Mother's Day Weekend Navy Style

I had to share with you my Mother's Day gifts from our little one. Navy all the way. So cute. I love how very excited she was to get her dad into the Navy Pride section of the NEX last weekend to do a little shopping for me. What a darling girl. I love that she felt so happy to give me these things and felt they would make me happy too.

It must be her age, but she really wanted to make a BIG deal about Mother's Day this year. She continually reminded her dad that it was coming up, made some beautiful things at school, it was so sweet. The keychain I was told was mean to clip onto the lanyard for a necklace. I love that. I'm hoping to go back to work soon and will likely have a badge or keypass card that I can clip on to that beauty and wear it with pride. Perfect.

Did any of you get something similar for Mother's Day? Do you get military related birthday or Christmas presents? This post from a couple of weeks ago shares a little more about our little one's Navy pride.

Flexing The Military Spouse Muscles

Boy was I channeling all you fellow military spouses and significant others on Friday night as I packed up a huge carload of stuff to take to storage by myself, including trying to figure out how to get a kid's bike in the car which seemed nearly impossible.

Already tired from a long day and ten days of the husband out of town, I put the kiddo bed. Then I started surveying the zone of boxes I had gathered from emptying out a closet here in the house, along with a few big storage bags of goodies my husband brought back from Afghanistan. I think I've mentioned here how he went overboard a little bit on scarves and such. Instead of thinking of what he spent I try translate that into how much it means he was missing us and thinking of us.

Because I had moved so many times before I met my husband, I have learned to be a great packer and organizer. I can fit an amazing amount of stuff in a car, using up every inch possible. I took a mountain of boxes and fit them into a very small sporty 4-door, which would get me the best gas mileage to drive to base to our storage.

Speaking of which, can I just tell you about what happened when we were on base a couple of weeks ago planning to go to our storage units. It was Sunday afternoon and when I went to the area where all the storage containers were they were all gone. The MWR decided to just move them all without ever saying anything to anyone. I called the base security office and they had no idea they had been moved and were none too happy that this had all happened without them being told. We're talking about an entire portable storage area being moved without alerting the renters of all the units or base security. I was not happy and of course the MWR is not open on Sundays. So I left an annoyed message. (By the way they never called me back.) I can only imagine how much angrier I would've been had I been moving and come to base expecting to put all my stuff in a moving van and leave the next morning for a PCS or other move.

When you are talking about a space the size of a military base, those units could've been moved a million places that I would never be able to find. I took fifteen minutes and did a quick drive around base and found several pods of storage units none of which were ours. After talking to my husband who was not near base at the time, I gave up. We imagined that the units were somewhere in the dark, hidden, mystery regions of base that one would never see just driving down the road.

So I decided to just go get gas and make the long trip home without ever getting to our units. As I pulled up to get gas, I looked straight ahead of me across the gas station into the old used car/motor home parking area and there were rows and rows of storage units. After I filled up with gas I eagerly drove the short distance, jumped out of my car and started row by row through a good quarter acre of units stacked in no particular order, even though every container is alphabetically labeled & numbered.

They were all stacked in alphabetical and numerical order in the old space, so it wouldn't have been too tough to just put them down as they were picked up and have them be in some semblance of order. But I must remind myself, this is the military, order and logic, while generally very useful, are not always initially put into play. Finally in the middle of the great parking lot of storage units I found our units and gained access to them. Soon I was on the freeway and headed home trying to beat traffic. Thank you providence for leading me to those units.

Anyway, I made the big trip again on Saturday. I was going to be alone all day, and I realized what better day to get all that done with no distractions (aka husband and kid). So I packed up the car Friday night and then got up early and made the drive and then of course had to reorganize the units completely to get everything to fit properly and in an orderly fashion. My husband was the last to take anything out or add anything and there is such a huge waste of space going on that I can hardly handle it. The two closet size units were really only half full.

I took the wheel off the old bike to get it to fit into the trunk. Hooray. That was a major win for me at about midnight Friday night. Once the car was full and I had put back everything I had pulled out to get the boxes out, I still had several loads of laundry to fold. So I put on HGTV online episodes and tried to relax and get the house cleaned up a bit before my long, long day. 

When I rearranged the two closet-size storage units and added the carload of stuff I had brought with me, they were still only each half full...okay maybe they are each two-thirds full now. But there is still a lot of space and I am looking forward to getting another carload of stuff out of here soon. Hello open space! So I aim to get our money's worth going forward and fill those babies up. I also got rid of a lot of stuff during the week while my husband was out of town and angel girl was at school. That is definitely the best time to throw things away, while they aren't watching.

After I finished up at the storage unit, I forced myself to take a break and wander the NEX. Unfortunately I found a really cute pair of sandals in my "hard-to-find" size and I couldn't say no. I should write a post on things we won't tell my husband which include the fact that I've picked up FIVE pairs of sandals in the 10 days he's been away. But total price was under $100 so that is pretty awesome - plus my size will be sold out and there won't be much available the rest of the summer, so it's awesome to know I have a great selection for the entire summer.

I had lunch at the Food Court while reading the base events magazine then despite the blustery, "might rain" weather I popped over to the carwash. I was horrified when I climbed into the back seat to see what a mess our kiddo has made back there. The things I found under the car seat. Ugh. So I vacuumed for a good 20 minutes, every inch of the car with low suction (boo). Then I decided what the heck I'll wash the car too. That felt good and when I was done I sent a flirty "I just vacuumed and washed your car" text to my husband who's coming home to day. 

Looking at my weekend, It's amazing what I can get done when I'm alone. I remember my single days when I used to be so hyper effective, my house was always spotless and I got tons done in the evenings and on weekends and was only half as tired as I am now. But I was only half as full of love back then when I didn't have this delicious little family. Now I am overflowing with all the love I get, so, hey it's worth it -- messier house, kid-destroyed car interiors, overflowing amounts of stuff and all.

As I was doing all of this muscle moving, I was thinking of all of you, who have moved so many time, sometimes by yourself, and who do so many challenging things that it would be nice to have a man around for. In this life our "be independent" muscles are never going to get weak, are they?! I'm glad I can still carry heavy loads on my own.

Just having to do it once in a while reminds me to be grateful for my husband and all he does and to be grateful that I'm "military grade" strong enough to handle all the sometimes tough stuff military life brings my way. Saluting all you "military grade" ladies for all you do, so often with no fanfare or notice. You are amazing. Thanks for being in it with me!

image via mca

Proud To Be A Navy Girl

image via Armed Forces Gear

I'm starting to realize we have a real Navy girl on our hands here. It's been building for a while and certainly during Daddy's deployment it was happening but it's so cute to see our little one's continually growing devotion to the Navy.

First before deployment we were given a couple of teddy bears in camo. We named one Army and the other Navy since Daddy's served in both. Then came John Paul Jones, as we named him, the Navy eagle stuffed animal per request at Christmas. After Christmas it was a new pink camo backpack for school and green camo pajama pants.

Then of course Daddy brought her home some good gear from deployment including a Kalishnakitty tee shirt.  -- Which she is forbidden from ever wearing outside the house and particularly to school -- can you even imagine ---yikes! Trust me I've played that scenario out in my head numerous times, the call from the principal, her teacher, who is a real NUTJOB, would be catatonic!

Tangent Alert: I'm totally counting down the days until the end of the year so I can stop biting my tongue about this teacher in front of our kiddo - of course I'm still never going to say anything much to her about it, but at least this woman won't be a part of our daily lives.

It has taken massive amounts of discipline on my part to mask my intense dislike of her. (And I'm a super easy-going, "give everyone the benefit of the doubt" kind of gal!) It's been a long year since our first encounter when I realized we'd drawn the short straw for this year. But only recently has our kiddo begun to complain about her unfair practices and how psycho she seems. It's like menopause gone off the rails with that woman. Six weeks & counting!

It's kind of humorous actually that my one unhappy loon of a grade school teacher was in the same grade our kiddo is this year. Same menopausal age, same soulless, smile-less gray face, same "everything bothers me" attitude. I've reflected back on that a lot this year to remind myself that "this too shall pass" and that we all get a crummy teacher now and again.

Anyway, back to our Navy girl, last week we were on base and as a thank you for a big errand we ran for Daddy, he told her she could get one thing. Well since they took out the kid's department at the NEX (WHY?!) there really wasn't much of anything for her to get. But she gladly begged to get a Navy sweatshirt. Navy blue with pink camo letters. It's nearly impossible to get this girl to wear a jacket or sweater but guess what she's been wearing non-stop since the weekend. I'm going to have to peel it off of her for a washing eventually.

I love that she thinks the Navy is so cool. I love that she thinks it's so awesome that she has a "Navy Dad." I'm a little envious of the simplicity of her world and how she is able to live outside the bounds of all the ridiculous and often infuriating politics: from Washington, D.C. right down to Daddy's unit, and just appreciate the idea of the honor of military service.

I want to do all I can to help her build a foundation on that. She comes from a multi-generation military family, who take the honor seriously, and I want to instill that in her. I doubt she'll ever choose to serve in the military, but you never know, she may end up a loyal military wife someday so teaching her everything I can about that can't hurt.

Since my mother-in-law, who was a milspouse for 30-plus years, passed away before I met her son, I'm especially glad for all I've learned from all of you other military spouses. You've been a blessing and a godsend and have gotten me through a lot of separations, helped me figure out services, acronyms and so, so much more. Thank you for your examples! You and our little girl are an awesome reminder that I'm a Navy Girl too and to stand tall with pride that we have the honor of being a military family.

The Military Today: Heroes or Dirtbags?

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We have had so much cheering and chanting for our military heroes over the past decade. I am proud to see America step up and support our military families. But I get a little twitchy, shall I say, when I consider the blanket statement that our military service members  are ALL heroes. Because you know what, there are a lot of dirt bags in the military. There is crime and corruption at every level. Here's an article titled When Officers Become Criminals that is pretty shocking.

There are arrogant, egotistical jackasses who like nothing better than to make life miserable for everyone around them, especially those who report to them. There are leaders who will throw a wrench in things just to be jerks. There are some who will do anything to hold other people back and promote their own agenda, their own promotions and their own retirement regardless of what is best for the military, other service members, or the country.

There are gang members in the military, full blow criminals who are there to learn the art of war to bring back to their gangs. There are scandals involving trading military secrets for whores for Pete's sake! And this is by military leaders! There are military "heroes" who have killed their spouses, who have affairs indiscriminately and destroy families at will. There are sex offenders, child porn dealers, and more. There is a reason why the military has a maximum security prison like Fort Leavenworth. Do we know how many JAG staffers spend their days investigating and prosecuting criminals within the U.S. military ranks?

If there is anyone doing damage to the high regard the military should engender it the the military service members themselves! This infuriates me. It all looks so glossy in the recruiting brochures. So noble in the change of command services. So lovely in the homecoming videos on YouTube.

But there is a dark and ugly side to our military world that needs more recognition, focus and correction. It cannot just be swept under the flag, behind medals and below the deployment homecoming headlines. As a military community we owe our country better and we owe it to ourselves to reflect that sense of sweet nobility that has been wrapped around us by our fellow countrymen since September 11, 2001.

The military top brass have a responsibility to clean ranks and set a tone and standard worthy of the highest  ethics of our country. It's time to speak it out loud and expect more from our military. This is especially deserved by all the wonderful, noble Americans who join the military with good intent and real desire to serve and who do uphold the highest moral code even when they don't see it from above and suffer the consequences of refusing to bend to pressure to give up their high standards to fit in.

Thank You Veterans!

It's Veteran's Day and the one day of the year, if not every day, that we pause to thank our veterans for their service! First I want to thank my husband for his service and all those you nobly served with him this past year in Afghanistan. Then all our OEF/OIF veterans. I heard this group now numbers over 1 million. Thanks to you all!

Next I thank my two father-in-laws who were both career military. Love them both dearly and am so grateful for their commitment, sense of honor and duty. Then my extended family and all those in my family who have served, clear back to one of my great-great...grandfathers who served at General George Washington's side in the revolutionary war.

Thank you to all the men and women who have served to protect our country, our constitution, to preserve freedom around the world and for being a part of what makes America great. We honor you and recognize your sacrifices in every way we can possibly understand and with understanding that we can never totally comprehend the price you've paid for us!

Sounds I Love As A Military Spouse

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There are a lot of sounds that are very specific to the military life. Here are a few I have a fondness for that you might have a sweet spot for too. Granted all of these can be annoying when they happened at the wrong time or for too long. But in small doses they can be heartwarming.

1. The "whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop" of big helicopter rotor blades. I recognize that sound immediately from a distance now. It always makes me feel safe. Unless it's nighttime exercises and I am trying to sleep in on-base lodging a few hundred yards from the airfield.

2. The national anthem in the morning on base. I love seeing everyone stop in their tracks at attention. Again this can also be frustrating when you are rushing to get somewhere and everything stops.  But, seriously in the big picture, we're not too busy to slow down and show some respect for this great country of ours, right?

3. The sound of marching or running service members chanting cadences as they go. Cadences have a pretty interesting history. You can read about it here. In San Diego I often see Buds students with inflatable boats on their heads as they go. I always want to stop & cheer them all on. I restrain myself but it's not easy. I just want to go over & tell those instructors to be nice and stop yelling at them. Haha.

4. The Pledge of Allegiance, National Anthem and God Bless America sung by our little girl at the top of her lungs. I love that she has an appreciation for this country and patriotism that most young children have no understanding of in this country anymore. They don't even say the Pledge in many schools now.

5. The words "See you soon" said by the love of my life. We have been apart a lot over the past three years. Knowing he's coming home safe, sound and SOON is the best feeling in the entire world.

So friends, what are your favorite military sounds? I'd love to hear what warms your heart and makes you feel connected.

What's Up With Military Boys?

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This is a little laugh about boys and by boys I mean our men who will always be little boys. Most of these are particular to military boys but they surely apply to civilian guys too. This post was inspired by meeting a Coast Guard Flight Surgeon who was my doctor at Urgent Care a couple of weeks ago who had many things in common with my husband. This is dedicated to my husband, the doc and all the curiously amazing men of the U.S. military -- and the women who love them.

1. What is up with a significant other or spouse touching or caressing your bottom in public. But if you did it to him he would tell you it was inappropriate.

2. What's up with cars. Needing more than one or two vehicles, being obsessed with gas mileage, engines, etc. What is up with being more obsessed with the well-being and protection of your car, even over people sometimes. lol.

3. What is up with being super health conscious and evangelizing it to everyone around you then eating whatever junk you want to eat on top of the protein powders and magical nutritious stuff.

4. What is up with needing so many high power flashlights, multi-tools, microscopic screwdrivers and knives?

5. What is up with all the post-it notes and pens in all your pockets that then find themselves all over the house? And why do you need to take every free junky, cheap pen you cross paths with?

6. What is up with the obsession with industrial strength hook and loop fastener (aka Velcro) and Duct Tape?

7. What's up with needing dozens of portable drink containers and shake mixers?

8. What is up with your TV channels like History, Military, Animal Planet, etc. and why do the shows have to be so loud?

9. What is up with pretending your too cool to be homesick when you clearly are?

10. What is up with the fact you are so darn lovable just as you are? We wouldn't trade you for anything!

Okay ladies, do you have any "What's Up With" questions you like to ask. Ask away in the comments below!

Collecting Vintage U.S. Navy China

image via The Pirate's Lair

While I was writing the post about the wool U.S. Navy Blankets I made the mistake of mentioning and thus remembering the U.S. Navy official china that caught my eye at the Battleship Wisconsin last year in Norfolk.

Well, you know, you can collect that stuff from antique dealers around the country and apparently there are quite a few varieties that were designed for different ranks in different galley facilities. I'm dreaming about a mixed set with all the plates of one variety, the salad plates of another, the bowls another.

I have come to the conclusion that getting cups and saucers, even when it completes the entire look is a bit of a waste because me and my people don't drink coffee or tea so I would be hard pressed to serve hot chocolate in them often enough to even come close to justifying the cost.

Coming up with a set will be a bit of detective work, but wouldn't it be fun to have a set of official, vintage U.S. Navy china in a display case. You could use them on all the military holidays for a special lunch or dinner. You can read about the history of U.S. Navy china here. I'm pretty charmed. These would be a really special treasure for a military family.

Here's another fun Navy inspired touch for home decor, Wood Anchors.

Reasons I'm Glad I Don't Live Close To Base

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We have never lived near a military base. I have been with my husband for five years, so before that I didn't have any real experience with the military world. My husband on the other had two families in the military, his mom and her husband and his dad and his wife. So he has been surrounded by the military since birth.

For many reasons I wished we lived closer to base during our deployment and had more military friends around us. I think they understand in a way that other's can't the craziness of our life and it would be great to have a battle buddy! I've learned there are a few things that I'm glad I've missed about military life and the military community.

1) Dealing with mean military wives. I've heard about them from other military wives, I've seen them online, on Army Wives and in the movies. I'm glad I have not had to experience that crowd.

2) Being asked "So what's your husband's rank?" I've only been asked this a couple of times and not by other military spouses thank goodness. His rank is so off my radar that I kind of forget he's done pretty well for himself. I'm glad I have not had to be a part of the competitive nature of ranks. I've never had the "Enlisted vs. Officer" conversations.

3) Dealing with stereotypes about military wives. The only place I've heard about bad stereotypes about military wives is from military wives talking online about how awful they are. Not anything that plays into my world.

4) Being a young military girlfriend and wife. I don't know how well I would handle the stresses of dealing with the military when I was in my early 20s or being with someone at the bottom of the totem pole who was paying their dues big time to get going in the military. I salute young ladies who tackle all this at a much younger age than I did. Way to go girls.

5) Attending formal military events and social gathering. This is something I still don't feel comfortable with but luckily I have only had to attend one barbecue, one dinner, one Christmas Party and one formal. The formal was a disaster by the way. I'm not sure I'll even ever be able to tell you about it. I still get sick to my stomach thinking about it.

So yes, my military wife experience is not the norm it seems, but I've learned a lot by watching from within and from afar. How about you? Are there any facets of military life you're glad you've missed?

Wood Anchor Signs Decor

image via Three Potato Four

I knew that if I went hunting around online shop Three Potato Four I would find more Navy/nautical fun stuff. I've been fascinated with many different anchor designs around since I designed my logo for this blog. Anchors are hot right now. You can find them everywhere in jewelry and home decor. How lucky that right now, while it's hot, we happen to be a Navy family. 

I love the rustic simplicity of these ruggedly carved wood anchors. These original creations for Three Potato Four and would be such a cute addition to a little boy's room, family room or any room in the house you could work them into.

Do you have any military inspired decor in your home? Do you confine it to specific locations or is it sprinkled throughout?

Sentimental Old School Navy Blankets

image via Three Potato Four

If there is one thing I have learned about military folks it's that they are VERY sentimental. Maybe it's all the constant change they live with, maybe it's the traditions and ceremonies, but they are amazingly soft-hearted when it comes to attaching deep meaning to treasured belongings.

So it would come as no surprise that I too am sentimental, particularly about symbols of the military. I think it's connected not only to my husband but the decades of history before him in his father and stepdad's long and successful military careers. When we toured the Battleship Wisconsin last year in Norfolk, VA it was all I could do to not ask to take home the china, rimmed in blue with a simple anchor emblem. So simple, stately and perfect.

I totally and completely love these wool blankets modeled after the original World War II Navy bedding. They are made here in the U.S using all American wool too. I think this would be a fantastic treasure for our family to remember our military years and as a keepsake that would last for generations. I can just see it thrown over the arm of a sofa or over the back of a super comfy chair.

I had to put this on my list of must haves. I keep that list very short but this is definitely on it. The U.S. Navy wool blankets would also make a fantastic wedding, going away or retirement gift. These beauties are available from the online shop Three Potato Four.