The Toy Box Years: 2009-05-24

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

This week has been a little stressful here in the Toy Box Household. Between My Marine working late nights to get ready for vacation, Nani's last day of preschool, our new yard, and yes -- Nani's 911 call, it's amazing that I still have my sanity!

Where do I even begin?!

I did not become so overwhelmed by all the Not Me! entries this past week that I just decided to read every 5th post.

I did not become overly emotional at Nani's last day of preschool. I was not incredibly proud of her for completing her first year of preschool. I will not be forever grateful to her first teachers, Mrs. L. and Mrs. W. for starting her on the road of education.

I did not become panicked this past weekend with the fact that we leaving for vacation tomorrow morning. I do not feel like I'm forgetting something. I am not worried about my geriatric German Shepherd being left behind. I have not scheduled petsitters to come in three times a day to look in on her and give her some love. I did not make arrangement with our vet "just in case." I did not pack my wireless internet connection so that I can still use my laptop while visiting my parents and mother-in-law. I am not amazed that I still found time to write a Not Me! post!

I did not panic at the thought of buying a new bathing suit for our vacation. I did not picture everyone laughing at me in said bathing suit. I did not cry in the dressing room as I tried on suit after suit and finally decided on a black tankini. I did not tell myself that I looked like an adorable sea lion in that suit.

I did not almost end up in the emergency room with what I thought might have been another gall bladder attack. It did not occur to me that my stomach pains may have been caused by drinking a 2-liter of Pepsi in a 24-hour period. My Marine did not tell me that I need to come up with something else to take the edge of my stress. I did not thank God profusely when the pain passed quickly after popping 6 Tylenol

I do not think My Marine is a human furnace. I do not tease him about having hot flashes instead of me. I do not constantly roll my eyes in frustration when he opens all the windows and turns on the fans and says it's hot in here while I am bundled under blankets.

I was not incredibly excited about date night with My Marine! Why would I be excited about dressing up, having a hot meal uninterrupted, and, dare I say, an alcoholic beverage or two? I was not thrilled with the theater tickets for "Spamalot" with John O'Hurley. We did not laugh so much that we actually missed some parts of the show. I'm really not a fan of Monty Python and "MP and The Holy Grail" is not one of my favorite movies.

So, looking back - it really hasn't been a stressful week here. I'm not looking forward to some naptime during our 24-hour road trip!

See you all when I check in from Pittsburgh!!