January 14, 2012- Been busy

I've been busy crafting! I have so many ideas of what I want to do and need to do stacked up. I finally made it out to Hobby Lobby, the hubby won't be too happy with the bill when he finally checks the bank. eek!

But today after cleaning the livingroom again and getting to use my new shark Vac/then steam! I love it. I cleaned off my table from all my crafts and put away the sewing machine. I have a baby shower to go to/host this weekend for my 'lil sister (college sorority sister) and cleaning the rest of the weekend.

I tried making another diaperbag from scratch, but ended up hating the colors and material. So it will become a bag for my older son to play with.

First I found a piece of cardboard from a box that could be used as the bottom to my bag to make it sturdier.

Cut the fabric just a little bit bigger and sew 3 sides together.

Then you slide in the cardboard.

I made pockets by sewing three sides onto the different sides of the bag.

After attaching the handles, I shoved it aside to spend quality time with my sick baby girl.

January 12, 2012- Shrimp Feast

I absolutly LOVE shrimp feast. It was a recipe my mom would make growing up for us that was quick, simple, and filled us up. Now although in the beginning I had tried to make it exactly like my moms, my brother (the better taste tester) said it wasn't spot on, I gave up and used my own variations.

One can of corn - larger or 2 if you want more.

Mom used to use the regular shrimp, I use the tiny shrimp.

Mom would cut the large red potato in half, I cut the small ones into threes

I like the flavor of the chile powder, but totally optional

Season All has always been put in by both me & mom. She would also put in salt & pepper.

Throw it into the pot, fill with water, and let boil.

When the potatos are soft, its done. :)

You can put it into your bowl like a soup or drain it out and just eat it.

Hope you like it!

Jan 5, 2012- False Hope

Well, I had hoped to get the children in as a walkin this morning. But schedules and help fell through. I ended up waking all my babies up at 7 to get dressed, in the car, and to the Doctors office by 7:45 am by myself. I had all of them unloaded in the office to tell me that they had no more walkins. Now, my kids are coughing all over the waiting room and they still say no. I walk over to the General practice and they don't know if they are going to have time for walkins today. I make them call the other dr office, and the other pediatrics location is done with walkins. As I'm waiting for them to give me any information, my younger son throws up all over their floor. A hint to see us? Of course not.

So after setting up an appointment next wednesday, we left. I drove by on base to see about maybe setting up our tricare since Hubby didn't get to it before he left. But they are doing construction and closed down half the parking lot, so now you have to walk a mile to the entrance. So not doing that in the cold with 3 toddlers crammed into a double stroller. So maybe next week, I can get to that as well.

Jan 4 2012- Sick babies

I was hoping to start showing off my crafts soon after I started the blog but two things are stopping me = sick babies and money.

The unit my husband was under overlooked a few of the guys and didn't put their paychecks through. We are still waiting for ours.

All three children are sick. The earliest doctor appointment is next week, so in the morning I will be taking them in as a walk in bright and early.

Today was spent with quality time in and out of the bathroom. At one point, I had all three spitting up phlegm into the toilet. It was a fun day to be here.

Once I pretty much got everything out of them, my mom stopped by to help me get them to my grandmothers. I am starting Spanish Wednesdays. I plan on having the children over at her house every wednesday for at least an hour to learn some spanish.

Today we learned cientate.. (?) sit. Up - Arribe, down- abajo, and turn but I dont remember that one. Diego & Dora help out a lot on other days with spanish terms. Here's hoping by the end of the year, they can speak in sentences.

Jan 9, 2012 - Valentine Wreath

I bought a few bouquets from Dollar Tree, dug out an old wreath I had, paints, and a glue gun.

Original Wreath

Painted pink & red

 I took all the flowers off the stems and hot glued them inton/onto the wreath.

Some of the roses I found came with those hearts so I cut the wire stems and hot glued them in as well. It was supposed to be finished but it didn't look like it.

Glitter paint!!!

Put some on the tip of your brush and brush the edges of your flowers.

For a special persona touch I added colored rhinestones into the large white roses.

Pink for my girl

Blue for my oldest son

Green for my younger son

Finished product hanging!

This was a vase I etched using a stencil on my cricut machine.

The left over flowers and decorations I didn't use, put into a vase so I have a centerpiece on my table. When I take off my supplies the table will be pretty!

Happy Valentines Day!

Jan 3, 2012 - Sad Goodbyes

Today was the day.
He woke up before us and started his errands. Without fail, as it always comes near him leaving he loses his wallet. So he had to get a new drivers license, military id, and bank cards. He had to run around town and get everything before we took him to the airport.

When he finally got home, I woke up the children, dressed them, and packed them in the car. We met his sister, brother in law, and Papa at the airport.

Today they had him flying Continental. It's personally my favorite company to fly with. I have always had good flights with them and the staff is courteous and helpful. After showing orders we were allowed to escort him to the gate. It was amazing to be able to spend that extra hour with him and our children loved watching all the plane fly in and out.

The sad goodbyes came and I know it was hard for him to say goodbye to all the children. Moreso, his baby girl. She was the only birth he was able to witness and never spent more than 6 weeks away from her in the last year and a half. He hugged her tight and told her that he would see here when she was 2. He will miss this birthday. He will miss all of our birthdays and I know its going to suck. Hopefully this deployment will be better than last and I actually get to skype with him. The first deployment didn't allow for any internet contact at all.

I got the last hug and as he squeezed tight, my eyes started watering. Before he could pull away, I sucked it up though. I didn't want any one to see me crying in public. Ha, I remember one of his CO's in Hawaii telling me that Marine wives are the toughest of all. We don't cry in public when our husbands walk away. We are stone strong just like them. We hug them, kiss them, and send them on thier way. We walk our children away standing tall and take up house with a fury.

We watched him walk down the terminal. The family helped me point out his airplane to the children as it finally took off and we watched till it was tiny.

We walked to the parking lot and his sister got into my car. His father and bil went home to take care of things. I had a WIC appointment for the two younger ones.

After our appt, we came home. I cooked dinner. My mom showed up and the 3 adults cleaned the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. Char took off, while mom & I sat down to watch the new Jane by Design on ABC Family.

My brother stopped by to see how I was doing and then left.

After my mom left, I tuned into this season of Switched at Birth. I set up the space heater in our play room and let the kids watch Nick Jr before bed. When hubby finally landed and made it to the barracks, he called and wished the two awake children sweet dreams.

I survived Day 1 of this deployment.

Tomorrow, I start cleaning the playroom again. I'm reorganizing the whole room to be more classroom friendly. I have to try and get the children a doctor appointment because all of them are sick. Then I'm heading to Grandma's or GG as the kids refer to her to check on her and start spanish classes for the lil ones.

Goodnight all....

Jan 2 2012 - A Day for Snuggling

Day 2 of the new Year!

We woke up late. Hubby couldn't get much done as far as his errands because of the federal holiday.

So we spent a lot of today with the children. We watched them play, we played with them. We tried to give some good quality time while trying to make some good memories for them before Daddy left.

They giggled a lot as he pulled out all of his gear. They played with his flak and helmet. He packed them in his sea bag and managed to get both boys inside of it. I labled all his bags as we organized and packed his personal and military gear.

I still haven't found my camera charger so we have been relying on camera phones and video camera.

After everything was sorted he finally figured out what he wanted to do his last night. He texted everyone to meet him at Cici's pizza for a goodbye dinner.

We headed over to his dad's to wash all his shirts while we were at dinner. We ate pizza and pasta. When I was done, I watched the kids in the arcade while he enjoyed conversations. I'm sorry that he didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his best friend. I know they are both probably taking it hard.

After we stopped by a friends house so he could tell her goodbye, ran back by his fathers and waited for his laundry to finish.

Later, we came home and laid in bed and talked. It was good to snuggle our last night. I will miss him this year, but I have a lot of hope.

I have hope that his deployment will go well. He will come home safe and spend a lifetime together raising our children and grandchildren (way down the road).
I have hope I can reach my weight loss goals.
I have hope that my children will excel in their learning and growing, also that they will take this deployment well for their age.
I have hope for our grandmothers. They are getting older and thier bodies are showing their age, but their personalities and attitudes are decades younger.
I have hope for my mom that she will lose the weight she wants to and soon start dating again. We all love her so much, but now as a mother and wife I know that the love from a child and partner are different in thier own.
I have hope for his dad.
I have hope for our siblings that they will be happy in all their choices they make this year.
I have hope for his best friend to get the job and pay he deserves. I know last year he took a large pay decrease to work at hubby's civilian job.
I hope that my friend will find herself this year.
I have hope that others will come to term with what they are dealt and make the most of the choices they have left.
I have hope.