Apocalypse.......

No, just my pantry. What is the first clue that DH is getting ready to deploy?? All the gear on my floor? Not seeing him for days, because he is in training? NOPE!
By how stocked my pantry is. The very first thing I learned was, when you need it, help usually comes AFTER you need it. So, in defense I stock up. I won't run out of cold medicine, soup, toilet paper, or paper towels! The best defense is a good offense....isn't that what they say?? I am not fond of learning lessons the hard way. Realizing that you are out of baby tylenol when you have a baby cutting teeth and a two - year old cutting molars is not fun at all. Been there done that. I have several t-shirts from that place too.
The thing I find the most interesting are the people that tell you, "oh, call me if you need anything." When you call, well they just can't help you at all. So I attempt to help myself before I ever really need anything. That way, when I do call, they know that I am in need of a legitimate helping hand!

...and reality packs a punch!

Preparing for a deployment is like...crap I can't think of anything that sucks as much! Everything that has gone on this week was to be expected! However, it is not any easier to deal with. DH picked up all of his multi cam crap today! A truck full of junk half of which will sit in my garage and gather dust until the next PCS!! Everything was ok, until he put on the uniform to make sure it fit! There I was standing in my closet in an almost uncontrollable fit of tears. The tears will come closer together and at weird times, kind of like when you are 4 months pregnant and you cry during dog food commercials!!
We told the kids on Sunday. They all reacted differently...the oldest fell over in tears, the middle one showed her indifference to the Army, and the youngest just got a sad face and went about his day.
The days won't be so bad as we get closer, it's the nights that get shorter! I guess since that is the time of day we have together as a family. As much as you want to get the show on the road, the more you want time to crawl by....oh what a crazy life we lead!!
So here is hoping to this shindig being canceled all together....since we have nothing on paper saying he is going anywhere.......**cheers to hoping**

A little over the top....

As most of you know, we are Rodeo fans. We try to catch at least one every summer. Well this summer we caught finals night at the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. They do a small fireworks display between two to the events. Usually it is the highlight of the Rodeo, besides the bull riding of course. Well Saturday's fireworks were probably the worst part of the rodeo. Here is why....They reenacted a battle from Afghanistan!! As a proud Army Wife and mother to three Army brats, I was offended. We are surrounded by the goings on in Iraq and Afghanstan daily. Military families do not need another reminder of what happens in these countries. Our children especially do not need to be a part of that! I am not saying that we need to censor everything, I am saying that a little more thought should have been put into the fireworks display. I was very upset with it and so were a few others in the stands...

Check out Soldiers Angels - Soldiers Angels VALOUR-IT fundraiser July 2011 - Team Army

I want you to take a look at: Soldiers Angels - Soldiers Angels VALOUR-IT fundraiser July 2011 - Team Army 

bucket list cont'd

7) Finish the cross stitch blankets that were supposed to be for the second two minions!! LOL

8) Learn how to sew......I want to make my own "Scarlett O'Hara" dress someday!! Ok well maybe my own MP ball dress!!

My Deployment Bucket list

I have decided that instead of wallowing in the things I can not change, I will improve or change what I can. So I am making a list of goals to accomplish while we get through this.

1) learn how to swim. I know enough to probably save my own life or that of my child. Beyond that I am lost. So lost that I do not even know how to tread water...Guess that is what happens when you are a poor kid in New Mexico.

2) Learn how to be a successful Avon Rep. Yes, this will include learning how to apply makeup and be girly....

3) Pay off as much debt as possible (hence the Avon thing). This will accomplish two things. One - no more credit cards, strictly a cash budget. Two - get us one step closer to retirement!

4) Take karate classes. More for self discipline and I think it will be fun. I think this will be a mommy and son thing. Which will make it even more fun!

5) Volunteer at the school at least twice a month. One day for each little person.


to be con't

A Date

Yes in fact we do have a date......which will change about 12 times between now and him actually getting on an airplane. Which makes it that much more difficult to prepare for it. By the time the day actually gets here, we will be so exhausted and ready for this stupid deployment to start.....just so we can get it over with.
Now for all the questions to begin! My all time favorite is: Oh will he be done with Army when he gets back?? Nope sorry sister, we are in this rodeo til the end. The big 2-0!!
A close second.....Oh how do you do it with three kids?? I guess the same way anyone does it with any amount of kids...One day at a time, sometimes two and three days at a time. You get up, you put a smile on your face, and you get through it.
 And the runner up is: Will he have to go back?? How in the world would I know that?? I find out all of my info about 10 mins before you know it!!

Sitting Around

Well after three weeks of leave DH is back at work. Unfortunately it is with a new group of people. Much to our dismay, he has PCS'd to a new place....OK OK a new unit. The Army has managed to disrupt our life yet again. Funny how they have a knack for that. We thought we would get at LEAST 3 years in one unit, the Army said haha, that is what you get for making plans. So here we are, waiting to see when D day will be.
Just thinking about him in a new unit makes me mad!!! This was not supposed to happen! We were supposed to stay in the MP BN for at least another year. That would have given us almost 24 months dwell time! We were prepared to do another deployment, just not so close to the last one. Well the Army has seen fit to send him to a highly deployable group. Which means we will probably be doing ANOTHER deployment before the end of the year! Oh joy! I am jumping out of my socks with excitement!! Another year alone! Really it is what I look forward to! Being awake at 3 am for weeks at a time because all you can do is worry!! Not to mention all the crap that goes wrong the minute they cross the Atlantic ocean!
I can barely contain myself. While we have not said anything to the Little People, enough has been said that I am sure they are aware something is going on. We will tell them just what is going on as soon as we know details. Until then there is no need to stress them out. They have enough going on in their little lives!
I am seriously contemplating an everyday blog.....not sure if I really have the commitment it would take.....how bout we push for once a week and see what happens??
I will post again when I have all the details............