So, where does one start after taking a 3 year break from blogging? As the FlyLady would say, just jump in where you are! So, here we go! I just joined dailyfeats.com and decided to write daily as one of my accomplishments. The blog seemed like a perfect place to do it.
I am still ArmyGuyWife since I'm married to ArmyGuy, but wow, has life changed. I did go back to school and graduated from Western last year. Brent made it home safe and sound from his deployment and now works for the Inspector General at Camp Lincoln in Springfield. That is also where we found our dream home and moved in last May. The kids affectionately call it The Chocolate Cupcake because it is a round, brown house.
Speaking of the kids, boy have they grown! And our family has grown by paws, claws, padded fingers, as shown by the most recent pictures I have posted. In fact, Brent came home last night with two ghost shrimp to add to the vivaquarium. The going names for them are Thing 1 and Thing 2. Pictures will be added later.
Well, this is a start. Hope to get my writing up to speed as this becomes a habit. Happy Saturday!
Christmas Hat Day
Mandatory good cheer on our annual shopping trip to buy for each other
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag...
As some of you may know, but a lot (including my employer), may not yet know, there are some huge changes on the horizon for the Russell/Wilson clan. The biggest change TO ME is the fact that I have decided to resign my position as a Deputy Sheriff. This has been a decision that has been a very long time coming. For those of you who may think that Brent has somehow talked me in to giving up my career, I assure you that I practically begged him to let me quit. The long and the short of it is this: When I started in this job I couldn't believe that I actually got paid to do this. Now you just can't pay me enough. I am very excited at the thought of going back to school and my oppurtunities seem limitless right now. I have gathered experiences in my almost 9 year career that could take me in so many different directions. I say that giving up my career is the biggest change to me because this is not a typical J-O-B, as much as we would sometimes like it to be. Imagine being introduced in some form or fashion as Micca-she's-a-cop for 9 years. Or strapping on a gun, no matter where you are going, without any thought of whether or not it's permissable to carry. Of being in plain clothes with your kids at the playground and seeing someone getting beaten up and stepping up like you're Batman, defending someone's honor, then realizing you no longer have the authority to back it up. I never lived for that kind of thing, but when it's no longer there? It takes some getting used to.
Of course, the biggest change is EVERYONE ELSE is the fact that we are moving back into the Prairie City house and that Dade is starting in a new school district after the first of the year. He has been very resistant to that and, I suppose, most of that is my fault. We always want to create a sense of security and belonging in our children and I have helped Dade's fondness for Dee-Mack Primary grow. After about a week of discussing the possibility of moving, he asked me, "I thought you said my school was the smartest?" My own words came back to haunt me. I had told him that we had moved to Deer Creek for the school district, because I thought that it was the best in the area. The teachers are wonderful. In fact, we've never had a bad experience there.
I told him how Grandpa Steve was a Principal for years at B-PC, how smart everyone there was, too. We all worked for weeks on him. Aunt Bridget, Grandma & Grandpa, Brent, Jax, Johnny, all of my family. Everything we could think of, still the quivering lip and but, I love MY school. He would tell me before the trips to Bushnell that he knew his school was the best, but he wouldn't tell Jax, because he didn't want to hurt his feelings. Gradually, he came around and started to like the idea of getting to paint his room Army green. But, the clincher came when he found out that the bus picked him up at the house. That was it, the deal was done, good bye Dee-Mack Primary. Kids!
Drake & Ashtyn were thrilled with the idea! I was so excited to see them so happy. Drake even asked if "we get to do 50/50 custody," like it was actually the kids who share custody of the parents and not the other way around. I'm just thrilled at the idea of having us all under one roof more often & closer together. Having the kids at the same school events. Being part of a community, the way it was when I was growing up.
Brent's deployment has definately brought a lot of things into perspective for us. Believe me, last year, the idea of giving up my paycheck would have made both of us shriek with laughter. But, we've both found out that whoever said that if money fixes it, it's not a problem is right. When I didn't have any, I didn't believe them. We don't have a lot now, either. But, I see the point. My family is what I need. Once my husband gets home, I'm not letting go. Ever. Hold onto what you have. Don't complain about the little things. That's what you will miss the most. When I came home from the airport that first day, I didn't want to ever throw away the empty Diet Pepsi can or wipe the whiskers from the sink. The day I started missing him popping his toes, I knew I was a nutcase.
Anyway, with Brent in transit over the next month, I promise to be more diligent about posting. Please keep us all in your thoughts during his travels.
Of course, the biggest change is EVERYONE ELSE is the fact that we are moving back into the Prairie City house and that Dade is starting in a new school district after the first of the year. He has been very resistant to that and, I suppose, most of that is my fault. We always want to create a sense of security and belonging in our children and I have helped Dade's fondness for Dee-Mack Primary grow. After about a week of discussing the possibility of moving, he asked me, "I thought you said my school was the smartest?" My own words came back to haunt me. I had told him that we had moved to Deer Creek for the school district, because I thought that it was the best in the area. The teachers are wonderful. In fact, we've never had a bad experience there.
I told him how Grandpa Steve was a Principal for years at B-PC, how smart everyone there was, too. We all worked for weeks on him. Aunt Bridget, Grandma & Grandpa, Brent, Jax, Johnny, all of my family. Everything we could think of, still the quivering lip and but, I love MY school. He would tell me before the trips to Bushnell that he knew his school was the best, but he wouldn't tell Jax, because he didn't want to hurt his feelings. Gradually, he came around and started to like the idea of getting to paint his room Army green. But, the clincher came when he found out that the bus picked him up at the house. That was it, the deal was done, good bye Dee-Mack Primary. Kids!
Drake & Ashtyn were thrilled with the idea! I was so excited to see them so happy. Drake even asked if "we get to do 50/50 custody," like it was actually the kids who share custody of the parents and not the other way around. I'm just thrilled at the idea of having us all under one roof more often & closer together. Having the kids at the same school events. Being part of a community, the way it was when I was growing up.
Brent's deployment has definately brought a lot of things into perspective for us. Believe me, last year, the idea of giving up my paycheck would have made both of us shriek with laughter. But, we've both found out that whoever said that if money fixes it, it's not a problem is right. When I didn't have any, I didn't believe them. We don't have a lot now, either. But, I see the point. My family is what I need. Once my husband gets home, I'm not letting go. Ever. Hold onto what you have. Don't complain about the little things. That's what you will miss the most. When I came home from the airport that first day, I didn't want to ever throw away the empty Diet Pepsi can or wipe the whiskers from the sink. The day I started missing him popping his toes, I knew I was a nutcase.
Anyway, with Brent in transit over the next month, I promise to be more diligent about posting. Please keep us all in your thoughts during his travels.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Starting Over
My intent after the first long break in my blogging was to catch everyone up on what has gone on in our lives, such as the end of the school year, starting of summer lessons, and other such activities. Well, I've pretty much given up on that, what with school starting in less than a month. Or, FOREVER, as Dade says. He just can't wait until the school year starts (school clothes are purchased, as well as school supplies, with his bag packed and ready to go). July is never ending for him, and I must say, I really do agree.
For some reason this month has seemed to drag on in our house. Now, I know this is not the case for most. As is typical, most everyone I speak to has said that the summer has flown by. I guess when I look back, I do tend to agree. But, the days seem to drag on for me. I would love to be the bubbly, upbeat military spouse who puts on a good front for her husband, but that's just not me. Brent & I are too close for that. Not only would I feel incredibly guilty for lying to him, but he would see right through me. That's not to say things are terrible for me. Just really hard at times.
I work, sleep, spend as much time as I can with the kids, and consider it a victory to keep laundry clean and the kids and myself fed somewhat healthily. And, I guess, for a minimum, that's not too bad. Stress has gotten to me physically and I haven't been able to keep myself healthy, which is why the gloomy tone today, LOL. I really am happy and cheerful most of the time, I just miss Brent more than words can convey. It's hard to explain how the little things, like sitting on the couch, with his arm around my shoulders on a bad day, make me ache so. On the plus side, I don't think that I will ever take for granted the special relationship that we have. I look forward to the rest of our life together and I do realize that this is just a small bump in the road.
Another week and a half and we are headed to Six Flags and a Cubs game. Go Cubbies!!!! My family's enthusiasm for the Cubs has officially rubbed off on the kids and they seem to be as excited as I am to get to see them play.
Well, that's enough for today. I can't promise I'll get any better about the regular posts, only that I will try.
For some reason this month has seemed to drag on in our house. Now, I know this is not the case for most. As is typical, most everyone I speak to has said that the summer has flown by. I guess when I look back, I do tend to agree. But, the days seem to drag on for me. I would love to be the bubbly, upbeat military spouse who puts on a good front for her husband, but that's just not me. Brent & I are too close for that. Not only would I feel incredibly guilty for lying to him, but he would see right through me. That's not to say things are terrible for me. Just really hard at times.
I work, sleep, spend as much time as I can with the kids, and consider it a victory to keep laundry clean and the kids and myself fed somewhat healthily. And, I guess, for a minimum, that's not too bad. Stress has gotten to me physically and I haven't been able to keep myself healthy, which is why the gloomy tone today, LOL. I really am happy and cheerful most of the time, I just miss Brent more than words can convey. It's hard to explain how the little things, like sitting on the couch, with his arm around my shoulders on a bad day, make me ache so. On the plus side, I don't think that I will ever take for granted the special relationship that we have. I look forward to the rest of our life together and I do realize that this is just a small bump in the road.
Another week and a half and we are headed to Six Flags and a Cubs game. Go Cubbies!!!! My family's enthusiasm for the Cubs has officially rubbed off on the kids and they seem to be as excited as I am to get to see them play.
Well, that's enough for today. I can't promise I'll get any better about the regular posts, only that I will try.
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