Promotion Day!

Today was a pretty special day at our house.  Mike was promoted to Master Sergeant!  I am so proud of him and all the years and work he has put into his military career. 

I attended the ceremony today with the kids and got to "pin" him in front of his squadron.  I stand on the left (while I pray the kids behave themselves) while Mike's supervisor is on the right.  They read his orders for the promotion and while the entire squadron is standing at attention, we each put a pin on his collar. 

The pinning! Lorelai is making her escape behind Captain Ehrstein!

Then the fun part...... you make a fist and lightly (or not so lightly if you are ornery) hit him on the pin.  Done!  Master Sergeant!  Then everyone files through, kind of like at a wedding, and shakes hands with those promoted and congratulates them.  It is a pretty neat thing to experience. 

I love Mike's unit.  They are the nicest group of people!  I always enjoy our time there, even if I am constantly worried about who is ranked where and how to keep it straight.  Afterall, I did not grow up with a military background and even though I have been around the Army and Air Force for the last 11 years, it still confuses me to no end!  It is a rare occasion that we get to visit him at work.  It isn't a place you can just walk in and have access to.  There is a blue flashing light every so often that means there are visitors in the building! We got to take a little tour after the ceremony and Wyatt thoroughly enjoyed raiding the snacks in the break room.

Lorelai kept trying to make off with a Snickers.  So much for her MumMum!  So, congrats, Honey.  We will celebrate one day in a big way.  Thanks for your service and I love you!

I Win

I'm a pretty competitive person. Well, at least I used to be before age and kids caught up to me. My parents have never said when the competitiveness started for me.  I have never heard them say, "When you were 4, you could not stand to lose!" Well, my son is 4. And he can't stand to lose. The only explanation I have for this is that it is deeply engrained somehow in his DNA.  Sometimes it is cute.  Like when he gives me the report on last nights game with the Shockers. Other times, it gets so frustrating trying to explain to him what teamwork and being a good sport means. Now I know, he is only 4. But he completely understands winning, so why not gracefully losing?

Wyatt and I play Cat In The Hat every day. And every day he beats me. Now it is not that I don't try to win, there are just certain things I can't manipulate. I physically cannot slide myself under the Trick A Ma Stick. Anyone 5'10" with linebacker shoulders just isn't going to make it under the darn thing. And I just can't control how many STOP cards I draw. I don't cheat. Wyatt on the other hand will do anything obvious to win the game. And I stress obvious. I don't let him get away with much but that doesn't stop him from trying. Today his luck ran dry. If he could count the stars on his cards, he would have quit while he was ahead but because he can't, he has to wait until the game is over to learn his fate.  And MOM WON. It was rather funny watching him realize and comprehend that 26 is less than 30. Then, wait for it, instant tears. The kid bawled for a good 15 min. and then preceded to tell me for another hour that he was the actual winner. I tried to give him the typical high five and good game hand shake he doesn't mind giving when HE wins but he was having none of it. He then informed me we would never play the game again (this was taken back at dinner when he informed his Dad he was beating me tomorrow). Jeez!

He is obsessed. I'm just hoping that one day this little trait is a bonus for him and not a detriment. In the meantime, I guess I will just keep pushing my good game policy and hope eventually he catches on. And I'm going to win and win and win. Because if there is one thing I have learned through all the sports I have played and just plain age, you can't be a true winner if you don't know how to lose gracefully.  Be disappointed but make sure it isn't due to your effort and keep digging in your heals and trying. He will get it, eventually, and I hope his dreams of being a baseball player, football player, basketball player and Olympic swimmer come true! Or maybe he can just pay for college!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We had such a great day yesterday.  This is by far NOT my favorite holiday.  Something about all that pink floating around, but the kiddos love it!  I always make Wyatt's cards.  I do the cutting, he puts on the stickers.  Lots of Snoopy stickers!  This was the first year he has been in school for the holiday and they had a fun little party.  Lorelai and I went to help and brought their juice.  Their snack was right up Wyatt's alley.  They had heart shaped Krispy Kreme donuts!

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Is. That. What. I. Think. It. Is??????

They played a couple of cute games and worked on a project too.  I always love it when I get to go hang out with him at school!  It amazes me the teacher can get 14 three and four year olds to behave but she does it with what seems to be relative ease.  Maybe I need to spend more time there!

Counting conversation hearts.

Handing out his Valentines

They were also not forgotten by their Grandparents and had so much fun getting mail.  Lorelai of course knows nothing about any of this but it didn't take her long to figure out her brother was eating something way better than the MumMum mom gave her.

Her very own package!

Wyatt and I made Dad oatmeal raisin cookies.  No one else eats raisins in this house so Mike doesn't ever get them and was pretty happy.  He took them to work so I'm sure most of them are gone today!  Of course we are now in candy rationing mode and I'm trying to stay out of all of it myself.  Not an easy task.  All working parents should be left at home with the candy willy nilly the day after a holiday!  I hope you all had a great day and shared a few treats with your special people.  Happy Valentine's Day!