Mother Goose Cuts Loose!

Ok, so that may have been the name of my preschool dance program many moons ago, but Trevor had his end of the year program this morning and he did SUCH a good job!  It was Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes and all the kiddos acted out the stories.  TOO CUTE!

Sorry for the blurry pictures, I was using the kit lens that came with my camera to try to get more in the frame and honestly, it wasn't worth it....blur blur blur everywhere.  Bah.

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day was a typical Sunday around here....up early, off to work, home for some rest before we start gearing up for the new week ahead.

We never really got to the resting part, but I did get the trim in Olivia's room painted as well as some quality time in the backyard soaking up the sun!

ready to paint!

watching the birds that have still not taken up residence in our birdhouse...

Soccer Saturday 5.11.2013

Trevor had his last soccer game of the season today.  While I still don't see a full-athletic scholarship coming our way (at least not yet)  Trevor really does love being a part of the team and that makes it all worth it.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day 2013

As I finally get to sit down today to write this post, the day is almost over.  It began like any other day, and it will end like any other day.  Tomorrow will be more of the same.  Today, in the midst of all the regular routine, was technically a special day.  It was Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day has been around since 1984, when President Ronald Reagan called for the recognition of the men and women who stand behind and support the members of our Armed Forces as they serve our country.  Each year, the President makes an official proclamation for that year.  You can read the 2013 proclamation here.

As a proud military spouse, I will honestly say that I don't need a day to celebrate or honor the life I have chosen and the sacrifices that accompany it.  I did choose this life, and would choose it over and over again.  In a heartbeat.  The sentiment of the day is valid though, don't get me wrong.  Spouses do sacrifice, that is a fact.  We choose to sacrifice, and we know it.  The idea of our sacrifices being recognized even in a small way even though we don't wear a uniform is a good one.

I think that the best way to honor military spouses--on any day, not just the Friday preceding Mother's Day--is to recognize that the challenges they face are still valid challenges, even though they stem from a lifestyle choice.  The frustrations, fears and struggles that military spouses encounter are no less worthy of other's thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement just because an individual made a choice to be with a serviceman.   Instead of dismissing the plight of the military spouse with "you knew what you were getting into when you married him/her..."  (trust me, that part is already very well known), the best way to honor a military spouse is to support them just as you would want to be supported.

To all my fellow military spouses:  Happy Military Spouse Day.  Here's to you, as you stand behind your serviceman and keep the home fires burning (whether home is 6 or 6,000 miles away for your spouse).  For those of us who currently fall closer to the 6,000 mile mark on the spectrum; don't forget--The longer the wait, the sweeter the kiss.
      

Shaner returns home from deployment 2008.  

Wait a minute....Third Trimester?! Are you sure?

and I hit it last week?  Again, are you serious?

I guess that I have been just too busy with Trevor and work that I didn't even notice that I hit the third trimester last week.  The endpoint of this trimester is a BABY.  Wow.  That is some heavy stuff there.

I am trying my hardest not to think about the actual delivery and the fact that I am going to be doing this on my own...that is scary.  I have less than 13 weeks until little Olivia should be making her debut so I suppose that means that I should start doing stuff to actually prep for her arrival.  Other than buying clothes.  That is not a problem at. all.

Over the weekend I did make a little progress.  My parents drove down on Saturday to help me paint the nursery and now that we have paint on the walls I have started to pick out things that I want to order for the room. Helloooooo Pinterest.  Coming up with an idea for Olivia's room is not as easy as doing Trevor's, because we are doing a guest room-nursery combo, so I need to take everything into consideration as I pick it.  I have a crib skirt and bumper picked out (but not ordered) and yesterday I ordered the.monogram.of.all.monograms. to hang over the crib.  It is probably my favorite baby item in the whole world at this moment.

And that is where my progress on the nursery ends.  I have also yet to get (or have one of my amazing friend's husbands get) all of our stuff out of the attic so that I can start to inventory what is still good and what I need to go purchase replacements of....Maybe by the end of the month?

Like I said, not in freak-out mode yet over lack of progress.  I have always worked better under pressure....That said, Trevor's room was done and we were just doing "final things" by this time when I was pregnant with him. Give me a couple of weeks and I am sure I will have my typical checklists and schedules to make sure that everything is completed in time.

So, here are some photos....27 weeks 4 days with Olivia.  :)

For the life of me I couldn't get a decent picture this morning....but I was crazy in love with my coral pants, so I didn't want to wait and try again tomorrow morning.  

I am feeling fabulous and am super impressed with my progress so far.  I have still yet to reach my pre-pregnancy weight after losing in first trimester and I haven't had to do too much modification at the gym as of yet. Still getting there at least three times a week--a must for stress relief and an energy boost when I need it!    No aches and pains and no (crossing fingers) braxton-hicks .  So far, so good!  

Monday Mail Call

Shane finally received the other two packages that I mailed out to him today.  I could tell from his email letting me know tonight that he was over the moon about them.  It means so much that I am able to make him feel "a little closer to home" even for a little bit.  (Shane's words, not mine)

That brings our care package count to 3 for this deployment.  I still have 22 boxes left to go in the military mailer package that I got.  Hmmmm, what to do next?

Of course, care packages here don't just mean that I go buy Shaner's wish list and throw it in a box before sending it off to the abyss that is often the FPO mail system.  There is FUN and CREATIVITY involved.  Also known as:  Kim refuses to send just care packages.  Kim has to send AMAZING care packages.

If you know us at all, you know that Cinco de Mayo is HUGE at Casa de Chapman.  Usually, when the weather cooperates, that means poolside on the deck with nice salty margaritas flowing by the pitcher!  This year, I had to forego my margaritas, and had to send Mexico to Shane in a box.  That aside, it turned out pretty well!

Next time I need to use poster paint on the inside of the box to cover up the USPS writing better.  

In addition to some mail-able Mexican food eats (note that I bought salsa in a can to avoid potential glass breakage) I hit up our party store and sent out some maracas  sombreros and fiesta candy.  Shaner says he and the boys are planning on having a little fiesta later on this week.  

The other package had less of a theme to it, but I did let T-rex go nuts decorating it. 

This box had items that Shane had requested and the rest of the box we filled up with snacks and treats that we thought he would like. We did hand prints and lined the entire box with scrap booking paper (I even got in on the fun!).  On the panels that didn't have hand prints, I gave Trevor one of his sticker books and let him go to town.  Sidenote:  T-rex may just be type-A like his momma.  Look how neat and orderly those stickers are!  

Soccer Saturdays 5.4.2013

It was an 0830 game, it was misting, there was no camera to be had.



Of course, the kids decided that soccer would "click" for them that morning, so they were actually kicking the ball, scoring goals and really playing the game this week.  And there was no camera to be had.

Didn't I just post the other day about things not working out the way you planned??