Every year on St. Patrick's Day we wear our green, and celebrate.  For us, we celebrate another anniversary together.  This year we cel...

For 8 years now, this little piece of internet has been my space, my place to write.  It all started in the first home I called my own when I moved from Kansas to Maryland to start a new chapter as a wife.  It has chronicled my adventures as a military spouse and our moves from Maryland to Kansas, Kansas to Georgia, Georgia to Tennessee and finally Tennessee back home.  It captured my feelings after welcoming each and every one of my three babies and even touched on the heartaches that come with being an adult.  This blog has been there every step of the way.

In those years, many of my blog friends (some I still hope to one day meet) have moved on from documenting their life story and the blogging world as a whole has changed in so many ways.  Yet here I am, still typing away.  I have no intentions of turning Somewhere Over the Camo into more than just a part time hobby.  It makes me happy to not have timelines and deadlines.  To write for myself and not a large audience.

Do I enjoy sharing this with you all though? You bet!

Which is why I thought maybe it was time for a reintroduction over here on Somewhere Over the Camo.

I am Amanda.  Rob's wife and mama to 3 beautiful baby girls, Grace, Brooklyn and Emily.  We live in Kansas after 6 years of living where the Army dictated we live.  I'm actively involved in MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers), but otherwise a stay at home mom.  I read, binge TV shows and plan a lot of playdates.  I am highly sarcastic and greatly enjoy Target.  I'm basic but also sort of unique.


Many of you have heard all of ^that^ before.. but maybe not the answers to these questions...

I grew up... in Kansas.  On the eastern end of the state, in a Kansas City suburb that my parents still call home.  We moved when I was 11 - but where I graduated high school from, is where I call my hometown.

Someone who has influenced me... so many people.  These days I am greatly influenced by my mom.  She's getting me through this parenting chapter in my life and helps me in more ways than she is probably aware.  Both my parents set a fantastic example for parenthood and it has given me a great base to build on.

A thing that changed my world view... becoming a parent.  It is cliche.  But it is so very true.  That and leaving my above mentioned suburban Kansas home for Maryland when I was 20 and freshly married.

I am strangely good at... vacuuming, list making and being late to everything.

A defining moment in my life was when... I married my husband.  It was just him and I.  We told no one.  We were only 20.  We went to the courthouse.  We made the decision to forever be attached to each other, and we've never once looked back and regretted it.

Recent discovery I can't stop talking about... sweater weather.  The seasons are shifting here in Kansas and that makes this girl VERY happy.  I LIVE for fall temperatures and I will talk your ear off about it.

Something I'm struggling with right now is... my anxiety.  When the summer months got calm and slow, I found my anxiety creeping back in with too much time to think.  Now I have spent several weeks actively trying to get it back under control.  Less worrying, more living.

My magical reset button is... when all 3 of my kids are asleep and my evening chores are done.  NOTHING compares.  I love my children, I really do.  But I also love those few hours at night that are just mine to do as I please.

In 3 months, ask me about... my upcoming 10 year class reunion.  TEN YEARS.  How is that possible y'all?

For 8 years now, this little piece of internet has been my space, my place to write.  It all started in the first home I called my own wh...

Every year on St. Patrick's Day Rob and I celebrate another special day... our anniversary.  This weekend it was 8 years of being married.

(Quick side note.. March 17th was NOT our intended wedding date.  March 15th was.  2 years and 7 months to the day after we had met in a college algebra classroom in a Kansas high school.  Maryland has a 48 hour rule though... and after our 48 hour wait, it was St. Patricks Day... but also easy to remember for my husband.)


This year we spent our anniversary as I imagine we will spend many anniversaries in the future, at the St. Patrick's Day parade here in our little town.  They put on a really good, long parade here and even though the weather was a tad bit on the chilly side, we were able to enjoy it from the back of our van, right in the front row.  The kids enjoyed themselves and my sister even made it out to the parade with us.  After the parade we came home and warmed up before heading out for a quick dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  With it being March Madness and this being a college basketball town, we left early and got in and out before the local team even played.  A success all around in my book.

So now that we have been married 8 years, what advice would I give newlyweds both in and out of the military?  Here are 8 quick thoughts about married life.

1. Get married for the right reasons.  Love, and only love.  Not for convenience.

2. Consider marriage a lifetime commitment, not something with an opt out clause.

3. Be willing to work on things.  Marriage is TOUGH.  But it is even harder when you are not on the same page.

4. Marry someone you can see yourself having kids with and parenting with.  Or not.  But make sure you have that talk and envision those ideals before you sign on the dotted line.

5. Experience life obstacles before marriage.  You learn so much about a person in the hardest moments and it will help you later on if you know what to expect.

6. Agree to disagree on some things.  It is okay to feel differently on some topics.

7. Don't expect change out of your life partner.  They will always throw the clothes next to the hamper, not in it.  They will always leave beard trimmings in the bathroom.  They will always drive you slightly insane sometimes.  That is who they are and that is who you are marrying.

8. Don't forget to take care of yourself.  A night watching your own shows, uninterrupted or a day at the spa.  Take the time to self love and your marriage will greatly benefit from it.

I don't pretend to be an expert.  Rob and I have been through our fair share of crap and we haven't always made the best decisions for all those involved... but here we are 8 years later.  So we have to be doing something right.

Happy Anniversary, babe!  I love you!



always,
amanda

Every year on St. Patrick's Day Rob and I celebrate another special day... our anniversary.  This weekend it was 8 years of being marrie...

I am about to get a little sappy for a moment in order to wish one of my favorite human beings a very happy birthday...

Dear Rob,

Another year, celebrating another birthday.  "Middle age" as you have lovingly spent the last 3 days calling it... I'd like to think we are still just starting on the birthday celebrations.  Lots of life left to live.

I don't know if I thank you enough for all that you have done for the girls and I.  You work tirelessly to be the best version of yourself and I have said it a thousand times, I am VERY proud to be your wife.  There is nobody else that I would rather support in life, than you.

This next year will be just like all the others in that we will spend it together as a family.  We will make pros and cons lists for every life decision.  We will argue over the comforter and who has too much every night.  We will reiterate the phrase "whatever you decide to do, I have your back".  We will watch our three sweet girls grow a little more each day into the human beings they are destined to become.  We will share life goals, dreams and moments TOGETHER.

You've been my person for almost a decade now.  I'm forever thankful for you.

Happy birthday baby!
May your year be just what you hope for.

Love always.



always,
amanda

I am about to get a little sappy for a moment in order to wish one of my favorite human beings a very happy birthday... Dear Rob, An...

I'm a pretty simple person.  I get by on Pepsi, Netflix and the knowledge that bedtime will come (two children extra needy from some teeth that just need to pop through already has me counting down the hours to bedtime...).  But there are a few things you will NEVER find me doing...

Owning a cat. I'm allergic.  So no.

Gardening. Black thumb... I keep fake flowers alive and that's good enough for me!

Running. Too much jiggling for my liking.  It kind of just hurts.

Coloring my hair. I am a natural redhead... people want my hair color (not to be bold or anything...) so why would I change it?

Eating mushrooms. Gross.  Just the thought of them makes my tummy curl.

Not standing for the National Anthem. I am a proud military wife and a very proud American.  Are there issues with this country?  Sure.  But I don't think disrespecting our flag and the very principles this country was built on is the way to see that change through.

Sticking to a vegetarian diet. My dad's family is full of farmers.  So I'd probably starve if I ever decided meat was not part of my diet.

Loving summer. Heat. Humidity. Sunburns.  Why do people like that?! Fall all of the way here!

Enjoying pregnancy. I know I will hear... but you should be so glad you were even able to get pregnant.  I AM people.  I am so fortunate and glad that I was able to get pregnant and carry both of my baby girls through to a healthy birth.  But being pregnant?  I hate that.  Not being able to bend.  Not being able to lift the laundry hamper.  Not being able to drink if absolutely necessary.  Being miserable and large and miserable.  I didn't enjoy it.  The only bright side was feeling my girls move and hearing their heartbeats.

Willingly waking up early. Not in any way, shape or form a morning person.  But I often stay up late at night because nighttime is my jam y'all.

And with that my hooligans are back at it.  Because heaven forbid mama sits for like half a second.  NOOOOO... someone has to steal a toy from someone else (the dog from the toddler, for the record... baby is still immobile.  Thank heavens!) and World War III breaks out.  Who thought getting a puppy was a good idea?  Oh right my sweet husband who is conveniently at work ALL DAY.

I digress.

Happy Tuesday friends! (It is Tuesday, right?!)

What would I NEVER find you doing?




always,
amanda
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I'm a pretty simple person.  I get by on Pepsi, Netflix and the knowledge that bedtime will come (two children extra needy from some ...

(That old school song that is all like "my name is what, my name is what, my name is chicka-chicka-slim-shady" or something like that legitimately just popped in my head after typing that title.)

Hi, my name is Amanda.

I've noticed a lot of new names around these parts since May and our last Military Spouse Appreciation Day link-up... so I figured I would do one of those getting to know me posts.  It has been ages since I last did one.  So without further ado, a bit about me.

I'm a twenty something mom of two sweet girls - Grace is 2 and a half and Brooke is 4 months old.  I'm a wife to Rob.  He's kind of a big deal.  We've been married for 6 years, together for 7 and a half.  Rob is a smarty pants in the United States Army.  I'm also a fur-mom to Diesel.  Our 5 month old lab. Yes, I am also crazy.  A toddler, a baby and a puppy.  We did NOT plan that.

Rob is currently stationed at Fort Campbell and we live on the Tennessee side.  A year ago you would have found us just outside of Fort Gordon in Georgia.  The only other duty station we have experienced is Fort Meade in Maryland.  Rob has deployed once - to Kuwait.  I moved home.  It was the best decision ever.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Multimedia Design and Development from DeVry University. So graphic design.  I do nothing with it.  I also have an Associate of Arts degree.  I do nothing with it either.  I volunteer when I can instead of working.  And I legitimately cannot wait for my kids to be in school so I can be THAT mom volunteering for evvvverything.  Because, why not?

I'm a natural redhead, and a leftie.  A unicorn, if you will.  I live up to the majority of redhead stereotypes.  I've got a fiery personality sometimes.  But in general I think I'm fun.  I like to vacuum.  I drive a truck.  I drink pepsi, NOT coke.  I can't stand the after taste of coffee.  I enjoy binge-watching  TV shows.  I'm a night owl.  I love sending mail to people.  And I LOVE where I'm from - Kansas.

So that's me.

Now introduce yourself!



always,
amanda

(That old school song that is all like "my name is what, my name is what, my name is chicka-chicka-slim-shady" or something like t...

5 years ago today, I married my best friend.

Hold on, I need that to sink in for a moment.

Sure enough it has been 5 years since March 17th, 2010... but in my mind it doesn't feel like that long.

We have lived in 3 different places in 3 different states.
We experienced one deployment to Kuwait.
We got a dog.
We have sold 2 cars and a truck.
We started upgrading out furniture to the real deal.
We have celebrated promotions.
We created a beautiful baby - our greatest accomplishment.
We have laughed, we have cried.
We have experienced so much... together.

I can't imagine spending 5 years married to anyone else.  He truly is my other half.

Rob - I love you handsome.. thanks for being my best friend, husband and the best baby daddy ever!  We are lucky to have you and I think I'll keep you around for another 5... at least.

5 years ago today, I married my best friend. Hold on, I need that to sink in for a moment. Sure enough it has been 5 years since Marc...