Lazy Saturday

Seriously my favorite day of the week is Saturday! I get to sleep in, have lots of extra snuggle time with all my babies piled in my bed.

I also like to take the time to make a special breakfast. It has now become my unofficial baking day! I made some easy an delicious cinnamon bread today, from Pinterest of course! 

With some fresh fruit salad... It was a big hit!! 

I love everything about it. House full of yummy smells, kids in jammies running through the house playing, dogs supervising my cooking for any opportunity to grab up whatever I drop. 

I mean how could you say no to that face?! 

I love this time with my family because I can truly just enjoy them. I get to slow down and remember what funny special little people they are! I have stressful moments during the week of course, it's easy to get sucked up in the day to day hustle I life. It is so very precious when I get to just slow down and love on my fam :) 

Too blessed to be stressed! 

Wineohhhh

So I missed National Wine drinking day! Instead I was doing homework and real big kid grown up crap. Boooo! 

Since Matt is gone, I will now celebrate my beloved beverage of choice the way I like it best, on the couch with shamelessly bad TV shows, wearing my most comfortable PJs, the ones with the holes, I have had since we were dating! Yessss it is my Friday people.  

I have some serious love and affection for the glorious goodness that is wine! 

Let's be honest and say this one only slightly applies to me because I have amazing dance moves all by myself. Now my sister, that girl can break it down after a bottle of wine...

I always think it is funny when people get me gifts like cork stoppers and such. Listen, I am no quitter! Who needs those?! I do have some that are bobble head dogs, those now I will use. I mean really, they are BOBBLE head dog wine stoppers, that pretty much sums up my life right there. 

Don't forget the amazing health benefits... It is heart healthy!

If you can find no other good reason to drink wine just Pinterest wine bottle DIY and sit back in sheer amazement. If you're really feeling ambitious try, DIY wine cork... Mind.Blown.

Cheers my friends, keep it classy! 

My favorite Valentines!

Today, as well as many others I am reminded what a truly special gift love is. This morning I watched a family grieve the loss of a loved one. With a heavy heart I hugged two of my very best friends and said a silent prayer to heal their hearts. 

I thought about my love. Drifting around in the ocean, far away from my arms. Hoping he can feel my love through the miles. Our love is not perfect but it is absolutely the most precious gift I have ever been given. Many of you have heard this story, but, I will never forget when Matt asked me to marry him he said, "I want you to be my family." He never asked me to marry him or be his wife. He is clearly not the romantic type, but the love he had in his eyes, I will never forget. That shook me to my core. He wanted to build his life and family with me. I have had days where I was one foot out the door but, my marriage has overcome everything that has come our way and I am so blessed that God gave me this man. I took a little trip down memory lane and dug up these gems! These are all about 8-9 years old now... Love you my forever Valentine... 

This is the very FIRST picture that was ever taken of Matt and I! 

This was right after we got engaged.

The night before we eloped! We look like babies. Hahaha

The best part of today was sharing it with my two favorite little people! The love that you have as a mother compares to no other feeling in the world. I am so grateful  that my munchkins can always brighten my day! 

The loot for movie night :) this is how we roll in the Rogers Zoo! 

My little angel :)

And my monkey :) 

Off to go snuggle with these loves, and watch the Croods!! It gets wild around here on Friday night!! Xoxo

Friends are the Family that you get to pick… Thank GOD!

      I think that military life definitely has it's challenges.  How do I make this stark white, sterile looking cube a home? How do I tell my three year old they have to leave their precious beta fish behind because we can't bring him on the plane… no really Avery we cannot put him in a ziploc bag, no we cannot put him in the mail, noooooo we can not put tape around his tank and put it in the suitcase?! How do I do sew on these damn patches again? How to I label maker the shit out of all these orders, tax papers, leases, medical records and crap we "need" incase they loose our household goods?

     Then there's really hard stuff like how do I say good bye to this person that I love? She is my sister from another mister, for years we have cried together, I mean the good ones like snot bubbling out your nose, shoulders heaving, mascara streamed down your face, cried. Laughed, like OHHHHEMMMGEEEEEE if you say another word I will pee my pants laughing, oh no what too late… Drank countless bottle of wine talking about life from the mundane, eyebrow waxing ettiquite, nail polish, the weather. To the deep like, I don't know what to do and I need you to save me from my life. Fix it now right, with more wine and the perfect words that only the best of friends, your soul sisters even know how to say.

    That is one of the worst and best parts about this life. When I am on the edge and I feel as though a tidal wave is going to crash down around me and swallow me, there are a few ladies that I have on lock down speed dial. I know no matter how long it has been, hour of the night or day, they can make my life right. If nothing else in this world I know that I have them to lean on, or lean with which is sometimes the case.

    I have been so amazingly blessed by the love I have shared with our "second family." How lucky I am to have crossed paths with them. I believe that every person comes into your life for a reason. Some of these ladies I know, without a doubt, were put there to guide me through the good and bad parts of life. A special place in my heart is overflowing with love because of them…

You all know exactly who you are. XOXO

Puppy picture overload...

So I have to post more pictures of my little lady! She is just too cute! 

She is excellent in the car :) 

And at helping with homework! 

However if you put her in her pen instead of letting her help... Then you get some serious puppy dog eyes!! 

If you are ever in the market for a puppy or want to foster I would say absolutely look into making a puppy pen of some kind. They will save you so much time and sanity while potty training and teething all the lovely things that come with puppies! Ours I made from PVC and pre cut fence peices, all from Home Depot. You essentially make 4 sides and just zip tie them together. Make sure that you get very thick heavy duty zip ties that are not easy for little teeth to chew through! The actual materials are 8 peices of 36 inch long PVC, 8 peices of 21 inch long PVC, 16 elbow pieces, PVC glue, 4 screens they sell them in 2 packs and  zip ties! That's it.  

Ours looks like this. And I line it with cardboard, newspaper and training pads! :) I never use a soft bed until potty trained so I used towels and a little basket! It is easier to bleach and clean. 

And for those who aren't sure about a puppy or adult dog... Puppies = sleepless nights. Hence these awesome BAGS! Snuggles are all worth it! 

Little Miss Flopsie

Here she is folks!

This little lady and he sister were rescued by PitSisters a great organization based in JAX. They are 8 weeks old, named Flopsie and Mopsie and will be available for adoption after they are spayed. 

Getting all settled in! 

She is just cute as a button and such a little lover! 

Things are about to get sappy…

     I have been a little more emotional than normal this deployment. I have had a lot of unplanned stressors and I am trying to do the best I can to stay positive. As any other military spouse knows the day he leaves is the worst. No matter how many times, no matter how long he is gone, it SUCKS! So in that spirit I wrote a poem to try and express some of what I am feeling… hope you enjoy. 

This was one my Matt's first deployments after we had Avery. A 90 day polar roller deployment in Kodiak, AK! 

The day he leaves

The day he leaves,

The tears stay in until he is gone,

After our miracles are in bed, and have closed their eyes.

Only then streams of salt slip down my face,

I stare at my empty cavernous bed, which without him has doubled in size.

The day he leaves,

We loose our rock,

He is our hero, Daddy and my truest love.

The days and nights are longer,

An ache clenches my heart like an iron glove.

The day he leaves,

I dry their tears, and remind them how much he loves them.

Time will go quick, I lie.

I am now mommy, daddy, superwoman,

I can never fill his shoes as much as I try.

The day he leaves,

I pray keep him safe, bring him home, let him feel our love,

I put my faith in HIM, it is my only choice.

My angel prays too, “God keep my Daddy safe so he can save the world.”

So much conviction in her little voice. 

The day he leaves,

Is the worst day every time.

KMR – 2/9/2014

Rescue Ranger/Mother Nature Extraordinaire

     So anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely have the biggest bleeding heart for animals. All things, furry or fluffy, scaly or slimy, every single stinkin one. My eyes light up, I just have to grab then and love on 'em! As a kid I brought home anything that would follow me and dragged behind me the ones that would not. My house is full of my own zoo... Zeus, Johnny Cash, Sam, Black Jack, Golden and Sucker. (The kids named the fish!) haha They are spoiled rotten and live their lives as any other memeber of the family.... Clearly.

My hubby has affectionately named me Mother Nature, since the day a pregnant iguana crashed at our house. Igoretta the iguana, she was precious. One of my besties acutally made me a "rescue ranger" kit one year. She's a thoughtful one. 😘 We have had atleast 42 foster animals... I have lost count now. We acutally get another sweet bundle of furry, wiggly, puppy breath love on Sunday. (Don't worry I'll post pics!) 

God has showed me many times, my calling is to be an advocate for animals. Part of that is inspiring others  to help! Trust me not all can foster, it's is a lot of work, and your heart breaks a little when they leave. I literally cry like a baby every.single.time. But, everyone can do something! Go to a shelter or rescue, walk some dogs, pet some kitties, post flyers, share their pictures or do their laundry!!

Listen, they ALWAYS need help with laundry! 

I have passed the Mother Nautre gene on... 

My favorite are the loners... This guy was hiding and I almost missed him. He meowed at me when I exposed his hiding spot... As soon as I touched him he started purring like a Harley. These are the ones that get left behind. Sadly, most never make it out. 

You will never regret a minute of your time that is spent serving others... I promise! Spay. Neuter. Save a life! 

"No Rest for the Wicked…"

Or mommies really either...

     I mean who can sleep peacefully while wedged between two spoiled rotten pitt mixes, and a 6 year old who magically transforms into an olympic gymnast in her sleep?!

     Since my wonderful princess/gymnast spent her night with a 102+ fever, no church for us today! Instead our day is being filled with swollen glands and a delightfully grumpy little girl, movies, hot tea and soup. Thank goodness I'm on my 3rd cup of coffee.

   During my delirious state last night, I did take a trip into deep meaningful thought. While cradling my daughter and having her cling to the only person that she believes can "make it all better." I thought,  I don't mind one single bit on living on 4 hours of sleep!! I am grateful for the extra snuggle time with this little girl that is growing up wayyyy too fast for me to handle.

I'm pretty sure mommies everywhere know the feeling… sleep deprivation is just one of many sacrifices mommies make for awesome perks like all day cuddle bugs.

And so it begins...

     Well my superstar over achiever sister has had a blog for a while, years? maybe. She is always updating this thing with adorable pictures of her precious children and witty little teacher/mommy snippets of life. It really is adorbs. With her encouragement and constant reminding of how hilarious I really am, I decided to give this thing a try.

   Listen… So me. I am a mother of two, a military spouse, a full time colleges student, a foster mommy to any number of random helpless animals, as well as my own ZOO (2 dogs, 2 cats and 2 fish), a DIY junkie, (seriously I CAN'T STOP… my house is all, 50 shades of Pinterest threw up here.) My house is generally a mess, my life always on the edge of crazy… but, I wouldn't have it any other way. I have a happy, not perfect marriage with this pretty cool guy that is not too shabby to look at. My kids, seriously they are the perfect mixture of me and the hubs and I am amazed every single day by what special little people they are.

   I absolutely believe in the goodness of the world and a faithful God. I am trying everyday to get a little better at being just me.