Life Happening.

I'm a list-maker.  I have about 34,097 lists around my home.  I love writing them, I love marking things off, I love re-writing them.  I have a great friend from college (hi Ashley!) who sends me cards in the mail ever-so-often and we communicate to each other in bullet point format.  It's the quickest way to catch up since there are SO many things that we miss out on in each other's lives and it brings me to my happy place of writing lists.  Occasionally, I'll sit down to write a blog and realize that I simply cannot wrap my mind around ONE topic for an entire blog post. ha! Being a mom of two little ones has made me an excellent multi-tasker...and that includes my thoughts.  Hardly ever do I focus on just one thing at a time...there is so much to be done around here!  So, without further ado...my blog list.

• Y'all, get yourself to the closest PWOC and get involved.  This is for my military spouse friends of course, but seriously.  Best decision I have ever made in this little military life that we have.  I have met some of the absolute greatest women who challenge me and encourage me.  I love these women and look up to them as friends, moms, and Army Wives.  The post we are at now is very large in comparison to most and while I'm an outgoing person, I was terrified to walk in on the first day to hundreds of women I've never met before.  But one of the things I love most about God is that He meets us right where we are....shaking knees, screaming baby on hip and all.  I'm floored at how He has orchestrated it and put me in the exact class I need, with a teacher who I could listen to for hours, and some great friends who are in the same "life bracket"!  It is a powerful community and I'm so thankful for God directing my steps into the chapel a couple months ago!  
• Since we have moved here our lives have turned into one huge tornado spiraling bigger and bigger!  Our weekends are slam-packed full with visitors, traveling, and events.  And let's be honest, I love every minute of it!  I am a little terrified that I'm going to look back and realize I didn't cherish these days with my boys enough.  But all these events and visitors are what will make my boys' childhoods so enjoyable and make memories that cannot be replaced!  I know it!  
• Which leads me to this...our season of life right now is hard.  I'm not complaining, I wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING.  But it's tough and you mommy friends know what I'm saying.  I've got a very strong-willed two year old and a curious (almost) 10-month old!  They are at the age of learning to take turns and share toys.  That's enough to make any mama scream!  Thankfully, I'm aware that is indeed "just a season" and this too shall pass...

• I could go to the pumpkin patch every day of the week!  I looooveee it and I'm pretty sure my oldest has a thing for them too! 

• My parents were in town this past weekend and let us have a little "date night".  This was only the SECOND time Greg and I have been out to eat alone since becoming parents almost 2.5 years ago!  It was very much needed.  We met up with some friends who were stationed in Alaska with us (and Virginia) and now are here too!  It was a fun night of adult conversation and Greg and I ended up at Barnes & Noble for coffee and I made a wish list of a million books that I wish I had time to read!

• We jumped in head first on making this house our home immediately after closing, but have since not done a thing! It's giving me anxiety to not have curtains up in the playroom, pictures stacked up that need to be hung, and lack of furniture.  But it will get there I suppose...I'm trying to explain that to my OCD.  I just know that as soon as you get a home the way you like it, orders will be cut for a PCS. ha! and for my non-military friends, PCS is lingo for "move". 
•  My children both have two halloween costumes.  One for day and one for night.  Ridiculous.  Here's a little sneak peek at one of the two themes.

• I'm SO excited for Black Friday.  Last year I was busting at the seams with Anderson and we were living in a hotel room in the artic during the middle of our move so I didn't join in.  This year, however, I will be there!  Not sure who, when, or where...but I'll be there!  
• A 2,600 sqft home is all fun and games until someone has to clean it!  Feel me?

Until next time! xoxo

Thursdays.

Thursdays are my day.  I say my day, but this little cutie is along for the ride as well.  

It's so nice to have some one-on-one time with him and he's the best baby to take places!  Shopping Buddy in the making! 

Bennett started a 2 day/week preschool this year and it has been a wonderful change for him and our entire family!

I had forgotten how incredibly easy it is to take just one child out & about.  Can I get an amen from multiple children moms?  Anyways, we run errands and do a little shopping.  One of our usual stops is Target...for Starbucks and for the million other things we don't need.

Today, I was very observant about my fellow Target shoppers.  Most were moms like myself, 1, 2, 3 children piled in the big red carts.  Target is one big field trip for stay-at-home moms!  True story.  I have spent countless days wandering the aisles feeding Bennett popcorn from the cafe, grabbing a box of mum mums off the shelf and feeding them to Anderson, chugging my venti white mocha, oohhing and ahhing over everything, putting it all in the cart to only place it in an undisclosed location around the store because I have opted out of buying it.  I'm sure everyone does this.  No?  Just me?  

My observations from a stroll around Target today:

To the Mom(s) wearing yoga pants: you rock.

To the Mom(s) letting your child chew on a baby food package to keep them quiet: you rock.

To the Mom(s) bribing your toddler with chocolate: you rock.

To the Mom(s) picking up the trail of popcorn your child is leaving: you rock.

To the Mom(s) not picking up the trail of popcorn your child is leaving: you rock.

To the Mom(s) buying all the great home decor Target has to offer: you rock.

To the Mom(s) wishing they could buy all the amazing home decor: you rock too.

{I may or may not have been all of the above at some point in time}

Nothing, absolutely nothing makes me feel better than to see or talk to other moms who make me feel normal.  Motherhood is one continuous struggle, spiraling into a huge ball of emotions.

Today, I looked down at my leggings and rain boots, my cart full of stuff I couldn't buy, and my baby chewing on a snack container full of animal crackers, and felt awesome.  Because for once, I felt like part of the ranks.  We're all doing it, we're all struggling, but what's important is that we make each other feel normal.  And loved. And accepted. And incredible.  Because after all, that's what God made us to be.

And for the record, I ended up purchasing mayo, Dr. Peppers, and a gold mettalic writing pen that was on sale for $0.38.

Score. 

  

Picking up the pieces.

This blog...this poor, poor blog.  I have a love/hate relationship with it.  I love it because it is such an awesome outlet and platform for me.  Hate is a strong word, so maybe I don't hate it.  But I dislike the fact that I felt pressured to write (or not write) certain things on this blog.

I haven't signed-in to this account in about a year and half.  Last week I had a request on instagram telling me that she used to read my blog and was so excited to see me on IG.  I couldn't believe I still had followers.  Then, just today, I decided to log in and who would have thought I had comments of people checking in on me and my family.  SO wild.  You guys are the best! 

So, let's pick up the pieces, shall we?

Greg returned home from overseas safe and sound and I'm still praising Jesus for it.  I want to write a post about the deployment.  My thoughts on it now that we've lived through it.  I have a lot to say about it.

Here's my family.

That's right, there's 4 of us now!  When I left off back in 2012 Greg and I had one little boy and Greg was about to arrive home from deployment.  Guess what happens when your husband gets home from a year-long stint overseas?  Anderson Krew happens.

Who is now this happy, joyful, darling, perfect addition to our family, 9 month old.  

I can't fathom my life without these little pieces of me.  They are THE best.

  

We are no longer living in Alaska.  We've moved twice already since our time in AK!  I need a new blog name.  I'm still an Army Wife and so incredibly grateful for this journey.  

We bought our first house..it's gorgeous and we are slowly making it home.  We joined the "real Army" here at our new duty station and are slowly adjusting to long work hours, airborne jumps, commuting 30+ minutes to post, and rapid deployments.  Wouldn't change it for the world though...I'd live here forever if we could, but more on that later.  

Bennett is now a wild and cray-cray toddler.  No really, wild.  That boy is high strung and I must admit, he comes by it honest.  I love that quote on pinterest that mentions that moment when you realize you just yelled at your child for acting just like YOU! ha!  These terrible twos are rough on this mama...more on that later also.  But regardless, I'm crazy over him and know he's going to do big things in this world.  

To all of you who still check-in from time to time, thank you!  I love this little blog for not only connecting with all of you, but for the large part it plays in documenting our life.  I'm not promising I'll most every day, or even every week.  But I am hoping to take a little more time for me and pick back up some hobbies that I enjoy, including writing here. Blessings!