Blog Recommendation!

Stand-Down Time ends today. You can read this post for a definition. Dan is back to work, kind of like normal day hours. He will work around a 6am-4pm day M-F, and then have a 24-hr shift every 8th day. As he goes back to work, I go back to work. And what's one of the best parts of my work days? BLOGGING!!! [The kids are still asleep, but that's not always the case!!!]

I want to introduce you to an amazing new blog I am reading, that also happens to be written by my husband! Yes, Dan has started his own blog since returning home! It is called...

Different Frequencies...Same Radio

I'm a blogger who writes, but he's a writer who blogs, so his writing style and perspective are great. Plus, it gives him an audience that is actually interested in discussing Linux because he doesn't really have that in his wife. See...you don't even know what Linux is, do you???

He has written 4 "About" posts that discuss each topic his blog will encompass. That will give you a really good idea of his blog or you can read a few of my favorite posts so far...

His first book review, Fathered by God, by John Eldridge
Marc Driscoll screaming How Dare You
His experience Baptizing a Shipmate in the Pacific Ocean
Teaching Timothy to be a Future Warrior
His reaction to the Chief Results
Why He is Going to Seminary

And then for your husbands who are computer geeks, his Obsession with Ubuntu.

Dan's blog is easy to navigate and clearly labeled to read your area of interest. Head over there and leave a comment or two. You know we all love those comments!

Hawaii Vacation

To make good use of my "missing Dan" time today, I thought I would be productive and post pictures of our vacation trip from 2 months ago!!! I'm nothing if not completely behind on everything in life!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Little Navy Vocabulary

You should understand the following Navy terms by the end of this blog post:

1. Leave
2. Duty
3. Stand Down
4. Turn Over Day

Please ask questions if I haven't made it clear!

The Navy is generous about giving the service member time off upon return from deployment. It's actually an interesting part of Navy life, so I thought I would educate! There is a 4 week "stand down period" during which half of the ship gets to take vacation leave during the 1st 2 weeks and then the other half takes leave the 2nd 2 weeks. We decided this time that Dan would take vacation time during the 1st 2 weeks, so he has been home with us every day. Taking leave is just like putting in for vacation time at a civilian job.

But here's the nice perk! During the 2 weeks that he is NOT on vacation, he only has to go to the ship every 4th day for a 24-hour period. This is called his "duty" day. Normally, he serves it every 8th day (while also working normal daily hours), but during stand down time they "collapse" the duty sections so that they don't have to work at all the other 3 days. It's awesome, and my vote is that it should be the schedule all the time! [Dan is going to seriously crack up at that suggestion-obviously, no one cares about my opinion.]

Today is "turn over day". This is the day in between the 2 leave periods where the responsibilities are handed over from one half of the ship to the other half of the ship. On this day, everyone ("all hands") are required to show up to work whether they have duty or not. So alas, that's where Dan is today, and it's like a little twinge of reality starting to settle back in. The nice thing is that his duty day (the 24-hr shift) also happens to fall on today, so at least he kills two birds with one stone. Usually with our luck, he has to go to turn over day, and then go back the very next day for duty.

Okay, so did I explain those words in enough detail?

Everyone's Hero

Yesterday we saw Everyone's Hero as part of Regal Theaters free summer movies. It was our first time to see it, and it was so cute! Here's what I liked...

1. Heartwarming & inspiring story (more like a non-animated film)
2. Fantastic cast-practically every voice was a famous person
3. Humor-the baseball (voice by Rob Reiner) had a great sarcastic wit, and the physical comedy had the kids throughout the theater roaring with laughter
4. Perseverance was encouraged-the main character didn't want to play baseball anymore because he wasn't good, but his Dad taught him that the only way to get good is to "Keep on Swinging". This is a continuing concept we try to teach Timothy, and we have already used this phrase a few times since the movie!
   

Here's the trailer:

I highly recommend it! And just in case you don't know about the summer movie programs in your area, here's the information. Just click on the theater name:

Regal Cinema Free Family Film Festival

This theater offers 2 movies every Tues & Wed at 10am. Both play each day, and at the theater we go to they played each movie on 2 screens. The one drawback of this theater (to me) is that Samantha's weight can't hold the chair down. She has to either sit on the very edge of the seat or in my lap. The obvious plus side is that these movies are completely free!

AMC Summer Movie Camp

This theater offers 1 movie on Wed at 10am. There is a $1 admission fee that goes to charity. Both theaters are playing generally the same movies, just in a different sequence. As I've stated already, I think the AMC theater is more conducive to a preschooler. Not only do the seats stay down, but the chairs have high backs which allows less fiddling with other people.

We've had great experiences at both, and the most important thing is that it's the cheapest way to ever see a movie!

Hearts at Home University

Motherhood is a valid profession.

It is that belief that inspired Jill Savage and a group of women to plan the first Hearts at Home conference 16 years ago. Today these conferences are a place where moms can go to find the encouragement and education they need to do this mothering thing right!

The problem is, not everyone can attend a Hearts at Home conference, so Hearts at Home University was created!

Hearts at Home University is a new resource designed to encourage and equip you in your journey as a parent! These live web casts, affordably priced at $15 each, allow you to tap into continuing education as a mom on a regular basis right from the comfort of your own computer.

The topics that will be covered over the Summer Semester include:

“Redefining Romance” with Mark and Jill Savage
“Keeping Your Ducks in a Relative Row” with Karen Ehman

For information on dates and times, or to register go here.

WW & SEW: The Head Tilt

Samantha's new "pose" for the camera includes this adorable head tilt, along with her standard "CHEESE!" This was taken on July 3rd. The bear in her lap was given to her by Russ & Sherry, CF parents in Hawaii, whom Dan met while he was there. Sherry is the Great Strides coordinator in HI and gave Dan this bear to pass on to Samantha.

This was taken today at the beach. Samantha was totally stoked about her new "kitty" goggles. If you look closely you can see the catlike skin.

For more Wordless Wednesday (WW), visit 5 Minutes for Mom.

For more Special Exposure Wednesday (SEW), visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

Children's Classics: Beach Destination

Title: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Shell
Author: Lucille Colandro

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Illustrator: Jared Lee
Publisher: Scholastic

Do you know the Children's classic, "There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly"? I grew up knowing the story and an accompanying melody. In this modern day twist, the "Old lady" swallows common objects and creatures you would find at a beach. The reader is puzzled (and tickled) by her choices, and then at the end of the story when she burps it all up...SPOILER ALERT....she "builds a sand castle". The same author has written other versions as well, even a "snow" version for those of you in colder climates! This is an enjoyable book that always gets us in the mood to go to the beach (not that we need much motivation!)

For more Children's Classic books that have inspired trips, head on over to 5 Minutes for Books.

Magic Marker Monday: Great-Grandpa's B-day

Dan's grandfather just turned 86. It's always easy to remember because Timothy was a newborn at the 80th b-day party. Dan's aunt coordinated a group of memoirs to give him this year, and Timothy was actually excited when I told him what he was drawing! He said he wanted to color all the things of a b-day party, and if you look really closely you can see the balloons, the cake, and the presents!

The Bible says, "Perfect love casts out fear", and I see this over and over again in Timothy. When he cares enough about someone or something, he can even get over his fears of drawing!

Dan's Home from Deployment!

So isn't that the oldest news in the world? Yes, that happened on July 2nd....eleven days ago! What a happy, happy day it was, and we continue to celebrate. Both kids trying to be still for a picture....

That's Dan's ship coming around the corner...

The kids had been standing on this table to try to see Daddy, so when he appeared right in front of them, they were scrambling off to get to him...

In this post of the day Dan left, you will see this Kansas Jayhawk hat. Dan told Timothy to take care of it for him, which is why he is wearing it the day Dan returned. "Dad, I took care of your hat"...

A little interesting deployment info. The Navy gives anyone on the ship the opportunity to order flowers to give to their loved one the day they return. They are purchased at our exchange here in San Diego and sent by tugboat over to the ship the morning of! Because of this fantastic tradition, I received these...

But what Dan added this time was Samantha's 1st rose of "Sixty-five" that we plan on giving her throughout her lifetime. Samantha didn't know what to do with it, and immediately handed it to me when Dan gave it to her...

Then we went on the ship to get Dan's stuff and wait for "liberty call", and the kids were just too happy for words. We have all kinds of problems getting nice pictures of Samantha, but this day we got these 2...

Welcome Home, honey!

There is so much I want to write about Timothy turning 6, but there is much partying to be had so I will have to save it for later! Thank you Grandpa & Grandma Massey for the awesome birthday presents! Timothy's day started off SO happy!

We're off to see Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs!!!!!!!!!

WW & SEW: TV Screen Love Messages

Not so wordless...

Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii game) has "stages" that the characters "brawl" on, but one function I didn't know it had was a stage builder. For several weeks Timothy has been creating his own stages. A few days ago he decided to make a stage for every letter of the alphabet. On Sunday, I called to him "last stage", and he said I had to come see the one he had just finished. After completing all 26 letters of the alphabet, he decided to build a stage for me that said I love you! I was truly overwhelmed!

Check out more Wordless Wednesday (WW) and Special Exposure Wednesday (SEW)!

One More Day...

Do you ever feel like you're just trying to get through a day?

1. Playgroup-inevitably one of my children has a meltdown at these things, so even though I am always happy to be with other moms I never really relax. My kids were shockingly doing great, so when the end of playgroup came I decided to leave BEFORE a meltdown could occur, even though others were hanging around. Well, nope. Just to make sure I don't ever go an hour and a half without one, Samantha screamed the whole way out! Good times!
2. Nap time-Samantha wasn't falling asleep, but she was happily talking in her room, for some much needed rest time. Timothy heard her, and thought that meant she should come out. He opened her door, which ended mommy's rest time.
3. 1st Swim Class for both kids-pictures and videos to come later this week, but this was a heart wrenching experience for mommy that ended on a good note. We'll see how day 2 goes.
4. Free USO meal-totally a bust. No parking, long lines.

Tomorrow is another day.

Transition Week

It's the first full week that we don't have school, and the last full week that I'll be a single parent. I'm not organized enough right now to post something exciting, so I figure I'll give a "brief" update.

Our first week of school being out, we...
1. have tried out 3 new playgrounds in various spots in San Diego.
2. have been to the beach once, ever so briefly, because it has barely reached 70!
3. have FINALLY gotten an antibiotic for Sam, after being sick almost a month.
4. saw Pirates Who Don't Do Anything with free movies!
5. (I) have gotten about 20 loads of laundry done.
6. have planned July activities for MOPS
7. moved furniture around the house because...
8. I got so happy vacuuming with my new Dyson that I took all the furniture I could lift out of the living room and family room!
9. have fallen in love with the class guinea pigs that we get for the summer.
10. celebrated our first Father's Day w/o Daddy around. Last deployment Dan was home on emergency leave because I had to have my gallbladder removed asap!

This week we will...
1. start swim lessons-1st time for both kids.
2. get my hair done
3. make homecoming banners tonight at the "return and reunion"party!
4. have our 1st MOPS playgroup of the summer!
5. give away multiple bags of toys and clothes & organize what's left behind.
6. TRY to blog every day.
7. spend more time in the sun, as it's going to get into the mid 70's by the end of the week!
8. organize papers (ugh).
9. treasure the last week my baby boy will be 5.
10. trust God to get us through this last week.