365 days

A year ago today I watched the love of my life walk away towards our today. It hurt and I cried, I was scared so I shook, but after it all I smiled because he is my happy.

March 26th 2012 was the opening of a whole new world for both of us. We both thought we knew what to expect and didn't think it would be too bad. Looking back I wish this kind of thing had a prep course or at least an instruction manual. Military life has been an experience and even when I curse it sometimes I love where we are. Things may not always be the easiest but every life has it's own hurdles and these are ours. I have met some great people as has he. We are getting to experience the east coast and south over the course of a year plus instead of trying to cram everything into a week long vacation. I am bound and determined to enjoy and love a glass of sweet tea and I am embracing the humidity and heat that is about to knock me on my ass.

More importantly I have learned a lot about myself. I am not as independent as I believed I was. Single motherhood is hard and it takes strength, but this requires a different strength. I have had to learn to let him walk out the door knowing I won't hear from him until he comes back. I have learned to be patient and flexible. Things with the Army can change at any point and time, and just when you plan for one thing be prepared for "Plan F" to come into effect....or do you?

Some days I look back behind me at the spot that I came from and it exhausts me to see how much my life has changed, yet I wouldn't have it any other way. This is a wonderful adventure for our family and the pride and accomplishment that I get to see on Superman's face is priceless.

Happy 1 year Anniversary!

Jess

Stow away!

This little catnip infused kitty toy was sitting on my seat. How he managed to get there I do not know...

Happy Friday!

Love,

Jess

Commuter fury

If you are driving from 7:30-9 a.m. please note that you are in rush hour traffic. That means drive  like the rest of us that had to drag their kid out of the house forgot to put mascara on and must stop for coffee before working with the public all day long or schedule your business for noon. This also applies to those kind souls that are driving from 4-6 p.m. unless you want to take my kid to dance or baseball, or would like to have dinner made for my family, get out of the way. It's not Sunday drive time. Good day!

Happy Spring!

Jess

All the way!

Military life is hectic but as a spouse you make the best of it and enjoy the little things. Those little things are even better when you have someone to share them with. Which is why the voice mail I got from J this morning was hilarious. "How are you supposed to respond to 'All the Way!'" ?

When going into a military installation you are required to present id to the gate guys (this is not their proper title I apologize). Apparently at her other installation it was "Welcome to Ft. Wainwright have a good day." Which is easy to respond to as it's an open ended statement. So when we pull up to the gate and get an "All the Way". I give them an awkward thank you with a smile and drive off. What else can you say to that? Some of them do the "Thank you Ma'am have a good day" which I appreciate, but I'm assuming since we are home of the Airborne it's in their 'what to say' book?

I guess it's just another unanswered question in the military world.

Love,

Jess

Smell memories

It's quiet here tonight. The fan is whirring overhead and the thunder is rolling in the distance. What I wouldn't give to be sitting in the sand watching it roll in off the water. As long as it brings that wonderful smell. Rain against the ocean is neck to neck with fresh cut alfalfa as the sun begins to set. Pure smells that brings back only good memories. I am going to have to find a farm near so I can borrow their field at sunset, great thing is back home they would come sit with you and just be quiet next to you because in a moment that perfect there is no need for words.

What is your favorite smell memory?

Love,

Jess

How I do Saturday nights.

Cheers to all of you with fist fulls of green beer!

 

I however am sitting alone watching The Rise of the Guardians. E and I watched it the other night but I liked it enough and missed some parts so I decided it would be a perfect Saturday night affair.

 

My house is a disaster once again. I swear that it was spotless on Wednesday and here we are and it's a wreck. Remember the story of the shoemaker and the elves? The little guys sneak in during the night swift like the Tooth Fairy and make some poor man a pair of shoes. Now give me them but I would like them to do the dishes. That's all I ask, just the dishes. I'll take care of everything else. Oh wait, no, I would like the garbage taken out as well.

 

Mess aside E and I had a pretty darn good day! Superman sighting and then some damage to the credit card all with the windows down as we hit 81 degrees today!

 

Goodnight to all the stay at homers like me and don't drive to all of you indulging in green beer!

 

Love,

 

Jess

Boredom

When you tell someone that you have a husband and kids they automatically assume that your life is boring. Yes, we don't spend 20 of our 48 hours a weekend at the bar, heck, we barely spend 20 hours a year without the kids! Bed time is at 8 and we never stay in bed past 830 in the morning.  However our very laid back lifestyle doesn't mean that something isn't always happening. I post a lot of E-isms as 5yr olds say some very very funny things, but tonight you are going to get a Superman-ism.

Our conversation went like this....

Me: (about him heading back to work)Well I don't want you to get in trouble.

Him: Nah. I'm like a ninja.

Me: Ninja? You are amazing.

Him: I move in the shadows. Quiet like a breeze.

Me: Swift like a tiger?

Him: Swift like Taylor.

Me: Dude she's annoying as **** and sounds like a goat being battle axed.

Then we went on to discuss Paleo.

See old and married with kids is not all as uneventful as you'd think.

In other weekend news. E and I spent a very long but funtastic day with our friends. We trekked to the kids museum and ran around crazy chasing 4 kids all under the age of 6, then while everyone was tired and starving, because of course we didn't stop for lunch, I get us lost. A suburban full of starving crappy people with a gas gage hanging on empty and we are lost. Perfect. After scaring the front desk at a hospital for directions (phones suck in the boonies) we find a gas station and restaurant. Food, end of drive home, let the kids play for a couple more hours and boom, day is over.

Exhausting and eventful yes? Never underestimate a boring lifestyle :-)

Love,

Jess

E is the big 5!

I woke up to a 5 year old! Yes, you heard me correctly, 5. I cannot believe that it has already been that long. I remember seeing her little face for the first time, holding her all attached to monitors and then finally be able to take her home. Spending day in and day out with her, watching her learn and grow and develop into the wonderful little person she is today.

We went from milestones of rolling over to her spelling "communicate" on the way home from school. She's full of stories and imagination, which means there is never a dull moment in our house. I can't think of a day that I don't love her a little bit more than the next. Now I'm not saying we don't have our trying moments because we do, but as she grows and learns so do I. I am far from perfect as a person and a mom, but E has taught me so much and we may struggle and butt heads but it's all part of our wonderful little life.

I love her to pieces and am looking forward to everything else we have to go through together. Kindergarten in the fall, then best friends and fights, awkward wardrobe changes and funky hair cuts before we have to deal with boyfriends(I'm so giving Superman the green light on this one), ACTs and off to college or traveling Europe or whatever she decides to do.

Bring on many more smiles, tears, hugs and bed time struggles!

Love,

Jess

Throwback weekend

Have I mentioned before that I am one lucky girl?

Superman knows just how to make a weekend perfect. We made all of the right stops, watched our favorite us movie and laughed more than we have in a long time.

I guess this lifestyle has taught me a lot more than I thought it would. I have learned to appreciate every second. Noticed that big things are really the little things and that missing someone is just apart of loving them.

So as an adventurous week begins I do so with an open mind and a full heart.

Love,

Jess