It has been an interesting day!
Tiberias was awake crying for most of the 3:00a hour. I refused to get up and feed him. He has been sleeping all the way through the night lately and I need that. Plus, I am only breast feeding him once a day now...as of a few days ago.
I could not sleep much while Ty was crying that hour. Then I had to get up at 5:30a with Sterling. I had to get the boys out of bed so we could drop Sterling off at work.
I came home and put the boys back to the bed. They protested but then Ty fell asleep fast. Luke was quiet a while but then got up and came downstairs.
At 8:40a we left for the base. I needed the car today to go get Tiberias added to my Soggiornos. The building is right next to Sterling's work. He said he was going to try and meet us there. My appointment was at 9am. At 9:20a I was done. It was quick. But now I have to wait two months before I actually get it. They told me the pick up date is September 15. That ruined my plan to take Tiberias to the states with me on August 25th! I want to go home to attend Eliza's wedding reception and ring ceremony. Tiberias cannot leave Italy and return again until he has a soggiorno (temporary permission to stay in Italy).
I was crushed. I was determined to go home and see my family. I miss them so much now!
I decided if I had to leave Tiberias here for a week, take Luke to the states with me, I would. But then Sterling told me that I'd have to be in the states two weeks because there would be no military SpaceA flight the week I wanted to return.
I can't leave Ty for two whole weeks. I was crushed again.
Sterling drove the boys and I home so he could have the car for the rest of the day.
When we got to the house he noticed another paper the Soggiorno office gave us. I had not even read it because I was so distraught over the news of Ty not being able to go to the states. The paper was permission for Tiberias, Luke and I to go on the rotator even though his soggiorno won't be here yet.
Hallelujah! Now the only obstacle left is to get seats of the rotator plane the week we want to fly to the states.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wedding Bells R Ringing
I have been babysitting full time. My friend Carla is working and I watch her daughter Amber. I get less time with just my boys...a lot less time. But I love getting paid. I spent $200 to get a robot vacuum which is an amazing help to me! And I am saving my money because I want so much to go home and see my family.
I thought that I could make it four years without going to the states to see my family. When we moved to Italy I did not plan to fly back to the states because of the money. But it is affordable when you fly Space A (military flight from Europe to America).
Sterling went to the states for TDY a few months ago and was able to spend a week with his family. So with my little sister getting married I really wanted to go to the states. They ended up moving the actually wedding up to this month and I was not able to go. They were married and sealed in the Salt Lake temple yesterday! But they are having a ring ceremony and reception in the beginning of September...when they are out of school.
I have been doing everything I can to make it possible for me to go see my family and celebrate Eliza's wedding. But I keep getting hit with obstacles and I keep being crushed.
Sterling did not want me to go I think because he will miss me and he may not have gotten over being away from me so long from his last TDY he returned from just a few weeks ago.
It would not be such a big deal if I did not feel so disconnected from my family. And if my family were not having so many problems right now.
Financially, physically, and some even spiritually. Tereasa is in a wheel chair!!
And my niece and nephews are growing up!
Once I told Sterling how important it is for me to go to the states he started looking into making it happen instead of trying to convince me not to go.
In the wedding card I am sending Eliza I wrote some advice for their marriage. I told her that she and Florencio should always be considerate of each other's feelings. Sterling taught me that by example. He thinks before he talks so that if he needs to tell me something that might hurt my feelings he does it the nicest way possible. He is amazing.
My second bit of advice for their marriage is to each be selfless. I honestly believe that is the cause of most failed marriages today. Thinking of themselves instead of putting their spouse above themselves. Two selfless people in a marriage will love each other and be happy forever.
Sterling and I have learned this together. We are truly happy and in love. More in love than ever before! As we grow and change together our bond becomes stronger and we don't know how we can be any happier in our marriage.
I thought that I could make it four years without going to the states to see my family. When we moved to Italy I did not plan to fly back to the states because of the money. But it is affordable when you fly Space A (military flight from Europe to America).
Sterling went to the states for TDY a few months ago and was able to spend a week with his family. So with my little sister getting married I really wanted to go to the states. They ended up moving the actually wedding up to this month and I was not able to go. They were married and sealed in the Salt Lake temple yesterday! But they are having a ring ceremony and reception in the beginning of September...when they are out of school.
I have been doing everything I can to make it possible for me to go see my family and celebrate Eliza's wedding. But I keep getting hit with obstacles and I keep being crushed.
Sterling did not want me to go I think because he will miss me and he may not have gotten over being away from me so long from his last TDY he returned from just a few weeks ago.
It would not be such a big deal if I did not feel so disconnected from my family. And if my family were not having so many problems right now.
Financially, physically, and some even spiritually. Tereasa is in a wheel chair!!
And my niece and nephews are growing up!
Once I told Sterling how important it is for me to go to the states he started looking into making it happen instead of trying to convince me not to go.
In the wedding card I am sending Eliza I wrote some advice for their marriage. I told her that she and Florencio should always be considerate of each other's feelings. Sterling taught me that by example. He thinks before he talks so that if he needs to tell me something that might hurt my feelings he does it the nicest way possible. He is amazing.
My second bit of advice for their marriage is to each be selfless. I honestly believe that is the cause of most failed marriages today. Thinking of themselves instead of putting their spouse above themselves. Two selfless people in a marriage will love each other and be happy forever.
Sterling and I have learned this together. We are truly happy and in love. More in love than ever before! As we grow and change together our bond becomes stronger and we don't know how we can be any happier in our marriage.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Busy, Busy
Sterling was called to be the Ward Clerk right before he went TDY. I was called as Primary 2nd counselor. Then the 1st counselor was released. After a while a second counselor was called. Mind you, we dont' have a secretary due to the ward being so small. So for a while it was Amy Niebuhr (Primary President) and myself running Primary. Of course we have a teacher over each class then a pianist (Rebecca Seamon...whom Ster and I went to Salzburg for the first time ever with)and a Music Time teacher (Mari Lazenby...the bishop's wife).
Before the new 2nd counselor (Vanessah Braithewait...recently moved here)was called the president went back to the states to visit family. So for a week or two I was the only Primary presidency member here.
Amy has been in the states for about a month and will return in a few weeks. In the meantime Vanessah and I have been switching off, weekly, who give the Sharing Time lesson. The one not doing Sharing Time does the conducting.
Vanessah has a four month old son. Mari has a one month old daughter she has to bring because the bishop is busy. Rebecca has as
I have a 10 month old son, whom I have to take with me to Primary most of the time because 1. Ster was gone for a month then 2. came home to have to learn how to do his calling. He's been so busy learning to be Clerk and get things in order because they were chaotic...and busy helping in Nursery. With the lack of ward members and our nursery leader always going on trips due to wanting to see more before she moves back to the states this month. So Sterling would help out in nursery when I could not find someone to help in nursery. And the nursery grew so huge and the young ones crying the entire time that the adults in nursery could not handle it. To fix the problem, I, being in charge of Nursery have decided we have to have three nursery teachers. And that when the nursery is full and difficult the older nursery kids need to be moved to another room. So I divided up the nursery to junior and senior classes. Currently four kids in each class but three kids will be added in just a month.
Then, Sterling is required to attend the bishopric meetings every morning. The bishop usually picks him up around 10:30a. Church starts at 1:00p. So I get the boys ready by myself and get them to church. Since there is not parking at the church I have to park down the street. If I am lucky there will be a spot available close otherwise I have to park way down the street. If I am really lucky Sterling meets me in front of the church and I drop the kids off to him.
I need that because I also carry a big, somewhat heavy, diaper bag with me. It carries all the boys' needed things for church and also my Primary binder. I need my binder at home during the week to keep track of primary information for when I email stuff out to parents or teachers. Then I need it at church each Sunday to know all the info still.
I am in charge of doing the monthly primary newsletter and email it out. Also, making the assignments chart...which children is in charge of prayer, scripture and talk each week....and emailing reminders to parents.
Sister Braithewait goes to the ward council meetings so I don't have to. But when Amy gets back from the states I am hoping to pass on the primary assignment responsibility to Amy or Vanessah. I do too much.
So Sterling and I have a crazy day every Sunday! And when church is over I hang out with Luke and Ty in the primary room waiting for Sterling to finish his duties there...usually 30 minutes after church ends. Then we finally go home, thankful it's all over. And we make dinner...usually something fast and simple. Then Sterling and I eat dinner watching a movie or show while we ignore Luke, if he's not passed out on the couch. And Tiberias falls asleep right after church every time. He is cranky all through the 2 hours of Primary because he's ready for a nap! No fun.
And during the week I have Amber Monday-Friday 7a-5p. She is in between Ty and Luke age-wise. Having three so young that long each week is hard. I can usually get Amber and Ty to nap at the same time. But it's still a rough day. I make sure to atleast take them all out on a walk, if not to play at a park, daily. I have a double stroller that seats 2 kids. And Luke is old enough to walk or ride his tricycle. He usually rides the trike.
Doing school with Luke is hard when I have Amber because she's too young to do any of Luke's school work or games. So if I do school with Luke it has to be done during Amber's nap. And I usually have a list of things I want to get done while Amber is asleep.
When Ster came home from TDY he was on crazy shifts. And it kept being changed, even in the middle of the week. He even had to work a few 12hr days. But last week he was finally put back on days...working 7a-2p. Of course he doesn't get off until 2:30 most of the time.
This week is Independence Day celebration week, pretty much. So Carla has work off for two weeks actually. And I may have to watch Amber one day this week.
Last Saturday Sterling and I took the boys on a 45 minute drive up to Ikea. We bought a table and four chairs for my craft/sewing area for the upstairs spare room. We bought a giant car rug for Luke's birthday. We bought a few other things we felt we needed. Then we decided to drive an extra 40 minutes or something to get to a cool castle in Slovenia. We had fun! It was a beautiful day!!
We went through the castle and even bought a few souveniers. Luke wanted a Slovenia flag and Ster bought it for him. So we also bought a snowglobe that has the castle on the base.
Today is Independence day! This morning we went shopping on base. We bought a comforter set because we needed new bed sheets and the sale going on got us a whole comforter set for half the price of a sheet set. It's beautiful too.
We also shopped for Luke's birthday party. He turns 3 years old this Thursday!
For dinner today we went over to our friends the Mangle's home. They have the Braithewaits, Lazenbys and Carla&Amber Wright over. They barbecued a delicious meal. A wonderful Independence day meal of ribs, chicken and beef, corn on the cob, potatoe salad, chips, watermelon. Mmmmm.
The kids played and we all sat and socialized. I, of course, took a few pictures.
Sterling worked in the back yard...moving the chicken's fence back so it only takes up half the yard instead the whole yard. He also moved the tv ONTO the wall and built a shelf. He put the shelf up and put the dvd player and other things up there. Now there is more floor space in the living room. But now we have some rearranging of furniture to do.
I worked on getting my craft station together upstairs. It's coming along nicely...yay!
Tiberias is taking a nap and it's almost 8pm. We plan to take the boys out for fireworks tonight. They start at 10:10p. Hopefully Luke will wake up enough to enjoy the fireworks. We've never had a good celebration for the 4th since we got married. We've never had a good view of fireworks for the 4th of July since we wedd either! So I'm excited to be doing stuff this year.
We wanted (I really wanted) to hike up to the old church on the mountain (a small hike) to view the fireworks. But it is turning out to be rainy and cloudy on the mountainside. So we are just going to drive over by the base and get out of the car to see the fireworks. Hopefully Luke will enjoy them.
Tomorrow I start making Luke's birthday cake. I'll make the cake tomorrow then have two days to decorate it. It's going to be a cute train cake...hopefully even cuter than the awesome cake I did for his 2nd birthday (fishing).
Thursday night at 7pm we are having a birthday party at a park. We will have cake, Klondike ice cream bars and cold water. I handed out adorable hand made train invitations to 7 kids. With sibblings and extra kids we could have up to 14 kids at the party. We bought Matchbox cars to hand out as party favors at the children leave. It is a late party so we don't expect all the invited friends to come. But we hope we have a good turn out.
Luke will get his big gifts from Mom and Dad at home...a bicycle! And the car floor rug. We'll probably wrap up the Cars beach towel and give that to him at the park.
It will be a quick party. We'll start the party with the cake and ice cream then let the kids eat and run around playing for about half an hour. Then open gifts. It has to be late because it's hot outside and it has to be a short party because kids will be heading home to go to bed.
I will be video taping Luke open his gifts this year. I am excited.
Then on Saturday we get on the ship for our cruise! We'll need a day or two to pack and get ready for that.It will be amazing!!!
Before the new 2nd counselor (Vanessah Braithewait...recently moved here)was called the president went back to the states to visit family. So for a week or two I was the only Primary presidency member here.
Amy has been in the states for about a month and will return in a few weeks. In the meantime Vanessah and I have been switching off, weekly, who give the Sharing Time lesson. The one not doing Sharing Time does the conducting.
Vanessah has a four month old son. Mari has a one month old daughter she has to bring because the bishop is busy. Rebecca has as
I have a 10 month old son, whom I have to take with me to Primary most of the time because 1. Ster was gone for a month then 2. came home to have to learn how to do his calling. He's been so busy learning to be Clerk and get things in order because they were chaotic...and busy helping in Nursery. With the lack of ward members and our nursery leader always going on trips due to wanting to see more before she moves back to the states this month. So Sterling would help out in nursery when I could not find someone to help in nursery. And the nursery grew so huge and the young ones crying the entire time that the adults in nursery could not handle it. To fix the problem, I, being in charge of Nursery have decided we have to have three nursery teachers. And that when the nursery is full and difficult the older nursery kids need to be moved to another room. So I divided up the nursery to junior and senior classes. Currently four kids in each class but three kids will be added in just a month.
Then, Sterling is required to attend the bishopric meetings every morning. The bishop usually picks him up around 10:30a. Church starts at 1:00p. So I get the boys ready by myself and get them to church. Since there is not parking at the church I have to park down the street. If I am lucky there will be a spot available close otherwise I have to park way down the street. If I am really lucky Sterling meets me in front of the church and I drop the kids off to him.
I need that because I also carry a big, somewhat heavy, diaper bag with me. It carries all the boys' needed things for church and also my Primary binder. I need my binder at home during the week to keep track of primary information for when I email stuff out to parents or teachers. Then I need it at church each Sunday to know all the info still.
I am in charge of doing the monthly primary newsletter and email it out. Also, making the assignments chart...which children is in charge of prayer, scripture and talk each week....and emailing reminders to parents.
Sister Braithewait goes to the ward council meetings so I don't have to. But when Amy gets back from the states I am hoping to pass on the primary assignment responsibility to Amy or Vanessah. I do too much.
So Sterling and I have a crazy day every Sunday! And when church is over I hang out with Luke and Ty in the primary room waiting for Sterling to finish his duties there...usually 30 minutes after church ends. Then we finally go home, thankful it's all over. And we make dinner...usually something fast and simple. Then Sterling and I eat dinner watching a movie or show while we ignore Luke, if he's not passed out on the couch. And Tiberias falls asleep right after church every time. He is cranky all through the 2 hours of Primary because he's ready for a nap! No fun.
And during the week I have Amber Monday-Friday 7a-5p. She is in between Ty and Luke age-wise. Having three so young that long each week is hard. I can usually get Amber and Ty to nap at the same time. But it's still a rough day. I make sure to atleast take them all out on a walk, if not to play at a park, daily. I have a double stroller that seats 2 kids. And Luke is old enough to walk or ride his tricycle. He usually rides the trike.
Doing school with Luke is hard when I have Amber because she's too young to do any of Luke's school work or games. So if I do school with Luke it has to be done during Amber's nap. And I usually have a list of things I want to get done while Amber is asleep.
When Ster came home from TDY he was on crazy shifts. And it kept being changed, even in the middle of the week. He even had to work a few 12hr days. But last week he was finally put back on days...working 7a-2p. Of course he doesn't get off until 2:30 most of the time.
This week is Independence Day celebration week, pretty much. So Carla has work off for two weeks actually. And I may have to watch Amber one day this week.
Last Saturday Sterling and I took the boys on a 45 minute drive up to Ikea. We bought a table and four chairs for my craft/sewing area for the upstairs spare room. We bought a giant car rug for Luke's birthday. We bought a few other things we felt we needed. Then we decided to drive an extra 40 minutes or something to get to a cool castle in Slovenia. We had fun! It was a beautiful day!!
We went through the castle and even bought a few souveniers. Luke wanted a Slovenia flag and Ster bought it for him. So we also bought a snowglobe that has the castle on the base.
Today is Independence day! This morning we went shopping on base. We bought a comforter set because we needed new bed sheets and the sale going on got us a whole comforter set for half the price of a sheet set. It's beautiful too.
We also shopped for Luke's birthday party. He turns 3 years old this Thursday!
For dinner today we went over to our friends the Mangle's home. They have the Braithewaits, Lazenbys and Carla&Amber Wright over. They barbecued a delicious meal. A wonderful Independence day meal of ribs, chicken and beef, corn on the cob, potatoe salad, chips, watermelon. Mmmmm.
The kids played and we all sat and socialized. I, of course, took a few pictures.
Sterling worked in the back yard...moving the chicken's fence back so it only takes up half the yard instead the whole yard. He also moved the tv ONTO the wall and built a shelf. He put the shelf up and put the dvd player and other things up there. Now there is more floor space in the living room. But now we have some rearranging of furniture to do.
I worked on getting my craft station together upstairs. It's coming along nicely...yay!
Tiberias is taking a nap and it's almost 8pm. We plan to take the boys out for fireworks tonight. They start at 10:10p. Hopefully Luke will wake up enough to enjoy the fireworks. We've never had a good celebration for the 4th since we got married. We've never had a good view of fireworks for the 4th of July since we wedd either! So I'm excited to be doing stuff this year.
We wanted (I really wanted) to hike up to the old church on the mountain (a small hike) to view the fireworks. But it is turning out to be rainy and cloudy on the mountainside. So we are just going to drive over by the base and get out of the car to see the fireworks. Hopefully Luke will enjoy them.
Tomorrow I start making Luke's birthday cake. I'll make the cake tomorrow then have two days to decorate it. It's going to be a cute train cake...hopefully even cuter than the awesome cake I did for his 2nd birthday (fishing).
Thursday night at 7pm we are having a birthday party at a park. We will have cake, Klondike ice cream bars and cold water. I handed out adorable hand made train invitations to 7 kids. With sibblings and extra kids we could have up to 14 kids at the party. We bought Matchbox cars to hand out as party favors at the children leave. It is a late party so we don't expect all the invited friends to come. But we hope we have a good turn out.
Luke will get his big gifts from Mom and Dad at home...a bicycle! And the car floor rug. We'll probably wrap up the Cars beach towel and give that to him at the park.
It will be a quick party. We'll start the party with the cake and ice cream then let the kids eat and run around playing for about half an hour. Then open gifts. It has to be late because it's hot outside and it has to be a short party because kids will be heading home to go to bed.
I will be video taping Luke open his gifts this year. I am excited.
Then on Saturday we get on the ship for our cruise! We'll need a day or two to pack and get ready for that.It will be amazing!!!
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