese soup

2 cans of water

1 chopped onion

1/2 box of spiral pasta

2 Knorr Chicken flavor bullions

Cook everything together except for noodles for 2 hours. Add noodles and cook another 2 hours or until noodles are cooked. I like to sprinkle cheese on top after it’s cooked

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I omitted the cheese on top afterwards and served it with a salad. It doesn't say but I cooked it on low and it came out perfect. Delicious!

Can You Come Out To Play.

Lately we have been starting to whole "Can you come out to play" thing..Here's my issue, my kids are 4 and 2, I dont know you, I don't know your parents. I can't handle the whole going over to someones house thing yet. I'm too young for this. Sure, If it's someone I know and trust then that's a different story but in an apartment complex where I've never even seen that you -have- a parent. For all I know you could be living alone, you and your sister...not happenin.

These kids are at least 6. Anywhere from 6-8yrs old. I'm sorry but my 4yr old is not playing outside unsupervised and you, in your 6 yr old greatness do not count as supervision and no, my 4yr old is not going into your apartment alone. I don't know the parents, I don't know the kids. Not happenin. These kids are always outside playing unsupervised. Every. Single. Night.

Now I'm getting the ding dong ditches and the glares when I say she's going to bed and it's only 7. I just don't have the energy. I'm sorry but 4 year olds don't need to be playing outside alone with 6 year olds.

Shouldn't these 6 year olds be inside doing reading homework, taking baths, and going to bed for school, like mine are. Surely if my 4 yr old has reading homework, at 6 years old, they do too.

Give this one a try!

I'm on a crockpot kick, basically because I don't enjoy cooking lately and I can't eat out every night.

I found this potato soup online and decided to give it a try and I am SO glad that I did. It was delicious! Amazing. Yum! I wish there was more.


Crockpot Potato soup

1 5oz pkg scalloped potatoes (Bare with me..I know, I was skeptical too. I hate prepackaged scalloped potatoes)
4 C chicken broth
1 onion -- chopped
2 C half and half
1/3 C flour

Combine scalloped potato mix, onion, and broth and cook for 4-6 hrs on low.
In a medium bowl combine half and half and flour. Mix until smooth. Pour mix into crockpot stirring constantly.
Cook an additional hour stirring often.

Amazing consistancy, the potatoes didn't totally vanish like I figured they would..really good!

I served mine with some cheesy garlic pull apart bread. I also fried up some bacon and chopped it up and threw in some cheese for loaded potato soup. If you're gonna go, go big!

Tuesday's 10

1. I had fresh Krispy Kremes for breakfast....love

2. Big girl has been singing her 'days of the week' song since yesterday at 4pm... Im glad she's learning something.

3. She also has a new friend whose name is "Nafin" *Nathan* He wears a Spiderman shirt, therefore is the coolest ever. He brings pancakes and hot dogs for lunch. I'm not entirely sure how true that is.

4.I love my afternoons. One is at school, one naps...It's beautiful.

5. I firmly believe that $20 a month for a dvr is the dumbest thing ever and I refuse to pay that

6. We went to Carlsbad Caverns last weekend. PS: Don't take your kids to the bat flight show. 1. they have to stay extremely quiet, 2. bats have no time table, we waited almost 2 hours, 3. I saw a total of maybe 30 bats. total..letdown.

7. I made the -best- potato soup last night..recipe to come. It was, for real, amazing.

8. with Garlic cheese bread..mmmmmm

9. ok, now I'm hungry.

10. I'm hoping to get a nap today.. I'm already tired and I haven't even walked my 2 mile bus stop walk yet. yikes

What Baby Wants..Baby Gets

So far..In only 7 wks our newest tadpole has made his/her demands known and those are Lots and lots of sleep. 2 naps a day plus 12 hours of sleep a night are perferable, of course that doesn't quite jive with my life.

Little Tadpole (to be here on known as L.T) also loves salads. Not just any salad, iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing, green olives, pickles and sunflower seeds. Oh..em..gee..It is SOO yummy! We had Chinese for lunch today and that was actually the most of my lunch..yes, the salad.

L.T also likes lemons. Bascially anything sour L.T enjoys. oh ya, and pickles! Loove some pickles!

L.T loves potatas also. (potatas are the manly version of potato) Mashed, fries, baked, scalloped, potata soup..mmm... Potata soup and garlic bread (which is, by the way, what we are having tomorrow night)

L.T enjoys food .. when L.T is hungry, L.T is -hungry- There needs to be food pronto.

I can't wait to feel L.T move around and kick and see L.T for the first time on ultrasound. I've wanted this baby for over 2 years now and due to deployments, marriage, and other issues it hasn't happened and I'm so excited. I feel like this is my first pregnancy. When I took the test I was expecting it to be negative. I had taken one 3 days before and it had been negative but I still 'felt' pregnant. When I picked up the test, expecting it to be negative, and saw those 2 lines my mouth dropped open and I whispered "oh my gosh" and I stood there shaking. Went into the kitchen to show J and all I could do was sqeeze his arm to get his attention and I just held it up and of course, his eyes bugged and he said "NOO way! Take another! drink juice! DRINK! I don't believe it" lol So I down 4 glasses of juice and, of course, it was positive again! We were very shocked. We did not expect it to happen this quickly.

I haven't felt very sick, with lil girl I was sooo so so sick for 3 months. I have just had a fairly bad queasy stomach but it doesn't start up until around 9 at night and crackers seem to help.

We are already throwing around names and have 3-4 boy and girl names we are weeding through. Don't even ask, We aren't sharing until we know the sex, unless you are on your death bed, then we'll tell but swear you to secrecy. :-D

9/11/01 We will never forget!

At big girls school orientation there was one thing that was not covered... Bus Stop Cliques. I had no clue they existed until big girl start riding the bus. I thought all the moms went to the bus stop in their jeans, talked, kissed the kids, went home. Apparently not. Apparently there are cliques..and I'm not a part of it. Oh well.. Doesn't hurt my feelings.

Apparently it's acceptable to show up to the bus stop in a darn-near-booty showin skirts and hooker heels..Where is there to go at 11am looking like that?

Now, back to these cliques.. I don't get it. They (by 'they' I mean 2 women) don't talk to me, they make their clique-ish rounds to others that they deem could be in the clique, they get out of their car and go to the opposite side of the street (the side where the bus does NOT stop, which doesn't make sense to me, why wait there when you just gotta cross the street..I obviously don't wait there because I'm smart) They ignore me like I've got the plague. I've said hi, smiled, 'morning...Nada... well, I lie.. In 3 wks I've gotten one semi manly 'hi' ..poor woman with the deep voice.. Their kids wanna play with mine but when they come over 'manly mom' says "come over here" and calls them away..... *rolls eyes*

I thought I left all this crap behind in high school? Doesn't hurt my feelings, doesn't keep me up at night, I have fabulous friends who think I'm fabulous.. I don't need their approval.

Here's my problem with it... What are you teaching your kids by doing this? You think they don't notice? How is that a mature parental thing to do? We wonder why kids grow up to be bullies and not include other kids and turn into snobs... well, maybe this is why. It all comes from the parents.

Parents, Don't judge people too harshly. Maybe that mom that looks stuck up is really just going through a bad time? Maybe her husband just left her. Maybe she's just shy? Maybe that mom that is just naturally quiet is just that... naturally quiet but can be fun and loud around those that know her well. Maybe the mom that looks 15, young, and no life experience really is 25 with 3 kids, divorced, and has way more life experience than you ever thought of having.

Think about what you are teaching your kids. Kids pick up on what they see far more than what you tell them. If you're going to act like that and judge me on just sight I don't want to be your bus stop friend anyways.

Dearest Clique bus stop moms... If I ever find out your little darlings are being mean to my kids because of what you taught them by your actions...You better watch out. I may look sweet, nice, and quiet...but I'm a mean momma bear.

Tuesday's 10

1. I actually had energy today. It was nice to get stuff done

2. I go to my very first preggo appt tomorrow afternoon. I'm excited

3. I hate clowns. They are scary.

4. My kids really need to stop the screaming..since 4pm it's been either angry screaming or play screaming.

5. In El Paso, ya gotta check out Chico's Tacos..SOO good. We fed our family for $11. Fed and stuffed! Yumm-o

6. Nearly every room in the apartment is mostly arranged.. That makes me happy.

7. I have a whole lemon meringue pie in my fridge...I'm happy about that.

8. Today is the first day in 2 wks that I didn't take a nap in the afternoon. I think my family was happy to see me all day instead of me hiding out for 1/2 the afternoon

9. Big Girl picked out Jessie underwear at the store. That makes me happy. I love Jessie.

10. I can't wait until it's time for these kids to go to bed!

Thank you!

Dear Packers,

Thank you!

Thank you for putting an open container of salt in the box with my pots and pans. That was a lovely surprise, everything covered in salt. It was also an awesome surprise to find, in that same box, clorox wipes along with my olive oil... I thought that was against rules..apparently not..exciting to know.

Thank you for packing a piece of paper my daugher had practiced writing her x's on. How did you know that I forever wanted to keep it.

Thank you for packing a broken piece of my fridge from Ft. Hood which I needed to fix..Now it's here and my fridge is not..helpful!

Thank you for taking the time and care to wrap an open container of 200 paperclips in 5 pieces of butcher paper

Thank you for taking 3 of hubs guitars and clunking them in a box...with a fishing pole. Perhaps next time you could take the paper you used to wrap the paper clips and use it on the guitars..just an idea...I am, of course, not the professional.

Thank you for taking loose photos and throwing them in a box with, once again, kitchen stuff. I don't know how that happens because I don't keep photos in my kitchen.

Why do you mark a box 'toys' and it containes guitars, fishing pole, and coats.....I'm confused.

And lastly, Thank you for taking my girls' $50 area rug, wadding it into a ball and cramming it in the bottom of a box... I didn't know that was possible..I do now.

For all these lessons, I say "Thank you"

..........and this is why I don't mind packing my own stuff.