April Showers Bring May Flowers.... And Veggies Hopefully

With some of yesterday's rain the family decided to finish the garden today. OK, my husband did all the digging and pulling of the weeds to get the garden going.

My son picked out the vegetables that he wanted to plant in out backyard. Of course he had to pick pumpkin seeds, cause that won't be hard to grow! Or that watermelon that he chose too

So we spent the best part if the afternoon filling my flower pots and making little hills for the garden, oh, and chasing after my daughter through my neigbours yards and down the streets.

I'm looking forward to getting a fence to go around the backyard because I know my husband and I are not going to be able to keep up with the two kiddies just taking off like that all summer! Oh fine! I won't be able to keep with them!

This will definately be a lesson of patience for my son who believes that things grow overnight like Jack and the Beanstock. I just hope that something does grow....

The Rocky Year

My husband came home yesterday and handed me an email with a bunch of words that made no sense to me with a highlighted green line across a specific line of letters.

"What is this?"

"I'm going on my 5s training in May"

I think it's great that he's finally going on his 5s training but come on! You are already going away for your deployment training!

I know this is what I signed up for when I married my husband, but I don't have to like it all the time!

When he said it was going to be a six month deployment, I forgot the things he has to do before he goes. So technically he's going to be gone for a whole year. He'll be coming back and forth to he house before he leaves, but this will be a hard year I think.

It's definitely taking a toll on my son. He has never had a tantrum when my husband would leave the house. Now he yells, screams and through his little body around like he's being attacked but a swarm of bees!

God, this is going to be interesting!

She Was Honest! What Else Do You Want?

On Sunday Miss USA 2009 was crowned.

Everyone around the world has forgotten that 22 year-old Kristen Dalton became Miss USA 2009 due to the surmounting controversy surrounding Miss California Carrie Prejean's answer during the final question and answer period.

From the ten judges questions she ended up with a question that was posed by celebrity blogger Parez Hilton. His question was, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same sex marriage, do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?".

To which Miss California replied,

" Well I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other, we live in a land that you can choose same sex marriage or opposite marriage, and you know what, in my country and in my family I think that I believe that marriage should be between and man and a woman.
No offense to anybody out there, but that was how I was raised and that's how I think it should be, between and man and woman. Thank you."


Miss California Carrie Prejean and openly gay blogger Perez Hilton

Everyone needs to get off this poor girl's back!

Carrie Prejean answered the question to the best of her ability. Perez's asked for her opinion and that was what she did.

I'm for all couples to be legally recognized. We have to do this in order for same sex couples to receive the same rights as heterosexual couples.

A couple in Oregon experienced this when a gay man's domestic rights were not honoured and he was told to leave his life partner's hospital room when it was time to make decisions about the patient.

Miss California did what the Miss USA Pageant is all about. She showed the best of herself without compromising herself and changing to fit what a perfect answer would be. No one is perfect and she didn't fake an answer that would suit the masses.

Claudia Jordon, a former briefcase model for the show "Deal or No Deal" and one of the judges on Sundays competition said that Miss California did not "work the crowd" and should have known the audience better, there were only 5 straight men in audience at the pageant. OK, she's not the world's most credible person to be quoting here but she did say something to which I completely agree with.

"I don't agree with what she said, but I don't think she's evil."

Let's cut Miss California some slack. The Miss USA Pageants was not meant for political agendas to tossed back and forth. The contestants are poised, smart and very well spoken ( OK, there will always be a bad apple in the bunch, Miss South Carolina Teen USA, "can't find US on a map" ring a bell?). As far as I can see Carrie Prejean did what she was supposed to do and that was to answer the question. Her answer is not going to change the fact that Proposition 8 was passed and her answer are not going to change the minds of the audience that were watching these ladies parade around in ball gowns. Her opinions are not going to change no matter how many people attack her over the Internet with harsh comments and name calling.

Even though I don't agree with everything Miss California said that night, I will stand up and applaud her for not compromising her beliefs to give that "I want world peace" answer.

She was honest.

Things they don't tell you....

Here are some of the things I've learned that no one told me about motherhood.

* Never will you own a white top ever again! Well you will... it will just be covered in stains.

* No matter how many Kleenex boxes you have in the house. Your kids will more than likely use your sleeve. See above.

* You will never sleep in again. OK, I knew that one, I'm still bitter about it!

* Most accidents happen in the home. Did you know why before you became a parent?
Of course not!
Most accidents happens because someone left all their toys on the floor so you either step on a die cast train or trip over the Fisher-Price farm house you've been asking for weeks to be put away. Or my personal favorite you trip over something and try to avoid the toys or kids that are around you when you fall.

* If you spend 45 minutes doing you hair that hair-do will become a hair don't in 15 minutes once you kids get a hold of your head.

* If you value it, your kids won't so put it away or up high.

* Kids are going to miss the toilet, don't assume it's water.

* Be prepared to hear "Mom, mom, mom, mom, mom..." and once you do reply don't expect a sentence after that. I've come to the conclusion they just do that to keep you on your toes or in case they really want something from you are ready for they.

* That innocent look they give you should be a red flag. They have done something they should not have done.

* If you ask what they are doing in the other room and the reply "nothing!", run don't walk to see what they are up to. And if you didn't move right away see above.

* Be prepared to repeat your self ever 2 minutes.

* Be prepared to lose all your jewelry, no matter where you hide it, they will find it.

* Get the extra warranty, trust me... you'll want it!

* Don't worry, that's not Big Foot coming down the stairs.

* You will pick them up and put them down over and over again. Kill two birds with one stone and count is as a workout.

* Be ready to accept all forms of advice, even if the person is not a master of the craft that is parenthood. " Thank you, I'll keep that in mind" and " You know you should save that tidbit of information for when you have your own children" are two are my favorites responses for that.

* If you know someone who has it all together, don't worry about it. They are boring that's why they have it together.

* Your kids are smarter than the child safety devices.

*They know how to remove their diaper. They have seen you do it plenty of times. Put pants on them!

* If you know what a Roomba is. Your kids are the product that will do the same thing except trash what you just cleaned.

* The only time you will get peace and quiet is when they are asleep.

* They will always be cute!

The Hard Jouney to Finding Me

The pounds kept creeping up. Day after day, year after year. I got heavier and heavier.

"It's just baby weight don't worry about it will come off in no time", is what everyone used to say to me. That may have been true but what about the 15lbs I gained in college? The 15lbs I gained when Cpl. Mayhem and I got together... engaged... married?


I would love to let everyone think it has to do with the pregnancies but who and I kidding? Lets be real here! I cot comfy in my relationship. We always went out and we snacked a lot! Chocolate bars, pop, chips. Anything that was convenient, we did it!


After Ducky was born I saw a photo of myself my mother-in-law took of me and I was mortified!
Why didn't anyone say anything to me? What kind of person would let their friend go out in public looking like a beached whale?!

How did I not notice this weight gain?

I have to acknowledge that I made the decision to eat the bad food and not living a healthy lifestyle and it caught up to me.

After having DuckyI had all intentions to lose the weight but I never did. That is until I visited my parents for 3 months in Panama. Here's how I did it:

Living with my parents in a secluded area in Panama where the closest fast food joint was literally a hour and a half away. So we went grocery shopping once and week and got the things we needed.

For exercise I walked up and down these hills... OK not hills. Mountains! These things are huge!! They were insane!! Did I want to do it? Nope! Why did I do it? Well, when you have your dad bugging you to the point of insanity, all you want do is leave!

But I did it! I lost 30lbs doing it! But it did not last....

Mainly because once I moved back to Nova Scotia I was living in an apartment with my son where there was a fast food places and convenience stores within a 20 mile radius. And that was my downfall. Convenience! Anything that was easy I was there! And the accomplishments I had achieved started to slowly diminish as my pant size got bigger and bigger.

I'm a Monday girl. I'll start it on Monday. New diet plan, new exercise routine. Always on Monday.

Once my husband and I moved to our first posting I got a job working as a health consultant with a weight loss company and I lost 30lbs doing that. I had to take pills and eat a 1100 calorie diet. It worked but I don't think for myself it would have been realistic in the long run.

While I was on program I got pregnant. I still kept on the 1100 calorie diet but I did not take the pills and started to gain weight with the pregnancy. Then my doctor told me to eat more and I did, except that I didn't eat the same way I did with my first pregnancy and still gain an incredible amount of weight.

So it's been a year since my daughter was born and the weight was still on my 5 foot 2 frame and I've been desperate to get it off.

A friend of mine and I were talking about taking the weight off and she told me about "Body For Life". Now I had heard about from my little sister but I wasn't interested at the time. But my friend's story hit way too close to home. Then a week later she found out she had won second runner up in the Canadian Body For Life Challenge. I was sold!

I lost 21lbs in my first Challenge and I'm hoping to lose another 30lbs for my second challenge.
I've been gathering my thoughts and with a little planning, I'll be able to start my second challenge on Monday.

I KNOW, I KNOW! I will always be the Monday girl but this time I've got it under control. Follow me in my weight loss journey but also in my journey to find myself again.

The many faces of Ducky

"Good God what am I going to do with you!!!"

That's usually what I'm saying to my 4 year old sometime in the afternoon after he has beaten his little sister or thrown something. Or is yelling at the top of his lungs or he's jumping on the couch. Take your pick!

I know that we all have our moods but what changes kids at around 4pm? It's like they change into a completely different person in a matter of 2.5 seconds?

We are having a great time playing or reading then all of the sudden the spawn of Satan decides to stop by for a visit!

Why can't he be my sweet little boy all the time!

Multiple personality disorder is what I've decided to classify it. As of today I've met with 4 different personalities my son has possessed.

1. Ducky- my cuddle bug. He's the one we see more than usual. Loves to giggle and tickle his sister, play with blocks and just have a great time! He's quiet but gets a little loud when getting tickled.

2. Naughty Nelson- He's the personality that just won't listen to anything I say. He jumps on the furniture and pushes his sister down. He'll scream at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason and throws toys and break things. Naughty Nelson makes most of his appearances around 3:30- 4pm. And he will stick around until bedtime. Sometime Naughty Nelson will stop by unexpectedly when we are out shopping.

3. Stubborn Stu- He's the one that is the least favorite personalities of the bunch. He's the one that is the most defiant. He shows up during bath time and when we are getting ready for school and when I have to drop him off at school. He tends to blubber more than the other personalities. Stubborn Stu signature move is to drop on the floor in the fetal position or drop like a dead weight out of nowhere.

and finally;

4. Debbie Drama Queen- This one I can't help but laugh at. Debbie Drama Queens tends to co-habitates in my son after accidents. Debbie's screams a piercing scream that only small dogs can hear. She gets scared easily from spiders or anything that frightens my son. Usually we can also get a visit from Debbie Drama Queen right after a visit from Naughty Nelson, when my son is feeling apologetic.

I'm hoping my son will decide on one personality soon. Preferably Ducky. I like that one!

MOMVERSATION has become my newest addiction! This website is basically moms talking about things that are on our minds. Every topic is open to discuss from politics to Octomom, Nadya Sulemon.

On this episode of Momversations the question that has been posed to the panel is Are You Stressed When Dad Watches the Kids?

This is an interesting topic for me. Am I stressed when my husband cares for his children?

Not at all! My husband is a great father!
With him getting ready for his 2010 deployment overseas he needs to get as much daddy- kid time before he goes.
So for me it's a much needed break from it all! Yes he may give them extra treats and do things that I would not want them to do but it's a small sacrifice to getting a couple of hours to myself. Besides they are his kids too, why wouldn't he want to have some one on one time with them and make some great memories for my kids and him.
So for the most part, by all means dad, have fun I'm not worried one bit!

I do have a pet peeve though. Why do people ask me if my husband is "babysitting" the kids? They are his kids, he is caring for them like any parent would. A babysitter stays with your kids for a short period of time, puts them to sleep, then raids your fridge and talks on the phone.
I'm just saying!

The toy that just won't die!!

My son's first Christmas was the year I like to call "The Year of the Train". Everyone got him a train to play with. My mom and dad got him the typical train with a small cord for pulling this cute yellow train around on his own. And my in-laws got him the Leap Frog Learning train with teaches numbers and colors. Both great toys for a one year!

So 3 years have gone by and my daughter now plays with these trains that my son used to love. Here's the problem, the Leap Frog toy is the most annoying thing I've ever heard. It plays one song and it's very loud! I have to admit that I have hidden the train several times to save my own sanity. It's time to put the toy away when I keep hearing this noisy bugger in my sleep.

Most of you are probably thinking, "well just don't put any batteries in it".

Since receiving this train I haven't changed the batteries once! It's the toy that just won't die!!

I keep waiting for it to happen, that crazy sound that most toys make like they are being possessed, the tone starts to slow and the voice becomes deeper and deeper until one day, no matter how many times you press it it just won't go.

Well it's been 3 years!!

I actually can't wait for the day because I want to know what batteries are in there because I could save a fortune just buying that particular brand and put them in the toys that I don't mind so much.

I have to say my mother-in-law picked a great toy for the children. They love playing with it and spend hours just giggling away while this train keeps singing it's same old song....

Seriously just die already!!!

Do you have a button? Wanna trade?!

COMING SOON!!

Awards

Why do we have to go there?

So I read an article a while back about how Dora the Explorer, that lovable bilingual educational character from the popular show "Dora the Explorer" was getting a makeover.

Yes, even this character has to grow up but does she really need to? This character is loved by all children and adults for her views on the world and playfulness she has while interacting with your child for 25 minutes in during the day.

Now the U.S cable network Nickelodeon and toy makers Mattel are vowing to keep the new look as wholesome to her character as children remember her as, the free spirited adventurer who loved to explore the world around her and beyond.

Here's my opinion on this.

The people who are giving Dora this new "Tween" look clearly don't know who Dora the Explorer really is. You can just pick this girl up and move her to the city and give her a "Bratz" makeover. That is just not her.

She would continue to explore the world and help others like she had for years! She would not wear ballet shoes because she can't climb rocks with them. Ribbons and bows and the long hair they are giving her now would just get in the way of adventurous nature.

Why do we have to go there? We have plenty of visuals for our little girls to see everyday that are making them think more and more about how they look. Our society is spending way too much time exposing sex and maturity to this generation that is not ready to grasp the whole concept of it. "Sexting", the suggestive outfits, heels? What happen to skipping ropes, sundresses and Mary Janes?

We have the fashionistas, the cheerleaders, the shopaholics and our favorite classic bomb shell. But are these the only role models girls these days have to aspire to? At least with Dora, she still looks like a 6 or 7 year old.

I know as a mother of a little girl and a sufferer of the human condition, I wish I could hide the sexual images that diminish childhood for these girls earlier and earlier as the years go by. These images that say you are not good enough if you don't have that small waist or a certain lip gloss. Can't we keep out girl "little girls" for as long as we can? Believe me I don't want my baby looking like a Pussycat Doll at the age of 5.

Keep Dora the way she was intended to look like.

A child.

Happy Easter Everyone!!

It's Sunday!! Chocolate bunny time! My kids are completely excited in the fact that the Easter Bunny has arrived at our house leaving bright colored eggs around the living room and stairway.

That Easter Bunny sure is smart leaving them out so mommy and daddy can see them or we would end up with a nice ant infestation this summer. That would be fun!

As you can also see mommy and daddy didn't think to put the toys away the night before...

Or to get the kids a basket. I swear I thought we had one from last year!

Once the kiddies got their sugary treats, there were plenty more goodies for them from Nanny and Grampy on the dining room table.

A cute outfit for Chicky and Ducky's Hungry, Hungry Hippo game which he has been asking for for a very, very long time!

I'm happy to say that my kids did not go into chocolate overload. But it seems that most of us including myself have forgotten what the real reason to this holiday is.

Yes Easter egg hunts have become part of the holiday's modern celebration but I'm sure most religious officials were not intending for this holiday to be mark with cute white bunnies and stacks of chocolates that make parents cringe and dentists grin with the dreams of a cavity filled April.

So lets take a moment to celebrate the real reason for this holiday.

Happy Easter everyone!

Are we really that different??

Browsing through Facebook I noticed a group that was geared specifically towards military wives in my area without children. I came across a discussion topic about bad experiences in this town when it comes to other women trying to spread rumours around about each other and their spouses.

I get people need to vent but there is one part that bothered me deeply one of the women wrote and I quote, "I never want to become the typical military spouse! As in typical I mean, many kids, no job and wear their hubby's pt shirts around town LOL EWWWWWW".

Let me get this straight... a typical military spouse is one who chooses to have kids, stay at home and dresses in sweats and tees?

Allow me to enlighten you...

It's all about CHOICES!

I chose to be married to a military man. I chose to move to this town which I'm still debating on how I feel towards it.

As a graduate of my Radio and Television Arts Program, I continue to look for a job in this town that will give my diplomas a workout. However I did get a job, not in my field but it was a job.

Now for being in sweats and my husbands tees? No I don't wear his clothes BUT I will openly admit that I would rather run around in my comfy pajama bottoms and a tank top when I'm in the house.

So at the end of the day we all have choices to make. I've made my choice, and I'm sure you have too. But to openly belittle ones choices is harsh.

As military wives we should all be looking for the common denominator. We ARE military wives! We are a unique breed of ladies! We endure many hardships that most people don't have to worry about.

Why don't we all make the choice to support each other during the hard times. No matter what choices we've decided for our lives. With children or childless, jobs or no jobs, pets or no pets. To wears sweats or not.

At the end of the day we really aren't that different.

Enjoying some time for myself!!

With my husband home I finally can get some "me time".

What to do, what to do? Any mom's have had that problem?

You finally get some time you yourself and you don't know what you want to do. Do you finally read that book that has been collecting dust on your night table? How about that much needed haircut?

So many things to catch up on, I don't know what to do. Well the haircut is out of the question it being Good Friday and all.

So I decided to spend some time catching up with a long time friend of mine..... My bed!!!

Why won't it flush?

So my husband finally came home from a 5 week course and all of the sudden the toilet stops working! LOL! It's funny to me because usually how the universe works something breaks down when he's gone.

So we call Housing, we live in Private Married Quarters (PMQ). When something breaks down we call them.

While I'm on the phone with the Housing lady, she asks me if the chain has come off the back of the toilet.

Really?

I've lived in apartments on my own and have fixed many things around my house because it usually takes forever for Housing to come over, so do you think I would be calling you if the chain had fallen off? We need a plumber!

And for the first time EVER they arrived at my house in less than 30 minutes. My pizzas don't arrive at my house in that kind of time! I'm impressed!

He goes in to inspect the damage and then goes out and gets a mini camera to see what the problem is. Fancy equipment for a plumber, again I'm impressed ( it must have been a long time that something has impressed me to be so interested by plumbing equipment).

Well to keep this short, my son flushed my daughter's baby comb in the toilet. I should have listened to him when he mentioned it a couple of days ago but everything seemed fined so I wasn't worried....

Or maybe it was in the back of my head that my husband was coming home and I wanted him to get the experience of what it's like when something break down around here.

Maybe....

It's 2am and I'm still up?!?

Sleep was hard to come by last night. Why? I don't know actually.

I have days where sleeps just comes easier than others. But last night was the worst! I went to bed at 11pm and got comfy. Turned a little to the left, a little to the right and before I know it I'm in dreamland....

Or am I? Let's try that again.... Nope, nothing.

I don't get it! I was exhausted all day and I could not wait for the moment where I could just let Mr. Sandman take over and now at midnight I'm still up!

I have nights likes these but usually I have something that is keeping me up. Tonight I've got nothing! Kids are asleep ( lucky them!), I don't have a to-do list running in my head ( well I do, but today I just particularly care if my list gets done or not). What could it be?

1:15 am- Now I'm counting the hours I have to sleep before the kids get up tomorrow. STOP!! Go to sleep already! Closing my eyes now... am I asleep? Nope.

What time is it? 2:06?!? I've been doing this forever! Why can't I sleep!!

Oh my! could it finally be happening? I am! I'm finally going to be able to drift into...

"Cough, cough!"

What was that? Oh crap! Please don't come into my room!

"Mommy, I'm sick..."

Great.....

My Journey

Hi! My name is Vanessa and I'm a military wife to the most amazing soldier! I'm also a mom of a crazy 4 year old boy and a very curious 15 month old girl.


I met my husband in college and we were inseparable ever since! Well.... that's partially true. You see after college my husband signed up for the Canadian Military. It was a long process for him to finally get accepted but he did!

A year after we got married and a had our first child, he started basic training. He was gone for a whole year while I lived alone with my son. I was lucky to have his family living so close to give me a hand when I needed one.

This is our first posting. Let me tell you how much I really did not enjoy being here! I was alone in a new town, no job and no friends. For the first year I hated my husband for choosing a job that took me away from everyone that I loved. But now being here for almost 4 years there are the good times and the bad.

He's being deployed to Afghanistan 2010 and I'm scared and worried for him. But I support him and the mission 100 percent. A lot of my friends had their husbands gone this year and are back, they might not be going back in 2010 so I'm feeling kind of alone in the process. Yes, they have gone through it but it feels different. I couldn't relate to how they were feeling while their husbands were overseas because I wasn't going through it.

This is my journey through the process of my soldier getting ready for deployment and how I'm coping with the trials of being a military wife and a mom.

Thank you for following me through this time.

V