3 Months!

WOW, it has been three months since my last post. I had really thought I would be able to keep up on this blog but I guess life had other ideas in mind. So, where to begin?

First, I would have to say that we survived Christmas break. I honestly thought I was gonna go batty. I had a constant flow of kids and family and pets and phew! January went pretty quick. But as we rounded the corner into February I had no idea what was waiting for me. We were living in a rental home and our lease was getting ready to run out. I, not wanting to move, called the landlord to let them know that we would be staying in the house, month to month, until the summer when my husband returned. They agreed and I was safe from moving (again) until June. Then, the bomb dropped. I got a call one evening from a real estate agent. She informed me that the owner of our home had decided to sell and that we had 30 days to move. SHIT. This was (at the time) my worst nightmare. Moving.... By myself..... With three kids......12 short months after moving across the country. Like I said before, SHIT. I frantically went looking for a rental home, and after a few days the realization set in that I would not be able to find the size of house we needed to accommodate our family, in the school district that we needed (because I was NOT switching my kids' school again) , for a price we could afford. I was left with two choices: either live in my van, or try and buy a house in less than 30 days.

Things really took a turn for the better when I randomly called an agent here in town, Reuben Hernandez. By the close of that day I had gotten pre qualified  for a loan, looked at a house and put an offer in on that house. Things really sailed from there and we ended up closing on our dream house in 23 days, leaving me just enough time to move and get everything done before I was to hand over my keys to the owners. Thanks to my Grandparents, my Aunt Nicky and my cousin Donovan, we accomplished so much in one weekend and could finally settle in and more importantly SLOW DOWN!

I really felt like an outsider looking in during all of this. I couldn't believe all that had happened! And by the time we finally slowed down and took a look around I realized we were over halfway done with this deployment. They always say staying busy helps pass the time and I couldn't agree more. These days it seems that busy is my middle name. And I will gladly keep it that way until my Honey returns. Yeah, it gets crazy and hectic and I would like to sit around but I know from experience I would be pretty miserable if that is how life really was. 

Easter is just around the corner as well as Spring break, and I am again being blessed with family coming to visit. Aunt Nicky and Uncle Jason along with my cousins Donovan and Emily will be coming in and hanging out with us for the holiday. We are so excited to see them again. It is so nice to have a piece of home away from home. And they are so laid back and calm that it feels like I am getting a break when they are here. 

Dad is doing well also. He misses home very much and it getting really anxious to come home. We have already started making plans for the Summer. I can't wait for him to see the house in person. And some of the surprises I have waiting for him when he returns. And most importantly, being whole again. In every sense of the word.

Madness

Hey guys! Man, it has been awhile since my last post so I thought I would jump on here and update you all!

Well, the holidays proved to be a crazy one at casa Wiesen. We started December with K's Birthday as you all know, followed by a visit from my father in law. Shortly after he left, we had a visit from my grandparents who are snowbirds here in AZ. They stayed for Christmas and left yesterday morning. Last night we spent another fun filled evening at Chuck E. Cheese for T's birthday. And now we plan to head to CA for the weekend to my Aunt and Uncle's house to ring in the New Year! After we return home I will be able to return to my regular scheduled programming which I look forward to more than  you know.

Dad is still going strong in Japan. He was able to skype us on Christmas morning but the feed was terrible. I felt really bad that he was unable to clearly see the kids as they opened their gifts. I know it was really hard on him. I tried to just think of it as another day. I went through the motions and put on my happy face but it just didn't feel right. We have been very lucky that he hasn't missed many Christmas' so I guess I shouldn't complain!

The paper plates proved to be one of my best companions when my grandparents were here. You can't imagine how many dishes six people can produce in the course of seven days. Or maybe you can. Anyways, I am still looking into stock info for the Dixie company, so if anyone has their contact info please leave it in the comment section below.

We had another huge milestone during all of the festivities. T lost his first tooth at his Bday party last night. That dang tooth had been hanging on for weeks. I tried everything I could think of in my arsenal of bribery to get him to pull it out sooner but it happened in true T fashion. On his own time. With minimal intervention. He woke up this morning very excited about his three bucks the Tooth Fairy left for him. And today we are headed out to do some shopping and get rid of the money that has been burning a hole in the kids' pockets since Christmas.

I hope all of you had an amazing Holiday and appreciated being with your loved ones. I know the Wiesen's look forward to going home next year. Back to the madness and running around, three Christmas', HBR's in my sister in laws basement and the kids running around with all of their cousins. You know, all the comforts of HOME! 

Anyways, I will post again soon! Pray for my sanity if you get a chance. And have a safe and Happy New Year! -E

Update

My father in law was in town for a few days so I was too busy to post, but I thought I would do a quick one to update everyone! We have had a busy week. The kids finished out their last week of school before winter break. It was full of multiple trips back and forth from the school to bring treats for parties, forgotten homework, or candy for white elephant gifts. My girlfriend and I made an amazing fruit tree, complete with a pineapple star, for T's Kindergarten class! We got a ton of oooo's and ahhhhh's as we proudly marched our masterpiece down the hall! I think we were both pretty darn proud! It was sort of a rebuttal treat. Let me explain.... Over Halloween, a mom in T's class decided to make the most amazing thing. She took oranges, hollowed them out, carved each with a Jack-O-Lantern face, filled them with grapes and replaced the lid. She did this for 32 kids! When T brought it home, my jaw dropped. At first I was in awe because I couldn't figure out how she did it. Second, I was a little perturbed that I hadn't thought of it. So, our fruit tree was kind of my response to that. Not that the other parent cares, I just really hate being out crafted.

Moving on. We were expecting my grandparents on Monday afternoon but they both came down with a terrible cold and haven't made it here yet. My father in law had to leave this morning at four a.m. so we had to say our goodbyes last night. I cried. I have been really emotional the past couple of weeks. I don't let it show very often but it slips out, to my dismay, every now and then.

The kids are getting more and more anxious for Christmas. Every time we get a package they beg to open it early. I usually give in. I am a sucker for giving/opening presents early. I am currently angry at my Mom because she refuses to open the package I sent her until Christmas Eve. I tried to convince her for half an hour yesterday that it was more practical for her to just open it now. But she wouldn't listen.

Dad is doing well and we get to talk to him everyday. He moved rooms last week and the internet connection in his new room is horrible so talking has been interesting. It sounds like the parents from Charlie Brown..."Wa wa waaa waaa". I hope we can get it resolved soon! He will be joining a couple of friends, who are now stationed on the same base, for Christmas. I am so glad he will have somewhere to go and won't be alone in a room! We will miss him so much this holiday but at least I know he isn't alone.

Well, I hope you all have a great Christmas, or whatever holiday you may be celebrating. I will update again soon! Hopefully with pictures! -E

She strikes again!

I write this from my cell in the insane asylum... My daughter, after doing several successful loads of dishes since our last mishap, decided she'd change it up again. Instead of liquid detergent this time, she chose the rinsing agent. Surprisingly, rinsing agent foams up as much as liquid detergent. So here I am. Scoop, rinse, repeat. -E

Paper Plates

*Disclaimer: If I were rich, I would be the most granola munching, smart car driving, organic food eating, eco friendly mom out there. But I am not. So, let's get on with it.

First, let me start by saying I HATE doing the dishes. My daughter is luckily at the age where she can do the dishes. Now by "do" the dishes, I mean get them mostly clean as long as you don't mind an occasional spoon with dried peanut butter on it. But, that is just fine with me. I would rather wash the random peanut butter spoon than have to always do the onslaught of dishes that a family of five can generate!

My saving grace? Paper plates. Wonderful, disposable paper plates. You can eat off them, color on them, cut holes in them for masks. They make great pallets for paint, hot glue guns, beads and on and on and on. They are cheap! I even splurge and buy the ones where you only need ONE to eat a meal with out it folding in half! They can be turned into frisbees, snow shoes, and hubcaps for the car... Okay, maybe I am getting a little carried away but you get the point! If it makes life a little easier than I am all for it! One less minute spent washing plates is one more minute I can spend with my kids! So, go buy some. After dinner you will thank me! -E

Weekend!

Well, we made it through our first full week of Dad being gone! Only twenty three more to go! I have decided to count down weeks rather than days, because it sounds better counting down from 23 rather than 180 (days). The end of the week means that the weekend is upon us. Probably my least favorite time during deployments. My goal this weekend is to keep things as busy as possible. Tomorrow we will be heading to the library to attend a Christmas craft workshop, which should keep the kids busy for a couple of hours! Sunday will be interesting! It is "K"'s fourth birthday! He has decided he wants to go to the movies, and then we are having some friends over for cake and pizza! He is really excited but I feel bad that Dad has to miss it! We have been so lucky in the fact that he hasn't missed but one of the kids Birthday's in the last nine years. I don't think enough time has gone by yet that "K" will really be that affected by it, but it still stinks. 

Christmas is approaching fast and I am so thankful that we have family coming into town. My Father In Law will be visiting next Friday. The kids and I are really excited. It will be nice to see a familiar face, and it is always fun when Papa comes! Shortly after he arrives my grandparents will be heading into town as well! They will be staying through Christmas which is a huge relief for me because that will allow me to purchase any last minute gifts and stocking stuffers without having to break out my ninja skills. It is a little scary to think that your kids' joy of the holiday season rests solely in your hands. Frightening in fact. But, I feel like it will be a great Christmas regardless! I will post again after this weekend and let you know how the festivities went! Until then.... -E

Pamphlet!

The kids are eating dinner so I thought this might be a good time to write! 

Today I was driving to pick the kids up from school and as I was waiting in the line of cars to pick them up I noticed something. It was a booklet on the floor board of my van about deployment. I decided to pick it up and skim through it. I read over the part about preparing for the deployment (emotionally) and how it is totally normal to withdraw from your spouse a little (which is totally what I did). It is our minds way of protecting itself from the inevitable hurt you will feel! I was a little relieved to know I was normal (HA!). But what hit me like a ton of bricks was the section on dealing with the first few weeks! It talked about how it is okay to be sad, hurt, mad, overwhelmed and la dee dah and I thought to myself : "wait a minute, I don't feel any of these things!" I feel quite the opposite. Since Dad has left I have felt pretty damn good! A little cocky in fact. And although I know these feelings probably wont last, I am going to cling to them. How often are we faced we hardship and we stare down the barrel and say "Come and get me, I am ready"? Not very often. So, am I less of a loving wife because I am not at home sobbing? NO! Is my home any less than extremely altered when he is gone? NO! It means that I am a strong woman who is perfectly capable of taking care of three kids, a dog, a cat, a house, two cars, endless bills and whatever else life decides to throw at me! I hope my fellow wives who are feeling the heat can find some encouragement in my words! WE GOT THIS LADIES! And when shit hits the fan (which it will), we have each other!

On a side note, if I start blubbering like a baby tomorrow, remind me to re-read this! Please. :) Have a great night all! -E