V Day 2013

I love my kids! Each one is so very different from the others and each one has their own challenges in life. I'm proud of how they are constantly working hard to make the best of life especially a military life. They're awesome!

Thinking Valentines

V Day is coming up again.  Looking for more ideas for my kids.  Last year I had more time to make homemade crafts.  This year I'm thinking of getting some help from Oriental Trading or Terrys Village.

I might try and trick them into thinking I didn't do anything and then put the decorations up while they're at school.  When they come home they'll have a nice surprise.  Maybe I'll even get them each a doz Krispy Kreme.  They'll love me forever just for the doughnuts.:)

V Day 2012

This year was a little similar to last year but I added love notes for the kids attached to the hearts.  I used scrap paper and glued 2 hearts together and strung them on ribbon.
I didn't have hubby this year to help distract the kids while I worked in our room, so I had to wait until they were all in bed and then work on it.  I had wanted to put v day sticker sayings on the hearts and a few other things but it was late when I finished (nearly 2am) and I was tired.

One almost woke up as I was stringing the garland.  I had to be really quiet and I dropped the whole string and it landed loudly on the floor.

New Month

I need to start looking for a new valentine idea for my kids. Every year I do something different for them when they wake up. Last year was fun. I'll let you know what I find.

Hubby is starting his deployment training and I'm now being forced to think seriously about what I'm going to do to prepare my kids, help them cope, and how to handle major issues that will come up while he's gone- mostly with our oldest.

One will be able to get a driver's licence this fall, will be allowed to start dating, will start a new school year all over again in the fall- it took a lot of coaching to teach him real study skills and to keep focused on the goal of getting into a service academy. Two will hopefully get back into mainstream school- now that we've finally gotten the ADHD in check. Three will continue with Little League this spring, maybe even Basketball in the fall.

But most of all, I'm starting to really think about how we can keep Dad involved in the kids' lives and vice verse. Last deployment I sent him with a bunch of cards and postcards for him to send to the kids for birthdays and just whenever. They really liked that. He'll be sharing a room with two other guys so Skyping maybe not so private. (Note to self: look for a headset with a microphone.)

What do I need? I think I'll be ok if I can make sure I have everything in order (I thrive on order and can't really function when things get too crazy). I need to make sure we keep up with our family prayers and scripture study. I need to make sure things go well at home- possibly taking some time with Two and Three in the evenings to go for a walk, to get out of the house, to talk. I've got a few good friends who I know will help out when/if I need it- one of those another military spouse. This blog may turn into a good form of therapy for me- dealing with a deployment- even though there are so many of those already on the web.

So enjoy the coming posts, or not.. :)

Valentine's Day

      

Traditions

As a military family, constantly moving from place to place, it's important to create some family traditions that you can keep going no matter where you live.  Each year for Valentine's Day, (and much to the chagrin of my husband who every year complains that this is a made up holiday, isn't real, Hallmark made it up to make $$), I make valentine's day fun for the kids.  Sometimes I try to surprise them.  Occasionally I've gone to the school and hidden something in their lockers or desks, or hidden small treats in their lunch boxes.  This year I'm making valentine garland to hang from their doorways, so that when they wake up and open their doors they'll see a curtain of hearts- pink and purple and red for my daughter of course, but light blue, green and true blue for the boys.  Most years I get a small stuffed animal for the kids, and this year I found some nice ones- each one different from the other- to hang from their doors as well. 
Traditions, no matter how silly or serious, can make memories that will last forever no matter where you lived.