Army

I am visiting a family member who is deploying in August in Texas. It is not as hot here as it is at home. That in and of itself is a bit disconcerting. I was the only one in a cowboy hat on the plane from LA also, which surprised me. I wasn't about to check it through although I did bite the bullet for security and checked the boots and wore sandals.
I am exhausted but enjoying this look into a military base.
My dad was regular army, which is what my niece is in also. So it's interesting to get a glimpse of the base and listen to her and other NCO's and soliders talk. I'm actually picking up some of the lingo. By the time I was old enough to listen to my dad's stories, really listen to the uncensored adult version, my dad was starting into the Alzheimer's.
It's also scary to listen to their stories from the war, true stories, not censored fit for the news stories.
It makes me appreciate the true courage these young men and women have. It makes me worry that these men and women won't make it home the next time. It makes me proud of being an American. Seeing America through there eyes makes me realize how much we take for granted and how lucky we are.
The army men and women make friends fast and they play hard. I think it is because of how close many of these men and women have been to mortality. It isn't a matter of if a friend will die but when and every single NCO or specialist I have met on this trip has lost a friend. They work hard on deployments so they play harder at home to make up for what they missed and what they are going to miss.
No matter your views of this war. No matter your views of the administration. Please, please remember to thank a soldier for the service he or she is preforming for this country.

My middle Padawan

My Middle Padawan Mr. BB may not make it into Apprentice stage. In the last week, he has climbed up the outside of the 2 story wooden play structure at the park, tried to climb up the outside of our house, and decided that I just have to take him to the skate park in the next town over to ride his skateboard, of course lets just forget the fact that he can't ride it on a perfectly straight sidewalk in town.
I am not sure where he gets this intense need to be doing something all the time. He had it from the start. He never crawled or scooted. But at 8 months and 3 days he... ready for this.... RAN. And hasn't stopped since. We thought we were ready for it but we weren't. I dread taking him to a state or national park. I don't really want to see him climbing a mountain when I take my eye of him. LOL.
We got him into sheep riding, he vacillated a year, then when he was a little past 5 he told me, "don't you remember, I want to ride sheep again. I said I'd do it when I was 5 and I wouldn't be scared!" Ha.
He wasn't kidding.
This year not only is he riding sheep. He's started exhibitioning in calf riding also. He seems to like it. I will have you know I am one of the few moms who can hang a sheep rope and I'm learning how to hang a calf rope. I still can't quite figure out the damn knot, and I'm terrified to take it out of the rope at home, because I won't be able to get it back in.
BB plays soccer also, during the city league. His coach asked him to play travel league this last year but with the sheep/calf rides and the traveling we just couldn't travel anymore. Well I guess we could, but I gotta work sometime.
BB is also in Kajukenbo. We had to take a break due to money for awhile but he is back and going strong. He really likes it. It keeps him busy.
After all this you'd think he'd fall asleep into bed.
Nooooo.
Sometimes I have to plead, cajole, and threaten him to go to sleep.
He is not technically considered ADD or ADHD as he can focus in school an so far his grades are good. He is just out of first grade though. He doesn't want to home school, as he likes the arts program at the school. He was in the talent show this year and in Kinder he was a flying monkey and a munchkin.
I am not sure how we are going to make it in his teen years. Frankly the thought of BB driving scares me to death. And I have 9 years until that happens. I am not sure if the need for speed and thrills will get worse or better or stay the same.
Until then we will just keep him moving, moving, moving. All the time and see if that will help.

Blue

Everything is blue lately. The sky, the water, the carpet, me. I've been in a funk. It could be the fight with the mortgage company (which one has my mortgage now?) to get the last of the insurance money released so we can finish our home. It could be that hubs and I haven't shared a room in over a month and I really miss him. It could be dealing with the stress of living with my mom. It could be that our new big boss is a jerk and I'm tired of dealing with the politics. I need to put more shifts in but I've been avoiding it. It could be that summer for us has less than a month left. I don't know. Blue.