And the Mother of the Year award goes to...

Anyone but me!

That being said, I think I deserve something for maintaining my sanity after four days of driving and three days with all my family!

To be honest, I was almost dreading my family reunion. I hadn't seen some of my siblings in YEARS, and all of us (to include our families) under one roof for three days, I was preparing for the worst. I am eternally grateful that the hubby's unit gave him leave so soon after signing into this new unit, because without him there I probably would have checked myself into a psych ward after a few hours in the car with the boys. Things did go better than expected. The hubby planned the route, which hotels we stayed at, and graciously bore the task of keeping the boys happy while I drove. For several years I've been battling pretty severe back, neck and shoulder pain, so continually reaching into the back seat to pass out sippy's or crackers is something that I knew I couldn't do. The hubby did a great job and thanks to my Kick-A nanny, we had the Mini packed the day before and were able to leave on time.

We got into a great groove, stopped when we needed to, and as you can see, the boys enjoyed helping with the bags

The boys enjoyed riding on the luggage carts, and Cart-baby slept with the hubby, while Cooper slept with me.

We arrived in Dallas with enough time to visit the hubby's Grandmother, Aunt, and cousins who had never met the boys. They played at the park and we all had dinner at Braum's.

Then we finally headed to Smithville, TX were all reunited and had a great time doing pretty much nothing. The house had enough room that we weren't all tripping over each other, and a large in ground pool that was utilized abundantly by the kids. We watched Disney Jr with the little ones (there were four 2yr old little boys that were always entertaining), played Dance Central on the Kinect, beat my older brother repeatedly in Spades, had great food and even better company.

It was great to see everyone and there were a few tears as we packed up our last day. But, as most of you know, I must go out with a bang...but Carter stole my thunder!!

As we were packing up, he was running out to me and tripped in the hallway, and hit a dresser handle, giving him an INSTANT black eye. Go Big or Go Home, right!

If the black eye wasn't bad enough, Eric and I had to adapt a strategy for wrangling the boys at rest stops. They would be standing next to you one moment, then take off running. I could usually catch up in time, but sometimes I would literally have to push them over, as they are running away, as a means to stop them before they got in the road. This only happened a few times, but on the way home I got a SERIOUS stink eye from a lady when I had to do this to Cooper...which probably didn't look that great since Cart-baby already had a black eye.

What have you done to your/others kids that some people have disagreed with??

Do you live next door to Bree?

Where does the REAL Bree Van DeKamp live?? Because she obviously isn't in North Carolina...that or she was too busy to notice I moved in down the street! Where's my basket of homemade muffins & scones? Where's my invitation to afternoon poker? Who's house do I go to for the latest gossip? Desperate Housewives has totally ruined my expectations for neighbors. My new FAVORITE next door neighbor has a front yard full of toys, lets their dog poop in my side yard, drives their 4 wheelers in their backyard, has 4 enormous dogs (that bark at all hours), and has 2 campers in their backyard. Where is Bree when you need her??

We had the opportunity to live at our last duty station for 5 1/2 years, so I'm a little out of practice when it comes to moving. We've also been very fortunate to find tenants for our homes in FL!!

We were able to find a place to rent when we visited a few weeks ago, and the move has actually gone pretty smoothly. Minus the tornado warnings! I've already picked out the closet that the boys, Koa and I will hid in (if necessary) and have began to plan my 72hr kit (which is packed and on it's way here).

Our drive up was uneventful, which is always a good thing, and we were able to transport most of the boys things. I'm making it work until the rest of our household goods arrive, and Eric is staying with some friends while he finishes up in FL.

The great thing about living close to family is that I had an extra pair of hands at church today...even if we only made it through the first block hour. Planning nap times & lunch around 1pm church is going to take some getting used to.

I've found a nanny, and she's coming over for a few hours everyday this week so the boys can get used to her before I start the 12 hr shifts. I literally jumped for joy & squealed when I received the official offer to work in the Pediatric ED. This is such an amazing learning opportunity for me, and it's guaranteed hours.

So far I've only had 2 major tear-filled meltdowns since Eric left on Tuesday...but the boys are starting to get back on a schedule. At least Carter is. Cooper still doesn't want to sleep through the night, and if I let him cry for more than 20 seconds he'll get himself so worked up (not to mention, wake Carter up) that he pukes.

I know I've been scarce, but I'm still around. I honestly don't know how I could have survived this past week without my brother & my Kick-A SIL! He even came over and mowed my front lawn (the back is so big we need a riding mower), and they watched the boys Monday so Eric and I could get all the last minute stuff we needed before he had to leave in the morning.

This summer is gonna suck without Eric, but at least I have family close by! This is a true luxury in the Army, so Michelle, get ready to be sick of me!

We've got orders!!!

For my non-military friends, this is something that us Army folk both look forward to, and dread at the same time. We are super excited because it means we won't be hanging in limbo anymore, and KNOW where we'll be for the next few years.

When Eric talked to his branch manager she said the current options were Italy, Ft. Bragg, NC and Alaska. I told Eric that if he got Alaska, I'd be waiting for him in Hawaii. We patiently waited 2 weeks and had heard nothing back from her...so today Eric called her....and found out...




















We're going to Ft. Bragg!!!

We are both really excited. Eric will be able to stay airborne (and keep his jump pay) and my older brother & his AMAZING wife Michelle are currently stationed there (she was the first person I called)! Even though I really wanted to go to Italy, it will be a blessing to not have to try to sell the truck, and to stay stateside as we attempt to rent/sell our house.

When he told me what our report date was, my first thought was, "Michelle & I are going to have the BEST Halloween ever!"

Who's right anyway?

We have lived in the Panhandle of Florida for about 5 years now. In this time, we have made no fewer than 20 trips to a specific city in which you must take a toll bridge, or drive an extra 20 miles (and about 50 minutes) on a one lane highway.

I always drive. Eric hates driving. But, when he wants to get on my good side, he'll volunteer to drive.

As we are headed to get the boys pictures taken with Santa, Eric volunteers to drive...I ask, "are you sure?" and he says yes.

Me: "this isn't your turn, get back in your lane."

Eric: "it would be so nice if they marked it, then I would never miss it!"

Me: "it is marked"

Eric: "it's not marked with a big sign that says 'Eric, turn here!'"

Me: reading the sign "mid-bay bridge next right"

500 ft later

Me: "toll bridge to ****** right lane"

50 ft later

Me: "mid-bay bridge right lane"

...long pause...

Eric: "the sign needs to be orange, that way I'd be able to see it!"

I figured I'd made my point, so there was no need to argue...and I'm sure we'll have the same conversation the next time he decides to drive. What amazes me is that he gets turned around in this city EVERYTIME we go...yet always rocks at his land nav for the Army!?!

What happened to the service part of customer service?

So, I've been trying to get a room on Ft. Benning for over a month. Eric will only have an on post pass on Friday & Saturday. I went ahead and made reservations at a ghetto motel downtown to make sure I'd have somewhere to stay, that was still in my price range.

Eric keeps bugging me to call EVERYDAY to see if something is available...which I've been doing. Yesterday I finally turn on the tears and they hand me over to a manager that says they are only making same day reservations, and to call or come in the day of. I told him I had two infants, and I didn't want to just show up and not have somewhere to stay. He said that they have family accomodations and to just call the same day.

So, I went ahead and called today (even though I won't be there til tomorrow) and was told that they have absolutely NO availability if you are traveling with babies, and I can't get a regular room for security reasons. I also could barely understand the person on the phone, and she was getting increasingly irritated when I kept asking her to repeat herself.

I wish everyone would be on the same page, because I'm so frustrated with the military's "customer service," or in reality, the lack thereof!

So, I have to decide whether to try to get my original reservation back, or wait and see. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Adventures in military lodging

Eric's brother was graduating from AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at Fort Gordon, GA and since we are only seven hours away, we wanted to be there for it. I called Ft. Gordon lodging (b/c I'm cheap) and all they had available was a "suite," which in Army lodging terms means the cockroaches where top hats and little white gloves. I asked if they had pack-n-plays available, and she said they had cribs. I informed her that I had two infants, so I would be needing two. She said to just ask for them at check in. I also asked if they did late check out, or 1/2 days and I was told no and check out was promptly at 1000.

We headed out early since we discovered that a normal seven hour drive takes about nine with the boys. They boys did great, but got a little fussy towards the end of the drive, so Eric hopped in the back seat and entertained them for the last two hrs of the drive.

We pulled in and I went inside to check us in. The girl checking me in needed a few lessons on how NOT to be a rude whore. When I told her that I would be needing two cribs she said, "I don't even know where they would be or if we even have any." I was none too thrilled. When she made the room key card and handed it to me, I asked if I could have two (which I didn't think was an uncommon request), she scoffed, rolled her eyes then made another. Then, after I signed all my paper work I see a sign for 1/2 day prices. So I asked how that worked, which I'm assuming was too much for her to deal with because she just continued to repeat that I had paid for two full nights. I finally cut my losses and started to walk back to the car....in the monsoon that started as soon as I was out of the building.

When we walked in our room I was surprised at how nice the decorating was, but was brought back to reality when I found food in the sink of the kitchenette, the sink drained crazy slow, and the curly black hair on our 'clean' towels. A few hours later I noticed a guestbook on the dresser in the bedroom. Everyone raved about how great their stay was, how clean it was, and how they couldn't wait to come back again. All I could think about was leaving a REAL message about how things really were.

I continued to ponder about what I wanted to write, so others could be warned. But then when we brought the boys in the check in staff turned soft and one of them went to the attic and found a little ghetto crib that would at least fit one of the boys. We pulled the mattress off the hide-a-bed and blocked off the edges with pillows...but Cooper still ended up rolling off and crying at 0100.

Ben is the tall one on the stage (the theater was really dark and I don't have a professional camera)

It was great to spend some time with Ben and be there for his graduation. We ate good food and put the diet on hold for those two days.

As we were packing up I came up with the perfect thing to write in the guestbook: "Satanic forces are at work here" (from The Gilmore Girls when they stayed at a crazy B&B)...but I chickened out because you were supposed to write your name and where you were from. I guess I could have signed it LG and said I was from Stars Hollow, CT...well, maybe next time.

I sat in the back seat with the boys on the way home for a short time, and in the beginning Cooper gave me this look
But he later warmed up and was as smiley as Carter...and they boys enjoyed having someone to interact with on the long ride home.

Catching up

When Eric and I left Florida at the beginning of the month, we left behind sunny skies & warm weather. I packed the few sweaters I could still fit around my belly and headed for the land of rain & cold. I was able to survive after a trip to Motherhood Maternity where I got some long sleeved shirts, and a sweater. Then I was teased when I arrived home with 2 days of warm weather, but right now it is 36 degrees outside!!! But, I need to look at the bright side...at least it isn't raining :o)

While in Washington we went to Seattle to visit Pike's Place Market, which was interesting. First, if you've ever been pregnant I know you understand that I have to pee every 20 minutes. So, when Eric's uncle said, "hey, there's a restroom" I automatically said, "I could pee." But these are 'special' because I assume they couldn't afford to pay for an entire door...so this is the compromise (FYI, that is my SIL, I wasn't randomly photographing strangers on the toilet, even though it could have been really easy):

And here is a mung fish. While I was trying to take a picture my SIL went up to the guy & asked him to make it move to freak me out...but he took too long, and freaked out some other female tourist :o)
This is a pretty fountain that by the water:
And here is my Sexy Beast looking 'thoughtful':
Last, but not least, here is my 17 week pregnant belly. I'm not posting this to show off my rocking preggo body (even though I know EVERYONE is jealous), but some people have actually asked me to post a picture. So, look away if you must...but I honestly never thought the time would come when something other than my chest blocked the site of my feet! (DISCLAIMER: Eric took the picture but wouldn't tell me when he was taking it, so many were taken with my mouth open, and I never knew when to smile...then he was done being the camera man. This was honestly the best one!)