Riding the Roller Coaster

Act of Valor

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 20:02:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I attended the MilBlog Conference in Arlington, Virginia. It was my third year in attendance, my third year meeting incredible people, reuniting with friends, and learning more about our military blogging community.

I was excited to learn that the guest speaker at the conference was Scott Waugh, co-founder of Bandito Brothers Films and producer/director of the movie Act of Valor. (Click HERE to view his interview.) And I was honored to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with him.

If you haven't heard of Act of Valor, it's an action packed movie starring active-duty Navy SEALs. Here's a sneak peak...

I know what you're thinking: this movie is for guys right? It's definitely a guy movie, but there's plenty in it for us ladies as well (besides the Navy SEAL eye candy). While the movie does focus on the operations of the team guys, it also includes a glimpse into the families and what they go through on the homefront.

The directors did more than just get to know the SEALs who signed on. They got to know the families as well. When I talked with Scott Waugh, he became visibly emotional when talking about including the family element in the film. "I wanted to put in just as much of the family sacrifice on top of the story," he explained. "Not only is it about what these guys are doing to protect their families and get back, but also what the wives are sacrificing when their men are downrange. It's really that delicate balance."

And that delicate balance makes for a great movie.

So now you want to run out and go buy it right? Well, pretty soon you can.

Act of Valor will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on June 5th. And guess what I've got for you? A coupon code! Head on over to Fox Connect and get $3 off and free shipping with coupon code "VALOR" (code valid until June 17). Do you need another reason to head on over and buy it? A portion of the proceeds from the Blue-ray and DVD are going to Operation Homefront. Awesome.

So order your copy today and then come back and let me know what you thought of the movie!

Memorial Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:26:00 +0000

"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation."

~George Washington

Today is Memorial Day. Most of us are enjoying a day off from work. We're hunting down sales at the mall. We're grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. We're sitting by the pools that are finally open. We're celebrating the unofficial kick-off of summertime.

But I hope that somewhere in the middle of all that fun, you take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. It is a day of remembrance for those brave men and women who have died serving our nation, who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Want to do something to commemorate Memorial Day? The National Moment of Remembrance is at 3 PM (local time). Wherever you are at 3 P.M. today, whether you're finding a great deal on sandals or eating a hot dog while watching your kids splash at the pool, pause for a moment to remember what this day is about.

Looking for more ways to observe Memorial Day? Find out what kind of events and activities are being organized in your local community. Participate in nationwide movements like Wear Blue: Run to Remember. Read articles like this post at the New York Times blog At War and this one at Military OneSource Blog Brigade. And watch videos like this one at Military.com

and this one at NRA Life of Duty.

(For more ideas, check out the top 10 list I put together last year.)

On this Memorial Day I'm thinking about the men and women who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and the families left behind whose sacrifices will never be forgotten.

What are your plans on this special day?

Today Is My Birthday...And I'm Turning Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:08:00 +0000

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." ~Mark Twain

Today is my birthday. Today I am 36 years old. And today I've decided to embrace my age.

Last year was a tough birthday. Thirty-five hit me like a slap in the face from Mother Nature. I swear I woke up one year ago today and looked in the mirror to find wrinkles and gray hairs that sprouted overnight. Despite the fact that those wrinkles and gray hairs were actually a figment of my imagination, I spent the better part of age 35 wondering how over 3 decades of my life have managed to pass by and searching for ways to recapture my youth.

Last night, as I closed my eyes on my last day of age 35, I finally accepted the answer to all of those nagging questions I've been asking myself about the aging process for the past year. You want to know what the answer is? It's pretty profound. You ready?

It doesn't matter.

Yeah, that's right. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter how those years have flown by because we can't get them back. It doesn't matter how badly we want to recapture our youth because it's gone. It doesn't matter how many expensive night creams we purchase because our appearances are going to change. It doesn't matter how hard we try to fight the aging process because we're always going to lose. We age every day, every minute, every second. We can't fight it. So we might as well embrace it.

When the calendar turned over to May this year, my first thought was, "Oh great, my birthday is coming up." When people asked how old I was going to be, I answered with a self-deprecating, "I'm turning old." I laughed, but I didn't think it was funny. I don't want to get older. It's not fair.

Then last week in the midst of my anti-aging self-pity party tantrum, I was slapped in the face yet again. But this time, instead of a reality smack, it was more like a love pat of insight. Not from Mother Nature this time, but from a sweet little 5-year-old boy.

"Mrs. RC, you look younger without your glasses." I looked up to see little man staring at me as I wiped my lenses off on my shirt.

"How old do I look?" I asked, anticipating the usual estimations of either 18 or 80.

"Beautiful," he said. It was so matter of fact. There was no hesitation. Just "beautiful."

And that's when it hit me. Age doesn't matter. It isn't about the number. We are as young as we think we are. And you know what? My youth isn't lost after all. My youth is omnipresent. I find it in my children, in my students, in my friends, in my gym workouts, in my laughter, in my memories. (I mean really, how can I not feel the arms of youth wrap around me when my students tell me that for my birthday they are going to give me a surprise party, a swordfish, a sweaty shirt, nachos, a new pair of glasses, cheese earrings, garbage, and a stinky frog?)

My youth hasn't disappeared. It's simply taken on a new form of maturity and wisdom. I don't feel old. So why should a silly number bother me? Therefore, I'm no longer telling people I'm turning old this year, and I no longer feel the need to answer the age question with self-deprecating humor. Today I'm 36 years old. And I feel beautiful.

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:20:00 +0000

The Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop is officially over, and I'm thrilled to see so many military spouses join in on the meet and greet. I hope you all enjoyed finding new friends and reconnecting with old ones. Thank you all so much for participating and sharing a little bit about yourselves!

And now for the giveaway winners! We had some amazing sponsors offer up some very cool prizes for our blog hop participants. So without further ado, here are the winners according the random pickings of random.org...

Our first sponsor is Marine wife Amber from Goodnight Moon. She is offering up a $25 credit to her Etsy shop, which includes eveything from totes to zipper pouches to iPad cases and much more. But that's not all. She's also offering a coupon code for 15% off the total of any purchases at her Etsy shop to all blog hop participants. Just type in discount code MILSPOUSE at check out!

And the winner is...#97 Erica at Mi Todo (My Everything)!!!

Next up we have, Army wife Kris from The New Normal. She is sponsoring a custom, patriotic knot dress. Perfect for the 4th of July or just to show off your little one's pride in the Red, White and Blue! The dress will be handmade to order and sizes to choose from range from 6 months to 6 years. The Patriotic Dress is the first one made to launch her new Etsy shop, "Happy Days," that she created with her mom.

And the winner is...#117 Abby at Flying High With My Flyboy!

Marine wife and mark. representative Ines from The Few, The Proud, The Wife is sponsoring mark.'s "Juicy Set."
The set includes:
•Juice Gems in Papaya, Beryliscious and Pomogranate
•Petite Slither Cosmetic Bag
•What A Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Denim
•Lash All You Want High-Volume Mascara in Wine

This is a $46.50 value! Wow!

And the winner is...#48 Jolene at 365 Days!

Army wife and Independent Scentsy Consultant Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life is sponsoring this awesome patriotic Star-Spangled Full-Size Scentsy Warmer and a bar of Love Story. Visit Julie's Scentsy website to see all the other cool stuff she has!

And the winner is...#99 Diamonds, Dog Tags & Diapers!

Marine wife April from Marine Parents is sponsoring a $15 gift certificate to her Etsy shop. She has clutches and eReader sleeves and necklaces and toddler backpacks and so much more! She's also offering a 20% discount to all blog hop participants. Use discount code APPRECIATE at checkout!

And the winner is...#66 GI Joe's Wife!

Navy wife Elizabeth from The Young Retiree is sponsoring a set of 5 military-inspired cards from her Etsy shop. What a lovely way to brighten the day of someone who has a loved one serving in the military!

And the winner is...#154 Amanda at Overseas Adventures!

Wife of a Marine veteran Holly from Holly Robertson Photography is sponsoring an 8 x 10 metallic print of a beautiful daisy (see photo). Make sure you check out the other beautiful prints from her shop Whimsical Photos and visit her on Facebook.

And the winner is...#61 Bethany at Canines and Cadences!

Thinking about changing the look of your blog? Well, Army wife Brea from Utterly Chaotic Designs is offering a free Blogger design. The value of the design is $100. The winner can choose between a Blogger design free of charge or $100 off of a WordPress design (normally $200, plus $50 if moving from Blogger to WordPress). Click HERE to check out Brea's portfolio and click HERE to view her packages and prices.

And the winner is...#39 Julie at When Your Feet Don't Touch the Ground!

Hero On My Arm is sponsoring a $25 gift certificate to their store that can be used toward a custom purse or a premade item such as a makeup bag. The company custom makes purses (and makeup bags, and hugs bears and more) from people's OWN uniforms (both military and civilian, such as first responders). Hero On My Arm is the brainchild of an Army wife and all the seamstresses are military spouses or family members. They are also offering free shipping to all blog hop participants! Just type in FONTAINE at checkout. Don't forget to head on over and "like" them on Facebook!

And the winner is...#29 Ramblings of a Marine Wife!

Want to deck your patriotic little one out in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July? *My TuTu* is sponsoring a tutu customized just for you. I can tell you that my daughter and I both have tutus from *My TuTu*, and they are adorable! Make sure you go visit her on Facebook too.

And the winner is...#118 Hillary at The Whole FamDamily!

Simply Charmed is sponsoring a Girls' Night Out charm set. These unique magnetic wine charms are perfect for every occasion or everyday. They are also perfect for stemless glasses. Not into wine? No problem. Even glasses of lemonade and iced tea love to be charmed as well. These beautiful wine charms make great gifts, and are perfect when hosting a party to keep everyone's glass identified. Check them out on Facebook!

And the winner is...#76 Kellee Lyn at You + Me = Wii!

Author Hallee the Homemaker is giving away her trilogy of novels, Sappire, Emerald Fire, and Topaz Heat. That's 3 great books in one prize! You can learn more about Hallee at her blogs Hallee the Homemaker and Hallee Bridgeman, Novelist. You can also find her on her author Facebook page and her blog Facebook page.

And the winner is...#120 Amber at Random Rants of An Army Wife!

Courage Cakes is also joining our team of sponsors. "Courage Cakes allow you to encourage the troops with fresh, hot cake that's ready in seconds and a personalized message that lasts a lifetime. Share the taste of home with those serving our country and we'll send another on your behalf! Celebrate, encourage, and stay connected with Courage Cakes." The winner of this giveaway will receive a Courage Cake, 3-Pack Refill, and Personalized Lid. Yummy!

And the winner is...#108 Conni at Mrs. Mama Hen.com!

Our next sponsor is Trooppaws. They are sponsoring one of these adorable stuffed animals that is a personalized keepsake for military families. This is a wonderful company that truly wants to give back to our military community. You can learn more about Trooppaws on their website, Facebook page, and their blog.

And the winner is...#41 Mick and Mack Army Adventures!

My Military Life is sponsoring a Deployment Survival Kit featuring a TON of their favorite items!
- One of our favorite military spouse books
- Our favorite aromatherapy stress relief item
- MyMilitaryLife.com T-shirt
- $50 gift card to a popular restaurant
- $10 Starbucks Gift Card
- JennySpouse.com mug
- and other surprises

WOW! Make sure you "like" them on Facebook!

And the winner is...#132 Colwells in Carolina!

Military spouse and author Siobhan Fallon is giving away an autographed copy of her book You Know When the Men Are Gone. The book is a beautifully written collection of short stories about military families living in Fort Hood housing. I liked this book so much it made my Top 10 List of Books About Deployment for Military Families.

And the winner is...#26 Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life!

Another fantastic author, Laura Harrington, is giving away THREE copies of her moving novel Alice Bliss. Alice Bliss is a teenage girl who has to cope with her father's sudden deployment to Iraq. The book, which is heartbreaking yet optimistic, also made my Top 10 List of Books ABout Deployment for Military Families. Three lucky winners will find this book in their mailboxes. (Click HERE to read my book review of Alice Bliss.)

And the 3 winners are...#92 Holly at The Morrow, #166 Lynn at Wanderlynn, and #55 Neidy's Infinite Playlist!

Finally, SmileBooks is sponsoring not one but three different photo books. They're giving away an 11 x 8 panorama photo book, a 12 x 12 deluxe photo book, and an 8 x 11 classic photo book.

But wait, there's more! They're also sharing coupon codes with all of our blog hop participants. Just by using coupon code MILSPOUSE, you can get an 8 x 8 soft cover photo book with 26 pages. The book would be free, and all you have to do is pay $7.99 for shipping and handling (or you can add pages for a fee of $8.00 for 8 sides). The value of the code is $26.95. You can also order larger sized books and this code would deduct the $26.95 from your shopping cart. What a great deal! Make sure you go visit SmileBooks on Facebook and "like" their page!

The winner of the 11 x 8 photo book is... #17 Leanne at Military Avenue!

The winner of the 12 x 12 photo book is... #111 Cindy at Married to the Military!

And the winner of the 8 x 11 photo book is... #158 Cammo Style Love!

Winners – please send me an email at ontherollercoaster@gmail.com with your blog and prize info,
and I will connect you with your lovely giveaway sponsor!

Thank you to all of our generous sponsors! And thank you all for joining the fun last weekend! Feel free to come back and surf the linky!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! Military spouses are amazing men and women, supporting our service members, enduring sleepless nights, packing up everything we own and moving across the world, and ironing uniforms. But our service members aren't the only people we support. I've come to learn over the years that military spouses also strongly support each other. And on this special day, I want to say a huge thank you to all of the incredible military spouses who have offered their love and support to me as I've traveled on this crazy roller coaster of military life. We may not wear a uniform, but we serve our country in the silent ranks. Thank you military spouses for all that you do!

And now it's time for some blog hopping! Household 6 Diva and I are proud to present the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop!

Don't know how a blog hop works? No problem. Here are a few tips.

Please sign the linky with your party post address, not your homepage. You DO NOT need to sign the linky on both my blog and Household 6 Diva's! Add it to one and you're done.
Please post the blog hop button on your sidebar so visitors know they're in the right place (AND so you're eligible to win a prize!).
Spend some time visiting with the other lovely bloggers on the linky list and make sure you leave them a comment telling them who you are. I like to leave my party post link in my comments so it's easier for friends to visit us back.
If you're a twitter fan, we're using the hashtag #MilSpouseBloghop.
Have fun!!!

If you have any questions about instructions or technical problems, please contact Household 6 Diva. I will actually be on again, off again my computer all weekend since I'm currently attending the MilBlog Conference in Washington, D.C. Because of the conference, I may not be able to visit everyone until the end of the weekend, but I PROMISE I will make my way to say hello to everyone!

If you haven't checked out all of our cool giveaways, you can click HERE to see what you could win!

And if you're looking for my introduction party post, click HERE.

Now let's get this Meet and Greet going!

Happy Military Spouse Appreciation Day!!!

I'm Wife on the Roller Coaster...Nice to Meet You!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Tomorrow is Military Spouse Appreciation Day! And that means that tomorrow is also the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop co-hosted by yours truly and Household 6 Diva.

So what the heck is an introduction post and why do I need it? Well, what happens in a blog hop is that a whole bunch of people hop around the blogosphere meeting other bloggers just like you as a type of virtual meet and greet. And what do you do in a meet and greet? You introduce yourself! That's what you need to do for tomorrow. Write a little post telling all of your new visitors about yourself. This is called your party post. When Household 6 Diva and I put up the linky tomorrow, you will copy the link to your party post (NOT the main link to your blog!) and paste it into the linky (I promise the linky is self-explanatory). Then you stroll around the list and read all the other fun party posts, leaving sweet comments as you go like you would handshakes and smiles.

Need an idea of what to write and how long your party post should be? Well, here's how my intro goes...

In case you don't know me, I go by Wife on the Roller Coaster but I also respond to Roller Coaster or just plain old RC. I decided to name my blog Riding the Roller Coaster because I always found myself telling people what a roller coaster ride military life is, with its ups and downs and unpredictability. After 2 and a half years of blogging, I'd say that name still fits.

I blog anonymously so you rarely get a whole lot of personal details out of me. I'm a military spouse rapidly approaching my late 30's. My husband is an active-duty service member, and we've been married for 12 years. We have 2 military brats: Big C is our 8-year-old son and Little C is our 4-year-old daughter. I'm currently winding down my second year of teaching kindergarten, and I'm a freelance writer in my spare time. (Spare time? Really. What's that?!)

I typically blog about whatever comes to mind. That includes, but is not limited to: military life, motherhood, the nose-picking of my students, the cattiness of my co-workers, the naughtiness of my Labrador Retriever, my love for top 10 lists, my addiction to half marathons, and my dream that one day I'll be able to balance it all.

I'm pretty active on Facebook, so you can visit me over there. I have a Twitter account too, but honestly, I don't really get Twitter. Facebook is way more fun in my opinion.

So that's me in a nutshell. Feel free to share pictures in your party post too. Everyone loves pictures.

Thanks for stopping by! Now get started on your party post, and I'll see you tomorrow! And don't forget to post the blog hop button either in your party post or your sidebar (can't win a giveaway without out)!

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11.

Click HERE to get the blog hop button code.

Click HERE to take a look at all the really cool giveaways you could win!

Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:41:00 +0000

I'm so excited that the 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop is just 2 days away!

Want to know why else I'm excited? Because I finally get to share all the wonderful sponsors that were kind enough to donate some really awesome giveaways!

I won't keep you waiting any longer. Here is the list of what some lucky winners will soon find in their mailboxes...

Our first sponsor is Marine wife Amber from Goodnight Moon. She is offering up a $25 credit to her Etsy shop, which includes eveything from totes to zipper pouches to iPad cases and much more. But that's not all. She's also offering a coupon code for 15% off the total of any purchases at her Etsy shop to all blog hop participants. Just type in discount code MILSPOUSE at check out!

Next up we have, Army wife Kris from The New Normal. She is sponsoring a custom, patriotic knot dress. Perfect for the 4th of July or just to show off your little one's pride in the Red, White and Blue! The dress will be handmade to order and sizes to choose from range from 6 months to 6 years. The Patriotic Dress is the first one made to launch her new Etsy shop, "Happy Days," that she created with her mom.

Marine wife and mark. representative Ines from The Few, The Proud, The Wife is sponsoring mark.'s "Juicy Set."
The set includes:
•Juice Gems in Papaya, Beryliscious and Pomogranate
•Petite Slither Cosmetic Bag
•What A Line Felt Tip Eyeliner in Denim
•Lash All You Want High-Volume Mascara in Wine

This is a $46.50 value! Wow!

Army wife and Independent Scentsy Consultant Julie from Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life is sponsoring this awesome patriotic Star-Spangled Full-Size Scentsy Warmer and a bar of Love Story. Visit Julie's Scentsy website to see all the other cool stuff she has!

Marine wife April from Marine Parents is sponsoring a $15 gift certificate to her Etsy shop. She has clutches and eReader sleeves and necklaces and toddler backpacks and so much more! She's also offering a 20% discount to all blog hop participants. Use discount code APPRECIATE at checkout!

Navy wife Elizabeth from The Young Retiree is sponsoring a set of 5 military-inspired cards from her Etsy shop. What a lovely way to brighten the day of someone who has a loved one serving in the military!

Wife of a Marine veteran Holly from Holly Robertson Photography is sponsoring an 8 x 10 metallic print of a beautiful daisy (see photo). Make sure you check out the other beautiful prints from her shop Whimsical Photos and visit her on Facebook.

Thinking about changing the look of your blog? Well, Army wife Brea from Utterly Chaotic Designs is offering a free Blogger design. The value of the design is $100. The winner can choose between a Blogger design free of charge or $100 off of a WordPress design (normally $200, plus $50 if moving from Blogger to WordPress). Click HERE to check out Brea's portfolio and click HERE to view her packages and prices.

Hero On My Arm is sponsoring a $25 gift certificate to their store that can be used toward a custom purse or a premade item such as a makeup bag. The company custom makes purses (and makeup bags, and hugs bears and more) from people's OWN uniforms (both military and civilian, such as first responders). Hero On My Arm is the brainchild of an Army wife and all the seamstresses are military spouses or family members. They are also offering free shipping to all blog hop participants! Just type in FONTAINE at checkout. Don't forget to head on over and "like" them on Facebook!

Want to deck your patriotic little one out in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July? *My TuTu* is sponsoring a tutu customized just for you. I can tell you that my daughter and I both have tutus from *My TuTu*, and they are adorable! Make sure you go visit her on Facebook too.

Simply Charmed is sponsoring a Girls' Night Out charm set. These unique magnetic wine charms are perfect for every occasion or everyday. They are also perfect for stemless glasses. Not into wine? No problem. Even glasses of lemonade and iced tea love to be charmed as well. These beautiful wine charms make great gifts, and are perfect when hosting a party to keep everyone's glass identified. Check them out on Facebook!

Author Hallee the Homemaker is giving away her trilogy of novels, Sappire, Emerald Fire, and Topaz Heat. That's 3 great books in one prize! You can learn more about Hallee at her blogs Hallee the Homemaker and Hallee Bridgeman, Novelist. You can also find her on her author Facebook page and her blog Facebook page.

Courage Cakes is also joining our team of sponsors. "Courage Cakes allow you to encourage the troops with fresh, hot cake that's ready in seconds and a personalized message that lasts a lifetime. Share the taste of home with those serving our country and we'll send another on your behalf! Celebrate, encourage, and stay connected with Courage Cakes." The winner of this giveaway will receive a Courage Cake, 3-Pack Refill, and Personalized Lid. Yummy!

Our next sponsor is Trooppaws. They are sponsoring one of these adorable stuffed animals that is a personalized keepsake for military families. This is a wonderful company that truly wants to give back to our military community. You can learn more about Trooppaws on their website, Facebook page, and their blog.

My Military Life is sponsoring a Deployment Survival Kit featuring a TON of their favorite items!
- One of our favorite military spouse books
- Our favorite aromatherapy stress relief item
- MyMilitaryLife.com T-shirt
- $50 gift card to a popular restaurant
- $10 Starbucks Gift Card
- JennySpouse.com mug
- and other surprises

WOW! Make sure you "like" them on Facebook!

Military spouse and author Siobhan Fallon is giving away an autographed copy of her book You Know When the Men Are Gone. The book is a beautifully written collection of short stories about military families living in Fort Hood housing. I liked this book so much it made my Top 10 List of Books About Deployment for Military Families.

Another fantastic author, Laura Harrington, is giving away THREE copies of her moving novel Alice Bliss. Alice Bliss is a teenage girl who has to cope with her father's sudden deployment to Iraq. The book, which is heartbreaking yet optimistic, also made my Top 10 List of Books ABout Deployment for Military Families. Three lucky winners will find this book in their mailboxes. (Click HERE to read my book review of Alice Bliss.)

Finally, SmileBooks is sponsoring not one but three different photo books. They're giving away an 11 x 8 panorama photo book, a 12 x 12 deluxe photo book, and an 8 x 11 classic photo book.

But wait, there's more! They're also sharing coupon codes with all of our blog hop participants. Just by using coupon code MILSPOUSE, you can get an 8 x 8 soft cover photo book with 26 pages. The book would be free, and all you have to do is pay $7.99 for shipping and handling (or you can add pages for a fee of $8.00 for 8 sides). The value of the code is $26.95. You can also order larger sized books and this code would deduct the $26.95 from your shopping cart. What a great deal! Make sure you go visit SmileBooks on Facebook and "like" their page!

A huge thank you to all of our generous sponsors! And if you're interested in sponsoring a giveaway, it's not too late. Just drop me a line ASAP at ontherollercoaster{at}gmail{dot}com and I'll add you to the list.

Winners will be chosen next Wednesday evening by using Random.org. Winners will be randomly chosen from the blog hop linky list. Please keep in mind that you are only eligible to win a giveaway if you have the blog hop button displayed in your sidebar. (Click HERE to get the button code.)

So make sure you get started on your blog hop party post! I'll be starting the party early by posting my introduction blog post tomorrow. Remember to keep it short and sweet...we'll have lots of friends to visit!

If you're on twitter, we'll be using the hashtag #Milspousebloghop so feel free to join in on the conversation!

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop co-hosted by Riding the Roller Coaster (yes, that's me) and Household 6 Diva starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11. I'll see you there!

Attention All Mil Spouse Bloggers...Get Ready to Hop!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:41:00 +0000

"Our service members and their families seldom ask for support or recognition. They carry out their duties to family and country with the quiet courage and strength that has always exemplified the American spirit. On Military Spouse Appreciation Day, we have an opportunity to not only honor the husbands and wives of our service members, but also thank them by actively expressing our gratitude in both word and deed."

~Barack Obama in his 2011 Presidential Proclamation on Military Spouse Appreciation Day

Did you know that May is National Military Appreciation Month? And did you know that this Friday is Military Spouse Appreciation Day?

In 1984 President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the Friday before Mother's Day to be Military Spouse Appreciation Day. Since then, that day is set aside to recognize the sacrifices of our country's military spouses. Military spouses may not wear a uniform, but we proudly serve our country in the silent ranks. And although we rarely ask for recognition or appreciation, it sure is nice to have a day dedicated to us.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, my good friend Ann Marie over at Household 6 Diva and I are co-hosting a blog hop!!! What better fun on a day that celebrates us than to gather us all together to party in the blogosphere.

The 2012 Military Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop starts at 12 noon EST this Friday, May 11.

On Wednesday I'll be posting a list of all the really cool sponsors and giveaways that are up for grabs. If you're interested in sponsoring a prize, please contact me at ontherollercoaster{at}gmail{dot}com.

Thursday I'll post my introduction post to give you some ideas of what you should include in your party post. Remember to keep it short and sweet...we'll have lots of friends to visit!

And Friday is party day!

Don't forget to display the blog hop button somewhere in your sidebar or in your party post (click HERE to get the code).

And yes, there is a Twitter hashtag: Milspousebloghop.

So start working on your introduction posts and get ready to start hopping on Friday! Can't wait to meet and greet with all the other awesome mil spouse bloggers!

To Whom It May Concern

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:36:00 +0000

Dear Sore Throat and Stuffy Nose,
Please please please go away! I am going to the Milblog Conference next week, an event I've been looking forward to for a year. I cannot be sick for MilBlogCon! So please pack up your germs and move them to someone else's body.

Dear Baseball Season,
I know I signed up for you. I know that I was well aware of your scheduling demands before I chose to sign my son up for his gagillionth season of baseball and my daughter for her first season of t-ball. But please go easy on me. I'm still adjusting to the loss of my quiet evenings at home and the addition of the kids' morning crankiness.

Dear Family Hamper,
I know you've been feeling unusually empty lately, but have no fear. Mr. Roller Coaster is on his way home and will no doubt fill you up within minutes of his return. Enjoy the emptiness while you can. You'll be overflowing again in no time.

Dear Gunner,
I don't think our neighbors appreciate your incessant barking at 6 AM EVERY SINGLE MORNING. What the heck are you barking at? Are you having a conversation with the dog across the street? Are you trying to impress the ladies? Do you just like hearing yourself talk? I love that you're a good watch dog but dude, you have to stop the 6 AM wake up calls!

Dear Coffee,
Last week I had my first cup of you in over 10 years in an attempt to give up my morning Diet Pepsi. I have to say I don't get your appeal. Sure you smell nice, and sure it feels good to pour a hot liquid down my sore throat, but I just don't get why people can't live without you. I kind of feel like I'm drinking toxic mud that leaves my stomach a little queasy and my heart wildly palpitating. I find that switching to half caff and disguising you with cream and sugar are helpful, but I'm still not convinced.

Dear Diet Pepsi,
Oh how I miss your artificially sweet bubbles waking me up every morning. Although you're still waiting for me after work every day, I'll be giving up those secret meetings soon as well. The love affair that has held on strong since my college days will soon be a distant memory. I might allow myself to rekindle the past when I go to the movies or order a value meal at Chick-Fil-A, but otherwise I must say farewell. Please know that coffee will never satisfy me the way you do.

Sincerely,
RC

Where Were Mil Spouse Bloggers When I Needed Them 10 Years Ago?!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:14:00 +0000

Photo Credit: Google Images

I logged onto Facebook the other day and saw that I had a message on my Riding the Roller Coaster page. It was from a fellow military spouse who had a blog design question. Being the computer dummy that I am, I wasn't able to answer her question. But she thanked me anyway, adding:

"I LOVE your blog. It has really helped me as we start our journey into the military life."

In the 2 plus years I've been blogging, I've received lots of similar messages. I've also sent lots of similar messages as I expressed my own appreciation to other military spouse bloggers for telling it like it is, offering advice, making me laugh, making me cry, and sharing thoughts I never knew other mil spouses thought.

My heart warms when I get messages like these. It makes me feel good to know that I've helped someone in some small way, that I've given someone something that I was so desperately seeking when I was just starting out as a mil spouse.

During the first few years of my military spousedom, I felt trapped inside my own head. I didn't know how I felt about the lifestyle. I was proud of my husband, but there were so many other emotions going on that I felt guilty for feeling because none of the other military spouses I knew voiced the same thoughts. Throw in a brand new military brat, followed closely by a deployment, followed closely by a PCS, and I felt like I was on a crazy roller coaster. And I wanted to get off.

Flash forward a few years later when I decided to start writing a blog. I had never read a blog before. I just loved writing, and since I planned to write a book one day, my mother-in-law suggested I start a blog (still thanking you P!). So I did. And because I was still hanging on, riding that winding, jolting roller coaster of military life, I figured what better name for my blog. Riding the Roller Coaster.

It wasn't until I was several weeks into blogging that I discovered the vast world of mil spouse bloggers. I couldn't believe there were so many of us out there! So many women sharing their stories and adventures and advice!

And suddenly, I wasn't trapped inside my own head anymore.

I spent hours and days and weeks discovering blog after blog written by military spouses who were going through everything I was going through. My husband had just deployed for the second time, and unlike the first deployment, I felt a sense of camaraderie, a kind of united front against loneliness, fear, anger, sadness, and every other emotion I was too afraid to admit I was feeling. It didn't matter that I had never met these women. It didn't matter what branch our husbands serve in or what their ranks are. It didn't matter our age or our educational background or where we live or whether or not we have kids. My husband was gone, but I wasn't alone. I wasn't riding that roller coaster by myself anymore.

I often think back to when I first started out as a mil spouse and how I would have loved the kind of guidance I have since found in the blogosphere. Where were mil spouse bloggers when I needed them 10 years ago?!

But that doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that I found you. And I'm so thankful to be a part this amazing community.

How did you discover the mil spouse blogging community? How does reading mil spouse blogs help you hang on while riding this military roller coaster?

The Days are Long, The Years are Short

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:56:00 +0000

“The days are long, but the years are short.”

~ Gretchen Rubin, The Happiness Project

I can't count how many times in the last month I've said to someone, "Wow, it's been a really long day." Work has been hectic, baseball season kicked off, and my husband's travel schedule has been frequent and unpredictable. Some days I can't wait to crawl into bed with a good book and finally take a deep breath.

But then there are times that I'm reminded just how quickly time passes: watching my daughter read her first book, comparing the kids' school pictures from this year to last year, seeing my son try to squeeze into a shirt he wore comfortably just 6 months ago. My kids are no longer babies, and I don't know how that happened. Despite those really long days, the years seem to pass right before my eyes.

I know I need to stop squandering time and complaining about long days. Because this is exactly how quickly it seems my kids' childhoods are flying by...

A Song For Mil Spouses By a Mil Spouse

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:05:00 +0000

Last year I shared a song called "Drive These Blues Away," which was written and performed by an incredibly talented Army spouse named Olivia Perez-Breland. Well, Olivia, who currently lives in Hawaii, has just released a video for a song she wrote for military spouses who, like her, have endured repeated deployments and separations.

"No actors were used in the video," Olivia says. "Only active duty Army soldiers and their families who were preparing for deployments at the time of filming. Those soldiers are now deployed to Afghanistan, so the video is very much 'art-meets-life.'"

But Olivia isn't just a talented artist. She's also a military spouse wanting to do something positive for our military community. That's why she's donating half of her proceeds from the song to the Fisher House Foundation to support military families.

Olivia's story got picked up by KITV Hawaii, so click here to learn more about her!

Ok, enough of my chatter. Here's the video. Oh, and you might want to grab a box of tissues.

Traveling with Kids...Oh the Humanity!

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:47:00 +0000

I love my children very much. And they're generally well-behaved, well-mannered, all around pretty good kids.  But as much as I love them, I DO NOT love traveling with them, especially when my husband isn't traveling with us.

I've done my fair share of traveling with the kids by myself, and it's always left me stressed, exhausted, and swearing I'm never going to do it again. I keep telling myself it will get easier as the kids get older and gain independence and require less equipment for travel. (Have you ever run through an airport juggling a roller bag, a backpack, a booster seat, and a car seat while pushing a stroller and holding the hand of a preschooler?!....Not fun!). I grasped onto the hope that my children are finally old enough to travel well as I packed them up and headed out last week for a family reunion.

The trip started off seamlessly. We left for the airport on time with limited tantrums over clothes (Little C) or the capacity to stuff one more Lego creation into a carry on (Big C).  In fact, the trip really didn't get interesting until after we had to speedwalk to make the connection for our second flight, our hands filled with greasy pizza and Happy Meals.  My optimism for a drama-free trip was still mostly intact when I buckled the kids in to prepare for our final destination.  Until I heard over the intercom...

"Passenger Mr. Roller Big C, if you are onboard, please press your call button." Let the drama begin.

I pushed my way against traffic to the front of the plane and approached the flight attendant. "Are you looking for Mr. Roller OR Big C? Because those are 2 different people. Big C IS on this plane. Mr. Roller is not." I had clearly confused the man by pointing out that they were paging the combined names of 2 people so he called an expert from inside the airport to speak with me.

"Is Mr. Roller Big C on this aircraft?"

"MR. ROLLER is not. He is supposed to be (insert tongue biting to keep from going into the details of why my husband would once again not be attending one of my family reunions), but he's not. However, BIG C is my son, and he IS on this flight." Long pause, empty gaze, head scratching. Why was this so confusing? Were we really holding up the entire flight for this?

Fortunately, the woman left to figure it out on her own, and I was permitted to return to my seat where my children were ready to kill each other. "Mom, I have to go to the bathroom." Of course.

"Hurry up," I told Big C. "We're about to take off." I settled Little C into her seat and sat down with my book, figuring Big C would be out any second.

"Ok folks, we're closing the main door of the aircraft. Please prepare for take off." What the heck is my son doing in that bathroom?!

I unbuckled my seatbelt and knocked on the door. "Big C, what are you doing in there?"

"I'm pooping,"

"Well poop faster!"

"Ma'am, you need to take your seat." Once again, I'm being scolded by a flight attendant. Once again, I'm holding up the flight. I swear that woman stood in the aisle impatiently tapping her foot until Big C exited the bathroom and watched us sit down. Lady, I can't control my child's bowel movements!

And then there's the normal travel annoyances like sharing the teeny tiny airplane bathroom with Little C because I don't trust what she'll do in there by herself. The fights over who gets to sit by the window. The long layover in a crowded airport. The tray table goes up, the tray table goes down, the tray table goes up, the tray table goes down. My begging them to take a nap and my subsequent frustration when they finally fall asleep...5 minutes before landing.  Strangers' dirty looks because I brought my 8-year-old son into the airport ladies room with me (sorry, but I'm not leaving my child alone in an airport!). The shoe throwing tantrums while waiting at baggage claim. Mom, I can't carry this anymore. Mom, I'm hungry. Mom, I'm thirsty. Mom, I'm bored. The tray table goes up, the tray table goes down...

No, traveling with kids is never fun. But at least I got a blog post out of it.

What are some of your best traveling with kids stories?

Top 10 Books for Military Brats

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Military life is difficult to explain even to adults. Explaining it to children? Well, sometimes it's impossible to find the right words.

Fortunately, there are people out there who seemed to have found the right words and then put those right words together in books that children of all ages can understand and relate to. In honor of the Month of the Military Child, I thought I'd share some of my favorite books for military brats. (Keep in mind that my children are ages 4 and 8 so the following are books that are appropriate for this age bracket or younger.)

Here are my...

Top 10 Books for Military Brats

10) I Miss You! A Military Kid's Book About Deployment by Beth Andrews

9) Deployment Journal for Kids by Rachel Robertson

8) The Invisible String by Patrice Karst (This one isn't about the military, but it's about being separated from a loved one so it's fitting for deployments.)

7) Over There by Dorinda Silver Williams

6) Piper Reed, Navy Brat by Kimberly Willis Holt

5) The Wishing Tree by Mary Redman

4) Love, Lizzie: Letters to a Military Mom by Lisa Tucker McElroy

3) Military Life: Stories and Poems for Children by Various Authors

2) Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut

1) My Dad's Deployment: A Deployment and Reunion Activity Book for Young Children by Julie LaBelle

What are your favorite books for military brats? What books would you recommend for older military children?

Mil Spouse Appreciation Day Blog Hop

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:44:00 +0000

May 11, 2012 is a very special day for military spouses. Why, you ask? Because this day has been set aside to recognize and celebrate, you guessed it, MILITARY SPOUSES! Yes, that’s right. May 11 is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.

Mil spouses (and girlfriends and significant others, men and women alike) are amazing people with incredibly unique stories to share about the ups and downs of being married to the military. Thanks to blogging, we mil spouses are able to share those unique stories as we offer each other advice, support, laughter, and sometimes just a virtual shoulder to lean on. Blogging also allows us to share our stories with our non-military friends, who may not know a whole lot about our world but would like to.

In honor of Military Spouse Appreciation Day, my bloggy soul sister Ann Marie over at Household 6 Diva and I thought it would be fun to celebrate the awesomeness that is the Military Spouse by throwing together a little blog hop, an online mixer for all of those amazing mil spouses hanging out in the blogosphere.

And what if you’re not a mil spouse but you’d like to express your appreciation? Well, we’d love to meet you too, so please join in! The more the merrier!

What exactly does this all mean? It means that on Friday, May 11, Ann Marie and I will post a Linky on our blogs. What are you supposed to do? Quite simply, you put together a brief post introducing yourself (and we say brief only because we’ll have so many friends to visit and so many intros to read!). Then head on over to either Riding the Roller Coaster or Household 6 Diva and link up your intro post. Then sit back, relax, and visit with friends both old and new.

But that’s not all! Noooooo. Because we love our mil spouses so much, we’re going to have some very cool giveaways. After all, what’s a Military Spouse Appreciation Day without presents?!

Ok, let’s take a deep breath because we still have a month before the big day. Today is just a heads up. In the meantime, work on your introduction post, keep your eyes peeled for blog hop updates, and feel free to spread the word!

***If you’re interested in sponsoring a giveaway, please contact Roller Coaster at ontherollercoaster@gmail.com.***

Mom, I Want to Be a Military Wife Just Like You

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Are you a military spouse raising military brats? Have you ever wondered how you would react if those military brats came home one day and announced they wanted to either join the military or marry the military? Well, I have. Head on over to the Homefront United Network to read my latest post, Mom, I Want to Be a Military Wife Just Like You. Make sure you share your thoughts in the comments section!

10 Resources for Military Brats

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:06:00 +0000

Google Images

As I'm sure you've already heard, April is the Month of the Military Child. What exactly does this mean? To me, it's a reminder that I'm not the only one in this family making sacrifices for my husband's military career. Not only are my children sacrificing as well, but they probably don't even understand why, which makes it that much more difficult.

I love that there is an entire month dedicated to saluting our children. They deserve some appreciation, don't they? And I hope that we continue to remember the unique needs of our military children during the other 11 months out of the year.

That's why I compiled a list of resources just for military children. I can't claim to have used all of these resources, but the ones I don't have personal experience with come highly recommended by families who do. Whether they advocate for military brats' education, offer ways to cope through family separations, or provide a safe place for military brats to meet online and support each other, these resources all have the same goal: to help make these children's lives a little bit easier.

10 Resources for Military Brats

Blue Star Families

{BSF doesn't focus strictly on children like the other resources I'm listing, so I wanted to point you in a specific direction on this one. To celebrate the Month of the Military Child, Blue Star Families is offering fun ways to honor our children, including a Military Child Essay Contest and a Certificate of Appreciation. Also be sure to check out their other programs for military brats like Books on Bases and their newly launched MilKidz Club.}

Military Child Education Coalition

Sesame Street for Military Families

Operation HUG-A-HERO

DeploymentKids.com

Our Military Kids

Military Youth on the Move

ZERO TO THREE

Operation: Military Kids

Military Kids Connect

Have you ever used any of these resources? If so, what did you think? What resources did I leave out? Please share!

Month of the Military Child

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000

April is the Month of the Military Child. How awesome is it that our military brats get a month all to themselves?!

Military brats are truly a unique breed of children. They move around the world, they leave friends and make new ones, and they sacrifice precious time with one or both of their parents as they go on deployments and work strange hours. It's only fitting that we spend an entire month recognizing these amazing children for the sacrifices they make. They may not be old enough to wear a uniform, but they serve our country too.

There are so many ways to honor military children. Throughout the month of April I'm going to try my best to let my own military brats know how much I appreciate them, starting this morning with extra hugs and kisses and a big fat thank you for being such incredible kids. How do you plan to celebrate your military brats this month?

Happy Month of the Military Child to all you military brats out there!

The Little White Lie: Apply When Necessary

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:22:00 +0000

Google Images

I have a 30 minute lunch break every day at work. And during that lunch break, all I want to do is eat, check email and Facebook on my iPhone, and enjoy the silence. When you work with 5-year-olds, silence is a rare commodity. After a morning filled with whining and tattling and your name repeated over and over and over again, 30 minutes of silence is as rejuvinating as a cold Gatorade after an 8 mile run.

So you can imagine my frustration at having to share those precious 30 minutes with a co-worker who is almost as whiny as those 5-year-olds. She complains, she whines, she lacks the filter that connects her brain with her mouth, and as I learned the other day, she is incapable of the little white lie.

I'm not a big fan of liars. But I do believe in the importance of the appropriate use of the little white lie. When a minor untruth or an omission of the truth can spare one's feelings, I don't see the harm in applying that little white lie when necessary. Case in point, my conversation with Filter-less Co-Worker.

She was going on and on about scheduling an appointment with her doctor for bloodwork, and when she paused to see if I was listening, I regrettably chose to fill the awkward silence by confiding that I had just put in a call to my own doctor to request bloodwork.

"Why? What's wrong?" Hmm, I thought maybe she was expressing genuine concern. So I continued.

I told her about some of my random body issues, including weight gain.

"Yeah, I wasn't gonna say anything, but I've noticed you've really gained weight." I looked up from my sandwich, my jaw practically on the floor. Did she just say that?! Did she just violate the female code of common courtesy by telling me that I have indeed gained weight?!

Here I am, telling this woman that I'm concerned enough about my weight that I'm booking an appointment to see a doctor. I'm clearly aware that I've put on weight. I'm clearly already bothered by it. I don't need her confirming my fears that my weight gain is substantial enough that it's noticeable to other people. This would have been the perfect opportunity to open mouth and insert little white lie.

But she didn't stop there.

"Yeah, you talk about all this running that you're doing. I keep wondering why you're not trimmer." My blood pressure spiked. But I continued to bite my tongue.

But she still didn't stop.

"Isn't that bad for your heart? Carrying all that extra weight while you're running all those miles?"

Seriously?! I need to shed about 10 pounds, not 100. At this point, I found a way to change the subject before I either burst into tears or punched her in the face.

I've been thinking about that exchange for days now, and I still can't come up with a reason why this woman chose to say those things. Her comments didn't help me in any way, they didn't bring any insight to my health concerns, and they certainly didn't make me feel better. Why couldn't she have told a little white lie? Or simply executed a white lie of omission by keeping her mouth shut?

Yes, I'm a believer in the little white lie. I believe in sparing people's feelings, especially when there's no good reason not to. And I believe I might start eating my lunch in my car.

Do you believe in the little white lie? Do you think it's ok to lie or omit the truth to spare someone's feelings?

Top 10 Favorite Roller Coaster Facebook Status Updates Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:09:00 +0000

Image Credit: Google Images

Last year I wrote a top 10 list of my favorite status updates on Facebook. It was pretty funny scrolling through months of status updates and reading friends' comments as I collected my favorites for the list. Because I had so much fun the first time, I thought I'd throw together a sequel. So here are my...

Top 10 Favorite Roller Coaster Facebook Status Updates Part II

10) I just caught my 4-year-old PAINTING the slap watch my husband gave her. "You can't paint a watch!" I said as I grabbed it from her and washed the paint off. "But I wanted a different colored watch." Can't fault the girl for using creative problem solving skills.

9) Just swam laps for the 1st time in almost 2 years. Lessons learned: swim caps melt together when they sit unused in your gym bag for 2 years, Speedos hide nothing, and waterproof mascara is a wise investment.

8) Whenever our family goes on a road trip, I instruct my kids to pack a backpack of toys and books that will occupy themselves both in the car and at our destination. We just got back from a road trip, and as I unpack my 4-year-old daughter's backpack, I'm wondering what her thought process was when she chose her items. I just pulled out a Hawaiian lei, a Batman eraser, her soccer medal, a windchime, a pad of Post It notes, and my Riding the Roller Coaster business card. Yes, I have a very interesting little girl.

7) The first school day after a holiday is always interesting. Half my students were falling asleep, the other half were hyper. Unfortunately I was on Team Sleepy. And now I'm on Team Headache. But no worries, in a couple of hours I'll be on Team Pinot Grigio.

6) Do you ever read one of your old blog posts and think, "Wow, I wrote that? That's good stuff."??? Just read something I wrote a year ago but don't remember writing. I have to say I entertained myself.

5) "Mom, there's blood on your bed!....Oh my gosh, Gunner lost a tooth!...No wait a minute that's MY tooth!...Gunner knocked my tooth out!...The tooth fairy is coming tonight!...Thanks Gunner!" I love those moments in my kids' lives that are defined by exclamation points.

4) I said I wasn't going to do New Year's Resolutions this year after failing miserably on last year's list. But I keep catching myself thinking of all the things I want to do in 2012. Maybe I just need a name change to get over that mental block. Instead of "New Year's Resolutions" maybe I should change it to a more forgiving "Things I Want to Accomplish, But It's Ok If I Don't List" or maybe the tough love "Get Off Your Ass and Get Going List" or maybe just the simple "RC's List of Stuff." I'll let you know in 365 days which one worked.

3) I told my kids to clean up their snacks 3 times. "I sound like a broken record!" I said in frustration. Big C looked at me sideways and asked, "What's a broken record?" Oh how old I feel.

2) I'm downstairs. Mr. RC is upstairs. We're texting each other. You know you're lazy when...

1) I love that I started a discussion on my FB page about iron deficiency and blood donation and it led to a discussion about talking to strippers about their maternity leave policy. I love my Facebook friends.

What are some memorable Facebook status updates you've written or read?

Adventures in Camping

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:01:00 +0000

Image Credit: Google Images

Ahh, the great outdoors. The fresh air. The peace and quiet. The campfires. There's nothing quite like pitching a tent and letting the rest of the world fall away as you sleep under the sparkling stars. Right?

Unfortunately, my husband and I don't exactly have the best track record when it comes to camping. And my mind replayed those less than stellar experiences when he suggested we take our kids camping after school on Friday. It's one thing to have a bad camp out with just two people, but when you throw an 8-year-old boy, a 4-year-old girl, and a 10-month-old Labrador retriever into the mix, well, those camping complications aren't as funny as they once were.

The first time Mr. Roller Coaster and I ever went camping, we were young and stupid and madly in love. We went with a large group of people, hiking a mile or so to the campsite, where everyone put up tents and sat around the fire with stories (and flasks) to pass around. The rain started shortly after we bundled up in our sleeping bags, pelting our tent throughout the night as we hoped the rain fly would keep us relatively dry. When we awoke the next morning, we discovered that our tent was only one of two to remain standing. The rain had chased away the other dozen or so tents that had surrounded ours. Apparently, we were the only ones crazy enough to stick around to sleep in the rain. Back then, we considered that romantic.

For our next camping trip, Mr. RC took me out to a small island on his jon boat. While he set up camp with the friend who tagged along, I sat on the beach and watched his (later, my) chocolate lab swim laps around the lake. The weather was perfect. Until suddenly it wasn't, and we were assaulted by a severe thunderstorm. We finally had to decide if we were more at risk of being struck by lightening on the island in a tent or on a boat ride back to the car. We ultimately chose to break down camp and head home in the middle of the night. I crouched down as much as I could on the boat as the wind and rain struck my face, and I wondered how Mr. RC could possibly drive the boat with zero visibility. By the time we got home, we were wet and cold and cursing the local weather forecasters for once again misinforming us.

Not wanting to give up on the entire institution of camping, we tried yet again. The third time we were hard core, packing as lightly as possible as we prepared to hike an 8-mile loop. But the weather foiled our plans once again. We didn't know where the nearest campsite was, so when the rain started, we set up camp right on the trail. I don't remember who discovered the first tick or the second or the third. All I remember is spending the entire night picking ticks off of each other, dozens and dozens of disgusting little ticks. The funniest part? We realized the next morning that if we had walked about 10 minutes longer the night before, we would have made it to a campsite that probably wasn't infested with critters.

All 3 of those camping trips flashed through my mind on Friday as my family loaded up in my husband's truck for our first Roller Coaster family camp out. I have to admit I wasn't overly optimistic.

So was this latest adventure in camping as disastrous as the others?

Well, other than the bag of clothes and pillows that was left behind in our family room, the thunder that rumbled while the kids splashed on the beach, the puppy that ran off 4 times (and the subsequent yelps when we had no choice but to tie him to a tree), the SpongeBob pajamas that fell out of Little C's backpack as she walked to the shower area (that someone was kind enough to turn in to the office for us to find in the morning), the one flashlight that four people in two tents had to share, the 2:30 AM domestic dispute of our neighboring campers coupled with my husband's obscene snoring that stirred up a nasty case of insomnia, and the 5 AM screams of Little C that "BIG C IS NOT IN THE TENT!!! WHERE IS BIG C?!?!?!" (and Big C's sleepy mumbles, "I'm right HERE. I'm right next to you.")...I'd call this camping adventure a success. For the first time in my camping history, IT DIDN'T RAIN! That, in and of itself, equals success in my camping book.

Of course the deciding factor in camping success or failure rests in my children. And judging by their smiles and laughter and blissful exhaustion, I'd say they had fun. And that's all that matters.

Do you have any interesting adventures in camping? Any tips for camping with kids?

Sh*t Civilians Say to Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:35:00 +0000

I was trying to come up with a top 10 list for today, but my brain has been burnt toast since I ran a half marathon over the weekend. For some reason, my thoughts keep going back to a YouTube video I saw a couple of weeks ago, Sh*t Civilians Say to Veterans. I passed the link on to my husband, who thought it was so hysterical that when I mentioned I wanted to write a top 10 list to share my own sh*t civilians say to service members, he told me not to bother because this video says it all.

So while I allow my brain to recover from its post-race cloudiness, I thought I'd share someone else's creativity. Prepare to laugh.

{{{PROFANITY WARNING: IF THE F-WORD OFFENDS YOU, YOU MIGHT WANT TO SKIP THIS POST}}}

Would you add anything to this list of sh*t civilians say to veterans?

Wife on the Roller Coaster Meets Military OneSource

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 19:26:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to share that I'm a guest blogger today on the Military OneSource Blog Brigade! Check out my post called Moving Day Memories.

***If you're a military spouse blogger, and you're interested in guest blogging at the Blog Brigade, click HERE for the guidelines and latest topics.***

How Pinterest Is Helping Me Bond With My Son

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 01:28:00 +0000

I joined Pinterest a couple of months ago. And just as I suspected I would, I went crazy for the first couple of weeks, pinning this and pinning that. I pinned recipes and quotes. I created boards for the important roles I play: mil spouse, mom, teacher, runner, writer. I even started pinning my favorite top 10 lists from my blog.

As of right now, I have 180 pins. And until a few days ago, the only pin I ever looked at after I originally pinned it was a Valentine's Day craft I ended up doing with my kindergarten students. The craft was cute. I may or may not repeat it with my class next year. But it didn't change my life or my relationship with my students. However, the second pin I went back and looked at was different. And thanks to that pin, I'm now bonding with my son in a way I haven't been able to in quite some time.

The original pin comes from a blog called Mama Jenn, although it sounds like she got the idea from another blogger who got the idea from another blogger....you know how that goes. My cover isn't nearly as fancy as hers, but fancy isn't my son's style.

The basic gist of the Mom and Me journal is that Big C and I write letters to each other, asking and answering questions. We've only been corresponding for a few days, but already I'm getting a glimpse inside my 8-year-old son's brain.

Big C is a man of few words. Unless you enjoy tutorials on Legos or Air Soft guns, you're not going to get a lot out of him. A typical conversation with Big C goes a little something like this:

"How was your day at school?"

"Good."

"What did you learn?"

"Nothing."

"Do you have a lot of homework?

"I guess."

But after his recent attempt to initiate a sex talk, I realized I needed to find a way to convey to him that asking me questions is not only ok, but there are different ways to ask questions. If he doesn't feel comfortable asking me verbally, then maybe he's like his mom and finds it easier to express himself through the written word. And that's when I went back to Pinterest and decided to do more than just pin a good idea and save it for later. Later became now.

Although Big C and I haven't touched upon the meaning of life or where babies come from, we have definitely opened the lines of communication. We may be starting out with mundane discussions about our favorite parts of movies and his favorite subjects in school, but I'm hoping these are just the warm-up stretches to prepare us for the real exercises to come. I love watching his excitement when he looks on his bed and finds the notebook, knowing there's a new entry for him to read. I love that he finds creative places for me to find the notebook after he has left his own entry. And of course I love that we have something that is just OURS, something that is only for Mom and Big C (which of course has made Mr. RC insanely jealous even though Big C has assured him that he is allowed to guest post every now and then).

I haven't been very active on Pinterest lately. I don't know if it's because I've lost interest after that initial high of joining a new club or if it's because I just don't have time to look at smoldering photos of Ryan Gosling or crafts I will never in a million years attempt to do. But even if I never pin another pin, I'll always be thankful for Pinterest for giving me a way to bond with my son.

Are you on Pinterest? Do you find yourself pinning awesome ideas but never going back to actually do them? What are some of your most memorable pins? Please share!

Emergency Room...We Meet Again

noreply@blogger.com (Wife on the Roller Coaster) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Image Credit: Google Images

For most of the day yesterday, my 4-year-old daughter complained that her eye was hurting. I inspected it several times, but failed to find anything in her eye that might be irritating it. By late afternoon she was crying and rubbing until half her face was red and puffy. I knew she was tired after a busy weekend, so I put her to bed early, figuring a good night's sleep was all she needed.

I was wrong.

At 9:45 PM she woke up screaming. By 10:15 PM I was carrying her into the emergency room. And at 12:15 AM I was carrying her out of the emergency room with a prescription for her corneal abrasion.

This was not Little C's first trip to the ER. Nor was it her 2nd. Nope, not her 3rd either. This would be #4. In less than 4 years. Guess I should expect an ER visit every year with this one.

My son saw his fair share of ER docs when he was a baby, but that was for normal issues like late night high fevers and ear infections. My daughter seems to come up with more unique reasons to visit the ER.

Oddly enough, Little C's first ER visit was also for a scratch on her eyeball when she was only a year old. She was trying to keep up with her big brother and his preschool friends on the playground, when that same big brother tossed a stick behind him without looking. As bad luck would have it, that stick landed in his sister's eye. Off to the ER.

The second time around, Little C hitched a ride to the ER in an ambulance. It was Big C's opening ceremony for t-ball. It was really hot. Nap time was overdue, and I didn't pack enough snacks. I held Little C in my arms as she threw the mother of all tantrums. And then I watched as her eyes rolled in the back of her head, her body went limp, and she passed out. Someone called 911, an ambulance pulled into the crowded sports complex, and I left my son with a friend as I climbed in next to my not quite 2-year-old who was strapped to a stretcher. Diagnosis? My child knows how to hold her breath until she passes out.

The third visit was the bloodiest. She tripped over her own feet at school and landed face first on the corner of a table. Five stitches right between her eyebrows. I think I was almost as traumatized by the experience as she was. I never want to see a 3-year-old in a papoose with a mixture of blood and soapy water dripping into her eyes ever again.

We have no idea how this latest injury occurred, and neither does she. It's definitely the most boring of her ER stories. But when it comes to reasons to visit the ER, I guess boring is good.

So I sit at home today with my daughter who is watching tv with one hand over her bad eye. And I'm thankful we got this year's ER visit over and done with. It gives me a whole year to plan for the next one.

Do you have a good ER story?