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!!

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!!

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!!