The Toy Box Years: Friday Night Leftovers

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!!

Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks does this fun post every Friday - "Friday Night Leftovers". I've enjoyed reading some of her posts, as well as some of the link ups. What a great way to clear your mind! I've been a little MIA this past week. It's been a week of nonstop madness here -- and hopefully it will stop after Monday!

Today is Nani's dance recital. How bad is it that I'm so incredibly excited for her and proud of her, but yet I can't wait for the day to be over? AND - to boot - My Marine is going to miss it all. Thank you U.S. Army!

Last time I posted, I was stressing about My Marine's car which we WERE able to have fixed. And it didn't cost us Nani's college fund. We're in the market for a ~~new~~ used car which will just get him to the base and back. A couple of opportunities fell in our lap - and then promptly rolled right off. So, we're back to square one.

Can SOMEONE PLEASE tell me where the hell all these moths are coming from???? I feel like I'm living on the movie set of "The Swarm" and am afraid to turn the lights on for fear of being dive-bombed. Not to mention Nudgie waking up in the middle of the night in fits of terror because the "butterflies are flying" in her room. I'm afraid that one morning I'll walk in and find her wearing a beard of moths saying, "Look Mommy! Butterflies!" My Marine said that the helicopters are full of them as well - which poses a bit of a challenge for the pilots. Kinda hard to fly a helicopter when you're trying to swat away the moths trying to eat your brains. You kill one - 4 more pop up. They're like zombies!

Until next week!!!

First of all, if you're reading this then you've survived the Rapture and are a zombie who loves to read mommy blogs.......

Second....be sure to swing by my book giveaway - which ends tonight at midnight! I'm giving away a copy of Janet Evanovich's book, "Sizzling Sixteen" and Nancy Martin's book "Our Lady of Immaculate Deception."

Sippy Cups Are Not For Starbucks does this fun post every Friday - "Friday Night Leftovers". I've enjoyed reading some of her posts, as well as some of the link ups. What a great way to clear your mind! So I've decided to start joining in.

I'm always in need of a good brain dump -- aren't you?

Why, oh why, does it take me almost a whole morning and at least 4 reheats to finish one cup of coffee? And why is it only the coffee that I make? When I have a Starbucks, I can down that coffee faster than you can say "Grande Cinnamon Dolce Latte with 3 pumps of white mocha"

I'm stressed about My Marine's car which really isn't working too hot right now. We've been vehicle sharing for about 2 weeks. While I don't mind driving him in....I know he does. And I'm not a big fan of getting the girls up at 5:30am to drive him to work. Really cuts in on my "Morning Me Time". Selfish, I know. We took it into the shop today. Now the prayers and candlelight vigils begin.

Which brings me to my attitude. I've had a shitty attitude all week. I've been crabby, mean, impatient. I've been losing my temper with my girls and my husband. In general, I just don't like myself this week. Some say it's SAD because we've had such rainy weather this week. Personally, I think it's a combination of PMS and a negative pregnancy test - which I took on Wednesday. Like I mentioned on my Facebook page -- I need a major attitude adjustment -- and fast.

My laptop crapped out on me yesterday - adding to my week of crabbiness. The hard drive went. It's the one I had replaced when the Toshiba I had before died multiple deaths. This one wasn't even a year old. Fortunately, they were able to replace this one with no questions. I am the new owner of a Dell. We'll see how long this one lasts. Today I have spent the last 5 hours trying to save my files from the old hard drive. It has not been a pleasant task and my eye is twitching. Right before writing this post, I spent a good chunk of my life transferring and backing up photo files. Now, I'm working on my music files. I figure I'll be done by the time Nani graduates high school.

There have been a few bright spots this week. I was able to get Season 2 of Big Love and Season 3 of The Tudors from the library! I also discovered they also have all seasons of Project Runway! Sweet! I'm all set for when My Marine leaves next month!