The Toy Box Years: Christmas - Deployment Style (Part II)

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!!

As I mentioned in my previous Christmas post, Christmas was very lowkey here this year. I had no family visiting and it was just me, the girls, and the dog.

The best present of all on Christmas morning was that My Marine was able to Skype in and watch the girls open their gifts. They were so excited to see Daddy that it took them a minute to realize that Santa had even visited!

Once they got settled and started opening their gifts, they were two very happy little girls!

Nani got her American Girl doll, her sewing machine, lots of clothes & books, and a Nook from Bubbe & Grandpap.

Nudgie was a happy little girl because she got her bicycle from Santa, her Angry Birds game & puzzle, and a "computer" from Bubbe and Grandpap

Zoja was happy because she got some new chewies....

But she wasn't happy when we forgot that she was outside!

The girls even goofed off for Daddy!

I think he was happy to be able to see them too. Much different than when he was deployed the first time!

The rest of the day involved lots of relaxing, playing with new toys, and reading new books. We also had our traditional Christmas Night sleepover. I pull out the couch and the girls use their sleeping bags on the floor and we stay up watching Christmas movies and eating popcorn by treelight. That tradition actually ended up going through the whole Christmas break!

While I'm not one to rush the holidays, I'm kind of glad (a teeny bit) that they're over. I did it...I made it through....barely....but I made it through!