It's the weekend!

I am so happy this week is over because it was really busy. I mean, it's been busy-ER since the kids started school, but the first week or so is not necessarily hard-core. It's when you get into like the third week that the REAL homework starts coming home...usually by the truckload!

Okay, so I exaggerate. Everyone knows, though, it's not really the kids' homework. It's the parents'. Not that we do their homework FOR them or anything, but it's just more work for us when we'd really just like to be together as a family or just let them PLAY and be KIDS after they get home from school. Now, I realize that they need "practice" and homework helps "reinforce skills" and blah blah blah. However, this is the only time in their lives that they're going to be able to take a break! After that, it's work, school, more work, and more school. Idk. It just kind of stinks that just because someone has TOO much time on their hands, they have to over-schedule someone else that doesn't have ENOUGH time!

So, I'm really awake right now! Not only have I had my intravenous caffeine (lol) but I also got energy the old-fashioned way: SLEEP. Ryan slept all night long for the 3rd night in a row and Chris let me sleep in besides that! I feel so good! My back doesn't hurt and my cold is now gone! Yaaaaay! I need to do something really nice for Chris, but I'm not sure what. I'll think of something.

My energy is really being focused on narrowing down areas of San Diego right now via research. I think we've decided on Temecula. I'm not quite sure because San Diego is just SO BIG! We've been researching for at least a year now, and I think making an informed decision is the only way to go, but I also think there comes a point in time where one has to say "enough already!" I mean, we've about reasearched this thing to death. I think it's just time to hire a realtor and narrow down the neighborhoods and housing options within Temecula. It just really looks like this is the place for us. The commute for Chris will be kind of lengthy...60 min+ sometimes, but there are ways around that. He may be able to find a vanpool, or he can leave before the rush then come home earlier, too. Besides, he'll only be home for a little while. After that, it's ship duty for him, and back to being a single Mom for me, so it's really going to come down to whether I am happy with what the area has to offer our family.

I have been in touch with a few people that currently live in both the San Diego area as well as Temecula. These people have been extremely helpful! I think we have gotten a really good impression of what living in several different areas would be like. Overall, I think Temecula really is a place that has it all. I'll share a link that I personally love: http://www.cityoftemecula.org/temecula/oldtown/
Check that out! Doesn't it look awesome? Now, I know looks can be deceiving, and I know there's no "perfect" place, only because there are no perfect people. However, it seems to be pretty darned close!

And the houses, WOW! Okay, so I guess I have a superficial side of me, I'll admit it. But, who wouldn't want one of these homes? I mean, they are absolutely gorgeous! Hardwood floors (perfect for my kids with allergies/asthma). Big rooms, which bigger isn't necessarily BETTER, but we need the room to spread out. After all, we're a family of five! Besides, I feel bad for my children only having one corner of a room for their play area. They have to keep all their toys in 3 small containers, all packed away because their playroom is also Ryan's bedroom, and Ryan will try to swallow their Legos. Ryan doesn't sleep in the bedroom the other two share because he wakes up a lot and SOMEONE in this house should get a full night's sleep....especially growing boys that have to concentrate in school all day.

They need their OWN playroom. Ryan's (new) room can double as his playroom, but the boys need something seperate...with a door they can close! (Some of our doors in this house won't shut...Navy Housing is wonderful.) The door is necessary for two main reasons: 1. So Ryan can't get in there and either destroy or ingest what they're building. 2. So it can be an un-Godly mess and no one will care cause they won't see it.

Ryan needs to spread out as well. Like I said, his room can double as his playroom, but I need a space big enough to spread his toys out. See, if I have them stacked in containers, he'll CLIMB them! It happens a lot. I also would like to have a closet for him with a hinged door rather than a slider so I can put a baby-proof door knob cover over it. He likes to open his closet and yank all his clothes out of the plastic stacking bins we have them in. We could get a dresser, but that's another thing for him to climb and possibly pull down on top of himself. We could put the dresser in his closet, but like I said, he can get it open and I don't think one could fit in there anyway.


Chris needs his own space, too. He needs a place where he can retreat and feel all comfy and "manly". Idk what that really means, but I'm determined to try and get that accomplished. I know he wants a space to display all the awards and medals he's received throughout his Naval career. He wants someplace that he could enjoy a nice scotch and smoke a cigar in once in a while...or at least that's adjacent to an outdoor space for that. Oh, and he loves wood paneling which I DESPISE, but I could have a little bit framed and hung up on his wall, lol.

Me...what do I want? Sometimes I really don't know. I don't have a lot of time to only think about what I want for myself. That being said, there are some things I need. I need to have more of a closet. Not just half a closet with a little shelf. I need more storage space for linens, supplies, etc. Not just a couple of catch-all rooms that have like 15 different purposes. I do want an office space that isn't constantly in transition. Right now, our office serves as a media room, the kids' homework nook (which is totally fine), my Mary Kay business space, and everything that is moving either in our out of the garage.

I'll be having a garage sale soon, but I can't actually store the items we'll be getting rid of IN the garage because the garage kind of floods when it rains. Um, and it's like the Seattle area, so it rains frequently. We call the 800 number we're given for Navy Housing Maintenence, but no matter how many times they "fix" it, it's still not fixed. I just don't even want to call them anymore because they're rude and the messages don't get through sometimes anyway. Let's all raise our glasses in honor of Navy Housing! Salute! But,*sighhh*, that should be posted on another blog sometime.

So, um back to me. I like to dance and I need a space that's big enough that I can follow along with an excersize dvd and not kick a wall...or a kid...or a coffee table. Don't want this to happen: http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/138154/
I also want a space I can relax in...without hearing video games, crashing, bouncing, running, jumping, etc for just a few minutes. I'm not sure where that would be. Maybe in another country, lol. j/k. No, I think I need a little room off from the master, maybe just a nook. Something with a nice chaise lounge, a little area for books/magazines and a nice window to gaze out at. I also want my bathroom to resemble a spa. It needs to be a place of peace and traquility. I'm really inspired by Asian concepts.

Well, speaking of concepts, I need to see if I can get Ryan to grasp the concept of a nap right now. More next time! Have a great weekend!