What's in a Name.....

So yesterday was Gracie's first day of second grade. More importantly, it was her first day at a new school. Her third in three years, but new none-the-less.

So, there we are, meeting the teacher. Her super sweet teacher knew she had a nickname (Gracie is actually a nickname) and asked her, so what would you like me to call you? Gracie quickly responds "Clare." I looked at her....totally dumbfounded and said "but you haven't been called Clare, a day in your life. Will you even respond to that name?" She assured me that she would and that was that. She has started introducing herself as Clare to everyone. Her ballet teacher, classmates, bus driver and music teacher. So, now everyone here knows her only as Clare.

She said those of us who have called her Gracie all her life, can still continue to do so...but everyone new has to call her Clare. Ok. Her teacher said she's "exerting her independence." I say my baby is growing up!

I don't have a problem with the name Clare...if I did, we wouldn't have named her that....but she's Gracie. Always has been. I'm trying to get used to it. I try to call her Clare at home so I can get comfortable using the name with her, and not my friend Clare who she was named after. But old habits die hard. It's like I'm talking about someone totally different. Not to mention, it's still a nickname version of her first name. Her real name is Clara!

When I asked her why she suddenly wanted a name change she said "well, if Selma calls and says Gracie, I'll know it's Selma or one of my old friends. If Maddie calls and says Clare, I'll know it's one of my new friends." I asked "so do Maddie and Selma have the same voice?" and she responded with a very chipper "nope" and a sly smile. I have to give her credit...it was a clever excuse.

Oh well, it could be worse. My neighbor and I were laughing about Gracie.....I mean Clare's new love of her first name and she told me how her son Logan has also changed his name this year...nobody can call him anything but Boomer.

So for those of you who call her Gracie, she's fine with that...but anyone who meets her please refer to her as...Clare.

I am so totally seeing therapy in her future. Split personalities.

Other than that, second grade has turned out to be teriffic. She loves her teacher, loves her school, loves her uniform, loves her classmates....except Spencer....loves riding the bus. It's a regular lovefest. And Clare is growing up.

We're Home!!!!

So much has happened in the last week or so, I don't even know where to start.
Chris got home Really late at night ( or is that morning) on the 6th. He slept for a few hours then we started packing our truck.
We left Charleston around 3 pm on Saturday.
We made it to the mountains of North Carolina. Really pretty mountain town. Smack dab in the middle of the forest fires!
The next morning we got up bright and early and drove through TN, KY, IN and finally stopped in Western Illinois. Right in the middle of a Tornado and flash flood! The flooding in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa was horrible! Roads totally covered in water. It was crazy to just be driving past like it was normal. People were actually driving boats down the streets!
Day three took us through Iowa and Nebraska. We made it as far as Cheyenne, WY. It was COLD! Ok, it was 68 degrees, but after living in the south where it doesn't get colder than 65 EVER....we were freezing!
Day four Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Oregon. We drove to La Grande. WAY later than we had hoped,. Didn't get a chance to see anyone because of the time. We did however get to have Golden Crown delivered! yummy.
However, the craziest part of that whole leg of the trip....it was snowing in LG! Driving towards Baker...it honestly looked like a blizzard!!!! When we left LG and headed west Cabbage Hill had been plowed! June 11 and they were plowing the roads. Insane.
Finally we made it to Poulsbo. We got to our home and crashed. Our furniture didn't show up until yesterday, but we made the most of the time. We drove around the canal. Went to Edmonds for lunch. I got to show Gracie the house I grew up in, my grade school, high school and hometown. We had a really good time, and I was surprised how much hasn't changed since I lived there. It all looked the same!
Of course, I missed seeing an old friend who stopped by. We actually ended up passing each other on the ferry. But I'm less than 10 miles from Kingston and can go "home" as often as I like. Not to mention, her parents live 5 miles from me and she is over here every weekend!
The weather has been beautiful. Perfect. Just like I remember it.
We love our house. It's fantastic. I'm really happy with it. Poulsbo is such a great little town and our neighbors have all come over to introduce themselves! I've met more neighbors in three days here than I did the entire time I lived in SC. I had forgotten how polite North westerners are. Gracie has lots of kids her age in the neighborhood to play with. I can't wait to go on my lunch "date" with Sarah in July and see all my old friends who are just a ferry ride away!
It's good to be home. Now I need to unpack.

10 Days Left

10 days! That is all I have until my husband is home!!!! Hooray!!! He has been gone for two months. As soon as he gets back, we are out of here! So long South Carolina....hello Washington!!!

It's bittersweet because he will have to deploy soon after we move. But that's Navy life for you. At least we get to see him before he leaves again. But, I will be home. My actual home. The birthplace of me.....so that's a plus.

I just can't believe in 10 days he will be back. (doing a happy dance)

Our Very Own Home Sweet Home

It's official. Chris and I are homeowners! We closed on our house in Poulsbo today. I am half dazed by it. I have wanted my own home that I could paint and change as I see fit, for so long. A place to honestly call our own. But with military life, that's not always a reality. Until now. Finally we are moving home. Even if we have to move again (which we will....because it is the navy after all) we can still rent it out and move back when we are done.

In the past 9 years that Chris and I have been married, I have lived in 5 states (he has lived in 7) and I have had 7 different homes. You don't want to know the tens of thousands of dollars we have wasted on someone else's mortgage. Not any more!

Never again will I have to deal with white walls. Or mini blinds. or ceiling fans! Finally I can put my interior design degree to good use! Oh happy day!!!

So, today we join in on the American dream, suddenly a few hundred thousand dollars in debt, but totally overjoyed.

BTW, if you need a good realtor....I know an awesome one!

Same Old Song and Dance....This Time to a Different Tune

Ahhh the Navy life. Once again they see fit to send my husband off to yet another school, this time in Connecticut on non-PCS orders. The military friends of mine know exactly what that means, but for everyone else out there...let me explain. PCS stand for "permanent change of station." PCS orders are anything that lasts more than three months. So non-PCS simply translated means "you have to move, but your family can’t come with you. neener, neener, neener:"

We are used to this. It seems that between each duty station we have a space of about 2-3 months where Chris has to go somewhere else. After the first 5 or 6 times you get used to it.

It sucks. You’re sad and you miss them terribly but you get into a routine and it goes by pretty quick.

This time I have to get ready to move to WA. As soon as he is done with school in Connecticut, we will have about 2 days before we head off on yet another cross country trek. I have to arrange the movers, pack my stuff and deal with housing. (again, something only those in the military can truly appreciate the pure JOY that experience brings you.) Besides that, he will be gone for both our anniversary and my birthday! However, I won’t complain. Because as soon as it is over...we will be moving into our very own home. One I can paint and do with as I please! He has said he is buying me a house for my birthday....and in essence, that is exactly what we are doing. Not to mention another perk....I have decided that for every birthday he misses I don’t have to actually age that year. Amazingly I’m still 29!

Another reason I simply can’t let a little thing like non-PCS orders get me down is good old fashioned pride. I fancy myself as a hardened Navy wife. I’ve seen and done it all. There is nothing we hate more than whiny, wimpy wives. You know the ones. As a Navy wife, we are used to handling the daily operations of the household. We can change a flat tire and know how to call a plumber when needed. We can mow our own lawns, balance check books and kill spiders. We like to think of ourselves as super-women. So don’t go bursting our bubbles.

We don’t depend on our husbands as much as others because we know that they HAVE to deploy at some point. We get used to doing things for ourselves.the very nature of their jobs require them to leave for 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15 months at a time. We signed up for this life so we learn how to take it. That’s not to say we don’t enjoy having them around. Life is always better when they are home. I firmly believe that absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder. You learn to respect them, not take them for granted and enjoy every minute you have together. I would even venture to say, if you know anyone having marital problems, go away for 3 months....you’ll realize just how important that person is.

However, back to my point, I have a "friend" who is not as seasoned as myself or some of my friends. She has never dealt with a deployment or even non-pcs orders. She has had her husband home every night since the day they got married. What MOST of us do in this non-PCS situation is one of three things. 1. stay where we have been stationed and wait 2. move to the ultimate duty station (where we will be going next) or 3. go home to Mommy and Daddy and wait it out until it’s over. The later is something we all have done. It’s actually not a bad idea if you need to save money.

She INSISTED on moving to Connecticut with him. Which by Navy standards, is NOT an option. She, by moving up there has put a financial strain on their life and a serious strain on his ability to actually study while at this school. A stupid move on her part. One that has caused serious mocking by the rest of our flock. What she needs to realize is 1. this is her life now. If she can’t handle it...she shouldn’t have married a military man and 2. he WILL deploy. Simple fact of life. Submarines do not have a special suite in the back for the wives. She can’t go with him when he is out to sea.

As I tried in vain to explain to her, this is a good learning experience. She can prepare for deployments. A sort of mock run, if you will. Oh no....it all fell on deft ears. No matter how many of us older, wiser and more seasoned wives explained the situation to her. I do, I really do understand that you miss your husband. So do the rest of us. You are not special in that area. We ALL go through it. Hence the reason you should be around people who are perhaps...going through it with you. She gave me the excuse that their son would miss him. Their son isn’t even 9 months old yet. Try explaining to a 7 year old why Daddy has to miss her ballet recital and then we will talk.

So it has hardened my resolve that much more. Whenever I want to feel sorry for myself, I just pull out my stiff upper lip and remember that I am being the sensible one. I have handled much harder separation and I am quite sure, will trudge through much harder in the future. I may sound hard and bitchy...but the fact is, this is the life we live. You need to suck it up, Buttercup. Plain and simple.

In case you ever wondered how military wives handled it...this is it. We love our husbands just as much as every other woman loves hers. The difference...we know they are doing an important job. We are proud of them and support them. Do we cry in private...of course. But we stay strong when they leave, so they can stay strong while they are away. The last thing they need to worry about is if we are ok. They need to KNOW we are fine. After all, you wouldn’t want my husband ( or any other submariner) out there, on a nuclear submarine, in charge of a nuclear reactor....worried about anything but that boat. Disasters could happen. THAT is why we have to be strong.

The Joys of Moving

So I am thrilled that we are moving back "home" The Northwest is where Chris and I were both born and raised and we are moving a short ferry ride away from my home town.

That said, I still have to actually....Move. You would think I was an old pro at this. Being that this is our 7th move since I’ve been married. I’ve moved 7 times in 9 years! Wow! I hadn’t thought of it like that before. Anyway, I should be good at it by now. I SHOULD still have crap in boxes from the last move one year ago.

My biggest problem with this move is that we are buying a house this time. Well, we currently live on the East coast and are buying a home on the West coast. The whole..."tour the house before you buy" bit is a little hard to accomplish.

We have had friends look at some houses, but it’s hard to keep asking people to take time out the their lives to go look at a home for me. (I’m picky) People you would think would jump at the chance to help us, are making it hard because they are being dramatic. Alas, I will have to just trust my realtor and hope for the best.

Yes, I could go over on a weekend and find something, but my husband is going to Connecticut in two weeks and my daughter is still in school.

So, if anyone wants to take a couple hours out of their weekend, let me know. I have a list of houses I like and nobody to look at them for me!!!

Sarah? Angela? Rona????? Just checking! :)

We're Moving!!! This Time it's a good thing

Finally! We have been waiting for, what seems like forever, for the Navy to give my husband his orders. Today they came.

We are moving back to WASHINGTON!!!!!! So long South. You won't be missed.

I am so freaking excited I can't even express it. Washington. My Home!!!!! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the excitement of moving all over the planet....but it's really nice when you get to go home.

So, Angela you and the fam, my house....5 months! Wahoo!

Stacy C. Sorry. But maybe you guys can move back too! Besides, I'm sure you'll visit the in-laws...SOMEDAY.

Rona, I expect the total spa treatment...with facial!!!! Do you have the route mapquested yet? Can I get a copy?

Stacy S. CALM DOWN!!!!!! Heart attacks are not good, so relax. We still have 5 months!

Sarah, It's about time. I haven't seen you in....oh God, I can't even do the math.

Jen and Alina, Yes you will see me again! See Jen, I told you!

Greta, yeah! We can go shopping!!! Oh, I mean the girls can have a playdate.

Catherine, you're in Portland!!! ROAD TRIP!

I am forgetting someone....well whoever you are. Yeah!

I feel like I'm making an acceptance speech at the Oscars or something. Wow, I totally need to calm down!

A Tribute to my Uncle Bob Hawes

Yesterday afternoon I got a phone call. One I wasn't expecting (do we ever expect it) my Uncle Bob passed away.

Of course I'm sad at the loss. He was an amazing man, but I am grateful at how quickly he went.

He was healthy, happy and feeling better than he had in years. He spent the holidays surrounded by family. Traveled to the coast then enjoyed football games at home on New Years Day. He was in high spirits.

Then, yesterday mid-morning, he and my Aunt were in the living room reading the paper and chatting. He got up from his chair to get something from the kitchen. According to my Aunt, still laughing about something that had just been said, when he took 4 steps and fell to the floor. Dead before he hit the ground. If that's not the way to go....I don't know what is.

My Aunt, a true lady. Has a good stiff upper lip. She has always been sort of a hero of mine simply because she is so poised, elegant and gracious. She is fiercely independent and will be able to handle this with the same grace and wisdom she employs in all aspects of her life.

My Uncle, what an amazing man. He has seen and done it all. I could mention any place on the planet and he would have been there, flew over it or bombed it. I swear he knew almost everyone who lived in Eastern Oregon. At my wedding, he was standing at the door shaking hands with everyone walking in (as if he were part of my receiving line). Mind you, he lived 45 miles away in a different town. But he knew them all. Humble, that man was so modest. Though he knew dignitaries, was a decorated war veteran and a successful business executive he never once boasted. He loved his family. He would have done anything for all of us. He had this laugh, just thinking about it brings a smile to my face. His nose would turn red then his cheeks (it's the Irish) he would sort of laugh under his breath until he couldn't hold it in any longer then out came the hardy belly laugh. He adored family and tradition. In return, we all cherished him.

I am honored to have known him. I am honored that he shared his stories with me. I am honored that he was a part of my life. I am honored to be his niece.

Rest in Peace Uncle Bob. I love you.