Week of Nothingness

We have had more than a full week off from school, and I can't even begin tell you how I have filled the many endless hours. Although there has been lots of sleep and lots of books, I am at a loss for additional details. With the exception of yesterday's events, the past two weeks have all become a blur for me.

It has been so cold here in Georgia that I have not been able to tolerate any activity outdoors. The thirty degree temps haven't prevented the boys from being outside and playing a rowdy game of football, but I have remained indoors since the snow fall late Christmas Day. Yes, we did have a white Christmas right here in the middle of Low Country.

Yesterday, on our way to post, I explained that warmer temperatures were expected by the end of the week. So warm, in fact, that we would probably be outside in shorts. That simple word. Shorts. Started the boys clapping and squealing with joy all the way to post. All six miles were filled with cheers and clapping. I almost lost my hearing in both ears, but I was so happy with the news myself that I couldn't put an end to the celebration. No doubt the pawn guard thought I had a couple of "special" children because the boys continued to clap all through the gate.

I can't even begin to understand why I once thought a move to Bavaria, Germany or Fort Carson, Colorado would be a good fit for my family.

When we finally made it to the commissary to pick up a few ingredients for the famous Pagel Taco Soup, the boys walked hand-in-hand through the aisles drawing attention to themselves with their wearing full football gear and pulling dares on each other that included various references to potty humor and eating mayonaise sandwiches. Clearly this was not a day of bribes. All the while, I stood in the dairy aisle debating the necessity of real butter in chocolate chip cookies. I decided to give Land of Lakes a try, and after last night's batch, there is no turning back.

I can't even begin to understand why I once thought the absence of real butter would make a difference in the family cookie recipe.

The long afternoon was filled with the dismantling of the Christmas tree. I carefully wrapped every ornament and every Christmas dish because just as soon as I don't, we will have orders to move. All seven of the red and green storage boxes were carried from the attic, filled with Christmas decore, and then stacked nicely at the bottom of the steps to the attic in hopes that they would actually be placed in the attic by the end of January. I didn't even begin to touch the Christmas lights hanging on the roof line.

I can't even begin to understand why I once thought the hanging of Christmas lights would be a good idea for a family whose husband is either away at school or at some death scene just about every waking hour.

And to think this is how my life has transpired the past week - just full of deep thoughts. When I asked Evan what he thought about two full weeks with nothing to do, he said, "There has been a lot of no thinking going on." 

Santa's Big Surprise

This clip definitely says we are living in Georgia. Listen to that accent!

It makes complete sense that Keagan would be screaming with excitement, and Evan would say in a quiet, calm voice, "Just what I wanted."

Meanwhile, we have had this going on all morning.

The neighbors love us.

Christmas Eve

We began the day opening gifts from our family back in Texas. 

Evan's Bakugan Colossus. 

Keagan's Batman Joker Cave to go with his Batman Cave. Oma wrapped it in an old Vaporizer box, and Keagan has never been so disappointed to open a present. "Oma, why did you do this to me? I want toys; not medicines! I'm not even sick!" 

Much to my family's misgivings, we do have a Longhorn fan living among us. 

I will leave you, though, with this. At least I know that if this whole sports thing doesn't work out for Keagan, he has the big stage.

And that's a wrap! Merry Christmas!

Just Bribe Them

They were so good in the commissary today. There were no fights over who would push the buggy. No one begged for Reeces Christmas trees or Captain Crunch. No one wrestled in the produce section, and they even went so far as to help me unload the buggy at the check-out counter instead of browsing the headlines of Army Times and drooling over the candy rack. So I let them open one gift early.

Yes, from time to time, I do bribe the boys. Used in moderation it can be very successful in yielding positive results. Today is one such example.

Alligator Farm

We wrapped up our trip to Florida with a morning trip to the Alligator Farm. I'm not quite sure why the photo op included a tortoise, but these pictures turned out better than anything that had an alligator in the background.

If I had known that millions of alligators lurking through a swamp would bring such joy to my little boys, then I would have gladly avoided the entire Kung Zhu fiasco and the struggle I had on aisle 31 of Target last month trying to score a Kung Zu Battle Arena. I would have spent two days at the alligator farm to avoid the mess with toy rats that wear shields and battle for supremacy in an octagon - even if it meant forty degree weather and a komodo dragon had to accompany the alligators in a Florida swamp.



I think it's safe to say that the boys loved the alligator farm, and Keagan deemed this year's trip the "best Christmas trip ever!"

I'm hoping the plush rats and the battle arena bring the same level of joy on Christmas morning.

I Had Good Intentions

Dear New Neighbor One Street Over,

We wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood, and since it is the week before Christmas, we thought Christmas cookies and candy would be an appropriate way to welcome you to Parish Crossing. I made peanut butter balls yesterday afternoon. I made three dozen and the Hershey kisses melted just perfectly in the middle of the peanut butter. Unfortunately, they were eaten this morning when I thought I would sleep in on this, my second day, of Christmas vacation. It seems my two little boys decided they made a healthy breakfast choice. 
I also made a large batch of chocolate fudge. It took me a good half hour to boil the sugar and butter combination, and I stirred it non-stop for a full four minutes - something I usually have little patience for. Imagine my surprise when I found that it actually set into a real batch of fudge. However, this afternoon, after a game of football in the yard, the boys, my own including the neighborhood boys, came in for a snack. This is what I found in the kitchen when they returned to the yard.

I am not predicting much success with the sugar cookies either. They are my favorite after all.
However, we have a daily game of football taking place in our front yard pretty much 24/7. Please join us one day this week.

Merry Christmas and Welcome!

Eyeliner and Football Brackets

I play sports. I watch sports. I like sports. However, if I must endure one more story or monologue from Evan about some random football headline, then I might lose it. I really don't care that the Kansas City QB was/is (I don't even remember because I was trying to find my happy place about mid-story) out for emergency surgery. I don't need to know the records of every NFL football team. Although, I think I was told this week that the North Carolina Panthers have the worst. I didn't even remember they were a team until it was brought to my attention on Saturday. Frankly, I could care less if the Bears or the Vikings win Monday night's football game.

But it doesn't end with the endless headline recaps or various pieces of trivia. The boys have countless brackets and score cards written on crumpled paper lying all over the house. I am doing at least a load of laundry a day to keep their multiple uniform changes for every hour clean. We have miniature helmets set up in a bracket on the dining room table, and Keagan constanly raids my make up bag for black eyeliner so that he can draw blackout stickers under his eyes. 

This morning I was awakened at the terrible hour of 7:58 with, "Mom, can we go outside to play football?" When I said no, Evan took it in stride and then went to the living room and turned on Sports Center in a volume level reserved for nursing homes. The same headlines heard on TV will no doubt be repeated within the day, in between uniform changes and drinks of water, because it will be assumed I was able to sleep through all that noise and didn't catch it the first time around.

Oh, who am I kidding? I do find it all a bit endearing. Otherwise, I wouldn't have this awaiting the boys on Christmas morning.

With blackout stickers included, my eyeliner will now remain in its rightful place: my make up bag.

A Perfect Fit

A couple of months ago, when I tried to reassure myself that teaching elementary school on a military installation would be a perfect fit for me, I made a list of all of the reasons why teaching the little ones was so great. In that list, I totally forgot that your students like you and are eager to show you how much they like you.

Today I was completely blown away when a little girl used her two dollars to buy me a Christmas gift from the PTA holiday shop. This is the same little girl that will PCS to Germany in January, and she doesn't have one pair of shoes with solid soles. Her poor little feet will be frozen walking around in six inches of snow. This is the same little girl that wears t-shirts with holes and pants a size or two too small.

And she remembered me with a gift.

I am honored.

Again, I was without words when another boy told me he would be moving in the spring when his mom has made plans to separate from the military. He said his mom is saving up to buy a new car (they currently don't have any transportation unless a friend drives the family of six some place), and as a result, the five kids would probably go without gifts this year. When I asked what he thought about this, he told me it was okay because at least they would be together. He said, "It could be worse. My mom could be in Iraq."

Another student used his allowance to buy me a necklace. It has a silver charm in the shape of a snail with tiny pink stones. It is really meant for a seven year old girl, but I will wear it with pride. It is beautiful in my eyes.

These past few months have made me realize that military kids are the absolute best kids. They live often in difficult situations and yet they almost always have the most generous hearts and the best outlook on life.

Christmas Break = Christmas Trip

Christmas Break is here! For two full weeks we have no basketball, no homework, and no schedule to keep. 

Every year we try to take the kids on a small weekend trip prior to Christmas; our intention is to spend time together, experience something new, and just get-a-way from the stress of the holiday. We also use the trip as a family gift; it replaces toys and "things" that no one really needs. It is one of my favorite family traditions. 

This year we chose Saint Augustine, Florida.

Stop #1: Fountain of Youth
I drank the water that bubbles from a rock, and I'm holding fast to the idea of the magical waters keeping me young. At the very least, I am hoping it keeps me from finding any more gray hairs this week.

Stop #2: Castillo
I've seen so many forts in the past four months, that there wasn't much more I would want to know about fortifications. But this one was built by the Spanish and had a cannon firing; we couldn't resist.

Stop #3: Pirates Treasure Museum
This was a wonderful museum about the history of piracy. We shot cannons, raised the Jolly Roger, searched for treasure, and learned about female pirates. It was all very fascinating.

Stop #4: Ripley's Believe It or Not
Boys loved it. It's an hour of my life I will never get back. 

Stop #5: Santa Train Through Nights of Lights

We took the Santa train through the downtown area that is decorated with Christmas lights, and we stopped at Santa's Workshop to make snow and crafts. The evening was topped off with a visit with Santa.

We arrived having no idea that we would have so much fun. It has been a perfect get-a-way.

This and That

I have a million little tid-bits I want to write about, and although I could try to make a separate blog for each, my story lines get lost between cleat rescue 101: what to do when shoes get stuck on the roof, meal preparation number 7 for the day, and endless battle cries of "In Your Face, Sucker!"

So here it goes.

If you are ever in Savannah during the month of December, you must see "The Journey". It is an interactive story celebrating the birth of Christ hosted by one of the local mega-churches, and it is fantastic - even if you happen to attend with another 1800 people or so.

Basketball season is upon us and filling our every last free hour. I relented to the endless pleas to play, and I fully expected Evan to be blown off the court with a bunch of little Michael Jordans on his team. Instead, I was blown away to find Evan was actually good. He is the tallest player by at least three inches, and if it weren't for his ceaseless yells of "Pass, Pass!" to all of his teammates, then it would actually be enjoyable to watch him play. The other parents have now begun to refer to Evan as "The Boy Who Always Yells Pass"; the only Michael Jordan-esque playing we got going on is Evan's tongue hangin' out of his mouth with every dribble of the ball. Our first game is in January; please let us win just one game.

Despite the version created on the television show NCIS, there is nothing glamorous about being a criminal investigator for the military. Especially when your husband comes home and says, "Don't touch those clothes. They have a murder victim's blood all over them." Even more so when I spend the next three days stepping over them because touching them does seem worse than having them sit in the middle of my laundry room.

Yesterday I stood in line behind Keagan to board a trolley in Savannah, and Keagan stepped to the side, and said, "Ladies first." I boarded first, and then when it came time to get off the trolley, he stepped aside to let me out of my seat first. I have no idea where he learned this, but Puffy Hair Girl has made quite the catch!

Yesterday Keagan also told me, "Mom, I don't need any Christmas presents as long as I have you with me." Puffy Hair Girl, step aside. Let it be known that you have caught a Mama's Boy, and because I am perfectly okay with this, don't expect it to change anytime soon.

Saint Nickolas Day

The boys awoke this morning to find Wes's combat boots filled with goodies. After eight years, the tradition we brought with us from Germany continues. Long gone are the coveted Thomas the Train days. This year's special boot stuffer? Pokemon cards!

It's Just Ludacris!

On Sunday, Evan was invited to a birthday party on post at one of the bowling alleys. He needed a present. I needed an Estee Lauder product, and there is only one place in Hinesville that sells them both. Thankfully, it isn't Wal-Mart.

And so we headed to the PX. Usually this isn't a big deal, but the entire weekend included "Welcome Home" celebrations for the 1st BCT. The PX parking lot was partitioned off for ice skating, bounce houses, photos with Santa, face painting... in other words, craziness. Everyone, even those not associated with 1st BCT, was looking for something to do - something other than browsing the aisles of the local Wal-Mart - so it was CROWDED!!!

Despite the people, we had to stop in the PX. I noticed the long lines at the front gate (about half a mile away). I noticed the MWR stage. I heard the loud noise. But none of it kept me from my mission: Estee Lauder foundation is a must in winter. Evan and I pushed our way through the parking lot, and finally found our way inside the building when we noticed a line of people wrapped around the food court, interspersed through random kiosks selling Lord knows what, and even into the front of the store where women's clothing sits for sale. There we saw huge cameras, television crews, and news reporters. MPs and county police officers were standing everywhere.

I tapped a young African American girl on the shoulder and asked, "What's going on?"
She asked, with one eye on her camera and one eye down the aisle through boys' clothing, "Girl! You don't know! It's ludicrous!"
I responded, "Yeah, it's crazy, but why?"
She said, "You a white girl. You probly don't know. Girl, it's Ludacris! The singer! He be here any minute!"

Here I was in a crowd of people way bigger than the crowds at the Shangri La Chinese Acrobats Show. I think it might have even rivaled the crowds waiting to see Chuck Liddell. I was in way over my head, but my need for Lucidity Natural Beige was so great, I couldn't back out. Not now.

Evan and I meandered our way to the make-up counter and got ready to check out. Just then we heard loud cheering, and people started going crazy jumping up on shelves and displays of Coke to catch a glimpse. I was there and decided I might as well, too. Evan and I elbowed our way back to the crowds, and I saw three black guys. I had no idea which one was Ludacris. That's when my wise friend, the one I approached upon entering the store said, "Oh, he be prettier on TV. In real life he so short."

I looked at Evan, and asked, "Do you see him?"
He responded, "What's the big deal? It's a short brown dude!"

I agreed. So we took our Lucidity Natural Beige, our birthday present, our Transformers gift bag, and we headed for the check out line. We were the only ones actually purchasing so we didn't wait long.

Let me tell you that experience was just Ludacris!

O Christmas Tree

Guess what was in Keagan's take-home folder this week?

No, it wasn't another phone number.

Worse.

Another family art project.

After a week of designing a costume for a paper turkey, we now have to decorate a paper Christmas tree.

Keagan's teacher must have it in for me.

Do you know how hard it is to twist foil to look like silver garland, and then get it to stick to construction paper?

I am plotting some type of revolt if we are required to decorate a bunny at Easter.