Been a While

Wow...I haven't blogged in a while.

Been busy around here. I still need to take pictures of the work we've done around here. Still haven't found the charger for my camera battery. I haven't really looked for it, though...been focusing on other things.

I have about two months left before I'll finally be finished with school. I can't believe it. There was a time when I thought I'd never finish my degree, and now here I am on my next-to-last class. So most of the writing I've been doing lately has been for school, and I haven't felt much like writing anything else. So that's why I haven't been blogging lately. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of things when I finish.

I've been neglecting the blogs I've been reading for the last year, too. Boy am I gonna have a LOT of catching up to do!! I'll get caught up with you all, I promise!

Isn't it Kind of Early for This?

My phone rang this afternoon, and I didn't recognize the name or number on the Caller ID.

I answered the phone, and it was a little boy asking to speak to my baby girl. I told him she couldn't talk at the moment because she was cleaning her room, but that I would be sure to tell her he had called. He was very polite.

So I called her downstairs.

Mom: A, who's D (the little boy's name)?
A: He's a boy that rides our bus
Mom: So are you giving all the kids our phone number?
A: (Looking concerned) Mommy, he ASKED for it!

I couldn't help but laugh at this point.

Mom: So, is he your boyfriend?
A: (Looking embarrassed now and bumping up against me, sort of pushing me) No, he's just a friend!

Then my son decides to chime in. "Mom, remember she has a boyfriend from Kindergarten in Germany?"

How do they remember these things? I reminded him that's been almost two years ago now.

A: Yeah, I'll probably never see him again.

So I told the hubby about this tonight. He said he guessed he'd have to start keeping a shotgun in the house now.

Funny...I can remember at least one occasion when a boy came over to the house my daddy was sitting in the living room cleaning his shotgun when the boy came in. Aaaahhhhh memories!

Request

I got an email today from a friend of mine I met through blogging. I'm not sure where this woman gets the energy to do all the things she does for our servicemembers. She's a working mom, regularly sends care packages to our troops overseas, and now is involved in a charity for wounded heroes.

I'm behind on reading my favorite blogs, or else I'd have posted something about this earlier. Fortunately, I got an email from her today asking me for help. All she's asking for is a couple of minutes of your time to vote for the charity.

America's Wounded Heroes is a new charity. You can find their temporary website here. Yes, you can donate there, and I know they appreciate donations, but that is not what they're asking for at the moment. But you can read their mission statement there.

They're currently involved in a contest to win funds for the charity, and they are depending on votes. All you have to do is register at the website, and it's free, in order to be able to vote for America's Wounded Heroes. All it takes is a couple of minutes, and is a small price to pay. You can go here to vote. America's Wounded Heroes is about the eighth down on the list.

Thank you all!

Ugh!

My allergies are giving me a fit today. At least I hope it's just my allergies. I've been sneezing all day, my nose is stopped up, and my asthma is acting up a bit (which only happens when my allergies flare or I get sick). I REALLY hope I'm not coming down with something. I really don't have the time or patience for that.

I've been tired and cranky all day, which I thought was just because I didn't sleep well last night. I got a bit too much sun while outside helping the hubby with the fence all weekend, so had a little difficulty getting comfortable. My own fault, I know, but it still hurts! But maybe my crankiness has more to do with my allergies or whatever it is I'm trying to come down with.

The idiot drivers around here didn't help matters any today either. I went to meet the hubby for lunch today, and was sitting at an intersection getting ready to turn right. I had a red light and the left turning lane facing the same direction I was facing, as well as across the intersection, had a protected left arrow. Meaning I had to wait for the people turning left from across the intersection to clear the intersection before I could make a right on red. Well, the idiot behind me blows his horn at me wanting me to go. Then, a little ways down the road, the car in front of me needed to make a left turn. We were on a two lane road, one lane in each direction, and of course the car in front of me had to stop to wait for traffic. I stopped behind him, and the car behind me stopped as well. A pickup truck two cars back from me decided it would be a good idea to come around everybody on the shoulder, nearly taking off my mirror. You know, with everything I have been through with my car, I would have had a hissy fit, let me tell ya! So I was fuming by the time I met the hubby at the restaurant, which didn't make me very pleasant company for him.

Then I came home and tried to get some rest before going to meet the kids at the bus stop. My baby girl didn't get off the bus at the stop. This is the third time this has happened in about two weeks - not with my kid, but another little girl who rides the bus has missed the stop a couple of times. Isn't it the bus driver's responsibility to make sure the kids get off at the right stop? I had a few words with her this afternoon, especially when she tried to use the excuse "some of the kids just don't want to get off the bus." Yeah, I don't THINK so! It happens again, I'll be up in the school office before she even has a chance to get back with the bus. I really miss the bus driver the kids had last year...he was great!

So that's what's going on around here. I still need to take some pictures of what we've done here at the house, but I have to locate my battery charger first. Can't remember when I had it last...imagine that!

Not Funny

The hubby and I were sitting here trying to relax last night after the kids went to bed. We had just decided to go to bed just before 11 when we heard what sounded like a gunshot. The hubby hit the floor and sort of crept over to the window to look out while I was hollering wondering what it was. There were a couple more explosions, and I could see a flash out the window from where I was sitting. Turns out somebody (probably some kids from a nearby neighborhood) had decided to put firecrackers in our next-door neighbors' mailbox and blow it up.

Like I said, we didn't think it was funny at all. Most of the neighbors nearby came outside to see what was going on. Nobody saw who had done it. One of these days those kids are going to mess with the wrong person. I just hope somebody manages to catch them soon.

More Improvements

I really need to get outside and take some pictures of all the work we've done out there over the past couple of weeks. Well, last weeked it was the hubby doing the majority of the work outside, but that's really mostly because he was putting trees and plants in the ground. If I mess with plants, they die.

He had to go in to work for a while today. It was a processing Saturday, which is usually the Saturday before a mission day. Then after he came home, we all had lunch, and he and I went outside to get to work putting up the privacy fence. The materials for the fence were delivered on Wednesday. The good thing is that it was almost 20 degrees cooler today than it has been all week. When we went outside a little after 1 this afternoon, I think the temperature was about 86. Thursday and Friday we had temps of about 112. Crazy!

I had gone Thursday to get the permit we needed to put up our fence. I ended up having to go to three different places. Well, the first was because of an incorrect assumption on my part. I've always considered Hope Mills as a sort of subdivision of Fayetteville, so I went over to Fayetteville City Hall to get the permit. They told me Hope Mills has their own Town Hall and Inspections Department. Duh! So after having lunch with the hubby, I go over to Hope Mills Town Hall to apply for the permit, only to find out that we're just (barely) outside city limits and don't need one from Hope Mills either. So I called over to County Inspections, and found out I had to get a permit from them. So I went over there to get the permit, and was actually able to get a clearer copy of the plot map from them too, which was great since our copy was awful. We could barely make out the numbers. So armed with the permit and the clear plot map, all I had left to do was call for the utility companies to come out and mark the yard so we didn't hit any lines while digging. I did that when I got home, and they came out and marked the lines Friday.

So today the hubby and I went out to start on the fence. I know the part we're working on right now, putting in the posts, is the most time-consuming part. We got most of one side done today before having to stop. It's hard work, but I know will be worth it when we're finished. Even more so right now considering the couple of vegetable plants we have out there right now. We have two tomato plants and a couple of English cucumber plants. All the leaves on both tomato plants had been eaten off, and we found rabbit droppings in the yard. I was not happy, nor was the hubby! Hopefully the fence will put a stop to that. The tomato plants had just put out a bloom each, too, so I don't know how this will affect when I'll have tomatoes. We can't figure out, either, why bunny ate the tomato plants and not cucumber. Oh well.

I'll try to get some photos up soon!

Another Kid Funny

I know it seems all I've been talking about are the funny things my kids have said lately. I can't help it...they've come out with some good ones.

Last night we went to have dinner with the in-laws. Some family that we haven't seen in years were visiting from Alabama, and we went to visit with them a little bit over dinner.

We sat down to the dinner table, and my son, out of the blue, asks my mother-in-law:

"Nana, were you alive when the Titanic sank?"

Everybody at the table just burst into laughter. The hubby had a mouthful of tea, and I'm pretty sure some came up through his nose. Nana was sure that Daddy had put the little man up to asking the question, but nope, it was completely out of the blue.

Kids are great!

Could it Be?

Looks like we're actually gonna get some rain tonight!

Hallelujah!

It has been so hot here this week that I've been seeking refuge in the house whenever I can. I haven't even gone riding...well except for today when I took the hubby's bike over for its annual safety inspection. It's just entirely too hot, and humid! I shouldn't complain, though. My hubby talked to a buddy of his in Iraq today and he said the temps there are 130+. So when I start wanting to complain about the heat, I try to remind myself of what our military goes through, then I realize it's not so bad.

Yep, sounds like a good thunderstorm coming through. As long as it doesn't scare the kids into jumping out of bed and running downstairs, we'll be ok.

Another Kid Quote

I'm supposed to be finishing up a paper that is due for my class that ends tonight, but I needed a brief break. So I thought I'd put up another funny from my daughter.

We're eating dinner tonight and were talking about my sister's baby. I had mentioned that I'm not going to be keeping her this Thursday (I usually have her every Thursday and Friday) because they have a doctor's appointment (probably her well-baby check, but I didn't ask). So the kids asked me if I would still have her on Friday (they love getting to see her those two days every week), and I assured them that I would as far as I know. Then the following conversation took place between the Princess and myself. Remember...she just turned 7.

Princess: Mommy, when is the last week we're going to have the baby (my sister will be putting her in daycare some time in the not-too-distant future).

Me: Baby, I don't know. I told you last time you asked me that I didn't know.

Princess: That was a rhetorical question.

Hubby looked at me, and I looked at her.

Me: What? You don't even know what rhetorical means.

Princess: It means don't answer.

Hubby and I both just started laughing. Can't argue with that. As the hubby said, not only did she know the word, but she used it properly. She then says, "you always laugh at me when I say something wrong." We assured her that she didn't say anything wrong, that she actually had said it just right, which is part of why it was funny. Hubby then informs me, "that's YOUR daughter." Yep...she gets the brains from me! So glad he could admit it!

From the Mouths of Babes

My baby girl said something yesterday that really tickled my funny bone.

We were on our way over to Home Depot to get some plants and things for the yard (the hubby's been working out there all weekend). When we took the exit from the freeway, we drove right by Fayetteville's water tower.

The boy said, "look, Mommy, you can climb up the water tower" (referring, of course, to the stairs winding up there).

Then the Princess says, "yeah, that's how they get the water up there."

As if that wasn't funny enough, the hubby quipped, "yep, one bucket at a time."

I think I giggled about that one off and on for a good 10-15 minutes. Thinking about it still makes me giggle. The baby girl also noticed the "trap door" through which they put the water in.

Kid logic - I LOVE it!

Busy Day

I feel like I was running pretty much all day today, but I also feel like I got quite a bit accomplished.

After I dropped the kids off at the bus stop (about 7:15), I headed off to the gym. I'm going about three days a week now, the days I don't have my niece, which is lots better than I've been doing for the last several months. I'm feeling better about myself for it, too. Right now I'm just doing cardio when I go so I can get myself moving. I hope to start some weight training within the next week or two. I've also started eating better. If I can just keep up my motivation, I should finally be able to lose the weight I want to lose.

I came home and the hubby was having his breakfast before heading to work for the day. I was kind of surprised to catch him at home, since he's usually gone before I get home on the days I go to the gym. So I saw him off, had my breakfast and sat down to chill out a bit before getting my shower. I got a phone call from the guy who was coming to replace the windshield in my car, much earlier than I expected. The insurance company gave me a timeframe of 12-5 p.m., so imagine my surprise when he called just after 10 this morning! After getting directions to my house (this new part of the subdivision can't be found on Mapquest or similar programs), he told me he was on his way. So I hurried upstairs to jump in the shower and get dressed before he got here. He arrived sometime after 10:30, and had my windshield done by 11:30. Awesome!

I couldn't drive the car for about an hour after the windshield was replaced, and the hubby and I were pretty hungry for lunch, so I hopped on the bike and rode over to his office to meet him. We rode over to our favorite Sushi place for lunch (I figured that was a safe bet for my diet). That place is excellent! There's only been one thing there that I've been unimpressed with. It wasn't BAD, but it was bland and not nearly as good as everything else we've had.

After lunch, I rode home, got in the car, and took off to take care of some errands. I had to go over to the courthouse because when I tried to renew my tags on my car, I found out that there were still outstanding taxes on it. Since my car is titled in both of our names, I have to pay half the property tax on it (the hubby's half is exempt since he's military). Either my math was a bit off or I was a bit slow sending it in (remember my previous posts about procrastination?), because there was $4 and some change left over. Ooops!! So I went and took care of that and got the registration renewed before I had to meet the kids at the bus stop. Then the kids and I took off to get it inspected since it was due as well. We waited there for a while for them to get that done (amid complaints from the kids about being bored and thirsty...always fun), and then headed home. So my car is good for another year. The kids did their homework after we got home and I relaxed for a bit before getting dinner started.

After dinner, the kids helped me clean up the kitchen. They have asked me for a while to let them help load the dishwasher and such, but I've always just done it myself. Tonight, since they wanted to help so badly, I let them go to work. The baby girl rinsed the dishes and the boy loaded the dishwasher. I was putting leftovers in the fridge and doing other things while keeping an eye on them. He asked me a few times where to put certain things, and I'd guide him. I also showed him that he could sort of "stack" things on the top rack to make a bit more room, since he was putting them flat. Other than that, I really didn't have to rearrange much of anything. They were so enthusiastic about it. If only they'd keep that enthusiasm! Heck, if only they'd apply that same enthusiasm to keeping their own rooms clean! They were just tickled to have been such a big help to me in the kitchen, and honestly, I was tickled to have the help. They're great kids! Maybe I've done something right after all!

After they went to bed, I set to helping the hubby with his bike. It's also time to have it inspected. This is the one he had the accident with back in March. When he did the work to get it back up and running, we had to figure out how the front brake switch worked because we noticed the brake light was staying on all the time. I found out how it worked, and we got it working properly for our trip to D.C. in May, but I noticed when we were out riding the other day that his brake light was staying on all the time again. Before we went to D.C., we also noticed that the brake light wasn't illuminating when he used the rear brake, which we weren't too concerned about at the time, because we usually use both brakes. But we figured it would cause a problem for the safety inspection. So one of the things I was doing this evening was trying to find out how to help him fix that problem.

I did some research on the internet and found out how to fix the front brake switch (beyond the temporary fix we did a couple of months ago). I also found out where the rear brake switch was located on his motorcycle. So then we went out to find it and fix it. Turns out when he had his extended controls put on last year (some time in October I think), the shop that did it did not put the switch back together properly. Apparently, they got in a hurry and one of the prongs was bent so wasn't engaging properly. Once the hubby got in there and figured that out, we were able to get it working. I was quite proud of myself that I'd found the answer he needed to be able to help him fix the problem. I also got down there to see where the switch was so I'd know in the future, and would be more likely to be able to find it on mine, although mine's a little different.

After that, we came back in and I finished writing a paper that I've been procrastinating on (imagine that...ME procrastinating!). And now I'm just trying to relax a bit before it's time to hit the sack. But I'm rather satisfied with what I got accomplished today. I have a lot to do around the house that I didn't even touch today, but sometimes other things have to take priority!

FINALLY! - Updated

I got my car back today!!

After a week of thinking they'd be finished with it, they finally called me today to let me know it was finished. There were problems last week with computers and wrong parts and things of that nature. I was ecstatic when the girl called me this afternoon to let me know it was ready! There was only one problem. The hubby was in Raleigh today so couldn't get home to take me to bring it home. When I mentioned that to her, telling her I'd have to see about finding someone else to take me over, she asked for directions to our house and said they could bring it to me. WOOO HOOO! The frustrations of the previous week were almost forgotten...ALMOST!

She called after they got into the subdivision to clarify the last part of the directions I'd given her, so I walked outside about the time they pulled up. It was all I could do to keep from jumping up and down and squealing in excitement! Or maybe I did just that...who knows?

Anyway, after a little more than seven weeks, I finally have it back. Good as new!

Update

We went out to get some dinner tonight after the hubby got home. On the way there, a pickup truck in the oncoming lane kicked up a rock into my windshield and cracked it. Damn, I just can't get a break! Called the insurance company when we got home and there will be someone here Wednesday afternoon to replace it. It wouldn't be such a big deal except for the fact that it has already expanded quite a bit since it first happened. At the rate it's already expanded, it would expand across the entire windshield in no time. At least I won't have to be without the car for another seven weeks for that!

First Time for Everything

The hubby and I had a busy day today. The kids are spending the weekend with my in-laws, so we decided we'd try to get some things accomplished around the house.

We've been wanting to get a privacy fence put up out back. Since the kids weren't home this weekend, we decided to try to get started on that today. So we planned to go over to Home Depot to price the things we would need. I have been pretty adamant about having a shadowbox fence ever since I first started researching different styles. The hubby wanted to use pre-made panels, because they're so much easier to work with. But whenever we would look at fencing supplies, there were no pre-made panels in the shadowbox style. Well, today at Home Depot, we were comparing prices, and come to find out, they now have the pre-made shadowbox panels! Yay! I get my pretty shadowbox fence, and the hubby gets the convenience of the pre-made panels. Can't get much better than that! Only downside is that those particular panels are special order items, so it's going to take a week or two for them to come in, then our local store will deliver them for us. Although we weren't able to start putting the fence up today as originally planned, we're both very happy with what we were able to get.

Another thing I've really wanted since we bought this house is a nice flag pole for the front yard. We have always had the type that mounts to the house or porch, but now that we own our home, I wanted a nice pole out front. We found a kit at Home Depot while we were there today that was much less expensive than the ones that we had looked at before, and it was steel instead of aluminum. Cool! So we bought that today too. So I now have one in my front yard. We also bought a set of solar spot lights so it will be lit at night without us having to remember to turn on the lights. I'm terrible about that. We'll just have to make sure they work properly and are bright enough. Only one of them is lit tonight (we didn't run the flag up yet...waiting for the concrete to set), but I'm hoping that's just because it was late afternoon before we got them put out so they're not fully charged yet. We'll see.

After the hubby finished working outside, we decided to take a ride to get some dinner without the kiddos. Here's where the first time for everything comes in. While he was out working, I kept thinking we were going to get a storm. There were some dark clouds overhead, and I kept hearing thunder. It mostly missed us though. The thunderstorm warning for our county was expiring at 6:30 this evening, and it would be after that by the time we left the house, so we figured we'd take the chance and ride. On our way to Fayetteville, we felt some drizzle. No big deal, nothing to warrant turning around and heading back home. Once we got farther into Fayetteville, though, we could tell they had gotten a good rain. The roads were wet. So we just slowed down and made sure we kept our distance all around us. So although we didn't really have that much rain, we got pretty wet from the water being splashed up by our tires and the mist from the cars in front of us. It was a good experience, though. It had been so hot today that it actually felt pretty good to get a little wet while riding. It definitely cooled us off. I also figure that if we're going to continue to take trips on the bikes, we're eventually going to have no choice but to ride in the rain - can't avoid it forever. I'd much rather be in familiar territory for a first time experience like that. Yeah, Fayetteville is crazy, but I know the roads around here.

On the way home, I had an experience that reminded me that I always have to watch out for others when I'm riding...even more so than when I'm in the car. I was in the center lane of three lanes going in the same direction. That makes me nervous anyway, but I hadn't had an opportunity to move over into the right lane yet. I was watching the vehicles on either side of me to make sure I'd be prepared if anybody decided to do anything stupid. Sure enough, the car on my right came over into my lane practically right on top of me. Fortunately, I was watching him so had plenty of room to slow down without having to lock up my brakes. My biggest concern was that there was also a car on my left and I wasn't sure what that one was going to do. I just didn't want to get boxed in there. But when that car cut in front of me, it gave me room to get into the far right lane, where I wanted to be anyway. The funny thing was that when I got into the right lane, the hubby blew past me on his bike. I think he was more pissed than I was about the car that cut me off. He got over in the right lane a car or two in front of me, and I caught up with him a few minutes later. I figure there was no need to get pissed, because I sort of expect people to do that when I'm on my bike...after all, that's what I was taught to watch for. The ironic thing was that the car had a bumper sticker on it that said "Got Jesus?" I was thinking to myself that it's a good thing I do since you tried to take me out!

Then when we got into our neighborhood, there were some kids that really frustrated me. There were two teenage boys and one little boy probably my daughter's age or younger. The littlest one was standing right in the middle of the road that the hubby and I were turning left onto. Smack in the middle! I had my signal on and he wouldn't move, nor did the two older boys tell him to move. He just stood there, with his little hands posed like he was holding handlebars. Bless his heart, I know he just wanted to watch, but the older boys never should have let him be in the middle of the road like that. It's dangerous for him, and it was dangerous for us on the bikes. What if he had unexpectedly moved into our path? He could have been hurt badly, as could one or both of us. I thought about having a few choice words with the older boys, but decided against it.

So that's our day in a nutshell. Although we didn't get as much accomplished as we'd have liked, we did get quite a bit done. We'll be glad when the stuff gets here from Home Depot so we can get even more done!

OK I'm Pissed

My husband has been trying for nearly a month to schedule an appointment for a consult. Last time he went out to Womack he was seen in the Pain Clinic. They entered consults for him to have an MRI on his back (long-term problems there) and another exam that he never had after coming back from Iraq. He was able to get the appointment for his MRI scheduled without many problems. However, the other consult has been a different story.

He's been trying since July 5th to get his consult appointment scheduled. He called the front desk of the clinic he has to go through, and they told him there's a specific line he has to call for it. So he's been calling it, getting only an answering machine. He's left numerous messages and nobody has ever called him back. His goal was to be able to get that consult done the same time he had his MRI, which was yesterday, the 25th. When he wasn't able to get anybody on the phone, I advised him to actually walk into the clinic where he has to have the consult done to see if he can schedule the appointment by talking to somebody face to face. It's kind of hard for them to ignore somebody that way. Well, by the time he was finished with the MRI, he was hurting pretty badly (had to lie on his back perfectly still on a board for about 45 minutes), so didn't go by the other clinic. I can't say that I really blame him.

So today he decided to try to get in touch with the other clinic again. He called, got the answering machine, hung up, and tried again. I guess he did this for about a half hour. FINALLY, an actual person answered. The hubby let him know exactly what he thought about the fact that he'd been trying for three weeks to make this appointment, and that he would not be hanging up the phone until he got his appointment.

He got his appointment. The date? September 5th.

That's just bullshit. If somebody had answered the freakin' phone when he tried to call three weeks ago, he'd have probably been able to get an appointment much sooner. I'm beyond pissed!

I'm sorry, but it just pisses me off that this is the kind of "care" that our servicemembers receive here. I can honestly say that this is the worst care my husband has had since he's been on active duty. Maybe it's because he's in Recruiting and they don't have their own unit PA. I know that's what he's used to. And the even scarier thing is that once they're no longer active duty, it only gets better (much sarcasm here).

I'm so frustrated for him...although I know my frustration doesn't come anywhere near matching his. Not knowing what exactly the future is going to hold for us (depending on the medical stuff) is pretty scary. I'm trying not to worry, because I believe that things will work out the way they're supposed to, but the insecurity where that's concerned is disturbing.

Lots Going On

We've had a lot going on here. We're settling in to the kids' new school routine. Well, the kids and I are anyway...it doesn't really affect the hubby much. I can see right now that this is going to be a challenging year for the boy. Our PA warned me about that, but you can't really be prepared until it starts. The homework is completely different this year and he's been struggling. I'm having to remind him that I'm not going to just give him the answers to his homework. He asked me yesterday what the capital of North Carolina is, and I told him that if that was one of his homework questions he needed to learn how to find it himself. This should be an interesting year.

Sunday we had the baby girl's birthday party. She wanted to go to Chuck E Cheese's again. I swear that place seemed even louder this year than it was last year. I had a headache by the time we left. But the kids had a good time, and that's what matters. My sister's baby even got to get in on the fun. They put her on all the little kids' rides, and she seemed to enjoy it. Whenever one of them would stop, she'd start kicking her legs, wanting it to go again. She's so darn cute!

I'm working on finishing up my degree. I'm about halfway through my current course and have two more to go. I'm scheduled to finish in October. I can't wait!

The hubby's job is keeping him busy and frustrated as usual. We're counting down the months to the end of this assignment. I don't know what will be next, but it's gotta be better than this.

I finally started going to the gym again. I've been meaning to for a while. I knew that once I started going I'd feel better and keep going. I just started this week, and wasn't able to go this morning (I leave straight from the kids' bus stop after dropping them off) because the hubby needed the truck (and I STILL don't have my car back...hoping for this week). My biggest thing, though, is getting the motivation to START going. Once I make myself go the first time, I'm usually good. I've started being more careful about what I eat, too, as well as making myself eat something for breakfast. So hopefully I'll start losing the weight I want to lose and get in better shape.

So that's what's been going on around here. Never a dull moment in our house.

Yummy

Last night I asked the hubby if he felt like going to Carrabba's for dinner. I had heard a commercial on the radio a couple of times about their Cozze in Bianco (Mussels in White Wine) and had started having a craving. Yeah, I tease my kids about being commercial junkies, and I guess in this instance, I fall into this category. But I just love mussels in white wine sauce, and haven't had them since leaving Europe. Well, Friday night, the hubby didn't feel like going out. For that matter, I was moody and picking arguments, so it was probably not a good time to go anyway.

Today we worked on straightening up the house. The hubby went through a box of military books that has been in my kitchen for more weeks than I can remember. I got some cleaning done, to include the kitchen floor which I have been needing to do for a while. I pretty much have the downstairs done to the point where I just have to maintain. I have a bit of work to do upstairs, but it will be nice once I get that done.

This afternoon I asked the hubby about going to Carrabba's for dinner tonight. He said he was open to it if that was what I wanted. Considering the fact that I really wanted it last night, I told him that yes, I did really want to go tonight. So we made plans to go. Woo Hoo!

The battery had gone out in my watch a little more than a week before, so I needed to take it out to have it fixed. Also, the hubby brought me a Breitling watch from Iraq that I had never work because it was too big (imagine that!). So we decided to take both watches with us tonight and go by the mall to take care of both problems this evening. Well, on the watch that needed a new battery, I paid $21.95 (or something like that...need to look at the receipt) for a lifetime maintenance deal where they'll replace the battery for me anytime in my lifetime without charging me again. I can deal with that. It was Reed's Jewelers, in case you're interested. They also removed a couple of links from my Breitling watch for me. Charged about $10 for that. Fits just about perfectly, with a little room in it. I'll need to have it adjusted again when I lose weight, but I won't worry about that until I lose the weight I want to lose.

We had a wonderful dinner at Carrabba's, of course. J had spaghetti with meatballs, and A had cheese pizza. I had their Lobster Ravioli which was one of their daily specials, and the hubby had one of their salmon daily specials. We weren't disappointed. For dessert, the kids had the Bambini Sundae each, and P and I split the Creme Brulee. Yummmmmmy!!

We spent too much money, but we rarely get to go to Carrabba's. For authentic Italian food, it's the best in the area, hands-down!! Christy, I thought of you as I was eating my Lobster Ravioli, since I was with you the first time I ever tried it. We really need to get together soon...definitely before you and the hubby leave the area!

First Week of School

Well, first half-week anyway.

My kids started back to school on Wednesday. They're in year-round school here.

My son is going to have quite an adjustment to make this year. He started Fourth Grade. Our PA told me Monday that it's been his experience, from his patients, that fourth grade is the hardest year for kids. Said he has a lot of kids in the office staying home with complaints of bellyaches, etc. Here we are two days into the new school year, and I believe it already.

We got home from school this afternoon, and J was supposed to be doing his homework. I heard him upstairs playing and reminded him more than once that he was supposed to be doing his homework. Finally he complained, "It's too hard!" Maybe the difference is that this year they have actual textbooks. He had science homework tonight and he was supposed to read a chapter on minerals and then answer questions on a worksheet. He really struggled with that. I know it's a different style for him, and I tried to help him understand what he needed to do, but we were both getting frustrated. He was working on his homework until nearly 7 tonight, and he still had to read for a half hour. Their bedtime is 8 on school nights.

I had to get out of the house for a bit this evening after making sure he finished his Science homework. We're having the baby girl's birthday party Sunday evening, so I needed to go get gifts for that. I ordered her cake too. So we should be ready for her party now. Going to Chuck E Cheese. I know they'll have a good time, although it's crazy for the grownups.

Sunday should be fun!

Porch Swing Blogging

Well, glider-rocker anyway.

We're experiencing a very rare cool, breezy July afternoon here in NC today. So I'm taking advantage of it by sitting on my porch watching my husband cut the grass and working on my school work. I'm just taking a quick break before I really get started. Haha

Today has been a busy day. I rode the hubby's new bike up to Smithfield for its first service since he had to work. Don't you know that was such a chore for me! The ride was great, but the waiting around for almost three hours wasn't. Oh well, it got done, and I enjoyed the opportunity to take a ride.

Today is my baby girl's birthday. She's 7 today. She and her brother are spending the weekend with their Nana and Papa at the beach. It's Nana's birthday, too, and this is the third year in a row they have gotten to spend it together. Last year they visited my brother-in-law and his wife and had a great time on the water there, and the year before the in-laws came to visit us and we were in Paris for their birthday. Their birthday also happens to be Bastille Day, so there was a big celebration, to include fireworks. I haven't gotten to talk to her yet today...got no answer when I tried my mother-in-law's cell phone. If I don't hear from them I'll try back this evening.

The hubby and I are really counting down the months to the end of his current assignment. We don't know what will be in store next, but it'll have to be better than this. He's just so stressed lately, and it's really wearing on him. His BN Commander actually tried to enlist my support last month to try to convince the hubby to extend for a year. I know he figures that I'd rather have him extend in his current job than deploy. He's sorely mistaken, and I told him so in no uncertain terms that day. I had rather my husband go back to doing the job that he loves, even if it means a deployment, than see him miserable for another year. The LTC acted shocked. Guess he doesn't know me as well as he thinks he does. And things have only gotten worse, so woe be upon him if he tries barking up that tree again next time I see him. He may get more than he bargained for there. I would REALLY have to speak my mind then.

Oh, and on the car front...looks like I might get it back around the 27th of this month, if all goes well. They called me the Friday before the 4th of July to tell me that once they had started on my car they'd had to order more parts. They had told me that was a possibility. She also told me that they were going to be off for three days the week of the 4th, so that would delay it even more. I called earlier this week just to touch base, and she told me they were having to replace the entire dash. Wow! Doesn't really surprise me, especially because of the airbags, but I guess I wasn't really expecting it. This week was when she gave me the ballpark date, although she did tell me they hoped to have it done sooner. Not as much as I hope they're able to! Will be interesting to see what the final cost of repairs is when all is said and done.

So that's about all that's new here. Lot of the same old stuff going on.

Gone Again

Yay! I can add titles again! I'm really happy about that...Blogger was really messing with my OCD there for a few days.

The kids are gone again. The hubby's mom called me this afternoon to tell me that she had a doctor's appointment in Fayetteville today, and that my father-in-law had to visit a lady in the hospital. They wanted to stop by for a visit while they were down this way. She then asked if I needed some fresh veggies...they plant a garden every year. I told her that I certainly wouldn't turn down fresh veggies. Love, love, love veggies from the garden. Maybe next year we'll have the time to plan a garden here.

So they came by and brought me two bags of veggies, and took the kids with them when they left. This will be their last long vacation with Nana and Papa before they start school. They have to go back to school a week from today, on the 18th. I only feel a little bit guilty because I'm not going to be with my baby girl on her birthday. This is the second year in a row that she has spend her birthday with my hubby's parents, but I'm glad she can do that, because she shares a birthday with her Nana. So it's pretty special for them to be able to spend their birthdays together while we're here. They're going to the beach this weekend. The in-laws are going to be there for a week, but I'll of course have to go get the kids earlier so they can be back in time for school to start.

So the hubby and I have been enjoying some peace and quiet tonight. We went out and had a nice dinner, just the two of us, and were able to hold a conversation without constant interruptions. That's always nice. We were going to go to the beach for a couple of days with them, but turns out the hubby has to work this weekend. So we're going to have to try to figure out a time to go down and pick the kids up.

So we're going to enjoy our alone time while we have it. After all, we don't know how much longer we have to be here close to family. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts!

Better Day

After my complaining post last night, I thought it only fair to brag tonight.

I kept a friend's little boy today (actually a coworker of my sister). He had been sick and had to be out of daycare a couple of days, but neither Mom nor Dad could miss anymore work. I understand what it's like to be in a bind like that, since I've been a working parent, so I was happy to help.

I have to admit that my kids did more babysitting than I did. From the time the little guy got here this morning until the time he left (with the exception of lunch and nap for him), my kids had him upstairs playing. He had a great time, and didn't want to leave when Mommy came to get him this afternoon. J came down at one point and said the little guy was hiding in the closet. Awwwww!! I went upstairs and carried him down, and he and mom headed home. He's a good little boy, and had lots of fun. My kids had a great time playing with him, too. They both love little kids.

My mom and her boyfriend came over to visit for a bit tonight. The kids were down here visiting with them at one point, and I can't remember what J said, but I was fussing at him about not listening. He said something that cracked us all up:

"What's wrong with my earsight?"

I lost it! Kids come out with the funniest things sometimes!

But, after I complained last night, I just wanted to share today how great my kids are. And, yes, I did praise them and thank them for how good they were today. Positive reinforcement!!