The times they are a changing...

Up until the beginning of the week John had 12 months left in the US Army. We were getting excited about getting out but there was a problem. John hadn't done everything that he felt that he needed too in the Army. People think he's a little crazy but he reenlisted to re class to 11B (infantry). He feels that he needs to lead soldiers. So long story short ... at least 5 more years as an Army wife for me. We have decided that I will use his GI bill starting this fall and get my BA. Unfortunately, John's school date is a year away leaving us at Fort Campbell for 2 whole years at least. We'll have to wait and see what the Army has for us. More details as they come and occur to me.

Tyler's tooth pillow

Tyler lost his 3rd tooth on Tuesday. He was so proud and excited. The shirt in the picture is one that I bought for him to wear when John came home from Afghanistan in 2008. He loves this shirt so much that try as I might he will not let it go. I decided to turn it into a tooth pillow for him so that he can keep it forever. If I can find some complimentary fabric I just may get ambitious enough to make blankets for his bunk beds.

First I turned the shirt inside out and pinned it in a rough square. I'm not a perfectionist and definately not an avid seamstrist so I wasn't too worried. The whole time my little slave driver was asking when we were going to get to the sewing. I decided to use the button from as a way to insert and remove the pillow so that it can be washed. So once we pinned and cut we were 4 straight lines from a finished product. The front pocket on the shirt serves as a place to put his tooth for the tooth fairy. He actually put his tooth inside his Lego treasure chest and put the chest in the pocket.

Here is my happy little man and his finished pillow. The tooth fairy brought him $2.00 and he is already trying to find more loose teeth.

My Bag (inspired by Susan)

For years I had to carry an enormous bag to carry everything that I needed for myself and the kids. I had everything but the bathroom sink in my bag. I would regularly pull out Match Box cars in my search for my keys. John would refuse to even attempt to find anything in there. All of those were cheap bags. I never spent more than $20 and all of  them were washable. I would always end up with juice or milk leaking from sippy cups or random fruit snacks melting to the inside. That has all changed....

My wonderful loving husband bought me a Coach purse this spring and I'm now building a small collection of nice expensive handbags. It is so nice to say that I am beyond needing diapers, wipes, juice, snacks, binkies, and small toys. I now carry my cell phone, wallet, 3 reusable shopping bags, sunglasses, a pen and notebook, chap stick, my Kindle, and lipstick. The Kindle helps me be patient when I get stuck waiting forever for my husband (each Army minute is more like 10-15 actual minutes) Occasionally, I will have a Nintendo DS or 2 with a collection of games but that is all it takes to make my boys happy now. I can buy silence for hours with video games. How has your bag changed over the years?