To Nickname, or not to Nickname...

I never had an offical "nickname" as a child. I got called by my twin sister's name, or "twin", anad "half dime" or "Nickle" by my papaw. But, nothing that could be deemed a consistent nickname. I guess I'm just plain Nicole!

But, as my children are growing, I am starting to call them things in my head. No, nothing mean. Just little things that describe their personality and remind me of them.

My oldest is my Fire Cracker! He's 3, and 46 lbs and 45in of pure activity! He has a bit of a temper, and is the king of throwing himself on the floor and using all of his 46 lbs to his advantage. When he stops you STOP!

My middle, and second, son is my Sassy Pants. Yes, sassy pants, meaning that he back talks more and far earlier than his brother ever did. If I say "no", he screams it back at me. If I don't let him have that pen he found in his daddy's uniform pocket, you would think that I had hurt him. If he doesn't want it, he throws it!

My daughter is our Pepper! This one is part family decided because of her middle name which sounds like "cayenne", and other part current personality. At 6 mo old she can go from sweet to spicy in no time! You know, sugar and spice and everything nice? Heavy on the spice part! I guess we know what our little girl is made of.

Someone told me that she just loves budding personalities. I have to admit that I love them too. Not only becuase they are my babies, but because I am seeing things that make them different. And these little names that I call them in my head, may become their nicknames very soon.

 My babies have spirit.....yes they do.....my babies have spirit..... how bout you?

From Pumpkin Guts, to New Beef Cuts

As, you can see my quick trip to the Commisary today scored me and my family some of the first pumpkins of the season! Fall is absolutely my favorite season! I love the colors, smells, and the produce.

Pumpkin. What a wonderful vegetable, and with a 6mo old in our house who is being introduced to all kinds of veggie purees, this gives me an excuse to snag them and cook them up. Although my husband won't complain, as he reaps the benefits of these little beauties too.

I'm so glad we ran on base today!

One perk of the commisary is that meat is a good price, but today I decided to check the reduced meat section. I found a cut of meat that I have never seen, or cooked before....Beef Cheek! Yes, I realize that cows have cheeks, but I didn't stop to think that is was something that you could ask the butcher for.

All my searching came up with one...only ONE...cooking option, Braised. This is fine, as my knowledge of braising meat is quite limited, so I may as well learn it on this. My husband is actually reall intrigued by it, and seemed to think that it's going to be a wonderful experiment....I guess, here goes nothing!

When Real life meets the blog world

So, I have been inspired! Not by any person that I can see, or touch...today anyway...but by a blog that I ran across. The Ugly Homemaker is the name.

Many times blog posts can make everyone else seem like they live in Utopia, and because you have a hard time keeping up with everything that it appears they do while they brush their teeth, you must not be cut from the same cloth. Let me tell you, life happens at our house!

 I get upset with my children and my husband, regularly. I don't like dishes, though I love to cook, and I ask my husband very sweetly every chance I get to do a load for me....PRETTY PLEASE! My laundry is my my never ending story. My oldest is a firecracker who throws lovely tantrums and has started to bite when he gets angry. My middle son loves, "NO", and throws his food on the floor if he doesn't like it. Our daughter is a mommy's girl, and so far very quiet, but I am nursing her so there are moments where I just pray that my older two don't figure out that I left that pen on the counter until I can go get it. And our dog is a devout coward who hates to be outside for more than 1 minute if it is over 68 degrees....we live in OK, all summer it is far above that!

Real life happens! Messes, bumps, and burnt bread. It's never as calm and organized as we want. The garbage doesn't get taken out, you spill coffee on your white rug, and you are doing preschool with a little one who has a resistance to sitting still.

I prefer real life! I love my babies and my husband. We play, we eat, we fight, we get over it! I am blessed beyond all measure!

I actually ran across a little thinkg that I loved and printed off to put in my kitchen....

1st Month of Preschool

Before we had our first child, my husband and I decided that homeschooling was what we wanted for our babies. We both were not satisfied with our experiences in public school as children, and driving past some of the inner city schools, that we are zoned for, it appears that our children will be attending school in a refurbished prison. No kidding, bars on all the windows, brick building, with 8' fences around their play yard. That is NOT what we wanted for our kids.

I started researching homeschool preschool options last year, and I was introduced to ABC Jesus Loves Me. We have been working pretty closely to their curriculum, substituing things that work better for our very busy 3yr old boy.

It has been quite a first month. 2 rounds of sickness, various appointments that interfered with our school schedule, and many other snafus. But, in spite of it all, He has learned! I can see it, and hear it!

My "baby" is talking clearer, asking to "do school", and singing songs. He is a little more patient, and he finally lets me read whole books to him without ripping them out of my hand so that he can "read" them himself. He has discovered the difference between day and night, and he knows "Jesus loves me!", I am one proud momma!

So far his favorite is alphabet work, and he likes the interactive programs that help him to make the letter sounds. And his second favorite activity is art.

I just found some printables that I think he is going to love for next week. One is a Big/Little alphabet matching game, and Dot marker sheets that are fall themed.

I am so glad that God put it in our hearts to teach our children at home! I am astonished by our kids, and how I can be enough for them, even when it comes to their education. His joy in learning makes me feel like a much better mom than I have feeling I was.

On my OWN

I moved from my home when I was 19, and became a live-in nanny for two years. Met my soldier, and got married 3mo after I stopped nannying. And we have been at a base over 1000 miles from any family for almost 4 years.

If we want to see them....we DRIVE! Yes, some of the family from both sides have come to our house and I am very thankful that they feel we were important enough to visit. But, I guess things change.

I talked to one of my family today about my husband possibly deploying within the next 12mo. She was a military spouse, and I appreciate her years of experience, but she REALLY hurt me today!

She told me that she thought my kids and my presence would be a strain on someone else's marriage and potentially my relationships with them and a few other people....WHAT!

I never thought that I was a burden or a sponge before...but I guess I am. I refuse to go where my kids and I are not wanted and even though she was "very sorry she hurt my feelings", there are some things that you say or imply that cannot be undone.

She talked about how having her mother come live with them when they were in the military was such a blessing because she watched the kids, as if I would somehow see how that made her a burden, but that it got harder as her health started failing....no CRAP! People get old!

I am 25, I have three kids 3 and under...but I am not going to make other people watch my kids. I will pay people to do it that WANT to!

I guess, as it seems right now, I only have two options. 1-stay here and be alone with my babies for 6 or 7 mo OR 2- Ask my in-laws if they feel that we would be a burden if we stayed with them. I have never felt more unloved by anyone in my whole life!

How do you go from being wanted to being unwanted when you aren't even around these people but once a year?