One crazy summer!

I haven't written all summer, because things have just been so crazy.
We moved to Middletown, Rhode Island. To the monstrosity I call home. Eric started school, which has been way more work then I ever thought possible. The kids have been on extended summer break because school here doesn't start until September ninth.
I have been back and forth to South Jersey, yeah! We are only four and a half hours away. Applied for a teaching job, then looked into daycare to find that it would cost me money to teach. I nicely declined the interview and continue to chug on.
I met the neighbors and some of the other wives, shopped the commissary, and the Navy exchange. We walked the cliff walk and visited the beach.
I started painting again, and taking photo's. Trying very hard to find something to fall in love with here.
We don't have a routine yet, and as soon as school starts, we will. Routine always helps us, and makes life better. Chaos is okay, but in very small doses.

So, I say good bye to summer, and I am always sad saying good bye. I look forward to new routines and new experiences, the cool fall breeze, my favorite colors visiting again. Fresh apples, pumpkins and squash, warm snuggles. James getting to know Halloween for the first time. My favorite plants flowering (Mums) Life is good, and the road never ends.

We're moving on up

The move is on, full force. Eric spoke to a Realtor up in Jamestown today, and as soon as all the crap is out of this house I will be really excited about looking at a new one. Every thing here is finishing up and it has been super hard to say good bye, as it is equally hard to watch my girls say good bye to their friends.
Yesterday Danielle had her end of year program. I knew going it would be a hard morning. She has a special bond with her teacher Miss Noon, she was one of the first students at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Preschool when it opened two and a half years ago, and Miss Noon has been her teacher ever since. She has been such a good positive influence on Danielle. To me also, in my times of very little faith (oh boy I have had a struggle this year) she has been a beacon to me, with out even knowing it. It is a hard time for faith and rarely do you find a woman of true faith living it daily. That is Miss Noon. She is just a special lady with a big heart, when around her it is hard not to feel that love. We will surely miss her, and Beautiful Savior.
With tears in my eyes, as they always are when moving, it is such a stress filled time. With five kids in the mix and a delusional husband it is down right crazy!
Okay so more on my delusional husband. Yes, he spoke to a Realtor in Jamestown today and has it in his head that we can stay in some hotel room until an eight bedroom house opens for winter rental in September. Now wait, he starts school in July. It would be fine, the kids and I could stay at my parents until after labor Day when the girls start school and move in then, but no he wants us to stay together. I understand that, he was gone for fourteen months last year and is only been home since November. But lets call crazy, crazy! So as I am sorting and cleaning, and trashing stuff in our house he is looking at houses to rent on line.
He did in the end get a lot of the stuff we needed to get rid of to the thrift store on base and kinda sorted out the garage. I'll be glad when our stuff is on the moving truck on it's way. Yes, because then the cleaning frenzy will start. Cross your fingers and say a prayer that this house will be clean enough for us to leave next Friday!

Blah, blah, blah!

I haven't been on in a while, just living the dream. So much of my life is just plain boring. Lets see we went up north to my parents for Easter and as always had to spend useless time with my husbands family Easter morning at an over crowded restaurant, thus the useless part, because you could speak to anyone, let alone think. What crap. We went to a very nice happy wedding, with two people much in love. We celebrated Sarah's and my Aunt Ger's birthday and the kids had a ball. Eric my brother and dad caught a Flyers game for Eric's birthday. So much squashed into a weekend.
Back at Fort Campbell, we are getting ready to move to Newport. Much, much stress. Will we be there twelve months, or fifteen or 24 months. Do we rent a house and hope we can go month to month after twelve month lease is up? Do we just move into a smaller twin in the Military housing area? I talked to the woman in charge and she was happy to tell me that they have a four bedroom waiting for us there. A little smaller then the single we have here. Ahhhhh what to do.
Eric had surgery on his ankle, and has went out today for a hair cut, and says he feels pretty good. He did do really well, and we are hoping for a full recovery.
I can tell the kids are a bit stressed, it has to be hard to say good bye, and move on. Danielle has went to the same Pre-school since we moved here, and even know she would be moving on to Kindergarten, it has been very hard for her, she has been questioning me on the move non stop. Luckily a lot of the people here are moving on this summer. We have some great friends that are moving on with us, and a family we are going to reconnect with, that we haven't seen since Italy. Their sons are the same age as Gabby and Kay, they played with them when they where four and two. They don't remember. So it is all good, and the craziness has yet to start.

Whats going on

I haven't written in a while, just here living life. Wiping butts, washing dishes, giving out kisses, and falling on my ass. Well, I wish it was my ass, actually it was my knee, carrying the baby. He hit his head a little, I blocked as much as possible, and my knee got the brunt of the fall. The whole side of my body hurts. Thus the trials of being a mother.
I have been catching up on all my favorite programs, Flight of the Concord, Alice, and The 1 Ladies Detective Agency.
I have been learning some Spanish while watching Alice, and wanting to go to San Paulo. I had said in the past that I would never go to Africa after Eric told me how crappy it is there, but Botswana looks awesome, and I have changed my mind. That is a problem of mine, I love to travel, anywhere anytime, with the kids or without.
I want to move back to Europe, and have mapped out a travel plan if we do. I have a ton of places I want to visit. I have also a small love that has been growing for South America, Peru, being my first love, now San Paulo, Brazil. I have never been there but plan to go some day.
I have reread "Peril at End House," It has been about twenty five years since I first read it. I just love all the twists and turns. Mystery another first love.
I really want to start drawing, painting again. I feel like it has been ages, and I am just wasting my education. I could be doing something, beside making children, my best collaborate works of art. Truly a gift from God.
Well, I have just rambled on and on, but it feels good to write. Next time I will have a theme and stick to it.

To Mom Mom's the world over.

I am trying to get through a hard day. I don't know if it the use of the word Mom Mom or that I have been thinking about my own of late. It always comes a great surprise to me when a Mom Mom dies. It may be that I feel like they should be here with us forever. Giving advice, being outspoken, giving that unconditional love that I so miss, that only a grandparent can give.
I am so happy that my children have a Mom Mom, because I am not sure what it would be like for them without one, "lost." I loved mine dearly. I think the big reason that Eric and I are together today is because the one thing we had in common was that our grandmothers lived with us growing up. We both had many memories of loving Mom Mom's.
So thinking about Brie and her family as they go through much pain. I remembered a poem I had written and rewritten at different times since my grandmother passed, and have decided to share it, and maybe help soften their pain a little.

Healing
You have been dead for almost a year now; the time of death echoes within my soul, the dusty moments before the first rays of sun reached the earth. I have not forgotten, my prayers had finally reached the heavens.
Dressed in pink silk, I go through the emotions. Tear drops fall like a warm spring rain, deep inside until I over flow with pain.
I breathed in fresh smell of the flowers, giving me a chance to breath out the pain.
The sun bright, shined over everyone who attended, and the air itself was warm for March.
The music, the stupid music played until every last rose was placed on the casket.
I thought hopelessly I had lost you forever. I searched myself for every memory I had of you; so it would be constant, as if you never left. The sickness, the sadness erased. Returning to all the places we visited, touched, some how trying to let go and continue on. And finally knowing it would never be the same.
I have thought about you everyday. Naturally some of the words you so often used, I use. I see glimpse of you reflecting back at me in the mirror. My mothers hands, my baby's smell. As you touched each one before they came to me.
Then it occurred to me, finally you are here with me, because in part, you are me.
Sarah Marie McManus Haney "Ada"
March 12 1995

Happy green birthday Kay

Today is St. Patrick's day, it is also Kay-Bee's birthday. My smart, sassy girl turned nine at seven in the morning, and she has been on the hour since. The day she was born I remember watching "Good Morning America," listening to the Irish Tenors. She was born in Florida, like all of my children born in a different State, no two the same. We have moved four times since she was born not to include the year we lived at my parents while Eric was deployed the first time. I am starting to pack everything up to move again. Off to Newport with the "old rich" we should fit in really well there!
Today soccer starts, so no big birthday dinner until the weekend. I am sure it is going to be crazy out there tonight with everyone drinking beer. I am happy the sun is out, and the weather is warm, it is just like Kay out.
Happy St. Patty's day to all that are Irish, and to all who are not.
Cheers big ears!
Tomorrow another day- St. Joseph's day and the proud wearing of the red.
It's a Polish thing.

I was sucked in!

Okay, I was sucked in. Not much is on TV anymore, so what a smart person would do is find something else to do, right. No I saw Tyra and got totally sucked in for two hours. I wasn't alone either, Eric watched on in horror with me. He was actually a lot worse then I was. He kept yelling at the TV, the girls, eat a meal! I don't know why any girl in their right mind would want to model. Oh sure, the money and the glamour, the travel, and the awesome clothes. I watched and watched, the apartment were the girls were staying with about a hundred pictures of Tyra posted all over, and figured out why she was not married and had no kids. There seems to only be room in Tyra's life for Tyra. She knows this and seems pretty up front about it, that's why I have to say I like Tyra, she is entertaining.
I modeled not as a top model. I am only 5'4. My College, Moore College of Art and Design, is were I modeled. I wore five inch heel highs! (What Danielle calls them) I stood for hours while the Fashion Design girls pinned their outfits to me then drew me in it. My favorite was when they dug out the vintage 1920's dresses. They all fit me perfectly, models were build different back then. I loved the material and how the dressed hung so beautifully. It was my highest paying job to date. I made more then a hundred dollars an hour and I would work in three hour spaces. My senior year I was rich! It is my claim to fame. I have done tons of other stuff in my life, better stuff sure, but it is the one thing I have a hard time NOT bragging about!
It is so funny to me how Americans perceive beauty. I learned in an Art History class that some tribes in Africa don't have a word for beauty (as in a persons beauty), and other tribes have many words to describe a persons beauty.
Early on in my College time I made a pact with myself that I would find something beautiful (visually) in every person I drew. It was easy, for me. I really didn't want to fall into the trap I think the Fashion Industry sets out. The mold is set and you are only beautiful if you fit into it.
It was a good habit that is still with me, even though I seldom draw anymore. I like looking at people, I am a visual person, it is great for to see so much of God's beauty everyday.
Last night Tyra was strutting her stuff and my love Nigel photographed the girls with a curling iron as their light source, really crazy. So I got my littlest top model and photographed him with a juice pouch light source. Crazy I know.

My first born turned eleven today.

I just can't believe that Gabby turned eleven today. My tiny breech baby. Were has all the time gone? It is hard to remember when it was just the three of us. Wow, I was still a working woman, working Mom, at first. She was such a sweet baby, learning to walk at eight months. She holds the record in our house. Walking her to Kindergarten, the same one I went to. Eric was deployed and we were staying at my parents. The big tear drops at the door before going in. Precious jewels that will stay in my heart forever. Now a big girl in the fifth grade, such a short journey, I feel like I blinked my eyes and she turned into this young lady of eleven. Today is her day, we will celebrate like the rock star family of seven that we are!

Happy Birthday Henry "Wordsworth" Longfellow

Wow, today is a great American poets Birthday! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, born today in 1807. He was the first American to translate Dante's "The Divine Comedy" Thank you Mr Longfellow!

Peril at End House

Yeah! I just heard on NPR that the house that Agatha Christie my most Favorite Authoress in the whole world, is open on the 28th of February. I wish I could be there for this great event. But alas it is in England just outside of London. So there is no way I'll be there. I did what I could and entered Fear.net $5000.00 contest for a vacation. I have very high hopes of winning! Well, hello, hello, I am now one of her Super Fans so I can keep up with all the news about her. I did recently hear that they are making another movie, this time starring Miss Marple with one of my fav girls from "Skins" Cassie in it. Can't wait to see it. I just found out that there is a new game out, "evil under the Sun." for Wii. You know, the first time I get a chance I will buy that. We have already played out the other two games from AOL. The kids just love them, it is an eye spy type of game, with clues. When my Mother in Law was here last year she played for hours. It was nice, she was able to connect with the kids. So why what is my history with Agatha, well a rich one. In the summer my parents sent me to the shore for most of the summer with my Nan, and her sisters, and my Mom-Mom. They had a Readers Digest collection of leather bond Agatha Christie novels. I would lay on the back porch lounge and read for hours. I was gone from there and was Miss Marple or Poirot solving mysteries and more important going to exotic places. It was truly a wonderful time for me. I was doted over by five woman, and I am so very thankful that I had that beauty in my childhood. Let my share some of my favorites of the collection.
Peril at End House
Then There Was None
Death on the Nile (also a great movie with Mia Farrow playing a crazy love sick girl)
Murder on the Orient Express
I hope you will see now why I have such a great love of England.
"Once an English Lady always an English Lady"

When the snacks are all gone.

So I love this poem by Mark Strand, "When the vacation is over, for good" I can't place a link because I can't find one. A free one that is. If you want to read it, it's in the New Yorker online for a monthly fee. If you get a chance it is a really good poem, better read out loud. I was thinking about it because my kids are always complaining that we don't have enough snacks. Really we do it just that they are the five little piggies! It got me thinking, what about a poem about, when the snacks are all gone, for good. Pretty silly, made me laugh so I'll be blogging my poem. (Not sure if that's the right vocabulary) Well, Jason will tell me. Thank God we found each other on FB, it is so much easier having him correct all my English language problems. (If I was writing French or German he'd also correct that)


When the snacks are gone, for good.



They open the cabinet, they close the cabinet

Where are the crunchy chips? The soft gooey fruit chewy, nowhere to be found

An empty box of sweet Girl Scout cookies, some pretzel salt scatter the shelf

What a sad state

Their little stomachs grumble for some sugar

Ah, not all is lost, way in the back a bag of Halloween candy seven months old

Yummy, yummy, right into the trashy



When the snacks are all gone, for good

My children complain

Their sad mournful faces stare up at me

A funeral for their favorite food

Tears of trans fats drip down their chins

Better choices, better health

Lets have a party, a wake



Here is an orange, sweat and juicy

Some fresh strawberries to put some rose in your cheeks

Bright eyes eat some carrots, crunchy reminds you of the past

Grapes come in many colors try them all chewy, almost gooey

Nothing scattered, nothing wasted

Smiles creep a pound their faces

As they think, lets go to the store and buy some more at last no more

Today

February 21, 2009
Thanks to Brie, and her beautiful blog, I am ready to go. Wish me luck. I hope I am not a bore!
-I was up at five thirty this morning to take Gabby to the Room at the Inn. A homeless shelter in Clarksville to make breakfast for the people staying there. It is the second time this month that we have done this. I have to say for me it was better then going to church. To help make one day easier for these people was a great feeling. Gabby's Girl Scout troop did this last winter also but because of the economy being as bad as it is the numbers have doubled. So we volunteer to bring the food and cook it up for them before they have to hit the road at seven. What I learned is, that these homeless people go from one church to another. Every night that it is to cold to sleep on the street. I felt sick. I have never know this life, or really even thought about this life. Being so close to Philly I became immune to the homeless of the city. Just a back ground, a step around the vent to get to the sidewalk. Gabby doesn't get it at all, I guess I can't say anything about that because I just got it. As with most things in my life, "I am just getting it now." I am thankful that I have never had to spend one night on the street. My wish for the world is that everyone would have a home.