We're Here!

Unlike our last trip to Texas , our flight yesterday was completely smooth and uneventful. We were at the airport in plenty of time to check our bags and get through security and even use the bathroom and buy a snack. But we weren't so early that I had tons of time to kill with the boys. It was perfect. Our flight was overbooked and for a nano-second I even considered taking the $300 per seat they were offering. But apparently I couldn't take the voucher and leave the kids on the plane. That seems to be frowned upon for a number of reasons. And in the small chance something were to happen to delay the next flight, well, I just didn't think it was worth it. Even for $900. Tempting, but not quite tempting enough. So we settled in for a short, easy flight to DFW. Luke slept and Mark watched Imagination Movers - again. (You might be seeing a theme for us if you are regular reader or follow me on Twitter.)

But we are home at my parents settling in nicely. It's going to be a whirlwind two weeks as usual, but I plan to gorge myself on mexican food as often as possible. I'm hoping to keep posting regularly, but I won't make any promises. Hope you don't miss us too much. And if you do, well you can probably drive to Dallas and start calling every mexican food restaurant on Hwy 75 near Allen. I'll probably be at one of them...

Good luck hiding in THAT thing!

I've been meaning to write this post for a while now.  And since the Navy isn't exactly on my list of "Favorites" this afternoon I figured now would be a great time.  You might even say I'm borderline "crazy submarine lady."  (Better warn the children!)  

I'm not even sure I need to write much about this abomination that is the new working uniform.  The picture pretty much speaks for itself.  Digital "aqua-flage"?  Really?  Are we trying to hide on our enormous Aircraft Carriers?  Hey, bad guys!  Here's a HUGE ship in the middle of the ocean and you can't see anyone on board because we are all wearing aqua-flage!  Must be totally abandoned!  Right.   That's good plan.  Or maybe it's to hide guys who fall in the water?  Not sure that's such a good plan either.  Or it could be created just for a rousing game of hide-and-go-seek on the submarine because they don't have enough to do already.  

What I do know is that they cost a fortune.  Whoever secured that contract with the Navy is absolutely making a killing.  And since officers do not receive a uniform allowance the cost comes straight out of our living expenses.   Who doesn't want to spend $500 on super cool aqua-flage clothes and accessories?   I think I should get to go spend $500 on shoes now, don't you?  

To add insult to injury, the whole concept of new working uniforms was supported largely because they were supposed to look better, and thus have different regulations than the previous working uniforms.  But just as before, these uniforms are only authorized for work.  That means that Tim can't meet us out in town, can't stop for a gallon of milk on his way home and can't even get gas off-base while wearing it.  

So, let me get this straight?  They are ugly.  They cost us a great deal out of pocket.  And you still can only wear them to work and home.  Nice.  Sounds like a perfectly great use of your tax dollars and our paycheck for all the development and implementation.  Good one Navy!

Just in case you didn't get the full effect above.

A Little Help with my Workouts...

I've been doing the 30 Day Shred for 12 days now.  It's horrible.  After 24 minutes I'm completely soaked and exhausted, but I have to say I'm already seeing a difference and am wearing pants I haven't worn in years.  So, I guess it's good.  But I still say ugly things about Jillian Michaels every afternoon while I'm doing the video.  I often have lots of "help" while I'm working out.  I figured I'd save you all from pictures of me doing the workout and just show you a few of Mark Garrett.

Unexpected Knowledge

Mother's Day was this weekend and I can't help but be a bit reflective about what it means to be a mom.  I've had a wonderful example in my own mother that I wrote a bit about here.  But that being said, nothing prepares you for the way your life changes when you become a Mom.  I think there are several reasons for why your girlfriends don't tell you about this transformation.  Maybe they are embarrassed to admit that they enjoy the music on the Wiggles and consider it the exercise routine for the day.  (Hmmm... why isn't that baby weight coming off?!)  Or they don't even realize that they have reverted to the point in their lives when they excuse themselves at an adult function "to go to the potty".  Mainly, I think mothers just forget that life wasn't always this way.  I know I do all the time.  I can hardly remember a time when my conversations took place with mostly adults and my brain was filled with knowledge from books and newspapers.

My life now as a mother of boys makes me laugh.  Today we were driving down the street and I said, "Mark!  Look at that mini excavator!  That's so cool!"  Really.  4 years ago I didn't even know what a mini excavator was.  And I certainly wouldn't have even noticed it as I drove past.  The only time I noticed construction equipment was when it was driving very slowly in front of me on the highway.  We walked to the end of our street when we got home and talked about all the different construction vehicles that were working and the jobs they were possibly doing.  It's not exactly what I expected to be an expert on in my lifetime.  Other "useful" knowledge I've picked up along the way:  the difference between diesels and steam engines, the wide variety in motor noises, the way to clean sand out of diapers and hair.  And there are all the other unexpected pieces of knowledge you pick up as a mother:  learning to kiss away tears and hurt, the way you learn to tip-toe in a room to watch your child sleep, the ability to sense a cry before it even starts, and the knowledge that your heart will never ever quite be the same after being filled with the love for your children.  

Yeah, this motherhood thing is a little different than I expected.  And I was completely unprepared.  But I think we are doing okay...  If I could figure out the mini excavator, I can figure out anything, right?

Future Debater...

Mark Garrett has taken to arguing of late.  About everything.  For some reason, I thought the "Mom Doesn't Know Anything" years wouldn't start until he was at least 10.  Nope.  He's 3 and mom knows nothing.  Here are a few disagreements we've had lately.  I'll let you decide who is correct.

Round 1 (at the Rec Center):

"Let's drop Luke off at the babysitting so we can go swimming."

"Yeah, let's drop Luke off at the baby city."

"No, Mark.  It's called babysitting."

"No, Mom.  It's the baby city!"

Round 2 (at the seafood restaurant):

"Mark, how do you like that melba toast?"

"I like it, but it's Melvin toast."

"No.  It's melba toast, buddy."

"I think it's Melvin toast."

Round 3 (at breakfast discussing Mickey Mouse Clubhouse):

"...and then Mickey saw the woodpicker and it was so loud!"

"Really?  It was loud?  I think he saw a woodpecker."

"Mommy, you are so silly!  He saw a woodpicker."

"No, a bird that pecks his beak on wood is called a woodpecker."

"No, a bird that pecks his beak on wood is called a woodpicker."  

I give up.  It just doesn't seem to be worth the energy to argue with him.  Feel free to try yourself, but I'm guessing you'll give up too.

Dancing

I've written about our love of the Imagination Movers before.  It's still a big hit around here.  And I still don't find it too annoying, so needless to say, that's the show of choice most of the time when I let the boys watch t.v.  This is a little video of them dancing to one of the songs.  It's probably only entertaining to those who already love my kids.  So if you don't know us in "real" life, please don't feel obligated to watch.  If you do know us, well, it's pretty cute.  Luke has just started dancing and I'm pretty sure he has more rhythm than Mark does!

Toy Story

Mark wanted to go swimming yesterday.  (It didn't end up happening because we waited on Tim and the pool was then closed, but I digress.)  I told him to go put on his Buzz Lightyear "swimming pool pants."  (Yes, he calls them swimming pool pants for some weird reason - I don't even pretend to understand that kid!)  We started talking about Toy Story and I asked him what Buzz Lightyear says.  He proudly yelled, "To Infinity... And I Yawned!"  When I explained it was "To Infinity and Beyond," he was not buying it.  He just laughed and told me I was silly.  

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Do you ever stop to think about your freedom?  I mean, really.  Our country is far from perfect, but we enjoy a tremendous number of liberties that many in the world don't have.  I get so tired of hearing people talk about what's wrong with America.  There are so many people who just want more and more from our government.  And there is a seemingly general attitude of dissatisfaction toward the blessings and privileges we do have.  But even worse than that, there is little gratitude for those who have served and still serve to provide those blessings.  

You probably don't think about it much, but when you get up and go to worship in the place of your choice on Sunday morning someone is serving to protect that freedom.  When you blog about how much the stimulus package disgusts you, someone's husband is missing their anniversary to protect that freedom.  When you choose to watch one news channel over another, someone's Daddy just missed their miraculous entrance into this world to protect that freedom.  When you go dove hunting on September 1st every fall, someone's son is missing their birthday to protect that freedom.  

I'm not asking you to do anything for me.  I'm not even asking for sympathy or a pat on the back.  I just want to remind you of the sacrifices military families make for the freedom we all enjoy.  Our lives are filled with months of being single parents, more missed holidays, anniversaries and birthdays than you could count and weeks without any contact with our husbands.  We do it gladly because we love our husbands and our families, but it's often hard and lonely.   May is Military Appreciation Month and today is specifically Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  So if you know a military spouse, thank them for all that they do today.  Or thank a former military spouse who made sacrifices years ago for our freedom.  And if you really want to show them that you appreciate what they do you can email your congressman to ask them to support the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act.

The first of many homecomings...

Sleep well tonight because somewhere beneath the ocean 

depths my husband is protecting your freedom

Got Books?

Both my boys have always loved books.  Luke has recently really taken an interest in reading the same ones over and over again.  He even tries to read them to himself, babbling as he turns the pages.  It's really cute.  Now, if only we could work on taking one off at a time...

What year is it?

I feel like I need to ask that question today.  I've been reading The Time Traveler's Wife for a book club I am in over the last week or so.  And then last night we watched our favorite show.  (There are a number of shows I watch and enjoy.  Among my favorites are Chuck, CSI:Miami, NCIS, The Mentalist, How I Met Your Mother.)  But LOST takes the cake.  It is hands-down our most loved t.v. show.  

That being said, it is also the single most frustrating and confusing show around.  Most Wednesday evenings end with us sitting on the couch, looking at each other completely bewildered.  Last night was no different.  For those of you who don't watch, there are two story lines occurring on the island in 1977 and also in the present day - involving the same people who were originally on the island in real time the first 3 seasons.  So weird and confusing!

And my book is about a man who is chronologically-challenged and is constantly disappearing from the "present" and showing up in the past.  He even meets his wife when she is 6 and spends the next 16 years visiting her periodically before he actually "meets" her in real time.  The book is an account of all these hops through time from different points of view.  

So, I kinda feel the need to ask, is it really 2009?  Have I lost a year or so somewhere?  Or maybe am I losing my mind instead?  Just checking.

There are no appropriate words...

Well, except maybe "No!"

(Yeah, that's a dog bone.  We like to share around here.)

Check out more photos at Wordless Wednesday!  

Cold Coffee House Style Drinks

I love Starbucks.  But I live 20-30 minutes from one.  And even I lived closer, I don't think my wallet or my rear end would survive spending $5 a day on Iced Lattes and Frapachinos all summer.  But I think I just found something that will double my coffee consumption at home.  And while that in itself might not be a good thing, this new recipe is.  I found this concept in my latest issue of In Style magazine and am hooked.  The article explained that pouring hot coffee over ice rendered it bitter and offered a simple solution called cold brewing.  It's simple and costs a little more than the price of one drink from Starbucks.

1.  Start with 3/4 lb of good coffee.  (I used pre-ground, regular Dunkin' Doughnuts.)  You can use a flavor or grind your own.  Just don't grind it too fine or the coffee will not be easily strained.

2.  Place coffee in a container with 8 cups of cold water.  Use only good water here or your coffee flavor will be affected.  I used filtered water from my fridge.

3.  Let the coffee mixture sit overnight in the refrigerator.  

4.  Strain the mixture with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.  I used a mesh strainer and strained it 3 times.  The final time I added a paper towel to the inside of the strainer to make sure I got all the solids.

You'll be left with a very strong coffee that will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.  You can use the coffee to pour over ice with milk for an iced latte.  Or freeze it into cubes, then blend with milk for a blended coffee drink.  (I'm guessing that you could make it even yummier by adding a small scoop of ice cream!)

I like to pour 1/3 -1/2 cup of the coffee over ice in a large cup.  Then I add 1/2-1 oz of flavored syrup and fill with fat free milk.  Stir and enjoy!

Making my own coffee at home Works for Me!