Are Your Kids Destructive?

OK! So, we've been in our new home for about three weeks now and I'm about to go out of my mind!!!  My kids are little tornadoes....  How is it that I have managed in the past to keep my house clean, kids somewhat clean and well-mannered [most of the time ;)].....  Since we have moved into this new town and new home, my kids have managed to make me re-think my parenting skills - to put it mildly!!

At the end of week one - wild man #2 decides to knock over one of my lamps with his head.  It comes crashing down and shatters.  My fault for putting it within arms reach of a 4 year old I suppose!!

4 year old's destruction

And this morning - little princess decides to climb on top of my dining room table and dig through the potpourri in my crystal bowl and "decorate" the floor.  This was right after she dumped out a box of toys.  All of this in about 3 minutes!!  I was in the kitchen filling up a mop bucket getting ready to mop the living room when I hear something that sounds like glass being tapped........

2 year old's destruction

Of course, this makes me feel like "what's the point of cleaning"......if you know me, you would laugh.  I am probably one of the most anal people (my lovely family tells me so ALL THE TIME) about keeping my house clean and clutter-free.  Well, my house is FAR from clean and clutter free lately!!  If my parents or one of my siblings were to walk in my house right now, they would probably think I had certifiably LOST MY MIND!

My husband isn't of any help either....when I call to complain about he just responds with, "well you are in control of the situation, you shouldn't allow it to happen"... - ????  Am I supposed to tie up my kids so I can sweep, vacuum and mop the floors and get all the beds made, dishes done, meals prepared, laundry done?????

Moving over 3 states to finally be in the same house as my husband was supposed to be easier.....so far, it hasn't been any easier.

What's the point of my post today...I don't really know, just to vent -maybe.  But honestly, I would love to hear from other moms and dads that are home all day with their kids and hear what you do to keep your house clean and kids healthy, happy, etc??  Maybe once I get a bit more comfortable in this new town I will find something for all of us to enjoy and keep us all entertained and out of trouble!!

I would love to hear your kids' destruction stories too!!  Let me know I'm NOT the only one out there.......

Been a While.......

.....since I have written anything for my blog!  Life has been hectic, to say the least!  We have been preparing for another move and now trying to get acclimated and settled into our new home.

My oldest son (7 years old) has been so sad about the move, leaving his friends, leaving his aunts, uncles, baby cousin and grandparents behind.  I have been so wrapped up in telling him we are going on a new adventure and he will meet new friends, etc I didn't even take a moment to realize I was going to be sad too!  I have missed my husband so much the last 15 months while he was living out of town all I could think about was that I was going to be with him everyday now!!

Well, here we are - new home, new town, family all together!  Well, it has been great having my husband home every night and our kids having Dad and Mom.... But, you know I REALLY miss my parents, my siblings, my new baby niece and all of my friends.

So - it looks like my son and I are on a new adventure together trying to make new friends......

Wish us both luck!  Jacksonville is a BIG place and I'm a small town girl with a small town heart!!!

My Crazy Life!!

 Have I told you how crazy my life is lately???  We all have hectic lives, but some days I wonder if mine is a little more abnormal than most!!  Some of you know that I moved back to my hometown last year in hopes of getting lots of help from family since my husband's new position at work put him on the road 26 days out of the month.  I only needed the help because I was having medical issues and needed surgery.  So, I didn't want to be living alone with three kids and no family (and no husband) nearby to help during my hospitalization and recovery time.  So, we made the decision as a family to pack up our belongings and "settle down" once and for all in my hometown so we could be near family.  And.....when I say near family, I mean across the street from my parents!!!!  Please note, I haven't lived in my hometown for nearly 17 years.  When I left for college, I only came back a few times a year to visit during the Holidays.  Needless to say......this has been a HUGE adjustment!!

Well, my family was great for the first few weeks.  If I needed someone to help watch the baby (my youngest was 7 months old when we moved here), they came right over.  If I needed someone to drive one of my kids somewhere, they were here in a flash.  The eagerness and happiness to help seemed to dwindle after about week 3.  First, I must tell you that I am NOT one to ask for help.  I would rather do it myself because I am a bit OCD.  So, it was hard for me to ask for the help in the first place.  My parents practically begged me to move back home so they could help me. **Side note - I was put on bed rest and couldn't lift anything over 10 lbs for 6 weeks after my surgery.  Well, about 4 weeks after my surgery I stopped asking for any help and just got whatever needed to be done -DONE!

Fast forward about 9 months.......I'm completely healed and feel better than I have in years!!! However, I'm miserable without my husband!!!  My kids are suffering without their dad everyday, I'm suffering without my husband everyday.  We were a much better unit when we were all together.

saying good-bye......

So.....here we go.....the Traveling Gypsies will be on the move yet again!!!  This time we will all be going together!  My husband has an opportunity to take a job with another company which will move us out of the country for 13 months (but we will all be together!!!) and then the company will move us (all together) to one of their Regional offices for my husband to head up.  They offered him a position to run the Western Region office, which means he would be based in one place and travel only 2 nights a week!!!!  So after 5 years of moving (we have lived in 4 states in 5 years!), it looks like we might actually end up having somewhere to call home!!

Not sure how I will react each June/July (when we usually get the orders for our next post) approaches and there isn't the anticipation of where will we be moving next!  Am I being too hopeful?  Not sure. My husband isn't being as optimistic as I am.  His wheels are turning in the back of his mind.....he can't quite grasp the feeling that we could possibly be stationed in one location -for good!  We'll see...one thing is for sure (if he accepts the new position) we will at least all be together for the next 13 months!  I don't think I could stand another year without him!

Our Crazy Life!!!

This is a picture of our very first home my husband and I purchased together 9 years ago and sold just 4 short years later......that was the beginning of our crazy life as the Traveling Gypsies.  This house was so cozy, warm, comforting and easy to take care of, I really miss those simpler days!!

Well, it seems to be getting closer to that time of year again......thinking about where our next move will be!!!  My husband works for a company that is contracted out by the government, so we move around like a military family.  This last year has been rough on all of us.  My husband and I decided, for several reasons (that will be another post for another day) that I should move back to my home town with our three kids so they wouldn't have to move every few years.  Unfortunately, it hasn't been all peaches & cream....in fact it has been pretty miserable.  After living the past 8 months without my husband, I have decided it is more detrimental for our kids to be without their daddy than moving and changing schools, homes and friends every few years.  So....it's off to search for a NEW temporary homestead.  I really am looking forward to being able to see my husband nightly again in another few months!