Answered Prayers!

It has been ONE WILD RIDE for the past several weeks and THANK GOODNESS it's over....HE IS HOME!! Late in comparison to the original plan, early to the latest version but all that is irrelevant now!

So in my future are a few days without restful sleep that will be due to B's snoring like he's at a logging camp in the Pac Northwest..on long runs he always gets so stressed and sleep deprived that he snores horribly and talks in his sleep for the first few days... and adjusting to having another person sleeping next to me....

...Followed by a trip to the comic book store where we'll spend a small fortune on the books that have been piling up since B left!

...Next will be a trip to the toy store or possibly Target.

...And two of my faves; watching him play with the kids and the house being filled with the sound of "that kind" laughter that only accompanies when Daddy is home. ;)

...Spending countless hours snuggled up on the couch catching the other one up on our crazy lives while apart, surely enjoyed with some Starbucks!

There are many days that I really dislike our lifestyle, BUT the brass ring, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is when B COMES HOME!!!!

WELCOME HOME, BABE!! WE MISSED YOU!!
~And a HOOYAH to our Texas family, a job well done!!


~K~

July is over, already!?!

YOWSERS!! That was THE. QUICKEST. MONTH!!! I mean it seems like just last week that we were celebrating the 4th of July and NOW it's August 1st!!!! Sheesh!

Well with the new month, comes some new news. Tho I was fully anticipating it, it still hurts like a mo-fo to know that we have to wait a few more weeks for B to return. AND I STILL don't have an actual date, just a really vague one. But at least now I can begin(sorta) planning J's big bday bash!! I really didn't know just how they'd take the news of the delay of B arrival... I thought they might have taken it a bit harder. But my little soldiers(well sailors really!) took the news all in stride. L's been through enough to know that stuff like this can happen, so she really wasn't surprised. And J's too excited about his bday tomorrow to really care much about anything else. I have to say I'm a bit sad for my kids to be such hardened at the ripe old age of 9 and almost 6! I mean I was the one who broke down when I read those fateful words in B's email and had such a dreadful night trying to sleep, knowing 'the end' was now much farther away. But just like everything else with this lifestyle, it is what it is and tomorrow is a new day!

Yes, tomorrow 'baby' will be 6!! I honestly don't know how we got to this point. It's literally flown by. Seems like it was only last year that we were battling him to stay in his bed at night and locking our house up like it was Fort Knox because of our little escape artist! Now he's riding a 2 wheel bike and going to school. We've got a fairly low keyed plan for tomorrow. Dropping L of at school while J and I sit through the kindergarten orientation. I'm not quite sure they feel the need to essentially waste an entire day of instruction to only give us about an hour's worth of information...seems like they could have scheduled that for perhaps an evening the week prior to school starting?! But that's just my opionion! ;) Then we'll head to the store pick up whatever kind of cake he wants and come home and make it! Hopefully we'll get a bit of quality time in before we have to head back to the school to get L. For dinner we're heading out to Hard Rock Cafe...I thought he'd really enjoy the atmosphere there, since there's a ton of stuff EVERYWHERE!!

Alrighty, now it's time for me to unwind and de-stress before the crazy adventures called school begin tomorrow!!

~K

All good things come to an end while others are far away

Day Camp for the rugrats is over. They SAY they are glad it's over, but I know better. Though one goal was reached, the 'summer' may be over but my sanity(for the most part) is still in tact! Which if you've ever been a single parent is no small feat! LOL No really the kids were the best they've been over the past few summers. They did have a handful 'moments of insanity' but it was NOTHING to what I've experienced during the previous years, thankfully!
School is now just a week away. But only a few days remain until the Open House where we will get to meet the new teachers. We are also asked to bring in the small fortune I spent on school supplies on this day as well. ;-) I hope L gets the 'smart' teacher and not stuck as a peer in one of the bottom tier classes. There are a few kids she'd like to get away from, LOL Plus she was always frustrated because the kids were always behind/not 'getting' it or they were just plain distrupting the class. ~keeping my fingers crossed!
The beginning of school also meant that we would begin our Homecoming preparations for B's return. Though, they(the big wigs) are contemplating keeping the boat out longer! In all my years of being with B, I have never experienced anything like it. I just don't understand why they haven't made the decision whether to keep them out or have them come home on time YET! It REALLY makes is hard to look forward to something, when the you don't even know the 'when'. GRRRR!!! The ONLY thing I do know about the Homecoming is that B will go on leave as soon as they get here! And that's the ONLY silver lining to that cloud. Cause we STILL don't know when he'll be transferring off the boat. Tho in one of the last emails B did say that he was in communication with his detailer and was pressuring him to find a replacement ASAP!!
Tis the life of a submariner....hurry up and wait!!

~FOOD REVOLUTION UPDATE!
Kids have now tried mangoes, papaya, cucumbers and Thousand Island dressing. And out of that only J liked the mangoes and cucumbers! So it wasn't a total failure!! Well at least now I have a variety of salad dressings to choose from!

~K~

Food Revolution

For some time I have been contemplating overhauling our eating habits yet again. Overall, we do eat pretty healthy compared to other people we know but I've grown tired of the kids complaining that they don't like this or that. I'm not a short order cook(I tackled that affliction quite a few years ago LMAO), but my kids NEED to eat more than hot dogs and chicken nuggets!!(they do like more than that but it does seem like that's all they ever ask for) So after mentally preparing myself and the kids for a couple weeks it was time to take the leap! I informed them that we would be trying at least one new food every day.

Day 1: I wanted to start off simple, so we had turkey burgers(which they've been eating for years and LOVE!), corn on the cob and the new editions were a vegetable sampling of carrots, cauliflower and brocoli they could dip in fat free ranch dressing and a salad with the same dressing. L discovered that she now loves cauliflower and J loved EVERYTHING!!! So much that he was more than willing to eat what L didn't as she wasn't too fond of the ranch, so we'll search for another dressing that meets her approval!
~SUCCESS!!

Day 2: A new take on an old fave..whole wheat english muffin pizzas with mozzarella and mini turkey pepperoni slices. I thought the kids would love the mini pepperoni slices, but after tasting them right out of the package I was a little apprehensive as they were a bit spicy. Thankfully, the spicy-ness mellowed during the cooking progress which left them asking for more!! We had another salad, only this time it was topped with catalina dressing. Neither of them particularly cared for the catalina. I'm hoping the third times the charm with the next one!
~SUCCESS!!

Day 3: On the menu tonight was supposed to be chicken mexican lasagna, spanish rice AND a spinach salad with thousand island dressing, but due to an interruption (click to read) in the middle of finishing dinner I decided not to include the salad as we were just so dang hungry and the food I had plated was getting cold quick! BOTH of the kids ate seconds and thirds I think of the rice. They were not too keen on the lasagna but they at least ate the chicken!! So next time I make it I guess I will set some of the chicken mixture off to the side for the rugrats!
~SUCCESS!!

I have to say that thus far I'm SUPER excited that they have liked most of what they've tried, let alone ACTUALLY trying it and not snubbing their noses at it. I guess I should specify that it's L I'm most impressed with. She's been known to turn down food just at the sight or smell. J will at least try it! ;0)

Next we'll be trying: cucumber, green pepper, papaya, mango and MANY other fabulous foods!
Wish us luck!! <3

~K~

"Summer" is almost over??

How the heck did that happen?? It seems just like last week that the kids were getting out of school!! NOW, they've got only 3 weeks till school starts back up again??!! WHERE did the time go?? This week I got about 80% of their school supplies, so after next week I should be done! ;) That list just went on an on, LOL. Thankfully after spending a small fortune on the supplies I don't have to buy clothes too. Just another reason I LOVE having uniforms!! Kids are staying busy with camp and are loving it! They love the weekly trip to the pool. So far they've gone on one field trip. They spent the day at the Surf Center in Haleiwa, where they BOTH did indeed get on a board and were able to shoot the tube!(with help of course) BUT how cool is THAT!!!
I love our life!!

~So kids learning how to surf, CHECK! I'm thinking hula lessons will be next on my list to mark off!??

As camp wraps up they will be going to the ice skating rink this coming week(who would've thought we'd come all this way just to do that! LOL) and the water park the following week...which they are SUPER excited about! And then BAM-it's time for SCHOOL!! With B gone I am so very thankful that time is flying by, especially with a schedule change that has ADDED to his time. BOOOO!! But I'd be lying if I thought it was something that came as unexpected. Thankfully the kids have been busy enough not to have too many "I miss Daddy" breakdowns, which is good for me because then I end up having an "I miss him" cry-fest right along with them! LOL

We were lucky enough for B to pull into a port, so we were at least able to talk to him. We would've liked to travel and spend time with him, but I couldn't justify spending $$$ just to spend a day or 2 with him, because he was CRAZY busy getting stuff ready for the second leg of their tour. I feel so bad for him. He is just DONE with being at sea. He's so burn out that he really didn't even have the energy to really get out and have fun while in port. Poor guy! ;(
The only thing fueling him now is knowing that we are here waiting for him and that he's ALMOST done!! Helloooo brass ring!! I'd really hoped that the Senior Chief(E8) results would have come out while he was in port, but that is not something we'll be able to experience together now. If it's anything like the last couple of advancments/promotions, I will probably know before he does! LMAO!! BUT, he did tell me that the shore duty job he wanted here at Pearl Harbor IS his...they are just working out who will replace him and when! Could be early as October(that sure would be nice) or early next year. Our one saving grace from the boat keeping him for the deployment is that he's already done 5 yrs at sea!! WHEW!!

Today J started T-ball. He was sort of apprehensive about it at first, but the few days leading up to he became increasingly excited about it. Each morning he kept asking if TODAY was the day he was starting t-ball! It appeared to be a bit unorganized, but once they broke off into groups J began to enjoy it. While I was enjoying watching him do the drills, apart of me was sad that B could not be here to experience it. For whatever reason he was not allowed to be in any organized sports. It wasn't until he was 12 and moved to RI to live with his dad that he finally was able to participate. But because he wasn't able to play year after year and build skills like most boys had been doing, he wasn't able to play very much/well. He didn't want that for his kids. So after I missed the spring baseball sign up, the ONE thing B wanted me to make sure of was to get the kids into SOMETHING. So I jumped on the chance to get him into t-ball! I had tried to get them swim lessons too, but they were all full when I went to register on the 4th day. ~I later learned that they are filled by the 1st day, so I will be jumping on it the first day of the August registration when it opens next week!! L has discovered a love of basketball since being at camp, so I guess she'll be doing that when it starts up in the fall. Not sure what we'll find for her in the mean time!?

Well that's all for now!!

~K~

Getting into the groove, finally

So, "normalcy" has finally hit the Rowland house. Tho what you and I consider normal is relative. For us, it's getting used to B being gone. It's like an never ending duty day and I've learned that it takes time to settle into it. I used to fight it back when L was little. It was like our life ended and was put on hold till B came back. But then it was only her and I and EVERYTHING was much simpler then. I do feel that way still to some extent, I just give myself less days to have a pity party! LOL For us a routine is what really makes the days tick by. OMG, before the kids started summer camp I thought I was about to lose my damn mind. We still had a routine of sorts but there was no real time constraint like school. But trying to keep them occupied 24/7 so they would miss B less, trying to keep myself occupied for the same reason AND trying to keep my house in somewhat decent shape...uhh let's just say if I were to 'grade' myself, I'd give me a C! LOL The kids have been in camp now 2 weeks I'm happy to report that we are in a nice little rut and we are all doing just dandy!! I drop them off, come back work out, go run errands and pick them up from camp. Once we're home they get an hour or so to unwind/chill, then they go and play till dinner time, then it's all down hill till bedtime!! ;)

Emails from B have been somewhat reliable, but I'm sure all good things will come to an end in the near future...tho I'm definitely enjoying it. I'm also enjoying the flowers that B has set to come every 2 weeks. I still cannot believe he was actually able to take the time to arrange for it. When he deployed with the OKC, he talked about setting up flower deliveries for 'the next time' he'd be deployed. I really didn't think he'd actually remember to do it...or even have the time to go and make the arrangements. But I have to say that I actually look forward to those Monday flower deliveries. Like this week, I got "the knock" and just knew it was my flowers! Sure it enough it was! They've been simple arrangements; the first was some wildflowers, the second was actually for L and they were several Hawaiian varieties and this one was yellow roses and daisies! The newest one was actually sent to all of us, but J was less than thrilled. I belive he said "All Daddy sent us was stinkin' flowers?! Flowers are not a good surprise for me. Doesn't Daddy know I like toys..like Legos, Transformers...that would be a good surprise" I then explained to him that you can't order toys to be delivered to your house the same way flowers can and that was the end of it, thank goodness!! ;0)

So it appears that one of the neighbor kids has attached himself to my kids and not in a good way. In the weeks before school let out he'd come over asking if my daughter could come out and play. I thought maybe he just forgot L's name...but he KEPT doing it. I should have known....This kid comes over while the kids are still at camp and wants to come inside! WTF?? I don't think so, 1-for the 2492th time, my kids are at camp till 2pm M-F and 2-I'm BUSY! WEIRD, WEIRD, WEIRD!! Earlier this week I had left the car in the driveway since I was heading back out soon and knocks on the door yet again. We go thru the same rigamarole of how they are at camp... This kid is like, well why is your car here?? I SERIOUSLY think he was dropped as a baby or his mom was smoking crack cause I should not have to explain to an 8yr old that my kids are gone, but I am home. My concern deepened yesterday where he was INSISTING that they come inside OUR house to play, uh no! We live in HI where it's summer just about every day of the year and that means little to no-reason to play indoors. Finally, after a solid 30 minutes of asking me like every 5 mins he decides to go home...creeepy! Today, I've genuinely fed up. Today he came AGAIN while they were at camp! So before L and J head out to play, I explain to L not to come and ask if they can play inside and if they do...they will be grounded. Well L and J, didn't come and ask..No this kid says that HE'S gonna be the one to ask. The first time he arrived, he didn't even knock or ring the bell. He simply pressed his face against the screen door to which Sasha started barking at....apparently he wanted J to bring out his Lego's! Uh, no...sorry! Not even 10 minutes later I hear the inevitable excuse me, can I come in your house. WTH is wrong with you!!?!? I yet again explain that my kids are not home. Irritated beyond belief I ask him to send my kids home because I need to speak with them. He continues on with the "why are then in trouble" and of course they aren't in trouble, but I simply let him know it's not his business. So my kids have been playing with this kid for barely 30 mins and apparently the WHOLE TIME he's been BUGGING them if he can come inside our house. WHY is this kid OBSESSED with seeing the INSIDE of my house?? It is nearly IDENTICAL to his??? I was so disturbed that we packed up and left to run errands. And honestly I'm dreading tomorrow because I KNOW he'll be knocking at the door bright and early...guess we'll have to be busy. And thankfully it won't be a lie!

Well I guess it's that time again! My brain could go on and on tonight, but my body and eyeballs are ready for some rest!


PEACE OUT!!

~K~

A little something and a whole lot of nothing...

Oh how I would love to say we've been off seeing parts of the island but no, this import period has only been nothing but MANY MANY late nights on the boat for B. I think he's made it home in time to have dinner with us about once or twice a week. We're "lucky" if he makes it before the kids head to bed! The weekends haven't been free from work either. He's either had to go in or gets called in. BOOOO!! But in the midst of all the chaos we were able to make an addition to our family! We adopted a cute little mutt or poi dog as they call it here. Her name is Sasha and she's about 2-ish. She was found abandoned with her puppies and her babies' daddy tied to an abandoned truck. She was VERY skinny and skid-dish but has made an amazing recovery in just a few short months. Sasha has made herself QUITE comfy in the Rowland house!! ;)

Easter weekend is somewhat of a blur for me. :) Good Friday the kiddos were home so I put them to work doing their chores and homework. Then on Saturday I was busy baking for dinner on Sunday, meanwhile B took J to run several errands, so they had a guys day of sorts. Then later that night, B took L to a Father-Daughter Dance. She really wanted him to wear his dress uniform, but since we needed it for Sub Ball in a few weeks, B opted for dressy civvy clothes! They even capped the night off with a stop for ice cream. L can't wait to go next year!!

We'd then get a few days rest(well sort of) before we'd play host and tour guide to B's dad. B had been working extra long nights hoping to get caught up with things at work so he wouldn't have to go in while he was on leave while his dad was visiting. We should've known that was too lofty a goal...B spent 8 of 10 days of his "leave" at the boat! BLEH!! Calgon take me away!! You know all that stress is getting to you when 2 people who normally get along start to get snippy with each other. ALL I have to say is thank GOD that the worst(work wise) is hopefully behind us! Luckily we've learned a thing or two since our the first sea tour and are MUCH more prepared to handle all that stress!! Tho, I think if we both weren't ready for shore duty before, we're MORE than ready for it now!

Speaking of, we 'think' we are at least penciled in for shore billet here in Hawaii! Nothing is final tho, B will be calling the detailer this week to see if we can get a time line of when to expect the orders to be written. At this point I imagine it will be later since we're coming to an end of a fiscal quarter. As soon as the Guam billet is filled and NOT by us, we will be able to breath more easily!

It's hard to believe that school is almost over for the kiddo's as summer is right around the corner. And as it seems to be our curse for this particular sea duty, B will be once again gone for the entire summer. BLEHH!!!! So if you're looking for a tropical escape, I know of a place you can stay! :0)