The Toy Box Years: Sunday Night Chit-Chat

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!!

Time for me to start blogging again! What a good way for me to start back up than to participate in the "Sunday Night Chit-Chat" hosted by Carla over at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Nice, easy way to ease back into blogging!

The first thing I have to do is share something from the past week -- a picture, a quote, comic -- anything that I'd like to share. So my choice was to share my wedding picture and a picture of me & My Marine from our trip to Texas this summer. Monday, October 14th marked our 18th wedding anniversary.

Reading: "The Astronaut Wives Club" by Lily Koppel and "Lost in Suburbia" by Tracy Beckerman
Listening to: Football in the background, Nani plunking on her guitar, and Nani talking to her Barbie doll
Watching: Football is on the TV, but I'm not really watching. I've been watching "Revenge" on Netflix (and am HOOKED). Maybe watch a movie or TV show with My Marine tonight.
Cooking/Baking: Making homemade pirogies for dinner tonight. I also made some chocolate chip & oatmeal raisin cookies this week.
Happy you accomplished this week: Got my schedule set up for volunteering in Nani & Nudgie's classroom
Looking forward to next week: Getting back into the gym & my workout routine. Date night with My Marine on Friday and GNO on Saturday.
Thankful for today: A message during church today that hit deep within my soul!

*Bonus Question* What's the last movie you watched? Did you enjoy it? Any that are currently out that you want to see? Last night we watched "Slappy & the Stinkers" for our family movie and then started to watch "Bedknobs & Broomsticks" before the girls fell asleep. Bedknobs is one of my all-time favorite Disney movies! I want to see "The Heat" with Sandra Bullock and I REALLY want to see "Last Vegas" with Robert DeNiro & Morgan Freeman

Now it's your turn! Want to play too? Go check out Carla's page to link up!

2 comments:

Kathy Skinner (Kat) October 20, 2013 at 6:06 PM: Great photos! Congrats on your anniversary. You have a beautiful family! The Heat does look like a great movie; haven't seen it yet.
~Carla~ October 20, 2013 at 7:34 PM: Welcome back to blogging my friend! Great pic of you & hubby!! Gorgeous couple! Hope you have a great week! :)