Troy’s ship is getting underway soon for a 3 month deployment.  His last time away from us for an extended period was when Jordan was just an infant.  We have had the weekly (every 6th night of duty=sleeping on the ship) and other short trips but this one is for 3 months. and they are leaving on the morning of Jordan’s new preschool orientation. I hope they are not overlapping, I’m not sure what time the ship is actually leaving.  We are trying to prepare as best we can. I’m working on a countdown tracker. Last time we made a long paper chain, with one chain for each day. quite depressing actually to look at it.  I even kept all the pieces as we cut them down. it was a big fat 6 month stack that time.  and then on top of that, I just found out they’ll be deploying again in January for 6 months. So as we change from our small family feeling school we’d been at for 5 years to two brand new schools, Troy will miss the whole thing. I am quite nervous about the seperate campuses, although the boys will surely be fine. I am a professional worrier, did you know?  I am thinking I’ll make a daily card and scrap it, but not exactly sure how that will work just yet.  Please do keep us in your prayers for safety and sanity!  thanks!  Such is life in the Navy.  we only have a few more years. a few more years.

On a happier note, I am so honored to be listed as an SOB ! a successful and outstanding blogger, recognized by Liz Strauss: http://www.successful-blog.com/301-what-is-an-sob/ so exciting! :)

Flat Joscie is visiting my girlfriend Detta in Texas! read about her arrival and her tours on Detta’s blog. :)

Thursday morning was the soft opening of the brand new Lego Store in the Ala Moana Shopping Center. We have been anxiously awaiting it’s arrival!  The signs around the construction area only said coming 2009 but never indicated a date.  Last week we were at Ala Moana and spotted a lady walking into the store and she gave us the heads-up about the Thursday morning opening.  We met up with two girlfriends and their kids and wandered the Lego Wonderland!  There were so many neat displays, and areas for the kids to play with some Legos, a mini figure construction area… and just everything Lego.  Possibly my favorite part was the pick a brick wall in the rear of the store.  There were two sizes of cups, like slurpees, and you could pick the bricks you wanted and fill the cups.  It was crowded and busy, but the workers were all so friendly and helpful, we’ll definitely be back.  We are also excited about the coming monthly FREE kids construction projects where each child can build and take home a Free mini project.  On Thursday afternoon, when Troy got home from work, we headed back down for him to see the store.  I was surprised to see some of the same workers from earlier in the morning still working at such a late hour.

Since Troy is going to be deployed on Jalen’s and My birthday, we decided to splurge on a fancy lunch to celebrate.  Yesterday we went to Tanaka of Tokyo at Ala Moana for lunch.  It is a Japanese restaurant where they prepare the meal on the grill in front of you and perform dazzling, entertaining tricks with spatulas and food.  So much fun.  They even brought Jalen a scoop of Ice Cream with a candle and sang to him :)

and as we were waiting for the check, Jordan says, Mom, look, I’m an ewok! :) ( i know it’s blurry, but I couldn’t resist sharing it anyway!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and Blog you later!
Joscie, rhymes with bossy