A Bonus For Being the Only Female in the Family...

You've heard me talk about having all boys. Living in a home of men. Yes, I always check the toilet seat and even bathe with Aquaman.

While we were out shopping at Target last night, I had a revelation. When we go shopping, it is the ONLY time I can go into a bathroom and not have to worry about someone coming in. The restrooms are separate and as much as my husband tries to convince me, I AM using the Women's room...not the family room!!

It's those few minutes of peace and quiet that makes grocery shopping with three kids under the age of 6 manageable.

That being said, the picture below was a source of humor for Liam (who can now read--and knows what words he cannot say). Ummm Target? Might want to rethink the abbreviation.

Peace and quiet. Found in the bathroom at Target.

I also want to mention Julia's blog  which is a great blog about homeschooling, geocaching, living frugally and crafting!! Check it out if you're interested in any of these things...she also has some great giveaways and I was the lucky winner of the DiGornio Pizza Giveaway. I've made this one of my MUST READ blogs! You should too!!

Mommy's Recess

It's been eight years. Eight years since Emma Rittgers and I have found a project we could come together on. We've been friends since the fall of 2002, when I was working for the Republican Party of Iowa and she was at the Treasurer's office. We ended up working on Scavo's campaign together and have been friends since. In the fall of 2004, I was working for Senator Grassley's re-election Campaign and she was working to get President Bush re-elected. While we were both working to get Republicans re-elected to office, and while we'd run into each other at dinners and parades, we rarely had time to hang out.

I've known Emma and her (then) boyfriend Tim longer than I've known my husband. Which tells you that Emma and Tim know some of my ex-boyfriends. But once David (my husband) had the approval of Emma and Tim, I knew he was a keeper.

Almost two years later, they visited us in the hospital to welcome our first son. They were recently engaged, but kept it a secret from us so it wouldn't "steal our thunder". We were engaged a month later.

They were married in August of 2006, David and I married in October of 2006. At that time, Emma was working for Nussle's campaign for Governor and I was the Co-Chair of the Polk County Republican Party. We were involved in their wedding, and they stood up for us (Bridesmaid and Groomsman). When David deployed in 2007, they were always there for me.

When David returned in 2008, we found out we were expecting. Emma was expecting a month after me. Our middle son and her son are only a month apart. After I decided to stay at home with our third child, Emma and I started a play date. Our oldest attends preschool near their home, so I take the middle child and baby to her house once a week to play and visit. We had been sharing tips and recipes and decided that we need to do a blog, for moms by moms.

And that's how Mommy's Recess  came to be. A brain child of two political operatives turned mothers turned bloggers. Check it out. And we'll try to keep the politics to a minimum. :)

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

After we made the decision that I would stay at home with the boys, and even though the cost of daycare that we're saving offsets me not working, I decided to get back into my original passion. Writing. I do have a Bachelor's Degree in English after all.

I started with associated content, seed.com and suite 101. I am a contributing writer to all three sites. I also maintain my monthly column with www.thesoapboxers.com.

Check out my profiles and columns by clicking on the links below. I am excited for what the future holds. Excited for upcoming projects that I am working on with friends...and as soon as they come to be, you can be sure I will share it here.


Suite 101 Profile
Associated Content
The Soap Boxers


So what are you waiting for? Check it out!

It has come to my attention...

that there are a few of my blog readers who are not pleased with my current living situation. While I do not need to justify myself to ANYONE I feel I need to stand up for myself.

I'm 26 years old. I'm married and we have one 17 month old son. Do you recall how hectic life was when your children were this age? Can you imagine working full time while taking care of your child and your home...and yourself? Can you imagine doing it all alone--KNOWING that your husband is in a region where people are set out to kill him?!?!

I moved in with my sister in law for many reasons.

For financial help. I plan on putting money aside so when David returns, most of our debt will be paid off and we will have a nice downpayment for a home.

I did it for emotional help. Surviving a deployment isn't easy. Knowing your husband is in harms way, knowing that he is seeing things that NO ONE should see isn't going to be easy on him. Having him in such a dangerous place isn't going to be easy on me. I cannot call him if I want. I cannot hear his voice or see his face every day. I just wait and pray that no officer comes to our door in the middle of the night to deliver horrible news...and I wait. I wait for the day he calls to tell me, "Honey, I'm coming home."

I have accomplished quite a bit in my 26 years on this planet. I have TWO college degrees. I graduated with honors. I have worked on a Senatorial campaign. I have had my poetry published. I have been a published opinion columnist.

I have a wonderful selfless husband and we have a bright, friendly, loving little boy. I have made a great name for myself, not only in the political realm but in Des Moines. I have risen the ranks from member of the Polk County Republican Central Committee to Secretary to Co-Chair. I am a breastfeeding mentor to three young mothers, and they are all succeeding. I have many great friends and collegues. And I'm planning for my future.

So we don't own a home. How many 26 year olds really do? We have a plan. And we're working our plan. Some may say that, at the age of 26, I should have more. I think I have plenty for where I am at right now. I've experienced a lot. A lot more than most 50 year olds. Homes, cars, expensive purses and shoes are just things. You can't take them with you when you go...but as long as people remember you, you live on. I've touched many lives so far with my mentoring, my writing, my political work...and I do not plan to stop.

So yes, for now I am living in the lower level of my sister in law's home.

But keep in mind that I am living there because my husband is over fighting a war so that your husband/brother/son doesn't have to.

The last thing I need right now is people judging me and my decisions at this point in my life, when I need support the most. I appreciate all of the support I've had so far...from my parents, my in-laws, our friends...and all of the support will be remembered.

I leave you with this:

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment that you pronounce you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, "Let me take the speck out of your eye," when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

Matthew 7. 1-5