Thursday, August 20, 2009
Poster Children….
The Crew is big into dress up these days… We have a basket that can fully outfit two small children (and sometimes one adult, but that’s another post!) into brave knights, fierce pirates, brave firemen, and explorers of the savannah. On any given day you can find me escorting a pair of superheroes into the local library, and as recently as this morning I found myself transporting two fully masked transformer robots who sat calmly in their booster seats contemplating the passing scenery as we headed to the YMCA. I have to say though, as commonplace as this pastime has become around the harbour, one particular dress up session really stands out as a personal favorite…. Enjoy!
Friday, August 14, 2009
The school bell rings…
Well, our first week of our homeschooling adventure has come to a close…. and it was amazing!! The boys and I both learned so much! It was a week of discovery, learning, and adjusting to our new rhythm. From a strictly academic point of view we learned our vowels, and the “short” sound that each makes. We memorized a 10 line verse about the vowels and will have our final recitation this evening for Dad. On the math front we discussed like objects and whether they were the same or similar, did pattern recognition exercises, counting games, and some manipulative play. And of course there was reading, reading, reading and more reading! Add in a dash of art, cooking, science and a field trip to the library, and you will get a sense of the fun that was had. The boys have been great and really have a great time “doing school”. I have also gained great insight to their independent personalities and really enjoyed seeing their eyes light up with interest in various subjects. We even made it a point to take our first “school” pictures and our class photo! The boys love their new shirts with our school name and logo applied… Harbour Lights Academy is officially open!!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Catching up….
As promised it is time for another quick update from the harbour…. We have been busy settling into life here in Alabama for the past several weeks. The days have been a series of “orientation” for us as we explore the area and find our new spots for shopping, learning and fun.
On the shopping front I have had my first experiences on an Air Force base vs Naval Air Station and/or Naval Shipyard. Often times the AF equivalent is named differently than what I have grown accustomed to in my “Navy” life. For instance if I were to ask someone where the NEX was, they would look at me with a puzzled expression. (For those who don’t know it is the “BX” on an Air Force base… and for those of you still confused, that is a grocery store on a military base!).
As for the learning and fun portion, we have discovered our local library and already have visited it several times. The boys enjoy picking out their books for the week and enjoying the great playground located directly behind the library and right on the banks of the Talapoosa River. Also, last weekend we traveled about 45 mins. Northeast to a great fresh water lake called Lake Martin. It had a wonderful sandy beach and clear water that the boys could play in to their hearts content. We plan on attempting our first overnight camping trip to the lake sometime this October…
I have also been very busy organizing and preparing to start our homeschooling adventure with the boys. Today we set up their “learning” area, and I have received the majority of the curriculum we decided upon in the mail. Although every day is a learning day, we plan on officially “starting school” this week. For their pre-school year I plan on keeping things pretty casual (as is recommended) and working toward establishing basic reading, writing, and math skills. We are all excited to begin, and really look forward to having this experience together.
Sorry this is such a bulletin list today… Just wanted to get a quick update out! Much more to come I promise!!
Fair Winds!
On the shopping front I have had my first experiences on an Air Force base vs Naval Air Station and/or Naval Shipyard. Often times the AF equivalent is named differently than what I have grown accustomed to in my “Navy” life. For instance if I were to ask someone where the NEX was, they would look at me with a puzzled expression. (For those who don’t know it is the “BX” on an Air Force base… and for those of you still confused, that is a grocery store on a military base!).
As for the learning and fun portion, we have discovered our local library and already have visited it several times. The boys enjoy picking out their books for the week and enjoying the great playground located directly behind the library and right on the banks of the Talapoosa River. Also, last weekend we traveled about 45 mins. Northeast to a great fresh water lake called Lake Martin. It had a wonderful sandy beach and clear water that the boys could play in to their hearts content. We plan on attempting our first overnight camping trip to the lake sometime this October…
I have also been very busy organizing and preparing to start our homeschooling adventure with the boys. Today we set up their “learning” area, and I have received the majority of the curriculum we decided upon in the mail. Although every day is a learning day, we plan on officially “starting school” this week. For their pre-school year I plan on keeping things pretty casual (as is recommended) and working toward establishing basic reading, writing, and math skills. We are all excited to begin, and really look forward to having this experience together.
Sorry this is such a bulletin list today… Just wanted to get a quick update out! Much more to come I promise!!
Fair Winds!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Y’all c’mon over for some Sweet Tea!
We have finally settled into our new home here in Alabama, and I have to say that it feels so good to be “home”! (Although, as I was unpacking each box, I was very aware of the fact that in 10 months I would be re-packing everything once more…bizarre! )
So I have a whole shelf of bottles waiting to be tossed your way, but I wanted to give you an idea of what will soon be washing ashore… So much will be happening in the coming months and I can’t wait to share our adventures with you!
First, after four years of weighing the pros and cons tirelessly, we are beginning one of our grandest adventures yet… homeschooling! Yes, you read that right! I am so excited to have this opportunity for our boys and look forward to sharing our learning adventure with you as well!
Second, I am still on my own journey of a total health overhaul. Clean eating is amazing, and has done amazing things for my health, energy, and overall fitness goals. I run three 5k’s a week at our local Y, and combine it with three to four weightlifting sessions per week. Outside of the gym I run around after the Crew and swim in our new pool! I am amazed at how eating well affects all aspects of my life and feel awakened and energized!
Third, life in Alabama is a constant discovery and I can’t wait to share our daily comings and goings with you so you can enjoy a bit of life south of the Mason Dixon line!
Keep an eye to the horizon as I plan on tossing these out at a much more rapid pace then I have been up to now! Today we are off to the local farmer’s market! Have a great Saturday!!
So I have a whole shelf of bottles waiting to be tossed your way, but I wanted to give you an idea of what will soon be washing ashore… So much will be happening in the coming months and I can’t wait to share our adventures with you!
First, after four years of weighing the pros and cons tirelessly, we are beginning one of our grandest adventures yet… homeschooling! Yes, you read that right! I am so excited to have this opportunity for our boys and look forward to sharing our learning adventure with you as well!
Second, I am still on my own journey of a total health overhaul. Clean eating is amazing, and has done amazing things for my health, energy, and overall fitness goals. I run three 5k’s a week at our local Y, and combine it with three to four weightlifting sessions per week. Outside of the gym I run around after the Crew and swim in our new pool! I am amazed at how eating well affects all aspects of my life and feel awakened and energized!
Third, life in Alabama is a constant discovery and I can’t wait to share our daily comings and goings with you so you can enjoy a bit of life south of the Mason Dixon line!
Keep an eye to the horizon as I plan on tossing these out at a much more rapid pace then I have been up to now! Today we are off to the local farmer’s market! Have a great Saturday!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Sweet Home.... Alabama?
If someone had asked me to predict the places I would live while being a military spouse, I would have placed Alabama somewhere below Dorothy’s farm in Kansas and slightly above that of the “free thinking, American loving” country of North Korea. It’s not that I would have thought it impossible (because really, in this lifestyle I have learned that nothing can ever be entirely ruled out), but I would have thought it to be highly improbable. Once again that crazy Uncle Sam of mine is enjoying a hearty laugh at my lack of foresight!
So in a little over two weeks, I will (for the eighth time in almost eleven years) watch a large semi-trailer with all of our worldly possessions packed tightly within a few hundred cardboard boxes pull away from “our” driveway and head down the road and out of sight. We will then walk back into an empty house, pack the remainder of our possessions in our U-haul and minivan, take one last look around at the house we have called "home" for the last 22 months, reminisce a little, laugh a little, and maybe even cry a little. I will place the key on the kitchen counter, close the front door behind us, and move on down the road to the next chapter in our lives. It is a process that has become second nature to me, and is now becoming routine for The Crew as well. In true “military brat” form, Alabama will be the fourth state they have lived in… in as many years.
Our Captain (well Lt.Cmdr. actually) of this rag-tag crew will be embarking on the task of obtaining his Masters Degree (or two) from the Air War College out of Maxwell AFB as well as completing his JPME... also a requirement as one progresses thru a career as an officer in the Navy. All in all it is a really great deal for him to take a year as a “student” and have the Navy flip the bill for the degree(s). Not to mention a great deal for us as a family, as we will not have to forfeit him on the weekends, evenings, or longer seperations for an entire year! (Whose laughing now, eh Uncle Sam?)
We will keep you updated as the tides shift and we pull anchor for our new port-o-call. But for now, I will spend my time trying to find the bubble wrap and packing tape that I know I stashed around here somewhere!
Fair Winds!
So in a little over two weeks, I will (for the eighth time in almost eleven years) watch a large semi-trailer with all of our worldly possessions packed tightly within a few hundred cardboard boxes pull away from “our” driveway and head down the road and out of sight. We will then walk back into an empty house, pack the remainder of our possessions in our U-haul and minivan, take one last look around at the house we have called "home" for the last 22 months, reminisce a little, laugh a little, and maybe even cry a little. I will place the key on the kitchen counter, close the front door behind us, and move on down the road to the next chapter in our lives. It is a process that has become second nature to me, and is now becoming routine for The Crew as well. In true “military brat” form, Alabama will be the fourth state they have lived in… in as many years.
Our Captain (well Lt.Cmdr. actually) of this rag-tag crew will be embarking on the task of obtaining his Masters Degree (or two) from the Air War College out of Maxwell AFB as well as completing his JPME... also a requirement as one progresses thru a career as an officer in the Navy. All in all it is a really great deal for him to take a year as a “student” and have the Navy flip the bill for the degree(s). Not to mention a great deal for us as a family, as we will not have to forfeit him on the weekends, evenings, or longer seperations for an entire year! (Whose laughing now, eh Uncle Sam?)
We will keep you updated as the tides shift and we pull anchor for our new port-o-call. But for now, I will spend my time trying to find the bubble wrap and packing tape that I know I stashed around here somewhere!
Fair Winds!
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