Saturday, November 16, 2013

Military Life & Happy Holidays, is that an Oxymoron?

That answer might just depend on who you ask and at what moment you ask them.

 have a friend whom is preparing to spend Thanksgiving in hotel in a foreign land with her kids while her husband has duty. They just moved this new country so there have not made friends there yet. I know of another family who's husband just returned from deployment. I am sure they will be singing all kinds of Happy Holiday tunes. We have all heard of the Marines that recently lost their lives at Camp Pendleton. This will undoubtedly be a hard holiday season for their families. Personally this Thanksgiving I am preparing for a Disney movie marathon with my children and pizza because my beloved husband is deployed. Most of our extended family's for all intense and purposes are a million miles away.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Its ok to say! I HATE MILITARY LIFE "TODAY!"

Since starting this blog and my Facebook page I have come into contact with a lot of wives. From the newbies to the ones that have been around a day or two. I have read pages like "I hate the USMC" and have seen first hand how angry people get when you speak ill of being in the Military or being a Military wife.

If you happen to make a negative comment, people automatically start saying things like;

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Deployment, sometimes you have just three choices; Sink, Swim or Tread!

Deployments stories might be funny in retrospect but sometimes when the metaphorical shit hits the fan. You are left thinking someone please pass me a life line, toss me a life saver ring, something. Oh, can I buy a vowel? Phone a friend??

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Tissues, beer and a camera! Your set, Come on in!

Pull up a chair and enjoy the show! My deployment life should be a reality TV show. I mean really I have Romance, comedy, drama and all the good stuff!

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Last months carnival ride!

I had been told once that life was like a carnival ride with lots of highs and lows. That it was up to me to enjoy the ride.This last month as been a ride to say the least! This next month is going to be just as amusing!

Friday, July 12, 2013

What is the Secret?

I look back sometimes on the day I got the news about the deployment my husband is currently on. I clearly remember thinking, one year! I can’t do it! I am not cut out for this! The day he left I drove home in the rain crying so hard I could no longer tell the difference between the rain and the tears blurring my vision. I have cried many times in my thirty something years of life but none as hard or as much as I did that day. A year felt like a death sentence and I kept thinking. I don’t know how I am going to do this! I am not cut out for this!

  

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Love with a slice of humble pie!


 
I have spent the last couple of weeks visiting my husbands family in Washington state. It has been a wonderful, educational and humbling experience.


Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Nerves of .... cooked noodles! What?

Odd analogy I know, but if you have ever been around a toddler "eating" noodles you will know exactly what I am talking about. Cooked noodles can be made into all kinds of "interesting" shapes and you would be amazed at the things noodles can stick to. Chairs, floors, walls, hair, clothes you name it and noodles have a super power way of being able to attach, with or without sauce.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Oh Reality!

As most of you know at about the 5th month of this deployment I hit a funk. I tried shaking it in all kinds of cleaver ways. The best really was cranking the radio to some old school music. Although I did shake it for Luke Brian once or twice. :) In truth part of what helped me get through that funk was knowing summer was around the corner and I would be headed "home" with the kids.This fateful spot is where fantasy vacation home started forming its wonderful picture in my head. 

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Anniversary


I have been thinking all day! Scary I know but bear with me! :)

How do I say I Love You, Happy Anniversary in an email and have it mean more then just another message or just another I love you. I wanted this message to be something special. Something amazing that really symbolized our relationship, our love.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Proud of my family & Proud to be a SAHM

Today I am filled with pride for many reasons. This is the last week of first grade for my daughter. Her class did an end of the year project where they write about each other. Some of the things they write are just silly and you can tell they are just doing an assignment. Like saying her favorite color and things like that. Other things you can tell are actually thoughtful and heartfelt.

Monday, June 3, 2013

What about Me?

I have learned and been reminded of so much in the last few weeks. I'll start by saying I hit a brick wall. My little funk was not going away, it was getting worse. I looked at myself and I could see my own fatigue, I could see that my hands were literately shaking, I was sad and brought to tears easily. I could not help but think this is not me. my motivation had gone out the window. I was literally a mess. Sure, I was still taking care of the kids pasting a smile on my face for family and friends but I was a mess!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Funk into Funky!


 We reached the half way point in the deployment. I guess somewhere in my mind making it to the half way point was going to be this wonderful thing. unfortunately, there was no magic moment.  The half way point came and went like any other day! 

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Simple words in a complicated world!


 Some of the guys out with my husband were asked: Depending on how things go, Who would want to go home early?

By early they mean at like 9ish months vs the full year. Most of the guys wanted to stay out there. My husband was the first and I believe the only guy that said, "Send me home!" The majority of the guys out there with my husband are single. So to them living at "camp cupcake" is not a bad gig really. The ones that are married have there reasons for wanting to stay. Most will tell you its complicated but once you get to know them It comes down to money or an unhappy home. I can't help but think how sad!

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

No soliciting, on second thought! Come on in, I'll let you clean my house!

How many of you have been hit up by the Kirby sales people?

They have come to my door so many times. I normally turn them away, today I decided the best way to get rid of them is to hear there speal besides my carpets did need vacuumed and I didn't want to do it!! lol

Within the first few minutes, I realize the sales lady is new and she realizes I am not going to spend the money on Kirby. No matter how cool it is! So, she gets real with me. She tells me, sure I make more money if you buy one but I don't make any if I don't show it. As long as you let me finish the whole demonstration I get paid.

Monday, May 20, 2013

I want OUT!

What's wrong with wanting to build a play ground in your back yard and not wanting to worry about if the investment is worth it because you will be moving in a couple years?

Whats wrong with wanting to give that sense of "home" to my children a place of stability?

Whats wrong with wanting to plant flowers and know I'll see them bloom more then once?

Sunday, May 19, 2013

I don't feel older! :)



Today as I celebrate another birthday. I am thinking back a few years to my 30th birthday and how hard I took it. In my mind I was suddenly old and kept wondering where had 30 come from? That day I was thinking there was no way I could be 30 yet. I was going to fly to the moon and conquer the world by then. I had such big plans! It took me a while to overcome my dismay at turning 30.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Yesterday, I Cried!


First I need to say I am not someone brought to tears easily. Sure I get upset and frustrated but actual tears are much harder to get from me. I put my son down for his second nap, crawled into my own bed and I broke down. It was not any one thing. Yesterday had its problems but they were all minor things. They were mole hills but felt like mountains. I was suddenly overwhelmed. I cried, not just a tear but a full blow bout of tears and and all the fun. I finally calmed down and took a mini-nap before my son was up ready to roll and my daughter walking in the door from school.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Blogs of “Camp Cupcake!” (2)

This Week's Top Headlines!

Chickens, piggys and children- {Too scared of work to step-up, to lazy or just don’t know what to do with out a hand to hold} I bet if Barney sang to them it would be much easier! Clean up, clean up, “everybody do your share!!” :) ok so Barney is not always needed but there are days!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Skype! The best/worst invention of all time!

joyreactor.com


I encourage you to always talk about the weather. :)

Trusting your Instincts! Mothers Intuition?

Yesterday I was yet again reminded that sometimes we just need to trust that little inner voice.

My little boy got up a mess. A 103ish fever, yucky nose and just noticeably in discomfort. I could have easily put this off to teething, I mean he is working on getting about 6 or 8 of those bad boys in right now. So that could have been an easy explanation.  I could have accepted that he had just caught a little bug and given it a few days to “run“ its course. Something, some little nagging piece of me, kept saying this is not right. This in not just teething or a little bug. By early afternoon that nagging voice convinced me to call his doctor, It turned out my little man had very bad double ear infections.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

I Miss That!


It never failed that he would get home from a long days work and his boots would end up in unique locations. Hardly ever tucked nicely against a wall. I inevitably would kick/trip on them. In all my grace and talent I would always find the steel part of the steel toe boot to kick. I would cuss, he would laugh!
I miss that!


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Mothers Day, "Just Another Day??"

Mother's Day is just around the corner. 

Are you a single mother or a military spouse of someone away?

If you are, your mother's day will probably be very similar to mine. There will be no heavenly breakfast in bed, or glamorous dinners out on the town. It will be filled with the pitter patter or little feet ransacking your home, wiping little toes to little noses. Kissing skinned knees and fixing bent feelers. Cooking meals and doing chores. Maybe fitting in a tickle war. :)

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

What do you see??

Photo from: wikimedia.org
 My daughter and I were both shown this photo recently and asked, "What do you see?"

Two people can look at this and see two different objects, or maybe they see the same thing and the second image is missed altogether. My daughter and I both found the duck first and it actually took someone saying to look for a bunny for us to find the second image.

 

Monday, May 6, 2013

Courtesy, Where did you go??

I have had moments lately were I have been amazed by the kindness and courtesy of others. There have been just as many moments lately were I can’t help but wonder if common courtesy and common sense got together and went on vacation. 


Saturday, May 4, 2013

This letter is to inform you: It's over! I want to break up!

In the last 5 months our relationship has become increasingly unhealthy. If I told you I felt smothered by the attention you are sending my way it would be an understatement. You have become obsessed with being a part of my life, you show up at odd and inconvenient times and create nothing but drama, chaos, and frustration.  I have tried to tell you before that we should spend a little less time together but you chose not to listen to me.

Friday, May 3, 2013

This is real life! (Homefront update)



It has been a while since my last real update. We are on day 142 over half way to R&R, yeah!! Give or take one more month and we will be at the half way point for our deployment. I can only imagine everyone’s shock and awe. I was also shocked when I realized we are almost half way, and both kids and the dog are still alive. The house has yet to burn down and the lawn has not turned into a field! We are on a roll!


Thursday, May 2, 2013

"Stay busy!" Ha Ha! Did my juggling give you the impression I was bored!


Worst generic deployment advice ever! "Stay Busy!"


At the beginning of this deployment I had a lot of well meaning people tell me to stay busy. So I did just that, I scheduled all kinds of things and was being "busy." Go me, lets do Dance, Girl Scouts and trips to the mall, the circus and oh the unit has a function this week... Before long my calendar was running out of room and I began to resemble one of the undead you would see in the movies. Don't get to close she is libel to eat you alive. Ahha!
 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wordless Wednesday, USMC love, family and longing!



Blog's of "Camp Cupcake"


It appears the abominable snow man has decided to give the service members a reprieve. They are gracefully transitioning from snow shoes and accidental ice skating to unintended mud bogging on humps and the occasional sun sighting. I believe the coffee makers and heaters are even more thankful for this change than the service members currently stationed there. If you listen closely enough the treadmills might even be giving a sigh of relief.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Get real! Your poo does not smell like roses!


 If I see another my life is perfect post I might just puke, but then again the I am a a martyr because my man is a Marine makes me want to scream!

This life is filled with ups and downs, so when you only portray the good to me. I know your not being real and hiding behind a fake facade of lies and deceit. Your one year old is not a mathematician, it probably plays in the toilet water and wipes its buggers on your antiques.

Monday, April 29, 2013

It takes more then strength! Semper Fi!




     I had no clue what the military life style was like when I married my husband. I probably could have told you more about the lifestyle of the rich and famous because they are always on TV. Sure I had seen some of the tear filled leaving and coming home videos. I had seen some news reports, even a movie or two that show these heroic (yummy looking) men running into battle. Maybe I did even think: They can't all be like Chuck Norris or Steven Seagal,

Saturday, April 27, 2013

The roller coaster of life & Simple moments

Life has its ups and downs. times you scream and shout out of joy and the times you do it out of terror or any other number of emotions. I am just full of metaphors and analogies  today. This morning I used the treadmill and hamster wheel, to describe the rhythms and negativity  we sometimes get stuck in. I really need to stay away from mechanical objects that go in circles. Good thing I have not been to an amusement park lately or I am sure I would have used a “Merry Go Round” analogy.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Conjugal visits! (aka R&R)


 Planning our conjugal visit! Under my circumstances they are normally called Deployment R&R, but I have decided to affectingly refer to it as our conjugal visit. It seems very fitting, and lets be real at least a few days of it he and I plan to toss the kids to his parents and run away to a hotel. If that does not yell conjugal visit I don’t know what would.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Child Abuse Awarness: Part of my story and a reminder to all of us! If you suspect it report it!


How many of you realized it was child abuse awareness month. I know I did not until I read a blog on the topic. Seems sad that it is almost the end of the month before I read something highlighting it. As a person that was abused I almost feel guilty for not being more aware and metaphorically shouting about it sooner. I have so little on my plate these days, with all the spa days and pedicures. Oh, wait that’s what I do in my short lived hours of dreams. Reality is Deployment, children, chores, girl scouts, dance classes, bills, and chores. I guess I already said chores, but those silly things never seem to go away. I guess I will not beat myself up to much!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Ahh, your such a “cute” couple! {cute, what I'm not a puppy or a baby!!}

Have you ever been told this? The first time I heard this about my husband and I. It made me smile but shake my head. What do you mean “cute?” My husband hates the word cute so his reaction was very entertaining. You see “cute” in its original definition is used to explain something young or infantile. A baby, a puppy even a small child can be cute. Call him cute and it causes a unique and hysterical reaction. I sometimes do it on purpose just because I love messing with him. If we get into a debate and I want to win, I will sometimes distract him by saying; Ahh, babe your so cute. He is a man, an adult, a Marine there is no way in his mind he can be “cute.”

Monday, April 22, 2013

Kids Say The "Dandiest" Things!

My daughter this morning, trying very gently to wake her up.

“Mom why do Mondays always start sooooo early!”

I started laughing, she probably thought I had completely lost it. But, I couldn’t help it. I felt the same way. My laughing was interrupted by the beep of the coffee maker to saying my cup of morning salvation was ready. I felt bad for the kid, Mondays are never fun. Not bad enough to

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Beautiful Inside & Out!

Yesterday I survived another year of dance photos for my little girl. There was lots of coffee flowing through my veins. If you do not have a little girl in dance, I'll start by saying once a year. Normally at the end of the dance season when you are getting close to recitals. The studios always do "Dance photos" every child has to put on their recital costume(s) and partake in group/class and individual photos. I always dread this day! I have found over the years picture day is always way worse then recital day. Recitals are an all day event with many "acts" in between dances for your child so lots of time for changes and adjustments. While picture day is normally set up by age. All the costume changes, hair styles changes and make-up. Yes, make-up! Take place over a short amount of time.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Military acronyms and slang style "report!" :)


 Its been an extraordinarily busy couple of weeks with many highs and a few to many lows. Here is my fun with Military acronyms and slang style report!

There is scuttlebutt that the "duty NCO" Crystal Barnes was not diligent in her perimeter checks and is facing a page 11. Her misconduct caused "CQC" with the dreaded terrorist commonly known as "Virus" aka “The common cold.” The boot Taylor took some shrapnel from the attack but has recovered. "Baby G" Barnes has recently been released form sick bay and is expected to make a full recovery. The NCO herself was hit hard by this enemy but was considering submitting herself for a medal. She did keep up her troops and overcame the attack. :)

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Family & Unoffically "offical" deployment baskets! {Don't forget the choloclate)


Right before I married my husband one of his friends stopped by my place. She and her husband had been friends with my soon to be hubby for some time. I did not know her well at that point but she quickly became a very valued part of my life. Having been a Marine Wife for a while she gave me the best wedding gift ever.

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Memories

Memories can be beautiful, motivating, angering, and even haunting! Our memories can fill us with so many emotions and a lot times you are struck by many at the same time. Memories can be stemmed from wonderful events our weddings, child birth, a special date with your spouse. They can come from tragic events, the loss of a loved one, or things like yesterdays bombings. When the events happen good or bad they are always in the front of our thoughts. As time goes by life takes over and these events are not forgotten but no longer our focal point. A single event big or small can cause our memories to come flooding back.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Sprinklers, K-9's and reunions!


I had a family member send me a touching video about a service member being reunited with his dog after deployment.  It got me thinking about our silly dog and our last reunion of sorts. My husband had gone away to one of his Jump schools. If I remember correctly he had been gone about  two months. Not long in the scheme of things but I was still very excited to see him. I had a special little thing all planned out.

Friday, April 12, 2013

United yet Seperate

     Today I am writing about something personal to me. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find as much comedy in the situation as I would like. You can read a lot of blogs and articles about post-deployment reintegration. The struggles of bringing two people whom have been living separate lives back together. There are even some articles that put a romantic spin on it. Talking about the joys of falling back in love when your spouse returns. But until recently the flip side to these romantic articles never hit me. Does that mean you fall out of love while he/she is gone?

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Mighty Midgets!

Baby Barnes 2012
It is the month of the Military child and I feel like I would be remiss if I did not dedicate at least one post to these mighty little midgets.

Military kids are as diverse and unique as there are different colors of crayons made by Crayola. Some of them take this lifestyle in stride and others need extra love and support along the way. But then again I don’t know one spouse, male or female, that has not needed a hand to hold or shoulder to cry on along the way. And we are the adults!

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Brain Power Of A Gnat!

 
Thank you for joining us! Today we are tuning into
 “Brain power of a gnat” 
brought to you by the powers of deployment.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Random Ramblings!


photo creator unknown

    Seriously silly, The spouse bragging thing. The my husband did this and this and has gone here and here. He is the bomb and his rank is yada yada.  All his accomplishments make me cool and just check out this rock I am wearing. Oh, and the name brand bag I just bought! When this kind of thing happens I visualize myself saying:

{Well yesterday, I climbed into bed with a toy truck and cleaned banana off my walls. I found this coupon, I plan to use at “Wal-Mart” this week. I know hold back your applause, I am so the coolest!}

Monday, April 8, 2013

Empathy vs. Sympathy, Apples to Oranges!


See hash-tag for photo origin!


I found my writing inspiration today looking at Military Wife jokes.

I think sometimes we get so caught up in our own plight and we forget to have empathy for others. {Empathy = Compassion, To put yourself in their shoes and remember what it is like, sympathy = feeling sorry for them} I am not saying I am not guilty.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Please send Tissues! :)

                                         

photo origin unknown
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Friday, April 5, 2013

Vacations {Flowers and Fairy Tales}


      When I day dream of vacations, I always think of the fairy tales getaway. No kids, a nice hotel room, hot tubs, flowers, meals out, moon-lit walks on the beach, couples massages.. Ahh, I have had one of those! Honestly I did. Although my husband was not nearly as fond of the couples massage as I was. You see he got “bruno, the furry” to do his massage and I got the petite attractive brunette. He made me promise to never put him through that again. That was a wonderful vacation. I also came home with a little gift that I will never forget. I came home pregnant, Imagine that. Ha ha

Prepping!

I am a very analytical person. Yep, I am one of those. Something comes up, changes about to happen and I think about it. Then I think about it some more. Then I probably think about it a couple more times just to make sure. whatever I was thinking the first time was right.  As you can imagine my mind is kept very busy in this military life style.