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.

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;

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??

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!

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!

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!

  

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Wordless Wednesday {Boys}

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.

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!

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! 

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!