Joshie's In Bahrain

Hannah seriously started asking me if she could check the mail first thing the morning after PK left.  It took me a couple days to realize she wanted to check it to see if PK had sent anything.  Being our animal lover, she had asked PK to send her a picture of an animal found in Bahrain.  I told her that if he did send us an animal picture it would probably be via email.

I sent PK an email reminding him that Hannah wanted a picture of an animal.  He replied and told me he had already sent her a postcard with an animal.

The next day we didn't get one, but almost a dozen postcards in the mail.



These are Bahraini pearls.  This postcard was for me!  Wouldn't it be nice if he brought me back a small sample of the real thing?

This is Hannah's animal postcard.  She was soooo excited.  He better NOT bring back a sample of any animal.  Our menagerie is full!

He also sent a postcard addressed to Holly.  It said something like, "Arf, Arf.  Bow wow.  Love, Grandpa."  He doesn't like the dog.  Whatever.

Then there was the postcard for Bobby.



This is Bobby.  Aaron got him for a quarter at a yard sale last year.  Most annoyance I have ever bought for twenty five cents.  I have no idea why Aaron named him Bobby.  The kids have invented this entire game around this stuffed animal.  They all have character voices.  PK picked up on it this summer and created his own character, Joshie.  I'm sure the kids will have great memories of this little game of theirs, but it is annoying.  Anyway, PK's (really it was signed from Joshie) postcard to Bobby told Bobby that Joshie is in Bahrain.  It also told him that it is hot and Joshie doesn't like hot.  Then it said to give Grandma lots of kisses.  First of all, I am not a grandmother to the stuffed spider.  Secondly, I do not like to have the stuffed spider shoved in my face!!  PK must not have anyone on the ship to pick on.

There was also a card which contained Bahraini currency.  There were three bills.  The card was addressed to me, but I assumed the money was for the kids.  I emailed PK to ask him if it was indeed for the kids.  His response?  "The money was for paying all the bills once US money loses its value."  Too funny.  The government is currently trying to hammer out a budget.  Crazy.

Brace Yourself

Rachel got her braces today.  She was a bit anxious, but afterwards she said it wasn't that bad.  She has had a bit of discomfort since, but I have given her motrin and tylenol.  She is learning how to eat with the braces on.

Before

After

It's Good To Have A Wife

Shannon and the girls arrived this past Monday for their long awaited visit. It seems like we were waiting forever for the day to arrive and the visit is already over.

The kids spent the week attending VBS at our church. Hannah was the only actual attendee as the other kids got to help. Rachel and Lori knew they were going as volunteers, but Aaron and Noelle were tapped at the last minute. Aaron took his job very seriously and was excited to show Noelle the ropes.

Each morning after we dropped the kids, I took Shannon to Caribou Coffee. It is her favorite and they don't have one nearby. I still can't believe she left knowing Caribou is here.

We spent the majority of our time talking nonstop and laughing our heads off. We think we are very entertaining. Our big girls...not so much. It is especially fun watching those two grow up together. When they are going through the same preteen phases and Shannon and I see it, we know it isn't poor parenting on our parts.

Our friend Bobbie and her daughter were here the first part of the week. Olivia, Bobbie's daughter, had a competition here so they stayed with us. It was nice to see them. The week would have been perfect if Cynthia could have made it.

Bobbie and Olivia....they are holding the drinks Shannon brought them from Caribou.


We say Holly is Bad "with" a bone. Bobbie and Olivia found this at Build A Bear at the mall and couldn't resist getting it for Holly.

I spent days before all the company arrived figuring out sleeping arrangements in my head. I thought I would put Bobbie and Olivia in Rachel's room, but wasn't sure if Olivia would feel left out if she wasn't with Rachel and Lori. I finally decided it would be fine and it was. Lori and Rachel slept on an air mattress in the office until Bobbie and Olivia left and then they reclaimed Rachel's room. Noelle slept on an air mattress in Hannah's room. Since PK wasn't here Shannon slept with me.

That last part may have afforded us the best laugh of the week. Apparently women just think they are little girls and don't mind having a sleepover in the same bed, but guys are extremely creeped out by it. It just made sense to me. We were able to relax and talk until we fell asleep and no one had to sleep in the living room on the futon. The futon is comfortable, but the person who sleeps in the living room has to get up when anyone else does just because people can be heard walking around as they come downstairs. I was expecting the kids to walk in and tell us it was time to stop talking and go to sleep.

Of course, we played Nertz. We had some workman in the house one day switching our internet service. Finally one of the guys asked if we were going to play all night. That was the plan. We would of course have to stop to fix dinner for the kids. He thought we were playing cards because the cable was out. We told him that we always do this and he commented that that isn't heard of much any more. Silly man.

One morning we had taken the kids to VBS and I realized I hadn't put the breakfast food away.

Me: Oh, shoot. I left the yogurt and fruit out on the island. I wonder if it will still be good.

Shannon: I put it away.

Me: Thanks! I noticed you made the bed, too. Thanks for doing that.

Shannon: Isn't it good to have a wife?

Yes. Yes, it is. Our husbands are two lucky men!

Since the husbands were not here, the week would not have been complete without Shannon and me completing a blue job. The conversation went something like this. Of course, you really have to know how Shannon and I swap sarcasm and silliness.

Shannon: Jody. Do you know how to make this toilet work? I used the bathroom and of course now I can't get it to flush.

Me: Uhh...you push the little silver handle down?

Shannon: Yeah...I tried that.

I walk into the bathroom and Shannon already has the top off the back of the toilet.

Me: Let's let it fill up and try again.

Shannon: I did that, but I don't think it is filling up.

I take the very tip of my finger and poke the little flippy thing in the tank down. I know it isn't toilet water, but there is something very gross about reaching in there.

Me: There.

Shannon: I did that and it didn't work. Well, it does seem to be filling up.

We are both standing there for what seems like a very long time staring into the tank of the toilet.

Me: Oh. It looks like my little bleach thing has dissolved. Now I know how long those last. I'll need to replace it.

Shannon: (With much excitement) Ohhhh! Don't you just love those?

Me: Yes! They are so nice and keep the toilet looking so clean.

Shannon: Yeah. Me too.

Rachel walks in while we are still staring into the tank of the toilet.

Rachel: Can I use the bathroom?

Me: Upstairs.

Rachel leaves.

Me and Shannon: (Something like this is exchanged.) Yes. We are both standing here staring into the toilet tank like we do all day every day just waiting for one of the kids to come in to use the bathroom. You would think when a kid walks into the bathroom and sees us standing here looking like idiots staring into the toilet tank they would figure out they really need to go use one of the other bathrooms. Sheesh.

The tank fills up and we try to flush. The little flappy thing lifts and water disappears but there is no flushing sound.

Shannon: Oh! Look. The little bleach thing is stuck in there.

Me: Let me grab something.

Seriously not wanting to stick my hand in there. I grab a knife and poke it. The tank fills up. The toilet flushes. We are very proud of ourselves for fixing the potty.


Rachel, Hannah, Lori and Noelle at the pool.

The youth volunteers were invited to a pool party on Friday after VBS. Since Shannon and I skipped out on volunteering for VBS, we volunteered to drive. We picked up the pizzas on the way which also lessened my VBS ditching guilt. The kids played and played and played. Shannon and I taught one of the ladies from my church to play Nertz. Another convert!

Shannon and I were exhausted when we got home from just sitting in the heat. Apparently it didn't bother the kids because they wanted to go jump on the trampoline. Where do they get that energy?

That was ammunition for the last big laugh. Shannon and I sat and watched the clock to reach 8:00 p.m. so we could go to sleep and not feel guilty for letting the kids wind down in front of the t.v. We reminisced about the days when we could stay up until 2 a.m. and still get up with the kids. We were so tired we probably would have paid the kids to go to bed earlier.

Today I Did A Blue Job

In our home, we have pink jobs and blue jobs. The pink jobs are the jobs I do and the blue jobs are the jobs PK does. Most of our roles are fairly traditional. Since I stay home, I do most of the housework. That would be a pink job in this house. PK takes care of anything technology related. That would be a blue job in this house. Those types of jobs just fall into a category naturally because of time, schedules or talents.

Most people would probably categorize yard work as a blue job. On PK's days off from his civilian job, he is usually tied up with Navy stuff, so yard work has fallen into the pink category. Killing spiders is a blue job. That falls under a blue job not because I can't kill spiders but because I choose not to. I don't like spiders. Therefore, I declare it a blue job. So I guess we could say the definition of a blue job is anything that naturally falls in PK's areas of expertise or anything I refuse to do.

This morning I decided to wear my white capris to church instead of a skirt or dress. I was on the nursery list for today and it is just too hard to crawl on the floor playing trains with four year olds in a skirt. Ironing would be one of the chores that most people would probably think is a pink job. Not me. I loathe ironing. In this house, it is a blue job. PK does a great job at it. If I have to iron, I will try the ol' throw the garment in the dryer with a wet washcloth first. When I looked at my capris, I could tell they were beyond dryer and wet washcloth help. I had to do my first blue job of the deployment and iron my own pants.

In my defense, I did replace the toilet seat in the master bathroom and hang an additional towel holder in the guest bathroom the day PK was packing to leave. The week prior I fixed the garbage disposal. Those are all blue jobs, but in this house a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.

I Can't Make This Stuff Up

The phone is ringing. I am trying to wake up. The clock says 5:30 a.m. I don't recognize the number. It may say 800 something or other. Is it PK calling?

Me: Hello?

Caller: This is Michael (with just that much out of his mouth I know it isn't my husband calling and I am getting ready to seriously go off at the telemarketer who would dare call my house at 5:30 IN THE MORNING and ON A SATURDAY!!) with xxxx (I probably shouldn't advertise the name of my home security system on the internet) home security. You have a zone alarm on the garage door. Do you need the police?

Me: On the garage door (simultaneously jumping out of bed heading downstairs...thinking the alarm isn't going off)?

Caller: Yes. A zone alarm on the garage door. (pause) Joe Smith (I can't remember what name he said, but it wasn't one I recognized)?

Me: (After hearing an unfamiliar name and taking the stairs in a single bound to check my alarm panel start to have clarity of mind). Who?

Caller: Joe Smith?

Me: No.

Caller: (Rattles off my phone number)

Me: Yes. That is my number. Wait...I don't have xxxx (name of alarm company). I have a different alarm company (the guy must think I'm nuts...I don't even know which alarm company I have...trying not to laugh out loud...reviewing the conversation in my head later, glad I didn't give the name of my company.)

Caller: (Rattles off an address)

Me: No. That is not my address (again glad I didn't rattle off my correct address in the still half asleep confusion). I just checked my control panel and I don't have a zone disturbance.

Caller: I am sorry. They must not have changed their number. I'll remove it from the information.

Me: Thanks. Bye.

So this is how the first morning of PK being gone started.

Mizpah

Today is the day. PK leaves for Bahrain for two months. The day has crept up on us and come in a hurry all at once.

He hasn't packed. He will be going from ship to ship so he needs to keep the packing light, his uniforms and a few civvies.

We decided to work through a devotional book together while he is gone. I was thinking we would do the same book, but PK wants to do Power of a Praying Husband. I have read, studied and devoured Power of a Praying Wife, but I am going to do it again.

Last night it hit me that he was leaving. I rolled over in bed and put my hand on his chest and realized tonight and for the next two months that spot will be empty. I began to feel overwhelmed and panicked. Where did those feelings come from? We have been apart for longer than two months before. This could be worse. We've had friends deploy for six, twelve or even fifteen months. I began to pray and run scripture through my head and fell asleep. I awoke in peace. That comes from the LORD.

It was called Mizpah because he said, "May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other." Genesis 31:49

My Watchdog Hedgehog

Living in base housing afforded me a sense of what I called false security. Who would possibly try to get by armed marines at the gate just to break into my house or steal my kids?

When we moved back to the "real world" PK was geobaching and spending his weeks at the base. The kids and I were alone during the week. I really wanted to get a watchdog, but we were renting and weren't allowed to have pets. My sweet friend, Becky, decided if I couldn't have a watchdog, she would give me a hedgehog.


That was about five years ago and this little guy has had a place on my counter ever since. He isn't going to do much protecting, but he symbolizes a friend who is praying for me. He makes me smile.

PK is leaving for two months this Friday for Bahrain. He will be ministering to sailors on board ship. Yesterday Rachel went to check the mail. When she came in she said, "I think you have something from Mrs. Becky." Becky makes homemade cards and my kids are thrilled when they get their birthday cards from her. She really tries to top herself each year and make the card something the kids are "in to."

I tried to remember if Becky had told me she was sending something. It isn't my birthday or anniversary. I opened the package and read the card. Of course, it is a Becizzle original.

On the inside she had written that she thought my Hedgehog Watchdog could use reinforcements, since PK is going to be gone. I was almost in tears before I even opened the bundle of tissue paper inside the box. Becky gets it. I don't need sympathy or anyone to try to point out how sad it is that PK is going to be gone. When I say we will be fine and I am looking forward to hearing the stories of how he is able to minister to the guys, I don't want someone to come back and try to convince me how bad it will be. Becky has been there, done that.

This little guy was wrapped up in the tissue paper.

After a photo shoot with his friend, they both returned to their spot on my counter. When I see them, I will remember that I have a friend who prays for me when I come to mind. I will remember that friends are a blessing. I will remember that God is good.

The Cost Of An Extra Tooth

About a year and a half ago at one of the kids' dental check-ups, their dentist found an extra tooth on Rachel's x-ray. He had to pull another tooth that wasn't falling out, but when he went for the extra tooth he realized it is attached to a tooth next to it. They are both permanent teeth. Hannah also had lost two baby teeth that had been missing for almost two years and had not yet been replaced by permanent teeth. Here came the dreaded words, "I am going to refer the girls to an orthodontist."

I have loved our orthodontist. I was expecting him to give me a list of things the girls needed done right away, but at the first visit he said, "Let's wait and watch." He knew something would eventually have to be done about Rachel's extra tooth, but she had some loose teeth and he wanted to give them time to fall out and the permanent ones to grow in. Hannah had fallen several times as a toddler/preschooler and caught herself with her mouth. One fall chipped a tooth and one fall loosened a couple. Our dentist at the time did x-rays and said everything appeared to be alright. The teeth tightened back up and one turned slightly gray. The ortho thought that because of the "trauma" to her baby teeth they probably fell out prematurely so the permanent teeth were just taking longer to appear. There was no charge for the consultation. Really? You aren't going to recommend any treatment right now and you are telling me that for free? We made an appointment for six months later.

By the time we went back for the six month appointment, Hannah's permanent teeth had made an appearance, so she was good to go. The ortho was still a little unsure how to proceed with Rachel's extra tooth and wanted to wait a bit longer as she was still loosing teeth. Another free visit!

At her last appointment, the ortho decided it was time to move forward. He made a mold of Rachel's teeth and once again we walked out without paying a dime and with an appointment for today.

This is the mold of Rachel's teeth. It allows the ortho to see them out of the mouth and from different angles. It was kind of fun to see them.

Here's my girl.

The extra tooth still hasn't grown in all the way and Rachel doesn't have much space. She will have braces for about 12-14 months and then a retainer. After we make some space, our ortho will send us to and endodontist who specializes on root canals and working on the inside of the teeth. He will have to see if there is a nerve in the extra tooth. If not, he may be able to just file it down. The course of treatment will also depend on how far into the gums the extra tooth is connected to the permanent tooth.

Rachel had the spacers put in today. Those are the little blue things at the back of her mouth. She has a set on the top and bottom. We will go back in about a week and half to have the braces put on. At that point the freebies are over.

How much will all of this cost? Let's just say that after insurance pays their portion, I could still afford to take the entire family to Disney World for less than what we will be paying out of pocket.

Scared the Hair Right Off of Him

Aaron decided to let me cut his hair with the clippers. No, I didn't take a picture.

He was a little nervous when we first started because he wasn't too sure I knew what I was doing. I really don't, but all I really have to do is go over his entire head and it is an even cut.

I tried to ease his worries.

Me: Don't be afraid. I use to cut Daddy's hair with the clippers all the time.

Aaron: Ya...He was so scared he stopped growing hair.

Me: Bwhahahahaha

In my defense, PK still grows hair. He just chooses to shave it off.

Safari

Last year when Bethanie was visiting, the kids and I took her to one of our favorite places. It is a wild life park. This year, she requested that we be able to go back to show Mom, Hailey and Riely.

Usually we ride the big bus through the safari, but this year we decided to rent one of the vans to drive through the safari ourselves. It was well worth it. This was by far our favorite visit. The van was a 15 passenger so there was plenty of room for everyone to have their own window. The bus is usually full and the kids have to try to climb over each other to see.

This is the entrance to the drive through portion of the park. There is a cattle gate on the ground and the animals know they can't cross it. As soon as the van crossed the cattle gate, the animals swarmed the van waiting to be fed.

I was amazed that the larger animals have learned that if they stand directly in front of the vehicles, the vehicles will stop. Then the animals slowly move to the side of the van.

These little calves had me stopped, but they had no idea they were supposed to move to the side for food or move out of the way so I could drive. This momma cow came along and gently bumped them with her head until they moved out of the road.

My mom cracked me up. She kept her window rolled up most of the time so she wouldn't be surprised by any unexpected guests sneaking up to her window.

There are tons of pigs running around. This momma pig is being followed by one of her piglets.

Then we saw these two little ones trying to climb the hill.

It looks like Aaron is actually talking to the elk which he was.

There are two camels who aren't allowed to roam free, but we were able to pull right up to their fence to feed them.

The giraffes, on the other hand, are allowed to roam free. I took this picture as the giraffe was approaching the van.

He bent down for Riely to feed him.

Then Riely got to pet him. This is the best smile I saw from this kiddo all week. Priceless.

Here Hannah and Bethanie are feeding some of the many elk.

Hailey also thought it was fun although she was not happy about being slobbered on.

We packed lunch to eat at the park. There are picnic tables set up where we were able to sit and watch some of the animals.

Mom and the girls enjoying lunch. Rachel wasn't with us because she went tubing with the youth from our church for Youth Week.

After lunch we went through the "walk about" portion of the park.

When Hannah first walked up to this bird, it said, "Hello." I wish I had had the camera on her at that moment because she looked at me with such a fun look of surprise. The rest of the group came over to hear the bird talk. When they started to walk off, my mom said, "Bye" and once again I wish I had had my camera focused on the entire group because they all looked at me with that same open mouth surprised expression Hannah had when the bird said, "Hello."

One of the employees had an Albino Burmese Python out sunning in the grass. The kids were excited to get to touch it.

Of course, I had to end the day with a bit of silliness.