This picture was taken earlier this week. This bowl is from a sally foster fundraiser last year or the year before, place mat from target.   I was just struck with how well they went together.  Probably why I was so drawn to the place mats in the first place, and I’ve only realized this now.  Jordan enjoying one of his favorite treats of all time. Scooby Doo Macaroni and Cheese. in all it’s orangey goodness.

The days have been passing me by.  This past week, Jordan’s preschool was closed for fall break.  So I have had him home with me while Jalen has had to continue on to school every day.  We had grand plans to go to Bishop Museum, the beach, the water park, the pool… and on Wednesday Jordan relapsed into that blasted fever/cough/sneezing thing again. I really, really am truly sick of sickness.  I know there are kids out there who are sicker, so I am still thankful that it is only a cold or whatever. but still. I hate it for the little one.

In news of Troy’s deployment, there is about two weeks left.  They are doing an exercise and going to pull into port I think one more time briefly before heading home.  It’s almost real. woo hoo!  These past few months have gone by pretty well. no crying spells from the boys, but sad comments of I miss when dad was here. I wish dad was home. and those types of heart wrenching comments.  I am also not looking forward to saying goodbye again in January when he leaves for a 6 month deployment.  I just think it may be harder on the boys knowing what’s coming up in an even longer version. anyway, I guess we will cross that bridge when we come to it.  Also, Troy got promoted on October 1st to CWO3.  The best part other than the raise? a new ID card. On the day I went for my current Military ID card photo, I got up and washed my then short hair and I think the power went out or something crazy like that because I did not have time to blow it dry. my hair looked crazy and the camera was mounted on the desk.  nothing like an under the chin black and white webcam looking picture to have to show to every one.  every time i go on the base, to check in at the doctors, pick up a prescription or go into a military store I have to whip out that little bit of ugliness everytime and I am excited to try my luck again for a better picture when Troy gets back. I’d show it to you, but thankfully there’s a law against copying it… and surely that applies to taking a picture or scanning it and showing it here, ha! I wonder if I can bring my own picture on a thumb drive? ha. as if.

Another lesson learned/taught this week.  I have come to accept that I have slight OCD tendencies and have passed these on to my precious boys. (haha) I am not a fan of messy food.  You know those pictures of babies with food all over their faces? I am completely grossed out and don’t think those are cute pictures.  When we eat, we all have napkins and wipe as necessary.  In fact, if my child does not have a napkin, he has been known to wipe said mess on shirt or shorts or whine, i need a naaakin!  One day this week, I made jordan a peanut butter and orange marmalade sandwich for lunch and set it on the table.  I called to him, your lunch is on the table.  I walked into my scraproom for something trivial and heard him in the bathroom and the water running. I thought to my self, self- good job, he is washing his hands without a reminder! yay! but then as I walk back into the kitchen, he says, “Mom, my camera had peanut butter on it” (because he brought his camera to the table, doesn’t everyone bring their camera to meals, ha) in his best problem solving voice, “but it’s okay, ’cause I washed it off”. What?!  Your little kid digital camera?! oh son. we don’t put our electronic toys in the water, but thank you for trying to clean it up right away.  Let me take a look.  so the LCD seemed to be out.  the camera still made the noises like it was still taking pictures, so i just set it aside to dry.  and Lo and Behold. 2 days later, it’s working again. yay for small miracles (see picture below). :)

Also this week. We were running into the Navy Commissary to pick up a few items and in the time it took us to get through there, it went from dark clouds to biblical downpour with no end in sight.  I waited a minute then decided we’d just have to make a run for it.  We were all very wet, especially me, since I had to stand outside the car and buckle Jordan into his car seat.  The boys absolutely loved it.  They have never played in the rain and so enjoyed it.  We dried off with the millions of napkins in the car and went straight home to hot showers and hot chocolate.

I was heading out yesterday to run to the bookstore to see if I could catch a glimpse of the November issue of Creating Keepsakes... and stopped at the mailbox on the way out to find it in my mailbox. You could knock me over with a feather- I have a whole page! check out page 85~ :)

Thanks to Keisha Campbell… I was checking her blog and saw the beautiful pages she created mixing and matching the letter stamps from studio calico and had to jump in. I was on the fence about the atc card stamp (soo awesome) and then had to jump in with the scripty stamps. so so cute. and while I was at it, i got the mini attacher. can I say, when they say mini, they really mean it?! it is so so cute. the staples are tiny. like duh, i know the name is mini, but really really. like half the size of regular staples. so cute.

So I hope to be on the blogging train much more regularly, really. I enjoy it and it is so cathartic, so thanks for stopping by!

Love Love and blog you later!

Joscie, rhymes with bossy