The Toy Box Years: Last Day of School Countdown

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!!

Nani is excited for summer vacation.

Very excited.

Since Easter, she's been asking "how many days until summer vacation?"

Don't get me wrong -- she LOVES school. But she loves summer vacation more, me thinks!

So, I decided that we would make a countdown chain for Nani. I found this great template at teachwithme.com. It's free to download, but you may need to register for an account if you don't have one already.

Sunday was a beautiful day here, so we hung out in the front yard while the girls colored their templates and put their countdown chains together. Nani only has a 1/2 day on the last day of school, so I decided that after we pick her up, we're going to go for ice cream to celebrate....so on her last chain, she wrote "ICE CREAM".

Daddy cutting some roses for his princesses

Now every day she runs home and tears off a chain link and gives me the countdown. I honestly don't know what she's so excited about.....little does she know that she's going to be spending the summer picking up Zoja's dog poop....her new chore since My Marine is leaving! She's not going to be so excited about summer vacation then....is she?

In the meantime, Nudgie got tired of coloring and decided to take a little break......I should add that she opened that bottle with her baby teeth. My Marine is so proud! (Ha! Ha!)