5 things I want my kids to be good at.

Every parent dreams of a successful and happy child. We currently joke with ours that they need to be something that makes a substantial amount of money so mom and dad can retire early and they can foot the bill. After all we did fork over money left and right for 18 years, so they owe us right? (Just kidding, kind of...)

So here are five things that I want my kids to be good at. Maybe they will make a chunky 7 figures a year, and heck they may work 20 hrs a week for pay for that one room run down apartment just to get by and volunteer the rest of their time away. As long as they are happy and follow these five things I will be the proudest momma ever. (I promised not to adorn the back of my vehicle with proud mom stickers though)

5. Laughter. It enlightens the soul and makes even a bad situation a little bit better. Tough times suck and we will all endure them, but they don't last. We must learn to laugh at anything that can be laughed at and giggle when a belly laugh isn't acceptable. Grab your favorite funny movie, check out YouTube, or call your best friend, laughing for even 5 minutes in the middle of an awful day will make the day great.

4. Crying. I don't want my kids to be drama queens that cry at the drop of a hat. (Trying to break E of this now.) Crying a good cry is acceptable and should be done every once in a while. It clears your emotions and takes a little weight off your shoulders. Hop in the shower or cuddle up in bed and let loose.

3. Being a best friend. Everybody needs that one person that you can tell anything and everything to and they won't judge you. The one you can call at anytime of the day or night and they will talk to you, or they miraculously call you when you need it most just because they had a feeling. Be this best friend and someone will return the favor. If you have a real best friend, they will tell you when your hair looks like shit and your ass is too big for those jeans, these are the real signs.

2. Be humble. The saying "Don't judge me until you have a walked a day in my shoes" is a great thing to live by. You never know what someone else is going through. Be happy with what you have and who you have. You may not have a mansion but if you have food on the table and roof over your head and clothes on your back then you are already a lot better off then a million other people. Be grateful.

1. Love. Love with all your heart. Love yourself before everyone else and do it well. You are the one person you have to deal with forever. Fall in love with that person, all of your flaws and strengths, know that you are the best you that could ever be. Love your family, mom and dad may tell you no, to pick up your room, and ground you when you need it, this means that they love you unconditionally and they are making you a better person. You will not realize this until you have moved away from home. So love them even when they make you mad. Siblings are the same way, I don't care how many fistfights or screaming matches you get into, your brothers/sisters are your greatest fans even when you're not speaking and avoiding each other at all costs. It's a bond greater than no other, love it.

I am all giddy and happy, Goodnight my lovelies!

Jess

Thanks and Giving

This holiday hasn't been the same for the past 3 years. It was my Grandma's holiday, she was amazing at every second of it and I'll never look at a turkey or pumpkin pie again without thinking of her. E missed out and never got to experience it with her.

I still love this holiday with all my being. It's a day where we are supposed to remember all that we have, even if we have little. Superman is working today and I'm not in any way trying to get pity comments but all I ask is that each and every one of you be thankful.  Yes we are luckier than others and I did get to wake up next to him this morning so turkey and tatoes will be consumed tomorrow.  Hug the ones that are close to you and remember that your neighbor may not be as lucky, whether it is military, miles or another reason.

To all of you that are skipping the day that is supposed to be about family and friends to sit in line at a best buy or walmart, shame on you. Black Friday be damned! How greedy and grabby can you people be? I'm very sorry that a tv is more important than a family day. I hope that whatever you are after tomorrow is defective Christmas morning, is sold out, or you get a broken foot while running after it. Yes that may be evil but for shit's sake people!

Hugs and loves to our family and friends back in MT!

Love,

Jess

Oh happy day!

This Blue Moon is amazing and oranges are drowning in it. Most times I like my beer plain, just beer as it was meant to be and then there are nights like tonight when oranges must accompany. Superman is killing zombies and E is yelling at him to get the ray gun? while finishing her dinner still because we are having awful dinner fights. Did you know that she is full after just two bites but then immediately wants a snack? Ya not cutting it kid.

My new boss likes gangnam. She's a 50 yr old professional business woman who yesterday during my orientation was dancing and humming because she had it stuck in her head. I think I'm going to like this place.

Am I the only one who always makes enough spaghetti noodles to feed a small village? I swear it's either enough for just me when I'm trying to feed three or the whole bag. Really? There has got to be an easier way!

This morning while putting my face together as to not scare anybody I encountered during the day I realized I had 4 tubes of mascara that are 1/4 full. Yes they are all the same exact thing too. How the crap did I manage that? I swear some days I amaze myself.

Superman is getting mad because I'm not listening to his stories and E is yelling at me from her room. So long and farewell my sweets!

Love,

Jess 

A very lazy did nothing week wrap up!

Life without a job is boring for this woman. I sit around all day with a list of things that I need to do around the house and then never do them because catching up on old tv shows, repolishing my toes 4 times and taking endless naps with the kittehs happen.  Superman thinks that it's ok and that I should enjoy my unemployement status while it is because when I get back to work I will miss it. Call me crazy but next Monday can't come soon enough! I have had at least one job since I was 14 and being the primary provider for the past 5 years had made it necessary, now depending on someone even if it is Superman and not like I'm calling random family I haven't talked to in years to ask for money, I feel worthless without a job. So yay for employement and no more blah!

It's the week of Thanksgiving! Love love love this holiday! Eeee!! I will Gobble day blog later in the week after I drum up a menu for 3 and maybe we'll eat it on actual Turkey day depending on wonderful CQ shifts. I might just ask a couple of Superman's single friends that are stuck on base alone to join so I can make some food without having to eat it for 9 years....

We journeyed around Raleigh yesterday. Fun little place considering we only spent a couple hours there. The mall was fun and we took E to the kiddos museum and we went to a real museum. Great thing is it's just a short drive away! We then ran home for coats and then onto base for the Big & Rich concert! It got kinda cold so we headed out about halfway through but family time is never dull and never a waste of a minute.

I hope your week and weekend was as relaxing and joyful as mine! Enjoy your upcoming week with your (hopefully) long weekend.

Love,
Jess

Whoa!

Blogger slacker! And lately that's all my blogs have been about. Me slacking. Ugh! Fail. My utmost apologies.

E started Pre-K today. She was excited to get out of the house. She was not destined to be a stay at home kiddo. Good thing because this momma was not meant to be a stay at home momma. Fingers crossed for a good phone call on Friday!

Crazy drivers run wild in this town. This is not a complaint but a small sigh of relief that now I fit in with them :-)

Its not cold, not even close. 50s and rainy today, which means I'll put some jeans on and maybe grab an umbrella or small jacket, or heck a little rain never hurt anyone right? Last week we had a frost warning. FROST! Like 32 degrees and they were worried about people getting too cold and to remember to bundle up. Really? In MT we had warnings for -20 degrees and a foot of snow. I laughed a ton and then ran around in a long sleeve t and jeans and flip flops and got thousands of crazy looks. The south does not like cold, which is apparently anything below 65 degrees and they will freak out and act like they just got shipped to the north pole.

Gate guys are E's new favorite thing. Why? I haven't figured that out yet but she's intrigued and will make sure if she's sleepy and we're headed on base to stay awake until we get past them. Odd little one.
 

Last Tuesday after coming home from pictures I walked into the kitchen fooled around at the sink then headed to the drawer for something and then back across the kitchen. Karma is on my side because I stepped over cat puke 3 times without stepping in it! If that's how I get repaid I will take that every day for the rest of my life. Big joys come in small packages.

Now above mentioned pictures. A fellow Army wife was wanting to get a couple kiddo shots in and asked if she could borrow E as a subject. Sure! So here's a couple fun diddy's from last week!

A fun flashback for everyone.  While we were back in MT and the madness of packing was going on I walked downstairs to the playroom while E was supposed to be packing her toys (please note I ended up packing all toys) and found naked Barbies and Kens everywhere. I remember having a sea of naked dolls when I was little so I just found it funny and made sure to tell Superman that night. Convo went a little like this...
Me: E had a mess of naked Barbies and Kens today. Are you ready for that yet?
Superman: Nah Ken's just for looks. Now when G.I. Joe is naked with Barbie we will worry about it.
Well played honey, well played.

Okay friends! I am off to see how wonderful Miss E's school day went and then head off to pick up Superman from work! Much love and many promises to be back on more often.

Love,
Jess

We have made it!

I should probably to sit down and give a detailed miles by mile trip experience but I'm not. I'm going to tell you that we made it safe and sound and without wanting to kill each other.

3 adults, a four year old and 2 cats in a truck for 2 1/2 days equaling 2200 miles and we survived. Honestly I feel like I should get a gold star. Noone puked or peed themselves. We didn't fight or argue. The last 150 miles were rough because we could smell it but not taste it. Like having a wonderful smelling dinner in the crock but knowing it has to cook for another hour.

My house is still not all the way unpacked, I don't care. I'm missing things to make food with so we'll do an actual with a list trip to the store this weekend probably. I am finally sleeping in my bed accompanied by Superman and E is loving her new digs. The only thing she is worried about is going to school and getting cable. She is settling in wonderfully!

Now onto daycare and job hunting while only having one vehicle!

Love,
Jess

Packing fail.

Today was supposed to be a day for packing completion. Ya that hasn't happened. I did get E's room done! Does that count?

Packing with a 4yr old is pointless. Every time I threw something in a box, she took it right back out. I gave her little jobs to do like taking her movies out of the cases and putting them in a CD case for the road. She took out 3 and put one in her TV and started watching it. Dirty clothes got put in the packed box and I'm pretty sure some Halloween confetti also got mixed in. I have given up caring. Since her room is done the rest of the house will wait until after she is in bed. Then I will pink Rockstar myself senseless and go to town.

I have about 11 loads of laundry to do and no I'm not exaggerating.

It hailed for about 4 minutes and scared me senseless not only because the last couple of days of work would have been insurance agent hell, but because the garage is full of packed boxes and both vehicles are sitting outside.

Wish me luck and if any of my locals are super bored on Wednesday I would gladly accept some cleaning help :-)

Love,

Jess