Those of you that read with 5 year olds (or close to it)

Does your 5 year old ride a bike without training wheels? Jonathan will not even try. He says maybe when he's 7...sigh. Any tips or pointers on how I can get him to try? We really want to go for family bike rides and it would be so much easier if he'd ride his own. He's really heavy for the trailer and of course doesn't fit in the bike seat.

Red Robin is here!!!

I was so thrilled to hear that Red Robin is in the area! I kept hounding Nathan so Saturday, off we went! Of course I think the ones in Oklahoma are better! ;)

Also had a fun time shopping at some neat places. Bought the boys some summer like PJs. Not that we need them yet...it's still so freakin' cold here. Hopefully this week will be better. I also went to Old Navy...I love their flip-flops and what a great deal...2 for $5.

Yesterday...

Nathan was visiting one of his recruiters here. He's a SR Recruiter and is responsible for several in this area...he makes monthly office visits to check on them, etc.Anyway, while he was walking on the sidewalk, going to his car, some punks drove by with their window rolled down and yelled "F" you! He was in his uniform of course. He laughed it off and said he just ignored the kids, but it makes me sick. Regardless of how one feels about the war or President Bush or whatever, is it really necessary to treat a military member like that? Geez! Or treat anyone like that? I'm now understanding and getting my own taste of how it was when our veterans returned from Vietnam...and quite possibly how it will be for those returning from Iraq. It makes me incredibly angry, but also sad.

We're in trouble!

In the last ten minutes, these two words came out of Jonathan's mouth...
ENAHGY ALLAHGY...

Like, "Mommy, I ran around alot today and burned some "enahgy"! And, "Mommy I think I'm starting to get an "allahgy" to this toothpaste.".

We've been here too long...sigh.

Jonathan's last fieldtrip...

was today and he wanted Nathan to go instead of me (because it's special when dad takes off work to spend time with me I was told). I was fine with it, even though it was the last one he'll ever attend as a preschooler. Nathan said Jonathan was hilarious! Why is this kid so fascinated with poop? He wouldn't stop talking about the baby pig that pooped and how funny it was! Is it a boy thing? Seth and I had our usual Tuesday fun...went over to Panera Bread, aka Panera Breadsticks (Seth's name). The lady who helped us knows Seth now...even on a first name basis. She asked him today, "What'll it be little Seth...blueberry or chocolate chip?"! He chose the blueberry. :)

We to the 'fun' park today. Jonathan and Seth love it because there are poles to slid down...you know the whole firefighter thing. Anyway, I met this very sweet woman. She was here from Long Island (I pegged her accent right away as she did mine!) taking care of her little grandson while her son and daughter-in-law are house-hunting for their next assignment. It was so nice chatting with another adult while the kids played together. She reminded me of my MIL...who will be here in October to do the same thing for us. She was asking about the area and what there was to do. I wish I would've been more on top of things...I seriously would've invited them to the movies with us on Friday. Oh well, maybe I'll see them in the next two days as her grandson shares the same opinion of this particular park.

Went to a new church and other random ramblings

and it was nice. Everyone was so friendly. The musical guests were awesome. One of Nathan's friends invited us. It's a hike, but that's normal. We might go back or keep visiting other places. Jonathan and Seth still want to go back to Grace. It's really a great place for kids. We'll see.

It's raining STILL...third day in a row. Like we need more rain. Oh well, perfect day to lie around. I just got back from Barnes and Noble so I'm going to start my new book...thanks Kenna for the suggestion! :)


32 days til' vacation!

Things to do this week other than the normal stuff:

Seth's last day at Gymnastics...take camera.
Jonathan's Field Trip
Make cards
Organize all of the boy's outgrown clothes...I dread this!
Get pool pass



Think I'll make pot roast, greek chicken, k-bobs, and enchiladas this week. Also some cupcakes. Gives the boys something to do...I vacuum sprinkles for weeks!

I wish there was a new Nicolas Cage movie coming out or something on DVD. I've seen them all.

Funny...Jonathan just put in an REM cd! Hadn't heard that one in a while.

Thoughts Inventory

I got this from Teresa McFayden's blog and thought I would do it as well.


I AM: a mother first and foremost. I'm happy about that don't get me wrong, but somedays I feel that's all I am. I think I need some outlets. I'm finding it hard to make friends here, in this new, old, place. Not that I have to have friends to be validated as a person, but still...I'd like to have some type of a friendship with someone.

I WANT: My children to be happy and healthy and safe. I want them to love life and be optimistic even though their mother (and father) don't always seem to be.

I HATE: Rude people.

I MISS: Living in Oklahoma. Even though I'm not a natural "Okie", I feel like it's home. I feel like I could spend the rest of my life there, happy and content. The people are so nice and friendly. The cost of living is affordable. I want my own home again...a nice, spacious, decorated home with lots of land. I love the stores and the restaurants there. I love Bricktown. I love the courage and comradarie of those folks who have been through so much, but yet rise above the challenges and prosper on. Not just the devastating tornadoes, but the bombing as well. I miss being close (5 hours) to our parents. Allowing them to enjoy time with their only grandchildren. Seeing my cousins, my old friends, my old hometown. I miss my church. What an amazing group of people on fire for the Lord. What a great pastor we had...he'd been through so much with losing his sweet wife, yet always stayed strong and was the minister/leader/encourager that so many others desperately needed. I miss my geniune, 'no strings attached' friendships. I miss my wonderful job there. I miss those kids. I miss my kid's friends and their relationships. I miss my scrapbooking group...wonderful ladies that taught me so much...and I'm not talking about scrapbooking. I miss the horendous, hot summers believe it or not!

I FEAR: My children getting hurt or something bad happening to them. I also fear snakes that's beyond normal. It's crazy.

I HEAR: my boys laughter and singing and playing and then I think, how could anything be any better.

I WONDER: Where we'll be when Nathan retires in 10 years. What our jobs will be. What our kids will be doing. What it's like not being in the military.

I REGRET: Not talking to my dad more. Telling him how I really felt. Making hard, final decisions when it came to our family.

I AM NOT: Always sad or depressed. Just certain days catch me off guard. I'm generally a fun, happy, joyful person.

I DANCE: with my kids all the time!

I SING: This is crazy, but I can't remember the last time I sang. I used to sing all the time, to myself, with my kids, in the car, and even at church in front of lots of people. I think I'll go sing with my kids today.

I CRY: more than usual lately. I'm sensitive and and tender-hearted. Even certain commercials and pictures and news makes me cry. I cry when the National Anthem is played...sometimes I try to be gone or doing something loud at 4:30 when it plays here just so I won't cry! LOL! I cry thinking about war and the soldiers over there and their families back here...even my neighbor two doors down. That's how close it is.

I AM NOT ALWAYS: the easiest person to live with. I'm anal and I'm over-protective. I'm compulsive about certain things...little things that I need to let go of. In the whole scheme of things, is it really that big of a deal to have an empty sink and socks in the hamper? Or the train tracks in the correct bins?

I MAKE WITH MY HANDS: a wonderful way to preserve our family memories.

I WRITE: on this blog, emails, and in my scrapbooks.

I CONFUSE: probably alot of people!

I NEED: to find outside activities that don't require money. I need to get a new bike seat. I need to run some errands, but I'm officially making today a fun day with the kids...well after George Shrinks goes off!

I SHOULD: Call my grandfather. Call my cousin with a sweet new baby. Return the call to my aunt who called me last week.

I START: something and it drives me crazy if I can't finish it right then.

I FINISH: I finish the day dead tired. It's really sad when I even fall asleep while saying my nightime prayers! And now I'm finished with this because George Shrinks is over! :)

No Job

And that's ok. I called my old boss at work this morning. She was inviting me to a get-together. She asked when I was coming back to work and I told her when I could be in the mortgage department! She said she'd let me know and to go ahead and have my application in. When I dropped Jonathan off at preschool this morning, I checked the wait list for care. The earliest would probably be September, if that. Then Jonathan wouldn't need care anyway because he'd be in K. All the home providers are full with waiting lists too. I wonder what people do that absolutely have no options??? I have to say I'm glad I'm not in that rat race. Maybe this a sign to just be content and patient and enjoy my time with my boys while I can. They are only little once. Maybe it's a sign to stick with teaching. I'll admit, I was excited thinking about working there...I loved that place. Loved all the people, some are still there. I love working in lending and the fact that you can leave work at work and not deal with alot of outside crap and bringing work home. Oh well...

Cest la vie'. Gotta try getting my hopes "down". LOL!

My Scrap Space

It's taken me forever to upload my pictures. But here are a couple of pics of my new scrap space. It was my walk-in hall closet, but decided I 'needed' this space for bigger, better things! I bought the desk, chair, and rolling cart for $1 each at a yard sale. Painted them. Recovered the seat cushion. I despise this house, but this area, my own little space, has made it a little more bearable...a little.

Thank you

Thank you to all that serve and have served.

Ironic that my...

profile says: "Stay at home mom and wouldn't have it any other way...unless I had no choice". But I do have a choice and maybe now I'm thinking, I'd have it the other way! UGH! I know, I might be getting all worked up for nothing.

Fun Weekend

Went down to Connecticut overnight. Had a great time visiting the shoreline/Long Island sound. Mystic is beautiful! Very fascinated by the submarines at the Groton sub base. The boys loved riding a real steam engine! Rhode Island's neat! Small!!!!!! DUH!

When we got home last night, I had a message on my phone from my old boss here. I have only seen her once since I've been back. About two months ago, I went in and said hello...we caught up and exchanged numbers. I told her that I missed working there (in the mortgage industry), but I felt like I needed and wanted to be home with my boys a bit longer. Anyway, like I said, she called last night and said she needed to talk to me and to call her back. So I did. No answer. Left a message, but got ancy and called again today. No answer. Now I'm dying to know what she wanted!!

Is she going to offer me a job? Do they want me to come back to work? That was the most fun place I've ever worked! I loved it! Great pay and since I'm not 'living on the economy', it's even better! BUT...I have my two sweet boys now. I love being home with them. I love being a kid right along with them. I love seeing their milestones and just seeing their faces and hearing them laugh all day. They are only young once. Who knows, she might be wanting to tell me something else. Maybe some gossip! LOL! Maybe I'm just getting all worked up and shouldn't even be thinking about it. But I can't help it. One part of me strongly desires to go back to work. I think both boys would thrive in daycare and besides, Jonathan starts K in the fall. And I think I need an outlet here. The much extra income would be welcomed and actually needed, but...I'm saying but alot...sorry. Oh and I have to think about daycare. Do they have spots? That's the deal breaker/winner.

We'll see. If she doesn't call me tomorrow, I'll call her at the office on Tuesday.

Our newest American Idol!

I knew he'd win! What a great finale! I loved seeing Clay Aiken and the three cowboy guys, especially Garet from Wyoming! LOL! What great sports to come there and do that. It was fun to see Prince and Meatloaf. That man didn't look well though. Sad. Anyway, like I said, I knew Taylor would win. He's just so entertaining! I can't wait to see what things are in store for him...for us!

I like this

Being a Mom means
never having a minute . . .
yet always making a moment.
Michael Nolan

Now see why I'm so totally homesick??

Yesterday, I went outside because some girls were on the roof of the boy's playhouse. These were big girls and I know they were about 8 or 9 because one of them was my neighbor and that's how old she is. I didn't want them to fall, but more (yes I'm honest), I didn't want them to break it. But anyway, one of the girls, starting mimicking the way I said, "Get off the roof"...in her worst southern accent rendition! I think I was more pissed that she knocked my accent than her all out disrespect! And here I thought I really didn't have a southern accent? But I'm proud to say it's still hanging on little by little.

Sidenote: I hate living on base. We have no yard and what we do have, it's not our own. I hope the people living on Brighton Court are sure enjoying their's right now. GRRRRRRR!

This picture was in our newspaper today. It breaks me heart. I couldn't stop crying when I saw it. This is Cyndi Quenton, widow of Specialist Bryan Quenton who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq on May 4th. She is laying her head on his casket at his graveside service.

I have such mixed feelings about this war. Usually I have such strong opinions one way or the other, but this is honestly one thing I flip-flop on more than anything. Regardless of how I feel, I cannot begin to describe the gratitude I have for our servicemen and women and our veterans no matter what I think it right or not. I pray for them everyday. Thank you to all that serve or have served.

What a class act

Elliott's gone, but I'm sure he won't be forgotten. He's got a great voice, but most of all, he's a real class act. What a common, down to earth guy. I hate to see him gone. Katherine should've been gone instead, actually she should've been gone last week, but oh well. Can you believe how close the votes were??! I thought Taylor would just blow it away. I hope he wins and that all his fans get their act together and vote vote vote!

Blog Challenge

Yesterday was mothers day. What is/has been your opinion of your mother? How did you celebrate yesterday? Do you think it is a good holiday or wish it did not exist?

I love my mother. I know sometimes we don't agree on things and we differ on opinions quite often, but she is very important to me. I miss my mom. She's 2,000 miles away and sometimes it's extremely difficult. I want her to be involved in my life, in my kid's lives. I called her yesterday and realized that I miss her more than I think. It was hard not celebrating with her. Before, we were stationed really close and we'd always make the drive for Mother's Day, especially since my mom's birthday falls around it as well. I sent her gift and she loved it. I can actually thank her for my fascination with Vera Bradley! I think Mother's Day is a great holiday. I am glad that we have a day set aside to celebrate the most important influence of our lives, our mothers. Now that I'm one myself, I get it.

Wonderful Mother's Day

There's really nothing better than being a mom. It really is amazing and fun! My boys are the best. I woke up to the sound of Seth's little feet running to get in bed with us. Nathan quickly wisked him away so I could sleep longer. Then I got up and the boys gave me a Vera Bradley purse...the style and fabric I had really been wanting! Then Jonathan gave me a little wooden 'card' that he made at preschool...painted it his and my favorite color (green). My mother in law is so sweet...she sent me a wonderful card with the sweetest note and some $. I told her she doesn't have to get me anything for Mother's Day...we do for her, but she always does and it really means the world to me. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel...it was insane. Waited too long, but it was good still the same. It's raining buckets, actually that's an understatement, so we lounged around all afternoon. I napped and then did a few scrapbook pages. I'm loving my new, little scrapbook area! I'll have to get my pics downloaded so I can post them. Anyway, it was a great day. Hope all you other Mothers had one as well.

Conversation with Seth

Seth: "Mommy, why do birds lay eggs?" (we have a baby bird in a nest in a wreath on our door)
Me: "Ask your dad when he gets home".
Me: "No, because that's the way God designed birds to have their babies."
Seth: "You mean we eat bird babies? YUCKY!"
Me: "You are definitely my child Seth."

Hope I'm not bragging too soon

This thing is the best! Amazing how a little thing like a nightguard can cause so much relief. No meds in three days! YIPPEE!!!

Ok...Ok...what I like about this area.

I promise to TRY to quit being so homesick and look on the brightside. :)

What I like about here.

1. The Fall season
2. The snow...the first few times.
3. The ocean
4. The authentic Italian food
5. Tons of my favorite stores within a 10 minute drive.
6. The history
7. The trees
8. Nice summers when they finally get here.
9. The proactivity regarding education.

I'm just floored

I can't believe this. I'm so sick...I'm going to bed.

Things I miss about Oklahoma

In no particular order...
1. The nice, wide open spaces
2. The friendly people...and drivers!
3. Great scrapbook stores
4. Mexican food everywhere
5. Churches on every block
6. Sonic
7. Boomerang
8. Nice houses that are decently priced
9. Friendly people or did I already say that??
10. Bricktown
11. Sooner Football. I know we can still have it, but it's different not being there.
12. Storms, yes I do. Not tornadoes, but storms.

Edited to say: How could I forget Hobby Lobby????

This Place isn't just for chicks right Seth?!

Nathan calls it a 'chick place', but I love going to Panera Bread and now so does Seth! I had to run to Michael's and get a piece of foam board. I'm making one of those french memory boards for my scrap room. The fabric is the same as my chair seat I just reupholstered...so cute...black, white, and pink. Anyway, we were hungry, I hadn't had breakfast, so we moseyed over to Panera. I had a sesame seed bagel with veggie cream cheese. Seth had a chocolate chip cookie that was out of this world! Don't worry, he had fresh squeezed OJ as well and had some healthy cereal for breakfast. ;) Anyway, we had a fun morning, just the two of us hanging out and relishing in the delight of my favorite 'chick' place!

What am I going to do...

without my Grey's Anatomy? In two weeks, it's the season finale. This is absolutely the best show on TV. Ever. Last night's episode was so well done. So powerful. The scene with the dad and the dr who caused the car accident. I thought I'd never quit crying. And I guess you can definitely tell who my favorite is huh?! :) Sigh...

Kindergarten Orientation

I went to Jonathan's K orientation today. Even though it sucks here sometimes, we are so blessed to be in such a wonderful school district...one of the top in the state. Student/Teacher ratio is 1:8...amazing! The school is really nice and the classrooms were so organized and stocked with so many neat things...made me sad to not be teaching, but even more sad to think of sending my baby to Kindergarten next year! He's so ready though.

It's really sad...

when preschoolers are better dental patients than an adult! Yeah it was really bad. Had to get an impression made, for my night guard (will I ever get this thing?!) and my dentist filled the mold with too much of that goopy stuff...yeah, went right down my throat. YUCK! Then the inevitible happened, I barfed all over the place, all over the tech, all over the dentist. I'm sure they are going to love to see me again. I'm the worst dental patient ever. I get all anxious. I cry. It's crazy. I'd rather give birth. Honestly.

Paris is gone

Paris is gone. She's got alot of talent, especially for her age I agree, but she wasn't a favorite of mine really. Prediction on who will go next...Katharine.

Playing at my house, in my car, over and over and over...

Just got Michael Buble's (thanks mom for getting me hooked!) latest CD. I could listen to it over and over and I am!