So Long, Farewell....

If you haven't figured it out by now, I've pretty much given up on this blog. I seriously don't know what I was thinking when I started it - - I can barely keep up with my original blog, much less, two of them! So, if you'd like to read about our deployment, you can just read it all at the original Way Out West. The good, the bad, and the ugly! It is mostly all good, but every now and then I'll need to let off a little steam and do some venting, so consider yourself warned! Hope to see you there!

Man Chores

First let me start by saying that I am a completely capable woman. I have been through deployment before, and in my husband's absence have supervised home construction projects, dealt with electrical problems, mowed the lawn with one arm while balancing a baby on my hip with the other, dealt with plumbing problems, automobile problems, etc.. You know what I'm saying - - pretty much anything that can go wrong usually does while your spouse is deployed, and you just get through it. That being said, I just have to tell you how much I dislike, and dislike tending to, Man Chores. These are the things that yes, my husband typically does, when he's around. The main two are taking out the garbage, and taking the recyclables to the recycling center. I don't know what it is, but I just have the hardest time working up the ambition to complete either.

Since our garage really isn't being used for anything other than a place to house Steve's car while he's away, it has been way to convenient for me to let the recycling pile to the ceiling. It also has worked as a great "trash room" - - much easier to set the bag of garbage out there, rather than have to "suit up" and walk it out to the alley way. The only problem is, I do it over and over, each time conveniently forgetting that I put trash out there. The next thing I know, I've got 7 bags in a heap, and they still need to make it out to the alley for trash pick up.

Over the weekend, I started the process of trying to reform my ways. All of the garbage bags are in the proper place - - in the cans in the alley. All the recycling has been recycled, although it took me two trips to get it all there. The neighbors must have wondered where I had been storing all of that cardboard.

A New Book and a Letter

Camden came home from school yesterday with a book that his teacher gave to him and it is so cute! He was also extra-excited, because in early December, each student in his class wrote a letter to Steve. Today, the class received a letter back from him. I could tell how proud Camden was to have the letter read to his class, and that they spent time talking about his Dad. Steve plans to go in and visit with Camden's class when he's home on R&R, which I bet will be a huge hit.

Counting the Days...

...until R&R, that is. Let me just say it is getting very close. With all that the boys and I have going on right now, it will be here before I know it. I had a nice, long chat via Skype with Steve this morning, and it was just what I was needing. Camden and Griffin were both at school, so we were able to really talk about a whole bunch of things. I've been missing Steve so much lately, and I wish I could get a grip on that. It's a combination of things really - - post-holiday let-down, cold & dreary weather, not seeing many adults. I'm really making a concerted effort to get out of these doldrums and get on with it.

Steve and I spent a lot of time talking about what we'd like to do during R&R. I'd mentioned that I'd really like for the two of us to get away for one night - - go out for dinner and stay overnight in Boise, but getting Steve to spend even 12 hours away from the boys is going to take a miracle - I could tell from his response. I'm going to keep working on him though because I think it is important for us to have at least a little time alone. We also talked about how we just want to "disappear" for a few days when he gets here. We discussed a few different options and they all sound like fun!

Catching up

I'm a little irritated with myself for not keeping better track of what we have been up to during the month of December, but oh well. As you can imagine, life has been pretty busy, what with the holidays and all, but I just haven't been in a blogging mood. We had a lot of fun things going on, and the boys have been on Christmas vacation from school, too. I guess right around Christmas, it all just got a little depressing for me. I think in general, I do a good job of maintaining a positive attitude, not letting myself get too down, etc., but for the past week or so it has just felt so lonely around here.

As far as the deployment goes, Steve is doing well and is very busy at work. He said he likes it that way because then he doesn't have any idle time on his hands to be homesick. R&R is coming up in the next few weeks and I can hardly wait to see him. All we really want to do is disappear with the boys and enjoy each other. We are busy making plans and I'm sure it will be here before we know it!

The boys continue to do well, although they definitely missed Steve on Christmas. We were very lucky in that we were able to Skype with him on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. It was really bizarre having my laptop sitting there while the boys played with their new toys, Steve watching.

I think what I miss the most is plain old companionship. I suppose that is why I am feeling a little down now - - we are out of our regular routine, and although I have both boys home with me, I'm not seeing a whole lot of other adults. I miss Steve coming home at night, and I miss sitting on the sofa and talking with him after the boys go to bed. I find this deployment so much more isolating than the the last one, even though it is a shorter deployment. I think there are so many factors contributing to that. Right now I am just focusing on small increments of time. Working toward R&R right now.

Wow!

I'm still in shock...I finally got a box sent off to Steve last Thursday, and he has received it already...it took only six days to reach him! I can't believe it! I'm so happy because it gives me hope that he will get all of his Christmas presents in time. I have one more thing to mail to him, but won't be able to mail it until Saturday. Either way, he has the majority of his gifts. I really don't think there is any rhyme or reason to the mail though, because he sent Griffin a letter that arrived on Monday, and then he got another letter on Tuesday, which Steve had sent a week after the first one. So, who knows. Just glad he has it.

Settling In, Here and There

These past couple of weeks have been difficult. I think all four of us have been having some growing pains...I can't speak for Steve, but I know it has been tough here back home. Both of the boys have been having been struggling, between feeling insecure, having nightmares, and acting naughty (mainly Griffin on that last point, ahem). I've attributed this to the fact that we don't have ready access to Steve anymore, we don't have Skype up and running yet...it just hasn't been much fun.

The good news is, with each little bump in the road, I know the boys and I come out of it a little bit stronger. I mostly can't get over what a different experience this all is, in comparison to the last deployment. Sometimes I feel like I've never been through it before! The other good news is that it feels so good that now, we can really look forward to Steve coming home. Baby steps though...right now I am aiming for R & R in approximately four months.

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For Thanksgiving Day, the boys and I are really lucky to have my parents here with us. We are having a small dinner at their house next door - - I am afraid I will mostly be sniffing the food and not eating...still recovering from gallbladder surgery a couple of days ago! I'm just happy they are here with us!