"We going to Target and going to get peppermints. That's true"

THis was Zoe's response to going out to run errands. I don't love peppermint, she gets that from her Daddy. So it's no surprise there is NONE in the house. I didn't think it'd be an issue to find, but we had to make do with peach gummy rings because no peppermints were to be found. Will have to try again tomorrow.

Loving that the yard got mowed yesterday...a giant thank you to Stacey for keeping Zoe company while I mowed and sweated the early evening away. Hot as all hell. Zoe hadn't napped all day, I made the mistake of telling her early on that Miss Stacey was coming to see her. Forget napping after that! Long hours, hard play. When I came in, Stacey brought me around to the stairs and who should I see but Munchkin passed out. Stacey said Zoe had told her "I'm tired, going to bed" and by the time Stacey had gotten up to go help her...Munchkin was out cold as you see here.

Ahh, kids.

Halfway day was fun!

We had a great time. Unfortunately, with the traffic we got stuck in on the way, we missed the pony rides. I am really bummed about that, and I'll have to find a way to take her sometime soon.

We went into the leather shop and made Zoe a horsey nametage that she thought was so much fun to do. She loved swinging that tooling hammer let me tell you! Then we watched the DVD from the guys (Jason wasn't on it that I saw, but I didn't expect to see him) and had cake. Ohhh the cake, she thought that was awesome.

Then pool time, which we all know she's a waterbug. They had a large waterslide that she was allowed to go down with me and then went by herself twice. Oh she thought she was the big girl on campus then. I had her in her sumo swimmy so she was ready to go.

5 days and a wake up until beach trip '10!!!!

Not sure what today will bring

I'm loving the cooler weather we're having! It was 68 degrees last night. I'm going to try my hardest to take Zoe to the park today since it's not so hot out. The guy is supposed to come and change out the doors but I haven't heard from him yet. I almost want to just leave the house and tell him to do it tomorrow when they come to paint.

I need to head out to the main base, our Funhouse is full so I will thankfully have the option of using another one for Zoe this weekend. Unfortunately, it's like 45 minutes at least out of the way. So I have to go do paperwork today. Need to call Steph and tell her we'll probably be late for the picnic this weekend but I hope to be there before the pony rides stop or I'll really be mad.

Zoe has started a cute habit of bringing me surprise presents. Any small box she can find, she will put some trinket in it and present it to me...insistent that I open it. I have been blessed with gifts of tampons, silly bands, those stretchy things for around camo pant legs, shower caps, paper clips, you name it. And I have loved and ooooohed and ahhhhhed over each one. She's such a little giver.

I'm setting up tours this week for a couple of preschools I've checked out. They do partial weeks so she's still got time with me. I think 2 is a little young for a full day of school if I'm here not working (though I'll probably look into a part time job), so I'm waiting on the callback from that.

Oh, and I have to call and get Nelson into the flying monkey kennel today...oops need to do that ASAP!

Paint is a beautiful thing

I am loving the color in Zoe's room! You can't really see it very well in pictures, but it is Tiffany Blue and I can't wait to get it all set up and together. Of course, I'll need a dresser for that, but I'm not rushing that.

We have a families get together this weekend so we are looking forward to that. She will get her first pony ride and I will definitely take pictures and video of that! Maybe some swimming, maybe not. Just depends on weather and how many bodies are in the water as to whether or not I'll let her go in.

Pretty much nothing accomplished today. Odd, cause I feel like I was everywhere but home relaxing.

Good weekend all around

Except for all the rain, of course.

Friday night turned out wonderfully. Met some really nice ladies and will be seeing a lot of them again next week for Halfway Day. I can't believe it's halfway done already, I have to say it's been a pretty easy deployment. Other than the house stuff, but that could happen anytime. So I came home Friday, all happy and feeling good. And not only did Gus and Ginny watch Zoe for me...Gus mowed my jungle of a yard! With how happy I was, you'd think I'd just been given a new car...but it was starting to weigh on my mind and with the weather I didn't think it would EVER get done. That was the nicest surprise I've had in I can't remember how long.

Hit the commissary for some more of the frozed veggies I seem to be living off of. I just don't feel like cooking and these make it much easier. While checking out, I didn't notice that Zoe had grabbed the stamp for checks. When I finally saw her, I burst out laughing. She had stamped the commissary's address on her upper lip! Looked like she'd grown a mustache in just a few minutes. Got most of it off, but there's a tad that's just going to have to wear off. I should have taken a picture, but it was just hilarious.

Taking today to just rest up for the week of painting, Ugh. Rainy day today, so I'm going to make corn and potato chowder since we'll be inside all day. Hopefully it will turn out to be something Zoe likes and we can add that to her list of foods.

Today just sucks

I have been looking forward to meeting the other wives from the Wardroom and now I'm so pissed off and irritated that I don't even want to go.

TWICE now just today I have managed to pick and fall in love with tile that is not available. That in itself is annoying. The trim guy discovered that the guy supplying everything got the wrong doors...so sent him back...and he got the wrong doors AGAIN. The plaster guy didn't fix a couple of spots so now he has to come back. The dresser I love and can't get out of my head isn't as wide as I thought and the drawers aren't deep enough (thank you Ang for reminding me to check!) so I have to give that up and start that hunt over.

I want to burn this house to the ground and never own one again. Renting and sharing walls is totally worth not putting up with this load of shit. I'm over it. I'm so over it I want to vomit the minute I wake up just knowing it's not over yet.

Top it off I have nothing here to wear that I can even find. So I had to shop, and I hate my body right now so nothing looks good and I just want to drink myself into a stupor but now need to get ready for something I should be looking forward to. And Zoe has been a monster all week. This isn't fun for her either but it's not like it's a fun time for me. So I just want to put her in the next package heading to the ship because I'm tired of her too.

I want to divorce my life right now.

Really furious thunderstorm

Still dealing with house repairs. But that's getting boring to even talk about. Today I hate tile.

There's a humdinger of a storm going on right now, I'm hoping it abates a bit before I head out to yoga. Boo is terrified of thunderstorms, and Zoe has never seemed to be. She just takes her role as Boo's protector very seriously...saying "It's ok Buddy" and petting him over and over. With the carpets up and the barrier down, he keeps trying to hide in her closet or mine. No idea why. When I finally blocked them off, I couldn't find him for about half an hour. He was hiding in my shower.

Zoe walks in and says "Oh, there you are Buddy" and climbs right in. Then she shreiks "MAMA BUNNY" and runs off and returns with her favorite lovie. The one I need another one of just in case. The one that is discontinued and the enterprising folks on Ebay have now decided is worth about $25 on average. Oh wow.

Where did the weekend go?

With getting up for yoga in the mornings, shopping for house stuff, and coordinating with the workers...I feel like I didn't even have a weekend!

But YAY I am finally getting somewhere with my arm balance poses and I'm able to do some of the wall ab stuff! It has taken almost 6 months for me to be able to do the arm supported balance and I know a lot of people get it faster. But FINALLY!!!! I am so proud.

Zoe has apparently decided to become a climber so I'll be shopping for some furniture straps today! I did find a dresser for her so I'm happy that's over, I just wish I'd gotten somewhere on bathroom finishes before now. They need to start painting tomorrow, and I can't help them on the bathroom yet. I did find the towelbars I wanted for the bathroom...because I was looking for a specific double bar...and Jason of course was as thrilled as you'd expect a guy to be. Hey, the small victories matter as I deal with all of this!

Day off yesterday, and back on today

About three years ago, mom had sent me an email with a link to a furniture store she had seen in, I believe, Southern Living magazine. It's called Green Front and it's in Farmville, VA (no I'm not making that up). I have wanted to go ever since, and I took the need for a Zoe dresser as an excuse to make a day of it.

So we headed out to Farmville, about a 3 hour tour, and hit a couple of ReStores along the way. I did have a hard time not buying a piano, and Zoe seemed to really like it to she thought making music with the keys was just the best thing ever. So, Green Front. Seems stupid to some to go all that way for furniture...but to anyone who knows me, this is totally in character for me. Plus, they only charge $85 to deliver out here anyway...that's cheaper than some places in town!

This place has 12 buildings of furniture, rugs, accessories galore. And I mean BUILDINGS. Picture a Macy's or some such store...3 floors of stuff...now picture that it is ALL furniture and almost no aisles to walk. And buildings upon buildings of it. I had a blast. Admittedly, we did not find anything we were looking for. There were several items I had a hard time passing up but we really don't need that much furniture. I had hoped to possibly find a demilune occasional table with a drawer front for the hallway but no such luck...all the ones I loved were too wide for the space. And the dressers were all much lighter or much more gargantuan in size than we need.

So, bust of a trip for buying, but I had a blast and Zoe was a sport. We stopped at the Virginia Diner on the way back. I hadn't noticed we passed it on the way up, but I couldn't pass up their peanut pie!!

And today, the plasterers are here. Zoe's at the Funhouse, I'm going to call in a bit and find out if she can stay there the rest of the day. I don't really want her in here with all this going on. And even when you're careful as these guys are being, there's still plaster dust EVERYWHERE and I'd rather keep her out of it if at all possible. Fingers crossed the Funhouse has space!

Still haven't solved the vanity situation or picked tile out either. Shopping with a purpose really isn't any fun after the first day or so.

Swim lesson graduation

Well, we finished our lessons today...pomp and circumstance playing in my head. And my little daredevil was the only kid from the under 3 class to brave the "big kid" slide. The one you have to pass a swim test to ride but they let the instructors take the little ones if they want to go.

Zoe went up to check it out but said NO at first. Then saw the other kids laughing about it and hightailed it back up those stairs with Nicole, our instructor. You could hear her giggling the whole way down and laughing so hard when they hit the water. I think later next week I may take her to the Ocean Breeze water park. Supposedly they have a great kids area and she needs to get out of the house too!

Well, now that I have walls and a ceiling, it appears the AC has decided to stop working for some random reason. I've checked the circuit box and the GFI's but nothing has tripped. The master switch in the attic is way too far up for them to have hit accidentally and it's hotter than hell up there there's no way they'd turn it off on purpose! I'd check it if I could but I can't see it from down below right now and there's no way I can get up there. After all the stress I am SO not in the mood for this. I can't sleep in heat and I may not be sleeping tonight if it doesn't kick back on somehow. I checked outside and the damn motor isn't even running. Lovely. At least it's covered on our home warranty...which reminds me I need to renew because it expires Saturday. I forget, August is our "hemorrhage money" month due to car insurance, HOI, flood, and warranty all being due the same time plus normal bills. Lordy.

AWESOME night

So, Zoe cuddles up next to me in bed last night and says "my very best friend" and gives me a hug. How can you not cry at that? I just love that little bug so much, she is such a sweet child.

Now off for more shopping so the sweet child will eventually have a bedroom!

And I know every mom thinks their child is a genius, and I know she isn't ACTUALLY reading this book. She has the first 3 pages down pat. But the second I pick up the camera to show Daddy, she stops. I'm going to have to catch her in the act but this will have to do for now.

That was fun! And a few epiphanies.

Girls' night out was just what I needed! In a moment of universal irony, we land at Cheeseburger in Paradise in a monsoon (which stops once we all arrive) and on open mike night. Oh Lordy, American Idol skipped RIGHT over Fredericksburg! The wardrobes alone were crying for help so loudly you could ALMOST hear them over the tone deaf crooning.

And we got the first shot at this leg of the "Fugly" journey. We had our waiter (who shall remain nameless mainly because he was never around long enough to tell us what it was) put it on; his face when he opened it and saw the sequins and the kittens in Santa hats was PRICELESS! Then Angee wore it into the pub across the way, and the smoker's gauntlet outside got a Niiiiiiice chuckle out of our entry. You could tell people not only thought it was hideous, but were wondering why anyone would wear any sweater in August in the South...let alone a Christmas sweater. Good times.

Got home yesterday to more cleaning and another check by the water mediation company to find that the sealant they put on is drying great and doing what it should. BUT they forgot to remove one section of drywall. So they are coming BACK again. I may ask them to just have their mail forwarded. I just want to get the show on the road.

Today, watching TV while Zoe naps, it occurs to me that I'm someone's mom. AND I'm someone's wife. It's just mind boggling sometimes. I look down when I walk, and I see the same feet I had at 18. I still love to wear Tshirts I loved in college. I still lounge around in jeans I would possibly be embarrased to or arrested if I wore in public due to the holes. But they are tucked safely away because I cherish their softness. In my head, I still see that girl, the one who could do anything and was going to by God, you just watch. It just struck me as so funny today, I don't know why. And I come upstairs, and saw that gorgeous angel still napping away in her crib in my room. Not complaining that she doesn't have a room of her own...just happy to have her Tinkerbell bedspread and her bunnies to snuggle. And suddenly, I can't remember what life was like before her.

What a great day.

Packing and out for an overnight!

Finished with swim lessons today, now for the FUN! I am packing a couple of things and headed up to see Angee, Amy, and Stacy!! I can't wait. For one, the little girls get to have a get together...Zoe and the Maddies! And the big girls get a get together too because Jim has agreed to watch Zoe while we all go out!

There is also a ReStore I'll be checking out in Newport News as well, just to see what they have on hand for the remodel! Then back to the grindstone, Brian should be here to finalize the new estimate to include the vanity, etc on Friday and work will begin on Monday!

A note on sillybandz

Didn't see THAT coming. Literally. She was playing away with her bands in the backseat and her favorite new toy...an egg carton...and all of a sudden WHOOSH silly band comes flying up and nails the windshield. It took her a minute to realize she did it and then she just collapsed in laughter, she couldn't figure out how to recreate the magic, thankfully.

I hit Target to put another care package together for Jason, with some requests this time. The beer/pretzel caramels seem to have been a hit so I may order some more for him later.

Found a ceiling fan for her room I like a lot, but it's by piece (pick your own fixture and blades) so I can't see it all together and I'm not sure. We'll just have to see.

Some friends having some tough roads now...prayers out to Brooke and family, Laura, Stacey, Jen, Amy...lots of love heading out to all.

Swim lessons began today

For 2 weeks we'll be going 4 days a week for short sessions. At first, I wasn't sure she was going to get anything out of the Parent/Child classes...they start regular lessons at 3...but she does have a few things to learn so we'll stick with it! She was the only one willing to go under at first and was laughing her head off when she came up. Pardon the expression in the first picture, she was mad I made her wait to take a picture instead of letting her jump right in the water while I was still in street clothes!

They say the "sumo swimmy" we have for her isn't great because it teaches her to swim upright and she can have an accident if she ends up on her side or whatever and freaks out. I guess I see the point, but it just doesn't seem harmful at all to me to have her be even more comfortable in the water. She loves that thing and the freedom it offers, so we will absolutely still use it!

She passed out after eating a few tubbies, and is still napping now, 2 hours later. I love exertion.

She is so cute when she's excited to learn new things.

Water with chlorine is GROSS! Why do I keep drinking it?

New puppy family member today

Our uncle got a new puppy yesterday. Well, our cousin did actually. So now that family owns the largest dog ever (Zeus, the mastiff) and the smallest (Monte, the toy chihuahua). He is so adorable! And someone else is in love with him too...Zoe wanted to hold him so bad and she was so gentle with him as he slept on her lap.

She was jonesing something awful for him to wake up and when he did we had to remind her not to squeeze. He loved her right back too, kept leaping up to lick her face which she thought was the funniest thing ever. It was all so Kodak moment...until of course he peed on me. Ah, well, it's puppy pee. It's not like there's much to it and it washes right off!

Jason got packages from us, very quickly. Props out to liddabitsweets for getting his beer/pretzel caramels to him in LESS than a week! I'm amazed!

After a long nap, a puppy that weighs less than a loaf of bread will need a potty break. And he'll take it just about anywhere.

Oooooooooh...puppies come in super tiny size! Just my size, can I keep him?