Signs of Deployment

So, Lane has been gone for a month now. I started to notice trends over time in the past that show that he's gone. Gone can be for a trip that lasts a few days or weeks, but it can also be for a few months in a deployment. One of the tell tale signs that a family is enduring a deployment is the dishwasher...

Check it out:

~ kid *plastic* plates

~ kid *plastic* bowls

~ coffee cups {a must!}

~ pizza cutter

~ wine glass{es}

~ cereal bowls {used for any and all meals!}

~ condiment bowls {the baking sheets from making chicken nuggets don't get washed each time they're used because I put aluminum foil on the baking sheet and just toss it after each use. Don't judge, at least we're getting a hot meal or 2!!!}

~ water bottles for the kids and/or myself

~ kid forks/spoons

What you probably won't find:

~ real plates - we use paper plates or paper towels

~ pots

~ pans

~ baking pans

~ mixing bowls - no need to mix anything if you aren't cooking real meals.

We won't get into the other signs of deployment...

* Kitchen table used as storage space

* Laundry clean, but not folded {and for sure not put away}

* Hubby clothes on his side of the bed

* Heavy {but healthy - most of the time} snacks for dinner

* The back of hubby's car makes for more garage storage space

* Grass as tall as your 2 year old {and hopefully not as tall as your 4 year old}