Sleepless Nights

I'm learning it just comes with the territory of being a military spouse. There are just nights I can't sleep. No particular reason, and in my head I know soon he'll be gone for a month and I will wish I had him in bed to snuggle with.... but tonight I'm up while he's sleeping away.

I've visited facebook. I caught up on some bow stuff.... not too much since I'm supposed to be "off" for two weeks. I caught up on blogland. I've missed blogland. I've been so busy lately I haven't had time to keep up with blogs I once checked 2-3 times a day.

Christmas is right around the corner, and I guess it makes me more sentimental.
My heart goes out to friends with kids in the hospital. They will likely spend Christmas there. I'm humbled by their outlook and positive nature. I'm reminded of how lucky we are to have what we do. That Logan is doing so well this year, that our hospital is so close when we need it.
My heart hurts for my friends whose husbands/wives are deployed and are spending Christmas without their loved ones. I hope next year I'm as strong as they are!

I'm glad we are close enough to family that visiting isn't unrealistic. It's nice to know that if need be, we could be there in a day, or them here. I'm glad I've made so many wonderful friends, to help fill in the void of not having family closer. I'm thankful to the friends who are far, but keep in contact as though we were still around the corner from each other.

I'm excited for the new year. To be able to watch my children grow, to be home with them, to be able to earn money doing something I love. I hope that we are able to find all the time we need with Dustin before he leaves and that we may be a stronger, happier, better family as an outcome of him deploying.

The Nutcracker

So.... I totally can't wait to watch the DVD of the preformances. It was that good.

I wish I knew how to take better pictures in the dark. With the flash off (had to be) it's nearly impossible.

Jacey did so well.... and was there for 6 hours. That's a long time for a little girl to be in a dressing room! LOL We brought a bag with toys and snacks, and there were lots of big girls to take care of them too. Including the Finale, Jacey was in three parts.

Here are some pics:

Getting ready






And Madame Ginger and the BonBons






And in Santa Baby, Finale, and after:

Update time!

It has been brought to my attention (a few times) I'm neglecting my blog again.

Oops! Sorry!

I just took a peek at the last post, from way back in October...

So... a quick recap, then loads of pics! Ready?

ME:
While Dustin was in the feild I "hired" a bow "employee". Our hubbies work together, so were both gone, and we really enjoyed the company. I put her straight to work. I taught her almost everything I know about the bow world. We worked like crazy to get ready for a big show... had an even bigger bow sale online, and laughed WAY too much. The parenthesis are because I pay her in posies... and cheap babysitting... and food.

I had a great birthday. I'm old. I got to do everything I wanted to do and wouldn't have done it any other way!

I am way too busy... and am now acknowledging that my bow hobby has become a bow business. This also means it's gone from "enjoyable way to pass time" to "I have work to do". I still love it... most days. ;)

Logan:
Still doing well in 7th grade.... hooray! He's super awesome in Tae Kwon Do, and will be testing for his Orange Belt this weekend. His health has been awesome, although we are entering into the "lying about taking meds" phase I think a bit too early. He also seems to be thinning out, typical for him in the winter months for some reason.

Gavin:
Is still Gavin. He cracks us up! He's doing outstanding in 3rd grade! He's got the best teacher for him. He is also doing well in TKD, but lacks some of the enthusiasm his brother has for it. He still really enjoys it, and can preform it very well... but it's getting to be a much harder level and he seems intimidated by the challenge. Gav was also awarded the Prince title in 2 pageants. Go GAV!

Jacey:
She still runs this house. She is in preschool 4 days a week. Four glorious afternoons a week. She is also enrolled in a hip hop class, a ballet combo class(ballet/jazz/tap) and will be perfoming in her studios Nutcracker Sweet and Sassy. We tried to plan grandparents trips around this... and it just didn't work despite our best efforts. Right now, Jacey is dancing 5 days a week, up to 6 hours a day. And she still loves it! Jacey has also been doing a bit of modeling work for online boutiques... a very little bit, but it's just fun! She also placed in 3 pageants, taking Princess in the most recent with her brother getting Prince.

Dustin:
Seems to be playing the sit back and let life happen, cause it's not possible to make a choice with given information. What's meant to be will be. He will be gone the month of January. His promotion paper work is still wrong. He is re enlisting in a couple weeks for an additional 2 years.

Okay..... pics pics pics.... don't say I didn't warn you.








Pumpkin patch fun







Gavin was a Zombie, Logan a Hobo, and Jacey was an Owl.
Duke was a Princess....



Okay.... those are the pics I have on this computer <3 My laptop died :(

He's Almost Home

I've just gotten back into the habit of sleeping alone. Of course... he comes home in about 4 days. Oh, yeah and I'm sick too. So fun.

So it's been a pretty un eventful 3 weeks that Dustin's been away. He should be back just in time to celebrate my birthday weekend. Big Birthdays= Long celebration. My actual birthday is on saturday. My big plans for the day include sleeping in, pumpkin patch, taco truck for lunch, then dinner and a movie out with the hubby! Exciting right?

More Tae Kwon Do

Today was another big belt ceremony for the boys. They are officially out of the beginner classes and have advanced to intermidiate level.

The first two peices of sparring gear have started coming in so they will be all ready for their first class as purple belts.













We are so happy with the awesome teachers they have! I can't say enough about how wonderful it is here!

In full Swing

Life is in full swing here lately! The kids are all in school... awesomeness!

But that also means 3 kids to get ready and where they need to be on time. Three backpacks to check and billions of sheets of paper to sort through, find homes for, and toss.

Logan is still Mr. Social.. and his teachers all love him. Gavin has an awesome teacher 'for him' this year. She's outgoing, engaging, and fun! She also called and we had a nice long talk about Gav and I'm happy to feel like we are on the same page with all the things that matter for him. Jacey had her teacher wrapped around her finger from the first day on. She's such a people pleaser, and really a well behaved kiddo.

My bows have exploded. I'm definately overwhelmed at the amount of "work" it's turning into. I wouldn't trade it for anything though!! I hope it holds steady for a while.

Dustin is planning not to reclass yet, and stay with his unit through the deployment. More on that when we know anything. Or if he changes his mind... again. He is still in the process of fixing his problems with his rank. What an ordeal to get anything going in the army. I just shake my head... nothing I can do about it.

Duke is good. He's getting big and still makes me crazy. Sometimes I wonder what I was on when I decided to get a dog. He sure keeps us all busy. Can't wait for the puppy stage to be over so we can enjoy him.

Jace is still in 2 dance classes. She is on and off with them though. Some days she loves it... others, half way through class she melts down and cries. Silly girl. She hasn't wanted to stop so we'll see how it goes. The boys are still excelling in TKD. They test for their purple belts on thursday. I hope the expense slows down now. In september alone- we spent about $600. That's one month tuition for two kids, sparring gear for two kids, and testing fees for two kids. It all equals broke parents. Right before the holidays. Love it!

Speaking of holidays- we don't really have much planned for them ;)
Thanksgiving will just be us, unless we find someone to invite. Christmas will just be small and at home, because we leave the next Monday for our "big" gift.

I Know I know....

I really do try to keep bow stuff to bow pages, and not here in my private page. But just as anyone who got a promotion at work would carry over that good news, I want to share this!

I was contacted a couple weeks ago by a mom who's daughter is a child model. She loved the shabby posies and really wanted to work with me. In exchange for a great deal on some shabby posies, I get to use these to advertise. She also tags me in her photos so her friends know where to find the goodies!








AND THESE!