Wednesday, January 26

January

Can you believe how fast this month has gone!!! Where has the time gone!

For us, we have been sick, working and getting ready to move! (in that order)

We did make a fun trip to Old Town to grab a few things for when we move so we can take Albuquerque with us!

I'm counting the days down to perfect weather!

I'm ready to be a California Girl!!!

Tuesday, January 11

December & January

Well, it's been a couple of crazy months again! I can't believe how quickly time is moving right now! I'm not ready for Feb and to move!

A few highlights:

I turned 26 - David took me out to the Melting Pot & we walked around Old Town that evening

David worked a third and last year for Toys for Tots (great program, excited to be done though)

David's work had a Christmas Party 3 days before Christmas

We went to Denver and spent it with the Allen's. We had SO much fun!

Spent the New Years with David's co-workers playing poker to bring in the new year.

David was promoted to SSGT (E-6) rank - this is about 2/3rd of the way up the enlisted (no degree) rank.

We had a party for David getting promoted - he made his extremely yummy Carne Asada - if you come visit us we will be sure to make you some!

It's been a very eventful year and in just a little over a month we start our trek to San Diego. We will be visiting both of our parents along the way while also looking for a house. We are EXTREMELY excited to be moving. We are very lucky for the fact that my work wants to keep working for them and will have me working from home. I feel very blessed for this opportunity and I know Moose & Stella will love it!

We hope everyone had a great new year.

Thursday, December 2

September, October & November

Well, it's been a while again since I last posted.

In September, David & I, along with another Couple, The Hawks, & us went to Phoenix for a long weekend to go see Tom Petty in concert. We all took the friday through monday off to just have a great time. We got an AWESOME rate and stayed at the Legacy Golf Resort. It was the perfect location for us. We were within 10 minutes of anything we wanted to do.

The first night in we went to a major league baseball game at the Chase Field. It is such a nice field! It's an indoor field, but the roof retracts and a portion of the wall of the outfield opens. It was absolutely gorgeous because looking out and watching the sun set, you had the high rises on one side and the mountains on the other.

On Saturday, we mainly wanted to just hang out at the really nice pool. My friend from high school who lives in Phoenix came out and we all just relaxed and played in the pool. My friend was saying though that the pool is cooled (instead of heated) so it's not to warm! I thought that was funny!

We also had to go to the Heart attack Grill. Everything at this grill is cooked in lard...I'm so serious! But it was by far the best hamburger ever! David & I shared one.

On Sunday, with our tickets for the baseball game, we received free admission into the Sea Life Phoenix. It is an aquarium in Phoenix that is in the mall. It was a smaller aquarium, but it was fun to go and see the sea life. The rest of the day we relaxed. We were about to leave to go get something for dinner when i checked my facebook, when one of my friends who lives in CA but grew up in Phoenix had posted that our concert had been postponed. Well, we did our research and Tom Petty had a throat infection and had indeed postponed his show. We decided not to let it bother us and we still went out to dinner and then had a nice relaxing evening in the hotel room.

Monday, we obviously went home but we went the scenic route. It was so beautiful!

The very next weekend my mom and my sister Jeni with her husband and kids all came into town for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. It's a big deal and it's been fun every year we have been here. We were up early in the mornings and late to bed. To say the least, we had SO much fun! I always love when family comes to visit!

The next weekend, my friend from Phoenix, her roommate and her boyfriend came to Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta as well. Those 3 know how to make a weekend packed full! Not only did we do the balloon fiesta, we took the train to Santa Fe (where I managed to dump a whole bottle of root beer on David!) and then when we came back from Santa Fe, we went to McCalls Pumpkin Patch and did the haunted barn and haunted corn maze! We were gone from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm! We were so TIRED that night!

The next big thing that happened was the Marine Corps Ball. I don't have my pictures uploaded yet and I only took 2 or 3 but David, as usual, looked amazing and so did I! David & I danced the night away and went to bed early as we were exhausted. the ball was at the Hard Rock Casino and this year our tickets included a room! It was nice getting ready in the hotel room and not having to worry about having dog hair on anything! It was a total blast except the 2 am fire drill. Also, the casino doesn't do the fire alarm, it speaks loudly into your room "THIS IS NOT A DRILL, PLEASE EXIT THE BUILDING" over and over again!

The next day, David flew home to Sacramento for Thanksgiving. I, had to work a couple more days, so I worked until the middle of Wednesday and then flew out. We had a great thanksgiving with his family. We tried new recipes. I made

Mac & Cheese Muffins (amazing!)
Green Beans w/ crackers (a different type of casserole)
Homemade Cranberry Sauce (homemade is the way to go!)
Upside Down Caramel Apple Pie (to die for!)
Cookies & Cream Pie

David's mom also made:

Turkey
Ham
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
and I'm sure way more!

We had so much fun and just relaxed.

David, one of his sisters & I did some black friday shopping, but not to much!

The very next day after Thanksgiving was David's & I's 6 year anniversary! I can't believe it! David was so sweet this year and he got me a necklace (one of the open heart collection ones) and made me a hair appointment.

That evening, we went to the Ruth Chris Steak House. It's an expensive steak house (thanks to David's parents who gave us a gift card they said they weren't going to use and had been holding onto it for over a year!) We had the barbeque shrimp...so yummy! David had the new york strip & i had a petite filet. They were by far the best steak we have ever had. The server serves the steaks on plates that are 500 degrees!!! We then shared the Sweet Potato Casserole & Asparagus with hollindase sauce.

We were suppose to go out for dessert after a while later but we made the mistake of going back to the house. I was in such a food coma, I fell asleep in a minimum of 10 minutes sitting up! I was gone for the rest of the night!

I hope everyone also had a great thanksgiving.

We are back at work and everyday life!

Tuesday, October 19

Orders

This morning I had just parked the car at work and was getting ready to cross the street (6:50 am) when my phone rang. It was David on the other line and he doesn't normally call me, I always call him at work to tell him I love him. (I always think it might brighten his day a little bit).

I answer the phone and he immediately asks me, "are you driving?"

I replied "No, what's up?" a little shaky as that's never really a good way to start a conversation.

David continued, "We got orders today". We weren't expecting orders as David told his Major on Friday that we would be willing to stay an extra year to help out the Company and so David could get all his Staff training done for when he picks up soon.

I eagerly reply, "Where to!?"

David then said, "I report to APAC in Jacksonville, NC on Jan 5" and I RUDELY INTERRUPT "we are going back to North Carolina!!!!"

David continued "If you can not interrupt me, I report to North Carolina on Jan 5 for 5 weeks for training. I will then be back and we will report to our MCAS Miramar on March 23."

Lets just say I screeched with joy because we are going to San Diego!!! I can't wait!

Tuesday, September 28

Denver

So, it's been a while since I last posted, it's been a busy couple of months. I will do a few while I can, but it is once again a very busy week.

David came home August 17, I was so happy for him to be home! Two days after he got home, I picked him up from work and we road tripped it up to Denver for Jeni's youngest daughters baptism. We got in about midnight, it was a late night!
We slept the first night at my sisters but we stayed the other 2 nights at the Embassy Suites. Suzanne also came into town with her youngest daughter also.

We had so much fun! Friday, us adult girls went out for lunch, to a fabric store and a boutique. The adult boys took Hattie and went out for lunch and hung out at home.

That night we all went out for some super yummy barbeque and then relaxed.

Saturday we just hung out of the house until the baptism and then we had the baptism. David gave the talk about the holy ghost and then we went back to the house for a PARTY! Man was it a party! So many people, such good food and good company!

Suzanne left that night and David & I headed back to our hotel the next day to go home.

It was sad to leave but we had such a great weekend!

Sunday, July 11

Weekend

Who doesn't love a weekend! I know I do! This weekend was full of fun and laughter...I'm so glad to be having so much fun while David is gone!
Friday night, I left work and came home to check on my poor doggies who had been in their kennels ALL day. I let them out for a bit, but had to return back downtown to eat dinner with friends. We went to one of my favorite places downtown called the Asian Noodle Bar. I LOVE their fried rice...it's super yummy! Then my two friends and I went to a live theater production called triple espresso. The show itself was ok, but the theater it was in (the Kimo Theater) was beyond beautiful! They had beautiful artwork and carvings and bright colors all over. It is a small theater, but nice and cozy. As I said, the show was ok, it was a comedy of 3 friends re-aquatinting themselves and reminiscing about the past.
Afterwards, one of my friends and I walked over to the civic plaza, a place downtown where events are held and saw a Mariachi competition. That was interesting, but they had wonderful homemade ice cream!
Saturday, I went to old town to get a couple of people some New Mexico treasures. I love old town, so many little shops and lots of history! It had been a while since the last time I went, but it's always beautiful down their! I then went and got the truck an oil change (something that I hate doing but obviously have to do) and then headed home. I had a fun night to get ready for.
My friend and I went out Saturday night and my friends husband was so thankful for me taking her out so he could go to bed early!!! LOL! We went out to dinner at a place called Two Fools Tavern. It is the best fish & chips I've had since england and it's a small but lively irish pub. The food is great and the service is even better! It makes me feel like I'm back in Europe when I go in.
After dinner, we went to see a Broadway Hit, Beauty and the Beast! (I think my friends husband was just glad he didn't get dragged to this!) It was just like the movie with a couple additional songs! It was one of my favorite disney movies growing up and the scenery and staging they used was beyond beautiful! We had such a good time and it is something I will remember for a while. I love musicals and plays and really haven't been to any since Bloomington, but I have a feeling that is going to change.


I'm just hoping we get to stay here through January as Wicked is coming! I SO want to see Wicked!

Monday, July 5

Video Chatting

David has been gone for a full week now. It's never easy when he leaves, but I always understand why he does leave.

Today, we skyped each other and actually got to see each other. It was our first time ever doing that, and it's REALLY cool.

It was pretty funny because once I realized that I had speakers plugged into my lap top and turned them on to hear David, it was even better!

Moose & Stella started going crazy the second they heard David's voice. They were barking and running up the stairs and to the back door and to the front door. They were jumping on the couch and looking up our vaulted ceiling to see if David was up their as well.

Finally, once they calmed down, I brought Moose over to the Computer and he could then see David...oh how that started another commotion! We have a corner desk in our front room with our couch up against it. I have my screen hooked up to the laptop so it's easier for me to work at home. Moose ran to the couch and tried to jump over the back of it to figure out how Daddy was on this screen but not really here. It was really cute! Once Stella figured out where David was at as well, she did the same thing. Thankfully only Moose got his two front paws on the back of our desk and Stella didn't. I was worried that Moose was going to jump on the desk!

It was nice to see David and talk to him. It makes it a lot easier. :) So, anyone who skypes, let me know and we can video chat as well!