Tell Me Please........

I have a couple questions for everyone out there.

I received the Welcome Package for our new duty station, and I was curious to know........

1. Did you get a Welcome Package?

2. Was there any information you wish was included that wasn't?

3. What was the most useful information in your package?

I have a reason for all these questions and will call on your input again, but for now please, please take the time to comment! It doesn't matter if you aren't in the Military anymore, I still want to know!
:) Thanks everyone!!
 

Bod Pod, Step One.

 For the last 2 weeks I have been putting my weight loss on the front burner with few crafty projects on the horizon. The Squid has agreed to be my trainer and is a fantastic motivator for me. I have been working my ass off. 

Hopefully, I am being literal. We'll see.

This morning, I sat in what can only be described as a spaceship escape pod, in nothing but a sports bra, and a pair of biker shorts. Sounds awesome right?!? The reason is, here at our current base we have the amazing opportunity to get a body fat reading free at the gym. So, I was told without any hesitation that my previous feelings were correct. I am about 1/2 muscle and 1/2 blobs of gelatinous goo. That's right, I am/have 46% body fat.

 I am not surprised or bitter, I knew that would be the case. The reason I subjected myself to this was to be able to have more than just a visible account of all my hard work. I have some lofty goals for the rest of the time we are here, and being healthy is priority one. I have lost almost 6 pounds since we've started and I hope to keep going strong. 

Have you looked into all your base gym has to offer??

 Our gym had the BRILLIANT idea to convert one of the racquet ball courts into a family gym. When you walk in there are machines on each side and a space in the back blocked off by baby gates and padding, (daycare gates looks like) with a TV on the wall, and toys. My kids love it in there and play well the whole time I'm working out. I love that they are in the same room with me and any one that comes in has to pass by me to get to the gate. Awesome!

Thanks to Goodwill.

We have now had the opportunity to hit up some of the local thrift stores, and have actually come up with some great finds. Hopefully I will get to the antique store(s) soon and acquire yet another tea cup! Here is what we've come up with so far.

 The Squid was able to find some gems with an old Seasame Street book he used to love, a book about his favorite state, and a book written in 1936 for boys featuring stories about Naval pilots for his Wall and later his boy. :)

I was able to get some of my favorite books from my childhood. They are all pretty old and have that great book smell I love. I can't wait for my Squidlets to start reading!!

Hair today, Gone Tomorrow.

I love hair. That sounds weird, but I love that I can cut my hair and it just grows back. It is one of my favorite things to do, grow out my hair and then just chop it off! It's so.....freeing, or cathartic. Whatever it is, it rocks. Here is my brief 5yr history in hair, ending with the hair cut I got this weekend. :) Someday I'll do an entire lifetime in hair. :) That might be interesting.

Me right before my wedding. I grew it out, but never wore it down.

Right after we got married.

Pregnant with our 1st squidlet.

After I had her. :)

Pregnant with our Boy Squidlet.

After I had him.

Later that year, short bangs are not a good look for me.

Short and Red.

Me this summer.

New Hair, and new Glasses.

I love my new hair and my new glasses, I might even dye my hair just for fun this weekend! I feel like a new me, I'm losing weight, losing hair, and on my way soon to a new adventure with my fantastic family. Life is Great!

Sam's Place!

This weekend was nice and relaxing after our loooooong weekend of driving last weekend. We hit up Target, and Hastings as usual so that I could get my fix of books, coffee, and all around shopping. HEB was on the agenda as well. On the way out on Saturday The Squid told me that he had finally found Sam's Place. I was super jazzed and we headed that way. 

Sam's Place is the "Airman's Attic" for our current location, and it did not disappoint! I was so impressed with this "Attic" even though it is a bit smaller, it was very clean and very well organized. It also allows adult civilian clothing and not just children's. We found a lovely sun dress for our lady squidlet, and a Thomas the Train shirt for our boy squidlet. Some lovely books were found as well as a little mug we needed for a craft project, all for free! Man, I love it! Has anyone else found an "attic" where you are?

Clear Vision II

Last week I spent some time on the vision board I wrote about. It was fun and oddly enlightening. I chose a small piece of art board that is really stiff, unlike the huge poster board I was originally thinking. That meant that I had to drastically reduce the pictures I was going to use. I was irritated at first, but I had to re-evaluate what I really wanted to stick on there. Here is the end result.

 I left room for adding.

 I want the garden with a greenhouse, like the one in the back. I want an amazing tree house.

I want a mini-cow. ;) I want to visit Harry Potter World (thanks for the postcard Jess!).

I want to remember that I have talent, I may not know what it is or how to use it, but I can't stop looking.

 I want to find my passion and go out and do it, no matter how saturated the field.

 I want to knit seat covers for future stools.

I want to raise chickens......and eat them. I want a new car. I want to live in that dress, it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

 Someday, in my future home I will have a wall full of books. Floor to ceiling. 

I WILL make my goal weight!

 I want that kitchen, and that bathtub, not in the same room, just in the same house.

More motivational words.

 I can see my family at that table eating and laughing together.

 I want to own a Bakery and make delicious baked goods. I want to live above it, in a beautiful old house. I want to make my kids beautiful quilts they can snuggle with for the rest of their lives.

 That's it. I'm sure I missed some things, but 

I'll find them eventually and they will join in on the fun.

Here is the Squids. His poster board is much larger than mine, so he will be taking longer to fill it up.

I love his kitchen, door, and garden pictures, not to mention the knitted blanket. I can't wait to see how it ends up.

Hello Kitten.

We headed back down to the In-Laws this weekend.
It was a crazy 7hour, middle of the night, got there at 4am, went to bed until 8am, got the kids up, exchanged cars with my mom, found the Squid 3 pairs of jeans for 14.00, had a great time visiting with family and friends at our Hello Kitty themed 4th Birthday Party, crashed even before the kids did, woke up and said goodbye to everyone, drove for 2 hours in the driving rain, switched with the Squid just in time for the rain to stop, drove the rest of the 5 hours home, got here at 8pm, kids didn't got to sleep until 10pm, worth every minute of it, kind of weekend!
 Here are just some of the highlights.

Hope you guys had a great weekend too!

FoUr

3 days

1 Year

Today,

my oldest Squidlet is 4. I can't believe that it's been that long. She is Smart, Funny, Kind, Thoughtful, and Beautiful. She is at the age of wonder. She is curious about everything, she wants to help with everything and she wants to share everything. I can't help but think of one of my favorite  A.A. Milne poems.

Come Out With Me

By A.A. Milne

2 Years

There's sun on the river and sun on the hill . . .
You can hear the sea if you stand quite still!
There's eight new puppies at Roundabout Farm-
And I saw an old sailor with only one arm!

But everyone says, "Run along!"
(Run along, run along!)
All of them say, "Run along! I'm busy as can be."
Every one says, "Run along,
There's a little darling!"
If I'm a little darling, why don't they run with me?

There's wind on the river and wind on the hill . . .
There's a dark dead water-wheel under the mill!
I saw a fly which had just been drowned-
And I know where a rabbit goes into the ground!

But everyone says, "Run along!"
(Run along, run along!)
All of them say, "Yes, dear," and never notice me.
Every one says, "Run along,
There's a little darling!"
If I'm a little darling, why won't they come and see?

4 Years

3 Years

 Happy Birthday Sweets. Your daddy and I are so very blessed to have you in our lives! We love you. 

Clear Vision

With all the changes we are going through, the tight quarters, and all the work to still be done for the move, our little Squid Family is suffering from some serious low morale. I am hoping that the kids will come back refreshed from a trip to the In-laws for my daughters 4th birthday party, but the Squid and I need something else. Hoping that a quick date night during our visit will go along way, I also need something a little more, let's say, long term. The Squid actually came up with the idea of a Vision board. A board covered with pictures cut from magazines or printed off the computer of things that you would like in the future, be it material or otherwise. One for each of us, that is a visual representation of the things that we are working towards.  I know, for us at least, sometimes it is hard to keep the long term picture in focus. Does anyone else have a vision board? I'll post mine when it's done. 

Here are a few I have found on the web. 

Courtesy of Sunny Mama

Courtesy of Oranges and Avacados

Screwed Up Schedule.

The Squid is back to work, and we have set out to get to know our new space and enjoy the attractions. Or, at least that was the plan..... The Squid has been put on nights and somehow the whole family is now on the worst possible sleep schedules ever! We go to bed REALLY late and get up late, how can I combat this problem? I need to get my old routine back. I hate wasting the day! If anyone has a suggestion, let me know.

Military Spouse Friday Fill In # 69

 Mil-Spouse Friday Fill-in is going on today, and I thought I'd participate. It's now only the first Friday of every month, so here we go. Roam over to Wife of a Sailor to check it out.

1. What is your favorite/most unique anniversary/birthday gift from your spouse? suggested by Bel (@operationbfp)

I have to say that this years anniversary gift was the best. The whole package was amazing!

2. What’s your first thought when you see it’s snowing (or what would you say if you don’t live somewhere with snow? suggested by Poekitten from Many Waters

Magic. 
I hate snow, I hate shoveling it, I hate driving in it, and I hate when it gets down in my boots or the neck of my shirt. That being said, it has got to be one of the most beautiful and magical things ever. When it snows at night and everything is quiet, or the day after a snow storm when the sky is a beautiful blue and the world is covered in an untouched white blanket. It is amazing and wonderful............. and I thoroughly enjoy it from the warm and coziness of my house with a cup of tea. :)

3. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?  suggested by Erika from Chambanachik
I would have driven to Austin and picked up my Squidlets birth certificate my damn self and be done with this bullshit! Pardon my French.

4.What was your favorite thing that happened in February?
 My Squid came home. I missed him so much and I am so glad to have him back with us again.

5. What are you looking forward to in March?
I am looking forward to my daughters birthday. It will be the first time our families will be able to attend. I am so psyched!

Crafty Travel.

The whole time we've been away from our home, things, etc., I've been trying to craft. I love to craft and find inspiration all over the place, but it's become increasingly hard to travel with all my craft stuff. I mean, how easy is it to tote around a tub or 2 of fabric along with a sewing machine!? 

So, trying to find a more "portable" craft, I roamed Joanns. 

 I know how to crochet, which seems fairly portable, but I am REALLY not good at it. I don't know what my deal is, I just can't seem to do it. Thinking I might give it just one more try, I finally ended up in the crocheting area. While there, I noticed the knitting needles. I have never tried to knit, nor do I know anyone that can knit, but I picked up some needles, some yarn and scanned the web for some help. I am a visual learner so I found written instructions, just really confusing, but, on YouTube you can find several videos. I found cyberseams the most helpful, bonus, its got this crazy cheesy music in the background. Awesome. :) So, now I'm learning to "knick" as my oldest Squidlet says.  If any of you crafty momma's have any tips for me, I'd love to hear them!

 This was my first try, not bad.

This is all that I have bought since I started. I haven't made anything, I'm still trying to get all the basic stitches learned. 

Funny enough though, after watching me knit for a while The Squid decided to join in. He is attempting to make a blanket. 

I told The Squid I thought I'd be knitting on the couch while he played Call of Duty but, maybe he'll be knitting and I'll be playing Call of Duty. :)