Deployment...

Huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

But actually that's NOT true. One thing deployments are GREAT for is figuring out who your true friends are! I've known that since last deployment. And I always tend to lose some "friends" while he's deployed or gone. I don't know if its because I'm a cranky bitch, 'cause I don't have time for stupid bullshit, or if I just get forgotten about. Either way, sometimes it REALLY sucks!

This deployment I have been somewhat surprised by the friends I lost and the friends I've gained. Of course there were some that were no surprise at all. And that goes in both directions. I have some really great true friends that I KNEW would be there for me no matter what. And I had some that I knew MIGHT say they'd be there but when it came down to it I probably would rarely hear from them for the next year. And I was okay with that.

However, I am SHOCKED at some of the "friends" I've lost. Especially the ones that I thought understood and that I just KNEW would be there for me. Man was I wrong. Some of these "friends" haven't even contacted me since he left. That doesn't mean we haven't talked, but its few and far between, and even then it's not for any real length of time. I thought some of my friends might step up knowing I was having a bad day or a rough time. Did they? NOPE. So, I have given up on those "friends". Why would I want people in my life that don't want to support me and be there for me but expect me to be there for them?

But I've also been really shocked at the friends I've gained. Ladies I just recently met & some never even in person that are there for me. That ask me how I'm doing, and listen to me when I'm having a bad day. Ladies I used to be friends with but haven't really hung out with in YEARS. Some I've only hung out with on a few occasions but are there for me no matter what. Just as I am there for them. That's what true friendship is.

So, as sad as I am about losing the friends I have, some of which I've been friends with for years, I am really happy for the ones I have gained. These last (almost) 4 months and these months to come have been and will be one of the hardest times of my life. I need people I can count on and need them to know they can count on me. And I've found that. So I say goodbye to the ones lost but am welcoming my new friendships. And what a very bittersweet thing it is.

Sometimes it hurts to know that people aren't who they say they are and aren't who you thought they were. But in the end it's best that you know. At least you aren't surprised by their actions and wasting your time and effort on something that isn't there.

Week 16

Well today we are officially 16 weeks down! I seriously can't believe that we are already another week down. I know I say this almost every week but this deployment is just FLYING by! Let's just hope & pray it continues to do so! This week really wasn't a very productive week but ya know what? Sometimes that's JUST what we need. The boys were out of school Monday & we literally laid around ALL day! But we loved it! I loved spending time with my boys doing something we all love. And that was: WATCHING HARRY POTTER! Ha Ha. Yes we love us some HP in this house.

So this week I:

• Watched the last 6 HP movies. 4 of them on Monday alone. It was GREAT! 
• Started reading the Harry Potter books. Again for me. First time for the boys. Told them if they like the movies the will LOVE the books because obviously even tho the movies are amazing the books are 10x better!
• Talked to my hubby... TWICE! He called on Sunday then again yesterday. It was great. And the boys got to talk to him yesterday too. He called their school and they pulled them into the office so they could talk to him. LOVE my kids school!
• Continued on WW. But I was supposed to go to my meeting yesterday & it didn't work out with mine & my MIL's schedules (we go together) so we are going on Saturday. I'll let y'all know how this week went as well. Hopefully pretty good!
• Played in the snow with my boys. We were gonna go sledding but all snow was melted off the hills by the time they got outta school. So we just played in the backyard instead. And that was a lot of fun. 
• Had twin time with my seester yesterday. OMG SOO much fun. It was just what we both needed. Found LOTS of cute stuff for the new house, and for me. Plus just hanging out with her lightens my mood. Besides my hubs & kids she makes me the happiest. I honestly don't know WHAT I would do without her. 
• Helped my mom paint 3 rooms in her house. Got to spend time with her, my brother & my SIL. We actually had a lot of fun and the rooms look SOOO much better. Love it! Plus I got some pink & blue frosted tips out of it. :) Now if I could just get it to wash out. 
• Worked on the house little bit. I have been such a SLACKER but I'm gettin back after it today. I just really need to get focused and get to it. 
• Got some really bittersweet news. Not a for sure thing yet & I'm still trying to wrap my head around it but I think in the end it'll be for the best. More on that to come later. 

So not a lot this week. But we still had a TON of fun. Trying to enjoy this next year as much as possible. I refuse to just sit around and mope all day every day. Still gotta get out there & live my life and make the best of it. 

And as always, here's some pics of our week. :)

Week 15

Well this week was pretty uneventful. I didnt do anything very exciting but got quite a bit stuff on my to-do list crossed off. So at least stuff got done. Right?

Anyways this week I:

• Rearranged the boys TV room. 
• Got the boys TV room completely unpacked. All thats left to do is decorate. :)
• Started hanging some of the decorations. 
• Talked to the hubs twice on Sunday. 
• Started Weight Watchers. 
• And since we started on a Saturday and changed our Weigh In day to Thursday BOTH of my weeks were technically in this week. 
• LOST 5.2 POUNDS!!!! Yep. Totally made my week. :)
• Had a horrible day but still managed to stay away from the ice cream & not eat my feelings. Props to me. :)
• Got backed into by some old lady. She literally backed her car into my body. UGH. Im sure the people in the parking lot thought I was NUTS when I started screaming at her. :)
• Watched the first 3 Harry Potter movies with my boys. We LOVE us some HP. So we had a HP marathon for V-Day
• Spent Valentine's Day with my boys & my dad. 
• Paid off some bills
• Turned in our housing ppwk to the Indians. :)
• Got a new phone... LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
• Got some gorgeous flowers from the hubs for V-day. They didnt get here til 8 PM just as I was giving up hope. But of course he came through. Dunno why I ever doubted him. :)
• Got a beautiful plant for V-day from my boys. (THANKS MOM) And my youngest gave me a pillow of his I replaced. But it's the thought that counts right. :)
• Went bowling & out to eat for my nephews birthday. It was a BLAST!!!

And as always here's some pics from our week. 

Care Package Decorating

Okay over the last few days I've had a few people ask me how I decorate the care packages I send to Dick. So I thought I'd go ahead and write a blog about it and show exactly what I do and go into more detail on how I decorate them. So here is it.

First of all I usually get the Large flat rate USPS boxes for the APO/FPO addresses. They are free from the post office and you get a discount when mailing to an APO or FPO address. The shipping just went up last time I went to the post office and it was $14 and some change. Now you get free tracking BUT that only tracks until the military gets ahold of it. After that its in the military's hands and USPS has no control over it. You can get these boxes for free at your post office or call USPS and can have them send you a military pack. I've been getting the boxes from my post office though because the pack comes with a lot of stuff I don't use or need & I don't wanna waste it. If you are going to get the boxes from your post office go ahead and pick up some customs forms while you are there so you can fill them out ahead of time and save yourself time & headache at the post office. And I'm sure they & the other customers will love you for it. :)

I try to come up with a theme for each care package. Most of them won't be my own original theme. But he doesn't know that. Not that I try to take the credit but I'm not gonna be like "Oh I found this idea at such and such place." He doesn't really care. I think the themes make them a lot more fun to shop for and put together but even if I don't do a theme I decorate them. Now THIS is the fun part. I start by picking out what kind of duck tape I want. I usually coordinate it to my box in some way. And duck brand has a TON to choose from. You can even order it online to get just about any kind you could ever want or need. I usually get mine from Walmart. They have a pretty good selection over in the home repair section and some in the arts & craft section as well. I tape up the bottom of my box along the seam and across it. Then I tape over that with clear packing tape. I think packing tape holds better but I like the little bit of extra look that the duck tape gives it. 

After the box is all put together I start decorating it. I usually either use 12x12 card stock, 12x12 scrapbook paper or wrapping paper. When I use wrapping paper, my go-to wrapping paper is usually the paper in the dollar bins at Target. They have lots of cute designs that you can by a lot of different rolls at once since its only $1. 

I usually only decorate the flaps of the box. The inside is covered so I feel like its a waste. If you use the 12x12 paper 2 sheets will over both flaps. If you are worried about not cutting it right after its applied, or are wanting to write on it, just measure 6 inch in and cut there. I always make a few marks where 6 in. is and draw a line using a ruler so I know its all straight. And I used to write on the paper after it was applied to the box but now I do it before. I think it's easier and looks nicer. Plus if you mess up you are only wasting the paper and not the tape too. Which leads me to... I use Scotch double sided adhesive roller to apply the papers. 

I've used a lot of different things including regular glue, glue sticks, double sided tape and packing tape. And this is what I've found works best. Its holds up well, doesn't bubble up your paper & is easy to apply. One adhesive roller will do a little over one box with how I tape it. I just run it along all 4 edges of each flap.  To decorate the pages I have printed stuff out on my computer and cut it out and put it on the wrapping paper and wrote directly on the card stock. And some I just leave plain. I bought a program to print out the outline of letters to put on there but have yet to use it. I'll let ya know if I do & how I like it. If I glue the computer paper onto the card stock or wrapping paper I usually use a glue stick. 

When I write on the papers I use permanent markers. The colored markers I have right now are the Bic Mark Its. I like them. I think they work just as well as the sharpies but were cheaper. And then I also bought the metallic sharpies. I love those for the dark papers and just to add a little "pop" to the decor. You could also use stickers to decorate the boxes. I just haven't because stickers can get pricey and I know he's just gonna throw it away anyways. 

After I'm all done I usually add in a card or letter from me and/or our boys. Then I make out my customs form while its still open so I don't forget whats in it & its filled out before I go to the post office. Then I tape it up with the coordinating duck tape and again with clear packing tape. 

After its all taped up I print off an address label for him. I have his address saved on my computer and I just change the font on each one. Each label is just printed out on regular printer paper. I have it taking up 1/2 of the page so I get 2 labels per sheet. I also have actual sticker address labels for me. I stick on the one for my address and lay out the other one. You could add a dab of glue or adhesive to keep it where you want it. Then I tape over all that with clear packing tape again. I make sure the entire label is covered.  Then I know the address is in place & not going anywhere. I also know that if the box gets damp for any reason (someone else's package leaking, rain, whatever) the address wont smudge or smear. 

Then I'm all ready to go to the post office WITH CUSTOMS FORM IN HAND. In the military pack they send you the little envelopes to put them in. I never use those. I let the post office worker put it on where it needs to go. Plus they have to stamp each part of the customs form so I dont know why they even send you that part. Having the customs form filled out makes it quick, easy, and relatively painless. 

And I am in no way suggesting you need to do it my way or that you even need to theme or decorate your care packages at all. Its just something I enjoy doing and have gotten asked HOW I do it so here it is. In detail. :)

*NONE of these pictures are mine. They were all found on Google Images 

Care Package #9: Sunshine

I got a pocket, got a pocket full of SUNSHINE. I've got a love And I know that it's all MINE!
Yep. STILL have that song stuck in my head. Me & Lisa (my twin & most favoritest lady EVER!) literally sang that song all around the stores the ENTIRE day looking for stuff for this care package. Why? You ask. Good question.
Well as we all know winters can be cold & dark & dreary. And what's the best way to combat a gloomy day? SUNSHINE OF COURSE!!! So that's what this box is. A box of sunshine!

And here's whats in it:

• Stax chips
• Yellow Ricola
• Carmex
• Juicy Fruit gum
• Lemon Heads
• Buffalo Pretzels
• Small boxes of cereal
• Oreos to go
• Breakfast bars
• Slim Jims
• Beef Jerky
• Football
• Butterfinger bar
• A card
• And the movie Easy A. Love love love that move & we both love Emma Stone. Plus the part where she's singin that song in the move is just freakin AWESOME and pulls it together with my theme. It's not yellow tho so I wrapped it in yellow tissue paper :)

The key to this box was just filling it with yellow stuff. That's one thing I love about this box. It can be customized to anybody any where. This is by far my favorite box so far. I had soo much fun shopping for it, coming up with how I wanted to decorate it & putting it together. He wont get this box for a WHILE tho now cuz of what he's doing there so luckily I don't think anything will go bad. The chocolate might melt but I think that's about it. So I'm happy about that. And I can't wait for him to get this box!!!

Care Package #8

Well here is ANOTHER care package I've made. And ANOTHER random one. Dick had requested a few things and had left some of his Christmas presents behind that he wanted but didn't have room to bring with him. So I sent them.
 But, even when I don't theme them, I still decorate them. This one I just used black card stock with a silver Sharpie. I LOVE my Sharpies. And I have the Bic Mark It ones too. I think they work just as well. But for this box I saw the silver & gold Sharpies on an end cap & knew I HAD to have them. So far I love them! So anyways. This box I used the quote : Distance is to love What wind is to fire. Extinguishes the small But ignites the great. I LOVE this quote. It's gotten me through SOO many separations. I don't know who its by. My twin (love that girl) told me about it during our first deployment and I've loved it ever since!

In this box are:

• Ipod Speakers
• Batteries... & I'm so awesome I even sent the WRONG size. Yep. Go me!!! 
• MIO
• Pop tarts
• Breakfast Bars
• His butt/face towel. I sent it to him last deployment as a joke & he actually liked it so I sent it again :)
• A calendar his g-ma made us for Christmas. 

Care Package #7: Valentines for the troops

Okay here is the 7th care package of this deployment. This one my twin & I went in on together. We thought all the guys deserved SOMETHING for Valentines day. Since there are over 100 guys in his unit we obviously couldn't do all of them so we did them for his platoon. After talkin to him today he told me MOST of maintenance wasn't there when he got the box & he gave them to someone to hand out so I'm not really sure who actually ended up with them but I hope they liked them all the same. :)

So this theme was: Valentines for our Troops & here's what was in it:

20 little Valentines Day themed baggies each including:

• A little heart box of chocolates in a NON-girly design. We thought that was important :)
• A package of Phineas & Ferb Valentines gummies
• A Valentines with a mustache tattoo for your fingers. The kind like the kids would hand out at school. :)

100 DAYS DOWN!!!!

We are officially 100 days through this deployment!!! This is one of the huge milestones I have been waiting for. My countdown just keeps getting smaller & smaller and for the most part the days are getting easier & easier. Because even though we are 1 day farther since I saw him last we are 1 day closer to seeing him again. And that's what you have to focus on. You can't focus on the bad of the deployment. You have to focus on the good. And no, I don't think deployments are all rainbows & unicorns BUT if you don't try to look for some good, ANY good in the situation you will be swallowed up by the bad. Trust me. I did that LAST deployment. No fun. That is why I made a list before he deployed of all the good things about deployment. And yes, I found a few. Of course they don't compare to him being here but hey, I can still enjoy them.

Best thing about the 100 days? I heard from the husband after over a week of silence! And I heard words I NEVER thought I'd hear him say. "You're sending too much." Umm... WHAT? I didn't know that was even possible. But I definitely get it. Last time I sent even more than I am this time BUT he didn't go out on as many missions or they didn't last as long or both. Either way he was in his room more and actually got to use the stuff. This time, he gotta pack it up and the care packages are piling up while hes gone. I think I over-did it with the 3 in one day. OOPS. So now my deployment goals have changes. Instead of 1 a week I'm gonna try to do 1 every 10-14 days. And now I just heard from him... AGAIN today!!!

Anyways. These last 100 days have been BEYOND crazy. I know I say that a lot but its true. We have been through more changes in the last 100 days than we have in a LONG time. Maybe just cuz its all crammed together in just over 3 months time? I dunno. But I've had a lot on my plate and still have a lot more. But I think I'm handling things pretty well. If I do say so myself. For me the days have been flying by and I hope they continue to do so.

The light at the end of the tunnel just keeps gettin bigger & bigger and brighter & brighter. This deployment WILL come to an end. We WILL be back together again. And this will all just be a mostly bad memory. But hopefully I'll have some good ones mixed in with the bad. :)

Care Package #6: Happy Valentine's Day

Okay so still no word on if he's gotten this box yet. But it was mailed out about 2 weeks ago & I haven't heard from him in about a week so I'm ASSUMING he's gotten it by now. I mean SURELY. So- this was his Valentine's Day care package. I always have a hard time with Valentine's day & Anniversaries for Care packages Just WHAT do you put? Well I thought I was runnin out of time so I didn't do really anything special or cute for it. But, here's what's in it:

• A mustache candy box. He always grows one out while he's gone so I thought it was appropriate. 
• A heart candy box
• A stuffed monkey. That's what he got me for my all time favorite V-day so I sent him one. :)
• A small bottle of my perfume
• Some V-Day brownies
• Heart shaped sugar cookies that I made & decorated with my boys
• Some heart shaped brownies and Lil Debbie snack cakes
• Red wisps
• Swisher sweet cigars
• Reese's Hearts
• A card from me
• A card from the boys
• And a letter from me. 

Nothing really special but enough to let him know we love him & miss him & are thinking about him. :)

Week 14

Well this has been a REALLY good week. Got to talk to Dick on Saturday for 45 freakin minutes!!! By far the BEST part of this week. And actually the BEST part of this deployment. I am finally gettin out of my eat everything and sit around on the couch watching TV all day funk. So all in all a really good week.

This week I:

• Cleaning & unpacked a lot. Got lots more still to do but its gettin there. :)
• Made a care package for Richard. By far my FAVORITE one so far.
• Came up with a theme for next weeks care package. Lovin it. :) More on that next week prolly. 
• LOST 3 POUNDS!!! Yet another great part of my week. Especially since my bad ankle was killin me this week so I didn't work out much.
• Got to talk to Dick Friday for like 45 min online and got a 45 minute phone call Saturday. I think that had a HUGE part in gettin me out of my funk. 
• FINALLY got my internet all up and runnin. Well I think that was this week. Maybe last. I dunno.
• Went to my mom' houser for the Super Bowl & spent time with her, my twin & my nephews. Plus me & my boys of course. It was a LOT of fun.  

Anyways. Good week. One week closer to him being home. We are officially over the 1/4 way mark & seeing my percent countdown get bigger and bigger each day is GREAT. Oh and from now on I'm just gonna give a sneak peak of his boxes til he gets them. Don't wanna chance him seeing them on here before he actually gets them. Especially the themed ones. :)

Well as always here are some pics from our week :