First Day of School

 The school district's first day of school was the day after Labor day.  I had to work, so Hubby had the honor of taking the kids to school and capturing a few pictures.  We now have a fourth and first grader in the family.

 It was raining for half the day, but overall Munchkin and Little Miss reported they enjoyed the day and are excited to be back in school.

Pumpkin's Hair Cut

In late June we finally gave Pumpkin another haircut.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take before pictures.  I meant to, and I even had the camera out, but when the time came I just started cutting.  Here are two pictures from May to illustrate how long his hair was getting.  As you can see these are post eating food.  I think I need to take more with a clean face and less with a messy one.  He just smiles so big and I think he's adorable.

A few days before we cut it I was able to pull it in a low ponytail like this or this.  Of coarse some of the front and side hair wouldn't fit, but I thought it was neat because it reminded me of how boys [and men] used to wear their hair long during the pioneer and revolutionary war times.

Here are the after pictures.  As you can see Pumpkin is quite interested in the camera.

 

Little Miss Riding Her Bicycle

Little Miss and Munchkin received new bicycles for Christmas in 2009.  Some months later, around summer 2010 Little Miss's was stolen.  We had meant to replace it, looking on craigslist and the like, but hadn't been able to yet.  With the gift of a scooter for her birthday this year we decided to wait a bit.  When we visited Hubby's brother, she was given a hand-me-down bicycle.  Little Miss learned to ride, without training wheels, in about ten minutes.  She hadn't ridden a bicycle in at least nine months, and that was with training wheels.  Way to go!

The Talk - Periods

Originally written: 14 January 2011

I would just be open and try to keep it part of other body talks.  If you hold off on a big talk too long, its usually too late.  Kids will find answers when and where they can.  If they don't have the openness they need, or the right attitude from their parents, they will go elsewhere.  As for periods, the average age in the US is around 11-12, though some girls start at 7.  By the time they are 9 they should know what to expect.  In our family we answer questions as they come up.  We address the topic honestly and try to find out why they are asking, so as to best answer what is needed for that time and the child's understanding.  We've had several talks about body functions and babies and such, some rather short, others more in depth.  It makes the subjects easier for them to digest and for us to keep level headed and open, so the kids feel at ease to ask in the future.  I hope my daughter is a late bloomer, as that's supposed to be healthier and typically means she is more active and fit to start with.  Whatever happens, we'll be there to explain and help out.

Drama Trauma

I am becoming more self aware.  I am at a cross roads.  Rather than push away the drama/trauma, I must come to terms with it, learn, adapt, and move on.  This experience will not consume me forever.  I will [eventually] rise above and conquer my demons.

 photo credit: http://www.utvet.com/

Happy Birthday, Little Miss!

My birthday girl lost her first tooth today.  Her permanent one grew in behind in the primary one, so it took longer to finish loosening up to come out.

We had homemade chicken nuggets with stonies [fried bread], green been, and lemonade for dinner and dessert was her rainbow cake.

 She liked her presents and is excited to see her extended family for Spring Break.

 Happy Birthday, Little Miss!

P.S. inspiration for the cake found here and here.  Be sure to add extra sugar to the fruit before adding it to the cake batter.  I didn't do this, as it was not in the recipe.  The flavors are rather bold and the citrus layers had a bitter aftertaste from the zest/rind.  I think 1/4 cup sugar for the citrus and 2 Tbs for the berries should be fine.  Everyone that could eat the ice cream said it helped the flavor.  At least my frosting was yummy and the berry flavors were fine without the extra sugar.

Tying Shoes

 Our happy moment Thursday was when Little Miss tied her shoes for the first time. She asked, practically demanded, that I tie her shoes and I told her she should do it. She said "Ok" and asked me to show her. I showed her two ways to try.  She proceeded to try it a couple times and viola! She then tied her second shoe. She tied and untied each one at least a dozen times that evening. It was like a light bulb went off in her head.

What's interesting to me is I learned in a similar way, except I was 3 1/2. The other night was not her first exposure to the methodology of tying shoes. It was the first time she said "Ok" and gave it an honest try. A few months ago she made a couple half-hearted attempts. Since then she sometimes made the first knot, nothing more.

Our eldest didn't tie his shoes very well for the first couple years. He first tied his shoes in kindergarten, but only a couple times. He didn't tie them regularly for another two years. At 8, he finally ties them well.

Re-enlistment

I re-enlisted Friday afternoon, 05 November 2010.  I chose to re-enlist at the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center because my family and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are very near and dear to my heart.  I feel a similitude to the Battalion members in my own life.

I rolled my two year extension into this re-enlistment.  I will be active duty through 2015.  This is to cover my sea rotation and provide more time to prepare our family for whatever lays ahead.  In order to re-enlist, I had to submit paperwork requesting permission to do so [PTS or Perform To Serve].  The military has changed its guidelines to require a PTS for every re-enlistment.  In five years, they may say no.  If I did not roll in my extension, the possibility of a no in two years was also there.  By re-enlisting now, my family is secure for five more years.  We will be in San Diego at least three of those years.

In theory, I could have waited a few more months, but my PTS may have expired, and I may not have been allowed to re-enlist prior to my extension after transferring from the school house.  By re-enlisting now my family could be there, I could plan it, and we'd know for sure our "five year plan".  I didn't want this hanging in the air prior to deployment.

Elder Griffith and his wife are Military Relations Missionaries and serve primarily with recruits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot here in San Diego.  The Griffiths have also begun a pilot program for the Church to help teach resiliency to military families, our ward was the first.  Our ward includes MCRD, Naval Base Point Loma and its tenant commands, and two military housing areas.

Another Military Relations Missionary couple, the Barretts, assisted with my re-enlistment.  I had not met them prior to Friday, but was glad to include them.  My visiting teachers and one of our home teachers came to show their support as well.  The elders assigned to our ward also came.  A handful of others were unable to make it as they had to work late.  It was a small group, but it turned out well.

Elder Barrett discharging me.

 

Elder Griffith swearing me in.

 After the ceremony, prior to enjoying the refreshments.

\

As I stated earlier, my re-enlistment was at the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center.  We reserved one of their movie viewing rooms and set up in there.  We kept refreshments simple with pink lemonade, a fruit tray, veggie tray, and a cake (its a tradition to have a re-enlistment cake, whatever kind you want, I had a raspberry dinner cake).  Hubby and the kids picked out flowers that we put in a vase for the table.  I borrowed the ceremonial flags, the National Ensign and the Navy flags, from my base.  I wore my dress white uniform.  Technically, the region switched to blues on the 1st, however, I was allowed to choose what I wore and I prefer the dress whites.

After the re-enlistment was complete, and refreshments cleaned up, we went on a tour of the visitor's center with one of my Navy friends.  Later that evening we went out for dinner to the Old Spaghetti Factory.  The kids enjoyed the meal, even though we didn't eat until 8pm!  [We didn't leave until 615 and parking downtown was crazy.  I didn't realize where the restaurant was when I picked it, I just wanted a place that everyone would like the food, and one that was an actual sit down restaurant.]

Hubby's parents drove from Cochise, AZ to participate in my re-enlistment.  I feel so blessed and grateful that they came.  Saturday morning we did a session at the temple together.  I love my extended family.

Walking

Pumpkin mastered walking two weekends ago.  We finally got a good video of him last night (he just turned 14 months yesterday as well).  Please ignore the mess, Hubby was re-organizing his electronics and I've been working on the kids' costumes.

Pumpkin has taken a few steps in the past, mostly on accident/falling after cruising furniture.  The week he mastered walking he was holding both hands on Monday, one hand on Tue, a couple steps unassisted Wed, a few steps Thur, and walking Fri & Sat.  By Monday he could get up from sitting (in the middle of the room, so no help) to walking all on his own.  He still crawls to get to things faster, but it is less and less as time goes by.  Way to go, Pumpkin!

Munchkin's Baptism

Munchkin was baptized on Saturday, 10 July 2010.

He became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, San Diego 6th Ward.

This was the picture we took Saturday morning and used on the baptism program.

We sang "When I am Baptized" and I gave the talk on baptism. Munchkin was then baptized by Hubby.  Instead of sitting around or writing cards, we had the missionaries share a short message while Munchkin and Hubby dried off and dressed.  We sang "The Holy Ghost" and one of our home teachers gave the talk on the Holy Ghost.  Munchkin was then confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost.  We sang "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" for the closing song.  It was a special day.

Prior to the baptism there were trials.  After all, the original plan was to have the baptism in AZ while visiting family for Munchkin's birthday. You see, Munchkin has a cousin that is 13 days older than him.  Several family members live in SE Arizona and a few of those that don't drove down for the other baptism.  When it became apparent that his couldn't also be celebrated there, we scheduled it for when we returned to San Diego.  Conflicts and distractions seem to always come up when preparing for something truly important.

Munchkin took everything in stride.

No family from out of town.  That's ok.  His Primary teacher couldn't drive to AZ anyway.

I love his faith and positive attitude about it. For the things that really matter, Munchkin has his priorities right.

I love you Munchkin.  I feel blessed to be your mother.

To see pictures from Munchkin's Baptism, go here.

Standing With Assistance

Hubby helped Pumpkin do this while I was at work. Pumpkin really likes to stand, so Daddy figured why not lean him against the ottoman...

Our First Decade Together

 2000

Hubby & I graduate High School. I get my first apartment in June. We are introduced by his best friend, Jared, in July. Hubby works with Taco Bell, and I with Fazoli's, then the Hilton. Hubby 's daughter, Falconer, is born in September.

2001

We get married in February. In March we receive the results from Hubby's paternity test and learn that Falconer is his; support and visitation is finalized in October. Hubby works with Taco Bell, then we try selling Cutco, then he works with Arby's and I with Walgreen's. We move to a town house, then are wrongfully evicted three months later. This causes great hardship in renting the next several years. After this we rent a bedroom from a friend for several months.

2002

Our oldest, Munchkin, is born in July. This effectively ends my out of home work for a few years, not by my choice as we needed the income. Hubby begins part time college classes at Ivy Tech in September, student loans help us get by. We move into Hubby's sister's empty trailer in May.

2003

I begin part time classes at Ivy Tech in September. We move to a friends house for March, then rent a room from a family in our ward for six months.Hubby 's sister and her husband are killed in an auto accident in May. One of my closest friends, from middle and high school, and her husband, are killed in a near identical accident in August. We then enter a land contract on a property in October.

2004

Hubby works with SBM. I battle depression and anxiety from the accidents.

2005

Our daughter, Little Miss (her middle name is for Hubby's sister and my friend) is born in April. Munchkin begins preschool with Three Wishes. Hubby obtains a high risk loan for the house in June, shortly after things begin to fall apart. I attempt selling Discovery Toys.

2006

We move to Arizona and drop out of college in February. I work with InfoNXX a few months, Hubby  works for Ron's Produce, then Com-cast. Munchkin has preschool through the Pima County Parks and Recreation. I join the Navy in November. In the process of everything falling apart we loose our IN home, from here we've been rebuilding and paying off debt.

2007

I leave for Recruit Training in March. Hubby works with Vilore. Hubby and the kids move in with his folks in August while we wait to get housing. Munchkin begins kindergarten at Reynolds.

2008

Our family moves to California to join me in March. Hubby begins working with Sea World in April.  Munchkin finishes kindergarten at Loma Portal; we all really liked his teacher, Mrs. Beeman, at Reynolds and were sad to have him leave. I'm placed on security hold for a few months, due to my prior debts. Many have been paid off, and with payment agreements and A LOT of documentation my status is restored. Munchkin starts 1st grade in September.

2009

Our youngest, Pumpkin is born in August. Little Miss begins Head Start and Munchkin starts 2nd grade in September.

Munchkin Riding His Bicycle

Munchkin has finally mastered riding his bicycle without help. It has been a long time in coming. Between busy schedules and being scared of falling, he finally did it! He was almost there a month ago, but hasn't tried without Dad's help. Way to go, Munchkin.

Last Day of School

Munchkin's last day of school was 15 June 2009.

Munchkin's favorite things about first grade include: math, centers (different stations in the classroom to do things like read or work on the computer), music, going to the library, and science.

He will start second grade on 08 September 2009.

Lost Tooth Club

Two nights ago (17 Dec), Munchkin's second tooth came out (with a little encouragement; I didn't want him to choke on it in his sleep). This tooth was his lower left central incisor. It first came in sometime during March 2003.

Munchkin lost his first tooth on 27 July, and it had come in on 27 February 2003 (it was his first tooth in and consequently his first tooth out). That tooth was his lower right central incisor.