Day 36: Lots of Homework



Girl Friday helping make Green Ravioli



Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Wrestling is still running late.  This coupled with Honors homework for the end of the quarter means no Boy Scouts tonight.  However, we still have the craziness of boys basketball and Daisy Scouts at the exact same time…in different places.  Well, at least everyone is late!

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: …And I Still have to go to Scouts?!

So, it is great that Oldest Child is mature enough to realize that homework and grades trump Boy Scouts…especially when grades are due for the quarter on Friday, and his Grammy promised him $25 if he could pull up his grades to five A’s, and #5 is teetering on the brink.  However, it seems that it is parent planning night at Boy Scouts, so I still need to attend.

The thing is, the universe would be running so much smoother, if the middle school wrestling coaches could tell time, and we were not always double booked for activities.  Luckily, our kids are pretty resilient.  So, dropped Oldest Child home to reheat dinner and do homework, dropped Illusive Middle Child off at basketball practice, and as soon as he disappeared into the gym, we put the car back into drive, and were only about twenty minutes late for Daisy Scouts.

At Daisy Scouts, we planned the spring activities, and the girls made cookie posters to sell cookies at the end of February.  Fortunately? Daisy Scouts was running late, so I left Girl Friday at Scouts, picked up Illusive Middle Child from practice (small plus is that there is another team scheduled immediately after him for the gym, so they cannot run late), then went back to Daisy Scouts.  Then the little guys got dropped home with their brother, and I was off (30 min late) to Boy Scouts.  I did not miss much.  Tuesdays are rough!

Day 35: Hello Week 5!

1/30/2012

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Hope that you had a wonderful Week 5 Anniversary!  The good news is, the higher the number, the closer you are to home!  Cub scouts tonight, double booked tomorrow!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Did somebody say fire?

Tonight was tight.  The schedule was pick up Oldest Child at 5:45, drive him home, show up at Church for Planning meeting at 6, Cub scouts at 7… However, reality never goes that way.  Oldest Child had weigh-ins for wrestling (which he says is MUCH easier this year than last year) which went smallest to largest.  This, of course, meant that Oldest Child went last.  So, pick up was at 6:05.

So, 6:15ish, we arrive at the church.  Illusive Middle Child goes to the Cub Scout Den meeting room to set up and play his DS, while I go a few rooms down to my meeting.  Twenty-five minutes later, the fire alarm goes off.  I go straight to Illusive Middle Child’s room.  He has already headed out the front door.

That is because he is a good kid who has always paid attention when we talked about fires and meeting places.  When I found him outside the front door, I told him how proud I was that he did to try to pick up the meeting stuff, that he did not wait, that he did not try to find mom.  Instead he got safe.

As it turned out, the sprinkler system has been glitched since the power outage.  This time it actually went off… and released water under the church.  And it kept going off…  The fire department even showed up to check it out (see Illusive Middle Child with the fire truck blurry in the background).

The meeting then got moved to another parent’s garage.  So much for Mondays being easy!

Day 34: TGI Sunday!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Finally got a chance to slow down today.  We even went to the Movies!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Movie-palooza

Oldest Child’s homework for this weekend was to watch movies and find one that fit each of the man vs. categories.  Since we have been so busy, it took until today to be forced to veg out, slow down, and watch movies.

His results:

Man vs. Himself: Up

Man vs. Circumstances: Grease

Man vs. Society: Hugo

Man vs. Man: DOA Dead or Alive

As for Hugo, the kids LOVED it.  I guess that says a lot about Martin Scorsese, because I would have thought that the twitch factor for the little guys would really kick in by hour two.  They were enthralled by the secondary story line of the rise and fall of the silent movies.

It was also interesting to hear the discussion between the three of them on the ride home as the compare the “Society” of post-War France and modern America… and is the concept of an orphanage any better or worse than foster care, and what quality of life street orphans would have. (and how cool it would be to live in a clock) LOL!

Day 33: Basketball Game Day #2

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Today was basketball day.  That means a lot of back and forth in the car.  Especially as Girl Friday also had a birthday party, and Illusive Middle Child scored an overnighter from MR as we were back on tree clean up duty  with them.

Hope you enjoy your late start tomorrow!

We Miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: On the road again…

The kids had a great time typing with you this morning.  I think, if nothing else, this deployment will help their reading, writing and typing skills.  It was cool to hear them babble on about how they got to "talk" to you afterwards.

So, today we started with boys basketball game for Illusive Middle Child.  I show up, I cheer, I take photos.  I have no idea what his position is (I am not sure if he does either). 

He is the official ball thrower inner.  My Sister-in-law says that makes him the point guard. 

However, he is in the middle when they throw up the ball to start the game, which someone said makes him the center.  In any event, he is having fun.

Girl Friday was up an hour after her brother.  To help her with her sport today, she channeled her inner Fancy Nancy, and wore "power" socks.  She has so much fun! She even stuck to her person this time. 

The only down side was a ball to the face, that caught her on the bridge of the nose. 

Tough girl that she is, she would not be pulled out of the game.

Following that, it was party time.  Girl Friday had a blast at a pool party with a Mardi Gras theme, and she had a blast.

The boys and I, meanwhile, continued to pay it forward and help our single mom friend cut down trees and light a bonfire.  Sorry no pictures this time.  We were too busy trying to race against sunset and rain clouds.  We probably cut a good cord of debris…and so that is a start!  Time to relax a little on Sunday!

Day 32: Double booked…again

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Glad to get a chance to talk to you on the DSN.  I guess that the stars had to align just right to make it happen!  Did better with my double booking today.  Oldest  Child was Girl Friday’s designated walker for a neighborhood birthday party (with bouncy house…wooo!), and I went to the Pinewood Derby with Illusive Middle Child.  Luckily, this year he did not come in last!

We Miss You!

Love,

Me

Translation: Teenagers make good clones (for short distances)

Oldest Child was more than willing to forgo three hours of overexcited and overtired Cub Scouts at the Pinewood Derby in exchange for Xbox time and designated walker status… and a Jack in the Box milkshake… for Girl Friday’s neighborhood birthday party.

Meanwhile, Illusive Middle Child was in the midst of being overexcited and just a little overtired.  His entry this year was in honor of Fabulous Spouse.  He made a submarine and named it after our favorite 710~the USS Augusta SSN 710.

He was SUPER excited that the Navy Mojo helped him not to come in last (as I always make the kids make all their own Pinewood Cars, they are not as supped up as the Dad “helped” cars).  Overall, he came in 4^th in the den.  Just one place shy of a trophy.  Not too shabby.

His reaction below...

Day 31: Double booked

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Congrats on scoring a VIP room and getting your own toilet. We had Cub scouts and girls basketball today. 

Same bat time, different bat channel.  Got it done though.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Using clones leads to ulcers

I am woman, I am a Navy wife, I can do it all!  Actually, I can’t.  That is one of those life lessons that I have learned in the last few years.  That is why I need an army of clones.  Since I misplaced mine recently, that means using the network.

Illusive Middle Child arrived at Cub Scouts to turn in his “land sub”…named the USS Augusta in honor of his dad’s first boat.  So, we weighed in, attached wheels…broke the axel shaft…repaired the shaft… then dropped him off for the Pack Meeting (the first that Illusive Middle Child has made all year!). 

This was a good thing, as his den had flag ceremony, and Illusive Middle Child was the only one “brave” enough to call colors. Then we headed out with Girl Friday.

At basketball, we made sure that Girl Friday’s ride would have no problem dropping her at the church.  Basketball gets out at 8, and the Pack meetings usually get out between 8:30 and 9PM.  As her ride goes to our church, no problem!

The pack meeting was expedited due to the Pinewood Derby tomorrow, and ended at 7:45. Problem.  Cell phone left at home. Problem.  OK, help clean up and wait, and wait, and wait.  Practice went late, and Girl Friday arrived at 8:40, just as MR and Oldest Child were headed home to pick up our cell phone and find out where Girl Friday was. (It took me less than 10 min to get from drop off to church).

Crisis averted. Micro ulcer…on its way.  Must find my clone.

Day 30: Back to normal

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Sorry that internet is not cooperating.  We are back in the routine.  I even convinced Illusive Middle Child to paint his Pinewood derby car due tomorrow.

Hope you reach your endpoint soon!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: To shop or not to shop?

Ok, we have emptied the refrigerator.  Now, with another windy weekend, we are unsure as to whether or not we should power shop to restore our fridge, or go day by day to make sure that we do not have to pitch yet more food.

Oldest Child went back to CCD today.  He is all excited about the upcoming retreat day with the Archbishop (He was willing to use his savings if we could not afford).  I guess, if there is one thing that we have done right with our kids, it has been to instill a sense of worship and faith in them… especially in our oldest.

Also, Girl Friday is channeling her inner Martha Stewart.  Either she has done something supremely naughty and we are just waiting for the other shoe to drop, or she has become supremely helpful in a wonderful, desperate plea for positive attention.  Today she put the dishes away, set the table, and helped me make breaded chicken strips and tater tots.  Not was asked, but she volunteered.

We have good kids.

Day 29: School is Back in Session

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Thank goodness! School is back in session, so we should get out of school before the 4^th of July!

I guess that means that basketball is back on the schedule tonight. Hope that your travels today are safe! Get your Passport stamped.

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: I need a nap!

After the kids went to school today, I took a two hour nap.  I do not think that I had been aware of just how little sleep and how much stress I have been under with the power outage and your transit at the same time.

But, life goes on, and that means that Illusive Middle Child had basketball.  He was excited to be tapped to lead the team in warm ups (as he is by far the most in shape of them all… or at least has the greatest stamina).  He also got fouled and scored his first basket during the end of practice scrimmage.

He is so cute.  He is torn between liking basketball and thinking that he could be good at it if they had more practices, and wanting to do off season wrestling next year so that he can compete for states and nationals.  To have such issues as a child!

Keep Safe! & I Love you!

Day 28: Week #4, Snow Day #5, & time to Clean Up!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Too funny that Oldest Child’s school ride never got the memo that there was no school today, and showed up ready to go…with all our kids still asleep.  Today was a cleaning day.  We also paid it forward to MR and helped with their downed trees in the evening.

Glad that you have gotten some rest! Happy 1 Month anniversary.  Tomorrow starts Month #2!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: OCD Me goes postal on the Refrigerator

Ok, the refrigerator did smell like death.  It was scary.  However, before we started to fill it up with food again, it needed a thorough scrubbing. So, I turned the refrigerator off and took it down to its “studs” with bleach and warm water.  The thought of food poisoning due to 4 days of warm food is just not on my bucket list!

We also helped out one of our Cub Scout friends.  They had a bunch of trees come down on their property, and in exchange for dinner and some red wine.  I was more than happy to have my kids help out as slave labor and pay it forward.  Girl Friday cut twigs and hung out with Ms. M, Illusive Middle Child was the primary hauler, but took a break to help cut when we were not fast enough for him.  Oldest Child kept trying to light the fire.  Even I could not light the fire, but that was ok, because I still got wine!

Day 27: Let there be light!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

We got the power back this afternoon, so we are back at the house.  We even have internet!  We have cleared the fridge of rotten food.  I hope that Kuwait is just like you remember it!

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: What does power smell like? Fabric softener.

We woke up warm and toasty in Super S’s house to the news that you had successfully made it to Kuwait.  I hope that you can finally get some sleep.  We had pancakes !

At lunchtime, we trekked back home to check on the cat, the melt out of the freezer, and to pick up some extra supplies.  Oh, and to get a little Jack in the Box.  The town still looked like a war zone, we even passed a downed power line near the Little League fields.  However, *ta dah* we DID have power (by the clocks, it turned on 6 minutes prior to our arrival).

What does power smell like? Outside the neighborhood it seemed like every washer and dryer was going.  The air was thick with the smell of fabric softener.  Inside, however, it kind of smelled like death.  If you have ever defrosted your deep freezer, you recognize that smell.  Yeah.  Four days of no power in the only heated room in the house had thoroughly defrosted the refrigerator and freezer (as if the ice cream soup was not a big hint).  So the task for the evening, was to unload, catalog, and dispose of the entire refrigerator and freezer contents.   Six trash bags later, mission accomplished! (So sad to see all those salmon steaks go!)

Day 26: Power Loss Day #3, Phone Lines Down Day #2

Just a few of the tree limbs in the lines.

 Dear Fabulous Spouse,

I hope that you are enjoying your one day layover in Germany.  Sorry that we missed you on Skype.  I hope that you get some sleep soon.  I know that I need some.

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Thank Goodness for Facebook

I think that I officially have to take back about 85% of the bad stuff that I have said about Facebook.  After talking with you in the car (aka the world’s most expensive cell phone charger) at 6AM, I posted that you were safe, and that we were still without power.  Within half an hour, I had two offers to house us for the remainder of the outage from those with power!  We had accepted Super S’s invite first, but thank you Miss K for the offer (and I was not so sure about going over the scary Tacoma Bridge with the ice dropping).

We packed our bags and spent the morning at Cutters Point again.  Yesterday’s post went up, and we kept hoping for a hint of you.  Alas, it was not to be.  I assured the kids that there was probably important military stuff you were doing that prevented you from showing up, despite our hustle to get there for our Skype date.  They may have been a little disappointed, but they know that you have no control over the military stuff.

By 12:40 the natives were restless and hungry.  So, we packed up and headed to Super S’s via McDonald’s drive-thru.   It was great to be someplace warm, lit, and customer free!  Super S and her family made us feel at home.  She really is the best. 

The kids played in the giant tree house, and in their rooms, and of course Oldest Child retreated to the basement for some quality time with his laptop and Bloons Tower Defense 5 (it’s not Xbox, but it will do).

Finally, he emerged for dinner, and just when he was going to retreat back into his cave heard those two little words: Hot Tub.

For the kids, it made it all better, magic even.  Thank you Facebook, and thank you Super S.

(Sorry, had to use the flash on this one and blinded everybody!)

Day 25: Snow Day #4, Power Loss Day #2, Phone Lines Down Day #1

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

I hope that you are enjoying your overseas travel.  Today we had ice cream soup for breakfast winning me necessary mom of the year points.  Not much else going on, as we are an icicle wonderland!

We miss you!

Love,
Me

Translation: Thank goodness for coffee shops with internet access!

For starters, here are pictures from our slumber party by the fireplace.  Must.  Keep.  Warm. LOL!

It took forever to get them to bed, but I think that they will remember it for a long time! (Note: Girl Friday's American Girl doll is sleeping in the laundry basket.  It was too cold for her upstairs.) :)

I really thought that we had a chance of getting the power back.  Alas! It was not to be!  So, now that the cold of the freezer and refrigerator are failing, we had ice cream soup for breakfast!  Yes, that is how it came out of the freezer that had not been opened since we lost power.  So, I also called the homeowners insurance to let them know that a claim would be eventually coming to replace the food in our freezers and refrigerator.

The highlight of the day was when we went to Cutters Pointe Coffee for Wi-Fi, warmth, and to recharge our electronics.  Oldest Child was treated to a “big boy” drink of a White Chocolate Mocha, and the two little guys had hot chocolate (that, as I was informed, was much more awesome than the hot chocolate that we have at home).

Friday is typically Pizza and a Movie night, but as we were not going to have a movie, we did have Papa John’s deliver (as there was going to be no baking tonight) and ate it by candlelight.  Power should be back by Monday… we hope!