new blogs and a life update

I wish I started doing this a while back, but I'm going to start posting the newest police wife and girlfriend blogs as I find them. So here's the most recent from the last few weeks.

• The Life of Le Wife (by the way Le Wife, I've tried to leave you comments and it won't let me for some reason. Do you have an email?)
• Chronicles of a Damsel Under Stress and Underdressed
• Stella. . .Always About the Beach
  
• A life lived to glorify Him
• A Day in the Life of a Deputy's Wife
• the johnson squad
  
• Sanity Check
  

Am I missing anyone from the last couple of weeks? I've said it before, but I just love this little blogging community. Looking for police spouse support was nearly impossible until it dawned on me that there were probably police wife bloggers online somewhere. I have found that when I'm feeling like no one understands or gets it, or I just need an answer to a question, I know that there is a small group somewhere that does understand and can answer my questions. It's great. It's definitely helped me deal with whatever's come my way.

In other news: I am tuckered out! My kids threw me a curve ball, which is what kids do on a regular basis, and I have now instituted the bean jar method. The fighting started to get ugly (MOM! Luke hit me on the forehead and pulled my hair because I wouldn't answer his knock knock joke or there's the time when my 6 year old went ballistic when the 1 year old went into her room and she didn't want him to and she began thrashing around and kicking boxes and throwing toys and gnashing her teeth. I gave her the business face and said severely, "that is unacceptable behavior", but inside, my mind was saying, "what in Sam Hill?"). So I happened to have 2 old bags of dried pinto beans. I filled a container with them. Then I got 2 medium sized canning jars and they each put a sticker on their own jar to tell them apart. So now whenever they do anything at all that is good, they get anywhere from 1 bean to a handful. It is working! They are more aware of their behavior because I constantly point out when they do something kind, helpful, or whatever. They watch me put beans in their jar. The 3, almost 4 year old sometimes doesn't care, which was to be expected. He'll do something naughty and I'll say, "Uh Oh. Now I have to take some beans out". Sometimes he'll say, "Take them all out!" but overall, it's working really well and their behavior is improving. When their jars get full they get to choose a new toy or to go on a special outing. Luke wants a new Buzz and Woody toys since he single handedly destroyed his originals (i.e. legs missing, woody's sting broken, seams ripping, marker on the faces, etc.).

Oh, and HF? Who's that? He's never here. And he's been sleeping extra when he is here. But he's got some blogging lined up. Only 6 months in and he's been to court, dealt with his share of calls and perps, and seen the office politics in action. Things I never thought I would have to think about.

Maybe it's because of the holidays, but life just seems busier, and I feel more stressed and tired. So if I'm quiet around here, it's because I'm resting, busy with bad behavior correction, or running around like a chicken with its head cut off. I just thought of one more reason why I'm tired. It's that blasted Harry Potter. I'm addicted. I'm now one of those people that used to frighten me that eat and breathe Harry Potter. We played a game of charades tonight with some friends and when someone was acting out their part, I said, "Stirring a cauldron!" I was way off. And it might just be in my head but I think I got a sideways glance or two. . .