Goals for 2012

Resolutions have been hard for me to keep so instead I'm setting up "Goals" for 2012. Since Cpl. Mayhem's return from overseas I've become closeted from the world. I lost my passion for life.  While husband was gone I felt like I had to be home to make sure I got his call or if he sent me a message I could quickly log on so we could Skype, I didn't want to miss a second with him. Did you go through that fellow military wives? I think after he returned I never gave that up!

So this year I'm getting back to me! Here are some of the things I want to do:

1. I would like to take up sewing.

2. I would like to re-learn Portuguese. It's been a very long time since I've really spoken Portuguese so I would like to get back to where I can have a conversation with someone else without it sounding like broken Portuguese.

3. I plan on reading my camera instruction book and start the 365 photography challenge.

4. I would like to get six books out of the library over the course of the year and read them. Why six? I have a feeling six is the only amount I'm going to be able to handle! And these book are not be self-help, child development or cookbooks. They have to be books I've been wanting to read but didn't have the time to do it.

5. I would like to get more veggies into my kids and my diet. I really want to cut out process foods as much as we can and this year I really want to make it a goal and an overall habit.

6. With the possibility of a new posting this summer I would also like to get organized and rid us of all the junk that I have no intentions of bring to the new base.

7. I would like to go out twice a month with girlfriends and twice a month with Cpl. Mayhem. Relationships have fallen by the wayside and I intend to get them back and not let go of them.

Those are my goals for the new year. Tell me what you are doing for 2012?

Happy New Year!!!!

Welcome 2012!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHICKY!!!

Four years ago you came into our world!

Look at you now!!!!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY CHICKY!!!

I Did Get My Christmas Card Done In Time!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON EVERYONE!!!!
From: Vanessa, Cpl. Mayhem, Auntie Nikki
Ducky and Chicky!

Ducky and Chicky Crack Me Up!!

While making dinner I hear a very interesting conversation that is happening between Ducky and Chicky.

Ducky: Aw man, I forgot to get you a present Chicky!!

Chicky: I don't have one for you too!

All of the sudden Chicky is running up the stairs.

Ducky: Where are you going?!

Chicky: Getting your present....

Ducky: OH! OK, make it a good one!!

Over the course of dinner and getting ready for bed both kids had given each other several items in their bedroom including a hairbrush that belonged to me and kleenex.

I love the holiday spirit they have right now!

Momversation Monday: What Holiday Traditions Are You Starting With Your Baby

Happy Monday everyone!!!

When the hustle and bustle of the holidays are over I start thinking of the great traditions that I want to pass down to my kids. I want to do some of the traditions that we did as kids but I also want to make new traditions as well.

One of the traditions that I loved was the chocolate advent calendar that we got on December 1st to count down to Christmas. The new tradition that we do to incorporate the advent calendar now is the kids make their list and if we have the tree up or not we leave them behind for the "elves" to come and pick the letters up and they leave the calendars behind for them.

We also love decorating the tree and every year we bake cookies for Santa.

Depending on the year, we can get cards sent to people or we don't. Those traditions we find are more for us parents than the kids, and with Cpl. Mayhem's job sometimes it isn't possible. I think traditions should be fun for everyone and not stressful.

The biggest traditions we do every year is a clean out of the toys in their rooms and donate toys they have outgrown and no longer play with to charities. I love how my kids don't get upset by giving their toys away, they are excited about it! They know those toys are going to a good cause and their rooms are ready for Santa to visit, which is always a bonus!

One of my favorite traditions growing up was opening our presents on Christmas Eve, which is a tradition in Brazil but it was also a great idea for my parents who wanted to sleep in! I'm going to wait for a little bit longer since the kids still like to wake us up in the morning but it would be nice to do that tradition again!

What traditions are you starting with your baby or child?

Momversation Monday: Moms...Do You Feel Guilty Splurging On Yourself?

Momversation Monday is back again and with the holiday season fast approaching Momversation asked if moms feel guilty splurging on ourselves?

I do! I get buyers remorse and think what the money could have gone to instead of me.
First of all I don't buy a lot of clothes, everything I do buy is either on sale or clearance to bring in the next season's outfits but I still feel like if I buy it for myself I could have bought the kids something they might need.

Now I will say I feel guilty for how much I spend at a salon and most women will go every couple of months to keep their color and everything but I end up going maybe twice a year. And while I'm waiting for my hair stylist, I'm thinking of where the money could have gone, bills that it could have gone to but that all disappears when she calls me in and starts getting rid of the tinsel in my hair! I have rarely had a second thought after my hair is done because I realized that I did needed a break and I deserved this every once in a while.
Luckily I have an amazing husband who has said on numerous occasions to go and that I deserved it but sometimes we can't help as moms to feel a little guilty over spending anything on ourselves.

Do you feel guilty for splurging on yourself? And what's the one thing you never feel guilty buying or doing for yourself?

Texts At ONE AM!

credit: Vanessa Mayhem

The hot sun shone over my face as I watched the waves crash over the rocks.
Laying on my hammock I notice a flamingo peacefully gliding towards me with such grace I can't help but stare.
It stops and leans towards me like he was going to tell me a secret. What is it? Tell me your secrets.
The flamingo opens its mouth to speak and in an instant shape shifts into a cell phone.

"BRRRIPPP, BRRIPP"

WHAT THE HECK?!!

I check my phone only to find no messages or missed phone calls. What was that?

Looking over towards my husband I see the bright light gleaming off his cell phone.

"Who is texting you at this hour?!"

"My buddy's wife was in labour and I told him to keep informed".

"At 1 in the morning?!"

"She's having a C-section!"

Credit: Vanessa Mayhem
Come closer I have to tell you something!

"BEACHES! I want to be back at the beach!"

Wordless Wednesday: A Splash of the Holidays

Missing My Husband

credit getty images

Over the course of our dating and marriage we have never had any major issues. Until now.

Usually I don't disclose extreme personal business but I feel that everyone has their their martial issues and I haven't had anything to really disclose, but this is my honest journey and I needed to be honest.

Mine started with the text messenger. At first I didn't care so much, but after a while it got annoying. With all the courses and trainings Cpl. Mayhem it slowly started to bug me that while he was home he was texting people. Now don't get me wrong I don't think anything hinky is going on, especially since over the past seven year Cpl. Mayhem has never had any reason to think that. It's just that family time is few and far between and I would rather he would focus his time at home with his family than work.

I also think that work should be left at work and not bugging my husband while he is at home! But that's besides the point.

It also hurts me to see my kids wondering where dad is. I feel like I'm single parenting even when he is home. Chicky is going through a growth spurt and all she asks for is dad.

Cpl. Mayhem and I have had several arguments over who, what and why and I don't know what he is thinking but this is what I feel.

I feel neglected. THERE I SAID IT!

I feel like no matter what happens in his life he thinks I'm always going to be there and I feel taken for granted. I'm hurting and he thinks it's funny. I feel like there is somewhere more important that he needs to be or someone better to talk to.

He gave me his cell to read the happenings of one of his friends who wife was about to have a c-section (another post I swear!) and he gave his friend this advice:

"My biggest advice to you is while everyone is fussing over your baby,

take some time to make sure your wife is looked after and make her 

feel important" - It's not word for word but you get it!

And it got me thinking- HELLO?! Nice words! Now apply them to us!

And I'm not going paint a picture that I'm the perfect wife. I know there are things I need to do too. Turn the TV off, log off of Twitter and all that too. 

But it goes right back to the texting with me. What is SO important that can't wait till work in the morning? And why does he feel that after being away at work or away on trainings that it's ok to pay no mind to us?

Sorry, I'm just missing my husband....

Momversation Monday: Kindergarten Ready or Not? Would You "Redshirt" Your Child?

Would I “redshirt” my child? I think I might have. My daughter is 3 and her birthday was really close to this year’s cut off date and I enrolled her this year into junior kindergarten. Will that make her the youngest in her class? Yes, but I saw the benefits in putting her school early instead of waiting another year. For the both of us!

She’s has blossomed over the past three months. She’s not as shy as she used to be. She knows how to spell her name and is beginning to learn to read and she has gained valuable social skills and independence that I couldn’t provide for her at home.

I was worried about Chicky being the smallest kid in the class and I did take into consideration holding her back for a year but I really think we made the best choice for her. 

And to be completely honest the idea of not one but BOTH my kids in school for 5 days a week all day did swing the scales more into the “for school” side. I’m not going to lie!

Would you "redshirt" your child?