Dear Army...We Need to Talk...

While I've come to terms with the Dreaded D and the AWFUL job that Army Guy is currently suffering through, I think I need to let Army know that beginning a Dreaded D in May with school age kiddos is just SICK AND WRONG. My Army Kids who thrive on schedules and routine (which in completely ironic in Army land, but that's another rant) were thrown completely off kilter for the Dreaded D. Thing 1's last day of school was the Monday after Army Guy left. So in addition to losing our normal family routine, we were losing the routine we'd had for the last 10 months...all at one time.This is just not right people. Army needs to start all deployments in September or October.
        
     Dear Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen--I NEED you to rearrange all war plans based on my kiddos school schedule, because I figure I let you take my husband away for a year at a time the least you can do is NOT leave me at home with a bunch of kids for the summer while we're all adjusting to the Dreaded D. Thanks. 
         Yah, I'm sure that'll work.


Anyways, so when it looked like we were going to experience a summer Dreaded D, I did what anyone with a "I hate riding in the car for more then an hour" husband does--I planned the Ultimate Roadtrip. Now, in comparison to some of my part Trucker Army Wife friends, my road trip wasn't as ginormous, but we were gone ALL summer. My mom came out and drove to Texas and from Texas with us, because she too enjoys being stuck in the car for 2 days at a time with 3 kids. My "wife" here watched the furry kids, so at least I didn't have to factor that into my insanity. So we left the beginning of June, spent a few weeks at my parents "lake" house and spent a few weeks travelling around Kansas seeing family. I learned a few things about us during this time frame.
1. We roadtrip REALLY well!
2. Sam-I-Am MUST have a mirror in front of her...I turned her around on her birthday and then spent 9 hours in the car with her fussing off and on. I couldn't figure out why until I realized I'd taken away the one person who's always in the car with her--her reflection. So after a life saving trip to BabiesRUs the rest of the trip was very tolerable.
3. The Outback next to the Hampton Inn in Joplin, MO will deliver to the room.
4. There are some SCARY bathrooms in MO.
5. Seeing family is ALWAYS an adventure.

So we all survived, saw about everyone that I'd intended to see, minus a few friends in Missouri because our kids are out to get us, but yet another rant.  We arrived home to AMAZING neighbors who took much better care of my yard then I ever would have. :)

We're now all getting into our little routine. Thing 1 started school the beginning of August (the BESTEST part of this backwoodsredneckhellhole that I currently reside in...yet another rant...) and Thing 2 is doing some Kindergarten testing and she'll start full time then end of this month. WHOO-HOO!!! I can't even begin to describe the excitement we all have over that event. Sam-I-Am's preferred method of movement is walking these days. Sigh. I don't want to talk about it.

I'm hoping that now that we're all back to our routiney life, this Dreaded D will speed up...Hint Hint God...