The Toy Box Years: 2009-10-04

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!!

Ok, so I've been MIA for awhile -- but for good reason! I'm an aunt!! Just call me Aunt Jenny! My brother-in-law and his wife welcomed their first baby -- my niece -- in mid-September. I've been out of town visiting them and loving on my new baby niece!

I've forgotten how small and fragile little babies are -- especially compared to my honkin' butterball Nudgie! But, I think this picture perfectly shows the fragility of a new baby's life!

Ok, so I know it's supposed to be Wordless Wednesday, but I just had to share a little bit of a backstory here. My Marine and I are shopping for a new camera. Something a little more "fancy" than the little digital camera (or battle-cam) as we call it. My Marine was able to borrow a Canon from a guy in his unit. He's been incredibly generous about allowing us to test-drive his camera. Needless to say, we've been having a ball taking pictures. In the month that we've had the camera, we've taken over 2000+ pictures! (Including the one above!)

And I'll definitely be sharing more!

Don't forget to enter my MyBlogSpark giveaway for a Nature Valley Nut Clusters Snack Pack! Giveaway ends on 10/14!!