Friday Night Leftovers (Santa's direct line edition)

• This weekend is supposed to be down right cold.  As in single-digit lows & highs in the teens.  Brrr!  Good news though... sunshine through & through!
• With a photo shoot scheduled for Sunday morning with a local photographer, our inside session should be much cozier than our outside, snow-filled, winter wonderland photo session that will follow.  Did I mention Brrrr?
• We are down to about 7 hours of daylight and losing about 5 minutes each day. 
• Exactly 4 weeks left of my internship. Bring it on!
• Thomas' kindergarten teacher has the entire class convinced that that motion sensor on the ceiling is Santa's direct line.  Every time that the red light blinks, they think he is watching them on his computer up in his North Pole office.  She told me yesterday that it is the most hilarious thing in the world.  Did I mention that I like her?
• Speaking of school, Thomas is officially a reader.  I'm in awe of him and how quickly this whole reading process has happened.  You should see him sound out everything.  The reading, the spelling!  I love it!
• Unfortunately, whining and huffing is still happening WAY TOO MUCH (namely by my #1 and my #2 kiddos).  However, I have pulled out a few mom tricks from my sleeve with only marginal success.
• As of today, I am officially a registered team member {with some other fabulously crazy military wives) for the Annual Anchorage Polar Plunge that happens next month!  Yes... I will be jumping into a large hole in a frozen lake.  Yes... insane, but I will only live in Alaska once & it supports the Special Olympics!

Winter Alaska sunrise around 9:15am

Our MVP

Many nights a week we have sat down for dinner just moments after Thomas has gotten off the school bus, enhailed our food, raced to practices and games, cheered him on, reminded him to work & play hard... all so that he could learn good sportsmanship, meet new friends, enjoy the game, and improve his skills. 

 

Above all else Thomas, we want you to have fun & enjoy what you are doing.  For the rest of your life, regardless of what it is you are doing, learning, or practicing... make sure you enjoy what you do so that you will want to do it well.

Because you will always be our MVP.

                                     July 2012                                                                Oct 2012
                                       Soccer                                                                  Basketball

                                                                                                                                 

Thankful Thursday

As we get closer to Thanksgiving, I continue to count my blessings each week. 

#1 - my old dear friends who remain a constant in my life despite the miles that separate us and even the years that we have last seen each other.
#2 - the opportunity that I have I had at a new school... and the hope that I am opening new doors.
#3 - my mother and father who raised me with love, values, morals.
#4 - my 3 healthy children
#5 - a new friend who has opened their home to me & my children to share Thanksgiving Day.
#6 - my sister, who knows me inside & out.  She knows when I need to talk, when I need a listener, doesn't judge me, loves me for being me and is sincere in everything she does and says.
#7 - former students who write to me often and remind me what a difference I made in their life as a teacher, a coach, a mentor and eventually as a friend.
#8 - the chance to be at home this last 1.5 years as a stay-at-home mom and not miss a thing with my children
#9 - my husband for providing for our entire family and giving us the world.
#10 - the beautiful white winter snow that we would have never been able to enjoy if we were still in Florida.

Wordless Wednesday: Same Shirt, Different Seasons

The same cute button nose.

Almost the same age.

The same shirt - one winter wear, one summer wear.

 

 



Turkeys

Getting ready & decorating for Thanksgiving

Letters

Dear Lazy Neighbor(s)... whoever you are,
Put your trash in the dumpster.  If it was in front of your house, would you continue to do what you are doing in our neighborhood?  No, of course not.  Unless you really are a slob and that irresponsible.  Hello there... you are sending out an open invitation to bears, moose and those awful looking (and sounding) black crows.  Not smart.  Oh, and if you are that same idiot who isn't shoveling your driveway, be warned that you will slip on the soon-to-be ice and then you're probably gonna slip and bust you a$$.  For goodness sakes, even the lady around the corner who is 8 months pregnant and has two little kiddos can do it AND her husband is deployed.  Get it together or at least ask for help.

Sincerely,
Your Fed-Up Neighbor


Dear Mom at the Bus Stop,
We all have several children.  We all have to get at least one of our children off to school, plus bring the younger ones out to the bus stop with us.  We all know its cold outside.  Please stop acting like you are the only one with multiple children and that your situation is so much more difficult than ours.  Please stop reminding us that you have a 6 year old, a 2 year old and a 5 month old.  This mom has "been there, done that."  Matter of fact, I do that same thing every day.  I would normally not be so shrill, but your husband is home, unlike many of the rest of us whose loved one is either TDY or deployed.  Please get over yourself.  If you need help, just ask.

Sincerely,
Just another busy Mom


Dear Mom & Dad in the basketball stands,
Would you please stop texting or checking FB during your son's basketball game?  You have hardly seen a moment of his games, week after week.  You miss the gazillion times that he looks for your reaction to him scoring a basket.  You miss the disappointment in his eyes when you don't cheer for him.  Will you please just enjoy the 45 minute game and be present for him?  Let him know that you are his biggest fan & are proud of him.  You are going to regret one day when you didn't show him that everything he does actually really matters to you.

Sincerely,
A proud & cheering Mom

Honoring our Veterans

Happy Veteran's Day to all of our country's veterans and current active duty members.

Your service and your sacrifice are what help protect our freedoms and we are eternally grateful.

 

(Artwork by Thomas)

 

 

Our hero!

 

And to all of the heroes in our family (both sides) who have served, both past & present,

in the United States military.

Thank you.

Happy Veteran's Day!

 

 



Superhero Bloopers

And just in case you didn't giggle enough from Wordless Wednesday's video, here are a few Superhero Bloopers to enjoy:

 

Even heroes need help with their cape!

 Excited?  Maybe.

But this was right before she busted out in *the* Superhero Dance.

 I'm not sure if Marilyn is amazed because she thinks she is in the presence of Superheroes...

or if she is just dumbfounded by how crazy her brother and sister are?

 One of many Superhero poses.

 Putting his mask on & getting ready.

Is it me or does he look naked behind that cape?

Friday Night Leftovers (the whinning & huffing edition)

 

TGIF Peeps.  I only have the energy for bullets this morning.  Work with me...

• Goodbye sunshine, hello snow showers.  The forcast looks white from here on out.
• I didn't go to my internship all week due to the bug that is going around.  First Abby, now my daycare provider's little guy.  Lord help me trying to fit in all these extra hours into the coming weeks.
• Jobs, jobs, jobs.  I am hunting for jobs.
• Basketball is over for Thomas in one week.  Wow.  Then what are we gonna do with our "extra" time?  Of course, sign up for indoor soccer.
• Abby is so strong that I witnessed her do a pullup on the bars the other day at gymnastics.  Really?  A freak'in pullup, Abby?  She blows my mind.
• I've never seen a child sleep as well as Marilyn does - everynight she is good for at least 12 hours.  Solid.  Coma-like sleep.  This is clearly a Sullivan trait.
• The whinning and huffing is at an all time high in our house lately.  It's really ridiculous.  I'm about to put "Operation Hush Up" into action if it doesn't fix itself soon.

Thankful Thursday - Honoring our Veterans & their military families

Several weeks ago, I was asked by my dear friend Kari, who I used to teach with, if I would help her with an upcoming letter writing campaign her high school English students would be doing as both Veteran's Day and the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approached. The campaign involved her students writing personal thank you letters to military members who are currently serving overseas, away from their families, and sacrificing so much for our country.

Kari thought it would be more meaningful for her students if she shared someone's personal story - which is why she asked me for help. Having been one of those precious friends who has stood by my side through long separations while Brian was on deployments & TDYs, she knows my family's story very well. I'm thankful to her for asking me to share our story with her students as we prepare to honor our country's past & present military veteran's this coming weekend.

After making a short video for Kari's students, I thought about so many other military families that I know so well who have a story to tell also. I asked a few of my closest friends, who I am inspired by each day as they embrace the military lifestyle, take on the challenges & struggles of being a military wife & mom, and handle the long separations alone that so often come when loved ones must leave their families behind, if they would share either their military family's story or some thoughts about being in a military family. Thank you to my incredible friends Nicky, Angie and Marsha.

For this week's Thankful Thursday, I'm focusing on our nation's heroes, including my husband, and all military families who endure an enormous hardship when loved ones must leave to serve our country.

Michelle, Air Force wife, mother of 3, family currently living in Alaska...

Nicky, Air Force wife, mother of 1, currently PCSing to new assignment in Nevada; husband already there...

"One of the best and worst things for a military wife is deployment. We have our moments of weakness with frustration, doubt, sadness or even loneliness. But the best of all, is that we remind ourselves that the frustration is what makes us cherish the moments we have, doubt reminds us that we are living proof it's possible, sadness reminds us of the happiness we'll have when we're reunited and loneliness reminds us of the strength we have in surviving yet another separation."

Angie, Army wife, mother of 1, family lives in Colorado, husband currently deployed...

"I think it is hard to describe what it is like to be a military family to individuals who are not, because if you are you just get it. It is a lifestyle change but a great one! I was not raised in a military family but quickly adjusted when I married my High School sweetheart who joined and is now currently deployed. Many people think that having their significant other leave on a business trip for a few weeks is similar. While i do sympathize with what they are going through, it is not the same. While my husband is deployed we don't get to talk to him everyday or even every week. If his unit is busy or on missions we don't hear from him. Which I think is one of the hardest parts... going weeks without hearing something as simple as your loved ones voice just saying "hello, i miss you." We also wake up worried everyday hoping he is safe as does he wake up everyday hoping we are safe and getting threw each day. While it is difficult to be separated for nine months it makes you truly appreciate your spouse and cherish the time you are together. Being a military family i think makes you appreciate the little things in life so much more because the soldiers are often gone whether it be a deployment, a humanitarian mission or just training in the field. We also have a child, Hugo, who is 4, and it is hard to have your daddy miss out on birthdays and holidays. The hardest part in our situation is having him be a special needs child who we have a hard time explaining to him that daddy loves you but has a very important job and he has to help protect not only his family but other families also. And even harder for my husband SGT Petit because he knows Hugo loves him, but with him being gone and Hugo being non-verbal, not being able to hear or see his son show love is difficult. Even though the time apart is hard it is all worth it in the end. We love being a military family. The lifelong friends we have made who are always there and understand, the experience, and knowing that at least one person out there is thankful, makes it is all worth it."

Marsha, Air Force wife, mother of 2, family currently living in England ...

Wordless Wednesday: Underwear Superheroes

Three words today...

Meet. My. Crazies!

Abby - Preschool & Speech update

It has been awhile since I have done an update on Abby's speech (here & here), her new preschool, and the progress she is making since starting her preschool communication class.

Abby has been attending a communication class for students with delayed speech 2x week for the last 7 weeks at a nearby elementary school.  She is in class with six other 3 & 4-year olds who have similar speech concerns.  Her teacher is incredible and absolutely someone that Abby adores.  As expected too, and in true Abby fashion, she is really enjoying the socialization that school gives her outside of just playing with Thomas & Marilyn.

The most important goal (both academic & functional) that we have for Abby this school year is to improve her speech and expressive language skills by imitating sounds and speaking in longer sentences.  In just the short time while she has been enrolled in this preschool class, along with continuing her private speech therapy sessions, we have seen a huge growth in the individual, as well as combined sounds that she is making, the words she is using, the length of her sentences, and even the complete sentences that she is saying.  It is actually mind blowing when I step back and look at her progress.  Even at school, her team of teachers is amazed.

But really... none of us should be surprised.  Abby is a spunky, sassy, energetic, sweet, caring, competitive little girl who wants to learn, please, laugh, read, draw, color, and write.  Getting better }using her words & sounds {as we call it} is something that she knows she needs to work on... but she takes on the challenge just like Thomas takes on basketball or Marilyn takes on climbing & running.

Here is a glimpse at her one afternoon when Thomas is doing his homework and she wanted to work on letters.  You can see in the video she loves to "check off" the letters she knows and is always curious about what letters are in each of our names.  Not only the letter recognition, but the progress she has made with her verbalization and showing us what she knows, is incredible.
 

The winter fun begins

Although there is only a little bit of snow on the ground {compared to the 135" we enjoyed last year}, the kids and I wasted no time in starting the winter fun. 

I can tell already that all 3 of my kiddos will be doing things much differently this winter than last.  With Abby and Marilyn already showing no fear on the sleds and Thomas wanting to try the "big kids" things like snowboarding, tubing, skiing and the super-duper fast sleds on the big hill... I'm sure Brian and I will be in for some serious fun this winter.

 

 

Americans like us!

We have an American flag hanging up by our front door.  There are plenty of flags hanging in front of other neighbors' homes too... Go figure, we live on a military base. 

The other night, as we are driving home, Thomas' exclaims from the backseat as we pass a new neighborhood, "Look Mom! Those people have a flag too... They must be Americans like us!!!"

I love the honesty in his statement.

More Abby fashions: Girl Boots

Just another peek at her latest fashions...

Friday Night Leftovers (hubby home? edition)

Hey, November.  How are you here already?

• I need time to continue to fly by.  At this rate, Brian will be home in the blink of an eye.
• I wonder if there is any chance in the world that it won't snow again until Brian comes home?  Yeah.  Fat chance.
• Whether its 8 months, 2 months, or a week... it just plain sucks to have Brian gone.  I may be used to it, but it doesn't make it any easier emotionally.
• Today was not one of my better days.  I hate being in a rut or a mood.  Or whatever it is.
• My day started when I realized that I was completely out of bread.  Needless to say, Thomas had to buy his first "hot lunch" at school... and he was super excited.  I, on the other hand, had nothing to bring to school for lunch.  Lovely.
• It seems that overnight I have created a chocolate-loving, candy-wanting, sweet-tooth baby out of Marilyn.  And she only gets 2 pieces of candy a day.  Auughhh!  Thank god I have a 7 day house rule and the candy will all be gone by Wednesday.
• Thomas is loving basketball.  Seriously.  I also can't believe how much he has improved in the last month.  I guess it also doesn't hurt that we have a basketball hoop downstairs in the playroom for the winter that he uses daily.

Thankful Thursdays

Although I try to be thankful everyday for my big & small blessings, I thought it appropriate to bring back my "Thankful Thursdays" during the month of November as we get closer to Thanksgiving in a few weeks.

#1 - Skype.  Seeing Brian/Daddy's face is priceless.
#2 - Seat warmers in my VW.  This is a must during winters in Alaska.
#3 - Morning kisses from 3 special munchkins.  There is no better way to start my day.
#4 - A special neighbor.  Someone who is willing to trade off mornings watching our kids so that important matters get done.  Thanks Steph!
#5 - Hazelnut creamer for my coffee.  Warm yumminess in a cup.
#6 - The most flexible caretaker ever.  She is so willing to work around my internship schedule and Brian/Daddy being gone.  Thanks Mindy!
#7 - Garage space for my car.  See #2 listed above.  Same idea.  Single digits in the morning is not always fun, but a warm car makes it a bit better.
#8 - Bedtime Books.  Reading while getting cozy together is an incredible way to end my busy days.
#9 - Frozen boogies on frozen noses.  Although gross at first, I can't help but think they are adorable.
#10 - Quiet/Nap time.  This is how I keep my insanity in check.

Halloween Rules: Alaska Style

 

Things run a bit different up here in the Great Frontier when it comes to many things - dress styles, diversity of people, extreme weather and co-existing with the {big} wildlife... just to name a few. 

 

Halloween is another one of those "things" that just seem to go down in a different way than, let's say the Panhandle of Florida (where we are from).  Let me give some specifics:

• No real pumpkins can be set out in front of your house prior to Halloween day.  Why?  The Moose and the Bears love them some yummy pumpkins... whether they have been decorated to be Jack-O-Lanterns or not.  And those are not the kind of visitors you want to invite.  How many of you had real pumpkins as part of your outdoor decor during the month of October?  Yeap... that's probably most people.
• Dressing for Halloween requires creativity.  Why?  There is ALWAYS snow on the ground by Halloween AND temperatures are usually hoovering in the upper teens to lower-20s while trick-or-treating.  Because of the weather, it is always recommended that parents buy their kids costumes at least 1-2 sizes bigger so that snow gear can be worn underneath.  See pictures below for examples.
• For obvious reasons {see Alaskan weather conditions listed above}, there are a ton of places throughout town that offer indoor trick-or-treating.
• In the past, I've been known to be a tad "strict" when it comes to handing out candy to kids (be it tweens or teenagers) who don't seem to be in any recognizable Halloween costume.  To me, you need to make a concerted effort to show that you have dressed up in order to get candy & treats.  Well, I seem to have thrown out that personal Halloween philosophy because me & my helpers were practically throwing candy at our visitors last night just to get ride of the 2 big bowls of treats AND so that we could shut the door and warm ourselves up again.

 Happy Halloween from Alaska!