What are kids REALLY learning in school?!

Leena is 7, going on 15.

I'm still deciding if this is good or bad.

I spent about 3 days at my parents house last week when she was out of scool for inservice and veternas day.

Anyway, she was in entertaining her little brother on the lovesac, while I stood face next to the mirror, putting on my make-up for the day. I hear my dad start to play with her because her brother had fallen asleep.

I'd just finished up my facial artwork, and walked into where my dad was playing with my daughter. Then I hear this "YOU CREEPY OLD MAN! NO PAPA! NOOOOO!" I was so shocked!! She just called her own grandfather a creepy old man!! That was not about to fly if I have it my way. I called her in to where I was and said "what did you just call your papa?!?" she kinda giggled and replied with "I called him a creepy old man". Somehow, my dad didn't seem too horribly offended by her 7 year old statement. My dad is far from a creepy old man! So, I nicely told her, not to call papa things like that. (Papa is the alternative for grandpa with the kids in my fam. None of them could say grandpa as toddlers, so Papa stuck instead) Then I explained to her that a creepy old man is anything but her grandfather. A creepy old man is someone who looks scary, and does bad things to people, like touch little kids where they're not supposed to be touched, or kills people. She got a serious look on her face. I think she realized, what I had just described, was anything but her beloved Papa. She knows he's not only far from that, but would'nt do anything to ever hurt anyone, or her.

My dad piped in somewhat quietly, "She's picked up alot of things from school this year". I couldn't help but think, do first graders go around calling each other creepy old men?! Then I realized, she does share the playground with all the big kids now, I bet that's where she got it from. Or a child in her class that has an older sibling. Something she doesn't have.

She's said a couple other things that I've wanted to cover my mouth with shock and dismay, but for some reason, I'm totally drawing a blank on what they were.

I guess it goes to show that there is more of a stronger influence at such an early age than we realize. Granted what she said wasn't as bad as some of the things I heard from Anita Brown in my 2nd grade class. (She'd going around calling every a Mother F'ing B****. At 8 years old!)

It could be worse, but it just goes to show, we have to somehwat worry early on. One thing as parents, we shouldn't have to do. But not all parents are like me, and have a strict policy of things Leena is allowed to say, and not to say.

I just hope she doesn't get worse!

To Jeff, Love, Me

This is Jeff little bit over a year ago, he was on deployment, before I'd met him ;)"Pre-Heidi".

Anyway, I get alot of thinking time when he's gone. Probably too much. And, with that, comes grattitude and feeling appreciative of a person. I guess you can attribute it to the absence makes the heart grow fonder scenario. It seems like I'm more grateful now, alot of it due to Landon.

So, Jeffy.. Thank you for..

-Being such a wonderful father to both my kids. I know you miss them, but soon you'll be home!
-Being a beyond amazing husband.
-Putting up with all of my whining the 8 months I was pregnant with Landon.
-Making sure that I am taken care of, as well as the kids.
-Having faith.
-Treating me very well, and with respect.
-Loving my family.
-Having a good relationshp with Leena.
-All those late nights with Landon. There are more to come, his life has just started!
-All those many drives out to Issaquah.
-The many bear hugs and "real" kisses.
-For always telling me you love me.
-Taking care of the things, that I don't want to deal with.
-For watching Ghost Hunters with me.
-For doing the lawn, I couldn't do it!
-Singing along to Jack's Mannequin with me in the car.
-All my peppermint hot chocolate drinks :)
-All our dinner dates.
-The phone calls home.
-Finding random DFS with me
-Being a good father figure to Leena.
-Being pushy, sometimes I need it.
-Being a friend, and human tissue if needs be.
-The many shows we have been to.
-My life partner.
-For putting up with me and my snappyness, when it does occur.

This list could go on forever, and take hours. I've always thought we've made a hell of team, and with time, I'm learning I was right when I thought that. Some may say we went too fast, but I think it was all perfect. You're my partner in crime. The one person who has a big enough heart, for me, my kids and everything important to me, and us. The one person who'd get teary with me as I cried because you were leaving me for a long period of time. Which, as sad as that moment is, it's also somehow sweet.

If I look back to not meeting you, how I'd be so different, and possibly unhappy. You're a wonderful person, inside and out. I'll always still be madly in love with you, because you are who you are. You always greet me with a smile, a hug and a kiss. Which is the best thing for me. I'll always love you, and only want wha'ts best for you. I love you Jeff!

Oh, the joys!

I can't believe Landon is 3 weeks, holy cow! It's so funny because I can't lift anything over his weight. So I have to carry him everywhere. Which, is sort of annoying because EVERYONE stops me asking me how old he is etc.

I think it's funny, some women really don't care about boundaries with strangers! I usully get asked "how long was your labor". And I have to smile and say "I had a C-section with him.." and their mouths drop and they reply with "WHAT!? You're walking already?!" Why yes. As far as recovery goes, it still sucks trying to get up off the couch etc. But I remember when I was in the hospital, I was so much worse. So, that's a big step forward.

Overall, Leena is crazy about Landon. (YAY!)

I spent the past couple of days at my parents, because Jeff is gone for about another week and a half. But, this is Jeff's last underway, yay!! Anyway, it was nice to spend a couple of days with my family and kids.

Leena had a playdate with her friend Emma today. She's a really sweet girl and she an Leena have alot of fun together. I'm grateful Emma has an older sister because Leena definately has oldest childsyndrome, very bossy. We will be working on that.

Overall, Sun-Tuesday was good! Here are some pictures. I think I actually got almost all of my family members (which is pretty much my parents and Hillary now) pictures.

So, here they are!


Hillary is moving to China again! She's going to Shanghai for 8 months in February.



Emma was my little helper!



My babies =)



Just missing Jeff!



My new favorite picture.

We've been stationed....

Jeff FINALLY got his orders! He got thm the day after Landon was born. So, needless to say, that was most definately an eventful week!

With that said, we know where we will be stationed. We've been anxious to know for MONTHS. I can't emphasize it enough! We requested to stay in the Seattle area, that way it wouldn't turn ino a custody thing with Leena Rae's dad. Who lives outside of Seattle.

Then, we found out that the "Seattle area" covers, Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Alaska. After Jeff turned in his paperwork, I couldn't help but think "What have we done?! I'm going to be ticked if we get stationed in Alaska!" No seriously, that's one state I REFUSE to live in. More power to Palin for living there, but I couldn't do it. At that point, months went by, and they originally told us first part of September we'd know. Not true. The recruiter kept giving Jeff certain days to call back. Jeff would call back, be either put on hold, or told to call later. Well, due to Jeffs persistance, the recruiter guy FINALLY said, ok. Call on October 23rd, we've been re-arranging people, so we'll know then.

So, now we're moving to...




Tacoma!!!

It's about 40-50 minutes North of where we live now. We're just happy we're a little closer to my family now! It'll be a 45 minute drive or so, and no ferry rides! That's alot better than the 2 hours it is now. We feel blessed because we had started to get worried, because the guy never told us where we were going to be headed. And when they do that, it doesn't sound good. So, we're looking into the Tacoma housing market, and some cities further out. We'll be out of Bremerton come January. The moving process isn't ever fun, but it'll be nice to get out of boring Brownsville and off with our little family in a new area, that neither of us have lived in! Yay for clean slates!