What to do...

We wanted to do something fun today, but then reality set in. We have to get unpacked before school starts, and potty training isn't any fun while on the go.

We unpacked.

Went to Walmart.

Went to the commissary.

Had 6 accidents with Junior. Ugh. He was great all day yesterday while we were shopping, but today he had no interest in it. He even started screaming "I don't want to use the potty".

Nope, the m&m's aren't working. Reading books while he sits there works for a bit.

He won't poop on there. We'll keep plugging away.

There are a bunch of girls Ab's age in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, she's not very social, so while she always leaves to play with them, within 5 minutes she has wandered off by herself and discovered something new and exciting.

They want to play house, and she doesn't want to be bothered with that.

I went to visit my friend Jessie yesterday that lives here. We met when we both worked at the Consulate in Germany, and have kept in touch all these years. We talked, we laughed, we cried. I'm glad I have a friend here that I can count on and knows me and accepts it all. Now 11 years later we finally live in the same town, just 20 minutes apart. Who would have thought?

Gunner wants to go to Pikes Peak tomorrow. I asked him if he was planning on taking the cog or driving. He votes for driving. Ummmm.....his driving around town scares me! I went up Pikes Peak when I was a kid, and I remember my brother telling me that the road was straight up. I believed him and strapped myself down in our old Dodge van. Then when we got up to the top he told me that I would blow off and never be seen again. I was 7 and gullible. We got to the top, went out for a walk, he told me how I could blow away, and I proceeded to walk around on my hands and knees. I told the girls this story and they looked at me like I was insane. Great.

I'm thinking Pikes Peak will have to hold off till Junior is a little bit more potty trained. Let's hope he starts making some progress soon!

Houston, we have preschool

I found preschool for Junior. Two days a week for three hours until they have an opening for the three day a week. It's on the place where we live, so it's convenient, across from the fitness center, and not far from home. Those three hours will go fast, but Junior needs the interaction....and most importantly, I need a break!

We started potty training again. Well, we didn't actually start until this afternoon, but it's a step in the right direction....again.

We are armed with new Sesame Street underwear, the potty, a bag of m&m's, and a 4 day weekend. Wish us luck.

The first time he wanted to stand up and go like the little boy Michael in his potty book. No one told me I needed to teach him to control it! It was like a wild fire hose, and our living room was covered in pee. Good times.

The preschool says they don't even have a diaper changing table in there, but they will work with me to get him potty trained aka your son will be potty trained ASAP because we don't want to change diapers. I'm so ready to be done with diapers too.

We got Em signed up for her electives today. She wants a year of French, but it depends on whether or not they have 20 people and can hold the class. If not, she will take Spanish.

Random happenings in our household:

Junior carried a stick around and tries to change people into things when he gets mad. The magic word is apparently "Poop". He just can't get that F sound.

Abs's nail biting has gotten worse. She is chewing them down till they bleed. I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Gunner was joking around with Abs and asked her if she needed to wear deoderant. She said "Maybe, sometimes my armpits smell like burritos." My baby is growing up. Sad thing is, I could never trust her with a stick of deoderant, she would probably color her floor with it, carve hieroglyphic designs in it, or create a pattern on the floor of the bathroom to see if it really repelled water. I don't think her school knows what they have in store for them.

So You Think You Can Dance always makes me cry at the finale. I need a life.

I hate Staff Duty and CQ because Gunner is always a grump the next day.

Em was riding her bike yesterday and wanted to borrow my ipod. It was dead from the last time she borrowed it. Of course a pre-teen girl can't ride a bike without music, so she took a short wave radio that my dad gave me almost 15 years ago and tied it to her handlebars with a bandanna. She was happy. I was happy she came up with a solution and it didn't cost me any money. She's a hoot.

Tomorrow is school clothes shopping. I can hardly wait.

No Doubt

Gunner loves me.

He was so excited this morning to call and tell me about a free 10K and half marathon where we are living. Gotta love the military! We opted for the 10K since there is no way I will be prepared for a half in two weeks. Next time I'll be ready though! The starting time is 6:00 in the morning. Seriously????

We hit the gym this morning so I could run 4 miles, swim 2 miles, lift, and the girls could play the wii for two hours. Junior just runs and climbs there. I love the Gold's gym here! My membership is over at the end of the month and I am still debating on whether or not to continue it.

The kids road bikes today. Well I spent over an hour running after Abs on her bike trying to get her to ride on her own. There has to be an easier way. She voted for hooking her bike up to the trainer and riding in place. I continued running after her, but she still has the balance problem. We'll work on it more tomorrow. Junior collects rocks in the back of his tricycle. He calls them honey and keeps yelling for the bears to come visit him. He is going to have great muscles because that's at least an added 10 pounds with the rocks. (Yes, he's wearing Em's hat)

After riding/chasing for a while we headed off to the PX/BX to get the rest of Em's school supplies. We wandered around for a while and then headed to the fitness center. We got a pool pass--freaking expensive, I miss Fort Hood pools for free! I got a tour of the gym and even signed up for their incentive program. You choose what you want to do--run, elliptical, swim, etc., and then when you reach a certain milestone that they have set, you earn a water bottle, towel, gym bag, etc. I have 50 miles for the water bottle. I'm a woman on a mission.

Gunner had CQ so we cooked dinner, made a rhubarb crumb pie, and watched a storm roll in.

The storms here are beautiful. For all the thunder and lightening you would think we would have a torrential downpour, but that rarely happens. The thunder echos off the mountains, the command center tells us to take cover, and then eventually we'll have a short rain while the thunder and lightening continues. I love it.

Tomorrow Em has to take her math test at school to place her in the proper class. Gunner has a 5 day weekend and we have school clothes to buy, bikes to learn to ride, maybe a trip to Pikes Peak, find the parts to the bike trailer and get a few bike rides in, and of course, run, run, run. I've been investigating a few triathlons and am trying to get into one that is closed. It's a women's tri, and it sounds like fun, but they are booked. I am on the waiting list and hoping for the best. There's a few more that I have my eye on as well. I think I am getting used to the altitude, finally.

All the kids are in bed, and hopefully about to fall asleep. I hear a piece of rhubarb pie calling my name...

Another day....

I didn't get the job I interviewed for. Know what they offered me though? I can be a permanent sub, which means I can sub in a class, sub in the cafeteria, sub in the lunch room, clean up barf, or work with kids. Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather sit at home and collect unemployment and end up with more money in the end. I don't want to clean up my own children's vomit, much less anyone elses!

I had a Plan B, but I am thinking about coming up with a plan C. Maybe I will go back into the business world. I have a MBA, I was good at what I did, and I never had any stress or had to worry about taking my job home. There's a lot to be said for that.

I'd like to say that I could become a home organization guru, but seriously I can't keep anything organized in this house. Guess that cleaning and sorting could be my new plan.

I could see about jobs on post. I could see about jobs on base. I could just be a bum, albeit an overly educated one.

Today I could probably write a book titled 1001 reasons why it sucks if your husband is in the military. Of course tomorrow it could be 1001 reasons why I don't mind the military.

Nursing a killer headache and not feeling overly optimistic today.

Took the kids to Focus on the Family today. It's entirely free and they have a playroom, slides, climbing areas, hands on stuff, and a gigantic bookstore. The kids had a good time, and I was hoping it would wear Junior out, but not even close.

I took an hour nap though while I plopped the kids in front of the tv. Mom of the year in the making I am sure.

I'm off to redo my resume and come up with a new plan, wish me luck!

Help me!

Either I need to get a job or school needs to start soon.

I had another interview today for a 4th grade position. I would love to have it, but if I don't get it, I have another plan.

My new plan? Going back to school of course! The University of Colorado offers some certifications that I'd like to get, and I can volunteer in the meantime.

I did get my first unemployment payment, and that's always nice. Thankfully Texas is one of the states that gives unemployment to military spouses when they have to PCS. I love Texas anyway, but this sure helps out while I search for employment. We didn't have a lot of time before school started when we arrived, so I knew that the pickings would be slim. It's all good.

We went hiking at Garden of the Gods yesterday and it was absolutely beautiful. We followed up with pizza at Fargo's. I'm in love with their mexican pizza!

Pictures of the hiking to follow, once I find the card reader.

We went shopping for school supplies this afternoon. Over $200 later we are done except for notebook paper, which Walmart was out of. They require a lot more supplies here than they do in Texas. Half of my students last year didn't even show up with school supplies, and we really didn't ask for that much!

Abs has settled in, the newness has worn off, and the kids are fighting again. Junior wants to play with his sisters all the time, so the girls trick him into going into his room, lock his baby gate, and then tell him they'll be back shortly. That works for about 10 minutes and then he starts crying for them to come back and rescue him. Poor kiddo!

I'm addicted to monsters again. I just need that little burst of energy to make it through the last part of the day. Some days I need it more than others, like today.

Chicken and rice for dinner. Hopefully everyone will fall asleep before 11 tonight....hopefully.