Happy Mother's Day

My day got off to a less than thrilling start.

I have to say that watching Pete walk back into the house with not just part of breakfast but also part of my Mother's Day gift that he had just bought was a little crushing. It just added to the feelings that I have had lately of being the last on the list, almost invisible...

But Mother's Day isn't about him, it's about these two cute munchkins



I am a Mom because of them, thanks to them I know what unconditional love is and the how's and why's of putting someone else's needs in front of mine...

The excitement on Benton's face when he came in with my balloon and the great care Nina put into decorating my card is what it is really all about...



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Makes you realize

My parents have come in for a visit for Easter (yeah!).


We are having a great time.


Nina has loved showing off our new city and all the fun things it has to offer...


However, having them here make me realize just how great it would be to live closer to family.

We have started thinking about our next transfer (yes, already!). I am completely torn. Part of me wants to go back to Charleston, but realistically one can never really go home. Would we still like it there? A lot has changed in the seven years since we left. While I would be beside myself that we wouldn't have a very long ride in order to visit them, and trips to see my inlaws would be a lot closer as well...





On the other hand I would jump at the opportunity to live in a completely new area (even out of the country) a short list includes:
*California
*Hawaii
*Europe
*Purto Rico
And the list goes on and on...

Ahh who knows...two more years before we really have to think about what to do, a lot can change in two years.

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Sighs of contentment

We have had a busy past few weeks with all the Mardi Gras celebrating and then our trip to Disney (more on those to come-I promise!)--throw in the time change right at the end and to say that my kids are DOG tired would be an understatement.

Last night was a late night for all of us because we were invited to a shrimp boil down in Lockport. So after we got the kids home and bathed it was after 10 pm. So I made an executive decision at 4am that we were NOT getting up early today to take Nina to school. That's right folks--we played hookie! :-)

Everyone slept in, we had a great breakfast, and then off to the Monkey Room for a morning of climbing fun. Then lunch with friends and then home for nap--I am pretty sure it will be a long one from both because over the monitors you can hear the sweet sighs of contentment coming from both rooms every so often. It is one of my favorite sounds to hear, followed closely by the sounds of their laughter as they play together...wish every day went like this...but alas I am sure after naps it will be back to the crazy way it is around here. So I will enjoy it while I can.

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Vacation

This past week we took the kids to Disney...there will be a follow up post but I wanted to share my favorite picture from the trip



This was taken the last night while we were waiting for our food...I think this sums up the trip...the kids got along great and played until they couldn't last any more :-D

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Most of the time I am pretty good about rolling with whatever Pete's job throws at me...MOST of the time.  Today is not one of those days...I have had a sick household for almost a solid 3 weeks and I have to say I miss the days in NC when my husband was home at a decent hour at night or my Mom could come for a few days if I was at the breaking point...So excuse the rant to follow.

When we put in for this job here in NOLA I was expecting something a lot different than what we got...I thought that with Pete finally going back to a desk job that he would finally be home on a regular basis. That he would be home to have dinner most nights, if the kids had something going on he would be able to attend, boy was I wrong.  It is currently 10:30 at night and he hasn't even left the office...

I knew that this position involved some travel but since the New Year he has already had to travel half way around the world..somewhere that involves him being eligible for hazard duty pay (which I have to tell you, $250 really isn't enough to help me sleep soundly at night). We had about a 10hr time difference so he calls before he heads to bed (dead tired on his feet) and then again very early in the morning (not my best time by a long shot) so we didn't really talk since he left. It is tough to try to keep him up to date with what we are doing in the 5 mins that we talk twice a day.

Needless to say, I am not excited to find out that he will be heading back again for an entire month...at least. 

Come ON already...I would prefer going back to a cutter at this point, at least then when he was gone, we had a heads up and a pretty good idea of when he would be home, and when he was in port he was home by 6pm most nights...Maybe we can put in for an early transfer? Hmmm...

Do you ever...

Do you ever just miss being close to people that love and care for you?

Being a Military wife means that, at times, that is a rare thing...since getting married to Pete 6 &1/2 years ago we have not lived closer than a 7 hr drive from either of our parents. I talk to people who have family close and all I can say is that I am genuinely jealous.

Not always do they know how good they have it, or how hard it would really be if they lived farther away, especially when you add kids to the situation.

My younger brother and his wife are expecting their first child this summer and they live about 15 miles from my parents...sigh.

Go away ugly green monster--you are not helping me make the best of our time in New Orleans...

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Helpless...

Nothing pulls at this Momma's heart more than a sick child...

As I sit here with Nina waiting to see the Doctor again I have to wonder how we ended up sick, AGAIN...

She is in a wonderful preschool here in NOLA that she loves...

However, the only drawback is that the majority of the parents, for whatever reason, feel that it is ok to send their not so well child to school...

So on more than one occasion when helping out in the classroom I have had to wipe a disgusting green snotty nose or remind a little one to please go wash their hands that they just coughed into, GROSS!

I know that I can't imagine sending my child to school when they are feeling under the weather, (Nina missed an entire week last week for this very reason!)

I feel so sorry for the kids, you can tell just by looking at them this is the last place they want to be...

So hey, parents, do everyone involved a favor, keep your poor, sick kid home till they are no longer contagious and they feel up to being back in school...ugh.


Ok I feel better now, off to go whip up a pot of chicken soup...

When Push comes to Shove...

It is no secret that I am not a home body...I get stir crazy after a few days being stuck at home, and it doesn't matter the reason.

This has not been the nicest weekend weather wise. it has been pretty cool and damp--YUCK!

Today it was raining ALL DAY LONG and since it is Sunday most kid play places are closed.

So, let's just say, I ran out of ways to entertain the kids before nap time...


Check out what I came up with...

They loved it! :)

Never grow up...

With Nina turning 4 and Benton starting to walk and talk I am finding that I am super emotional about them growing up. I try hard not to wish away each stage that they are in because they grow and change so fast it is heart stopping.

I was given a CD this Christmas from Pete that has a song titled Never Grow Up...the first time I heard it searing hot tears sprang to my eyes...It is that dead on about how I feel about my babies growing up...

Benton is starting to sleep more regularly through the night, nurse with less frequency and started walking on Christmas night--really walking--he almost never crawls anymore and the days of him belly crawling are a distant memory. He comes up with a new word at least weekly...Over the weekend I gave him a big boy haircut. It took all the curl and almost all the blond out of his hair--he looks so much older now!

Nina is getting more independent all the time, she is starting to really want to help me around the house. She loves to help me cook or bake, if I pull out the vacuum she insists on helping, and she has helping fold some of the laundry down pat :) She is turning into such a sweet young lady...

I guess what I am trying to remind myself is, no matter how long the day is, the years are short...try to take it all in.

2010 was a year of change here in the Morisseau house...
we had just recently added a new member to our family, making us a gang of 4
in January we celebrated Nina's 3rd birthday

February brought a wonderful snow day

March was full of dancing and dress up fun

April took a lot of weight off my shoulders

May brought us tutus and flowers and our 6th Anniversary

June was full of grass stains
July
August we found fishes and boxes galore


September was spent exploring a new city, starting new "projects" and watching Pete get pinned Lt. Commander



October brought us goodbyes, pumpkins and 1st Birthdays
November was full of ballet princesses, family and thanksgiving
December was a quiet family Christmas...just the 4 of us and it was good :)