Hello, again.

I haven't written in over a month, not because I haven't been doing anything, but because I haven't felt the desire to share my life with everyone who reads my blog.  This month has just been one of those months. 

I've really been enjoying watching Gabe and Lilli interact and letting Gabe experience new things now that he's a little older and loves to play with other kids.  I was never good at play dates, probably, because its been my experience, I didn't like chatting with other moms.  It's so hard for me to build new relationships; I need to be better at that so I can have a more full-filling life, I suppose, but it's a struggle.  Gabe always loves playing with Xavier, so I've taken them to Monkey Joe's a few times to run off steam.  It only takes about an hour of playing on all the inflatables to get tired.

I also always try to do some type of art project with the boys.  I think my persistence with Gabe sticking his hands in paint is finally working.  He's not afraid to get them dirty like he was before, but the mess doesn't last long before he tells me he needs to wash his hands.

Speaking of telling me things, he's gotten quite the personality this past year.  He's learned that when I say "No," he should respond with "yes!"  Or, the latest and most annoying and cute all at the same time is "What is that?" and "What you doing?"  The things children learn amazes me. 

Other than that, we go to Xavier's baseball games once or twice a week.  I started a boot camp class at the Y that kicks my butt every time and we bought Gabe a swing-set.  That's about the highlights of June.  July will be another story, hopefully.  I can't wait to let the month fly by so I can see the man of my dreams and get a vacation of total bliss. 

Back on track!

I went on a short hiatus since I was sick for a week with a terrible sinus infection.  I could barely function to play my roles as mommy, worker and Cinderella, let alone blogger.  So, now that I am feeling better I can get back to documenting our days.  Here's a recap of what everyone missed in the very exciting life that is mine.  (That was a joke, it really is rather dull without my hubby around.)

April 16: I took the boys (Gabe and Xa) to sign up at the YMCA since it was free that day.  Gabe loved the daycare and Xa enjoyed the rec room.  They have a great facility with a trail, a pool and tons of equipment and staff that will show you how to use it and train you - all included in your membership.  Xa was even more excited when I told him they had a spy day camp this summer.  He can't wait to go!  After the Y we headed to the movies.  It was Gabe's first time ever at a movie theater.  Since we were running late I wasn't able to get his picture since the previews were running by the time we got our seats.  He did such a good job -- better than I expected.  We saw "Rio" which I thought was a cute little movie.  We finished the day by celebrating our next door neighbor's 89th birthday.  Gabe was so excited to help him with his cards and of course, the cake.  He only likes the icing so Dad helped him finish his piece.

April 17: We cleaned out the fish pond in the backyard and let Gabe and Xavier put the fish back in.  Gabe was insistent on touching/holding them but when give the chance declined.  He still had a good time "helping."  Lilli lending a hand too, of course!

April 18-21: I can't think of what we did so it must not have been worthy enough to write about.  Except for the day when Luis sent me flowers since I had been feeling down.  He's such a sweetie.

Finally, today:  We started our day off with breakfast at IHOP, which let me tell you is NOT on my new diet, so I guess I'll start it again next week.  Or maybe the week after since I'm headed back to Texas for vacation...  Anyways, after breakfast everyone took naps, except me of course, who had to do laundry and finish the diaper cake I've been putting off for over a month now.  And then after Gabe's nap, with inspiration from my good friend Laura and the cricut, he made sun catchers for his teacher appreciation cards and a butterfly for Mother's Day coming up. All the websites I looked at online said tissue paper and contact paper is a great project for toddlers.  They were right.  Gabe loved doing them.  Although towards the end he decided it was more fun to crumple the paper than to lay it on the paper flat.  They still turned out beautiful. 

We went out for dinner to a local pub restaurant for catfish (Gabe and I had chicken strips) and headed back home before the storm hit -- again.  (Side note, earlier during the week Mom and I went to Target for a birthday card and ended up sitting for 45 minutes in the back of the store with all the other crazy storm shoppers.  Not fun.)  The sirens kept going off so we turned on the news and sure enough there were two super cells north and south of us.  We barely got any rain but for good measure we camped out in the basement eating milk and cookies watching the news about all the damage from the storm.  It tore part of the roof off the airport, shattered windows and moved a shuttle bus on top of a building.  Gabe liked that picture, he kept asking how they would get it down.  Such a curious little boy.  After an hour or so it was safe to head back upstairs where my sweet babies are now snoozing away.  And, I, about to join them.

And we're walking....

Today was a beautiful day!  It was the perfect temperature all day with the sun shining and, of course, I had to work.  I'm not really complaining, I mean I get off at 1:30 so I had plenty of time to enjoy it.  The Boy stayed home from school today because we just can seem to get over his "allergies" that he has since given to Lilli, me and Dad.  Mom had it briefly, but I think she is better now.  Poor kiddo has had a runny nose for a month now and they say there's just not a whole lot we can do.  In any case, when I got home he was taking his nap so I chatted with Luis a bit and started on dinner.  I made Swedish Meatballs, noodles and peaches.  My child does not eat meat unless it is in a casserole or a fried chicken nugget.  Today, he surprised us all and ate four, yes FOUR, meatballs.  He ate more meatballs than he did noodles, which are by far his favorite.  I know the poor thing hasn't really had an appetite for anything other than Popsicles but I couldn't believe when he kept asking for more.

After dinner I drug Mom to the park where we walked the trail with the babies.  It was a mile and a half of perfect weather and great company.  We even had some Marine recruits running around us which quite mesmerized The Boy.  After our walk we promised him some time on the slides and he finally slid down the big kid slide without me holding his hand.  He is getting too big I tell you!  (I brought my camera to document our night out and I left it in the car - go figure!)  I'm hoping that the we can make this a regular evening event.  I have one more day before I start my herbal supplement so we cheated and I made chocolate chip cookies.  They were the perfect ending to the perfect day.

'He's Deployed and I Don't Want to Do Anything' Blues

I am tired!  I really feel like I'm pregnant again on this deployment.  I can't sleep, I get tired just thinking about what I need to do and work just drags on and on.  I'm sure I'm just in a funk from both kids having problems with spring allergies and it gets to me too.  I also feel more emotional during deployments, much like a pregnant woman!  The littlest things can just hit a nerve and make me all emotional.  Today for instance I experienced one of those moments. 

I have a part-time job as a government contractor.  Basically whenever a military member does a move that the military pays for they are supposed to get a survey about their move experience and interaction with the vendors we utilize for movers.  Now if you think about how many times a member of the Armed Forces - all branches - moves, including reservists, that's a lot of moves.  We have four people in our small office that are supposed to call all of these people.  And, lets include that the systems we use to complete our work are government systems that are programmed with the government philosophy of 'hurry up and wait,' so, it can be a bit stressful to call the amount of people you need to call with technology working against you. 

Today I ran across a couple who we tried to reach and they asked that we call them back at 6:30 last week.  So, the person working called them back at 6:30, however she didn't take into account they lived on the west coast and the time difference.  So, needless to say the wife said it was too early to reach the service member and to call back at the requested time.  For whatever reason our employee didn't make the call.  So, today, in order to clear the call from the que I called the service member.  The service members wife was so rude to me because we failed to call her at the time requested she declined to complete the survey at all.  I mean we clearly made a mistake by not calling but is it really necessary to chew out the next person who is trying to do their job?!  I apologized and let it go. 

Not even ten minutes later I called a gentlemen who gave us his brothers number as a contact number.  (Granted, no where does it say it was his brother, we call as if it's the service member's number.)  This man proceeded to tell me that the service member was too busy and important for surveys and if I was really calling from the government I would have his personal line and it was a "nice try" in trying to get a hold of the service member and promptly hung up. 

I don't know why people are brave across a phone line and would talk and treat someone in that fashion.  At no time was I ever rude or pushy.  It really makes me think twice about how I handle people on the phone when they call me for whatever reason.  I know I shouldn't take it personal but I do.  The non-pregnant, deployment hormonal me does.  So, just a little reminder to be kind to the people you interact with.  You never know when you will make their day or bring them down with your simple words and tone.

And in other news Luis started his P90X workouts today.  He has really inspired me to really, really start getting back in shape and to my pre-baby weight.  So, because I need a little help, I got an herbal supplement to help me lose the weight.  I don't start taking them for another 3 days, based on the info they gave me, but I'm hoping they will help curve my appetite.  Also, she gave me something for more energy so I'm hoping that will over power these 'he's deployed and I don't want to do anything' blues I get from time to time.  (This week being one of those times...)  So, wish me luck.  My long-term goal is 75 lbs but I plan on taking small strides to get back to where I'd like to be.