The Toy Box Years: Mommy Math

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!!

It's happened. The sickness has struck. And it only took a week since My Marine left.

Nudgie's been struck down with the phantom fever. She had been pretty restless and crabby all day yesterday, but bedtime was an absolute nightmare. I just ended up bringing her into bed with me. Here's a little summary of my night......

4 - The number of times I had to change Nudgie's sweat-soaked jammies.

1 - The number of times I had to change my bedsheets from said sweat-soaked baby girl.

8 - The number of times I had to yell at the dog to stop licking said sweat-soaked baby girl.

3 - The number of stuffed animals that had to sleep with said sweat-soaked baby girl.

2 - The number of times we watched "The Princess and the Frog" during the night.

6 - The number of infomercial products I almost bought during late night/early morning channel surfing.

.5 - The number of hours of sleep mommy thought she got last night.

5:00am - The time that said sweat-soaked baby girl finally fell asleep.

5:00pm - "Wishful thinking" bedtime for both girls.

Infinity - The number of cups of coffee that I'm going to need to get through today.

The Sandman and Morpheus are waging an all out war against me right now. Is it wrong that I want to toss Cheerios at my oldest and tell her to entertain herself today while mommy "rests her eyes?" (In the meantime, Nudgie is still sleeping!)