Working again

When I found out we were moving to Japan I decided to close my home based child care to work on getting the house and ourselves ready to go. I am glad I did because just getting all the paperwork done took almost all my time and I barely touched the house.
So fast forward to now we know we are not going and won't be going anywhere for a bit. So I decided to reopen. It has been somewhat of a struggle this time around to find families looking for the particular care that I give. I have had to revamp a few things and lower my prices a little (which kills me a little) and take more of the younger age than I am used to. We are doing less preschool type activities and more playing with toys and naps now. I forgot how much work it is to have smaller guys. I am glad I doing it though and did miss it a bit. As with everything that I do, I am learing all I can and trying to do the best I can for these kids. The ones I have now, honestly, are a little rough. Not used to sharing an adult with others and somewhat emotionally needy. There is a lot of crying, which is stressful, but we have moments of a lot of fun too. Yesterday we fingerpainted. Because I have littles now, I didn't want them to eat the paint so we painted with plain yogurt and kool aid instead. It lasted all of about 6 minutes and clean up was over double that time. It was fun though and I don't think that the kids have ever done anyting like that. I know my kiddos enjoyed it. So for now Ms. Leah's family child care is open again and accepting new families.

Also because now I am not leaving the house again, I am starting to sell Pampered chef. I am so excited about it.My launch party is in 2 weeks and I am so excited to get to out of the house and cook, which I love to do, with other people and talk to them about products that I have loved for years and years.

So I am going to be super busy but I do well that way! Here's to new/old adventures this spring!

Just Kidding

So turns out we are not going to Japan. We are here in NJ for a bit longer. Not sure how long. Obviously we have more to learn and do here. When I first found out I got a text from Ed. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. This has been a long emotional journey but it will all be ok and I know that. I am disappointed but at the same time I am glad. We have great friends, church, and schools here so it is not sad just disappointing.
 Editing here to add more:
As I told Anya when I picked her up from Girl Scouts today she burst into tears and told me how sad and upset she was that we aren't going. My heart broke for her. My little gypsy soul girl who wants to see the world and experience all it has to offer her. How do you explain that it all works out in the end? That she gets to keep her friends and her teachers, when her response was," I was going to keep my friends Mom I just wanted to add more." Kevin on the other hand is freaking thrilled. And Daphne has no idea what is going on!

Patience

Sometime the Lord wants you to learn something.
I think the lesson I need to learn right now is that I have no control.

I am a self titled control freak. I hate spontaneity. I hate chaos. I hate not having a plan. Seriously ask my BFF about the Christmas meltdown of 2010!

Right now my  life is all of that.

We are supposed to be moving to Japan in 2 weeks. We don't even have "real" orders yet. So far it looks like we aren't going. Ed is having some medical complications (nothing serious, or unfixable) So it looks like we may be staying here in NJ for longer than we had planned.

I thought we had it all under control, we got all the paperwork in, got the dog all her shots and a new microchip, a flight kennel, got the kids records all set. Started asking around for people who wanted to buy our cars and rent our house. We had it all lined up and now it looks like it is all falling apart. I am a huge believer is everything happens for a reason. I have to admit. I am a little upset. It would be really exciting to live in a part of the world that I probably wouldn't go to if I wan't moving there. But at the same time. We have been here 8 years. We have friends, we have "family". Our kids have amazing schools. So I am ok staying for now. I just wish I knew for sure what was happening so I could plan.

For now I am living in limbo. I feel a constant sense of anxiety yet at the same time I know that it will all be ok. And if it's not ok, it will work out anyway. The Lord has a plan for me and my family and I'll go with it. I just hope I know that plan sooner than later so I can be calm again!

Gifts from my book club going away party

Frame of date and names of my kiddos. I mean really so cute.

And this is also one of my favorites. A Christmas ornament and on the back is the info on when we lived here with a personal message that we would be missed.


I have amazingly talented and thoughtful friends!

Last fall on the east coast

This could have possibly been our last fall on the east coast. When I realized that I completely stopped bringing our leaves to the street for pickup and grabbed my camera. We have all oak trees so the leaves aren't gorgeous but I think these came out pretty good. And I will be so sad, and miss the falls in the north east. There is nothing else like it. 

P.S  The fact that they are not in birth order in driving my slight OCD insane but I will leave it to prove that OCD doesn't run my life. I will probably have to edit it at 2 am!

My brush with famedom

I know I said I wouldn't catch up but I have been looking through photos on my computer lately and there are so many things I don't want to forget.  Frankly, I lied.

The first being my awesome trip to NYC with my friend Jen. It went completely wrong the entire time but we had a blast and it was totally worth it. We headed up and first of all it rained, we went to lunch and decided to try french food. We sat outside because the temperature was nice, it was covered, we stayed dry. Until Jen spilled her drink all over, but that is besides the point. When I sat down I glanced behind me and noticed the woman sitting behind me looked a lot like Melanie Griffith, well I'm in NYC it could be anyone. So we ordered lunch, I tried pate, which tastes like cat food. (not that I have ever tried cat food!) And the longer Jen and I sat and enjoyed our lunch the more we realized the table behind us was Melanie Griffith and her friend Goldie Hawn. We tried to play it cool and I didn't go up to them and say how awesome they are. But I did take some ridiculous stalker photos.

Pardon my wet, frizzy hair. And my trying to look natural face. Great day with a great friend and I am glad that we were able to get away. I hate that all my best friends live in different states scattered throughout the USA.

Bittersweet

The best thing about being in NJ for so long has been the fact that I have made some really amazing friends. Some have moved away and we are just as close as we always were. When I lived in FL I belonged to the MOMS club of Gulf Breeze. It was a great way for Anya and I to get out of the house and meet some people in the community. When I moved to NJ after I had Kevin I looked to see if there was one here, and right in my town was one, and a really strong and flourishing club. I was so excited. I threw myself in, play group, Mom's night out, crafts for the kids, field trips, speaker meetings, and my favorite thing of all..... Book club.
I have been going to MOMS club book club for the last 8 years. Even when I was working 60 hrs a week and taking 2 online classes I would make sure I made it to book club. I rarely missed it. Good food, good books(sometimes), good discussion, and wonderful people. It hasn't been the same people over the past 8 years they have changed out somewhat. Just Cheryl and I have been the only completely constant. But nonetheless it is my most favorite night of the month and I try to never miss it.
Tonight I went to book club all ready to discuss a pretty crappy book called Sh*tty Mom. Funny, but really I wouldn't recommend it. And I show up and there is a full Asian fusion spread on the table and everyone is there with gifts for me and everything. They threw me a going away party. I tried really hard not to cry. We talked and laughed and ate food, and of course talked about things that we ONLY talk about at book club. They gave me really thoughtful and amazing gifts and it hit me that we are leaving in just a few short weeks. When I got home I showed all the gifts to Ed and I totally teared up. I am ready to leave NJ but not ready to leave the friends and family that I have made here. I will miss it all so very, very much. This place has become another home to me.
I think that the good part about the military life is that I make homes everywhere I go. I meet amazing people who influence me and teach me and love me. I in turn learn to love them and help them and call them true friends. I have learned so much from the people who have come into my life here in Jersey and I will be sad to leave. I cried when I found out we were moving here and I will definitely cry when we leave. Until then though we don't talk about it. I 've reached the denial stage of grief.