Been a while since I posted on here. Just been busy trying to get settled, stay up to date with both schools, and a million other things.

Aden is growing so fast. I cannot keep up with his accomplishments. He makes me proud daily.

We trick-or-treated on Saturday with Chase, Collin, and Chloie. Chase wanted to be an alien, Collin wanted to be Batman, and Aden got his Boomer outfit from Aunt Sherry. It was the second year he went as a horse but he was pretty darn cute. :)

We have all been sick this past week with a horrid 24 hour bug. It caused me to miss my Amarillo Substitute Training so now I am still behind on that. Not that I have much time right now anyways. I have so much school work I am only able to barely keep up turning things in last minute. I am just so ready for this semester to be over. It has been so hard trying to keep up.

I am also still trying to unpack the house. The living room and play room are really the only rooms even done. The kitchen is piled high with stuff I do not have time to put away. My bedroom has clothes all over the place I do not have time to put away. The boy's bedroom is a whole other story. I have ot go back to San Diego in a few weeks. I have no idea when I am going to get all of it done. Just no idea.

New Chapter

Well it has been a bit since I posted. Just trying to get settled here. Still waiting for our furniture to get here from San Diego...want to get unpacked and settled before starting work but just don't know if that will happen. Everytime I go to our house, I still can't believe I get to live in such a wonderful home. I wish we could afford to buy a home but now is not the time. Maybe in a year or two.

I can't completely enjoy the place because I miss Chris so much. It is hard thinking of a year or longer apart. I know it will go by fast but just hate thinking about it.

Goodbye San Diego

Well I have spent the last 3 1/2 years here in beautiful San Diego. I have met several great friends and will miss them and this paradise but it is time for a new chapter in my life to begin. As I sit, waiting for the movers to come, I find myself very blue this morning. I get attached to people and things too easily. I am excited to live closer to family and other friends but it is hard to leave this place, even as miserable as I was here. I had good times here and living so close to the ocean was something I took for granted too often. I know it will be an emotional drive to Jesika's this evening. Luckily when Chris and I said goodbye to one another, it was 5 in the morning and I was still half asleep. I just want to stay focused today and then let all the emotions hit me when I am alone in my car....as much as I was looking forward to moving back home, it is still not an easy task to take lightly, especially when it requires leaving my husband behind.

Need more hours in a day

I am trying to complete as much as possible last minute. I got the household goods move set up, I got Chris's uniforms to be altered, bought some winter clothes and Aden a winter coat, deposited check, went by library, took dogs to vet and now trying to pack and clean. Still got to do homeworkand a million other things. I just don't see me getting it all done tonight but we will see.

And even worse, the moment Chris and I hoped would never happened has come to be...Ebony's back legs need surgery so on the 30th we will be out $2200 but it is the cheapest quote I have gotten from anyone so it is what it is. That also means Ebony will be coming back with me instead of staying in Texas.

Hopefully this month hurries up and goes by so I won't be so stressed out.

Productivity

Well I am now starting the process of moving to Texas. I have an appointment Thursday with the household goods office. May cost us some money since I am not moving back to Louisiana. Need to go today and get a new SS card. Can't seem to find mine. I then need to go and fax request for my college transcripts to be sent to the schools where I have applied. I also need to apply to a few more school districts just to be safe.

After lots of thinking I do not think it is worth Chris moving just for 4 months before deployment so I am going to live with my in law's for two months and then in December get a place for me and the kids. It would save us over $1,000 but just the hassle and time constraints do not seem like we should.

I have discovered that with kids you clean EVERY DAY. I used to get so excited when the house would be spotless and clean. It usually would last at least a week if not longer. Not now. I try to just keep the tornado of our house contained before Hurricane Aden comes through again.

Started getting behind in school so I caught up with some work yesterday and today I am going to try to at least start two papers I have due.

Still cannot believe Aden is about to turn 1. It went by too fast. I want him to stay little longer. I cherish every day.

Amanda's Green Monster

So I tried this for the first time today. The ingredients I used for mine were the following:
- 1 cup almond milk
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 banana
- pineapple and other fruits (just threw some in there)
- ice

So I blended first 4 until smooth, then added ice and blended more. I want to put in the flax mentioned in other recipe. Just do not have any around the house. Maybe next time. I also read about one that makes a chocolate smoothie. I will have to try this sometime too to change things up.

Needless to say, I was not the only one who liked it. I first made it in the magic bullet but after Lecil Aden got a taste, he wanted some and I had to make another helping of it. :)


After he had a taste of mommy's


Got his own in his sippy cup


Made a new batch and he got some more and I think he likes it. :)

Major decisions and Sunday with dad

It has been one heck of a weekend and emotional roller coaster. Chris and I have talked a great deal and we haev to think of our family's future instead of just the here and now. With that, we have decided I need to go ahead and move back home and start substitute teachign because if I sub for 90 days this school year it will count toward a year of retirement. We have struggled with whether Oklahoma or Texas. My heart belongs in Oklahoma but his other boys have to be considered. Therefore we are going to settle in Texas for now so we can be closer to the other two boys. I have researched and I can make around $65 or $70/day subbing which I could not believe. That is good money considering the hours we work and what little income the military provides. Do not take me wrong, the military has great benefits but the pay vs stress is not worth it. So I have started steps toward moving. To be cont....

I also want to get my health and energy back. Therefore I am trying the P90X but sickness and injury keep putting it on hold. I cannot wait until I get back to home so there are people who can watch Aden so I can go run and such.

It was nice to have Chris home yesterday. He does not get many days off. We had fun playing outside.

Rearranging

So Aden and I have been rearranging the house. I fixed up a bigger spot in the living room dedicated to lil man and his toys. He seems to like it. As active as he is, he needed a bigger area to play. I am hoping the next place we live has a HUGE living room. We spend the majority of our time there so need a place big enough for toys, entertainment center, and computer desk along with furniture. Our glider is being held together with duck tape so we will probably go recliner shopping this weekend. I need a place I can rock Aden when he is tired.

We got decorations for Aden's birthday. I am excited for it but i don't want it to come because he is growing too fast. We are doing a Baby Einstein theme since he LOVES Baby Einstein. The cake is going to be so cute. The commissary gives you a free 5 inch cake for baby's 1st birthday with purchase of larger cake so that will be really cute too. I wish more people could be here for his birthday but it will be good either way. I have been buying lots of yard toys for Aden off of craigslist and our yard is beginning to look like a little carnival. :) Going to go pick up a toddler roller coaster tomorrow morning. I am excited for it but he has to wait until he is a little older to ride it.

We are also going to buy a new sewing machine this weekend because mine is dead. I plan to start making some clothes for lil man to save money. That and I want to make some pillows for the living room. I still have to finish Aden's blanket before his birthday. I know I spoil him but I can't help it. I love seeing him happy.

Our Weekend

Well Chris had his first weekend off in months. Of course he severely hurt his back Friday so was out of commission for most of the weekend but it was still nice just having him home. Saturday we went to Denny's for breakfast and then Walmart. I got contacts finally. Still trying to get adjusted to them. Woke up today with a headache but at least I can see far away. Chris played his video games part of the day and I started sewing a blanket I am making for Aden's first birthday. We also fixed his bed into a toddler bed because he HATES being in the crib and doesn't sleep long in it. He is growing too fast. We basically just had a lazy weekend and it was a nice break. Made a birthday card for Nana and played with it on my new scrapbooking software. I just hope Chris finds out something about his back today because it was getting worse, not better.

Single Parent

Today Aden is working more on his standing. He is a pro now at standing without any support. He still, however, has not tried to take any steps. I still have a few more days though. He is getting a nasty cold though so I don't know how up to walking he is going to feel.

It has been really hard lately because my work is stressful and an emotional roller coaster but I still get off at 3 most days. But because Chris isn't getting off until around 8 or 9 every day (including weekends) I have to do everything for Aden, take care of the dogs, the yard, the house, etc...It is just so hard. I am tired of the military because they don't care about morale or whether or not you get anytime with your family. I am just so sick of it and I have no idea how I can do this for another 2.5 years. At least we know he will probably be out by the end of the year. That gives me some comfort. But I will still be stuck in the hell hole with unreasonable, uncaring people in charge of me.

On a completely different topic, I do feel horrible that the dogs are no longer allowed in but it has been REALLY NICE not having a disaster of dirt and hair in the living room. That has helped a great deal. Especially since I am doing all the cleaning and such.

Bath Time

Aden is hilarious when it comes to baths. He absolutely loves playing in the bathwater. He loves to sit by the spout while it is filling up and play with the water coming out. Then he splashes and plays with all his toys. I can't believe he is already 8 months old. Time sure goes by so fast.

He is working hard on standing and walking. He can now stand up in the middle of the floor but just can't stay up long that way. I know he is going to take his first steps soon. Hopefully by June 1st so I win the bet I have with Chris. That is if he doesn't kill himself in the process. As I was typing, he fell face first after standing and has a big knot on his forehead now. I will be surprised if he makes it without losing a tooth or getting stitches at the rate he is going.