Almost Halfway plus Cooper and Me and the Military Book Review

I stood in the hallway drinking my morning coffee, gazing into the kid’s room. As I quietly watched them play, I couldn’t help but to think of how incredibly blessed I am. Despite the evils and negativity of the world, conflict and troubles, I have all I need within these four walls of our home. My babies. They have been my glue through this deployment. And I’m sure without them keeping me grounded and my mind occupied, someone would have locked me up and thrown away the key because I would have broken, fallen apart, and gone completely nuts months ago.

I’ve given them extra care, extra snuggles, extra kisses, and extra attention (hence the reason why my blog has been quite lately), and yet it’s exactly what I’ve needed too. I’ve needed those extra snuggles and I’ve needed those extra kisses. They are my rock and I am theirs.  

I’m not sure when it happened, but as we speak, the healing process is in the works. I’ve been sad, felt helpless, cursed the government, grieved the absence of my husband, and now…it’s time to heal. As the days go by, the more inspired and optimistic I become. Perhaps it’s the changing of the seasons-- Spring shifting into Summer and knowing that when Summer rolls into Fall, this deployment will come to an end. We’re almost halfway through this deployment-- ALMOST HALFWAY! I’m not sure exactly how you celebrate an almost halfway point, but it needs celebrating, and so we did.

We ventured out to our usual spot --Barnes and Noble, two towns over-- to nestle ourselves between the pages of Mother Goose and American Girl. For nine years, it has been our spot; our place-- different states, different towns, but always ours.

Our book store outing routine is always the same-- hit up the café for a latte for mama, milk for kids. Browse the new releases, the clearance section, and magazine rack, then after my hands are full of goodies, we march to the kids area where we play trains and put on pretend plays on top of the green stained stage. For most people, this may not be exciting, but for us we get our fill of family togetherness with a healthy dose of literary enjoyment.

And speaking of literary enjoyment, we received a book in the mail from Propeller Publishing, called “Cooper and Me and the Military”. As Memorial Day approaches --along with our current deployment-- the timing couldn’t be more perfect.  

Cooper and Me and the Military is a simple worded book making it easy for little minds to read and understand. There is an additional open discussion along with a life lesson section at the back of the book to better help young children grasp the concept of having a deployed family member or loved one who is away serving overseas.

This book serves as an excellent tool to better relate and communicate to my small ones, and to let them know that there are other families experiencing the same long distance relationship with their daddies as we are. Cooper and Me has become part of our nightly reading and a beloved treasure to my children’s library.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

I hope everyone enjoys their Memorial Day! Grill out, drink a beer, and remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Much Love,

Em

Alter your Decisions

This week was killer-- not in the “totally awesome” killer, but in the “gah, that blows” killer. It started off with last weekend a little something like this:

We gathered around for our usual weekend Breakfast Taco dinner, when Krysta said, “Mom, I don’t feel so good.” After several minutes of convincing her to just eat –and all she could do was stare at her plate- I got up and cooked her something bland. Needless to say, moments later she was in the bathroom losing her stomach.

Naturally, Mama Instinct kicked in and I attacked any and all places that harbored the enemy, the flu bug. I did a full on battle raid that would have made Gettysburg look PG. My weapons of choice consisted of bleach, Fabuloso, Febreze, and my trusty ol’ Dyson.  The bathrooms, counter tops, and tile floors quickly surrendered, leaving me with a sigh of victorious relief. And that mountain of dirty laundry? Completely demolished.

I’d love to say that it was all uphill from there, --I was truly hoping for an awesome week-- but a chain of unfortunate events led me down a dark spiraling slide, and I’m finding it hard time finding the light. I spend my days with off again, on again tears, and waking up in a grey fog. I can’t stand it.

After literally staring out the window at pure nothingness, Ron said, “Em, are you going to be ok?”

“No. Let’s go.”

“Where?”

“I don’t know; let’s just go hang at Barnes and Noble.”

So off we went. To Barnes and Noble. Two towns over.

Because two towns over might just be the escape you need.

When homebodying doesn’t fit the bill, I gravitate to Barnes and Noble. I’m not sure why. Perhaps it’s the thousands of delicious books waiting to be thumbed through, or the hissing and gnarling spits of the espresso machines, or my babies’ imaginations longing to soar as we flip through the pages of Dr. Seuss. Either way, we dive head first into a world of non-fiction, and it’s bliss.

You know what else is pure bliss? My girl making Honor Roll… all year, thus far!

We’re two bubbly parents beaming over with joy. We’re so proud of her and all of her hard work.

This was her moment.

Will sat so still during the ceremony --in that same position, to be exact! 

William and Krysta’s birthday party is just around the corner. *squeal*

We made red toadstools and blue birds out of clay today. I’m don’t know what I’m going to use them for (probably will place them around the food table), but it was fun, easy, and a great little project for little hands.

 Little brother was all about some clay. His preferred method of sculpting is clay-in-hand, clay-in-mouth.

It’s now in the still of the morning, Ron is off to work, the kids are still asleep in bed and I’m reflecting on this past week, the last few months, our time in Oklahoma. I’ve concluded that I’m in a funk -a rut on steroids, so to speak. I’m overly emotional and overly tired and I’ve got to get out of the mess. It’s simply chaotic and draining and I’m so over it.

I know I’m sounding like Eeyore, but I’m hoping that if I throw it out there, the universe’s scale will shift and begin to tilt in the opposite direction… in the direction of lighter mornings and softer evenings.

“The consequences of today are determined by the actions of the past. To change your future, alter your decisions today.” ~ Anonymous

It’s Monday. The blackboard mapping out the emotional roller coaster ride has been wiped clean and new blueprints are being drawn up. Let’s rock out this week.

Go and alter your decisions,

Em

It's necessary.

Everyone has their own personal limit, and it just so happened that yesterday I hit mine. I didn’t lose it. I didn’t get angry. I didn’t cry. I just simply walked away. No really, I literally walked away. Perhaps it’s because I’m at the age in my life where I can easily flush the nonsense out of my life, where I can let go and move on to a lighter, more carefree sense of being.

Slowly but surely I’m distressing --knocking out lingering house projects and checking off my blackhole of a to-do list. Just little changes, but it’s the little things that adds up to make all the difference. I feel like my batteries have been recharged. A little less weight on my shoulders. A clear head. A feeling of renewal. Inspired.

And I like this feeling.

As I dug through the boxes labeled “Krysta’s Winter Clothes” and “Fall Décor”, I turned giddy –like schoolgirl crush type of giddy. Dude, it’s Autumn and Autumn is my FAVORITE season. It’s that time of year where I weed through our collected clutter, reorganize, and do away with the unnecessary to make plenty of room for the necessary. And there’s a lot of necessary that needs space in our home --like holiday festivities with loved ones, family meals by candlelight, and movie nights under thick quilts.

A fall food staple

Tulsa

I’ve never given Tulsa, Oklahoma two thoughts. Tulsa is now a necessary. I think of Tulsa everyday, and our friends that live there. And while I don’t make the trip or pick up the phone as much as I should, they still remain in my thoughts.

 Last weekend we tracked out for a weekend visit. We made the plans, bought the tickets, and made the drive out to Discoveryland… only to get chased out by potential tornadoes. After 30 minutes of the most tense oh my God, we’re going to die drive of my life, we made it back safe and sound.

And to think, the evening started out beautiful and peaceful. Mother Nature can be a beast.

Barnes & Noble

Oh yes. Barnes and Noble is completely necessary in the Roe Household. Once a week we set sail to the bookstore and drop our anchors firmly in the sand. We live in our own timezone, and when we’re on our own time frame, we go on any adventure that we please—sometimes it’s to Neverland with Peter Pan, other times it’s down the rabbit hole with Alice. Whether fly up with pixie dust, or fall down a hole to a magical land, we’re bound to have a blast. Because it’s just us. Together.

Academic Award

Krysta has worked so hard this year. She has limited her outside park play, in exchange for multiplication tables and learning words such as, photosynthesis and chronological order. There has been evenings where she studied and read her little patootie off until bedtime. Throughout the years, we’ve pushed her and encouraged her, and hopefully she’ll use the tools we’ve taught her to excel in the classroom.

All of her hard work was recognized this past Friday during an award ceremony as her school.

I’m so proud of my girl!

The Youngest Handsome

Just as it’s important that the biggest of my babes feels special, it’s equally important that the smallest feels just as big. William and I get our mommy-son time midday when our bellies are full from lunch and the sun as hit its peak. We cuddle under heavy blankets to read or watch cartoons or Wills favorite… jumping on the bed. Shhh, we won’t tell dad that part!

Bed jumping is necessary in any childhood memory, everyone knows that!

Haunt the Zoo

We love family outings. Big or small, we’ll take them. This weekend we went to Haunt the Zoo.

It. Was. Packed.

Just to get to the entrance, we waited in line for over an hour. Not to mention, we waited in line for every photo and candy booth. But, was it worth it? Absolutely! It’s always worth when there’s childhood memory making to be made.

Years from now Krysta will say, “Mom, do you remember that one time when we went trick-or-treating at the zoo?” And I’ll smile and say, “Yes”. Because I won’t remember the hours of waiting and the pushing and my bruised feet from other people stepping on them;  I’ll remember my babies smiles and their oh’s and ahh’s and the excitement and anticipation on their wide-eyed faces. Seriously, Krysta’s eyes were the size of quarters. She could barely contain her excitement!

Tonight is a big night for my lovies… It’s Halloween! A perfect ending to October.

Happy Trick-or-Treating,

Em

Still a reason to celebrate.

Every morning I wake up with half-squinted eyes peering open to the sounds of a crying toddler over the bedroom monitor. Every morning I pull William out of his crib, who instantly wedges his head perfectly in the crook of my neck, and every morning, with wobbly knees we scoot downstairs.

As we round the landing of the stairs, we stop for a moment to look out outside to see snow or a pink sunrise or a moose or sometimes just a grey, gloomy, hazy dawn. Once we’re satisfied that it is indeed morning and we are indeed getting up for the day, we proceed the rest of the way downstairs where I’m hit,every morning, by the intense aroma of coffee gurgling in our red coffee pot. Ron brews two cups of coffee for me --rain or shine-- every. single. morning.

Today however, was not like all of my other every mornings. Today my girl and I woke up at the crack of dawn to undergo an EEG. Today my girl was nervous beyond belief, but wore her big girl brave face.

pardon my blurry photo

Krysta has been having random, non-patterned, on and off seizures for the past 3+ years. There’s no rhyme or reason on what causes her to have them; the only thing that’s constant is the actual seizure itself -her eyes roll back, she collapses, and her body does a little shake making her body extremely limp.

We’ve done an EEG before, but the results were unsuccessful. We’re praying that we can find answers, so we can get down to the root of the problem.

 

When your world is shaken up with the not-so-perfect combination of uneasiness, worry, and insecurity, we tightly wrap ourselves into one another.

We are a family. We are entwined together. And we deal with the good, the bad, and the unknown together.

  

In celebration of one step closer to finding answers, we treated the kids to a rare outing to Moose Tooth Pizza, the most delish, overpriced pizza in Alaska, followed by a trip a Barnes & Nobles for new books.

 I'm currently reading "The Fixer Upper" (love Mary Kay Andrews!) Krysta's reading...all the rest!

We tend to find many reasons to celebrate around these parts –birthdays, a lost tooth, a “hey I finished all the laundry”. It’s the good, the bad, and the unknown that makes up life, and that alone is worth celebrating, every day.

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.”  ~Oprah

 Happy Friday!

Em

A farewell to winter.

Spring is just over the horizon. The sunlight is extending its rays across the Alaska tundra, melting away our frozen white landscape and leaving a golden glow on every surface it touches. And in some places if you look really, really, really close, you’ll see the tippy tops of grass blades peeking though, reaching towards the sky.

We enjoy this time of year, the merging of the seasons. The earth awakens with all things new and fresh, like spring’s first rain and baby chicks hatching and cherry blossoms blooming. Of course, at the moment this isn’t happening in Alaska, but the wildlife is making its way down the mountain and feasting on anything it can get its hands on --that is a sure sign that spring is, indeed, on its way.

In honor of our soon-to-be spring, I’m going to wrap up our February and March winter photos that didn’t quite make it onto my blog.

Dashing Through the Snow

This winter, Krysta was part of her school’s cross-country ski team and she loved, loved, loved it! My girl has been zip-tailing it around the bend and kicking up snow as she took long strides with her outrageously long skis. Doesn’t she look fast?

Ballet

Krysta has also been a busy ballerina. The girls have been diligently toe-tapping and tutu-swishing like graceful little swans, all dancing in rhythm of the music.

We have a dance recital coming up in just 7 short weeks; you can bet your hiney that there will be more photos to come.

One word that describes their recital costumes, swoon.

William on the GO

William has been up to his own little happenings. He has taken up a huge interest in books. Sometimes he chews on the books. Sometimes he attempts to rip them. But mostly, he flips through the cardboard pages and rubs his fingers across pictures of fluffy sheep and spotted puppies.

I’m harvesting his love for books by taking regular outings to Barnes and Noble. We did this when Krysta was a toddler --Outback for dinner, Barnes & Noble for lattes, followed by Thomas the Train and books for the kids-- I’m pleased that we're carrying on with our little tradition.

Supermoon

On March 19th, the “supermoon” appeared. The last time the Supermoon came out, I was 11 years old and didn’t give two flips about seeing a moon. Now, 17 years later, I gave way more than two flips about seeing that over-the-top moon. This was a real treat, you guys. Spectacular!

There were some badass photos (pardon my French) taken of the gigantic moon that night. Click here for your viewing pleasure.

Awards

You’re going to have to keep me grounded when talking about my girl’s academic award because I’m simply over-the-moon giddy about this one!

This was her third academic and outstanding citizenship award this year. All of her hard work and all of our hard work pushing her to be-the-best-she-can-be, paid off.

Krysta was just as ecstatic --if not more-- as I was.

Her confidence is soaring high.

overjoyed

This just about wraps up our winter happenings. It truly has been a blessed one.

Here's to a fantastic week and a Happy Spring!

 it's like an upside down ocean