It's Over (this time)

If you have been hanging out with me during my husband's deployment I both thank you for your support and apologize for the spotty and sometimes woe-is-me posts. The moment we were waiting for since the day he left arrived last week. He came home.

We are so excited to have him home and he is off work for two weeks to spend time with us. Thank you for reading and thank you for all your kind and encouraging words! So, until next time....






This post is being linked up with Dumb Mom's Wordful Wednesday at parenting BY dummies.

What's Important....

I attended a Mother's Day tea at my daughter's pre-school where I was presented with a cute little card sporting flowers made from her footprints, a paper flower with her picture in the middle and a potted flower.



Noah stumbled off the bus today toting a top secret bag that he wanted me to help him carry, wanted me to know to be careful because it was breakable but didn't want me to know what was in it until Sunday. Then, he decided I should open the card. I told him I would just wait until Sunday and he insisted I open it right away.

Inside, was a list of things about "My Mother" and he filled in the blanks with words to describe me and things about me. Here is the content of Noah's card (with my comments in red):

Five Words to Describe My Mother are:

1. funny (Yeah! I am so glad he thinks I am funny. I thought only I thought I was funny.)

2.blue eyes (at least he knows what color eyes I have now. I wrote a whole post a couple of years ago about how he thought I had brown eyes)

3.Nice (Well, okay- "stinkin' awesome" would have been better, but I am glad to know he thinks I am a nice person)
4. Dyed red hair (ummm.... welll..... d'oh!)

5.Vanilla ice cream hater (it's true- and it's funny that he made note of it)

Four Things My Mom Does Best are:

1. makes mac and cheese (I fear that his teacher thinks I whip up boxes of Kraft with great frequency. The truth is, I make homemade macaroni and cheese that Noah LOVES. Honestly, I do.)

2.play Zumba (okay- he's reaching here. I only just started Zumba. Seriously, I've only been to the class twice. Perhaps he is talking about Zumba on the Wii since he said "play Zumba" but I only ever end up getting mad at the Zumba instructor on the Wii and wishing fat rolls and awkward NON-Latin hips on her.)

3.helping with homework (I am so glad he still thinks I am good at it. The reality is I jump on Facebook a lot for help with my second grader's homework. It's HARD, y'all! I have a bachelor's degree and I have trouble with his homework. I'm going to need a PhD to get him through 8th grade and after that, he is on his own)

4. helping with Zoe (Well, "practice makes perfect" and I get A LOT of practice "helping with Zoe".)

Two of My Mom's Favorite Things to Do are:

1.read books

2. take Zoe and I places

(I will forgive him the "dyed red hair" comment for not writing "take a nap", "yell" or "Facebook/computer" here.)

My Mom Really Likes it When:

Zoe and I are nice to each other. (This one is spot on.)

Two Things I Want to Tell My Mom are:

1. Get me some more Legos!

2.Get me some more Legos! (Where's the "I love you"? "Happy Mother's Day"? Yeah... show me some love, Dude and you might get some more Legos!)

Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Last month, we honored our children. This month, we honor the spouses. Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and I was going to say some things, but I just can't say it any better than

THIS

So, please go read it and take a moment to think about all the spouses out there, holding down the fort while their loved ones are gone. Our family's separation is coming to an end soon, but there are so many more out there who are at the beginning or in the exhausting middle of their deployment. Think of them. And there are even more families out there clinging to their final days/hours/minutes together right now as they await watching their loved one board a bus or plane and leave them alone to care for their family.

Thank you to all the military spouses. You lot really are an amazing bunch!

The Countdown Has Begun

We started this journey on January 4. It has been a long four months. It has been a short four months. It has been a difficult and exhausting four months. It has been a fun and exciting four months.

I have bonded a little more with my children as we leaned on each other and helped each other out in our times of need. There were many nights where I held or laid next to a child while they cried for their Daddy. There were days where one of my children patted my arm or cleaned up a mess while I sat on the couch and cried, defeated. That is what a family does- we stick up for one another. We are there for each other and we are closer because of everything we have done and been through together.

But at the very heart of it all, our family was fractured. One fourth of our family has been missing but will very soon return. The countdown has begun. We cannot wait to have Daddy, Husband, Playmate, Friend, Lover, One-Who-Picks-Up-Dog-Poop back with us again.

When we started this journey, I posted this the first weekend when we sat down and made our deployment chain. This is what it looked like when we hung it- it draped all the way to the floor on both sides of the door:

Here is what it looks like tonight:

That's right. We are down to ten days. TEN DAYS. We have one hundred and eighteen days behind us tonight and only ten measly days in front of us. I won't say it has been easy- it hasn't. It still isn't. But, we are so close. We have it beat. Colbert Family: 118 Deployment: ZERO.

Suck it, deployment. You are such a loser.

** I got ahead of myself- we have ELEVEN days left. Damn. Still better than 129.

Honoring All Who Serve

Even if you are not affiliated with the military, chances are you know about Veteran's Day in November where we honor those that serve and have served. And you probably are also familiar with Memorial Day in May where we remember those that gave all for their country. But did you know that we also remember to celebrate our smallest of heroes?





April is Month of the Military Child and there are various activities around base for the kids. The whole thing wraps up the last Friday of the month at the elementary school with a celebration. This is by far my favorite activity to attend at the school every year. It is always cute, sweet, fun and emotional.

The celebration starts with a static display of various military vehicles. The kids get to climb on and in the "cool stuff" like an MWRAP. They love this part!





Then everyone is ushered inside for the assembly and treats. The fourth grade class always writes poems titled " I am a military child" and every year, the results are amazing! A few of the students are selected to read them to the school and I am always slightly misty-eyed as these young heroes, wise and strong stand there and talk about multiple deployments, missed birthdays and praying their father/mother will be safe but always end with each stanza with "I am a military child."

Afterward, the four-year-olds take the stage and sing along with a Lee Greenwood recording of "God Bless the U.S.A." It was adorable and touching.

Since the focus is honoring and saluting the children, at that point, they have military volunteers in uniform serve the children ice cream while they watch a slide show of various photos of themselves throughout the year set to patriotic music. Included were Battle Hymn of the Republic, You're a Grand Old Flag and a medley of all the armed forces songs. It really is a great experience as our base is a joint base and houses families and units from all branches of the armed services- Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

I salute you, young heroes scattered all over the country and the world.

I also salute my two favorite little heroes who are currently helping to hold down the fort in their father's absence:

I love you guys.

I am linking this post with Jennifer at Momma Made it Look Easy- she asks that you "share your awesome" and link your favorite post from the week. Since this is my ONLY post, I suppose it is my favorite. Oh yeah.. it has my kids in it too.. so it has to be a favorite!

The Impostors Have Arrived

I blogged last week about breaking my very favorite pair of glasses and how I was forced into picking new frames against my will. If you missed it, you can read it here.

Thursday I picked up my new glasses. I don't love them. But I don't hate them either. That is a good sign.. it means there is the possibility (and likelihood) that they will grow on me with time. Of course, this means that eventually THIS pair will also be the pair I can't replace and then we will one day find ourselves right back here at this very same spot. But, until then.. I promised a picture...

Easter Bunny: Unplugged

It has come to my attention that perhaps, subconsciously, Noah knows the real identity of the Easter Bunny.

Earlier today, we dyed eggs and took loads of pictures to share with Daddy.



Then, we mixed up some homemade Rice Krispie treats and put Peeps on them so that each square is embellished with a Peep.


We ate dinner and each had a Rice Krispie treat for dessert and then the time came for the kids to get ready for bed. We assembled the eggs in each child's basket ready to be hidden and replaced by chocolate. And then, I opened the fridge to retrieve the carrot we leave out for the Easter Bunny every year to nosh on. All that hopping and hiding of eggs has to leave a fella a little famished. But, much to my surprise, we were out of carrots. I tried so hard to remember everything and yet I forgot the stinkin' carrots!

Noah suggested we leave him/her a Rice Krispie treat instead. I thought that was a great idea! I inquired as to what Noah thought a holiday critter might like to drink to quench his/her thirst. Without missing a beat, Noah replied, "I think the Easter Bunny would LOVE a glass of wine!" (Why yes, she would most definitely LOVE a glass of wine!)

And so, that is how we came to leave the Easter Bunny a Rice Krispie treat and a glass of wine.

Noah has been elevated to "favorite" on the Easter Bunny's list and I am sure the Bunny will be certain to relay Noah's kind and generous deed to Santa.

Happy Easter.

And.. Cheers!

** I linked up my post today with Jennifer at Momma Made it Look Easy- Share Your Awesome- if you have an awesome post, go over and link it up!**