Okay, here they are. Like 200 mostly unedited pictures from the last two months- which have feasibly been the most crazy of my adult life. Well... well, yeah! Some are from our last days in Santa Rosa at Howarth Park after Randal's surgery, then from our roadtrip, then to the RAD tours of Salem, water fights at Kirsten's, mini-golfing in Md, some house pics from before we moved in, pictures of the park near where Randal's boat (ship!) docks... whew! I tried to at least label them so they're not TOO confusing. Perhaps I'll get them cropped and edited someday and write more than a little blurb, but tonight, I've actually spoken to most of you who will read this within the last 48 hours, so I'm doing pretty well. We love it here, love the house, love the weather (including the crazy thunderstorms, but in a respectful-stay-the-hell-inside sort of way) and Randal's unit is within walking distance. Woo! I've joined a mom's group to try and meet some new folks, though there are a lot in our neighborhood, too. Annika is signing up a storm -so awesome!- and the boys have made fast friends with the neighborkids. Holy crap. I'm going to fall over. But first Randal is going to feed me. When I'm awake someday I'm going to try an entry in phonetic Bostonian- THAT should be fun! =] I hope you all are well, I apologize for the lack of picture quality, but the sheer mass should make up for something!
Love and hugs to everyone...
Julie
Oh yeah! Quotes and such: "The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family." Thomas Jefferson
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
2008, hard to rate
Hello and Happy New Year!! Okay- so first, I have to admit I'm writing solely to excuse myself from doing laundry or dishes or vacuuming, picking up the boys rooms or my own or wiping down the counters or bathrooms, sweeping or mopping- you get it. I suppose I'm feeling the housework all the more since Randal is still in the beginning of his MOTHERFLIPPING RIDICULOUS masting (which I will refrain from getting into in effort to keep this on a positive note) and I find myself slightly overwhelmed with the sudden responsibility of the house and his general absence in it. He had two weeks off during Tobin's winter break from school (and directly prior to this GOLLYGOSHDARNTOOTIN STUPID masting) which was SO well deserved and needed as individuals, as a couple and a family. Unfortunately, spending so much time just focusing on building ourselves and our relationship was SO wonderful and healing and renewing, it makes it infinitely harder to pop back into our other lives where we must work -and live- independently from each other. It's quite a balance to strike, let me tell you! Well, I suppose I am telling you.
It was so all-around invigorating to have those long, intricate, honest and fueled conversations- it was so relaxing to be able to lay on each other next to the fire after the kids are asleep, reading separate books, speaking only intermittently. It was so convenient to have him able to get something from the store on his way home, so I don't have to wait until Annika's not sleeping and lug three kids out for one thing- especially in this rainy season! (thought we've hit a sunny patch again- hooray!) I miss crossing paths mid-house and exchanging a quick (or not) kiss, hug or look...
I can't imagine what it's going to be like in another year when Annika is almost 2 and he's going overseas again. It took me almost a full minute to even type the end of that sentence. I'd love to be dignified and tell you it's his duty and he's a hero for supporting our country and it's what's best... but when pondering dignity vs. honesty, I'll almost always choose the latter. The truth is that I absolutely hate it. The truth is I'm scared of him being there and of me being here and I'm so frustrated and angry that in order for us to afford to live here (and/or to move anywhere else we CAN afford) he has to go there. *Sigh* ...and so I'm here, letting my brain diffuse so I can function.
Aside from the $#@*ing (insert witty and particularly sour explicative here) masting, things are going wonderfully. I hope you all enjoyed our first family newsletter, and if you didn't get one, give me your address and I'll print one up for you! =] The kids are growing so much every day and they're so fun to be around. The boys are boys, which I am constantly learning the meaning of, coming from a family of all girls. (Seriously, even my parents each only have one sister, who in turn, has a daughter. Okay- my dad's sister also has a son. Both aunts are like 5' tall, too! But I digress...) They do everything from coloring to swordplay (the line blends, even there- another thing I've learned from having boys is that EVERYTHING resembling anything that can point is a sword/gun/lazer beam projector/weapon of mass destruction) full force! Thankfully, there are some rad TV shows (Aiden loves SuperWhy on PBS and Tobin loves Beakman's World) and we have recordable TV so I can put it on whenever and fast forward all the commercials. ("Eeew! Mommy, it's the advertisers again!") I never thought I'd say it or do it, but sometimes, TV can save a working (aren't we all?) Mother's sanity. Just twenty minutes... just twenty minutes... (which is all they are without commercials, dagnabit!) becomes a calming mantra.
In other news, Annika is 10 months old today! She is also closer and closer to crawling- I'd even go as far as to say that she really made her very first full crawl this morning! She did a set of two complete hand-and-knee cycles, completely kitty-fueled. I'd also go as far as to say that 'kitty" is her first word. She says "Ee-dee!" VERY excitedly whenever she sees either one of ours. Jack, who is two weeks younger than Annika, is very tolerant of her and she is surprisingly gentle with him. Of course, my experience is with the aforementioned boyness. Go figure!
I just finished making my hot chocolate... (I can't make it like Randal, but it's still so good!) I've been trying to factor some unwind time into my day, as it becomes more apparent after a few days of Randal gone that I do, indeed, need a break. Even if I have to keep myself awake for it. I suppose that's where the good ol' cocoa comes in- just enough caffeine to keep me awake enough to know what relaxation feels like again before I drop like a.... well, an effectively single mother of three! I'm not sure what else drops like that except a single mother of four or more. (bless you, Linda!) Sheesh. At least I have an end. Even if the means is because of something COMPLETELY PREPOSTEROUS. *Ahem.* I'd apologize, but this is my soapbox and I wish I could Robin Hood my love back to me, but this is all I've got. Perhaps Tobin can invent something in the future along with a time machine to bring it back here, yeesssss, YYYEESSSSS... okay, okay... The chocolate is kicking in, and the line between sleep and awake is blurring. It's also where Tinkerbell lives, so I'll be sure to check for her on my way up the stairs. Ohhhh, jeez. I need adult contact!
goodnight to you all... and, of course, your quote for the day:
"Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank." Peter Drucker.
oh, fine:
"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." Helen Keller
It was so all-around invigorating to have those long, intricate, honest and fueled conversations- it was so relaxing to be able to lay on each other next to the fire after the kids are asleep, reading separate books, speaking only intermittently. It was so convenient to have him able to get something from the store on his way home, so I don't have to wait until Annika's not sleeping and lug three kids out for one thing- especially in this rainy season! (thought we've hit a sunny patch again- hooray!) I miss crossing paths mid-house and exchanging a quick (or not) kiss, hug or look...
I can't imagine what it's going to be like in another year when Annika is almost 2 and he's going overseas again. It took me almost a full minute to even type the end of that sentence. I'd love to be dignified and tell you it's his duty and he's a hero for supporting our country and it's what's best... but when pondering dignity vs. honesty, I'll almost always choose the latter. The truth is that I absolutely hate it. The truth is I'm scared of him being there and of me being here and I'm so frustrated and angry that in order for us to afford to live here (and/or to move anywhere else we CAN afford) he has to go there. *Sigh* ...and so I'm here, letting my brain diffuse so I can function.
Aside from the $#@*ing (insert witty and particularly sour explicative here) masting, things are going wonderfully. I hope you all enjoyed our first family newsletter, and if you didn't get one, give me your address and I'll print one up for you! =] The kids are growing so much every day and they're so fun to be around. The boys are boys, which I am constantly learning the meaning of, coming from a family of all girls. (Seriously, even my parents each only have one sister, who in turn, has a daughter. Okay- my dad's sister also has a son. Both aunts are like 5' tall, too! But I digress...) They do everything from coloring to swordplay (the line blends, even there- another thing I've learned from having boys is that EVERYTHING resembling anything that can point is a sword/gun/lazer beam projector/weapon of mass destruction) full force! Thankfully, there are some rad TV shows (Aiden loves SuperWhy on PBS and Tobin loves Beakman's World) and we have recordable TV so I can put it on whenever and fast forward all the commercials. ("Eeew! Mommy, it's the advertisers again!") I never thought I'd say it or do it, but sometimes, TV can save a working (aren't we all?) Mother's sanity. Just twenty minutes... just twenty minutes... (which is all they are without commercials, dagnabit!) becomes a calming mantra.
In other news, Annika is 10 months old today! She is also closer and closer to crawling- I'd even go as far as to say that she really made her very first full crawl this morning! She did a set of two complete hand-and-knee cycles, completely kitty-fueled. I'd also go as far as to say that 'kitty" is her first word. She says "Ee-dee!" VERY excitedly whenever she sees either one of ours. Jack, who is two weeks younger than Annika, is very tolerant of her and she is surprisingly gentle with him. Of course, my experience is with the aforementioned boyness. Go figure!
I just finished making my hot chocolate... (I can't make it like Randal, but it's still so good!) I've been trying to factor some unwind time into my day, as it becomes more apparent after a few days of Randal gone that I do, indeed, need a break. Even if I have to keep myself awake for it. I suppose that's where the good ol' cocoa comes in- just enough caffeine to keep me awake enough to know what relaxation feels like again before I drop like a.... well, an effectively single mother of three! I'm not sure what else drops like that except a single mother of four or more. (bless you, Linda!) Sheesh. At least I have an end. Even if the means is because of something COMPLETELY PREPOSTEROUS. *Ahem.* I'd apologize, but this is my soapbox and I wish I could Robin Hood my love back to me, but this is all I've got. Perhaps Tobin can invent something in the future along with a time machine to bring it back here, yeesssss, YYYEESSSSS... okay, okay... The chocolate is kicking in, and the line between sleep and awake is blurring. It's also where Tinkerbell lives, so I'll be sure to check for her on my way up the stairs. Ohhhh, jeez. I need adult contact!
goodnight to you all... and, of course, your quote for the day:
"Management means, in the last analysis, the substitution of thought for brawn and muscle, of knowledge for folkways and superstition, and of cooperation for force. It means the substitution of responsibility for obedience to rank, and of authority of performance for the authority of rank." Peter Drucker.
oh, fine:
"We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world." Helen Keller
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
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