Last week was a busy one. Todd was working, working, working. Over the weekend (prior to Valentine's weekend), he was full-time Captain Hardy at work with the 419th Maintenance Squadron here on Hill AFB. The base was having a readiness exercise and it's a lot of work when you're martialing active duty guys around who work with their equipment and status every day of the work week. Imagine, preparing guys to deploy to war when they only think about the military 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year! While I'm sure that these guys and gals would be great in an active theater...getting them there is another story. They aren't used to having their equipment prepared, their records updated, or their bodys in the right place at the right time. Todd was ready to blow a gasket every time I talked to him all weekend long. It wasn't just the reserve troops he was struggling with either...the active duty folks were making things doubly difficult because they are used to having immediate access to all military personnel whenever they want them. Apparently reserve folks aren't always that accessible.
All in all, he was a great leader and got things done. However, it wasn't without some yelling, goose-stepping, and threatening. He didn't have the nickname "Ray Liotta" in Basic Training for no reason. In addition to his UTA work on base, Todd has been pouring, shooting, and testing body and vehicle armor for the newest Phoenix Alloys project. They are working with two big armor contractors to land sales contracts or maybe, even limited partnerships, to work this armor. This stuff is pretty amazing. It's stronger (by far) and a third lighter than anything our military and/or law-enforcement personnel are using right now. We are anxious to get it out the door and into practical use. Not just because of the money it will bring in, but ALSO and EQUALLY important are the lives it could be saving this very day. Keep your fingers crossed and say your prayers...this stuff is miracle stuff, I'd love to see it get out there on our real life heroes.
Todd, Jeff, and I all had the (in)famous Blue and Gold Banquet last week. With Todd as Cub Master, me as Bear Den Leader, and Jeff, our token scout, it was a family affair. I had no idea how much time and attention it would occupy. Luckily, my mom and dad watched Logan and Jackson while we scurried around, decorated, and ran the thing. We had so many big to-dos that night! Four boys received their Arrows of Light, not to mention plenty of awards in the Bear and Wolf dens. Thankfully, we had lots of help from the other cub scout leaders and from some parents. At the end of the night of "Presidential Celebration and Learning", we knew a lot more about our past and current presidents, had bellies full of lasagna, garlic bread, and salad, and a bunch of happy scout families. Can I just say I'm so glad it only happens once per year? What an ordeal.
With Todd running around like crazy working several jobs (how many does he even have now?), I was re-living my days as a military wife/single-married mom. Only, I never did do that job with THREE kids. Three is hard. A lot harder than two and vastly harder than one (not even in the same ball park). As a friend of mine once said, "When you have three kids, you switch from man-to-man defense, to zone." No kidding. I have two eyes, two ears, two arms, two legs, two hands...when what I really need is NOT three but at least five of each! These boys are all over the place all at the same time. It has been an adventure but not one I wish I could change. I am growing into a better mother (I hope) and have spent a lot of each night evaluating how to be a better parent. It is going to require my growth and adaptation as our family makes this next transition with Todd gone most of the time. One thing is for sure, Jeffrey is going to have to step up and be the oldest (and most helpful) child. I do enjoy watching him embrace his role as biggest brother. He is a mother hen to Logan. He follows his around way of his risk-taking and
worried about catastrophe. He enjoys watching Logan learn new things and develop new skills but he's just certain that each risk he takes will be his last. As a result, Logan refers to Jeff as "No No!". That's what is always coming out of Jeff's mouth at him, "No, No Logan!" I think it's really funny. Jeff walks in the room after returning home from school and Logan smiles and yells, "No No!" and points at Jeff. Snicker, snicker. The joys of parenting abound.
As far as Logan is concerned, Jackson's name is "Jack!" Both brothers have earned exclamation marks after their names. That is how Logan says them. His two big brothers, "Jack!" and "No No!" We also have "Da!" (Dad), and "DoG!" (the dogs) who also often get told "Go!" when he says their names. As in, "DoG! GO!" Shouting all the way. He is now asking for more of any snack or drink by saying "Mmmmoe" which I think is adorable. We have been working on that for a while in order to curb the screaming he WAS doing. Some times he screams a little and then remembers and says, "Mmmmoe". No exclamation. "Mama" doesn't have an exclamation either. I prefer to believe that is because he has tenderness in his experience of me. Just let him have it. Let me have it.
Logan is walking. He doesn't walk ALL of the time, EVERYWHERE but he does really well. He can walk several dozens of steps at a time, catch his balance, and change direction. He has trouble when his giant head gets behind him and sends him onto his bottom. Most often, whether he walks depends on how safely he wants to get to where he's going. He's equally fast at crawling and walking, but his walking style is pell-mell and results in occasional big crashes. His walking, however, is becoming "more controlled" and it won't be long before crawling goes the way of the dinosaur for him.
Both Jackson and Logan were sick last week. After fighting off a cold (colds?) for more than two weeks, we had two sleepless nights, lots of sadness, and one fed-up mom. I took them to the doctor on Friday last week and good ol' Doc Eberhard determined that Jackson had an ear infection, a sinus infection, and a bronchial virus. Logan had infections in BOTH ears, a sinus infection, and RSV. Needless to say, we filled the Amoxicillin and spent Valentine's Day, President's Day, and the Sunday in between, at home. Jackson was pathetic. He didn't even care that he missed his first Valentine's Day party at school. Jeff brought his Valentines home for him and he spent the weekend reading (and eating) them. He carried a particular Spongebob Valentine around all weekend. How cute! He loves Spongebob. I guess that's okay? Spongebob is weird but oh well. They are both much better today and Jackson is outside with Jeff as I write this making a huge snowman in the massive amounts of snow we have been getting. Logan is currently chasing "The Girls" (Saffron and Daisy) around the living room with a lawn mower walking toy my mom gave him for his birthday yelling, "DoG! GO!" Oh, they love it. Trust me.
I have a new job. It is something that is, I am sure, an answer to a prayer. I have often felt frustrated this past year and a half at being a stay at home mom. I think that this is partly because of the years I HAVE worked out of the home and because I am uncomfortable not contributing financially when we really could use more. I felt particularly frustrated earlier last week and then an opportunity fell into my lap as I met a dear friend for lunch. I will be working for a company called My Veterinary Career
doing what we call "Match Making" for veterinarians and hospitals nationwide. I will begin by helping the company recruit hospitals for us to take under contract. Sort of a "let us be your matchmaker" kinda gig. I have such a passion for the veterinary industry. I have, as most of you know, worked in that industry for a great deal of my adult life. I worked as a technician for nearly 7 years and have many long-term relationships with veterinarians across the western US. I also have a very special sisterhood with a veterinarian on the East Coast. The industry, while critical to so many of us in the US, is way behind schedule and is due an upgrade. I will be working from home about 2 hours a day, 5 days per week, and will be able to make a significant contribution to the veterinary industry as well to my own sanity and our family's financial coffers. I am really excited! I will finish training this week and should be hard at it by next week. I will have to update you on my progress. If you have questions, you can visit the website at www.myveterinarycareer.com and I would be more than happy to answer them as well! It is such an opportunity and, as I said earlier, an answer to a recent prayer. Wish me luck!
Well, even though I said that not much was happening, you can see that there has been a lot going on. This week promises more growth as Todd pours more metal on Thursday, enters negotiations with Winchester about the development of "non-lead shot", and prepares for another exercise on base. I will continue my training with My Veterinary Career and will be the best mom I can, and the boys will be boys...I'm sure they'll do something raucous. I will be hosting a bachelorette party for my friend Andrea this weekend. We're planning some good clean fun, I'm sure to have more pictures next week.
Love to you all!
