Dropping the Deployment Bomb!

My husband's deployment will be here before we know it. How (and when) do you explain it to a 4 year old? Three weeks of training here and there are easier to explain, but a whole year? I have ideas to help him count down the days until daddy comes home once he leaves, but I don't know how to break the news to him. How do you tell a 4 year old that daddy is going half way across the world and won't be here for holidays, birthdays, etc?
If anyone has any ideas I'd LOVE to hear them. Let me know what works and what doesn't work.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

Each week, Wife of a Sailor posts a list of questions on Thursday (so you can have your blog ready on Friday). Go back to her blog and enter your blog so we can all visit other blogs and get to know each other!

1. Since most of the country has had nasty weather, what has your weather been like this week?
This week we had temps. around 10 degress, but it was still below zero with our windchill. I can't wait until spring gets here...it can't get here soon enough!!

2. What is/are your best money saving tip(s)?
I shop the store ads and I TRY to use coupons as much as I can. We have a radio station that sells store/restaurant certificates at a % off so you can save money going places you're already planning to go to. I'm always looking for new ways to save money. I love the menu planning idea...now I just have to implement it.

3. What was your favorite vehicle you’ve ever owned??
My first car was a white '98 Chevy Corsica. His name was Herbert and he was awesome! I loved that car and he loved me. 

4. What is a question you’d like to see asked in a future fill-in? (Your question & blog just may appear one week!)
I'd love to see a question about your favorite recipe. I'm always looking for new meals or a twist on our traditional meals.

5. Fill in the blank: You might be a MilSpouse if….
You might be a MilSpouse if you're a single parent, but married. I joke with my friends that I'm a single mom for next few weeks/months when my husband leaves for training.

Blizzard Bloghop

Thank you for stopping by! I'm happy to be a part this (and my first) BlogHop.

My name is Dawn and I'm a 31 yr. old Army wife and mother of two boys. My husband is preparing for deployment in the next few months and this blog is to help me through it. We've been through a deployment before, but this is our first one being married and with kids. I'm always looking for advice and tips to help the boys prepare and get through this. Fun ideas, helpful hints...anything.

We've been together for 9 years and married for over 5 1/2 years. We have two boys Cole (4 yrs) and Henry (1.5 yrs). I work full time for a granite company and my husband is full time in the ARNG. I can tell you that it's more than 1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a year. (A lot more...at least for us.)

I'm new to blogging so you'll have to bear with me for a while. Again, any advice is welcome. I'm excited to be here and meet so many new people.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In

Each week, Wife of a Sailor posts a list of questions on Thursday (so you can have your blog ready on Friday). Go back to her blog and enter your blog so we can all visit other blogs and get to know each other!

If you were a famous movie star, what types of movies would you star in?
I would be in a romantic comedy...I'm thinking something similar to "The Wedding Planner."

What is a vacation you would like to take if money were no object?
I would love to go to Hawaii! Or tour Europe! Maybe I could tour Europe and then stop in Hawaii on my way home. Sounds like a plan!

Did you have pets growing up?
Nope! I always wanted a dog. I asked for a dog every year for my birthday and Christmas. I finally got 2 teacup chihuahuas as a college graduation gift!

What do you do for exercise?
Exercise? I knew I forgot something!! I want to start jogging and plan to do a 5k this summer. Summer will be here before I know it so I better get my butt in gear and start training, huh?

What is the best piece of advice you've ever received as a MilSpouse?
The only advice I've ever received was to ignore rumors. I don't know a lot of military spouses so that makes military life a little easier. I'm always open to advice!

Recipe for a Military Wife

1 1/2 cups Patience
1 lb. Adaptability
3/4 cup Tolerance
1 tsp. Courage
A Dash of Adventure

Combine above ingredients and add 2 tablespoons elbow grease. Let sit alone for one year. Marinate frequently with salty tears. Pour off excess fat. Sprinkle lightly with money. "Knead" dough until payday. Season with international spices. Bake 20 years or until done.

Good News...

A few weeks ago I bought a bayberry candle. "So what?" you're thinking. Well, I was told burning a bayberry candle from tip to socket puts luck in the home and gold in the pocket. So I lit it and watched it burn, and burn and burn. Several hours later it was as low as it could go. I didn't feel any different, but I thought this could be the thing we need to sell our house!
This evening I received an email stating we have a showing tomorrow afternoon. This could be the one! All of them can be the one, but I like to think it everytime. Please cross your fingers and wish us luck because we can definitely use it. Especially after I read an article in the paper that home sales are down again. I will let you know how everything goes. :)

Preparing for Deployment

I've been researching deployments lately. Not sure exactly what I'm looking for, but I welcome any little tips I can find.

I found a few nice ideas to help the boys count down the days until dad's return. One is a paper chain...one link for each day he's gone. The other (which I like better because chocolate is involved) is filling a jar/basket with Hershey kisses so they can get a kiss from dad each day.

I also found some cute deployment bracelets. I've asked my friend's daughter if she'd be willing to make a bracelet for me once I buy the beads. Of course she said "yes" so I'm excited to go bead shopping now!

I've been taking tons of pictures of the boys with dad. I can't remember off the top of my head which organization does this, but they will make a memory quilt for the boys with pictures of their dad. I also found a website that will make handbags out of military uniforms. There are several out there, but this one caught my eye. http://militaryhandbag.com I'm excited to see what the finished product will look like.