a day in the life of an Army Wife...

Sean has been gone three weeks now, I miss him so much!  But this last week has been much easier
than the first and the second.  This has been a litte... did I say little?!!  Test of how it's going to be when he's deployed.  It's not just taking care of bills and kids!  Today like several other days!  It was cleaning house, making meals, shopping for shoes.... taking the kids to the pool.... more shopping.... then home.  But as I parked the car and realized all three kids were zonked out (is that a word?)  I thought to myself (what could I do really fast before they wake up... and maybe I can let the car run for a few minutes with the air on while I do it.... well.. I carried Carley to the couch knowing that she'd stay sleeping.. they were sooooo tired from being out with me for hours and she'd only been sleeping 10 minutes.  On my way out to carry the others in... I realized the sky was getting dark with clouds and my front lawn hadn't been mowed in two weeks other than the half that my neighbor decided to do for me...I thought "here's my chance" ... plus with Colton and Stetson still sleeping in the van next to me.. I wasn't leaving their sight.  When I finished push-mowing I decided to clean out van.. which also hadn't been done in a couple weeks.  I took out some trash and pool items...clothes etc... and pulled out the vacuum cleaner.. YES.. they even slept through the vacuuming!!!  I got done and hauled the last two kids in the house.. put away the vacuum, got the mail and got in the house just in time for the rain!!!  My house was a bit messy.. since I had been gone all day.. but at least there weren't any dishes dirty since we had Burger King at the PX.  So, I decided to do what Sean would have done if he were home.  Take all the kids out on the patio to watch the rain and listen to the thunder!  It didn't last too long but they enjoyed it..    So, we all got new tennies today... Colton hadn't had a new pair in exactly a year.. he jumped two sizes and I think these will fit him next winter.. they are super cool looking Sketchers!  I had to get a new pair that actually fit me.  I have been using hand me downs.. so I can actually say this is the first pair that I have bought myself in the last 3 or 4 years!!! I had to get running shoes for my work outs.. and also I am hoping to run while Sean is home.   But anyway.. I decided to let the house go and spend some much needed time just hanging out with the kids.  Read one book and started the Movie "Black Beauty"  They had never seen it and Carley... LOVES horses.  Colton too, but she really gets excited!  So, with all the stuff going in I've managed to work on some house projects as well. I'm not going to say what though.. cause Sean reads my blog and I'm hoping it's a suprise.  But after Thursday I'll definitely be posting pictures!

I took all three kids to church on Sunday. We had fun and Carley actually went to Sunday school all by herself and was very proud about it too!  Here is a picture I got of them... don't ask for a picture of all three smiling.. that's impossible when it's just me trying to get their attention and take the picture at the same time!!!  I am going to have to resort to a professional family picture eventually!   But here are my three kiddos and then a picture of Stetson and his little friend Jay.

(click to enlarge)

Oh tonight Colton was excited to tell daddy on the phone about his new shoes... after trying to show him how high he could jump in them.. he proceeded to tell daddy that Sketchers are REALLY FAST and that he's going to like them!  Carley just tells daddy "I love you" and "Goodnight Daddy" many times along with kissy noises!  They are excited to see him in two days!  It'll be a fun reunion no doubt!  Unfortunately it will be late at night when we pick him up.  We are planing to spend Friday and Saturday in San Antonio at Sea World!  Military families get one free pass per year and it's only 2 1/2 hour away.  Plus my cousin Kay Michelle is there for a few months on business and we'll get to see her =)

I am tired and have to get up early for my work out!  Did I mention I lost 4 pounds with Insanity in one week.  I am on my second week and very curious to see what happens now!  It is getting a little easier but it is INSANE!  I just wish I had a work out buddy!  But at the same time I'm enjoying the time to myself in the mornings.   The best part about it.. is that I gain energy for the rest of the day.. as long as I don't stuff myself eating.  That can be easy to do especially after such a vigorous work out.. it makes me so hungry!!!!!!!!

Off to bed...

excersize and eating healthy!

I started a new work out program last week...  since I've started I've lost 4 pounds and gained flexibility!  I can't believe the progress already and can't wait until I'm done with my first two weeks to see how my next FIT TEST goes!  I have never pushed myself this hard in my life!  The hardest part is eating right and following the health plan.   But I want to share one really easy meal that is actually yummy.

OK.. this is a protein pancake!  A total of only 4 ingredients.

2 egg whites and One whole egg
1/2 cup oatmeal.. (instant works better)
2 tsp water or skim milk
1 scoop protein  powder  fried w/ olive oil or smart balance

This makes one large pancake.. perfect for just mommy!

I only had choc. protein powder but it was actually very tasty and filling!!! You can add a tbs. of peanut butter for another 100 calories if you need it.   I also had some fruit before my work out.  I wouldn't eat this pancake too often but it's nice and easy for those days you don't feel like cooking much else.   Yesterday it was turkey bacon and eggs fried in olive oil.   yeah... I said goodbye to regular bacon/butter/soda/ice cream/candy and if I eat bread it's ONLY 12 grain. I keep lots of fruits and vegetables on hand.  I didn't realize that Tuna had so much protein so I now add that to my salad and also I am getting plenty of calories~   I am actually eating more calories than I normally do but with this work out my body needs extra.  Even though I feel like I am eating all the time... it seems to be working!

Stetson 9 months old

I was cought off guard when I heard Stetson playing behind me tonight!  I turned around and to my surprise he was doing what Colton use to do at a year old... well.. I don't know the exact age... but I couldn't believe my nine month old was pushing cars around the floor like a big boy!  He only learned to push a tractor with wheels a few days ago.. now he's pushing two at one time!  Not only on his knees but on his feet..........it was sooo darn cute and I was fortunate to catch the proof on camera.........................

more pics coming soon.. I have a hundred new awesome pictures can't decide which ones to post.  But here's what I caught this evening!

answers to my prayers.....

Sean called this morning and told me that their groups got all switched around... He is officially part of HHC and not Charlie anymore.  This means his job is actually a whole different MOS, he'll be working strictly on Humvees... which he didn't even do at AIT.  He is with all new guys and will have to make new friends all over again.  BUT this could mean good for me..... he will be working on base in Iraq instead of with the route clearing crew.  With that said...  nothing is set in stone... us army wives know all to well that things can change at any given time.  If this doesn't change. it's definitely an answer to prayer for me!!! 

reality........

 Colton 3 1/2

 Carley 2

Stetson 8 1/2 months

 Enjoying a snooze together!!

I've been hoping to get some neat idea for a blog post this time...and since I haven't gotten anything I've been putting it off.

As much as I have to be thankful for the last few days I've really been down, at first I wasn't really sure why.  Things are going good...  Sean's about to get promoted, the kids are doing well... I have a couple of new friends... our neighbors are really nice...and my kids have new friends as well, everyone is healthy~  We started going to a pool.. that is perfect for little ones.  My sister Ashlee is coming to visit next week.  I am sooo excited for that.. except for the part of Sean being gone for three weeks. He leaves the same day she comes to do his last training before leaving for Iraq.

Well, yesterday I heard Sean talking to my brother-in-law on the phone and he was explaining to him a little about what it will be like in Iraq.. as far as his job.   He said something that really caught me off guard.  I know he had told me before, but it felt like I was hearing it for the first time.  He said that his unit that was suppose to be Charlie company got attached to HHC company.  It's a Combat Engineer unit. Which means they look for IEDs..... the explosive devices...............   because Sean is a mechanic for this group of guys.. there is a good possibility that he'll have to ride along with them at times in the rear of the care-van.   Not necessarily looking for them.. but he has to help fix whatever equipment of theirs breaks down.  Please, please pray that he can stay on the base and fix equipment... the more traveling and riding around the higher the chances of something happening.   He wont really know until he gets there how it will all work out and what his specific job will be.   I'm trying really hard not worry... and I'm realizing we don't have much time left together.  He leaves sometime in September and this summer is just going way too fast.   I can't help but think about it all too often.

on a brighter note....     we are having fun together.  Nothing too exciting as far as going out and doing stuff.  We like to just be home with the kids... playing together, watching movies, working in the yard.. etc...  mostly we enjoy watching our children learn new things.  Little Stetson has been crawling ALL over the place.. he is learning something new every day!  He can now pull himself up on flat surfaces such as the sliding glass doors to look outside.  He makes very silly faces and is figuring out that it makes us laugh.  He also gives kisses now.  Yesterday he stood up on his own for 5 seconds.  He acts as if he wants to take off walking but I highly doubt he's ready.  My sister Ashlee walked at 8 months old and I can't imagine any baby walking who is that tiny still... it'd be so weird! Colton walked 2 days before he turned 10 months.. so literally he was still 9 months. Carley was 10 almost 11 months when she walked.  So, it's always interesting to see when it will be for the next.  I'm comparing but not really... it really doesn't matter... they all do everything when they are good and ready.  Plus the sooner he walks the more work for me.. he's already getting into stuff.  but nothing bad yet.. just have to watch him for getting in another room and getting lost and/or putting stuff in his mouth!  I don't have any little pieces of toys but he'll find something.. lately it's the little white rubber piece at the end of the door stoppers.. yeah.. he takes them off the springy thing and eats them!!!

Click here  for video MAY 2010  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzldSIHfMU

I am looking forward to seeing "letters to Juliet" tonight with the girls.   Sean is going to watch all three kids... I can't wait to have some mommy time~~  I just wish one of these days it could be Sean and I doing something alone :)  Maybe soon....