Say What? One Month Gone!!

We got through the FIRST month y'all!! 

GIRLS: It wasn't horrible (yeah right, it was a f*^&^*% MESS), there were lots of tantrums, from each of us, along the way. They fought me constantly, broke me into little pieces. I cried, and got over it. Sorta. I felt powerless some days but had to keep on keepin' on. It's that shitty part of NOT having your other half to help relieve you from all the drama. I mean, SERIOUSLY, some days I don't know how the hell I got through it all. They broke down, I broke down for an entire week. It was just emotional but it's DONE. 

MARRIAGE: I'm thankful that we have been able to "chat/communicate" every single day since he left. One of the perks to being married to an IT. I 'tried' to keep my bitchin' to a limit, i REALLY did. I knew he was having a tough time too. He wasn't home to help  enjoy his girls/family. And, A LOT happened with family, that made it harder. It's been an emotional time, and I'm sure he kept busy, just like I have to keep distracted. He started to workout too, YAY!! I'm EXCITED, and totally support him from a far!! We also, celebrated 8 YEARS OF MARRIAGE!! Oh, and his 30th Birthday. September is a BIG DEAL and it's the second year we didn't get to celebrate em' together. That's alright, 2013 will be BIGGER!! 

FITNESS: I lost 6.4lbs!! WhOoOooHoOoOOo!! No excuses folks, if you want to slim down, you gotta to put work into it!! Walk, Jog, Run, Lift, Run after 3 kids....all that good stuff, BE ACTIVE!!

Oh, and watching what you eat can help in the weight loss. I'm NO role model in that area though, I had my fair shares of fast food fixes. Yea, I did!! I'm aiming to reach the rest of my goal before heading home for Winter Break! Aghh!!  I'm on WEEK 5 of Les Mills Pump and see some slimming. I was SO happy to have started on the day they left!! I also started bootcamps back up, come if you haven't!! And, I started Moms Run This Town Morning Meetups, it's a fabulous group of ladies! Yaaaaayyy!!! 

PROJECTS: Ooohhh, I crossed A LOT off my LIST!! From organizing to creating to clearing out. It was BUSAAAYYYYY!! I refer to them as DEPLOYMENT DISTRACTIONS and the biggest one happened this past weekend; WE HAVE A GARAGE!! A functional garage, Mama's home gym, I've escaped a few times since then. There's still some work to do, like clearing out a few boxes of toys (mostly stuffed animals). Agh!! I REALLY need to buckle down on my other BIG projects, like sanding and painting!!! 

SCHOOL: Leanna started on Wednesday September 5 and loves being able to walk to/from school. And, Ailea cried every.single.day which only reminded me to search for a preschool. She started on Thursday Sept. 20 at a Lutheran Church School. She goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays Morning, She LOVES it!! It's been BUSY on those morning with an earlier wake up, since she starts at 8:10 and Leanna is walking to be at the gate by 9:00! I've enjoyed my one-on-one time with my baby girl, Serena!! Today, we took Bonita for a walk, it's going to be a regular thing for us, as long as the weather is nice, not rainy. Wet Dog, Gross!! 

I went to the local campus to take their "placement" test for math/reading. Boo!! I need to spend the next couple of week, studying/reviewing, in order to re-test. Hopefully, I get some higher scores!! This is the sucky part, all I need is these final credits to receive my AA!! So close, SO close!!  

OTHER RANDOMS; Social Chair Committee for the FRG, I started getting busy with brainstorming ideas for upcoming events, recently the Fall Festival. We've got a good group of ladies eager to volunteer and a fabulous few behind the scenes with planning. I'M EXCITED!!! 

All these little events are going to make the deployment fly by!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Ehm...Pardon my french.

Emotion Overload.

Ever just cry and cry and cry....and then cry some more?

Well, that's what Week 3 was all about. I can admit, I cried at some point each day, more than once on some of those days. It was a ROUGH week, mentally and physically. And, for several reasons.

I try not to let those BIG things take affect on my attitude, I really do, I throw myself into several things to keep my mind busy but sometimes it's just not enough. It's not enough to cover those pains. I'm a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, an in-law to my other family. and A LOT has been going on in those different roles. A LOT. I realized that I am, overwhelmed, emotionally. And, what can I do?? 

Being a Mom is tough sh*t, it's not easy. I can plan ahead all I want, some days it just doesn't go like that. I don't have a husband who relieves me at any point of the day. And, this past week the girls DEMANDED more of me that wasn't there. It was hard, I was upset, angry, annoyed, I cried. Because it wasn't fair to them, the strength had worn off SEVERAL times, and it wasn't their fault. They were used to having both parents to tug at. I had him alongside, when he was home for work, even if it was to "try" to cook dinner, un-interrupted. You know, no fighting between the girls, whining from the toddler who wants to be held, no DRAMA! 

We weren't with him to celebrate his 30th Birthday, 2nd year in a row, THE 2nd year in a row. It sucked! It really, really, really sucked. Who doesn't want to hug and kiss the person they love and wish them a happy birthday?!?! The girls were sad when they realized it, he did call and we did sing to him over the phone. It was special in it's own way. But, it just wasn't enough, at least to me. I cried that night, I was really sad about it. 

I cried every. single. time I thought of her son, because he is the same age as Ailea. And, her daughter, a teenager, aware of what was going on. She was fighting a terrible disease and although it took her from us. It made me realize that life is meaningful even through the hard times. I mean, I already know that. I'm thankful to know that I'm apart of a very STRONG, COURAGEOUS family, both sides. We've both dealt with several family losses in the past few years. And, it's really depressing when I think of it. And, that's just it, I don't think of it. I let myself get so busy with the daily life and hobbies, that I suppress it. I just don't deal with it. Like, when my dad got sick and I was pregnant and helpless. I hated myself, I hated every ounce of ME. And, realizing that he passed away just a month and a day before Serena's birth, made me SUPPRESS it like no other. With all that happened recently, it rose up and bit me in the ass. How stupid was I to not cry and cry and cry and cry...because he passed away. I mean, I think about it, get sad, I miss him, and quickly distract myself. Well, it didn't happen this past week, like now, my eyes are just flowing the tears. 

And, during the very emotional week, I just thought the world was SO unfair to us all. Unfair in the most harshest ways. And, I hated it a lot, I hated myself, for being so hard on myself and letting so much negativity take over me. Given the situation, it's fair. I'm allowed to hurt and be angry at something I have no control over. What I hated was that I could not, the harder I tried, I just couldn't control by emotions. I didn't want to cry because I automatically thought I was weak and I can't be weak, I have to be STRONG, Well, f8ck that. I was weak, and I let everything pour out. And, I felt better after some crying while other times, I was just ready to tackle on whatever distraction was available. 

I wasn't happy with myself during many instances this past week, I was just angry. I took it out on him over online conversations, he let me vent, and that's all I wanted to do. I didn't want him to comfort me from a far. I just wanted to vent, to bitch, to cry and I didn't want him to feel sorry for me. Because, in actuality, I was hurting for him too. He is a strong man, a father and I need to remind myself that we got a good man. And, to not take these little things for granted. I have the girls here day to day and they driving me INSANE most of those days. He would trade places with me, to have that insanity back. He fully understands how crazy it gets with these 3 kids, 3 girls that can be so sweet and then total disasters. I know they miss him, they tell me often. And, we are only almost a month into this deployment. It's just now easy. And, I know I'm not the only one breaking down. So, I thrive to be a better person, mother, wife....for that reason.  And, I take it day by day. Now, I know weeks like this may be ahead, I won't be prepared and I;ll just let the tears flow, like a cleansing of emotions,.....but not really. Everyone needs a good cry.

"I am a woman in process. I'm just trying like everybody else. I try to take every conflict, every experience, and learn from it. Life is never dull." ~Oprah Winfrey

Wordless Wednesday

Homemade Pizzas & Movie Night!! 

Time Management; Get it Done!

Wheww!!

It's been 2 crazy weeks, maintaining a household with 3 kids is no joke!! Extremely exhausting some days. Who else is going to cook, clean, bathe, er play....with them. Leanna started school last week, so...that gives us a routine. Sort of. School starts so dang late, 9:10. We've been walking to the gate, like an easy 5-7 minutes, depending how fast their little legs move. It's only been a few days since school starting but we're kind back into the same routine as last school year.


It's an early start to get things going for the day, for myself, I love to workout. And, I'm back on the weight loss journey, since I plumped up while he was home. With that being said, my booty is up as early as 6 am. The day he left for deployment, I started Les Mills Pump, 13 weeks of lifting awesomeness. Depending on the day, the workout can be between 20-40 minutes. I'm on Week 3. Then, it's COFFEE TIME, black. I've sorta kinda, horribly kicked sugar this month. I'll admit I've had a rough weekend and gave in with some treats and even a little raw sugar in this morning 1st cup of coffee. 

7AM, Time to get the girls going, some days 7:30 and that requires A LOT of patience on my end, A LOT!! Breakfast, with Serena hounding me to nurse her first. Listening to Ailea whine (randomly) and Leanna tell me she is TIRED and not getting ready. She's had a crazy summer of staying up late, or waking up and NOT going back to sleep, and instead stealing phones/kindle to watch cartoons on Netflix. Yeah, it's bad. I actually deleted the APP on my phone and have been hiding my Kindle at higher areas. It drove me CRAZY, really CRAZY!
Once, we get Leanna off to school. All is good. NOT!

Ailea is a mess, Serena is clingy. Like I mentioned earlier, it's only been a few days since school started. I'm still trying to get Ailea into a preschool....Wah!! 

Last week I hosted the Local Moms Run This Town Meetup, glad a friend came and looks like a few more might show up to this weeks Meetup. We also attended a meeting for Moms & More, pretty awesome group. It's a membership group, meetup twice a month, and there's childcare. So, the focus is on MOMS, with crafts, discussions, fundraisers. They were originally a MOPS group but went on their own way a few years ago. I really like what I learned about them and am looking forward to joining!!! Bootcamp picks up this week, tomorrow actually, and I'm REALLY excited about it. I love the routine, PLANKS anyone!?! Shoulders and some HIIT action!
So, that's how the morning goesssssss. Back home for lunch, then Naptime!!

Naptimes, are MY TIME, I clean, workout, clean, do laundry, get online, clean, do dishes, clean...roughly a good 2 1/2 hours, get things ready for dinner. 

Leanna's off school at 3:25 and she brings home the chaos. The girls forget they listen to Mama when she is home. The evening goes QUICK and so does the MESS!!
They terrorize some part of the house while I'm cooking dinner unless they are plastered in front of the TV, then they just destroy my clean living room!! Dinner, baths, bed!! Simple as that. There's some reading days. And, then it's back to cleaning, I give myself 30 minutes to get. it. done. Dishwasher unloaded, and then loaded back up, dining room area cleaning, table, floors, and I absolutely hate it all!! ALL OF IT!! I hate having to do it every. single. day. There's NO BREAK!! No one to take turns with, I think that's got the be the hardest part for me. I had a man, a husband who would actually HELP in raising his kids and helping around the house. Neither of us enjoyed the cleaning part, who does? Really?!!? But, we would take turns by either bathing girls/putting them to bed or tackling the dinner aftermath. Which in our house with our little messy (non-so-much) eaters is horrible. So, I'm hauling ass to get it done. Then, I can get to laundry, my DVR list, and/or a workout. Tonight, it's jumping on the elliptical!!

It's all about TIME MANAGEMENT!! I'll be honest it's not always smooth. Like, tonight, as I'm typing those 2 kids aren't going to bed right away. They are hyped off the candy they ate while I was busy. "While I was busy".....that's why I try to get things done before they wake up, during naptime, when they are put to bed. So, I can give them my FULL attention and with 3 against 1...holy crap, that's not always possible. Things that have made it easier, calendars, visual aids to remind me what the day has planned. I finally completed the School Command Center {above}, with all of Leanna's school Events and the activities we have planned for Ailea. It'll be updated her school schedule once she starts, when she starts. And, then there's mine, next to my desk to match my fitness calendar, and other events that involve ME. 

If I'm not doing my usual cleaning or working out, I'm getting busy on little projects, I refer to them as deployment distractions. This past week I got busy in the garage, still a work in progress. I made space for the elliptical, and took the Spin Bike (whew) downstairs from the bedroom, my little space away from the house madness. I'm planning to add a little play area for the girls with a few fabulous DIY projects. I also cleared/organized the front patio, made it more spacious for the girls to play with and they love it!! And, I made a few more coasters with family photos, not to use for drinks but for display. I really love them. Ohhh, I also got to RUN two days in a ROW!! No knee pain. I was bummed when the doc told me on Thursday that I could possibly have a meniscus tear, not cool. I was reffered to Sport Medicine and they'll check it out , possible rehab. Ugh!! Nonetheless, I got some running in and was super happy, 2 virtual 5ks to add to my race pride!!Y'all keep bussaaayyyy!!

Worldless Wednesday

Here's to another school year; First Grader!!

Week One Down!

"As long as we love him and miss him, Daddy will always be home."

We killed that week, literaalllyyyy. It flew by and I kept us pretty bussayyyy!! I mean, I could pass out right now from exhaustion. What's the reason you stay busy? I'll admit, it keeps me distracted from missing my man. Keeps me a little sane, especially when I start my day with a workout. I try to remain as positive as I can, it's not always easy. So, getting a routine going, is my way. And, it works pretty well with the girls, most days. They sure do have their shares of tantrums, and craziness. I go from; I got this to go find your daddy!! Hah!  I catch a breather when they are napping or asleep for the day. 
There's never a dull moment with these Luna's!

*Deployment Distractions; Special Projects, Organizing, Crafts. I've got a list full of them.

Highlights of the week;

Monday; Started Les Mills Pump, a 13 week Beachbody Program that includes a bar and weights, Mama Lifts. I actually went 10 weeks during the last deployment and loved the results.
We meet up with friends at Waterfront Park in the morning
We made our First visit to Kitsap Play w/Friends.  

[Waterfront Fun]

[Play Kitsap]

Tuesday; Bootcamp Meetup at the Lake. The girls played w/friends. And, I continued to play catch up w/Laaundryyy!! It's never-ending with 3 girls!

[Smiling before Bootcamp Begins]

Wednesday; Laundryyyy Morning! Afternoon Park Playdate. Evening Run at the Track with the girls, Mama got 2 Miles in. It was crazy challenging but it sure did wear the girls out. I want to make it a regular evening routine or every few days but it's just a little too crazyyyy!! I'll stick to my morning routine, once Leanna gets back into her school schedule.

[I didn't expect it to be busayyyy]

[They did alright, those crazy 3]

Thursday; Errands. Ice Cream Social, Leanna met her teacher at her new school. I also FINALLY bought the latest Trey Songz Album, it's been on play every time we've left the house now. I can't get enough of him and loved listening it to/from Tacoma. We went to a  Birthday Party. Deployment Distraction; Made Successful Homemade Laundry Detergent. Amazing Stuff

[Ice Cream Social at School]

[Smiling after a Fun Time]

Homemade Laundry Soap

Click on link for the how-to

Smells Amazing!!

Friday; Bootcamp Meetup at Jackson Park. Hello Kitty Event at NEX. Subway. Deployment Distraction; Cleared Crazy Kitchen Counter!! Girls Night In; Battleship & Vegan Burgers.

[Ready for another Bootcamp!!]

[Big Deal, it's cleared!!]

[Superbaby!]

[Leanna's Banana Creation]

the added sprinkles of salt was not tasty.

Saturday;  Decided to weigh-in I was 2.9 lbs down since Monday's weigh-in!! Felt great!!
Spur of the Moment Hair Cut. Last Minute Birthday Food Items.

[Mama got her hair did. Way too much product but it was fun]

Sunday; Leanna's 6th Birthday Party! This was crazy hectic. And, I'm glad I had a REST DAY from my workouts. I had to make sure I had everything packed to take to the park off base. And, with the girls going every which way, I felt overwhelmed but I got it done. Had a blast at the park. Ate entirely too much pizza! 

[Smiling Girls!]

[Little Pony Party Balloons!]

[Birthday Party Fun]

SO, what does week 2 look like for you?

Have a Fabulous Week Y'all!!