Saturday, February 28, 2009

Well, our household goods arrived yesterday and I go to Atlanta today to pick up my car! It is all starting to come together. It was so precious watching Tobbie yesterday when the moving truck showed up. She started screaming "that's my truck". Since it was the same guy that picked our stuff up in WA he started talking to her and told her he had all her toys. She was more worried about her bed! Just about everything they pulled off the truck, she had to scream "that's my bike, that's my mommy's bed, that's mine", etc. Tonight will be our first night in the new house and I am so excited. The yard is amazingly beautiful. There are six pecan tress on the property, and a million different blooming shrubs. Tobbie's room is almost done and Tristan's and the kitchen will get done today. I'll have to post pics later on!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

So long drive thru coffee shops, hello drive thru liquor stores

Yes, you read the title right! Until we arrived in Washington, I don't think I had ever seen a drive thru coffee shop. I remember being so amazed at all the little coffee huts (especially the bikini/topless/fantasy day ones). Where once I thought Starbucks was the bomb (they are in a way), I have grown such an appreciation for fresh, I mean freshly brewed coffee. I crave coffee now. But still, I can't get over the amount of drive thru liquor stores here! CULTURE SHOCK!

Well, yesterday I made some major accomplishments. I got the kids and I enrolled in this region for our health insurance, bought a refrigerator for the new house, visited with my grandparents, dropped my wedding band, engagement ring & anniversary ring off to be cleaned up and soldered together, got the information to sign Tobbie up for t-ball and lastly, we found Tobbie a new school! Well, it is the hourly day care on base, but we call it school and she was so excited to be near other children her age. We only went to take a tour and to get all the information we needed and as soon as she walked into the class room, she tore her jacket off and made a bee line for the other kids! She turned and looked at me and told me "these are my friends!". It was so cute. The class room has two guinea pigs (benny pigs as she calls them) and she started telling the teacher all about her benny pig Buddy and that he is gone (yes, we are bad parents. we got rid of the kids guinea pig). She will start going sometime next week and boy did we have a time getting her to leave the class room. Made me sad.

Today I am meeting up with my bestestest friend in the entire world, Hannah. Hannah and I have been friends since we met when I was a freshman in highschool. She just had a baby girl, Olivia. Unfortunately, Miss Olivia has the same patience as Miss Tobbie. Olivia decided to arrive early at 29 weeks. So, there is something else to bring Hannah and I even closer (not that I would wish prematurity on anyone). I can't wait to get my hands on that little baby girl and I can't wait for my little stud muffin Tristan to meet his future wife! I have already arranged their marriage, just don't tell her daddy John!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Flying High

Well, the kids and I made it. We missed our original flight, but we made it! I haven't flown since last April and boy have the airlines changed! To begin with, I originally purchased our tickets (3 one-way) tickets for $149 each. Not too shabby for traveling cross country. Well, I overslept (I am not a snooze hitter and I hit the off button instead of snooze...enough said) and it cost me almost $800 to change our flight. I didn't even pay $500 for the original tickets! Yes, I said $800, as in extra, in addition to the original $500! This is precisely why you should get up when your alarm goes off. Thank you my dear sweet hubby, why did that rub off on me? I wish your organizational skills or something else would have, but no, it was the alarm issue! Ok, enough on that. I will do my best to never bring it up again. It is over. Done.

Well, here are some applauses / complaints over US Airways. First off, they were wonderful helping me with all my CRAP and the two kids. Traveling alone with a 3 year old and a 2 month old is not an easy task. I did it, and I did it good because I am an Army wife and because that is just how I roll. Kudos to US Airways for making it smoother (I think that is what the extra $800 went to). Well, I knew they were charging for drinks on the flight, but 2 'effn dollars for a canned coke and bottled water?! Were they trying to rip me a new butt hole? What was worse about the bottled water was that it wasn't even Dasani, Figi, or any other good brand. It was the cheap Spring water I buy at the commissary for $2.99 a case! For what I paid on the plane, I could have bought for a quarter of the people on the flight! Well, they stuck it to me good. I then bought Tobbie a snack pack for $5 because I didn't have time to stop to get her anything to eat between the flights and it had tuna salad in it. Seriously, why put tuna salad in a snack pack, on a plane? Who wants to smell that? Literally nothing for PURCHASE for a small child to enjoy. They didn't even give the poor girl any little plastic wings!

I do have to say that Miss Tobb's did fantabulous on the flights! She only had one little melt down. Tristan never opened his eyes. For real, he never opened his eyes between check-in in Seattle until we got to baggage claim in Atlanta. He nursed and burped, but never made a peep and never opened those precious baby blues! My good little boy!

We also went to look at our new house yesterday. It is so cute and I can't wait to move in this week! The yard is so amazing. The movers will be there on Thursday to deliver our household goods. I can't wait to set it up.

Well, I need to go get ready and truck on down to the Air Force base to get all our stuff set up and to see how much they are going to like us Army folk.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

2009 Fort Lewis Mock Dining In

Sukie Mills continously said "Konichiwa Bitches" all night long!!! This morning she was wishing she had a knuckle ring that said it so she didn't have to last night!

Ok, last night was the 3rd Annual Fort Lewis Mock Dining In and as always, 1 SFG (A) ladies ROCKED the house like we always do! We took home two awards, one for "most items donated to the Fisher House" and "best table decorations". Some of us thought we were going to get an award for being the drunkest, but we were misled. That's ok, it made it more fun!

I made three kimono's and they didn't look too shabby. Majority of us realized last night that we don't wear the Asian look too well. Not that Asians aren't pretty, because they are and they have amazing skin (yes, that would be you Shelly Woo Walker).

Our table decorations were authentic pieces from various countries around the globe and our own special mama hen, Jodi Petit, made the table clothes. She is such a fabulous graphic artist! We had fortune cookies, Chinese clackers, fans, peacock feathers, a dragon, and so many more items to add to our "uniqueness". Best of all, we were able to let those Ranger wives know who was in charge, we spanked 'em!

Oh, I was also named "Mrs. 1 SFG(A) 2009" last night. My deary Mia made me a crown, sash, and banner to wave. She made my last event here at Ft. Lewis even more special. Thank you Mia!

We also kidnapped Brigadier General Mathis' wife, Christine. We just brought her to our table to have some "fun". Those silly looking people dressed as "Incredibles" tried to kidnap her from our table, but they were unsuccessful. We then branded Mrs. Mathis on her forehead with a tattoo of our unit's crest.

Ok, I will leave you with this:

and some photos of last night's fun, it's ok to be jealous, SF wives are super duper special and we don't need put Mr. Incredible signs on our husbands to prove anything. That's the difference between Ranger's and "The Quiet Professionals."

Me and Sukie Mills

Me, Mishka the Russian Asian & Sukie Mills

Mrs. 1 SFG(A) 2009

ladies of 1 SFG (A)

Faith

Jodi is so funny!


I will miss you girls!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Moving day has arrived

I can't believe it, Moving Day has arrived!!! It feels like foreversince we have moved. Well, it has only been three years, but this is the longest we have ever been stationed somewhere. I am excited but also sad to be leaving Fort Lewis. Our lives have changed drastically here.

We found our way to Fort Lewis because of Tobbie. Being born so early, she had to be transported Stateside for her health care (inpatient and outpatient), and since Michael's unit's headquarters is here, he was able to stay within his unit and just be placed in a different position. I love living here and enjoy all the fun things there are to do here in the Pacific Northwest, BUT I HATE the weather! It rains way too much here. I cannot stand the rain.

I am sad because Fort Lewis has been so life changing for us. I've brought two babies home from the hospital, survived a deployment,lost a friend to the war, celebrated our 5 year anniversary, and muddled thru the ups and downs of a marriage. I have met and made friends with some amazing strong women (De Refresho We Share). The summers here are amazing, minus it being too cold to go swimming and there aren't any outdoor swimming pools. Mt. Rainier is beautiful on a clear day (har, har, har) and the Puget Sound and its rocky beach is gorgeous for a picnic on a sunny day.

Ok, on to new adventures, Georgia (gnats, mosquitoes, hot humid weather, and SUNSHINE), here we come!

but tonight I must attend the 3rd Annual Fort Lewis Mock Dining In, First in Asia, First Across the Globe. We will rock in our Kimono's!



Sunday, February 15, 2009

Irresponsible Pet Owners


I cannot stand our neighbors! No Trish, I am not speaking of you, we LOVE us some Trish! They just moved in during the month of October and I swear to you, I have never seen the parents in anything other than PJ's (well, except the husband in uniform). We even saw the husband in his PJ's at the shoppette one evening (around 6 or 7) buying beer in his PJ's. Their daughter that is in Kindergarten is always outside unattended, like no one EVER checks on her. Ok, they got the daughter a dog, a tea cup toy poodle. They leave that dog outside all night long. Not only do we have bears, mountain lions, racoons (like crazy), and big ass birds that we eat the little two pound pup, but it drops below freezing every night around here. Well, I went over at 5 this morning and was making the dog a bed out of old blankets and little toe warmers in a box when the dog went ape shit on me and they husband FINALLY woke up. I might make it to Georgia with 3 dogs instead of 2 (just what I really need, something else to take care of). It is just a sad situation, that little doggie deserves better. I've tried to call animal control here on post, but I either can't get them to answer the phone or they don't work on the weekends. The MP's won't do anything about it because that is animal control's duty. LOST CAUSE! Maybe I will end up with another dog after all.
Here is what the little doggie should look like, but he had frost all over him when I went out there this morning.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

My weekend starts today

This is my last weekend here in Washington! I am excited, anxious, scared, just a lot going on in my head and a lot that I need to get done around the house. Michael has a four-day weekend this weekend and we are going to start prepping for the move. We have so much to do before the packers come on Tuesday. We have to prime the walls in the kitchen and in Tobbie's room because I painted them. We have to clean the fridge, stove, walls, carpet, everything! Plus, we have to pack and for the kids and I and then pack for Michael to drive cross-country with the dogs. On top of that, I have to take my car on Saturday to have it shipped. Just a lot to do. I love moving and it has been a long time since we have moved (3 whole years). I can't wait to get to our new house (so cute) and set up. I think Tobbie is going to love playing outside in the warm weather!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Sibling Love & Doctor's Appointments

Ok, I LOVED growing up with my older brother Chad (I love you too Corey, but this doesn't apply to you, we weren't little together). He was so mean to me and I bugged the crap out of him. But isn't that what siblings are suppossed to do? I remember he once stabbed me between the toes with a sharp pencil because I kept bothering him and his friend by knocking on the door. When he opened it, I went to kick him and he stabbed me in the foot. Did I deserve it, probably, but his friend was really cute and I just wanted to be around them!

Well, it has already started in our house between the kids. I guess I should say that Michael started it. I caught him last week playing with Tobbie and holding her hand and saying "why are you hitting yourself" while he proceeds to make her hit herself. Well, I have caught her hitting herself saying " I hit myself" and then I caught her doing it to her baby brother (look for yourself). Fun times

She does love him and it brings me so much joy to see them interact with each other.

Well, they both had checkups yesterday to get us prepared for our big move. Tobbie weighed in at 24 pounds and is 2'11", that puts her at the 3rd % for weight and 6th % for height. She is on the small side still, but at least she is on the charts. Yeah for Tobbie! Tristan, drum roll please, weighed in at 12 pounds and was 25", he is just over the 50th % for height and weight. He is so going to catch up and pass Tobbie in no time!

he is almost as big as she is


Tristan: please Tobbie, can I have some
Tobbie: ha,ha, you have no teeth


he looks like a deer in headlights or scared of what is to come


Why are you hitting yourself?

World's Cutest Baby

Seriously, I have the World's Cutest Baby! I cannot believe how much this little boy has stolen my heart. My dear friend Trish said it perfectly, "little boys are a badge of honor." Tristan is my little badge of honor (I am trying to convince Michael we need more "little badges of honor"). Don't get me wrong, I love Tobbie to pieces and we have a bond like no other, but this little boy, he is rocking my world right about now! And he started smiling last week which makes it even more pronounced!




Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Playing with rice is not a good idea...

One few words about where we live, "the weather here SUCKS!" Seriously, it makes it almost impossible to enjoy life here. I love everything about this area, but the weather can bite me!

My creative mind got to thinking and since Tobbie loves to play in the sand, I got out her shovels & buckets and such and made her a mini sand table out of rice (I was busy sewing and needing something to keep her occupied other than the television). Well, she loved it. But the mess that child made on the floor was out of this world! While I was vacuuming it all up, it sounded like a Mariachi band was in my dining room!

Take a look for yourself and see all the "fun" plus one of the cute little dresses I made for Tobbie...




Life

I don't even know where to begin. Well, it is all set for us to move. The kids and I will be flying out in a couple of weeks and Michael is going to drive with the dogs. We were just approved for our house and I am so excited. It is going to be a huge, HUGE change for us being so close to family, but it will be good. I am just glad we will have warmer weather. I am getting excited about the move, but I will be sad to leave all my SF sisters. Love you girls!