Day 63: 9 Weeks Down… Whittling Chip Pt. 2

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Tonight was the final night of the totem carve for the Bear Scout Whittling Chip.  Note the Band-aide on Illusive Middle Child’s left hand.    War wound.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Eight boys in one room with pocket knives is at least 2 too many

Well, after picking up from wrestling, racing home, attending my 5 year planning  task force meeting, and then starting our Cub Scout Meeting, I realized that third graders and pocket knives is not an arena for the faint of heart.

Added to this, was paint.  This was the final night to work on the totem animals for the pack meeting and to work together with their pocket knives.  The good news is that there was no blood.  Illusive Middle Child got a cut at the kitchen table (not deep), but the threat of Disney Princess Band-Aides and no snack seemed to keep the boys from finding out just how sharp that their knives were.

After a night like tonight, I wish you were home, because it would be great to have a glass of wine and unwind! I guess for that and a zillion reasons more, I miss you! LOL!

Day 42: Welcome Week 6!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

Can you believe that it has been six weeks already?  It seems like those Monday morning milestones keep creeping up on us!  Tonight is also Parish Planning meeting and Cub Scouts…

We miss you!

Love,

Me

Translation: Please no Blood! 

Tonight is Whittling Chip night.  That means nine year olds with pocket knives.  As I was in charge, there is but one lone photo.  Like I said…9 year olds with pocket knives.

This is the third time that I have taught the whittling chip, but the first time without Fabulous Spouse to act as a parental unit to our child.  The good news was, that the threat and fear of Disney Princess Band-Aids was enough of a deterrent to prevent any blood loss. Yeah! …and only one child cried because carving green floral foam was too hard. …and that child was not mine! Way to go Illusive Middle Child!

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 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 14: Welcome Milestone Monday!

Dear Fabulous Spouse,

It is another milestone!  Two Weeks!  It is also a Murphy Moment.  It seems that it may be a bit longer before we get picked up by the Navy payrolls.  Fabulous!  It was game night at Cub Scouts.  Next Monday is pocket knife week.  Hopefully, it is not another Murphy one as well.

We miss you.

Love,

Me

Translation: Murphy’s Law and Know Your Resources

It is no small secret that I live the life of Murphy’s Law. I have used all my warranties…ALL of them!  It is by no means a surprise when Murphy follows us into Navy Life.  Now, Fabulous Spouse activated on Dec 22^nd.  We planned on his first paycheck to be January 1^st.  It was not.  Due to the holidays, they said that it was not able to inprocessed in time.  OK.  That just meant 3+ weeks pay on the 15^th and eeking in the mortgage just under the wire.

Of course, that would be too easy.  Leprechauns laughed in Millington, and …now there is no paycheck in our foreseeable future. Well, we might get paid in 45 days (that is 69 days into Navy employment).  Yes, Seriously!  This is not a joke.  You are not on Candid Camera.

However, I had been paying attention in Navy Wife 101… and I did read my Fabulous Spouse’s orders.  (Yes, I am one of those weird people who read the instruction manuals or gaming manuals before I take step one)  First, read those orders.  Buried on the bottom of page 12 was authorization for advance pay and allowances (not that it is a guarantee that it will be approved).  Getting those delayed pays “advanced” may preserve our credit rating and our never been late with the mortgage record!

Also, if that does not work out, there is always the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS).  What we have here is a "CO verified pay problem."  But this is an Army base?! Even better!  Army Relief does not require appointments, and they will contact the NMCRS  HQ in Washington, D. C. directly. …And, if the Army Relief hours do not match up with range time, I am not too proud to go to the Navy Relief here.  I am willing to swallow my pride and ask for help.  It is not my fault that he mobilized right before Christmas.  The mortgage still needs to be paid.

So, no worries.  This too will pass.  I have resources!