Milspouse Friday Fill-In

1.What is a weird/funny superstition that you have? (from A{muse}ing Mommy on a Pink Park Bench)
I don't have any superstitions I don't think, but I do put my left sock on first, put my left leg in pants first and put my left shoe on first.  Okay, maybe it's a little weird.  

2.What are your hopes and dreams for the years AFTER the military? After all, we aren’t in it forever! (from Stetsons, Spurs and Stilettos)
The after part is coming up sooner than I would like to think about.  I just want to travel, do things, and have fun.  Since this is right around the corner, I need more direction than that, so it's on my list of things to do.  

3.Since [this] month is National Apple Month (no really!), I’d probably ask: What is your yummiest apple recipe? (from NH Girl Displaced)
I don't eat apples very often, so I can't help you there!

4.How long have you gone as a military spouse without talking to your husband/wife during service? (from A Navy Princess and Her Little Sailors)
Two months.  When they first got to Iraq and they were living in tents, pulling missions all the time, and phone service sucked.  He called once for 5 minutes near the end of the two months, but we couldn't understand anything.  That's why when I say it's okay if he goes a few weeks without calling, I really mean it.  

5.I occasionally watch When I was 17… on MTV. So, what was something that was significant about your 17th year of life? (from Ashley Amazing) 
I started college!  I headed off to Baylor with a ton of hopes and dreams.  I worked as a lifeguard and at the bakery.  I mowed lawns, and picketed all the money.  I still knew I had to save back then!

September--Thirty Day Challenges

I was trying to think of ways to make the time of this deployment go a little bit faster.  I count trash days still, but I needed something more.

Enter "Thirty Day Challenges".

So for September I am starting off with a bang.

My first challenge is that I will eat vegetarian for 30 days.  I love vegetables anyway, and after my kidney stone a few years ago, because it was made of the byproducts of meat, I was urged to eat vegetarian for two meals a day.

My second challenge is this:

A little overwhelming, but I sure would like to be able to park in there before the first snow!  I'll have to hang all the bikes, but all the rest of the stuff needs to find a home or be tossed.

Anyone care to join me in 30 day challenges for the next 11 months?  Also, I am looking for another 10 months of 30 day challenges, so what would you want to do?  What do you think I should try to tackle?

I have Jillian's 30 day shred on the list as well, but am kind of at a loss after that.  Any suggestions?

Month 1 in Review

Did I really just write that?  One month already?  That wasn't too hard....sort of.....but 11 more lay ahead of us.

We said goodbye to Gunner.

We hit the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Em returned home from London, and she and Abs headed off to Camp Purple.

School started.

I had a breakdown and learned to let things slide.

I did a 1 mile run/walk for the Fallen.  I met the mother of one of the guys who served with Gunner, by chance, and it ended with us both crying.  He was KIA along with Gunner's CO in 2008.

We celebrated my birthday tonight at Red Robin.  I never got around to getting the cupcakes based on carting children to and from.

Tomorrow starts my workout frenzy, and my new Garmin 305 is on order and I can't wait to put it to use.

I got beautiful flowers from my old roommate, and they couldn't have come at a better time.

Now to find my thank you notes so I can get that out in the mail!

Today was also trash day, so that makes 5 trash days down, and 47 more to go.

Here's hoping the rest of the deployment flies by so we can have our family of 5 again.

Happy Birthday???

I love my birthday.  I don't need to have a big deal made, I don't need a gigantic party.

I enjoy spending the day doing what I want, where I want, and when I want.  (Well after carting kids around)

Gunner's gone most of the time, and that's okay too.  Sure I would much rather have him home, but it's not the end of the world, and I know it's at least one day during deployments that I am assured a phone call.

I'm thinking I will start the day with carting kids, followed by a trip to the gym.  I have a laser appointment for the afternoon, and maybe I can fit in a pedicure, or at least a nap and read a little bit.

I know my kids love me, my husband loves me, my family loves me. What more could I want?

Maybe I'll find a cupcake place and get cupcakes for after dinner, which I have already decided will be lambchops, and maybe artichokes?

What's your favorite birthday tradition while your husband is gone?

Facebook Updates

ABW is missing Gunner.

ABW went to pickup Em.  She got in the car and burst into tears.  My heart broke for her. Two girls were really mean to her.  Anyone want to take over parenting for a while, I think I am in over my head.

ABW just talked to Gunner.  Junior got on the phone and told him "I'm not missing you".  Gunner:  "Well I'm missing you buddy."  Junior:  "Well I miss you...but I try to forget that I miss you."  Sigh...

ABW is thinking of getting a garmin for her birthday.  The beauty of deployments is I can buy my own presents.  What's your favorite model?

ABW has an ENTIRE house that smells like lavender.  I thought Abs wanting to take a bath in the middle of the days was odd, but I trusted her.  She is now soaking in half a bottle of lavender essential oil and a few inches of water.  Heck, it's supposed to be calming, so maybe this is a good thing?

ABW dropped Junior off at preschool in dry superman underwear.  All the other kids had backpacks, and with all his extra clothes, Junior looked like he was moving in.  Better to be safe than sorry!

ABW wonders what time you put your kids to bed on a school night.

ABW spent the morning cleaning red jello out of the carpet.  Thanks Abs.

and so begins another day in the life of ABW and the three little hearts.  Oh, and I totally think The Mrs. should get facebook.