Always moving forward

Not much to say

2012-02-05T15:44:00.000-06:00

Sew Busy

2012-01-30T19:50:00.004-06:00

I have been happily avoiding my blog for the past few days. Real life has just been more fulfilling (I still love reading everyone else's blog, but have not felt the need to update my own), plus I have been sew busy.....HA!

I think it is was the reverse psychology thing. As soon as my sewing machine was packed up and unavailable, I got the urge to create something. So, I have been happy as a clam nearly every day digging through my big plastic tub of fabric, cutting new patterns, and sewing mini pieces of art. Here are some of my creations:

A Rice Filled Owl Heating pad. My friend Carmen made one for Lucy, and it is awesome. I probably love it more than her. So I couldn't wait to make one for another sweet little girl in our lives.

A Reusable tote/Grocery bag! I have wanted to make a bag for a long time now, but thought it would be too hard. Now I will blend in with all the hippies at the Farmer's Market!

I've also done a few mending projects: sewing pants and hemming up old curtains to fit our new windows. (I LOVE that sewing allows me to save some money by creating/repairing/repurposing things).

Bunting for Lucy's room. Super simple and FREE (well kind of....I already had everything on hand). I just used some cheap white fabric I had and painted the polka dots.

Lucy and I also made a bunch of cookies for all of our new neighbors and went door to door today delivering them. Since we will be here for a while and Micah will deploy, it is essential that I at least know our neighbors names/faces.

That's what we've been up to! Plus a few unsuccessful trips: IKEA, Home & Garden Show, and a church that felt like a visit to a foreign country.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2012-01-25T09:37:00.004-06:00

Today I'm linking up with Jamie at Little Daisy May for What I'm LOVING Wednesday!

I am LOVING our view/our home/our town. It is amazing being surrounded by such beauty.

I am LOVING that we are almost 100% unpacked. It feels sooooo good to have all of our stuff and know where it is. I just need to find the motivation to finish the last little details.

I am LOVING that Lucy has slept in her own bed, in her own room ALL night for the past two nights.

I am LOVING all this time we have together as a family. Micah doesn't sign in to his new unit until Feb. 7th!

I am LOVING the Indian food restaurant nearby. Malai Kofta is the best! Now if only I could learn to make it/find the ingredients.

What are you LOVING this Wednesday?

Downton Abbey....I'm obsessed.

2012-01-23T19:19:00.002-06:00

A while back my blog friend Pamela mentioned her love for Downton Abbey. So when I saw Season 1 on Netflix I was hooked! It is aaaaahhhhmazing! Truly, the best show on TV (in fact the only show I watch). Currently you can watch Season 2 on PBS, online, or even on I-tunes. If you love period pieces and have any appreciation for stunning costumes, this show is for you!

Ok, I'm off my soapbox. I just wanted everyone to know how great it is!

We Made It (safely)!

2012-01-22T09:15:00.002-06:00

Well we made it to the great state of Washington! As you know we left Georgia about two weeks ago and spent about 5 days in Texas visiting family. Then we hit the road bright and early this past Monday morning (and when I say "bright and early" it is more like "super dark and early"....like 2:15 am....Micah is a road dog).

From day 1 we encountered horrendous weather and driving conditions....snow in every state past Colorado, single digit temperatures in Wyoming, and of course the biggest winter storm of the Pacific Northwest in decades. It was a terrifying trip, and I am so thankful that we made it safely. I can't even count the number of vehicles we saw flipped in ditches or spinning out. The worst accident we encountered was a jack knifed 18 wheeler/with trailer on Interstate 84. It had taken out a guard rail and hit a power pole. We were stuck behind it for 3.5 hours just sitting in the car (nothing to complain about though considering we made it safe when so many others did not).

I am just so grateful to be here and in our new home. We already had a house waiting for us, and I can't even describe how much I love it! Luckily we got all of our furniture on Friday and we've been busy making this house a home.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers while we made this big trip! It means so much to us.

Goodbyes

2012-01-03T08:02:00.002-06:00

Goodbyes are the hardest part about our life. It seems like we are constantly saying goodbye to someone/some place. Yesterday was my biggest goodbye of Georgia, to my friend Carmen. We met during IBOLC, when I invited her over for tacos the first week the guys were in the field. It was also our first craft night, and we made Menu Boards. Since that time we spent lots of evenings together crafting, shopping at thrift stores, and hanging out. I will miss her so much, like all of the great friends we have said goodbye to over the years.

In less than a week we will also say goodbye to Georgia! Thursday the packers come, and Friday the movers will pick up everything. We hope to be on the road to Texas by Monday, then on to Washington after a few days. It is always a bitter sweet time moving, but we really are excited to get up there. We already have a house we will be renting, and it is perfect for us! So don't expect to see much of me on the blog world in the next few weeks.

Eleven in 2011!

2011-12-31T07:04:00.000-06:00

2011 was a big year for The Three Turners:

We started out the year living in Oklahoma, where we got LOTS of snow. In fact, some called it a blizzard! Here is a video I found on Youtube. The nice thing about snow in the South is that it shuts everything down (because we don't know how/have the resources to deal with it....and driving is a nightmare). We loved that Micah got to miss lots of school!

I met DAVE! My sister drove up from Texas and we went to OKC to volunteer at Dave's Total Money Makeover Live event. It was fun spending time with her and getting to meet someone I respect so highly.
Micah went on "tour". In the spring he played some shows with The Arts & Craft Movement in OK, PA, NY, NJ, & CO.

We spent many hours getting our house ready to sell, which thankfully it it did! Even though we had to pay money when we sold it, it is such a relief not having to think about it.
Micah graduated from college! I remember when he started taking classes at night and on the weekends nearly 8 years ago....it seemed he would never graduate (between deployments and crazy long work hours), but he did it!

Micah went from being enlisted in the Army to a commissioned officer. He went off to boot camp at 17 years old, war at 18, and again 20. We used to spend hours going on walks and talking about the future. It was always a hope/dream to become an officer and I am so proud of him for making it happen.

We moved to Columbus, Georgia....by ourselves. We did a DITY move (Do it Yourself), and it was one of the hardest things ever! I don't recommend it.
Micah completed IBOLC, Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course and got his blue cord.
I chopped off all my hair.....and cried.

We traveled a lot. We went to many of the state's historic sites, museums, zoos/aquariums, and we even drove to Texas in September for a short visit.

We took our first big family vacation to Disney World!

This really was a good year, and I hope that 2012 is even better! Thanks for following, I'm happy to have each and every one of you!

Five Question Friday

2011-12-30T10:14:00.004-06:00

Thanks to Mama M at My Little Life for hosting the 5 Question Friday!

1. What's the oldest piece of clothing in your closet?

Since the packers are coming in less than a week, we've gone through and donated a few things from the attic. I finally decided to part with my prom dress, but we both still have our High School Letter Jackets....over a decade old!

2. How many random blog readers have you met?

None. I haven't met any random person who started following my blog. I have made (and actually met) a friend through searching blogs though. Maybe when I get to WA I will get to meet someone!

3. Do you let your kids stay up till midnight on New Year's Eve? (Or, if you don't have kiddos yet, did you get to stay up until midnight as a child?)

Lucy, NO! When she is older I will, because I always remember having fun as a child getting to stay up late.

4. What are the gas prices where you live?

On post it was like $3.02, off post is $3.19

5. What is one resolution that you know you should do but are too afraid to try?

I don't really have one. Last year I got my treadmill and really started using it. I've managed to lose 10-15 lbs this year, and met my running goals. So I am pretty happy where I am at health wise. I will try to eat healthier and eliminate more animal products (not that I think they are unhealthy, but don't approve of the animal treatment that goes on in factory farms....it's something I've had on my mind a while, but tried to ignore/not think about because it would mean changing eating/shopping/cooking habits). We will see. I was a vegetarian for 1.5 years, but didn't do it as healthy as I could have/should have.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-27T10:10:00.002-06:00

I hope your holidays were HAPPY! Our Christmas was really simple and nice. We stayed here in Columbus, since we will be seeing family in a few short weeks when we move. Lucy really got into the spirit this year and was very excited that Santa had visited our house. One thing I absolutely love about the holidays and the military is that they have so much time off (unless of course you are deployed, which stinks)! Micah didn't take actual leave on Christmas, because he just took leave for Disney, BUT he may as well be on leave. He goes and checks in with the unit in the morning, does some PT, and then comes home to hang out. We've been having fun watching movies, staying up playing video games (when Lucy goes to bed), getting coffees from Starbucks, and being lazy.

So I hope everyone has had a happy holiday! 2012 is going to be another big year for us, and I am really looking forward to everything that will come!

"Edward Cullen" spotted at Disney

2011-12-20T08:45:00.005-06:00

While waiting in line for Splash Mountain I noticed a tall gentleman ahead with an "Edward" embroidered Mickey Mouse hat.....then I saw that the guy actually appeared to resemble the famous vampire! He was even dressed similar, you know black coat & grey hoodie underneath. So when he was behind us on the log ride I couldn't help but snap a picture (I hope I wasn't too obvious)!

I seriously think this guy was doing it on purpose and is trying to be an impersonator. What do you think? (It was pretty obvious he had even dyed his hair).

Picture of Robert Pattinson via BLOG.

PS- Yes, Micah thought I was the crazy one! He didn't believe me that there really are people out there who could make money just by looking/dressing like a Twilight character. Who knows, maybe these girls were paying him to be "Edward" on their vacation?! HA!

Disney World

2011-12-19T06:31:00.006-06:00

We made it back from our vacation to Disney World! It really was a great trip, something that I am so grateful we were able to do. It is easy to put vacations on the back burner (after all they can be expensive, getting leave from work can be hard, and they can be stressful to plan), but I believe that they are important. Growing up I did not get the opportunity to travel with my family very much, and that is something I really wanted to share with Lucy. We are very blessed to be able to create these memories with Lucy and I hope she will be grateful growing up.

Monday we packed up the car and drove the 6.5 hours for Orlando. We stayed in the Disney Military resort Shades of Green, which I would recommend to any eligible member (it compares to a Deluxe resort with a Moderate price). Then we hopped on the shuttle bus, then took the monorail to Epcot. We did all the typical stuff there: a few rides and dinner in "Germany" and "Morocco". Tuesday we hit up the Magic Kindgom, which was by far our longest and most exhausting day! After a full day of riding rides and watching shows, we ended up sitting on a street curb for 2 hours just guarding seats for the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Parade! Wednesday was Animal Kingdom (our least favorite park, we only spent a half day there), and Thursday was Hollywood Studios.

Lucy LOVED the roller coaster rides! I still can't believe she actually rode Test Track (where you reach speeds of 65 mph) and the Tower of Terror (where you fall in the elevator).

My favorite part of the trip was Friday when we went to Universal's Island of Adventure.....aka The Wonderful Wizarding World of HARRY POTTER! It was aaaaaahhhhhmazing! We got to ride the rides, eat breakfast at The Three Broomsticks, spend way too much money in the shops, and drink butterbeer (it was just like cream soda with some sort of rich whip cream on top....delicious). My only complaint was that it was sooooo crowded and the shops were not big enough; in fact I wish the whole place was bigger!

Island of Adventure was the most fun though, because it had way more rides. Disney was a little disappointing in that aspect, it is mostly shops and shows. We like the action and thrills!

Travel Neck Pillow

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here is another easy project that will make a great Christmas present: A Travel Neck Pillow!

Recently Lindsay, at one of my favorite blogs The Cottage Home, posted an amazing tutorial for a patchwork travel neck pillow. It is beautiful! Since a couple of our friends are about to move to Italy, I knew it would be a great gift for them. I used some fun State fabric, because I thought it would be perfect (and I was too lazy to coordinate/sew the patchwork...though I do think it is 1000 times better than mine). This is a very easy project I would recommend to anyone just learning to sew.

Remember to visit Lindsay's blog, The Cottage Home for this tutorial and lots of other great tutorials (I've made several of her Infinity Scarves, and they are super easy and cute).

What I Read

2011-12-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

Here are a few books I finished up this week:

The Things We Cherished, by one of my favorite authors Pam Jenoff. I'm not very good at writing reviews and descriptions of books (so frankly, I don't even bother...you can find that info anywhere). I just love Pam's books, because they are historical fiction at its finest. She is an expert on Polish-Jewish relations/the Holocaust and it truly comes through in all of her books. While her books always have some sort of suspense, action, and romance, they are also educational and have inspired me to read more about Judaism over the past year. I especially recommend her first two novels (The Kommandant's Girl and The Diplomat's Wife) to all of my friends.

ps- I wrote Ms. Jenoff an email a few years ago telling her how I enjoyed her books, and she wrote me back!

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, by Ann Voskamp. My thoughtful friend Fawn got me this book a while back, and I was very excited to read it (especially since the cover is soooo pretty....yes, I judge). It is a popular Christian book about giving thanks in everything, and finding God's grace. I did enjoy this book, but I will admit that it was a little difficult for me to read. Literally. Ann is very poetic, and I found myself constantly rereading sentences and paragraphs to figure out what she was saying. Her words are beautiful, but I have the bad habit of reading too fast to catch them all.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. I put a library hold on this book months ago, because I kept seeing it everywhere (plus any book with a 9 person wait list has got to be good right?). There are also rumors that this book is being made into a movie, and I always like to read books before they are made into movies. Anywho, it starts out pretty intense with lots of crazy stuff happening, but by the end of the book I felt it just fizzled. I was especially disappointed with the end that wasn't really an ending (it is clearly set up for a sequel, which I was not expecting.....makes me feel a little jaded when that happens.....like, "What?! I just read this whole book and you're telling me it's not over?"). I did really enjoy all the creepy vintage photographs though. I'd still go see the movie; internet rumors have Tim Burton in the talks of directing.

Have you read any good books lately? How do you pick books to read?

Magnet Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Though we are away, I've prepared a few posts for you to enjoy this week!

I have been doing a lot of crafting lately, but not sharing what I've been up to (mostly because I have been making many items to give away as Christmas gifts). BUT, I've sent off my packages, and now I want to share some of my creations with you!

I was planning on making some tile coasters to give away for Christmas (either using photos or scrapbook paper), but when I was in Lowe's I saw some small tile mosaics sheets and inspiration struck!

Materials needed:

Small tiles (I bought a square sheet with 36 1.5"X1.5" tiles)
mod podge
pictures
spray polyurethane
magnets
Gorilla glue/some sort of strong glue (I would not recommend a hot glue gun)
Exacto/sharp knife

Directions:

(Same as making tile coasters....which I've seen on tons of blogs. I'm sure there are better instructions out there than mine)

Cut pictures out in size you want to fit on tiles.
Apply thin layer of Mod Podge to back of pictures and put on tiles, let dry.
Apply thin layer of Mod Podge over picture/entire tile, let dry.
Spray with Polyurethane, let dry overnight (follow directions on can).
Use exacto/sharp knife to cut tiles apart and scrape rubber stuff off of edges.
Glue magnet on back!

And there you have it, super easy fun stocking stuffers!

Preparing for Vacation!

2011-12-11T06:45:00.002-06:00

We are getting ready to leave for Disney, tomorrow! This weekend has been filled with lots of preparations:

Giving dogs a bath and dropping them off at the kennel.
Printing off all reservations/directions.
Shopping for snacks and drinks to take.
Cleaning, laundry, and packing.
Returning/rechecking out library books, so I don't become a library felon when we're gone.

Some of the things I want to do while at Disney/Orlando are:

Take about 500 pictures.
Buy a Mickey hat for Lucy.
Drink Butterbeer at Hogsmeade.
Ride as many roller coasters as we can (with Lucy's height or by taking turns watching her).
Eat a Mickey Mouse Waffle.
Go swimming.
Go to the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party/Parade.
HAVE FUN!

Five Question Friday

2011-12-09T07:34:00.005-06:00

It's Friday and I am linking up with Five Crooked Halos for the 5Q Friday and Wife of a Sailor's MilSpouse Friday Fill-In!

1. What is your favorite Christmas cookie?

Micah's Grandma makes these Chocolate Cornflake clusters every year and they are amazing....crunchy chocolatey heaven.

2. What's your favorite holiday movie & why?

Home Alone. I think it was the best holiday movie of my generation. Who didn't love McCaulay Culkin and all his shenanigans? The movie has everything: action, humor, & heart-warming stories.

3. Is there a gift that you bought for your kids that you wish you hadn't after they opened it?

I don't think there is a gift that I have bought for Lucy and regretted, but I have regretted some of the gifts other's have given her: Barbie's electric guitar. Lucy loves it...most days I hate it (it is extremely loud and blares Cindy Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" over and over and over).

4. What is the messiest room in your house right at this moment?

My craft/Junk room. It has everything from all my scrapbooking/craft supplies, tubs of fabric, sewing machine, Micah's guitars/amp/speakers/pedal board, treadmill, and the vacuum.

5. What is the furthest you have driven for the holidays?

Specifically for the holidays the furthest we have driven is 5 hours, from OK to TX. When we lived in Washington we flew home the Christmas that Lucy was born. We are not driving home this year for the holidays.

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In, hosted by Wife of a Sailor:

1. My favorite song of the season is the 12 days of Christmas (who doesn't like to sing that obnoxiously loud?)

2. People who lived 100 years ago inspire me because of all the struggles and hardships they had to deal with. Now we have so many modern conveniences but we are more disgruntled than ever it seems.

3. If I had $100,000 to give to a charity, I'd give it to lots of charities (I think about this a lot, because I still do not think I have found the one area I would like to help the most....there are sooooo many deserving charities and causes). I'd probably do something to help with hunger somewhere.

4. If I had a theme party, I'd make it a 70's roller disco, Murder Mystery, or Harry Potter....depending on the occasion.

5. If I had one wish for my kids/future kids/some young person I care about, it would be _______ just ONE wish? Man, I've got lots! Most importantly I wish for Lucy to grow up to be a good person. Of course I hope she is healthy, happy, and finds something to fulfill her in life, but mostly I hope she is good and kind. I think we would all be better off if people were just good.

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2011-12-06T07:56:00.005-06:00

Well it is official, Micah will not be going to Ranger School in January. It is a bit of a bummer, but life goes on. I actually think he is fine with not going (because who really wants to go freeze in the GA mountains in January?), especially because he is ready to move on to WA. Just yesterday he was talking about how ready he is to move and get on with our lives. We've been out of a real unit/regular Army life for over 2 years now, and I think we are both ready to get back to it. We can't wait to get to Fort Lewis, make friends, plant some roots (literally, I want to plant something somewhere), and live in the same place for more than 12 months!

So today Micah went to the field for a few days and I'm working on some Christmas crafts/shopping. Last week I finished up decorating the house...I was tired of my fall acorn wreath, but didn't want to go out and buy anything to decorate. So I used some scrapbook paper to make a Christmas tree and wrapped our poles with ribbon. Simple and just the right amount of festive!

Friday Fill-Ins

2011-12-01T20:09:00.005-06:00

It's Friday and it has been a while since I participated in a fill-in. First I'm linking up with Wife of A Sailor for the Milspouse Friday Fill-in. Then it's over to Five Crooked Halos for the 5 Question Friday!

1. If I could be on any reality TV show, I'd want to be on Wipeout (though I wouldn't want to actually be on TV, I would just want the chance to play on the obstacle course).

2. This past Thanksgiving was nice, simple, and overindulgent.

3. I'm looking forward to December because 1. we will find out if Micah gets to go to Ranger School in January (which will give us a better idea of when we will be moving), 2. Disney/HOGWARTS (in case I haven't mentioned it enough) and 3. Christmas!

4. One thing I'd like to accomplish this month is have a fun and memorable family vacation.

5. To me, winter is magical before Christmas, but cold and depressing after January.

1. What is your favorite Christmas decoration in your house?

Probably the tree. I don't have many other decorations, because we move so much.

2. Do you finish your Christmas shopping early or are you a last minute type?

More of a last minute type...I still don't know what we will be doing this year, because our big family gift is our trip (we'll just have stockings and a few small presents on Christmas). Also since we are not going home this year and we don't exchange gifts with many of our family members....yeah, I'm a last minute person.

3. When do you turn your heat on?

We've tried to wait as long as possible, but I did turn it on for a bit a couple of days ago (mostly because I had a friend coming over to craft and I didn't want us to freeze).

4. Do you ever with your blog was private?

Yes...I've thought about this a lot since I started. I wish I would have kept our names more private, but I just kind of jumped into the blog world and followed examples that I saw. I started the blog for family and friends to have updates/pictures of what's going on, but I do enjoy all of the wonderful blog "friends" I have made.

5. Do you put your deodorant on before or after you put on your shirt?

Typically after, so I don't get it on my shirt.

Lucy Cracks Me Up

2011-11-30T16:56:00.005-06:00

Lucy is such a funny girl. I'm sure all kids are, but she just cracks us up with the stuff she comes up with. For example, Lucy goes to bed really early (7:30pm....she doesn't nap and it is nice having a few hours kid free before bed). Even though we put her in bed at 7:30, she typically plays in her room for 10-30 minutes before actually falling asleep. Micah and I always check on her before going to bed and find her in the funniest situations....half dressed up in her dress up clothes...wearing our clothes...sleeping on the floor...surrounded by stuffed animals....she is crazy. Last night we went up stairs and found about 10 pads/wrappers all over her bed, and she had made "shoes"! Ha! (The pads came from the bathroom upstairs...not her room).

Remember this one?

Vacation Planning

2011-11-28T14:48:00.002-06:00

We are leaving for Disney World in less than two weeks and I have not planned anything....and now I'm starting to freak out! I made our reservations when we moved to Georgia, knowing I wanted to take advantage of being so close (because there is no way we would go if we were stationed across the country and had to drive/fly.....I am a big supporter of "Army" vacations- that is, you take advantage of where the Army sends you!).

Anywho, here we are two weeks out with only our resort reservation. I checked out the Official WDW book at the library a couple of days ago and it says I should have made dinner reservations 6 months ago! Aaaaah! I feel totally unprepared. I don't even know what I want to eat for dinner tonight let alone what park we are going to be at what day and where we are going to eat! I really didn't want to get bogged down with planning the whole trip, but it looks like I'm going to have to get busy. Luckily I got this book from the library and I've even put of few Disney World TV specials on our Netflix queue.

Do you have any Disney/Vacation tips, especially with young children?

Giving

2011-11-23T13:51:00.002-06:00

Typically I don't blog about other bloggers' giveaways, but this one is important. I've recently started following Lauren's Blog, Written on the Tablet of my Heart and she is hosting an AWESOME Giveaway! It is a basket filled with over $350 worth of goodies, mostly amazing homemade items sold on Etsy (plus a $20 Starbucks giftcard).

You just have to donate $5 for a chance to win....Now you're thinking, WHAT?! I have to pay to get a chance to win? YES, but all proceeds of the giveaway are going toward their adoption fund. Lauren and her husband are currently saving up to adopt their second child. What a great way to help a family this Thanksgiving.

To check out her giveaway, go HERE. Spread the word and you get more chances to win!

T-Day Countdown

2011-11-22T08:56:00.002-06:00

Sunday officially started our countdown to Thanksgiving!

Last week I bought our turkey (because I did not want to risk not getting it thawed in time), but Sunday was the shopping for everything else. I have never seen the commissary sooooo busy! We arrived before it opened to see a huge line of people outside. Micah and Lucy were great help though navigating the cart while I zipped down aisles grabbing what we needed.

We are having a few guys over for Thanksgiving, some of Micah's fellow IBOLC grads who can't make it home for the holiday. I am super excited about it, mostly because it will be our first Thanksgiving hosting in our own house. Previous years we had gone home (TX), eaten at the Dining Facilities on post, or gone to a friend's house for a big group gathering. It will be nice to have a small group that will sit around our table and share a meal. Plus these young guys will really appreciate a home cooked meal, and it makes me happy to open our home to them.

Mostly I am excited about the food though! I feel like I've been thinking about it for weeks (which is crazy, since we just had "Thanksgiving" in September....it is just the best meal ever, and I think we should do it more often). One of the nice things about hosting it is that I get to make all of MY favorites:

Turkey
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Paula Deen's Country Stuffing (made with my homemade bread)
Simple Green Bean Casserole (recipe from French's Fried Onion can)
Sweet Potato Casserole
Corn Pudding (Best thing in the world.....seriously....I'll share recipe at end of post)
Homemade Bread & Rolls
Homemade Pecan Pie
Homemade Pumpkin Cheesecake

Mmmmm.........I can't wait!

CORN PUDDING

I remember eating this one Thanksgiving at my Grandmother's house. It is the best thing in the world, but probably the worst possible thing as far as health is concerned so I only get to make it every couple of years (if there are enough people to eat it with me).

2 Boxes of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix

2 sticks of melted butter/margarine

2 eggs, beaten

16 oz. sour cream

1 can cream corn

1 can whole corn, do not drain

Mix everything together, pour into 9X13 pan casserole dish, bake at 375 for 1 hour!

Being Part of Something Special

2011-11-18T08:10:00.003-06:00

I hope everyone feels that they are part of something special.

Last night Micah and I were invited to the Commandant of Infantry's home for a Hail & Farewell (no one was really Hailing or Farewelling, it was more of a nice team building social). The first hour was pretty typical of Army social events: drinks and small talk. Then the Chief of Infantry/Commandant to the Infantry School spoke to everyone about being part of his team and leading the Infantry. He and his wife called out each person there (along with their spouse) and gave them a "Follow Me" Infantry Ornament and recognized them for their work.

It was special to both Micah and I to be there and feel part of something so important. Sometimes I forget that in this Army life of ours. It is easy to get frustrated over schedules, details and long hours, but it is worth it. We were both very grateful to be there in that moment.

I hope that everyone has that feeling of belonging to something special (Family, Religion, Career, Social Group, etc.)......no wonder Twilight, Harry Potter, and those sort of things are so popular!

Five Question Friday

2011-11-11T06:33:00.004-06:00

It's Friday, and I'm linking up for the Five Question Friday!

1. What's the last thing you spent too much money on?

That is a tough one, I think I am a really good saver. I actually have a hard time spending money sometimes (I'm the kind of person who can walk in a store and put stuff in my basket just to put it back because it's not really necessary....it drives Micah crazy). Micah's stuff always ends up costing a lot more it seems. For example, I finally caved and bought him the new Call of Duty game yesterday, but when he tried to play it the XBOX broke! I still don't know what we will do, because I really don't want to go buy a new one (especially since we've gone through about 3 XBOXes already), but we have all these games and we do really use it a lot...playing games, watching movies, Netflix. Anywho, that will probably be the thing we spend too much money on.

2. What celeb chef would you want to make you dinner?

Ina Garten without a doubt. She is amazing! I'm still hoping to make it to Savannah before we leave Georgia to eat at Paula Deen's restaurant though.

3. Where do you hid things when visitors pop over or do you let them see the real deal?

The craft/exercise/music/sewing room that is downstairs. It can be a catch all place for stuff. Ottomans with storage are great too for quickly hiding books and blankets. I don't feel the need for things to always be perfect for friends and family though.

4. Who is your oldest living family member?

Hmmm....I think my oldest living family member is my Grandfather in Scotland. He just turned 74. Both of Micah's Great Grandmothers are still alive, and probably close to 90.

5. What is your favorite DQ treat/and or Sonic drink combo?

I like the Georgia Mud Fudge blizzard from DQ and Diet Cherry Limemade from Sonic (or Vanilla Dr. Pepper if I'm feeling wild).

What's Going On

2011-11-08T07:19:00.004-06:00

I am just loving the weather and all of the beautiful colors outside. One of my favorite things about the East Coast is FALL. The trees are breathtaking this time of year. Lucy and I spend hours outside every afternoon just playing, reading, and sweeping/raking up leaves. It is bliss.

Micah graduated from Airborne school last Friday! Though it is not necessarily a tough/prestigious school, it's pretty cool. Every day last week I kept saying to Micah, "How cool is it that you get to jump out of an airplane today?" Seriously, how many people get to do that in their lifetime? I'll admit I was a little jealous and started googling skydiving places around Columbus. (I'm not interested in going through the three weeks of training that he went through; I'm more interested in the 15 minutes of instruction and being attached to a trained professional). Maybe one day I'll do it!

So now we are just waiting to see what the next few months will bring. In the beginning of December Micah will participate in RAP week (Ranger Assessment Program....where they do the Ranger PT test, Land Navigation, Ruck March, etc...). If he passes all of those events he will go to Ranger School in January. That could be a day or months, depending on if he makes it or gets recycled. We're really trying to not have any expectations about Ranger School, because you just never know. After that we will be PCSing (moving) to Fort Lewis. So.... he either makes it through Ranger School and we move in Spring 2012 or he doesn't make it and we move in early 2012. Either way we're moving soon...though it still feels far away. I think once the holidays are over it will really begin to feel close. We still need to decide what we are going to do about housing in Washington....but that's a whole other post topic.

Here are some pictures of a recent fishing trip. Fort Benning has tons of gorgeous ponds (really they are big enough to be small lakes) that are hidden around post. Children under 15 can fish these places without having any permit/license. Unfortunately we didn't catch anything, but it was still nice to be outdoors.

Winner: My Memories & Starbucks

2011-11-07T06:18:00.004-06:00

The winner is Kelley, comment Number 5 (I'm sending you an email with the info)!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to enter. I wish you all could have won!

I used Random.org to select the winner (I'm still new to the whole giveaway thing though, and when I tried to post my number generator it selected a different winner each time). The first number was Number 5. Maybe next time I'll just draw names out of a hat, that seems easier!

Don't Forget Giveaway (PLUS Starbucks giftcard)!

2011-11-05T16:58:00.002-05:00

Don't forget to enter the giveaway from My Memories for their digital scrapbooking software! It ends tomorrow night, and so far only one person has entered!

I've decided to send the winner a $10 Starbucks giftcard too (come on people, I feel like a big giveaway failure)!

I will announce the winner on Monday morning, so ENTER.

Halloween

2011-11-01T08:05:00.005-05:00

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pictures of our beautiful Cinderella Lucy (every parent thinks their kid is the cutest, but I seriously think she could have won some awards last night)! Lucy loved trick or treating and has been practicing for months. I also love walking through the neighborhood ogling the beautiful houses, and it makes me happy to see Lucy make all the old people smile. Our area has lots of older couples/widows, and I know these cute kids bring them joy on Halloween. Heck, it makes me happy to see all the kids dressed up!

I can't believe how much she is growing, just looking back at last year's Halloween makes me wish I could slow down time.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway to win the My Memories Suite digital Scrapbooking software (you have a very good chance of winning)!

GIVEAWAY: My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking Software

2011-10-30T12:16:00.004-05:00

For a while I have been considering testing the waters of digital scrapbooking, but I never got around to jumping in. UNTIL NOW! My Memories Suite recently sent me their digital scrapbooking software and they are offering the software to one of my readers too!

This was my first experience with digital scrapbooking, and I love how easy it was! I literally sat down and scrapbooked our 2010 Christmas pictures in 30 minutes. The software is simple to use and offers many pre-made layouts. In addition to scrapbooking you can also make cards, calendars, and even add music/narration to make a movie or share your creations online. My Memories Suite also offers free kits that you can download online!

While I still enjoy traditional scrapbooking, I am looking forward to incorporating the digital pages. It will certainly help me catch up on my years of neglected photos.

BUY IT: Visit My Memories Suite to purchase their software or any products. Use the code STMMMS91407 for a $10 discount off the purchase of the My Memories Suite Scrapbook software and a $10 coupon for the MyMemories.com store- $20 value!

WIN IT: My Memories Suite is giving away a copy of their digital scrapbooking software to one lucky winner. For a chance to win, you must do the following:

1. Be a follower and visit the My Memories Suite website and tell me about your favorite digital paper pack or layout. Be sure to leave an email address or way for me to contact you.

2. OPTIONAL/Additional entry: Blog about this post for an additional entry. Be sure to leave your comment telling me you blogged about it.

The fine print: Giveaway ends Sunday November 6th at 11:59pm! 1 winner will be picked randomly. Please make sure that you leave a way for us to contact you or we won't be able to get this fabulous prize to you. Winners who I am unable to contact and who don't respond within 48 hours of being sent their winning email notification will forfeit their prize and I will draw another name. The product featured above was provided free of cost to me by the manufacturer or representing PR agency. These opinions expressed are my own opinions and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Five Question Friday

2011-10-28T07:41:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up with Five Crooked Halos for the Five Question Friday!

1. Do you prefer cotton, silk, or flannel sheets?

We have cotton sheets, but Lucy has flannel sheets. I like both. I've never slept on silk sheets....they seem like they would be cold.

2. What time zone are you in?

Eastern, but we are right by the central time zone border.

3. What is your favorite part of the Holiday Season?

Everything! I just love the cold weather, snuggly pajamas, the music, the decorations, family, etc..

4. What is your favorite "wintry" drink?

Hot Chocolate! I could drink it year round. It is still my favorite Starbucks drink, even though I've started liking coffee.

5. In your opinion, what is the worst job in the world?

I haven't had lots of work experience, but my worst job was working at a tanning salon while in High School. At first you think it would be cool, because you get to tan for free, but then you realize how gross it is. Cleaning up people's puddles of sweat, makeup, and bronzer is disgusting.

I don't think I would enjoy waitressing. Thankfully I've never had to do that.

My sister is a Kindergarden teacher and most days it seems awful. She is constantly loosing her voice, the children don't listen, and she even got spanked by a student last week!

I'm sure it just depends on the person and what they enjoy.

Domestic Duties and Books

2011-10-27T08:31:00.003-05:00

This week has been completely uneventful, thus the lack of blog posts. Since we only have one car (and Micah takes it to school each day from 4:30am-6:30pm), Lucy and I spend our days at home. Really it's not much of a change for us, because even when we had two vehicles we didn't get out much (minus the occasional errand/trip to the store). Luckily we live within walking distance to many places: the park/nature areas, a small grocery store, pharmacy, and even restaurants if we ever wanted to get out for lunch.

We've been staying busy with daily domestic stuff (cleaning, cooking, crafting, etc....) and reading. I don't know if you are like me, but at any given time I read between 1-4 books. This is what I've finished this week:

The Help by Kathryn Stockett. If you haven't heard of this book, you clearly have been living under a rock for the past 3 months. I won't go into great detail, because lots of blogs have talked about it before, but I really enjoyed the book. I still can't believe how ignorant people could/can be! Reading the book gave me such an odd feeling to be from the south and living in the south. There is so much hype about being southern, and so many people take great pride from it....I don't know....I just kept wondering what side I would have taken or these people around me would have taken. I wonder how many of these "southern" characteristics/stereotypes that are so charming today (i.e. a southern belle, Georgia peach, etc...) started in a very dark place. Don't get me wrong there are many great things about the south and being from the south, the book just shined a light on a horrible part of our history.

Rich Dad/Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Most people don't find finances interesting, but I secretly love it. I love the feeling I get when I know my checkbook is balanced, and being fiscally responsible feels great! Yes, I'm a dork....but hopefully one day I will be a wealthy dork!

The Reluctant Entertainer by fellow blogger Sandy Coughlin. A simple, inspiring book with lots of entertaining tips/advice. Though she shows tons of grace in her book and encourages real hospitality NOT perfection, I still wanted to go get all new dining/serving ware ;)

Five Question Friday

2011-10-21T06:38:00.004-05:00

I'm linking up with Five Crooked Halos for the first time for the Five Question Friday.

1. Where do you escape to when you've had enough?

A good book....it always does the trick to get your mind on something else versus whatever is bothering you.

2. What shows are you watching this fall?

The only show I really try to catch on T.V. is Raising Hope. It's my favorite! Mostly we watch Netflix when we do watch anything, and we're happy that Malcolm in the Middle is on there now.

3. What was the longest road trip you've ever taken and where did you go?

Man, we've had lots of long road trips, but the longest was our move from Fort Lewis, Washington to Fort Lee, Virginia. It was about 3,000 miles and it took us 2 weeks. Though we stopped at lots of great places along the way and really got to see America. It is definitely one of our craziest experiences, but we've got lots of great memories to look back on (check out our pictures and more info up top under "Our Moves").

4. Do you plan on taking your kids to Disney World?

In fact, YES! I don't think I've mentioned it on the blog yet, but we are planning on going to Disney World......for Christmas! I made reservations almost as soon as we moved to Georgia (since it's only a 6 hour drive for us), and we will be at the happiest place on Earth for the holidays. I'm super excited, the trip will probably mean more to me than Lucy...I'm not sure if she will remember at 4 years old, but I will! Plus I'll talk tons of pictures.

Can't wait to get my HP on (that's Harry Potter for all you muggles)!

5. What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

That I pray, read the Bible, go to church, and regularly do Bible studies, but I don't call myself a Christian....I'm still trying to figure it all out (waiting on my burning bush I guess).

Happy Birthday Lucy!

2011-10-18T04:34:00.005-05:00

I can't believe my baby is 4 years old! This weekend we celebrated Lucy's birthday with our little family routine: cake, streamers, and presents. I really love the simplicity of family birthdays. Sure she would have loved a huge birthday party with lots of kids, but for now I am enjoying the stress-free fiestas (plus it's not like we know many little kids here). There are plenty of birthdays left to worry about themes, party favors, and entertaining.

While celebrating her birthday has been great, it is also bitter-sweet. 4 feels like such a big milestone (I guess every year feels that way)! She is just truly out of any baby/toddler stage (and has been for a long time), and quickly moving into school-age kid stuff. It has just made me sad to think of her growing up so fast. I wonder if it does make me more sentimental because there is a good chance that she will be our only child...perhaps if you still have little ones in the house you don't feel like you are losing something. Not that I have baby fever or anything, but you know how looking back on your child's baby photos can make you sad, because you miss them. I miss her as a baby/toddler. Luckily she is still such a sweet little girl, and I am so thankful for her.

Everyone deserves to get a little dirty on their birthday!

The Roosevelts

2011-10-14T20:22:00.004-05:00

First, let me say that History is by far my worst subject....seriously, it's shameful. I mostly blame my education, because where else can you make high grades and rank and still know nothing about certain subjects? Here is a look at what my "History" education entailed:

Kindergarden-6th Grade: Social Studies (whatever that is)

7th Grade: U.S. History

8th Grade: Texas History

9th Grade: World Geography

10th Grade: Early World Civilization

11th/12 Grade (I graduated early): Economics and some college U.S. History Duel Credit

I really cannot remember anything from these courses. Most of these classes were taught by coaches, and when one school year ended you went to a completely different subject (thus forgetting any History you studied the year before).

Now that my confession is out of the way, I can get on with the real subject of this post. A few weeks ago we went to Warm Springs, GA to visit FDR's Little White House. It was the place that he went seeking treatment for polio (there are literally warm springs there that helped with his therapy). While we were there exploring the grounds and his home, something just seemed really strange. About 100 yards from his Little White House was a woman's home.... not some random neighbor, but a home built for this close companion of his. Since I knew little about his life, I immediately started searching on Wikipedia. Woah! If you think the gossip about Demi and Ashton is juicy, just look up Franklin and Eleanor!

So after some shocking claims read online I checked out the book, Franklin and Eleanor: an Extraordinary Marriage by Hazel Rowley.

The book gives a great look at both of their lives and of course their marriage, which was "progressive" to say the least. Basically FDR had an affair, and though they stayed married and seemed to genuinely love and care for each other they became more of a political partnership. From then they spent much of their time apart, living with others for long periods of time!

It has been a great read, one I would recommend. Even though I was brushing up on my history, it read more like a novel than boring text book.

Finally in School

2011-10-14T12:01:00.003-05:00

This week has gone by super slow. Micah has basically had every day off this week (he goes in for PT, then formations and is home before 10am). He was supposed to go out to the field for 10 days, but since he volunteered last week and they had more people than needed he didn't have to go. So it was very nice having lots of time together as a family. Unfortunately all that time just hanging around the house seemed to make the days last forever.

Luckily Micah finally got into another school! Today he is in-processing for Airborne School, which will last until November 4. I know he is very excited, especially because his Dad was in the 82nd Airborne.

Speaking of school, Lucy and I have started doing "school" work. Everyday we sit down to the table and do a couple worksheets, practice writing/learning letters, and coloring. Even though I am not a huge stickler on structured early learning, she loves it! We still spend lots of time outdoors and playing, learning through everyday life. I can't believe how big my baby girl is getting, she will be 4 in a matter of days!

Fall Acorn Wreath

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Last week I saw THIS awesome wreath on one of those Fall Blog decorating/craft link ups. It is made entirely of acorns glued to a straw wreath and then spray painted. I loved it, but didn't think much about making it because I don't have any big acorns (we do actually have lots of acorns in the back yard, but they are the small ones).

Be sure to check out Katie's BLOG for many more great tips and tutorials!

That same day Lucy & I walked to the park near our house, and on the way back we found a tree with tons of huge acorns! I took it as a sign; I was meant to make that wreath ;)

Here is my new fall wreath:

Friendship & Hospitality

2011-10-08T17:44:00.005-05:00

Since being here in Georgia I've met some great people and have been lucky enough to make a few good friends. Tomorrow one of my best friend's husband is going off to Ranger School, and I know that is going to be hard. So I thought I would make her something to let her know that I am thinking of her and here for her.

I picked up this vintage mason jar at a thrift store and filled it with some homemade cookies. I also made up a few simple cards for her to send to her husband when he is away.

I know that making new friends as an adult can be difficult, especially for those of us that move a lot or stay at home, but it is important to invest in friendships. Once you do make friends don't take it for granted. It's common knowledge that you have to work on marriages, but I think that rule can be applied to all relationships.

I think this topic goes right along with the new book I'm reading, The Reluctant Entertainer by Sandy Coughlin (who apparently wrote the book after starting the blog back in 2006...isn't blogging great?). I'm enjoying it so far. I think hospitality is something we can all work on in our lives. Here's a good quote from the book:

"My point: It takes effort to smile, to be thankful, and to keep a positive attitude even when times get rough.

In fact, the hard times are often when we need each other most."

What do you think? Have you done anything for a friend lately to show that you care or have you been on the receiving end?

Baking Bread

2011-10-06T18:38:00.004-05:00

I mentioned a while back that I scored a free bread machine from my mom, but it is sooooo awesome that I want to share more! The machine itself was used (the outside wasn't the prettiest), but it was practically brand new inside. Since getting it I've made at least a loaf of homemade white bread every week, and this week I made pizza dough for homemade pizza and cinnamon raisin bread!

I just love this thing, especially how easy it is to use. I truly cannot take credit for making anything, because I just put the ingredients in the machine. It does everything! It even has a self timer so you can add the ingredients and schedule it to bake whenever you want. I can't wait to try all the different breads, doughs, and even jam that it can make.

So if you have ever wondered about getting a bread machine I would go for it (I'm always seeing them used at thrift stores and things....some people just don't use them much). For a long time I thought about getting one, but thought of excuses not to. Big mistake!

Here are some pictures of the Cinnamon Raisin Bread:

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-10-05T07:59:00.003-05:00

It has been a while since I linked up with Jamie for WILW, and I definitely need to take the time to express some thanks in life.

I am LOVING this cool fall weather! Like just about everyone else in blogland, I LOVE fall. It is my favorite time of year.

I am LOVING all the time we have been getting to spend as a family. While we are still in a waiting game with all of Micah's schools, it has given us LOTS of time together.

I am LOVING crafting. A trip to Hobby Lobby just makes me happy! Right now I am working on two fall wreaths that I found on other blogs.

I am LOVING my family and life.

Wonderful Long Weekend

2011-10-03T18:46:00.005-05:00

Last week Micah volunteered to be OPFOR (Opposition Forces) for the current IBOLC cadets. He went out to the field for a night to be the bad guy. Not a lot of fun, but nothing too bad. In return he was given Monday off.

We had the best weekend! Friday night we had some amazing friends volunteer to watch Lucy so we could go out for a date night! I put Lucy to bed, so they could watch a movie and enjoy an evening off too (they don't have kids yet). Then Micah and I had went out to get some coffee, and walk around the shops. It was so nice to simply walk and shop without the added responsibility of Lucy (not that she doesn't do well...most of the time ;). Then we lingered in the Barnes & Noble just enjoying ourselves and the books.

Saturday we went up to a farm for a birthday party. The weather was lovely, but we didn't stay too long because Micah had an appointment to get back to.

Sunday we set up the tent in the dining room and camped!

Monday we went up to Atlanta for a bit. Micah sold his bass amp, and had to meet someone to purchase another one. So we hit up Centennial Park and ate some Indian food! Here are a few pictures of our day.

Annoying Anemia

2011-09-28T10:39:00.003-05:00

When we got here to Georgia Micah went through tons of medical tests/screenings for IBOLC. Pretty typical stuff. One of his blood tests came back positive for anemia, which was something completely new. He went back to take a second test and never heard anything about it (this was in May). Life went on, and we assumed that the second test was fine since he was never informed of the results. That's how the Army medical stuff typically works: no news=good news. Unfortunately he noticed that his profile still said anemic, and sure enough after two visits to sick call this week the doctor confirmed that he was in fact anemic.

Now this is nothing super serious or devastating, obviously. However, it does present some challenges with schools coming up. He has to get a medical waiver to attend Airborne School and Ranger School now. The Airborne waiver should not be any problem to get, but the Ranger School waiver is another story. He has been told it may be very difficult and take up to two months! That would mean he would miss the final Ranger class of 2011, and wouldn't get to go until 2012 (if his waiver is even approved). We were really hoping/planning to leave Georgia by early 2012, and definitely were not expecting to be here for a year+.....It doesn't help that we have already been looking at houses up in Washington and can't wait to get there.

I just we're just going to wait and see what happens (probably one of the hardest things about the Army). If it doesn't look like he will get the waiver or it will take too long, we may just move on.

Waiting Game

2011-09-23T09:18:00.004-05:00

Well we are officially in a waiting game now. Infantry BOLC is what every infantry officer goes through to learn their job, it is a mandatory 16 week course (unless they get recycled, which happens for various reasons sometimes). After IBOLC though all the guys start going their own ways. We've already had many of the guys go off to Ranger School, barely 4 days after graduating from IBOLC (many of those guys did not make it and are already back). With Infantry there are lots of follow on schools that they can possibly go to: Airborne School, Stryker Leader Course, Ranger School, Combatives schools, etc....

Micah was really hoping to get into the Airborne school that stared yesterday. Of course you have to just walk up there with lots of other guys and hope they have a slot for you. Unfortunately Micah and all the guys from his group did not get a slot. Apparently they had 10 openings, and there have been guys waiting around for months since graduating IBOLC. He has more waiting to do. He was pretty bummed out, because he really wanted to get into this class. At least he got into a few other short classes to hold over until the next Airborne class begins in a few weeks.

The end of IBOLC is strange. It felt very momentous and final, but in all actuality there are guys who spend more time waiting or in other schools than they did in IBOLC. We anticipate being here until early 2012. While we still like it here (especially since it started cooling down), a big part of us is ready to get to Washington. We're excited to move on and settle down. Our entire time here has always felt temporary, and I can't wait to move on to a home where we will be living for more than a year. I want to decorate a house, hang things on the walls, plant something....I've really got to make sure I don't check out of Georgia early, because this is still our home for the next however many months.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-09-21T06:55:00.003-05:00

It's Wednesday so I'm linking up with Jamie!

I am LOVING this cooler weather. It has been overcast and rainy this morning and our weekly highs are only in the 80s! Much, much better than Texas' 104.

I am LOVING Micah's current work schedule. Since finishing IBOLC and coming back from leave he is in the holding company waiting for school dates. It is wonderful that he has been home before lunch for the past two days! (I've been told tomorrow will be different and he could be in a school by Friday, but I'll take what I can get).

I am LOVING that Fall TV shows are starting back up. I can't stand summer TV.

I am LOVING the bread machine my mom gave me. I've already made the best homemade white bread ever!

Thank You Seaworld!

2011-09-19T20:00:00.007-05:00

While we were down in Texas we were able to go to Seaworld San Antonio, which was a blast! First, if you haven't heard by now Seaworld/Buschgardens gives FREE tickets to military members and their families once a year. It is super simple, just go to the HERO SALUTE website to fill out your request. In the past we have filled out our registration, but never got around to visiting any of the parks. I am so glad we got around to actually going this year though.

We went this past Friday, which happened to be the perfect day to go. First, it was a school day (and early enough in the year to avoid those pesky field trippers). Second, it was still warm enough to enjoy getting wet on all the rides/in the splash parks, but not too hot to be miserable.

Here is what we LOVED about Seaworld:

It was not crowded at all. We literally walked on to every ride! Front row even! It was not uncommon to see roller coasters going by with 3 people on board. How crazy awesome is that?
The rides, Lucy was tall enough to ride on a couple of rides, including the Journey to Atlantis (we sat on the front row and dropped down a huge hill to get soaked with water)....she's loved it!
The shows/animals: we got to see a silly sea lion show, the typical Shamu show, and a cool dolphin/beluga whale/acrobat/dive team show. We even got to feed dolphins, my favorite thing of the day.
Seaworld San Antonio has a new Sesame Street "Bay of Play", a 3 acre park just for kids. It had kiddy sized rides, shows, massive playgrounds, and a splash park. The perfect place for families with small kids.
That it was FREE! We saved close to $200.

I didn't take my camera into the park, because I didn't want to worry about it getting wet or deal with lugging it around (sometimes those bulky SDLRs are annoying), but we did get a couple of pictures taken while feeding the dolphins.

It was so nice as parents being able to take Lucy there and give her lots of great experiences. I cannot even express how nice it is that she is getting older and can do more. Sure I miss all the small cute baby stuff and it makes me sad that she is so big, but it is nice being able to get out and go on trips.

So Thank You Seaworld for a great day and wonderful memories!

Back Home and Catching Up

2011-09-19T07:44:00.003-05:00

We made it back from our trip to Texas. We packed up the car Friday the 9th and hit the road bright and early Saturday morning. The trip was not too bad, no major problems or delays, but 16 hours in a car is definitely not pleasant. We only had to stop about 10 times for potty breaks (sarcasm). It was great to be back in our hometown and see family. We loved relaxing and enjoying all the food of home. Micah and I were able to go on a couple of "dates", once to see the movie Contagion and then a shopping trip to Austin. We also went to Seaworld in San Antonio, which was a blast. I'll post more on that later with a couple of pictures.

So all in all we had a wonderful and busy week! The only complaint was the heat...it is way too hot in Texas. It was 104 one day!

Since being back we've been busy getting back to normal: grocery shopping, budgeting/bills, laundry, etc... It is nice to be back home, especially in this cooler weather. I'm actually wearing a hoody this morning! Can you believe it?

Great Things

2011-09-09T07:35:00.005-05:00

Sometimes my blog gets ignored because there is nothing new/interesting to post about, and sometimes my blog gets ignored because there is just so much going on. That has certainly been the case recently.

We had a great 4 day Labor Day weekend, and a lot of time together after Micah's 10 days in the field. Saturday we went to Albany GA, a charming southern town about 2 hours away. It is the home of Ray Charles, and they have a beautiful park/riverwalk. We also went to the River Aquarium, which Lucy really enjoyed. It was nearly empty; which we loved (especially after going to the Atlanta Aquarium that was soooo crowded you could hardly see the displays or even walk at times).

This week has been super busy, because my friend Carmen and I decided to cook a "Thanksgiving" meal for our husbands' squad. Tuesday we planned our menu and went shopping, then spent nearly all day cooking on Wednesday. It was amazing though, and the guys really appreciated it, especially all the single guys who don't get a home cooked meal often and are going to Ranger School this weekend.

Yesterday Micah officially graduated from IBOLC, and he is now an official Infantry Officer. I am so proud of him! This has definitely been the hardest training of his career so far, but he did great. Now we have a little bit of leave we get to take, so today I am busy cleaning and packing for our trip back home.

Random Thoughts

2011-08-31T20:30:00.004-05:00

Is it just me, or has America's Got Talent been on forever? I'm sick of seeing your face on my t.v. Nick Cannon.
Small businesses who use their own kids in commercials is creepy.
Establishments that "decorate" with balloons are the bane of every parent's existence. "Sorry Lucy, that balloon is not for sale; it belongs to that car."
Why do so many people's voicemail say, "Hey! You've reached ________. Call me back!".....the whole purpose of a voicemail is that YOU call me back.

I'm just crabby tonight, because it is nearly 10pm and Micah is still not home yet. Thank you IBOLC....grrrrr.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-08-31T10:57:00.004-05:00

YAY! It is Wednesday, time to share what I'm LOVING. Head over to This Kind of Love to participate!

I am LOVING that Micah comes home today! Leader Forge is finally over, and Micah did great.

I am LOVING that we have a 4 day weekend! We are planning to visit Albany, GA a cute town less than two hours away.

I am LOVING that tonight we are going to get PIZZA! Micah is not a big fan of pizza (he's crazy), but he said he's been craving it this week. So we are checking out the Mellow Mushroom for the first time.

I am LOVING my sweet Lucy. It can be tough being a single mom for days on end (I am really dreading Micah deploying again), but I have been trying to focus on the positive. Instead of thinking of parenting as a huge responsibility or how I don't have any help when Micah is gone, I've really made an effort to appreciate Lucy everyday. I am very lucky to get to spend so much quality time with her.

I am LOVING my awesome husband! I can't believe how hard he works for us. I am very thankful.

Mustache Mugs and Update

2011-08-30T15:44:00.003-05:00

Here are a couple of pictures of my mustache mugs. I think they turned out really great, and they were super simple (just google for a tutorial or leave a comment if you want more info). They are also perfect for Micah's birthday gift that I got him, a Keurig coffee maker.

These past few days have been pretty busy and productive. Since Micah has been gone, I've done many house projects that don't necessarily get done every week. Such as, washing the car (inside and out), organizing Lucy's toy closet, washing the dogs, cleaning the couch with my upholstery machine, etc... We have also managed to have fun and get out too. Yesterday we walked the Columbus River Walk with some friends, and this afternoon we met with another friend for Chill Frozen Yogurt and Goodwill shopping. I just LOVE a good bargain! Today's Goodwill finds:

One pair Gap Khaki pants
One Old Navy blouse
A Gray Cardigan with ruffles
thin Brown leather belt
Red leather ballet flats (look brand new)...for me
Cute red dress for Lucy
Blue button down Holister shirt for Micah

and a silly Hello Kitty basket Lucy couldn't live without.

ALL FOR $23!

Micah is DONE with Leader Forge! He finished the 16+mile ruck march today (he's just amazing for suffering through that with his injured back) and they did a company attack that he said went well. Now they are cleaning weapons/barracks. He will be home tomorrow! I can't wait to see him and relax this 4 day weekend!

Short and Sweet Visit

2011-08-27T14:31:00.003-05:00

Early this morning (before the sun was even up) I get a text from Micah saying he fell down a 10 foot embankment! Luckily he was not seriously injured, but he did need medical treatment today. So I got to see him!!!! I got him some Subway; which was located next to the training medical center and got to visit with him for about 10 minutes before his ride arrived. It was so refreshing to see him, even for just a short time. Lucy was as sweet as could be, and kept telling him how much we loved him and missed him. He got to tell me about Leader Forge so far and just how he got injured (apparently his squad used green illuminating sticks to light up the Entrance/Exit to their base....the other squad he was going to retrieve had used the same green illuminating sticks to mark a cliff). His back is messed up and he is in pain, but he got a shot in the bum for the pain, pain killers/tylenol, muscle relaxers, and muscle rub. Luckily he had just finished his mission as Patrol Leader and it had gone well. He said it is very hard out there, and the heat has been a major issue.

Lucy and I have continued to stay busy. Yesterday we went out with a friend and her son to a couple huge thrift malls in town and then to lunch. I love searching for treasures at thrift stores, but I typically only walk away with ~~little heaps of plastic~~ toys for Lucy. Today we went to the cheap movie theater in town to watch the Winnie the Pooh movie, and tonight I've got a friend coming over to watch the Phantom of the Opera. Tomorrow we will probably go to church, then we've already got tentative coffee/walking plans with friends on Monday. I hope these next few days go by fast, because I am ready for Micah to be home!

Friday Fill-In

2011-08-26T21:14:00.002-05:00

Better late than never! It is Friday, so I'm participating in the Friday Fill-In hosted by Wife of a Sailor.

1. The first thing I think of when I get up in the morning is Lucy, and getting downstairs to make our breakfast. She's the one who wakes me up, so she's my first thought.

2. Lately I've been craving coffee because I've been trying to stay away from chocolate since Micah has been gone (I figure if he is suffering, the least I can do is give up my sweet tooth). So I've been enjoying my daily cup of coffee, especially since that is my treat.

3. Whenever anyone says the word bandcamp it reminds me of my childhood because I was in band and loved it! Yep, I was a band nerd...a cool drummer nerd though. I even went to band camps! We live near a high school here in Columbus, and I can hear the drumline practice in the afternoons. It brings back many great memories (and makes me a little sad).

4. The happiest word I know is bliss, but I hardly use that word.

5. My spouse may hate it, but I absolutely LOVE onions. Micah does not even like me to cook with them; it drives me crazy! Have you tried making spaghetti sauce without onions?! They have so much flavor, and are great for cooking.

Staying busy crafting

2011-08-25T07:23:00.005-05:00

I've been true to my previous post and have stayed busy this week. Probably too busy, because all I want to do today is relax. Since Micah has been gone at Leader Forge I've been keeping up on household chores and working on a book page wreath, something I've been wanting to do for a long time. It is a very easy/cheap project, but tedious. I started on Saturday, and finally finished yesterday. It looks great hanging in our guest bathroom.

Last night five friends came over for a craft night. We made some super fun mustache mugs! Then we played Scattergories and talked. With all our husbands gone, it's so nice to get together and just enjoy company. I'll post pictures of our mugs tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Micah!

2011-08-22T09:11:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to Micah, the best husband and father in the world (my world that is)!

We celebrated Micah's birthday this weekend, since he went to the field this morning. Saturday we dropped Lucy off at the Child Development Center on post (they have a special Saturday childcare once a month), then went to try and find some fun stuff to do. We were planning on going to a movie and lunch, but the 4 movie theaters in town did not start playing shows until after 1pm! So we went to the shooting range and practiced our skills putting holes in paper. Micah really wanted a steak for his birthday, so we went to Outback only to discover that they don't open until 3pm...we settled for Red Lobster.

This week Micah will be in Leader Forge. It is their final field mission, where they spend 10 days in the field, do lots of training/attacks, and finish up with a 16 mile Ruck March. It will be pretty awful, but at least we are almost done. When he gets back we have a 4 day weekend for Labor day, then only 4 more days of IBOLC!!!!

While he is gone this week, I have made the decision to stay busy! Last time he was gone I sat around the house too much, and it was way too boring. So I've got lots of crafts and outings planned. Today Lucy and I are off to Hobby Lobby for supplies and then to the library (our favorite place in Columbus).

Friday Fill-In

2011-08-19T04:13:00.003-05:00

I'm participating in the MilSpouse Friday Fill-in today. Link up with Wife of a Sailor to join!

1. My spouse and I rarely agree on music, but we always agree on movies...except the old war ones he likes.

2. If I could use one word to sum up the way I feel, it would be hopeful.

3. One of the things my spouse does that grosses me out picks the dead skin off his feet.

4. My readers may think I'm crazy for doing this, but I really love to curl up with a blanket, no matter how hot it is...I must always have one on the couch to be comfortable.

5. Frankly my dear, I don't text....ok I can, but I don't like it...I still like talking on the phone, and the tiny buttons annoy me.

Doomed Marriage

2011-08-18T07:07:00.005-05:00

I finished reading The Paris Wife last night, and I'm not sure how I feel about it all. It was a great book, and I could hardly put it down. It is a novel that is based on the life of Ernest Hemingway's first wife and their marriage. Obviously by the words first wife you know it doesn't end well for them. In fact you know exactly what is coming, because she tells you in the prologue and on the book sleeve. It's just so sad to read about the destruction of their marriage.... it had me thinking... Can you ever just tell when a marriage is doomed?

I think I can judge a couple pretty well, it seems some are just destined for demise, but others surprise you.

The book was definitely different than the typical "happily ever after" books I read.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-08-17T07:02:00.004-05:00

It's time for What I'm Loving Wednesday hosted by Jamie.

I am LOVING that it is getting a little cooler. I swear I can smell fall coming (Micah thinks I'm crazy, but the air has been different lately...less humid).

I am LOVING that Micah only has a few more weeks until he graduates IBOLC.

I am LOVING that in September we get to go home and see all of our family.

I am LOVING that our wives coffee is over. We had it last night, and it was good, but being in charge of the invitations and name tags was more work than I intended/wanted. It's nice to have that project/responsibility off my mind.

I am LOVING the new book I'm reading, The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. It's good to be reading fiction again, since I've been reading several non-fiction lately.

I am LOVING that we get to celebrate Micah's birthday this weekend. We've reserved Lucy some childcare on Saturday afternoon so we can go on a date! I'm also really excited about his gift this year, a Keurig coffee maker (I know he will love it)!

What are you LOVING today?

Longest week EVER

2011-08-10T20:02:00.002-05:00

Seriously, is the week over yet? Micah has been in the field since early Monday morning, and time seems to being going excruciatingly slow. I know being apart for a week is nothing to whine about when you are a military spouse, but I’m going to whine. I just miss him, and it seems like each week he is gone gets slower and slower...It’s especially hard when I know that he is going through hell out in the field. I feel so sorry for all of the guys training at Fort Benning. It is dangerously hot and there have been severe storms this week. At least he will be home Friday!

I’ve been trying to keep Lucy and myself busy, but that has proven a challenge. Yesterday I decided to take Lucy to this indoor playground fun place on post, and drove the 20 minutes to get there only to find they were closed! Then today I decided we would go swim at the gym on post, only to again make the 20 minute drive and discover that the pool was closed due to technical problems! Eeeerr....I was pretty frustrated. Perhaps tomorrow we will just go to the park, because that never closes...right?

Friday Fill-In

2011-08-05T05:28:00.004-05:00

I'm linking up with Wife of a Sailor this Friday for the weekly MilSpouse Fill-In.

1. Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and ___________________.

he better know how to cook it.

2. It is amazing what you can accomplish if ___________________.

you have a to-do list. I always get more done if I write down what I need/want/should do for the day. I feel guilty if I don't mark everything off (I even write stuff that wasn't on the list and mark it off if I did it...ha).

3. If you can’t stand the heat ___________________.

DON'T move to Georgia.

4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to ___________________.

what's inside us... lame. I'm not very philosophical this morning.

5. Well behaved women seldom ___________________.

"make history." - Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

I have a stamp that says this! In my own words I would have to say.... get dirty looks from other women... OR... have their own reality TV shows.

Missing Home

2011-08-05T05:15:00.003-05:00

We got some bad news this week, Micah had a family member pass away (no one in the immediate immediate family, but a close one all the same). This person was young too, with children still in High School/about to start college. Very sad.

Unfortunately we are not able to go home. Well technically we could have gone, but it would have cost a lot of money to fly down to Texas for only one day (Micah didn't want to go by himself, and driving is not an option). It is times like these when being in the military and far away from home is really tough. We would like to be there to help, support, and comfort family. Luckily Micah is going to take leave after he graduates IBOLC and we are going to go down to Texas for a couple of weeks. I miss our family.

Planning Family Size

2011-08-03T07:48:00.002-05:00

I am currently reading Creating Your Perfect Family Size by Alan Singer (because I have this silly belief that the answer to all questions in life can be found in books....that's why I'm always reading books about being a better wife/mother/homemaker/etc...).

Anyway, I will admit that I have been debating over what is our perfect family size for weeks now. We have been saying that we only want one child for years now, but I feel like we are quickly approaching the "now or never" mark. If we were to have another child I would not want them to be more than 5 years apart or feel like they were raised in different families because of a large age difference.

What I am really liking about this book is his emphasis on planning your family. In his opinion (and mine), having a child is not something that should be taken lightly or with a "whatever" approach. There are so many statistics that say there is more marital conflict with each child, and that happiness actually decreases during child rearing years (because if you haven't heard, being a parent is really tough). His book is great for determining your reasons for having a child, and avoiding bad reasons to have a child (such as peer/family pressure, to live vicariously through them, or to solve marital problems). He also talks about various family sizes, age differences, and gender issues.

So what do you think? Have you had your "perfect" family planned since you were seven, names and all? Do you leave family size up to fate (hormones;)? Do you feel like you knew your family was complete after a certain number?

Callaway Gardens

2011-08-01T08:33:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning we went to Callaway Gardens, about 30 minutes away from Columbus. The place is huge, with gardens, walking trails, a golf course, and "the world's largest man made white sand beach". The best part about it, was that it is FREE for military! We packed a some snacks and sand toys and spent a couple of hours at the beach. It was really nice, but Lucy did not want to get in the water (I think she is scared of lake water) and Micah hates the sand (he is not a beach person). So between the two of them, we didn't stay long.

Thank you Infantry

2011-07-31T10:12:00.004-05:00

Even though Micah had been in the Army for 8 years, I/we had little to no experience with the Infantry. It is a whole new world!

I cannot even imagine what Micah and these men go through every day. They go to the field for days/weeks on end, where they cannot shower, get very little sleep, go to the bathroom in holes outside, then end up stepping in/sleeping near other's "bathroom"....it is just gross. Here are some pictures I took when Micah got home on Friday after being in the field a week:

A blister Micah came home with after an 8 mile ruck march.

Micah's toe nails...about to fall off.

It takes days to get all of his stuff "clean" again, including soaking his uniforms for hours, spraying gear off at the car wash, and multiple wash cycles.

Friday Fill-In

2011-07-29T09:56:00.003-05:00

It's been a few weeks since I participated in MilSpouse Friday Fill-In, so here it goes!

1. Facebook or Twitter?

Neither

2. Hard tacos or soft tacos?

Both! I can never choose, that's why I love the taco kits that have them both!

3. Gardening or crafting?

Crafting for sure! I have never been a gardener, but then again I have never lived anywhere long enough to plant anything besides simple flowers. When Micah retires I would love to settle down in our home and have a small garden where I can actually grow fruit, vegetables, and herbs.

4. Fruit or vegetable?

I try to eat both, but prefer fruit for sure!

5. Motorcycle or bicycle?

Probably motorcycle. Bicycling is much harder than I always think it will be....When Lucy is grown I wouldn't be opposed to getting/riding a motorcycle, but not while she is still young. Plus I would have an excuse to get an awesome leather jacket!

Cards

2011-07-28T07:19:00.003-05:00

Last night a few friends came over to make cards. We used potatoes to make the cutest cards ever (proof that you don't need lots of stamps/craft supplies to make thoughtful cards). I got the idea HERE from one of my favorite crafty blogs, and the stamps were "inspired" (stolen) from Stampin' Up stamps (hopefully they can't trademark puns). I'm filling up my Birthday Box and loving it!

I am really looking forward to staying home today. We had a lot going on yesterday with lots of running around, so it will be nice to stay home all day today. I plan on reading, relaxing, and doing some housework to get ready for Micah to come home tomorrow. I got a text from him early this morning saying that "this was one of the worst weeks in the field". I like to get all my stuff done before he gets home (cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc...), that way he can come home and relax as much as possible.

WILW

2011-07-27T11:43:00.002-05:00

I'm linking up with Jamie today for What I'm Loving Wednesday!

I am LOVING that Lucy and I went to a play date with our fellow IBOLC moms this morning. We went to Monkey Joe's, a huge kid's inflatable jump house place then lunch at Fudrucker's (love that place). I'm happy that Lucy did so well and behaved excellently. I will admit that I can get nervous going out to do big play dates or things, because I don't want Lucy to be crazy, throw a huge tantrum, or learn any bad habits from other kids. It is always nice to not be the parent with a screaming unruly child (though I have been that parent before...we all have).

I am LOVING that it is almost August! Can you believe it? We really only have one more month of IBOLC! YAY! I can't wait until September.

I am LOVING that tonight I am having a craft date to make cards. It's so fun getting together with friends to work on crafts/projects!

I am LOVING that since I chopped all my hair off I can get completely ready in under 30 minutes (I'm talking shower, dressed, makeup, accessories, etc....)! How awesome is that!

What are you LOVING?

Happy Birthday...

2011-07-25T15:51:00.004-05:00

TO ME!

I've had a pretty good birthday this year. Micah was super sweet and got me a Nook Color, which is awesome! I love reading new books and magazines on it. Then I got a few Barnes & Noble gift cards from various great people in my life. I also got some money, which went towards buying some cool prescription aviator sunglasses. Throughout the day I've received all the mandatory "Happy Birthday" phone calls and emails which brighten my day. The only disappointing thing today is that Micah isn't here :( He's back to the field all week, but he did leave me a cute card.

I've been working on this "Birthday" project today. I bought this box at Hobby Lobby, and it came with 24 mini file folders and 3 small notebooks. Inside I wrote each month on a file folder, then wrote down everyone's birthday on the inside. That way at the beginning of the month I can pull out the folder and see who has a birthday/anniversary. Inside the files I plan to use a piece of paper with "gift ideas" for the important people in my life (if I remember to pay attention throughout conversations to get clues on what someone might like).

I will also add some "Thank You", "Birthday", "Wedding", "Baby", etc... files to hold cards. That way I just have to look in the box when I need a card real quick! I am hoping to become a more thoughtful gift/card giver.

Makeover

2011-07-23T18:13:00.003-05:00

Today was the big makeover..... it didn't go too well.

I decided to be crazy and cut my hair really short and get some highlights. After the cut and highlights, the makeup artist did my face and finally my hair was styled followed by the BIG reveal (I didn't get to see myself until I was dressed and all done).

I couldn't get over my makeup. I seriously looked like a drag queen or Mimi from that tv show. Then of course I had to act like I loved it all in front of at least 7 strangers. After which we went to take the photos, followed by lunch in public (I was mortified, I was dressed in a semi-formal dress and looked ridiculous with turquoise eye shadow up to my brows).

I called Micah on the way home and told him not to look at me or at least be nice, and then I cried. I cried in the car on the way home, up the stairs, and while washing the 10 layers of makeup and fake lashes off. Then I put on some normal makeup, changed into a cute dress, and tried to look at the bright side.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-07-20T08:27:00.005-05:00

Happy Wednesday Everyone! What are you LOVING today? Link up with Jamie at This Kind of Love to share your loves!

I am LOVING that Micah presented his OP ORD yesterday and did very well. It is great to have that off his shoulders and know that his hard work paid off. Also he has been getting home early everyday this week!

I am LOVING coffee! YIKES! I grew up thinking that coffee was some sort of addiction, and bad for you (I remember my mom would drink a whole pot of black coffee everyday, yuck). A while back I had read a few articles on the health benefits of coffee, and thought I would give it a try. I really enjoy my one cup a day (the almond joy creamer/ white chocolate mocha creamer make it delicious), and at 60 calories I think it's a great snack.

I am LOVING books......oh how I love books! For my birthday I have received a couple of Barnes and Noble gift cards and I'm so thankful. I love browsing the bookstore or getting new books on my Nook.

I am LOVING my Lucy. Even though she is not always perfect and can drive me crazy, she really is the sweetest girl. For the past month or so she wakes me up every morning by sneaking up to me and asking, "Do you love me?" I don't know where she even got this, but it's a great way to wake up.

I am LOVING that this weekend is my big Mommy Makeover! Yesterday I got to go pick out my new outfit, and I am very excited.

I am LOVING that my birthday is days away!

What are you LOVING today?

Next Duty Station

2011-07-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

We've known for a while where our next duty station would be, but I've put off posting about it because we did not have anything in writing yet.

BUT now we DO (Micah received his Request for Orders and has a Brigade)!

Originally our top three choices were:

1. Germany

2. Fort Lewis, WA

3. Alaska (I think...I can't really remember for sure)

We did get our first choice of Germany, but after more consideration we decided we did not want to be stationed there at this time. There were lots of reasons for this decision, but mostly because Micah would rather not go there (and it's his career, his unit, etc, so I completely respect his decision).

So after contacting his Branch, they quickly changed our next duty station to FORT LEWIS, WA!

We are very excited to be going back to the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We were lucky enough to be stationed there from March 2007-October 2008 and we fell in love. Unfortunately while we were there I was pregnant with Lucy and then had a newborn, so we were not able to get out and explore as much as we would have liked. Now she will be 4 when we return, which will be a completely different experience. Fort Lewis has been our favorite post, and I can't wait to go back!

Harry Potter People

2011-07-15T06:56:00.004-05:00

Yesterday evening I decided to just go for it and see a midnight showing of Harry Potter. There is nothing like a midnight showing, especially of Harry Potter. The reason it is so different it because of the people. Harry Potter fans are serious. I arrived at the theater about 4 hours early, and there was already a huge line and tons of people were dressed up. That makes it worth it to me.

I ended up sitting between two of the funniest people ever:

To my right- a large African American young woman who spent time on her phone before the movie. The conversation went like this, "Mom, I'm lonely. I've decided that the next guy I get with has got to be a Harry Potter fan... I think I'm going to take the glasses (the special "Harry Potter" 3D glasses) to the club later."

To my left- a young lesbian girl who spent about 15 minutes telling her friend how Olivia Wilde is the hottest girl on the planet. I simply could not take her serious, because she brought her $30 Hermoine wand and stuffed pygmy puff named "Gollywook" to the movies with her. How can someone who owns 3 stuffed mythical HP animals be anything other than asexual? Then she proceeds to tell me that Harrison Ford wore the same kind of hat in Cowboys and Aliens that he wore in Jurassic Park.....I was like, "I'm pretty sure he wasn't in that movie, maybe you're thinking Indiana Jones". To which she said, "But it was on the movie trivia questions! (Though I didn't see the answer)." She was just bizarre!

The theater was sold out, with over 3,000 people there!

The movie was amazing! I laughed, I cried, I cheered and clapped. I can't wait to see it again with Micah.

Coasters

2011-07-14T12:51:00.003-05:00

Last week I talked about my latest craft group project, tile coasters. Originally I thought we were going to do mosaic tile coasters, but I am so glad we did these magazine cut out coasters instead. They were super simple:

Cut out a picture/pictures you want on your coaster.
Apply a layer of Modge Podge to the coaster and apply your picture.
Apply another thin layer of Modge Podge on top and let dry.
Spray a polyurethane outdoor sealer and let dry.
Hot glue felt to the bottom to protect your furniture.

I love the coffee table theme (I was not very creative picking pictures and I was looking at a Crate and Barrel catalog); they will go great on a coffee table.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-07-13T07:02:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since I've linked up with Jamie at Little Daisy May, but I'm feeling the need to post what I am loving and thankful for this Wednesday.

I am LOVING that Micah is NOT in the field this week or next week. It's still going to be pretty stressful, because he has very in-depth homework assignments that keep him up late, but at least he gets to shower everyday!

I am LOVING my birthday present Micah got me (he gave it to me early, my birthday's not for another 11 days) a Nook Color. Not only can I read lots of books, but I can look at magazines (in color), get online, download apps, play tons of sudoku, etc... It's one of the best gifts I've ever received.

I am LOVING the book I'm reading, Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (book number 3 in the Outlander series). I'll admit that I spend way too much time reading everyday, but I love it.

I am LOVING that Micah is at the half way point of his IBOLC training! I can't wait for September!

I am LOVING that I have started researching my family tree. It's such a neat feeling to find out information about your ancestors (it's crazy to think that because of these strangers and their lives, I am here today). I also love that it is bringing me closer to my family. I've talked to my dad more in these past few days than I have in the past month! I also went to a Genealogy class at our local library yesterday and met some sweet southern girls; hopefully we will get together to research or get coffee sometime (it can be hard making new friends as an adult).

I am LOVING that the final Harry Potter movie comes out tomorrow! I still haven't decided when I will be able to see it (we might have to wait until next weekend when Lucy can go to the Saturday Child Care on post). If I am feeling crazy, I may go to the midnight showing by myself (if anything just to see all the super obsessed fans).

Family Tree

2011-07-07T19:32:00.002-05:00

This week I signed up with Ancestry.com and have started researching my family history. It's a bit overwhelming, but I enjoy it. I've already discovered a lot (with the help of other people on ancestry who happened to be in my distant family tree). I think it will be a good project/hobby for me. It's also nice that several family members seem to be interested in it too and want to help. Our local library offers Genealogy classes, so hopefully I'll be able to check that out next week.

Tonight I had another craft date (these are turning out to be so much fun). We made coasters using tile and magazine cut outs. I can't wait to see and post pictures of mine, they're still drying though. If you are someone who enjoys crafting I strongly suggest finding a few friends and make it a regular thing.

Micah comes home from the field tomorrow, but it will be pretty late. The good news is that he will be home for the next two weeks (but he'll be super busy/working hard on projects....still better than sweating in the field).

WINNER!

2011-07-05T15:48:00.002-05:00

I WON!

Muscogee Moms (a local website/moms group) hosted a Mommy Makeover Contest, and I won! I am super excited! The makeover includes:

Haircut/Color Service and Make-up Lesson/Application
New Outfit and Accessories
1 Hour Massage
Professional Photo Session and free 8X10 Portrait

They will be documenting it all on the website too.

I'm a little nervous though, because when the coordinator called me this afternoon her final question was, "just how long is you hair?" Then she made it pretty clear that the more leeway the stylist have the better. I completely understand that when doing a makeover you want drastic results, but I don't know how much I want to do. I've been growing my hair out for several years now, and while I often think about cutting it I'm not sure I'm ready that.

Also I'm a hair virgin! I've never dyed my hair, and I don't know if I want to start that vicious cycle.

I've thought about getting a cute pixie cut, but that would be very extreme (I would donate my hair, so that's a plus). It's only hair and I know it will grow back, but I don't want to regret anything. Micah keeps telling me to cut it. Any opinions?

I've always loved Ginnifer Goodwin's short hairstyles.

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T07:40:00.005-05:00

Happy 4th of July everyone!

It has been sooooo nice having Micah home for 4 days this weekend. We've really been able to get out and do things, do some housework/yard work, and relax together.

Friday we went to Atlanta to the Aquarium. The aquarium was huge and great, but there were so many people there that it was not very enjoyable. The crowds were so large that it was difficult to see many of the displays and kids were running around wild. Therefore we did not stay very long there. We went to lunch at the fun 50's diner Johnny Rockets, and then went to REI. I'm glad we went, but I think it will be a while before we go back to Atlanta. Traffic was very bad when we were trying to get out of town and the 1.5 hour drive home took closer to 2.5 hours!

Saturday we went to Providence Canyon state park. After our trip to REI (an outdoorsy store with hiking, camping, kayaking, outdoor gear) we were inspired to get outside in nature. The canyon is beautiful, but the canyon floor is pure mud. Then we went to Westville, a touristy "1800s" town in the nearby town. We've been to several of these in the past, but I still like imagining life during a different era.

MIA

2011-06-30T13:52:00.002-05:00

It has been nearly a week since my last post, but don't worry everything is going fine. In fact I've been avoiding blogging, because 1. I've been sucked into another good book series (which means I spend all my free time reading) and 2. not much has been going on.

Micah has been in the field this week, but not as much as previous weeks. He actually only spent Tuesday night in the field. Today they are taking their tests on machine guns (it still baffles me that his job is learning how to fight, kill, etc...), and then he has a 4 day weekend! I can't wait for this little break and the long weekend.

Our 4th of July plans include going to the Atlanta Aquarium tomorrow, which just happens to be the world's largest aquarium! This will be our first trip up to Atlanta since moving here, and I'm a little nervous. I've heard terrible stories about traffic and driving, so hopefully we have good experiences tomorrow that don't deter future trips. Saturday we may hit up a fireworks show on post, but maybe not. That's about all we have planned.

Friday Fill-In

2011-06-24T06:31:00.000-05:00

I feel like the time between these Friday Fill-In's just keeps getting shorter! Head over to Wife of a Sailor to join in the fun.

1. Are you a different person than you were five years ago? Submitted by Sisterly Thoughts.

Yes and no. I'm a mother now, and that just changes your life completely. But other than that, I think I am the same basic person. I don't think I have had any major life changing personality issues or complete turn-a-rounds.

2. If you could go on Amazing Race, who would you take with you as your partner and why? Submitted by Thoughts From a Poekitten.

I've actually never watched the show, but from the commercials I have seen it seems like it is someone you are close to. I would take Micah (husband), and just hope it brought us closer and not make us hate each other (we probably would drive each other crazy). All his military training might help out too.

3. Does Facebook or Twitter actually bring more stress or good to your life? Submitted by Just an Arizona Girl.

I don't do either, so neither ;) I did have a Facebook account, but I deleted it probably a year or more ago. I think it brought me more stress and annoyance. I didn't like how addictive it was, and how many annoying people/feeds there were. I found it actually didn't bring me "closer" to anyone, it just let me be nosy and stalk people (which is a waste of time). In fact my MIL and I were just having this conversation last night about Facebook etiquette and the problems it causes. We have had some family news posted via Facebook recently that has caused stress. Facebook is just NOT the appropriate place to announce certain things before notifying/giving time to notify family.

I'm sure if done "properly", Facebook and these social networking sites are great, but I've rarely seen that be the case. I am always reading blog stories or hearing about Facebook drama, so that seems to be the majority.

4. June is National Soul Food Month- what's your soul food? Submitted by NH Girl Displaced.

Probably cereal (though that's not "soul" food, I consider it my "soul" food). I love cereal. I could eat it all the time, as long as I got to have different flavors. I also love traditional Southern soul food though.

5. If you could live in any other era than the current, what would it be and why? Submitted by Sugar in my Grits.

I think I would fit in well in the 50's. I pretty much do live the stereotypical "June Cleaver" life now (stay at home wife and mom), and I love the fashion. It would be nice to live in a simpler time, but still have many of the modern conveniences (like a car).

Release Your Inner Superhero

2011-06-23T20:04:00.003-05:00

The original title to this post was "Release Your Inner Heroine", but I didn't want anyone to confuse it with "Release Your Inner Heroin"....ha!

Tonight many of the IBOLC wives met for a coffee planning meeting. In August we are all working together to host a coffee for the upper ranking wives of Fort Benning (it's tradition for the new officer wives to host this coffee and an opportunity to get some wisdom from the more experienced wives). So this evening we just decided on a theme and organized ourselves into smaller committees (I'm in charge of Invitations/name tags/and the thank you card).

I'm pretty excited about our theme, because it was my idea!

Superhero/Heroin

I love it most because it is a COSTUME party, and I love any excuse to dress up!

So who should I dress up as????

I wanted to be Lara Croft Tomb Raider last Halloween, but I'm not sure if she's a "Superhero" (though I think she fights monsters....?? obviously I've never seen the movies). I just think her costume would be cool and easy, plus I've got the long brown hair.

I also thought about Alice from the Resident Evil Movies, because she's an awesome kick-a gal. I think she could be a superhero....at least I think she's "spider-man like" (altered DNA). Resident Evil is also a comic, like most superhero stories.

Any tips, thoughts, or ideas?

Blah!

2011-06-22T13:33:00.004-05:00

I think we are in week 5 of IBOLC now, and this is the 3rd week that Micah has been in the field. It is nothing unexpected or anything, and it could be a lot worse (at least I get to see him on the weekends and know he is safe). BUT, I still miss him and am just having a blah day.

I woke up and decided I wanted to mow the back yard. The grass is getting pretty tall, and I didn't want Micah to worry about doing it this weekend. Unfortunately I could not even start the mower! I tried for at least 10 minutes to pull that cord to no avail, and now my hands are completely raw. So Lucy and I decided to go to the library only to discover that they did not open for another 30 minutes, so we had to drive back home and then back (luckily I live close).

Our afternoon has been better, swimming in the little pool outside and reading our books.

Last night was fun though! I had a couple of fellow IBOLC wives over for dinner and a craft. We had Chicken Tortilla Soup and brownies and made these fun Marble Magnets (super easy). And of course we spent a couple hours talking about how we met our husbands and the "joys" of IBOLC. I think we are going to continue these dinner/craft dates and that makes me happy!

Andersonville, GA

2011-06-19T19:42:00.006-05:00

Saturday we went to Andersonville, GA to visit the National Historic Site. Not only is it a National Cemetery, but it is also the location of the Andersonville prison (Camp Sumter) and the National Prisoner of War Museum. Camp Sumter was one of the largest prisons set up by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Over 45,000 union soldiers were held here, and of these 13,000 died from disease, starvation, and horrendous living conditions. It was quite the experience to be there and see a glimpse of history. I cannot even fathom what happened there nearly 150 years ago.

Sorry for the quality of this photo (I couldn't use my flash in the POW Museum). I had to get a picture of this though. It was a representation of the conditions that a POW might endure. To take the photo I had to peek through the slot of a thick wooden door to see this man shackled to the ground. It was heartbreaking.

Why Homeschool

2011-06-18T16:30:00.003-05:00

Since it has come up a couple of times this week (via comment and through conversation with a fellow mom), I may as well dedicate a post to why we are choosing to homeschool Lucy. This is not going to be a "homeschooling is better" or debate, it is just reasons why we have made this decision. There are many reasons we have made this decision, it's not just a simple one reason answer. So here it goes:

I firmly believe that I/we parents are responsible for our children's education (that does not mean everyone needs to homeschool, but every parent should be actively involved in their child's education).
I believe I can give Lucy the best education for her.
We can decide her curriculum, what she learns, when she learns it. Her education will be completely custom and tailored to her interests/learning style.
Being a military family we move a lot and I do not want Lucy's education to be disrupted by a move (ex. one state teaches fractions in the 4th grade, then we move to a state that has already learned fractions, then she's missed out).
I also don't want Lucy to be in tons of different schools growing up with teachers/children coming and going. We have lived in places where the schools are not accredited and somewhere I would never send her.
Schools are not the same as when I went to school, and I do want to keep her somewhat sheltered. (Call me over-protective, but I don't want her learning about sex in the 1st grade).
I can't wait to be able to use real life as learning opportunities: trips to museums, cooking, etc...
When Micah has a lot of leave, or just gets back from a deployment, I want us to be able to be together as a family. The Army does not always cooperate with school schedules ;)
I think it will be a blast!
I am selfish, I want to spend these next 15+ years with her while she learns.

So I hope everyone can respect our reasons to homeschool, and please do not bring up the "socialization" issue. That is a complete non-issue (there are so many homeschooling groups and extra-curricular activities it would make your head spin!). Again, I completely understand that homeschooling is not for everyone, but for us I believe it will be right.

Friday Fill-In

2011-06-17T06:21:00.001-05:00

It's already FRIDAY, and that means it's time for the MilSpouse Friday Fill-In hosted by Wife of a Sailor.

1. Underwear Parties, how old is too old? submitted by Wookie & Co.

I have no idea what an underwear party is (and I'm a little afraid to Google it), so I'll pass.

2. What was your favorite class in High School? Submitted by Adventures of M-Squared.

Band: Marching Band and Jazz Band. These two classes were always my last periods, so it was the best part of the day. Not to mention it was fun! Playing drums at school, how amazing is that?! (I was also a big math nerd though, give me some Algebra and I'm pretty content).

3. Have you ever convinced packers/movers to move something they aren't supposed to for a PCS? Submitted by Ground Control to Major Mom.

Kind of....our first PCS I didn't pack any food, cleaning supplies, candles, etc....we ended up giving away a ton of stuff to friends. By our second PCS we learned that the movers will pack up food (things like pantry goods, baking supplies, etc: stuff that is expensive to replace from scratch) and they packed our cleaning supplies too.

4. Blogging plays a growing role in the media. If you were asked to embed as a blogger with a deployed military unit, would you go? What do you think your blog would look like? Submitted by To the Nth.

I haven't heard of this either (but maybe I'm very out of the loop). No I would not embed in a deployed unit as a blogger. Frankly, I'm not a journalist and I do not think I would be very good at it. For me blogging is all about what is going on in my life and sharing pictures, so I would probably make major OPSEC violations that put everyone in danger. That would be terrible.

5. Do you think kids should attend year round school? Submitted by Marrying the Navy.

I can see benefits to both year round school and the current school schedule. With year round you get more/longer breaks throughout the year and kids wouldn't forget as much over the summer, but a lot of teachers would be pissed and never go it. I plan on homeschooling Lucy, so we get to decide what works best for us. My plan is to "always be learning", but summer will probably be more relaxed with learning based on our trips/fun reading at the library.

Playdates

2011-06-15T14:48:00.002-05:00

These past few days/weeks have had me feeling like a busy soccer mom already, and Lucy is not even school age (or in soccer). We've just been going and going with activities and things. First is ballet, which is everyday this week and next week (some crazy summer schedule I am not too happy about, but they "misinformed me about the schedule when I registered). Lucy really likes it, but I'm not as thrilled: driving there and having class from 5-5:45 is annoying because that is our usual dinner time. It also makes me nervous having her in ballet, because I'm always worried she won't listen. I know I'm just sensitive and silly, but I don't want her to get in "trouble" for now standing on her dot or something. This morning we also went to a free movie of Cars at the National Infantry Museum's Imax (they are showing old Disney movies every week), followed by a playdate at Chick-Fil-A. Tomorrow we going to PWOC (a women's bible study on post) and this weekend we have a birthday party. It's fun having stuff to do, especially since Micah is gone, but I need to keep some days free. I'm not used to always going and doing, so I need a balance. I like my alone time and days of just hanging around the house getting stuff done.

I need advice on this birthday party: We have some friends here who's son just turned 1 and they are having a party for him at a local park on Saturday at 2 in the afternoon. I am concerned that an outdoor party in the park when it is super hot will just be miserable. It's not that I don't want to celebrate with them, it's just going to be sweaty awful. Micah does not want to go. What do we do? Would you go, make up an excuse, tell them the truth that we don't want to go to the park at 2pm? I'm very torn and I feel guilty, because they probably won't have many people there anyway (though their family threw the kid a 1st birthday party in OK before we moved).

Weekend Review

2011-06-13T05:29:00.004-05:00

Micah survived his first week in the field last week. He was supposed to be home in the afternoon/early evening on Friday, but as expected Army happened and he didn't get home until late. I was really not surprised, because these things happen all the time. He said it was pretty awful in the field; I really cannot imagine what these men have to go through (days of sweating your rear off outside, no showers, little sleep, high stress, and lots of physical activity). I have really been making an effort not to complain, because I have it soooo easy compared to him. If it's hot I can just relax inside or take Lucy swimming. This morning I even forced myself to wake up at the same time as Micah (4:30am) and jog 3 miles on the treadmill, because he's doing at least 6-7 miles today (on top of a full day of training).

Saturday we had a lot of fun though! After getting some errands finished in the morning we decided to hit the downtown area of Columbus (it's a couple of blocks with lots of shopping, statues, and fountains) for ice cream. There is a charming "General Store" that serves ice cream and homemade fudge. We got to sit outside and eat it while listening to some live music. Then Saturday night we went to watch the Columbus Lions (our "professional" indoor arena football team) destroy the Carolina Speed. It was definitely a good experience. Lucy even had a great time watching football and eating popcorn. They had the best stand band and dancers!

Sunday we tried out a new church (that we all enjoyed), went to lunch, and then spent the afternoon at home relaxing and getting homework done (Micah).

Since we only have weekends and a relatively short time here, we're trying to make the most of it. I've been making a list of everything we want to see and do, and we're trying to do one thing every weekend or so. It's so nice now that Lucy is older and we are able to get out and enjoy these things (and she enjoys it too)! We've got a full week ahead of dance classes (everyday this week, since it's summer and they don't do weekly classes), library trips, movie playdates, and more.

Friday Fill-In

2011-06-10T06:45:00.004-05:00

Time for the Friday Fill-In hosted by Wife of a Sailor!

1. When you vacation what type of vacation do you like to take (beach, historic, adventurous, food oriented, etc...)? Submitted by Megan Dub-Yuh.

Most of our vacations have been based on wherever we are living (taking advantage of where the Army sends us) or they have been going home to visit family. Later this year we are going to Destin, Florida (beach) and then Disney World! I would prefer adventurous vacations, because I would want something to do.

2. What is your best memory associated with a song (You know we all have tons!)? Submitted by Ramblings of a Marine Wife.

I remember finishing my last class ever in college and driving home and the song, "Move Along" by the All American Rejects came on the radio. I thought it was kind of ironic.

3. If you had six months with no obligations or financial constraints, what would you do with your time? Submitted by Married to the Army.

I'm going to take "no financial constraints" to mean an unlimited supply of money, and in that case I would travel the world. I would go to every continent.

4. What is one thing about you that people do NOT typically notice at first that you wish they would? Submitted by Our Motto is Patience.

This is a really hard question Michelle! I really don't know, because I don't know what people think about me. Sometimes I get strangers/new people who comment on my looks/appearance, and I would like them to know that I don't really care about that too much. I hardly wear makeup, and I'm not someone who goes overboard everyday to look good.

5. Submitted by The 3 Turners: It's a summer of sequels, and if you had to live in one of each of the following "worlds" (there are three total) which would you choose and why?

Awesome, this is my question again! I meant it as choose one of the three, and I would choose to be a mutant on X-MEN. I know that must sound shocking considering I am a big Harry Potter and Twilight fan, but here's why: I would never want to be a vampire (never getting old and seeing everyone else die would just be awful) or werewolf (gross, I'm not interested into morphing into a dog). I would also not choose to be a witch in Harry Potter (even though it would be awesome to be in that world), because everyone would be witches and wizards so it wouldn't be that special. BUT in X-MEN the mutants all have unique powers/abilities that require them to work together. I love Mystique's ability to look like anyone or maybe the ability to fly (cheap travel).

Not Always Peachy

2011-06-09T18:52:00.004-05:00

Well things are not always peachy here in Georgia. Micah has been in the field this week, and will be in the field a lot while we are here. As expected, the day Micah left Murphy moved in. I have been sick all week, which lead to Lucy being sick (super gross and difficult). The screen on my phone broke, and while I can still make and receive calls, it's pretty difficult to do so when you can't see the screen and you have essentially lost all your contacts. I've been trying to find a cheap replacement phone on Craigslist, but have yet to find anything. We've been out of our phone contract with Sprint for a few months now and we've been debating switching carriers to get cool Iphones, so I don't want to make any decisions until Micah gets home. I've been very hesitant to switch and get Iphones though, because I do not want our monthly cell phone bill to go up a lot because we'll be paying all the data plan fees. I'm torn.

We have had some good stuff going on too: playdates and swimming. I'm actually getting some color on this pale skin of mine, even though I always wear SPF 50. I'm also making friends! YAY! Yesterday night I had a fellow wife over for leftover tacos and crafting, and she was very cool. I think we're going to be good friends (she likes to read, even Twilight, loves libraries, believes in the Dave Ramsey Plan, and is super sweet).

I've been wanting to make a menu board for months now, after I saw it on my friend's BLOG. You can read more about the project HERE. So it was great to have a friend over and craft with company.

UPDATE: I got a cheap awesome phone off of Craigslist! Now I can text Micah letting him know that my phone has been broken and I haven't been avoiding any texts from him (if he even sent any).

Army Wife Coffee

2011-06-07T06:45:00.003-05:00

Last night I went to our first Coffee at the Lt. Colonel's Wife's house. For all the non-military spouses out there, a coffee is a social event for military spouses, typically held once a month at some one's home or on-location somewhere. It is not an informative meeting, but rather an opportunity for the spouses in a unit to get together and do something fun/get to know each other. Last night was a Welcome Coffee for all us 2LT wives who's husbands will be going through IBOLC together. The hostess gave some information about what a coffee is, how to host one, and coffee etiquette. For example:

When invited to a coffee you should RSVP (it is common courtesy and it helps the hostess prepare).
The hostess typically offers a small gift given away by drawing a name (last night the wife with the rockets on her name tag got some hand towels that had the unit patch embroidered on them).
It is polite to bring a small gift (flowers/wine) for the hostess.
It is also polite to send a Thank You card to the hostess following the coffee.

I know many military spouses are totally not into the "traditional" Army wife stereotype/role/myth, but I enjoy the idea of keeping traditions alive. I'm looking forward to getting to know more of the wives and hopefully we will get to be a close group throughout the next few months. Our husbands are already out in the field, so it's going to be important to make friends and get out of the house while they are gone. Tomorrow Lucy and I have a playdate at the pool and Thursday we're going to our friend's house for some Korean food!

Wild Animal Safari

2011-06-05T07:49:00.003-05:00

Yesterday we went up to Pine Mountain GA to the Wild Animal Safari. It was a good quick day trip (it is less than an hour away from Columbus). They have a walk through zoo type animal exhibit, and a huge drive through animal safari. The animals come straight to your car, in fact they will come in your car to eat out of your hands! Lucy had a good time, even though she was a little hesitant to feed the animals herself (not that I blame her, the animals were huge and very overbearing at times).

Friday Fill-In

2011-06-03T06:51:00.003-05:00

Link up with Wife of a Sailor to participate in the fun!

1. It’s now June (woot!)… what plans do you have for the summer?

With Micah in training all summer/for the rest of the year, we cannot take any leave. We only have a 4 day weekend on 4th of July and Labor Day. I'm trying to plan a beach trip for Labor Day either to Tybee Beach, GA (near Savannah) or to Destin, FL (the Army recreation place).

2. What is your favorite summer memory as a kid?

I had the BEST summers as a kid. My favorite summer activities included going to camp, going to the Frio River with a friend's family, my Uncle and Cousins coming down and renting a lake house, band camp (such a nerd, but it was exciting having drumline rehearsals during the summer), and lots of sleepovers. Growing up in the TX hill country surrounded by lots of lakes was pretty much heaven during the summer.

3. If wild animals could be made pets without fear of them ever being dangerous, what kind of exotic animal would you want as a pet?

I would not want an exotic pet, in fact I do not want any pets (after the two dogs I have) until Micah is retired. If I could just play with a baby monkey, penguin, or bear, that would be fun.

4. Is there anything about deployments that you do like?

Saving money, getting to eat what you want/no cooking (when Micah was deployed I lived on Lean Cuisine), I usually get in better shape when he is gone, extra time to do what I want, no one to share the remote with...

5. I’m starting to run out of questions again… so please give me a question you’d like to see (off-the-wall will most likely make it because we seem to have used a lot of the “traditional” ones).

It's a summer of sequels, and if you had to live in one of the following "worlds" which would you choose and why?

X-Men- Be a Mutant, what would your power be?

Harry Potter- Be a Witch or Muggle?

Twilight- Be a Vampire or Werewolf?

What I'm Loving Wednesday

2011-06-01T06:58:00.004-05:00

It has been a few weeks since I've participated in What I'm Loving Wednesday, so link up and join the fun!

1. I am LOVING that even though I have been eating too much chocolate lately and have yet to return to my pre-move running regimen, I have not gained any weight (I really need to get back on the wagon though, especially since Micah is doing the hardest workouts of his life...I've just been lazy).

2. I am LOVING the possibility of making new friends. I hope to meet some great people and form great friendships while we are here.

3. I am LOVING that I finally live in a town with a Target. I'm heading there this afternoon to pick up a few things.

4. I am LOVING that I have a new penpal. How fun is it to get a nice letter in the mail!

5. I am LOVING Micah and I am so proud of him. I LOVE that he works so hard, waking up at 3:30-4:30 everyday and suffering the GA heat, while Lucy and I get to stay at home and play and manage the house.

Camping Trip

2011-05-31T06:30:00.005-05:00

Our camping trip this weekend was semi-successful. We left the house Friday afternoon (already in not too great moods) and the two hour drive to High Falls State Park ended up taking 3 hours! We got lost several times, because the mapquest directions were completely wrong. It didn't help that there were no major highways along the way, so we ended up driving through every tiny town from here to there. At least the drive was very pretty, along with all of Georgia.

On Saturday we went to the Tanger Outlets (which conveniently happened to be 12 minutes from our campground). It was surprisingly not crowded, and we got to do a little shopping. Osh Kosh and Gap were both having super savings; all clearance items were marked an additional 40% off! I love a good deal. We also broke down and bought a GPS... we've had one in the past, but it broke and I have been stubborn relying on maps and mapquest (unsuccessfully). Saturday we also got to relax at the campground and we went canoeing. Unfortunately by Saturday night I had the worst headache, and woke Micah up at 10pm to go get me some aspirin. I think I am allergic to smoke...if that's possible. I don't get headaches often, but it always happens to me when I am around smoke. Some of our camping neighbors were smoking and all the campfires burning didn't help either. So we left a day early, which turned out to be a good thing (since it always takes a good day to recover from trips...laundry, unpacking, etc...).

Yesterday we enjoyed Memorial Day with friends. Micah went golfing, while Lucy and I went to a friend's apartment to swim. We capped off the evening with a WWII documentary. I was hoping to make it to the National Infantry museum here at Fort Benning, but we'll have to do that another time.

Friday Fill-In

2011-05-27T06:00:00.000-05:00

Link up with Wife of a Sailor to participate in the weekly fun!

1. Do you think civilians, in general, understand the meaning of Memorial Day?

I sure hope so. I know many people understand the meaning of Memorial Day and are grateful for the sacrifice that so many have made for our country, but there are many people who just see it as a weekend for hamburgers and shopping. It is hard to wrap your mind around it, even as a military spouse. One thing I try to do at every post is visit the cemetery, and just take the time to look at the names on the graves. There is something so humbling just standing in the presence of the men and women who have served. (Plus they are always beautiful and well respected grounds).

2. What are your plans for the Memorial Day Weekend?

We are very excited for this weekend. Seeing as we only have 3 holiday weekends while we are here, and Micah cannot take leave while in training we've got to make the most of it. So tomorrow we are packing up the car and going camping at one of Georgia's beautiful state parks. It will be 3 days of nature, swimming, mini-golf, plantation tours, antebellum trails, and family fun!

3. What skill/talent do you wish you had? submitted by The 3 Turners

Hey that's me! Lots, there are lots of things I think would be very fun to be able to do: like dance, sing, sew/craft (better), photography, and probably many other things I can't think of. But I am a very lucky gal, those are just things that I think would be fun. Who knows I may take a class one day!

4. Which came first: the chicken or the egg? submitted by I Married Into The Army

Chicken

5. What is the best thing about your post (base)? The worst? submitted by Randomly, Robyn

That's a good question and since we just got here, I don't really know. Fort Benning seems really great so far, but I've only really been to the commissary and PX. The worst is the construction!!! Benning (like many bases) is undergoing tons of construction, which just makes driving/navigating stressful.

I'm a real Army Wife again....

2011-05-26T06:10:00.003-05:00

One of the best things about being here in Georgia and Micah being in training is that I feel like a real Army wife again. Sure Micah has always been in the Army, but we have been away from the traditional Army life for so long that I have missed feeling like a real Army wife. We went to Fort Lee, VA in 2008 and Micah was an AIT Instructor/Squad Leader. (There was not an active FRG and I never got to feel apart of his unit in anyway). Then Micah was selected for the Green to Gold ROTC program, so we moved back to OK for him to finish his degree. Again he was not in any real unit that had family programs (of course I'm not complaining about that). But during these years I have missed making Army wive friends. There is something very unique about going through the same situation with someone, be it a deployment, school, etc.

Yesterday the IBOLC cadre hosted a Wives Orientation and mixer. It was so nice to get to meet many of the other wives that will be going through the exact same thing while we are here. I got a few numbers and plan on having some playdates soon. I can't wait to make new friends! We also have our first Wives Coffee in two weeks! (It has been years since I have been to a coffee). Especially since the last real unit we were in only invited Officer Wives to the coffees...yeah, not cool.

Ballet

2011-05-25T07:23:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was Lucy's first day of dance classes. I will admit that I felt like the Grinch on Christmas when Lucy got to put on her tights and leotard. My heart just swelled like a balloon.

The class went ok...parents cannot be in the classroom, but they have a camera/screen set up so the parents can watch their kids. For the first 10 minutes Lucy managed to just stand there and stare at the three other girls doing their warm-ups. Then she seemed to think that it was appropriate to chase the other girls in circles while they fluttered around. By the end of the class she was listening better and managed to stay in first position for like a minute. She seemed to have fun though, and said she really liked dance class. I'm just glad that she is getting to participate in something and hopefully will make some friends.

Pages

2011-05-22T12:18:00.002-05:00

Yay! We can all remove our hardhats, because the construction is complete! My blog construction that is. Check out my PAGE links up above (I finally wrote something/figured out how to write something there).

I just LOVE blogging and here are some reasons why:

YOU! Yes, all the wonderful people I have "met" through blogs.
IDEAS! There are so many great craft ideas and recipes.
Keeping in touch. It is a great way to share our lives with family and friends.

What are your favorite things about blogging?