Retirement, Balloon Crashes, and the Wild West

There's never a dull moment in this household.

First, I got the teaching job I applied for in Texas!  I'll be teaching 4th grade, and although I have never taught that level, I am sure someone out there can give me lots of advice on everything under the sun.  I really stress about lesson plans.

Me getting a job, means that we had to figure out how to move to Texas quickly!  We did some calculations, and we had to stay until Gunner finished his VA appointments....all 500 of them.  I think everyone in the VA system has evaluated his injuries and documented his aches and pains.  At 40, with 22 years in the Army, that means he has a lot.

So once we decided on a date, it meant that we had to use all my groupons that I had been collecting.  Last Saturday we biked down Pikes Peak.

Talk about incredible!

I even got in a few pictures.

My husband is so photogenic.  Me, not so much.  Anyway, I highly recommend this trip if you come to the Springs!  It wasn't a hard ride, just a few uphills, but most of the 20 miles downhill was fast, and the switchbacks made it exciting!

Since that wasn't enough excitement for me, we used our rock climbing in Garden of the Gods groupon, on Sunday!  I was terrified, since I don't like heights at all, and I just didn't see how I could scale up the side of a gigantic rock.

Well I can!

Yes, that would be me climbing up!

One more for good measure!

It was absolutely amazing, and I was good at it!  I can't wait to go again, and I am trying to figure out how I can fit in one more trip before we leave!

After rock climbing, we had to try and locate "the mothers" (my mom and his mom traveled together to the Springs for his retirement ceremony).  After locating them, it was off to the park to have a BBQ for Junior's birthday.  I can't believe he is 5.  More importantly I can't believe he is potty trained! (Oh, his surgery on those parts went well, and he is healed and has no more problems!)

He's gotten so big!

So has his cowlick.  We just got it cut because it was GIGANTIC.

A rare picture of my children not fighting.

After cake and Blue Bell, my mom and I headed to bed because we had to get up at 3:30 AM to head off on our balloon trip.  I had purchased the groupon as a Mother's Day present for her.

Next time I think we will get a trip that keeps us on the ground.  I thought that since this was on my mom's bucket list, that it would be a great adventure.....what I didn't account for is that our balloon would crash.  The flight itself was great after it got off the ground....

 The flight was beautiful....The landing, not so much.

This was how many times the balloon hit.....hard.  We were lodged into our section of the 

This is my mom trying to get out of the basket after we crashed.  She spent the next day in the emergency room and had injured her knee (which will require surgery) and also her ankle, which they said was not broken.  Of course that's what they said about Emily's, and it was.  I think she needs to stay off it and get it xrayed again, but if you think I don't stop, meet the most stubborn woman in America.

The next day we relaxed, and then my mom and I headed off for a little target practice!  I had never held a real gun, shot it, or even wanted to be near it.

I was told I was a natural, and the instructor called me Annie Oakley.  Not to mention, I LOVED it!  The class was great, and I can apply for my concealed permit, which I want to do.  I am not buying a gun though, that's just too much stress with three kids in the house!  I can't say that I am over my fear, but I do have a new appreciation for guns.  

Just to keep things even more interesting, On Wednesday, June 30th, Gunner had his retirement ceremony.  

Hard to believe that we were standing up there and seeing the end to something that has been a part of our entire marriage.  

A "high-five" for making it!  After almost 17 years of marriage, 5 year year long deployments.....we made it!!!

More to come, stay tuned for a last second move, a vacation that I decided we had to have, and the start of something new! 

I'm addicted....

I'm addicted to Groupon.  I'll admit it.

How was I supposed to know that I needed to try out that restaurant I kept driving by?  It was delish.

It started out slowly, and grew.

I joined Living Social.

Then our local newspaper had one.

I'm sure there's another one I subscribe to as well.

Without them, I wouldn't have known I wanted to go rock climbing in Garden of the Gods.

Or go up in a hot air balloon.

Or bike down Pikes Peak.

I had a massage and a facial.  I had 6 laser treatments (for less than $100) and no longer shave my armpits!

Let my husband try crossfit for a steal.

I discovered a love of Sri Lanken food due to the newspaper deal.

I'm signed up to take a weapons class.  I'm terrified of guns, btw.

I look at the deals of the places I am going to visit.

I obviously have a problem.

I told Gunner if the Afghan restaurant in town has one, I am all over it.  He said I could eat alone and that it would not make him feel more at home.

What deals have you scored from Groupon?  What deals are you looking for?

Too tired to pack

I got a little packing done, but it's not almost 9 pm and I am nowhere near done.

I'm exhausted.

The race was great!  The water was cold, and the timing mat was at the top of the ramp to T1.  Ummmm....that added minutes on to my swim time, and made me look uber fast in transition.

The bike was a nice course.  Lots and lots and lots of hills.  One right after another.

The run course was all cement, but wove through some field/marsh type things, so it was nice.  Lots of water stops.  I probably should have slowed down on the liquids, because I eyed the port a potty on the route pretty hard.  Fortunately I made it without a pit stop!

Abs and Gunner were there throughout the race cheering me on.  Abs was really impressed every time I raced by. She looked up from my iPhone long enough to smile, wave, yell for me, and then return to what she was doing.

I was 18th out of 54 in my age group.  Not great by any means, but having not worked out in two weeks except for a short 4 mile run one day, I knew I wasn't going to break any records.  It's my fault, but camping wasn't exactly the place to be working out, although I guess I could have run when it cooled down and the mountain lions were out.

The main thing is that I enjoyed the race.  So much so, that I am looking for another race in the same location so that I can kick some butt next time!

Abs and I went to get pedicures, and the lady saw the bottom of my feet and got grossed out.  They are covered in dry skin, blisters, healed blisters, and were looking rough.  She didn't speak enough english to understand what I was trying to say, but she did what she could with them.  All I know is that the massage felt great!

I've got tons of laundry to do before we left, but I did make Junior a shirt while Gunner ran to the store.  I also sent him out with 4 kids to get Em some Keen's for the trip and so that I could try to sleep.  I dozed off and on for hours.

I'm reading The Book Thief right now, and if you haven't read it, it is amazing!  I'm hoping to finish it up on the plane tomorrow and then start in on some of the other books I have lined up.  I completed about 5 or 6 books while I was in Texas, so I am making some more room on my bookshelf...sort of.

We are flying with 4 kids today, wish us luck!

While you are sleeping...

I will be racing this morning.  I had to get up at 3:30  in the morning to head to Denver for my triathlon.

I am in no way prepared, which seems to be my motto for every race this year.

I do it for the fun of it, and this is a sprint, but the bike is only 10 miles, so I can't really compare it to the one where the bike was 12 miles--apples and oranges.

It's all good, I just like to have fun and the challenge.  I lost my tri shorts and Gunner and I had to race out to try and find another pair tonight.  Luckily REI had one pair left.  Whew.

I've laid out my supplies, walked through the transitions in my head so I can make sure that I have everything,

I am getting a pedicure and getting the ridiculous amount of dead skin taken off my feet after the tri and before we fly out.  A girl has to have priorities.

We have so much to do before we leave for Disney....tomorrow.  Help!

Home!!!

I never thought I could be so happy to be home.

We had a great time, with a lot of ups and downs.

Abs kept getting her hair stuck in the tent zipper.

Gunner discovered he can't sleep on an air mattress, and spent 3 of the 5 nights in the RV with the dog.

I love sleeping on an air mattress.

Showers don't matter when you get dirty immediately after getting out.  We had/have red sand on EVERYTHING.

More stories to come, but overall we had a great time.  Lots of memories, lots of walking, lots of laundry to do.  (A rare picture of me at Arches National Park.)

I can't wait to sleep in my big, comfortable, sand free bed tonight.

Home

It was a hundred degrees when we left Texas.

It is maybe 50 here.  I might never go back to Texas if it wasn't for my family, triathlons, and mexican food!

Abs and Em had a great time at camp.

More to come on that.  Of course there are stories.

I'm just glad to be home!!!

By the way, if you could please explain to me the logic that Junior has about potty training, I would love to hear it.

He tells me every time he needs to go, with plenty of time to pull over, while in the car.

As soon as we get home, he poops in his pants.  How come when he doesn't have access to a toilet he knows when he needs it, but when he does, he doesn't want to be bothered?

Leave it to my kid to only be potty trained in the car.  Ugh.

Time Flies...and Abs

You'll be happy to know that the Thunderbirds performed for AFA graduation yesterday, so I will stop posting pictures of them.  Funny thing is that all my neighbors came out each time too, so I wasn't alone.  They kept flying right over my house yesterday, but of course I didn't take my camera out till they were almost done.

After 4 days of Thunderbirds, Junior preferred playing in the dirt.

I love the Thunderbirds.

Yesterday, I took Junior to a speech evaluation.  He qualifies.  Basically because he was a late talker, his tongue thrust is not strong, so he can't make certain sounds.  (I'm sure there is a more technical way to explain this)  This problem would not have improved with age, so at least I did the right thing.  It's a relatively easy fix compared to most, so we have some home exercises, and then when we return to CO after our summer travels, he'll start speech therapy.  They said it should only take 8-12 weeks to get him up to speed.  On the bright side, they were amazed at his vocabulary.  

While I was taking care of Junior, Gunner had to take Abs to the airport so that she could fly to her Grandma.  As with all things Abs, it wasn't easy.  First, Gunner had to drag her away from the tv because Abs wanted to stay and watch the "100th Anniversary of the Bra" on the Today show.  When he finally convinced her that she wouldn't be missing much, they hit the road.  

They arrived at the airport in time to go through security and do all that fun stuff.  Gunner wanted to feed her before she flew, so he stopped off at a restaurant inside the terminal to order lunch.  He placed his order for the two of them, got out his wallet to pay, and the manager handed him a receipt and told him their meal was on him, and thanked him for his service.  

He got lots of handshakes, pats on the back, and nice comments from the other people in the terminal.  A nice change from the protesters that were outside of the Academy to demonstrate for the graduation exercises that morning.

While they were waiting, the sirens sounded, and a tornado watch went into effect.  They evacuated everyone to the hallways and stairwells for over an hour, while they watched the swirling clouds and waited.

Abs went into her stressed out mode.  She started telling everyone that she was on her way to her Grandma's, and she was worried her Grandma would not be waiting on her.  Gunner assured her that Grandma would not leave her at the airport, but she still hunkered down.  

After my mom ventured to the airport, returned home, and then returned to the airport, she was finally met with a super-excited Abs who had made friends with everyone sitting around her, got promised a million dollars from the flight attendant if he won the lottery, and saved her airplane snacks for her Grandma, just like Grandma does for her.

She settled in, and apparently slept all night.  Not fair!

Tomorrow we leave for Texas, but I have 24 million things to do in the next 24 hours.  First stop, the gym.

Don't forget Camp Purple forms are due soon!

Views from Our House

I love the location of our house.  

Junior and I spent the afternoon outside because the Thunderbirds were practicing.  He dressed himself today, who really cares if its backwards.  

A view of Pikes Peak from our yard.

Thunderbirds over our roof.

Another Thunderbirds practice run.  They have been practicing since Sunday, and perform tomorrow for the Academy's graduation.

I've been cooking...

Hard to believe, I know!

First Em had a friend over for dinner and instead of running out for dinner, I made this.  (Mrs. Hub's pizza dough)

The kids LOVED it.  I used the breadmaker so I didn't have to mess with anything more than throwing it together.  The dough came out perfectly.  Maybe grilled pizza is next?

After throwing in another batch of pizza dough, I made this vegan pizza.  I loved it!  Gunner, he had a hard time getting over the fact that there was no cheese on the pizza.  I bought pine nuts to add, but I forgot about them.

For breakfast yesterday I made Mrs. Hub's Morning Glory Muffins.  She said that they were moist and incredible.  She wasn't kidding.  My kids DEVOURED them.  I made 18, and Abs finished off the last 3 this morning!  If Abs gives her seal of approval, then you know they must be good.  I did substitute flax seed and water for the eggs--my new favorite substitute so that Junior can lick the batter since he's my sidekick.

Yesterday I got Abs packed for camp.  No easy feat if you had seen her room.  Em told me that she had all the clothes she needed, so I asked her to lay them out, and she has 5 pairs of shorts that fit.  I'm so glad that we leave in just a few days and will now have to run around like a crazy person trying to get her stuff to pack.

We live in housing, and while I love the house, our kitchen is the smallest tiniest that we have ever had.  There is no pantry, but there are two cabinets that are deep, that I suppose we are supposed to use.  The problem is that once something is in there, it gets pushed to the back and never found again.

I finally broke down and sent Gunner to Target (so I didn't shop there for hours) and he bought two pantries to put up.

The difference is amazing.  I can see my food duplicates of everything that I have bought over the last 10 months.

There's a deployment fair up at Gunner's work today, so Junior and I will head out there later this morning. They are supposed to have great resources.  I'm looking for one titled "How to keep your sanity on your 5th deployment with three kids, one of which is Abs, one who is a tween, and one who refuses to poop on the potty".

Em "knows" fashion

Abs had a 3rd grade show yesterday.  Em decided to help her get dressed.  Apparently I don't know anything and you have to be "beeeeyooootiful" in order to go to one of these shows.  It was a cute show, but I did make her remove the lipstick gloss.  I thought maybe she needed a crystal ball

After it was over, I came home with Abs while Gunner and the other two kiddos went to get dinner.  Abs proceeded to tell me that the way she was dressed made her move from the "outer circle" of Jordie's friends, to the "inner circle of the outer circle" of friends.

I had to take a deep breath.  We had a long conversation about how people should like you for what is inside of you, and not what you wear or anything else.  Where did I go wrong?

Abs has a really hard time making friends, because they don't exactly think like she does, so she really wanted the other kids to like her.  But just the thought of inner circles of outer circles, makes my skin crawl.

My grubby son, who was a Soldier that night.  He got kicked out of the Y daycare for stomping on other children's feet because they "won't be my bestest friend".  Apparently my children need a lesson in friendship.

Colorado isn't so bad

I was in a slump and hating Colorado, but I am beginning to turn it around.

I think it was my lack of activity.  A big part of my life in Texas was training and racing with fellow teachers and friends.

I have a race with a friend scheduled this next weekend.  Today was the half marathon with Gunner.

I joined a running group, and there are plenty of opportunities for me to run, if I just had the time!

The girls will start a new school that I am really excited about, and they are too.

I will visit Texas in the next two weeks, get my fill of mexican food, take the girls to camp, see friends and family, and return home to Colorado.  Home.

Sometimes it takes me longer to settle into places than others, and while I won't say that I am ready to stay in Colorado the rest of my life (there is a state income tax mind you!), I can say that I will make the best of my time here.

There's plenty to see.  Plenty to do.  I need to get over my shyness and get out there and enjoy everything that this state has to offer.

This is the first time we have PCSed and the girls are old enough to remember me putting myself out there and making a new life for ourselves.  I need to show them that you can make every place that you are, a home.

Now if I could just teach them how to match socks and clean their rooms...

Where did the time go?

I sure hope Gunner's deployment goes as fast as time as flying by right now!

Friday I took Junior to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.  Pictures to come.

I picked up our packets for our half marathon on Friday as well.  They had a glitch with the database and so our bib numbers did not match out names.  Enter Stephanie and Cindy.  Gunner was lucky enough to be Cindy Frothingham.  (There was one guy who got stuck with the name Princess!)

The race was packed and it took us forever to get across the starting line, but the route was well manned and well marked with plenty of water.  There were tons of spectators and lots of cheering.  Once I hit mile 6 I decided I would take 100 steps when I hit mile 7.  Mile 6 lasted f-o-r-e-v-e-r.  The next sign I saw was mile 9, so I got rejuvenated and didn't take those 100 steps.

I coughed the entire way.  It was awful, but I just kept trucking.  We didn't train for this race, and I had never run this far before.  Wimpy I know!  In the end, we both finished and feasted on beer and BBQ.  I almost felt like I was back in Texas, except for the beautiful running weather!

The people there were amazing.  Everyone was encouraging, from the spectators to the police guards, so the race volunteers.  The spectators would read your names on your bib and should out encouragement, who cares if they called me Stephanie, they still told me I was doing a great job!

I am sore, my feet are covered in blisters, but I succeeded.  I love the distance and am already seeing when I can fit another one in!  I am trying to talk Gunner into a marathon in October 2011 when he gets home.  He won't shake my hand on that deal....yet.

I attended a Women's Military Spouse Conference this weekend on Friday and Saturday.  I met some great people, and even met the woman behind Cowgirl & Combat Boots and without knowing it met another blogger over breakfast, The "D" Word.

I hacked through the entire conference.  I should have gone to the doctor, but I am going to have to go this week.

I met some great people, received some great resources, and enjoyed some time talking to people that don't poop in their pants.  Always a bonus.

Mother's Day in Pictures

I'm ready for a vacation

without the children.

I remember my mom telling me that a kid will learn to not poop in their pants if they have to clean it up themselves, and sit in it till they are ready to clean themselves.  Whoever came up with that idea has not met Junior.

I took the girls for haircuts Saturday.  Abs cut her own hair again tonight with a razor, taking a chunk of skin out of her finger.  Her reasoning?  Who the heck knows anymore.

I was getting my workout in this morning and heard my name over the loudspeaker.  Junior apparently was stomping on other children's feet, so he was sent home.

My dog still has a pink head.

I have a half marathon on Sunday, and I am not prepared.  To be honest, that's how I roll.  I'd rather get out there and give it my best shot, then not participate because life got in the way and I didn't have time to train.  Maybe I am more like Gunner than I thought.

I had to bug The Mrs. today to find her recipe for feta spinach mushroom turkey burgers.  Ummmm.....they are excellent!  You have to try them.  Gunner is in love with them.  I am in love with them.  We made extras for tomorrow.

It was in the 70's yesterday, and is freezing today.  Snow is in the forecast.

I am drinking a glass of wine and I now know why I stay up till almost midnight every night.  I need the downtime without having to keep track of anyone!

What has the world come to????

I went to a PEO meeting for the group that I am going to join.  They're really nice, and the home today was just beautiful.  Always hard to come home to military housing after being in their homes! I really need a friend that wants to become an interior designer and wants to practice on my house.

If you have kids, what kind of couch do you have?  I'm contemplating a leather one, but not sure if it will be any better than the material which seems to have gotten dirty since we moved to Colorado.  What's up with that?  I have leather seats in the car, but they are a light gray, and material fared better than the leather has.  I'm open to recommendations!

I came home and then took Junior to the doctor for a speech referral.  We should have the referral in our hot little hands in less than two weeks.

While waiting, Ab's school called and said that she had thrown up and needed to be picked up.  I immediately thought of my dental appointment tomorrow and called them to cancel.

Me:  I have a barfy kid and I need to cancel my appointment tomorrow at 3:30.  (This was just over 24 hours notice)
Office:  We require 48 hours notice.
Me:  Ummm.....okay, but I am giving 24 hours notice since I have a sick kid, and I didn't really plan for her to be barfy.
Office:  We have a 48 hour notice, and you aren't giving us that, so there will be a $35 charge.
Me:  Are you kidding me?
Office:  Sorry, it's our policy.
Me:  I'm not paying $35 because my child is throwing up.
Office.  Sorry, it's our policy.

By this time I was annoyed pissed off, so I told them that I was at the clinic with another child, and I would have to call back and maybe they could talk to the dentist in the meantime.

I go pick up Junior's prescription and run over to the school to get Abs.  I asked the school for a plastic bag (since I wasn't at home when they called) and they looked at me like I was rude.  Sorry people, if you give me a barfy kid, you can give me a plastic bag for the car ride home.  Surely it doesn't cost that much!

I get Abs home and Junior occupied so I can start cleaning the bathrooms.  We all know that nothing says I love you like a clean bathroom.

But first, I have to call back the dentist office because I am just stewing about this.

Me:  Hi, I'm calling back about the fact that I have a barfy kid and you want to charge me $35 for not coming to the appointment.
Office:  Like I explained, that's our policy, we are tired of people canceling their appointments and we are left sitting.
Me:  I understand that, but I have a child that is throwing up today.  That means that more than likely the rest of us will get it, and I have to stay home and take care of my children, they are too young to be left alone.  Not to mention I could infect the whole office.  (Seriously if you have met Abs, she touches everything and investigates everything--did I tell you the story about her sucking on the bathroom lock at the outlet mall?  I want to barf myself.)
Office:  I know what it is like to have sick kids.
Me:  Well if you won't budge, I have to tell you that I will come to my appointment tomorrow, with my sick kid(s) in tow.
Office:  If they are sick, you can't bring them here!
Me:  Well, I am not paying $35, so we can either plan for you to have a space for my barfy kids with me, or we can reschedule.
Office:  Why don't we reschedule.

Are you kidding me??????  I totally get that people cancel appointments and it costs them money, but I have not done that, and I really don't want to infect the world with Abs germs if possible.

I'm off to clean the toilets, wash towels, and prepare the sick diet.

Things I wonder about...

Why am I more productive with children home?

Why can't the Army decide on a deployment date and stick with it.  It's later, then sooner, then later, now sooner again.  Make a decision and stick with it.  

Why can't Abs have a great day at school and at home?  Is that too much to ask?

Why did the Air Force (or is it all military) decide that when you take your dog to the vet it costs a $25 set appointment fee.  She got paid $5 a minute to see Sammy in addition to the shot, flea stuff, etc.  I mean, I understand it, but I'm thinking it's not as cheap to take him on base anymore.

Why didn't I think to call the groomer first before calling a million dog kennels.  I found a great place and Sammy has to go for an admissions test on Monday.  I hope he passes.  Thanks E!

Why does the Residence Inn have to charge a $50 non refundable pet fee when I will only be there about 12 hours.  

What did I do with the preschool paperwork for Junior?

I now know that the "silly clown cup" that Junior likes is the one with the red hair.  Apparently I should have known that already.

........After swimming Sunday, running Monday, and spin class today, I decided that I needed to do something more.  I've been wanting to do a half marathon, so Gunner and I are signed up to do one in a week and a half!  Then 6 days later I'll run a 10K with the Dutchican.  8 days after that I'll do my Olympic Tri, and call it good for a week.

Although I did see a night time half marathon in Austin that sounded like fun!  It would almost have to be that late in order to not melt out there.

Tomorrow there's a PEO meeting, speech referral for Junior, and I've managed to cram in dental appointments and haircuts in the next few weeks as well.

I think my gray hair is multiplying.  Do you color your hair?  Is it worth it?  How often do you have to keep up with it?  I hate to have another expense, but I hate gray hair.

Two weeks from today we finally get to see the neurologist for Abs.  I hope that they schedule her EEG ASAP.

I'm back to doing P90X now that Gunner is home.  We did day 1 last night and he is so sore.  Me too, but not nearly as bad as him.  I think we need heavier weights.

Do you have big plans for Mother's Day?

A Happy Medium?

I've stayed home.

I've worked.

I've worked part time.

I am thankful that I always have the option because the one thing I am good at is managing my money so I can have this flexibility.

We still vacation.

We still go out and do things.

But I never seem to be able to find the happy medium with just enough challenging work and just enough time at home?  Is it possible to find that place?

I loved teaching, but it's a lot of work and with Gunner leaving this year, I don't think I can give it 110% and that wouldn't be fair to my students.  I'm the teacher that never calls in sick, that spends hours on each lesson, that puts everything she can into it.  When I had my inlaws to help me out during the week and on the weekends, it made it possible for me to do it.

Sometimes I think I can do it by myself here, and other times I realize how much I really have on my plate.

I do have a MBA, so I could go back into the business world, which wouldn't be bad, but the thought of 8-5 and not a lot of breaks or holidays means I am back away from the kids more than I like when their dad is already gone.  The plus side is that I would rarely have work to take home with me.

I have sold things on ebay and paid for our last trip to Hawaii that way, so I could always go back to doing that.  The key is to finding your niche on there.

But, part of me wants more than all of that.

If you can figure out what I should do with my life, please let me know, I am tired of stressing about it.

Thursday

Yesterday was rough.

I got a ticket.  The speed limit on the street is 45, I was going 41, but I was in a construction zone with NO WORKERS, but apparently that doesn't matter in Colorado, so the speed limit was 30.

Not only did I get a ticket, I got 4 points (how many till I get in real trouble?), and I HAVE to appear in court.  I'm planning on taking toys that the kids can "share" cause we know how that will work.  We have to be there 2-3 hours too.  On FB someone suggested tambourines and I thought whistles might be a nice addition.  If I don't show up, they'll put a warrant out for my arrest.

I thought about how nice and quiet it might be in jail with no responsibilities, no laundry, dishes, dog walking, cleaning, or people yelling my name.  Very tempting...

Junior's last day at his school is Friday.  Don't ask.  We'll take the summer off and I am looking into some better places.

I had a friend come down from Denver last night and today we spent the morning touring the Air Force Academy.  I would have had pictures, but I lost my camera battery.  I told the kids we are cleaning till we find it this weekend.

Gunner's flight got screwed up because the Army is so disorganized got delayed, so he wasn't going to be able to do the triathlon.  I emailed the cadet in charge to see if I could transfer his entry over to someone, and they went ahead and canceled it and gave him a refund, but they also canceled mine.  It was probably a good thing, because nothing is worse than doing a race alone!  I'm still extremely disappointed.

Abs has gone over a week without being written up.  A new trend? We can only hope.  At least she hasn't gone missing.

Missing Kid

Maybe one day this will be funny.

Abs was in the basement playing.

It got quiet, very quiet.  Em was doing homework and Junior was playing nicely at the kitchen table.

I was enjoying the peace.

Then I noticed how long it had been quiet.  I knew Abs was up to something.

I tore downstairs to the basement to search and there was no Abs anywhere.

I ran to her room and no Abs.  I yelled for Em, and we took off searching the house.  We covered the basement again and turned off the lights.  We covered the house.  We went outside.

We searched her normal hiding places.  Panic set in.

We kept searching.

Time passed.

More panic ensued and we were all frantically searching for her.

I went in my bathroom, which is above the TA50 corner of the basement.  I hear a muffled tiny voice through the vent yelling for help.  I scream for Em to grab the phone, because I envision the 20,000 pounds of TA50 on top of my Abs.

We rush down there and still can't find her.  We start searching and then Em hears a noise from........

A tiny suitcase.

The girl had zipped herself into a little suitcase to see if she could fit and had gotten stuck.

This is my life.

Gunner's flight got moved and he will miss the triathlon.  They told him he would be back, and we are now out the money.  I'm pissed.  No, I am beyond pissed.  I hate the Army.

Junior's last day at his school is on Friday.  Don't get me started on that.  

I really, really, really, want to runaway, far, far, far away.  

Camping & Random Thoughts

I think I want a popup camper for this little venture to UT, or maybe my inlaws will feel sorry for us and come visit us and let us borrow their RV.  I think the popup would be more fun though, and it will definitely fit more people.  Plus, they don't let you use electricity or tap into water there no matter what you have!

I woke up friday morning and checked email while still in bed (I love my phone), and saw that school was delayed two hours.  They eventually cancelled it because we got slammed with snow.  We did venture out to go to the gym of course, but after that it was home to read stories, make enchiladas, and curl up on the couch and watch a movie.

Today we were going to head out, but we got a late start, so we just hung out at home.  We hit the gym of course, and the Arc.  Abs fell in love with this desk...

Almost perfect condition, for $7!  Sorry Gunner, I tried to stay out of that store!  We also found shorts for Abs, for next to nothing--Gap, Old Navy, Osh Kosh, Gymboree, etc.  Since she is finally going to camp this summer (woohoo!) I needed to make sure she was outfitted.  Thank goodness for adjustable waists since she is 9 and wears a size 7/8 if we are lucky.

I also found a book I had been looking for forever, since I refuse to pay full price for anything.

We watched The Princess and the Frog, cleaned Ab's room (although she claims she functions better in chaos), and did laundry.  Hey, we are nothing if not exciting on a Saturday night.

Abs drew a self-portrait.

The gigantic smile is because she is so happy.  I didn't even ask where her uneven bangs were.

Gunner should be home this week.  I can't wait.  I have a pre-K program to investigate this week.  If anyone knows of any other pre-K programs in the Springs, please let me know!  I almost fell over when I heard how much Montessori was here.  Abs did amazingly well in Montessori in Texas, but it was half the cost!

Gunner and I have our triathlon this weekend, and the forecast is for snow.  Really?

Random thoughts:

Gunner has me hooked on the show Taboo.  It's got some weird stuff on that.  Don't eat while watching it.

Junior has "eye-bras" not eyebrows.

I have these plastic plates that I got for next to nothing at Target, years ago.  They are now all in the trash.  They were looking kind of worn, but tonight I was microwaving something on one, and it caught fire in the microwave.  Do they want my family to starve without a microwave?  Whew, thankfully the microwave still works.

My friend Dave came last week for a night and babysat while I went to my first FRG meeting here.  The meeting itself was interesting, more on that later.  I think Dave's night of babysitting was far more interesting.  He said he would do a "guest blogger post" for me, so he better get on it!

I think I need pho this week.

I stay up entirely too late when Gunner isn't here, and it took me no time at all before I took over the entire bed.

The fresh salsa from Sam's is better than any of the jarred stuff.

Em has decided she wants to cook more.  She can make spaghetti, grilled cheese, oatmeal, and now hamburgers.  She enjoys it, so don't think I won't teach her more in the next few months!

We had a bag of tortilla chips MIA in our house.  They were located under Ab's bed.

I love reading everyone's responses under the deployment questions.  It makes me feel not so alone as we embark on this deployment adventure....yet again.

Abs came home from school and when I saw her, she had already changed shirts.  I asked her where her other shirt was and she told me that it got caught on her desk and ripped.  I asked her to bring it to me, and it was in shreds.  I don't know why they didn't call me to bring her a new shirt, it was that bad.  It looks like an "accident" with a pair of scissors more than with her desk.  Sigh...

Don't forget to enter my giveaway here.  Good Luck!