L.C.
Hi Marci,
First of all, God bless your husband and God bless you and your kids. Spouses and families are the unsung heros of the military. My husband and I have been married for 11 years and he has been deployed 4 times and TDY so many times I can't begin to count. When our military members serve, their families serve right along with them. So my heart and prayers go out to you and your kids and I will pray for your husband's safety.
Every deployment is different for every kid. The things you mentioned are often what we do but sometimes we have to think outside the box. I have found some links for you and I am putting them on here for you. One is to a message board for military wives that copes strictly with managing the deployment with and for your kids. I bet you'll find a mom on there who has been through just what you are going through and will have brilliant ideas. One is to military one source that gives information about counseling available to you. They even have phone consultations. I am also posting theweb address to big brothers big sisters. I would definitely give them a call and see what they can offer your kids so that you have a more consistent involvement with your kids by someone who can mentor them.
http://www.militarysos.com/forum/kids-coping-deployment/
http://www.militaryonesource.com/MOS/About/CounselingServ...
http://www.bbbs.org/site/c.9iILI3NGKhK6F/b.5962335/k.BE16...
If you just need to talk you can always message me. It's hard, so hard, to balance not just your life but everyone else's when a parent is deployed. I hope these are helpful.
L.
update - you are also about an hour away from Mountain Home AFB in Idaho and it might be worth a call to the Family Readiness Center to see if you can receive services there.