Cchhhanges

 I am now preparing for another chapter of our lives to start. Probably going to be the most difficult one.
I’m hoping and praying it won’t be. 

Being an Army wife is always a roller coaster ride. We never really know what’s next. Things can change at the drop of a hat. Everything is always temporary. There is more times apart usually then there are times together.

This time we made the decision but we are still nervous about it. Second guessing constantly if it was the smartest, and best decision we could’ve made.

The hubby will be heading down to Texas for Sgt Major Academy and we have decided to stay behind in Colorado and not go with him. This is just a school so it’s only for the school year (well basically year). I don’t know why the Army doesn’t treat it like a school where they just go and come back. But it was considered as a PCS move (permanent change of station). So we were required to move with him for just a year. That means change schools, move our whole house, change doctors etc. Then when the year was up move to an entirely new place all over again. You see the problem here. The kids are in school. Our daughter being in middle school that’s a huge deal for her because she’s at that age. She would have to change schools for 8th grade then move again and start high school all over again. It doesn’t seem ideal at all.
In Colorado we are settled we have a church home and church family. We have support and the kids have friends.

In my head I’m trying to think of it as a deployment but with perks because he can come visit during breaks. Hopefully on 4 day weekends as well. We will keep busy during the school year too. I have a busy workload. Hopefully the kids will be in some kind of activities and we will just take it a day at a time.

Then when it’s all done with. We will find out where we will be moving next and hopefully it will be our last move and we can get ready for retirement.

These are all the hopes but sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Separation is never easy. I wish we didn’t have to choose this but it seemed the better option out of two really crappy options. Much like the presidential election (HA!) So here we are gearing up for another year apart.

Pray for us and our little family. 

Army Wife Deployment Checklist

I've been an Army wife for about 12 years now but have been lucky enough to have gone through one deployment since being married. But I have been through my fair share of long absences. Three 4-6 week long ones this last year and we are coming upon a longer deployment. 

So I thought I would put together a little deployment survival list. These are just some things I've done or plan on doing to get through the time apart. It is so hard even more now with kids and you need those extra little things to make it a little easier!

ENTERTAINMENT 

Netflix/Hulu Subscription to binge on.
{Just waste time and plow through those shows.}

::Bingeworthy shows::
Stranger things
New Girl
Xfiles
Friends...of course

Movie nights/Game nights with friends or your kids

Books
Use that Library card so you don't have to buy books.
E-books/Audible Books
Podcasts
{These are super fun because you just subscribe on your phone and listen very little effort put in}

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

At home spa
{great to do if you have a daughter or have kids and can't get a babysitter}
Facial masks
Bubble bath
{with candles, little debbie cakes my personal fave, candles}
Caddy Tray  link {perfect for combining the entertainment and pampering yourself}

Dessert for one:
Microwavable cakes or pie for one
Low calorie ice cream like Halo {peanut butter chocolate is my fave}
Bark thins

Gym Membership:

Keeps you busy and keeps you healthy.
If you have kids make sure it has childcare.


HOME 

Paper goods so you don't have to do dishes all the time.

Cleaning lady
{If not all the time have them come once or twice a month for a deep cleaning. If you play your cards right you might not have to touch those toilets for the whole deployment}

OR if cleaning is your thing then you just go to town!

PROJECTS

DIY projects
{I have a lot of furniture to redo:}
China cabinet
bench
dresser
several chairs

BABYSITTER

This one is important for your mental health honestly.
Mommys' need those breaks even if its just to go grocery shopping by yourself.


WEEKEND ADVENTURES
w/kids

Trampoline parks
Laser Tag
Roller skating
Theme park
mini golf
Bowling
Theme/water park

GETAWAY ADVENTURES

Road trips
Visit family out of state
One adventure a month that your spouse is gone

HOBBIES

Photography
Learn an instrument
Learn a different language
Volunteer somewhere

Conversations with an eight year old

Riley: Faith is homeschooled

Mommy: I know they are all homeschooled

Riley: I want to be homeschooled you already teach me so much !

Mommy: What's that in your pocket?

Riley: A card

Mommy: haha 

Riley: I TAKE ALL THE CARDS HAHAH!

Mommy: why? 

Riley: Because they are free!

{Come home to mail box messed up }

Riley: I got good news and bad news

Mommy: What's the bad news?

Riley: It's bent and wobbly and won't close.

Mommy: What's the good news?

Riley: We have mail!

{cutting tags off package}

Mommy: Here let me do it.

Riley: I want to do it so i can show you I'm a big girl !

Riley: Can I watch a show?

Mommy: Yeah. {changes channel}You don't need to be watching Vampire diaries.

Riley: Whatever I'm not interested anyway.

Family Pictures 2016

I know we just took family pictures last summer in Nashville but we had to do it again. I don't know if you know this but babies grow fast. They are like completely different people now. There's so much personality and sassiness. Not to mention the cuteness!

We found our lovely photographer on IG @sunnyjunebug and had a blast. 

Here are just a few of our favorites

All Photos by Sunny of sunnygoldenphoto.com

Conversations with a seven year old

Riley: What if we called Daddy "Dumbledore"? My new name is Hermione.

Mommy: Can you push on my back?

:::Riley pushes:::

Riley: Uhhh Can we play Restaurant because this is awkward.

{Riley riding her bike, turns off of sidewalk and into the street}

Riley: My bike NEARLY killed me!! It kept riding into the street.

{Mommy Smacks Riley's butt}

Mommy: I made that butt I can smack it if I want to.

Riley: No God did.

{Riley waiting for Mommy to help her on her bike}

Mommy: Are you snapping your fingers at me?!

Riley: No ...it's my signal for helping.

Mommy Monday {Birthday Pictures}

The perks of being a photographer is I get to take pictures of my beautiful babies. I haven't as much lately as I would like. But doing their pictures once a year for their birthday has always been important to me. I got a little behind this year. Luckily their birthdays are just a couple weeks apart. Now I can get both of them done at the same time. 

While we are in Hawaii I really wanted to get some at the beach. Before we are off to the next place. 

Here are some of my favorites.

All Photos by Simply Beauty Photography by Ashley Reed

Easter Recap

I hope everyone had an awesome Easter weekend. 

We had a pretty laid back weekend ourselves. 

One of the perks of living on a military base is that they always have community activities.

This Easter was a big carnival and a huge egg hunt. They should actually just call it an egg race instead. Those kids went crazy for a ton of bright colored plastic eggs just thrown across the grass field. We went on a couple rides and did games and some arts and crafts. It was a good time....minus the sunburn. 

Easter Sunday I made some awesome breakfast quesadillas. Just eggs, mozarella cheese, and pesto. 

I think we may be addicted to pesto these days. Church, egg hunt and then a very chill hike along kaena point. Which is an awesome but really long hike around the mountains in Hawaii. We didn't make it very far with two little munchkins in tow and the sun setting quickly. But we got a sneak peek. We will probably have to attempt it again before we leave.