This week I am TDY (Temporary Duty) in Whidbey Island miles away from my family. The drive over was insane! I've never felt like more of an adult! I had to drive on the ferry and to the island all by myself. I had to remember to print out and bring my orders. I had to check into the NGIS all by myself and find my room all by myself! The next morning I went to the conference all by myself! I feel stronger and more mature. It's been a couple of days and now Mary has joined me during the days commuting from Bainbridge Island.
I am so happy that Mary is back. I haven't seen her in 2.5 weeks! Too long if you ask me! Her, Paul, and the kids had an amazing time in California. She said she's now considering San Diego as a future duty station. Boo! I think they should stay in Washington forever!
My beautiful sister is 6 1/2 months pregnant! I've seen some pictures and she looks so great! I went to the Whidbey Island Navy Exchange (a little better than the Bangor and Bremerton ones) and got the little guy 2 pairs of Quicksilver board shorts since he'll be living in paradise when he turns 1! What little guy living in Hawaii doesn't need a pair of stylin' swim shorts? Dominic or Nicholas will be a surfer for sure just like his Grandpa!
Tomorrow is my last day and I can't WAIT to see my baby boy! Joe and I have iPhones and have been talking with Face Time. I love kissing my Joseph and seeing his beautiful face.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Wye Lake Joy
Forrest has such an endearing sense of humor.
Natalie splashing around with her doll.
The water's so clear you can see your legs and feet!
Meghan is pretending to be camera-shy.
Natalie and Jack
Joseph in his element. He's a reincarnated fish, I am sure.
This past weekend was a scorcher here in Western Washington. It got into the upper 90s and it was quite unpleasant. Joe and I had a lot of work to do around the house so we decided to stay home instead of camping. At the end of the day, we had a clean(er) house but hadn't spent any time outside in the "beautiful" weather. We invited out seasonal neighbors, the Hume ohana, to the community lake for a barbecue. Joey lugged the Smokey Joe Jr. grill, Bubba Burgers, a cooler of drinks, condiments, and fruit all the way over to the lakefront. The kids went swimming for over 3 hours. I hadn't planned on going in the water but no one would let me get away with not going in so I had to return home to retrieve my swimsuit and towels. The water was frigid but perhaps that was because my skin was so hot. Joseph had a great time hanging out with Meghan, Jack, and Natalie and Joe and I had a blast with Cheryl and Forrest.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Getting Ready
I've been pretty excited about Joseph starting Kindergarten. I want him to be excited and ready. I want him to have everything that he needs in order to succeed. Well I want him to have everything he needs in order to succeed AND look good. So I went to Gap.com and found a few items for my favorite cutie pie!
1 Boot-Cut Jeans for Baby
1 Boot-Cut Jeans for Baby
1 Boys Logo-Graphic Pullover Hoodies
Yes, a bit excessive. Sadly, I'm not even done! This kid is hard on his clothes! He goes through jeans like you wouldn't believe. It doesn't matter if they're reinforced denim, it doesn't matter if they're cheap or expensive, it doesn't matter if they are dark or light. He is like the Incredible HULK when it comes to wearing his clothes. Hopefully this bit will last until Christmas sales roll around!
I always dreamed of buying school supplies with my child. I imagined the two of us at Longs Drug Store on a Sunday morning (everyone knows that the best sales ads come out on Sundays). In my own childhood, I recall choosing different cigar boxes for my pens and pencils. The last one I got in the 6th grade for Mrs. Kamahele's class was a big light blue one with bears and airplanes on it. Inside I used a Sharpie to inscribe my name, Tiffany N. Lee. Things are a bit different now. Instead of purchasing school supplies, the teachers have requested a $25 donation and 1 box gallon Ziploc freezer bags from the boys. Boo! I wont be attaching stickers with Joseph's name on his supplies. That leaves me with an emptiness and a sense of extreme longing. I'm being a bit melodramatic but I'm procrastinating on this weeks paper.
I've been checking out the Potterybarn backpacks for a few years now. Mary bought one for Claire when she started school three years ago. Her's is red with navy blue trim. I purchased the large size in navy blue with red trim. I could have had it embroidered but Mary said that Claire was embarrassed by her name being on her bag. Older kids would call out her name and she'd feel silly. I also purchased the matching lunch tote. I'm completely baffled in terms of home lunch. What the heck am I going to put in Joseph's bag?! Cheese pretzels and chocolate milk? Cold chicken nuggets and dinner rolls? Goodness knows he doesn't like anything green! I'll be written up on child neglect charges for what goes into his bag. I can envisage Jaime Oliver accosting Joseph's open bag and turning his nose up at the cup of orange flavored yogurt in his bag. "Sugah! Nothing but sugah!" he'd snort in his Essex accent, not the Queen's English, that's for sure.
Time to head back to the books!
Yes, a bit excessive. Sadly, I'm not even done! This kid is hard on his clothes! He goes through jeans like you wouldn't believe. It doesn't matter if they're reinforced denim, it doesn't matter if they're cheap or expensive, it doesn't matter if they are dark or light. He is like the Incredible HULK when it comes to wearing his clothes. Hopefully this bit will last until Christmas sales roll around!
I always dreamed of buying school supplies with my child. I imagined the two of us at Longs Drug Store on a Sunday morning (everyone knows that the best sales ads come out on Sundays). In my own childhood, I recall choosing different cigar boxes for my pens and pencils. The last one I got in the 6th grade for Mrs. Kamahele's class was a big light blue one with bears and airplanes on it. Inside I used a Sharpie to inscribe my name, Tiffany N. Lee. Things are a bit different now. Instead of purchasing school supplies, the teachers have requested a $25 donation and 1 box gallon Ziploc freezer bags from the boys. Boo! I wont be attaching stickers with Joseph's name on his supplies. That leaves me with an emptiness and a sense of extreme longing. I'm being a bit melodramatic but I'm procrastinating on this weeks paper.
I've been checking out the Potterybarn backpacks for a few years now. Mary bought one for Claire when she started school three years ago. Her's is red with navy blue trim. I purchased the large size in navy blue with red trim. I could have had it embroidered but Mary said that Claire was embarrassed by her name being on her bag. Older kids would call out her name and she'd feel silly. I also purchased the matching lunch tote. I'm completely baffled in terms of home lunch. What the heck am I going to put in Joseph's bag?! Cheese pretzels and chocolate milk? Cold chicken nuggets and dinner rolls? Goodness knows he doesn't like anything green! I'll be written up on child neglect charges for what goes into his bag. I can envisage Jaime Oliver accosting Joseph's open bag and turning his nose up at the cup of orange flavored yogurt in his bag. "Sugah! Nothing but sugah!" he'd snort in his Essex accent, not the Queen's English, that's for sure.
Time to head back to the books!
Friday, August 6, 2010
A Blur
What a blur this summer has become! I feel like I am always saying that time moves quickly. I think that time only moves slowly when you're a child. The older I get, the quicker time seems to pass.
Joseph is transitioning out of Preschool. He's been attending school less and less and spending more and more time with Grandma. He loves it, she loves it and I'm happy that everyone is happy! They swim every day and go to the game room and play cards. What a life!
Joseph has started swim lessons with his best friend, Gabriel. Originally, they were supposed to be in the same class. Fortunately, Gabriel was advanced to the higher class and without knowledge, we were unable to make the change soon enough. This ended up being for the better. It is difficult for Joseph to concentrate when he has friends around. Instead of listening quietly, he tends to get caught up with others. Watching the first lesson made me tear up with pride. He was so well-behaved. He listened to EVERYTHING the teacher said and obeyed. While other children were talking or looking around, he was intently focused on the instructor. When it was time to go, he helped Mr. Alex put the boards away without any prompting. Joe came along with me the second time and he was impressed, too although he made little mention of it to me. I could see it in his eyes and smile.
Ixchel and Ivan had us over for dinner last weekend and they made a feast for us. I felt abashed by the pizza and breadsticks I made when we had them over. Ribs, steak, Bubba Burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, and watermelon. They have a slip and slide which Joseph LOVED. It sparked a campaign by Joseph to win one of his own in our backyard but Joe, whose own father detested the thing, dismissed Joseph's insistence as a temporary novelty. It seems as though he was right; Joseph has mentioned nothing of the slide since.
I was thinking about all the new friends that I have here in Washington. It's been an entire YEAR since we've moved here and I can't believe how many new people we've met and how much fun we're having. I become pensive when I hear people tell me they're unhappy here. They complain about little to do, the weather, the mall, the weather, the people, the weather... and of course, the weather. The first time I was truly homesick was while we were camping. Joseph, Joe and I went to the waterfront and it was revolting. I missed the powdery white sand and the blue clear ocean. I missed 7-11's Spam musubi, Pauoa Chop Suey, Ala Moana Shopping Center, and Kapolei Middle School. Most of all, I missed my best friends, Wayne and Taryn. I regret that I am terrible at keeping in touch with people. It was nice helping Punahou Marching Band because Taryn and I would get to hang out every weekend. It was also nice to live so close to each other- Taryn living in Pearl City and I in Waipahu. However, I love that my mom has her own apartment here with a swimming pool, movie theater, technology center, and gym. It also has an extra room where we put a twin size bed for Joseph. He loves having sleepovers with "Gandmra!" It's also nice to be so close to Lory and Joe! We stopped by there a couple of weekends ago for an impromptu visit. Joseph already has so much more than I ever had as a child!
These entries, I suspect, will become increasingly long as I continue to procrastinate my way through my last class of the program. Technology and Administration EDA 590. I am already thinking about my residency in the Fall. I'm mostly thinking about what I'm going to wear. Perhaps my inattention is a sign of immaturity and reluctance to push myself out into the world as a school leader. If it were up to me, I'd be a student forever. What's next? Hmmm... How about law school? I've been reading a great book about a man's account of his first year at Harvard Law School. I don't want to go to Harvard, but the experience sounds absolutely terrifying! I must be a masochist.
We're going camping this weekend and I suspect we'll have some pictures up soon.
Joseph is transitioning out of Preschool. He's been attending school less and less and spending more and more time with Grandma. He loves it, she loves it and I'm happy that everyone is happy! They swim every day and go to the game room and play cards. What a life!
Joseph has started swim lessons with his best friend, Gabriel. Originally, they were supposed to be in the same class. Fortunately, Gabriel was advanced to the higher class and without knowledge, we were unable to make the change soon enough. This ended up being for the better. It is difficult for Joseph to concentrate when he has friends around. Instead of listening quietly, he tends to get caught up with others. Watching the first lesson made me tear up with pride. He was so well-behaved. He listened to EVERYTHING the teacher said and obeyed. While other children were talking or looking around, he was intently focused on the instructor. When it was time to go, he helped Mr. Alex put the boards away without any prompting. Joe came along with me the second time and he was impressed, too although he made little mention of it to me. I could see it in his eyes and smile.
Ixchel and Ivan had us over for dinner last weekend and they made a feast for us. I felt abashed by the pizza and breadsticks I made when we had them over. Ribs, steak, Bubba Burgers, corn on the cob, potato salad, and watermelon. They have a slip and slide which Joseph LOVED. It sparked a campaign by Joseph to win one of his own in our backyard but Joe, whose own father detested the thing, dismissed Joseph's insistence as a temporary novelty. It seems as though he was right; Joseph has mentioned nothing of the slide since.
I was thinking about all the new friends that I have here in Washington. It's been an entire YEAR since we've moved here and I can't believe how many new people we've met and how much fun we're having. I become pensive when I hear people tell me they're unhappy here. They complain about little to do, the weather, the mall, the weather, the people, the weather... and of course, the weather. The first time I was truly homesick was while we were camping. Joseph, Joe and I went to the waterfront and it was revolting. I missed the powdery white sand and the blue clear ocean. I missed 7-11's Spam musubi, Pauoa Chop Suey, Ala Moana Shopping Center, and Kapolei Middle School. Most of all, I missed my best friends, Wayne and Taryn. I regret that I am terrible at keeping in touch with people. It was nice helping Punahou Marching Band because Taryn and I would get to hang out every weekend. It was also nice to live so close to each other- Taryn living in Pearl City and I in Waipahu. However, I love that my mom has her own apartment here with a swimming pool, movie theater, technology center, and gym. It also has an extra room where we put a twin size bed for Joseph. He loves having sleepovers with "Gandmra!" It's also nice to be so close to Lory and Joe! We stopped by there a couple of weekends ago for an impromptu visit. Joseph already has so much more than I ever had as a child!
These entries, I suspect, will become increasingly long as I continue to procrastinate my way through my last class of the program. Technology and Administration EDA 590. I am already thinking about my residency in the Fall. I'm mostly thinking about what I'm going to wear. Perhaps my inattention is a sign of immaturity and reluctance to push myself out into the world as a school leader. If it were up to me, I'd be a student forever. What's next? Hmmm... How about law school? I've been reading a great book about a man's account of his first year at Harvard Law School. I don't want to go to Harvard, but the experience sounds absolutely terrifying! I must be a masochist.
We're going camping this weekend and I suspect we'll have some pictures up soon.
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