Reflections for 2009

I took this post from my friend's blog. Thanks Mandy. I read her's and thought it was too great to pass up....so here is mine for 2009.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
I oversaw the building of our new home while Kevin was deployed. I also moved us, but I did this back in 2005 too. I ran a 5K.


2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


I honestly can't remember if I made any New Year's resolutions.....so I guess that is good because then I won't be able to say I was not able to keep them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


Yes, both my brothers had babies. Tye and Kelly had a boy, Dean Lucas, and Trent and Heather had a girl, Hannah Kay.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Thankfully, no.

5. What countries did you visit?

We didn't leave the country, but we did travel around the US. We visited my parents in Delray Beach, Florida. The boys and I went to many beaches in the North Carolina and South Carolina. We visited Aunt Sara in Atlanta for her 30th birthday. We spent a great weekend with friends in Charlotte and Asheville, North Carolina.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
More patience with both my boys. Working on trying on to yell and scream so much at the kids, but rather try to have a more calming voice. It is a work in progress.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Aunt Sara's 30th birthday party....it was a surprise and her reaction was priceless. The day we moved into our house....it was also the day Kevin returned home from deployment. The day I found out I was pregnant with our third child.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Building our home, overseeing all of the financial decisions by myself and seeing Kevin's pride in our home and in me when we walked into the house.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being quick to anger at my kids.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, thank goodness.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our house....and deciding to have the basement completely finished. Best decision yet!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband....for his dedication and drive to complete goals...no matter how hard they are to achieve. And not until I started running did I get just how difficult they were to achieve.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Totally agree with what Mandy wrote.....No one that I know personally, but I could make a list of the ridiculous people that have made headlines this year...Tiger Woods, The Balloon-Boy family, Chris Brown, John and Kate Gosselin.

14. Where did most of your money go?
To the building of our home, rent for our rental home, Harris Teeter and Costco. 


15. What did you get really excited about?
When Aunt Sara and my parents arrived to help me move, the day we moved in, the moment I picked up Kevin from deployment and the moment I realized my pregnancy test was positive.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I have not listened much to the radio lately, so I don't really have a song that defines this year....but in terms of reading books it would be the Twilight Saga.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? thinner or fatter? richer or poorer?
Happier with less worries.
Fatter, but then I am pregnant...so it is good fat.
About the same....first we were poorer due to the economy and loosing money and now we getting stable....not back to where we were....but I don't think anyone is.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Having couple time with my husband and having more family time with my kids and husband.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worry about hurting other people's feelings. Trying to make everyone happy.

20. How did you spend Christmas?


With my boys, my parents, my brother, his wife and their kids. Thought about Daddy, who was deployed.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I'm already in love.

22. What was your favorite TV program?


There are several: Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, The Good Wife, Dancing With The Stars, Brothers and Sisters, Mad Men.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No.

24. What was the best book you read?
The year of the Twilight Saga.....it is amazing.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Again, I did not spend alot of time listening to music this year.

26. What did you want and get?
Great friends. It is hard making friends when you move somewhere new. I have made some very important ones in the past year....not just for my, but also for my kids.

27. What did you want and not get?
Again, totally agree with Mandy's comment.....the winning lottery ticket.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
New Moon.....I will be buying the DVD when it comes out.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 36. Kevin was home from deployment so just being with my family was all I wanted.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having Kevin around more often.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Mostly workout clothes. Typical mom uniform.

32. What kept you sane?

Again, I have to ditto Mandy's comments......That 1 to 2 hours at the gym...great for both the boys and I to have a little time apart.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Sad, but true, Robert Pattinson.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many to mention.

35. Who did you miss?

Kevin, when he is away. My best friends, Sara and Adrienne. My parents. Lisa.

36. Who was the best new person you met?


There are three of them....Mandy, Erin and Heather. Thanks ladies for being great friends.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That if you wait long enough, have enough faith, things will work out. You will get what you want and NEED. God is really good.

38. What are you most looking forward to in 2010?
Our newest little Capozzoli. Kevin returning from deployment.

Post 2...playing around and that hair!!!!

We have been having so much fun being able to run in the sun and just relax. Mommy is enjoying the break too.....having help with the boys has recharged my batteries. I don't think we will want to head back to reality anytime soon.

Paulie's hair is curlier than ever because of the Florida humidity. It is so beautiful that we had to capture it in photos...enjoy the curls and smiles.

My parents bought William a bike and he can't get enough of it. I think he really misses his bikin'. It is hard trying to ride your bike on a gravel driveway. We are looking forward to moving into our new neighborhood that is family friendly with lots of hills and paved driveways....many sunny summer days of bike riding is ahead for us. Until then enjoy the photos of William riding his new one!

We have spent alot of time outside enjoying the spring. Here are some great photos of the boys playing with balls and at the park.

I love this picture.....my mom really captured the moment!

Update on the minivan repair saga

After 52 hours, my minivan is finally fixed and home now. The best part is I was able to get the FULL $200 off of my bill due to the inconvenience caused by having to leave the van there for so long. The shift manager had no problems giving the full compensation once he saw my rental car quotes. Good to come prepared! I am thrilled to have the van back....just in time for a snow storm. What fun for the boys.

It all started....

On Thursday when I took my van into to have the ABS light checked on. The ABS light had been on for about a month and I KNEW it was a bad sensor. We experienced this before....about 8 months ago....so I KNEW that a sensor had gone out again. And as it is expected, because it is never going to be just one thing when you take your vehicle in to get inspected, the mechanics found something wrong with the vehicle. AAAAAANNNNDDDDD, as expected again, whatever is wrong is so bad and dangerous that it needs to be fixed immediately AND it costs around $800.00. This is always the case with mechanics. It makes me wonder about their creditability. So I called around to get price estimates because everyone knows the dealer is always the most expensive. The Firestone Care Shop on base had a good price, said they could get the vehicle fixed on Saturday, and seemed to be competent. We took Kevin's there about 2 weeks ago to have the tires changed out and had a good experience.

So Saturday morning we piled the kids into the two vehicles drive the 40 minutes to the place, drop the car off and waste time waiting for them to fix the vehicle. We check in around 2:30PM and learn the car will not be finished till 5:30PM. So we drive home and wait. I call to check on the vehicle at 5:00 and learn the car needs to stay overnight. They tell me the vehicle will be ready at 12:ooPM. This is a problem! Kevin left yesterday for some training so getting my vehicle is going to be abit more frustrating because I need to find a driver that can take me and the kids. Also, to add frustration to this, I only know two people who can help, oh and their husbands are away, and they also have small children. Fun....fun....fun! I managed to find a friend who can take all of us there to get the vehicle.

So yesterday at noon, I call to check on the vehicle and as it goes THE VEHICLE IS NOT READY! They seem to think it will be completed by 5:00PM. About 30 minutes later they call back and say "we don't have a strong enough crew to get your part in the vehicle. Your car needs to stay overnight." So now I am going on 3 days without the vehicle. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! At this point, I wished I had taken the vehicle to the dealer because they would have fixed it the promised time allotted. I talked to the manager on duty yesterday about compensation because 3 days to fix a vehicle is ridiculous and is inconveniencing me and my friend. They took $70 off the bill. THAT IS IT!!!!!!! So I have gone online and gotten 3 quotes on what it would cost me to have a rental car during this time.....$200. That is what is going to be taken off my bill!

Can you tell I am a bit annoyed?!

You tell me......

Auntie Sara bought William a new toy for the New Year....a Rudolph. William loved it so much that we went back and got a second one....so now we have two. The funny part about this is where we bought them...PetsMart. So do you think that Rudolph is a child's toy or a dog's toy. There is a squeaker in his right hand. Let me know what you think.

Organized drawers equals no debt.....or that is what Suze Orman says

I was watching Oprah's show last week with Suze Orman about the financial situation in America. I, like every other American, worries about my financial standing, the current amount of debt we owe, the dailystanding of our investment portfolio and how all of this will impact our ability to get a mortgage. We are hoping to purchase a home soon....probably in the next 6 months....and this credit crunch/crisis is just not helping at the moment. So I have checked our credit scores.....which were very good to excellent. That made me feel better for, oh, 2.5 seconds when the stock market went down 777 points and I just watched our down payment go with it. And now it is back up....for the moment. I checked to see if all of our accounts are FDIC insured. And, I filed ALL of our paperwork, paid bills, etc that had been piling up in the drawer. As Suze said, an organized drawer will mean no debt. I am guessing that means you are on top of your finances and not stuffing them into a messy draw to deny the truth. I feel pretty secure at the moment....but am wondering when things will improve...hoping they don't get worse before they get better. And am really hoping for one thing - that the housing prices will follow the stock market and fall, fall, fall. That would suck for sellers but would be great for buyers. Time will tell.

Hopefully.....

We will be able to get a family photo this weekend at the beach. I am hopeful that we can use it as our Christmas card family picture. We'll see. I have packed some nice clothes for everyone (first time in 10 years that I will pack for m husband). And of course, I tried on MANY, MANY outfits looking for the causal-yet-beachy-relaxed-vacation look. I am not going to think anything but positive thoughts about photo opportunities.

The sun is starting to come out and I am looking forward to hearing the actual ocean rather than a CD of beach sounds in Paul's bedroom. William, well what can I say, he is beside himself with excitement to go. Should be fun.

The new header

I am copy-catting Melissa's blog with her family collage. I thought it looked really nice and you get to see more of the family with several photos versus just one big one. So, look it over and let me know your thoughts about it. I may, after some time, switch up the pics. First I have to get use to this new look.

Oh, and I am sooooooooooo ready for a weekend at the beach. The kids are so excited. It is well deserved and very needed!

Playlist number 2

I decided to add some songs to our playlist but did not want to delete any old ones. So I just created a second one. This one is a bit more relaxing and low key. Take a look and/or listen and let us know what you think. I will continue to add songs...trying to keep with the general theme....over time. Oh, and don't worry.....my old playlist is still around and may make a comeback.

The Army life....Friends 101, Making new ones

As most military wives, military children and other people that move consistently know, making friends seems to be a life-long skill that one never stops working on. As a kid making friends seemed easier....you became friends with the kids that lived next door or down the way. Or, because your mother signed you up for some dance/swimming/sports/YMCA class and you befriended someone....or they befriended you. Or, like in high school, you joined clubs to meet people or knew people from other grades because you all grew up together and it was just known that you were friends. So why it is that when you get older it seems so much harder to make friends? And I am not talking about when you are in your twenties and partying it up in college or recently graduated and starting your first job with a bunch of others just like you. I'm talking about when you are a more mature and settled person. Maybe your a mother, maybe not. Maybe you are a full-time worker. Whatever the case may be, finding people that you WANT to be friends with is hard. Harder than expected.

The military has a way of making you find out who you are and what you want from of your relationships.....any relationship be it friendship or partnership/marriage. But as you get older and more in-tune with yourself you realize that you don't want to settle....not even when it comes to friends. Most military wives are good at sizing up a situation/person and deciding "Is this worth pursuing as a friendship? Or, should they remain as an acquaintance?" If you asked alot of military wives if they had good friends.....I mean trust with your heart, secrets, pets, children friends (these would really be GREAT friends) at every place they lived or currently live, they would probably say they would be lucky if they made just one of those friends.....the rest seem to be acquaintances. You know, the people they spend time with to 1: get out of the house, 2: get their kids out of the house, 3: put off doing housework and other necessary chores, etc.

One would think that because we move so much that making friends would be just like another item on our unpacking list and oh so easy to do....but it is not. It seems to be a process and the older you get the longer that process takes. After several moves you look back and wonder why did it seem easier when......... you fill in the blank (we were newly married, without children, newly pregnant, the kids were younger, etc). And you begin to have a better appreciation for the friendships you developed that are still with you.....the friends that actually care about you, contact you, want to see you, are happy for you....and you feel all these things for them.

So what do you do in the meantime.....when you are waiting for friendships to develop....the GREAT kind not the acquaintance kind? I guess you keep plugging away at it. Hoping that by staying true to yourself and by not settling you will find that friend....one day. And, you keep nurturing the ones you developed and had to leave behind because you moved. I guess I would be in the limbo phase....waiting.....and wanting....but still plugging away at it.

So my friends, where are you? Am I completely off base with this post? Are my thoughts on friendship really out in left field? Let me know. This post has been gnawing and gnawing and gnawing at me until I finally got tired of the running thought and had to put it out there. I am interested in what you think.

Suggestions....anyone

I am in desperate need of a new book and just can't seem to find something that holds my interest. I know many of you bloggers and friends out there are avid book lovers....like me....so please suggest something I would love. Oh, and include a little description about the book if possible. I read just about anything. It just has to grab me from the beginning. Looking forward to what you suggest.

It's in the picture......

If you are a reader of my blog then you will understand this picture....if not oh well. Read on and you'll figure it out. Soon I'll just be posting a picture without any description and you'll just have to go off of that....ha!

We have a lurker....please identify yourself....or go away

I have noticed that we have a lurker hanging out and watching the blog. Actually, there are two lurkers. One is in Victoria, TX the other is in Dallas. Now whoever you are in Victoria, TX you popped up watching our blog in June 2008 and have remained a very consistent visitor. Dallas, well, you seem to come and go. Your viewing is not as consistent as Victoria's. Now mind you, I do have some friends in Texas, but not near you two. So, please do us a favor and leave us a comment as to your identities. We would like to know who you are. Thanks so much.

Week's catch up/review and some pretty photos

We had a lazy weekend. I had a migraine Saturday morning that was very intense with nausea. I spent most of the morning in the bed while the boys ransacked the house and Kevin went to work to practice shooting. But, by the late afternoon the migraine had passed and we all enjoyed the night together. Today we cleaned up the house, ran errands, and enjoyed spending time together.

William's half-day camp ended on Friday and it was a very successful experience for him. He was tired and would often fall asleep at an earlier hour than normal for him. He has this week off and then begins Pirate Camp next week. I am hopeful that these experiences will make for an easier transition into Kindergarten. He is also continuing with his weekly swimming lessons at the health club and LOVES it. Friday was the first time that he swam the pool by himself. It was a great moment....and I have to say I got teary-eyed. He is getting to be so big....going to camp, Kindergarten and swimming. All boy and lovin' every minute of it. He was so proud of himself after Friday's lesson. We have a few more weeks and then level 2 begins.

During hand to hand combatives this week, Kevin had his templar membrane in his left ear ruptured and got a black eye. The unit doctor says it should heal, but due to the large size of the rupture, he will probably need surgery to completely repair the membrane once the training course is over. He is on antibiotics, Tylenol and has a bit of a head cold from the rupture. The eye is not so bad....just the outer corner part of the eyelid. He needs plenty of sleep to feel better and was successful in achieving that over the weekend.

I have been going to the gym alot....and anyone that really knows me knows I am not an exercise bunny. This past week I was there twice a day, everyday working out and watching William with his swimming lessons. One good thing is that I have met with the Exercise Physiologist and created a strengthening workout routine for me. I had my one-month review and learned that I did not loose ANY weight.....I weight exactly the same....but I lost 4% of my body fat. That is good...I guess. So I go back in another month and we will see if I have lost inches.

Now I will end this random post about the week's catch up with some beautiful flowers from Adrienne. These are the replacements that were sent for the original ones that started drooping immediately. This picture makes me feel like my house was a florist's shop....these roses were so beautiful.



And Paulie....what can I say....I just love to watch him curl up, snuggle up and enjoy his day whether watching his favorite show (right now it is a toss up between Blue's Clues.....you never can escape Blue and her crew..... or The Backyardigans) or reading his favorite ladybugs book.

Ratings

Have you ever noticed that certain things only get done on good days or bad days. I recently realized that when it is a good day, I make the bed - completely make the bed. On a good day, my bed is made with the duvet pulled up, pillows fluffed and placed neatly on the bed for decoration. When it is a crummy day, well let's just say the bed never makes it past that crumpled sheet look. On an in-between day, I pull the sheets up, maybe the duvet, but definitely leave the pillows on the floor. From my picture, can you tell what kind of day I am having....what about you?

Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Moving makes you think about change....things you miss and don't miss. Here is my running list of both:

Don't miss:

1. The 30 minute drive to the main road. Having to watch out for Special Police (SPs).
2. Errands taking a minimum of 2 hours because of the drive.
3. Staying in town for countless hours because of road closures.
4. Watching out for bike cyclists on 3-5-9 mile, especially Tuesdays at 5PM when bike club would meet.
5. The poor and extremely slow Internet connection.
6. Feeling like the house will never be clean because it is jam packed with stuff.

What I do miss:

1. Good friends that shared time with us.
2. The smell, feel and sound of the ocean.
3. The beach and feel of the sand.
4. Our boat, being out on the water.
5. William being able to ride his bike in the circle.

And, it always seems that good things come from moving. Here is my running list on that:

Things I am happy for from our move:

1. Kevin being professionally satisfied and feeling challenged.....being happy with his work when he comes home.
2. Having more space in our house...not feeling so cramped.
3. Close shopping and quick trips for errands.
4. Making roots and settling down.

The weather pixie

I think the weather pixie has been on vacation for awhile. Everytime I log onto the blot, and my friends' blogs that have the weather pixie, she is nonexistent. She just does not scroll up. I think she has decided to travel Europe for the summer, or maybe rent a yacht in the Caribbean, or try to win it big in Vegas. Whatever she is doing, she is NOT telling the weather. Maybe she is overtired and needs a break.....so I am going to give her one. You will notice we have a new weather bar on our blog. It is a bit more advanced than the weather pixie, but hey, she doesn't seem to mind. And if you think about it, she doesn't really show up for work anyway.

Where does she find the time?

Adrienne's husband, Brenden, really likes our family blog.....and honestly, I mean, why not.....it is pretty damn cool... but then that is an aside.....back to the post. So, Brenden likes our blog and I have been eggin' and eggin' Adrienne to do one of her own. Brenden is all for it and often wonders "Where and when does Tracy have the time to blog?!" So for all you wonderers out there, here is your answer.

If you notice most of my posts involve some sort of destruction made by my boys. Um, what do you think their mom was doing while she was SUPPOSED to be watching them. Yes, that is correct, give the lady a cookie......BLOGGIN'!

Several of my other posts involve topics ranging from lack of sleep, to poor Internet connections, to music, love of music, and just plain chaos. Again these posts are generally posted in the wee waking hours when my children are gearing up, eating their breakfast and getting their energy so they can go destroy the house and each other while I blog the day away. And, if you are wondering, yes, I think of these topics in the wee, wee, wee hours of the morning when I am listening to my sweet Paulie....I really mean the new dictator of our home.....cry away in his crib.

It's like I told Adrienne today on the phone, if you can't drink....blog. I mean, seriously, do you think I can pop a beer or pour a glass of wine at 11:00AM????!!!! Well, I could but then child services would be all over me like white on rice. So, if you would like to join me in bloggin', create an account. It is cheaper than that bottle of wine, easier on your waistline, and sometimes just as addicting.

OMG!!!!!!!! It happened!!!!!!!

Paulie slept thru the night AND William stayed in his own bed (well, the guest bedroom). That's right.....no children slept with Mommy and Daddy....ALL NIGHT! I feel like a brand new woman....like I can conquer the world...or at least my daily projects. Amazing what sleep can do for ya! Aaaaaaahhhhhhh.

Oh, and I put some new music on the blog. Check it out the music by the artist Laurie Berkner and the Backyardigans. Scroll down to the end of our music selection. My young, oh so young readers are goin' love it! I mean, come on, this section of the blog is called "Our Music" so it had to reflect the youngest bloggers in the house.

Did you hear that?

Wait....do you hear that? No, I did. Wait, there it is again. Are you sure you can't hear it? Oh, now you hear it. Yup, it was the grandparents (Capozzolis and Seyberts) screaming, yelling, cheering - oh whatever you want to call it - because we finally have a REAL guest bed. No more sleeping on the pullout sofa. William will be the first to test out the new guest bed. I'll let you know how it goes.