Gone camping...

Last year, Ben went to scout camp with Ethan. It was his first year.

 I was having some issues with my "baby" leaving me. So having Ben with him made it that much easier.

Yesterday, Ethan & Connor set out for Scout Camp. Ben did not. Ethan has a year of experience under his belt. Connor has none. He hasn't been away from me for longer than a night.

I am putting my trust in his leaders...who are very good guys. I am not worried at all...just amazed at how fast my boys have grown up. Amazed at how quiet it is without them. Amazed at how well Ivan & Mason play together when the "big boys" aren't around.

 

 

Their backpacks were packed. Lots of snacks. Money for the trading post. Extra socks & underwear that I snuck in to a side pocket.

The 3 oldest kids getting instruction on being good leaders & examples

They are going to have a great time...and I am going to smother them with hugs and kisses when I see them again.

I seriously wonder how boys who don't live on military bases, do scouts? The boys here have sooo many options. Just have your Dad take your den to work! Seriously!

Ben arranged for the Wolf den to go to his work and learn about the environment. ** He offered to take them to the water treatment plant, saying "it doesn't smell THAT bad", and I declined!!**

Harmony' GS troop actually went on a submarine once.

We have gone to the security compound and saw the police dogs, and got on the security boat, atv's etc.

What can we say? Military Dads (and Moms) have cool jobs!

One of the dad's in Connor's den is a Captain ( I believe) in the Coast Guard. He arranged for us to go and tour a boat. So on a very, very rainy Thursday the boys and I headed down for the tour. Harmony opted to stay home!!

**********Note to Uncle Steve***********************
I realize that you probably don't read this, but just in case, I am sorry for not knowing the proper terms. You will probably cringe as I describe our experience. Sorry!
***********************************************************************************

OK continuing on.... I don't know what size this boat was but we headed down to the mess hall first. Next to the tables were a tv and several different game consoles. Of course every boy had to tell them what their favorite game was!

They looked in the kitchen (I won't complain about my kitchen anymore! There's was tiny!)

They got to look in the different rooms, like the engine room. They got to see all the guns lined up and of course the bathroom. Very exciting. Their beds were like "racks" on the Navy ships and didn't look comfortable at all!

While walking around, Ethan told one of the men that, "My Uncle is in the Coast Guard." One of the men said, " That's cool. What is his name?" Ethan responded with, "Uncle Steve."

They got to go to the top and "drive" the boat, play with the guns (all the boy's favorite), climb ladders and ran around like crazy boys!

By this time, I have to say that I was beyond sea sick! I thought I was going to throw up over the side! :) We got pictures with some of the crew and headed out.

As the boys were getting off, some of the crew said, "OK you guys are going to join up now right? Join the Coast Guard?"

Of course all the boys said yes! They started walking down the ramp and out to the cars when one of the boys very calmly said, " Are we going to go join up now?" So cute.

It was a fun and wet outing! We are so grateful to all those who serve! Even if they aren't in the Navy! :)

Amazing

(cutest wolf scout EVER)

(CUTEST 7 year old EVER)
(candle-less cupcakes)

(bestest brothers)
(Harm and the birthday boy)
(Mom with her favorite grandkids!)
Like most people, our lives are so busy. Insanely busy sometimes. But it is amazing to me what all can happen in just a matter of days!!! So grab a snack and something cold to drink as I update you on our lives. It may be long, but if you don't read it all, you are going to miss out! :)

Starting from the youngest to the oldest...

Baby update. I went to get my glucose test done. I scored a 189. Unfortunatley, normal is under 100. So I have to go and take the 3 hour long test. Yippee. But we got a bit of a shock at the info that the doctor gave us. Ethan's delivery was pushed off until 37 weeks. However, Connor and Ivan were both born at 35 weeks. Because there is absolutely no NICU here, any child born within 34-36 weeks is medevaced (is that how you would spell that? hmmm?)out to Okinawa. Ben doesn't believe this will happen, because while they have come early, their health has always been good. But we all know that "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear". So we are trying to come up with any possible scenario and try to make plans accordingly. I forgot to mention that, even if the baby only needs a couple of days, we could be in Japan for up to 8 weeks because the baby can't go until it has a passport. Which is why we would have to fly someone out to take care of the other kids. It would be crazy!! So we are trying to prepare, but are hoping it doesn't come to that.

On to Ivan. Ivan had his yearly appt. with the developmental pediatrician. While they are easy to find in the states, out here they only come once a year. After talking for awhile about struggles & triumphs and letting the doctor observe Ivan, she said she is not convinced that he is autistic!!! We are ecstatic at this news. Does he have delays? yes. Does he have a lot of things he has to work on? yes. Was this still good news? Heck yeah! She felt that 1)he understands a lot more than he lets on 2) that his need for order is more just how he is personality wise, than because he is autistic. (Maybe a little OCD?)3) That he is very bright. He does crave order and so she (and his teacher) believe that if he is put on a regular routine, given lots of warnings about what is coming next, that he will really excel. So I am working on labeling all his drawers and toy buckets with pictures, coming up with a working schedule/routine with him (including pictures)so that he can have that order that he craves. Such happy, happy news!

Connor is 7 today!! I can't believe it! We went to TGIFridays the night that my Mom was here. Ivan was so tired that he fell asleep in the booth! :)He also got cupcakes on Monday. We were very laid back with his birthday. So laid back that I forgot to make sure I had candles for his cupcakes. He ended up with 7 MATCHES! I felt bad but you know what? He didn't seem to care!

The boys had their Blue and Gold banquet for Scouts while my Mom was here. It was fun to see them get awards. We enjoyed good food and good conversation.

Let's see, what else? Lots of drama from Harmony (of course).She went to a GS Valentines Day party where her leaders had made them all poodle skirts. They turned out so cute. Tomorrow we are going to go out to World Thinking Day and I am excited to see Harmony's dance. They each choose a country and do different things (dances, food, housing, etc)

To be honest, this is just a small sampling of all that is going on. But some of the more major.

We enjoyed my Mom's visit so much. I wish she could have stayed longer. I know she and my Dad really missed each other though. So I sacrificed and gave her up! :)

So there you go, all updated!

mommy guilt

(watching a magic trick with friend Alex)
(big buddies)
(Listening to his Den mother Miss Nika)
(checking out a magic trick with his friend Mason)
********UPDATE****************************

The throw up is still coming. He is currently sobbing because he is unable to go. :(


When I was pregnant with Harmony, people would tell me all about the good things of being a Mom. Lots of love, hugs, fun moments etc. They also told me about the bad, lots of diaper changes, spit up,breaking up fights with siblings etc. But what no one ever really told me about was...Mommy Guilt. And I suffer my fair share as I am sure most of you do. Let me go back just a little...

Connor and Ethan both wanted to start scouts this year. We did this through the base. Connor had a den leader, Ethan did not. Because of major Mommy Guilt, I said that I would be Ethan's leader. Well, the only way that I could possibly do it, was to have the boys have scouts on the same night. Which basically means, Connor's den leader is his surrogate mother at all Tiger den meetings. Now let me just say here that I couldn't have picked a better surrogate mother. She adores Connor and spoils him ROTTEN.

However, Connor was starting to feel upset that I had not been to any of his meetings.Major Mommy Guilt. So the other night, I finally had the opportunity to go. Just me and Connor. He talked my ear off as we rode to the beach. I loved it. We got to spend some fun quality time together.(All the pics were taken that night) That night, he was picked as the assistant for the month of February. So I am in the process of moving things around so I can be there. Guilt was starting to reside. Until...

In October (?) there was an announcement that all the dens would be going on a camping trip this weekend. Our cub master's daughter, is one of Harmony's really good friends. So they made plans to share a tent. The boys have been dreaming about this day. New tents have been bought, new camp chairs, all the food, batteries for flash lights, a babysitter for Ivan. All was going well until midnight last night....

"Mommy, I threw up all over my bed." I took Connor downstairs got him cleaned up and settled on the couch. I couldn't clean his stuff up because Ethan (amazingly) was still asleep. He cuddled with me until about 2 when we he finally nodded off. Around 3, another round. Got him cleaned up, and finally he crashed. So around 4 I go get in my bed and lie awake trying to think of what I am going to do. Do I let him go camping tonight? Or do I make him miss it? He told Ben, " I promise to get better for camping." So now I get the guilt. If I let him go, and he gets sick, than I feel guilty because I should of made him stay home. If I make him stay home, I feel guilty because he misses out on a trip that he really wanted to go on.The scouts have a rule that boys are only allowed to stay with family, no friends sharing tents. So if I don't take Connor, Harmony and Ethan don't go either. If I don't go, I have to find someone to take over for me as den leader for the wolves. Guilt, guilt and more guilt. It's not fair. Why can't someone else make these decisions?! Why does it always fall to the Mom? I'll let you know how it turns out...

stop the madness!!!

Agenda for today...

Hurry my bum up and get down to the scout store to buy my son his scout shirt. Why didn't I buy it YESTERDAY when I was already there? Oh because I thought I bought it weeks ago. Not so much.

Hurry to the commissary to buy food, to make dinner, for a friend who got out of surgery. While there also pick up food to make lunches for boys and Mom for tomorrow ( cub scout day camp).

Hurry to the NEX, or AAFES(Air Force exchange like store) see if I can print off cub scout pictures. Kodak kiosk at our nex broken. If they do not have one, hurry to K-Mart to use theirs. Also picking up extra sunscreen and a first aid kit to have on hand for tomorrow.

Come home and drop 2 scout shirts off at my friends house so that she can put all patches on.

Hurry home and do a mad cleaning dash of our home.

Bake cookies to take to friends home.

Go pick up friends kids from school and take them home with me, until their Mom/Dad get off work.

Make Harmony and friend do my cub scout poster using pictures, adhesive runners, and markers.

Babysitter comes at 5 for Ivan. Give him instructions and leave the house with...
**dinner for friends family
**canned good for Salvation Army canned food drive
**fishing stuff to donate for Operation Christmas drop
**den flag
**bird house
**poster
**2 cub scout jokes for Ethan
** 2 boys so excited to be decked out in their uniforms

Drop dinner off. Do not stay and talk. Wish well and leave.

Go to community center. Set up the "Wolves Den" table.

Sit with my den and make sure that they behave. Hand out awards.

Help clean up and go home.

Try to get some sleep, because I have to be at day camp from 8:30-3:30 the next day. 6 scouts, all day in the sun, shooting bb guns and bow and arrows.

My boys will appreciate it some day right?

Ben warned me..

Harmony is very active in a lot of different things. From church to Girl Scouts. The boys however, have missed cut offs and deadlines, and so currently are not involved in any activities. We have wanted them to do more than play video games after school, so we decided to put them in Cub Scouts. They don't start at church until they are eight, so we went with a base troop.

Connor was very excited because his best friend's Mom is in charge of his troop. Meeting right down the street from us. He's so very excited.

We were excited for him BUT we found out that Ethan's age group...doesn't have a leader. We actually had a neighbor boy come and sell us some popcorn, and Ethan said, " guess what? I am going to be a scout too!" So when I got the email stating that unless a leader stepped up, there would be no troop. I couldn't break his heart. I just couldn't. So you are looking at the new troop leader for the Wolf scouts. There are only 5 boys (including Ethan). I know a couple of them, but have been told it is a good group of kids.

Ben warned me. He said that by having three boys ( like that was a choice I made)I would probably not escape being a den mother at some point. I just didn't think it would be quite yet.

So I know a lot of you have been den leaders and such. Any ideas, suggestions, comments, info. that you would like to share with me, would be much appreciated. Wish me luck!