Keeping very busy

If I stop and think about Pete, I start crying... so I just keep GOING! We've been so blessed with abundant support from friends and family and we are doing really well on our own. 

Pete is doing well at training. We've been able to talk a little bit, and while the training is totally exhausting (get up at 4am and go go go), he feels really excited and honored to be there. He now wears his uniform everyday and I can only imagine the pride he feels when he puts that on. He's really living his dream right now. I'm happy for him. 

Back to us... 

We've had a great week. 

Birthday party for some friends in Parker's class.

Austin loves to be involved with these kids. He loved the pinata and collecting candy in his shirt!

 Superhero theme with masks and capes. It could not have been more perfect for this group of kids. Parker was Thor and Austin was Spiderman. It was SOOO hot and I can't believe they left the masks on.

 They have loved spending lots of time with the great grandparents. Reading with Grandaddy is a daily ritual. We love having them visit down here while G'mommy is recovering.

 We have had lots of park days and we flew a kite. We've had VERY windy days (which fueled very devastating and widespread fires...scary!), so it was perfect kite flying weather. They were over the activity in about 5 minutes, but it was still fun.

 Swimming. Parker has yet to take swim lessons, but he doesn't mind wearing his wings. Though it's been exceptionally hot (several days in a row of 100 degrees), the water was freezing, but my friends Laura was so kind to swim with the boys while I sat poolside. haha.

 Playdates with friends. This was a busy day with Carter... swimming, slip n slide, pizza, movie, and playing. These kids are so lucky to have each other.

 Austin gravitating towards the baby dolls. He's so maternal.

 Went to a Gently Hugged charity activity (they give newborn essentials to mothers/babies in need), and the older girls were all making blankets. It was cool seeing them have their first sewing experience with their mothers. Such a great cause. Plus they had snacks, so the boys just ate.

 Superhero party...

Parker's had such a great year in preschool and has so many good friends. Hoping for lots of play dates this summer.

Mother's Day recap

We had a nice Mother's Day a few weeks ago. I took the boys to the beach in the morning. It was beautiful and so relaxing. I was there with mostly dads, taking their kids out to give their wives a break, I'm sure. haha. But I loved every moment of that picturesque morning. Then we went to VG's Donuts... so delish. The line was out the door for good reason. These donuts are worth the wait. I should have been more prepared with wet wipes, but let's just say the chocolate frosted donuts were thoroughly enjoyed!

 Then we went to church and to my parent's house.

 Followed by a skype session with Uncle Dan who is a few months from returning home from his mission. So proud of his good attitude and accomplishments.

It was a wonderful day!

Touching moments of motherhood

Most days I feel like a broken record. Constantly doing and saying the same things to make it through the day. But especially since Pete left, I have made every effort be more present with my kids and with myself for that matter. I am a multi-tasker by nature, but when you are so busy "doing", you are often missing precious moments that are heartwarming and rewarding.

Here they are singing...

On Monday, Wee Sing sang at a nursing home. Parker always looks forward to singing for the "grandmas and grandpas." While the residents really enjoy the music, more than anything, they love the kids greeting them afterwards. I was so impressed with Parker. He's naturally social and well spoken, but this moment went beyond...

He went up to residents with a smile and reached out to take their hand. Then he would shake it and say, "My name is Parker. What's your name? Nice to meet you Martha." No joke. It was so natural for him and completely unprompted by me. I was astonished. Other kids were noticing and trying to copy is example. The residents had tears in their eyes as this four year old said their name. And so did I. You can't underestimate the power of giving your child opportunities to serve and communicate at a young age. I love that our chorus does that for children. I am so thankful to Denise for the great work she does with those wiggly young ones. They love singing with her and will miss her when she moves.

Here's a video of Parker greeting folks, though it's hard to hear.

And some more singing...

Soccer player

Parker is loving his soccer class this season. He took the same one a year ago, and what a difference a year makes. He is so much more engaged and such a good listener. He's also showing a lot of athleticism and works hard, even when it is unbearingly hot!

It's hard keeping Austin out of the class. He just wants to participate and when he kicks around before class starts, he actually does really well. 

 Stretching like the big kids!

The details

Now that my blog is private, I feel much more comfortable talking about life without Pete. The last few weeks/months have been amazing. Since he was offered a position with the Navy on December 23, his whole aura changed. Yes there were some busy times at work, but there was a light at the end of the tunnel. He could get through those days knowing that his days there were numbered. We are very thankful he had this opportunity at the law firm. It was great exposure to the legal world, financially it was very beneficial, and we just feel thankful he had a job at all coming out of law school. He wouldn't have changed the path he chose, despite being ready for this change:)

So the last little while, he's been keeping regular hours and was able to be much more present, doing things like preschool drop-off, regular family home evenings, weekend outings, etc... Our trip to Utah was made possible because he was about to leave his job. It's been amazing. We got spoiled having him around!

I've been vague so far on social media for privacy reasons, but as dear friends and family, I know I can trust you with the rundown of what's really going on and what is going to happen. Bottom line: we'll be apart for about 6 months, with a visit or two in the middle of that time.

Pete left last Saturday, the day before Mother's Day, at 6:30am to head to Rhode Island, where he'll be doing ODS (Officer Development School). This training is 5 weeks, and it's kind of like a less intense bootcamp for people who are already officers. There is also OCS (Officer Candidate School) for people already in the military who want to become officers. That is much more intense because their promotion to Officer rank is not guaranteed. So while he will still get yelled at and messed with a bit, it's nothing in comparison to the other guys!

The boys opted to say goodbye to him the night before he left and Denise was kind to come over at 5:00am and sit at our house while the boys slept, so I could take Pete to the airport. I would definitely recommend saying goodbye at that hour, because your emotions aren't quite alert yet because you're just tired. So I hugged him and shed a brief tear, but then recovered. The night before however was a different story. Seeing him say goodbye to the boys, who have limited understanding about exactly how long daddy is going to be gone... that was tough. And then of course I'm selfish and just want my best friend here with me. Of course I'm nervous to parent alone, and know that it will be challenging and exhausting... but mostly I just love having him around. After 7 years of marriage, I not only love him, I really like him and enjoy his company in day to day life. I will seriously miss his companionship.

Anyway, leading up to the "goodbye" he had some other goodbyes to do. Wednesday night we went to Denise's and had a fun dinner with his family. Wings n Things and patriotic decor. It was very sweet how they went all out for him. Then Friday night we did dinner with my family. We also took some family pics and candids.

 Wrestling with Daddy. Their all-time favorite thing to do. They will surely miss this, because THAT is not happening with me in his absence.

 It took me a few days to even look at these pics. I can't look at them with a dry eye.

 Austin is literally the smiliest kid, but it is SO hard to get him to smile in pictures.

Reading with Daddy. One of their other favorite things to do.

 Austin hugging daddy goodbye. Seriously breaks my heart.

 If you want to help kids to deal with potential sadness, buy them something. haha. Just kidding, kind of. Pete picked out Buzz and Woody toys for the boys to open on Saturday morning after he left, so they could think of him. Those characters have not been left alone, so I would say that was the perfect idea.

So he'll be in Rhode Island for ODS for 5 weeks. Then they fly him to Norfolk, VA on Father's Day weekend. He will begin work that Monday. At some point in the next few weeks we will hopefully be able to get him home for a weekend, or go out to visit. We are so thankful to have friends that live in nearby Virginia Beach, and they happen to have an extra room Pete can live in while he gets to know the area and then from there we can narrow our housing search. Then he leaves again on August 4 to go back to Rhode Island for NJS (Naval Justice School). That's where he'll actually learn how to be a JAG. That is 10 weeks. Then I think he'll fly back to SD to help us move and we'll go out there with him in mid-October. Phew...

We are doing good at home so far. It's only been a few days, and many people have to deal with their husbands being absent due to work travel for a certain length of time. So I'm currently like everyone else. I can get through the day to day and just need to keep busy and take it step by step. If I think about the whole duration I get worked up. No need for that. Everyone is being so kind, and I must say that military separations are a real ego boost. Everyone is telling me what a supermom I am and how amazing I am. Hahaha. They are totally giving me the benefit of the doubt that I'm not whining, complaining, yelling, or not cooking dinner:) It's funny, but I really do appreciate their kindness offering to take my boys, cook me dinner, hang out... all these things will keep me going and I am so abundantly blessed. Anchors away...