Comments (2)

By Alyssa, February 25, 2010 9:53 pm

So I’m nervous.  For the last year and a half, I’ve squeezed in Army one weekend a month.  I played Army with the National Guard two or three days out of the month before coming home to pick-up mom responsibilities.  Next month, I’ll be full time Army for two weeks.  Full time Army away from my family.  Full time Army in another country.

I’m pretty much set-up to go, packed up most of the Army gear, prepped notes for leaving the kiddos with Nana.  Now, I can’t help but think about all the possible ways I could screw up those two weeks full time Army.  I’m realizing that although I’ve perfected some great skills over the last 18 months, like how to juggle two toddlers and four packages in line at the post office or ways to reward your four-year-old for NOT throwing up on the carpet, they don’t really transfer over to Army business.

Do I still know how to give a good old boring Army briefing?  Can I even remember half of the Army acronyms or how to disassemble a 9mm handgun?  Am I going to be that Army mom that can’t shut-up about her kids and blah blah blah about potty training and teething?  I love raising my kiddos, but I’m not sure whoever is stuck with me in a secured bunker is going to want to hear all about it.

*Sigh*

I think the hard thing for me is that I’ve found I love this mommy gig more than the Army.  Can I make it two weeks without story time and morning snuggles?  I know there have to be other moms out there that dreaded that first day back at the office.  So tell me, what did you do to get back in the game?

P.S. Let’s pray I’m healthy before I head out.  Everyone in this house is currently on antibiotics, but I’m powering through with a slight head cold.  Immuno-mom prevails!

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By Alyssa, February 23, 2010 11:03 pm

Seed Catalogs

Missed Part I?  Click here.

I almost broke the first rule of beginning gardening.  START SMALL!

As the seed catalogs came in the mail, I found excuses to visit my backyard and dream about my future plot of greenery.  With every visit, I had a new idea. I’d build this and then move that and then buy this and… yeah, I got a little out of control.  Thank goodness I’m married to the most logical, non-emotional decision maker I know.  Hubby looked over my plans, listened to my ideas, gave small suggestions, and then, when I mentioned the cascading ivy, wild flower sanctuary, and waterfall, he put his foot down.  One vegetable garden this summer, one, uno, that’s it.  I persuaded, then ranted, then threw a mini-fit, followed by a major fit… and, well, did the only thing I could do in this type of situation.  As the mature one in our relationship, I stormed out like a teenage girl, thought about everything for a bit, and, decided he was right.  I’m such a great wife.

If I want to set myself up for gardening success this year, I have to force myself to start small.  This means no herb garden and half the garden size I originally intended to grow. Check out the new plan (Yes, I used red to show my bleeding ideas, killed until next summer.  Can you say, Drama Queen?):

I’ll still be building the kid’s sandbox (well, er… assisting Hubby in the construction) and moving the doghouse, but everything else is going to wait until next summer.  I know at the very least I want to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash, but I’m still rethinking the smaller garden.  I did narrow down the seed catalogs to heirloom seeds only and decided to use Seed Savers Exchange.  To be honest, the only reason why I chose Seed Savers is because Barbara Kingsolver, my absolute favorite author, uses their seeds in her garden.  Quite the logical decision, right?

I may have lost the war on my ridiculous garden plans, but I did win one battle.  Hubby’s buying me a pretty sweet composter from Costco.  It’s his logical answer to yet another one of my crazy ideas.  Wait, did I just put sweet and composter in the same sentence?  I’d say it’s time to go to bed.  Garden plot plans coming soon!

Comments (46)

By Alyssa, February 19, 2010 8:46 pm

Step 1:
Order a new, unshaped beret from some Army website and forget that you can now order pre-shaped berets for only a few dollars more.  Argghh.
Step 2:
Purchase or dig out from under your bathroom sink several disposable razors to shave beret. With firm strokes starting in the center and circling toward the outside of the beret, shave beret until wool is smooth without fuzz.

Step 3:
Repeat Step 2 for at least 45 minutes as you think of one hundred and fifty-five more important things that you could be doing instead of shaving a wool cap. Discard your dull razor and dig out a new razor as you continue Step 2.  Wool fluff pile should be the size of a softball at this point.
Step 4:
Turn your beret inside out and use disposable razor #3 to shave the inside of your beret. You don’t want those little fuzzies in your hair after taking the beret off. Verbally chew yourself out loud for not purchasing pre-shaved and shaped beret while attempting not to wake napping toddlers.

Step 5:
Wet down beret with warm water in the kitchen sink.  WARNING: VERY HOT OR BOILING WATER WILL SHRINK BERET.  Do not soak, but moisten enough so that wool appears pliable.  If shaved correctly, a slight circular pattern should appear on the beret, like this:

Step 6:
Wear wet beret around the house while it forms to your huge noggin.  Explain to your four-year-old why you weren’t smart enough to purchase a pre-shaped beret as you make him lunch with wet beret on your head.

Oh, and take unattractive self-portrait documenting progress.
Step 7:
When beret feels only slightly damp, place on counter or area out of 18-month-old’s grasp and allow beret to dry completely.

Step 8:
Several weeks later, remember that you still haven’t finished beret for drill in the morning. Oops.  Quickly sew on unit flash (you know, the little patch that goes on the front of your beret?).  If sewing machine is unavailable, find someone that has one (takes a little less than 38 seconds to sew on), or get ripped off… ahem, pay an alteration shop to sew yours on for $5.

Flash stitching view from the inside of beret

Step 9:
Label your beret tag and cut off remainder of tag so your peers will never find out how fat your head actually is (7 and 1/2… seriously???).

Step 10:
Finally, tie beret headband string into a knot and cut off ends.  If you used really hot water and find that your beret is now a size smaller (Awww, MAN!), cut off knot and pull on headband praying the leather will give a little for your gargantuan cranium.

Now celebrate a good wasted four hours by impersonating that Sergeant Major who always tried to look tough by wearing his beret like this…

Or wear your beret like that almost worthless 2nd Lieutenant that you despised training…

But really, you know that you’re supposed to wear your beret like this (ignore the “not-in-regulation” hair and earrings)…

Hope you had as much fun as I did!  Now to bed.  Gotta earn this maroon airborne beret by jumping out of a plane in the morning!

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By Alyssa, February 16, 2010 12:44 pm

Copyright Alyssa Aarhaus 2010

For the first time since joining the National Guard, I’m leaving my family next month for two weeks of annual training.  It’s been over two years since I deployed and survived my time away from then 18-month-old Bubba. He is old enough now to understand that he doesn’t like it when Mommy is gone and I’ve never left little brother Zeke for more than a day. Much like my last deployment, I feel like the more I concentrate on preparing my kids for my time away the less I actually think about being away.  Here’s a list of what I plan on completing in the next few weeks before I go:

-  Boys’ Schedule:  For Hubby and my mother-in-law filling in during the two weeks, I’m preparing a schedule detailing the boys’ routine: when do they get-up, eat meals, take naps or quiet time, and what are the steps for bedtime.  I’m giving mom-in-law the words to a specific prayer we say every night with Bubba.  I’ll also be listing out example meals for her.  She’s a great cook, so I’m not worried about her ability.  I just want the boys to have their favorite meals while I’m gone.

-  How-to Manual:  Mom-in-law isn’t familiar with some of our fancy appliances so I’ll be leaving directions for those around the house too.  Hard to ensure the boys have clean clothes when programming our washer is like setting up a space launch.

-  Letters and Paper Chains:  I’ve never used this idea but I plan to write little notes to Bubba and Zeke that they can open every day.  I’ve heard of soldiers doing this for their kiddos on a weekly basis when they are gone for months at a time.  I also plan on making a paper chain with Bubba so that after I leave he can pull off rings counting down the days until I’m home.  He loved our Advent paper chain, so I’m hoping he’ll like this one even more.

-  Story Time:  For my second deployment in 2007, I used a small hand-held recorder and taped myself reading Bubba’s favorite bedtime stories.  My sister/nanny told me that she caught my sweet little boy talking to my voice and his books as he had taught himself how to use the recorder.  I also recorded myself with the video camera acting out a cheesy preschool presentation.  Bubba watched this over and over again when I left the last time and even shouted, “MOVIE!” when he saw me on a webcam during the deployment.  I’m using the same tapes two years later for the boys.

The key to any separation from your family is preparation and communication.  This list seems pretty extensive for two weeks, but I’d rather over-prepare… that’s kind of how I operate.  When I think of all of the moms I know on 12-month deployments in harm’s way RIGHT NOW, two weeks doesn’t seem so bad.  My boys probably won’t remember it and, if they do, I hope they remember great meals, Mommy videos, and paper chains, not my absence.

Leaving for more than two weeks?  Here are other resources I found really helpful when I deployed:

- Sesame Street: Talk, Learn, Listen.  Great Website for preschoolers!  Request their free DVD.  Bubba loved it!

- Military One Source Wonderful resource for military members and their families with access to tons of free services.

- Real Warriors Website Great all-inclusive list for kiddos of all ages.

Comments (4)

By Alyssa, February 11, 2010 7:19 am

Never, I repeat, NEVER post the words, “I’M” and “PREGNANT” on your website, especially if you ARE NOT pregnant.  Doing something that silly just might get you text messages, a couple comments, and a call from your mother-in-law within minutes of posting.  I’m thankful my parents don’t have Internet at their house and Hubby has grown accustomed to my mishaps.

Have no idea what I’m talking about?  Go ahead and click here.