Sunny Saturday in March

Digital scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

As today started to unfold at 5:30 a.m. I was less than optimistic about it; I'd only gotten 3 hours of sleep, both of the boys wet their beds, and there were numerous chores around the house that had been neglected all week in favor of working.  However -- after a heavenly cup of coffee and breath of fresh air outside -- I turned my frown upside down and embraced the day....and am I glad I did!


Rob got up early to rent a boat and take Christopher fishing; I packed their lunches, sunscreens, and sent them off with a slew of "be carefuls". I vlogged, enjoyed the silence, and played with Ryan.  After realizing that nothing was keeping me in the house and out of the weather but myself....I grabbed my Ry-bear, packed a bag, and headed out!  Destin was gorgeous.  I know that after we're out of the military I definitely want to come back to this area because it's so wonderful!  The people are frendly.  The atmosphere is upbeat. It feels like "home".


Christopher and Rob went to see THE LORAX tonight in theaters!  It was my baby's first time ever going to see a movie...  I can't believe how fast he's growing!  Mine & Rob's anniversary is tomorrow, Ryan turns exactly 11 months, and Christopher's 3rd bday is on Wednesday.  I'm so grateful for all of the wonderful blessings we have and the opportunities to enjoy a day like today.  It's been so memorable! 

Coldstone SECRET Menu

Found this via twitter --- I'm definitely asking for the Secret Menu : )
FYI: Slimfast French Vanilla Powder tastes EXACTLY like Coldstone Cake Batter ice cream 

Thanksgiving in Florida

Thanksgiving just isn't the same when you're not overloaded with relatives, stuffing, and pumpkin pie!  It also doesn't feel like Thanksgiving when it's still 70+ degrees out and you don't see blaze orange & camo on every corner.  Definitely missing family this holiday season!

Today was the start of UN-traditions. We woke up and all of us went to Wal-Mart to get some last minute Thanksgiving supplies.  It was Ryan's first Thanksgiving and he got to eat his Sweet Potatoes & Zuchini (baby food) with his one tooth -- it came in on Saturday!  Nov. 19th.  Exactly 1 day after he turned 7 months!  I took a 2 hour nap with the boys which was very refreshing and when I woke up Christopher and I went to Wal-Mart...AGAIN...this time to get stuff to make Fall / Christmas crafts.  I couldn't believe that people were already hovering over the saran-wrapped aisles, waiting for 10pm when Wal-Mart's "Black Friday" officially started.  So sad!  Pure craziness, if you ask me.  I was going to attempt to hit up the Destin Commons (BATH & BODY WORKS!) but we'll have to see!  It would be a great time to BLITZ, though : )

All-in-all it was an interesting Thanksgiving.  Rob did the turkey and I made homemade pumpkin pie which turned out pretty delicious!  We ate dinner and then Rob and the boys went to bed at 8 so I stayed up, had a couple glasses of wine, and made candle holders, fall decor, and snow flakes all by my lonesome!  Now I'm thinking about heading to bed... especially if I am thinking about braving the crowds tomorrow....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  I'm grateful for:
-- My faith & a God that never gives up on me!
-- A husband who cooks & my 2 beautiful boys
-- My family.  I love how active they are in our lives despite the fact that we're halfway across the U.S. MISS YOU GUYS!
-- Friends.  Couldn't keep my sanity without you  :  )
-- Our troops & their families.  Thank you for serving and we're thinking of those that are deployed and unable to be together this holiday season.
-- My job: such a blessing to our family financially! 
-- Food on our table, a house, and a warm bed to sleep in.

Settling In

The past month has been a blur of boxes, laundry, lunches, and diapers.  I will be the first to admit that I had a terrible attitude for awhile due to a combination of alot of the above things as well as trying to juggle my own needs and still doing stuff for my business.  Oh and add the fact that I also wasn't exercising which made me feel extra crummy! But I've shaken out of that because it wasn't doing anybody any good at all!

HOW'S FLORIDA??
-- I hate it. It sucks.     ...... JUST KIDDING!  It's FLORIDA!  I love the beaches -- I'm a seashell junkie.  I also love the fact that it's almost November and I'm still out sun-bathing during the day!  I know all of you up in Wisconsin are reading this right now and contemplating flying down here just to punch me for bragging!  We took Ryan and Christopher to the Ocean for the first time at Postal Point on Eglin AFB and Ryan loved it and we actually got Christopher in the water finally; although he preferred sitting on shore playing with the hermit crab he named 'Bug'.  It was adorable!  

I won't lie, though... the beginning part of Florida kind of sucked.  I got some weird rash all over from the Temporary Lodging we stayed in and the Palmetto Bugs down here (among many others) were really grossing me out.  If you don't know what a Palmetto Bug is let me help you out.  It's about 3 inches long and looks exactly like a cockroach.  As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter if it is or isn't a cockroach.  Who cares?!  If it LOOKS anything like a cockroach I'm still going to scream bloody murder at 3 am when I go to flip the garage light on and see this thing on the wall. The moving company was and is a nightmare.  We're having to file a claim on at least 20 items that were carelessly damaged during the move.  (And in case you think I'm exaggerating let me hit you with an example: they individually wrapped my tea lights and fridge magnets yet put the Xbox and antique on the bottom of a 5 foot high wardrobe box that wasn't filled with clothes but was stacked full of heavy fish tank equipment!?!)  Oh and did I mention that we had a Black Widow in our backyard?  EEK!

PS: Live Laugh Wrap business is going great!  I'm so excited!  It's taken off since I've been here and I now have Distributors in TX, CA, KS, WI, and hopefully AZ (and FL of course!) My last wrap I lost 3.75'' --- I'm a wrapaholic! Wait til you see my Halloween costume....

My Journey and It Works Experience



The Hardest Part of PCS'ing

PCS: (verb) Permanent Change of Station - - -  (in non-military terms)...TO MOVE FAR FAR AWAY FROM PEOPLE YOU LOVE!  Ok.... but seriously.  It means to be re-assigned to another base.

So today has been a rough day!  I can't put off the fact that we're moving any longer . . . it's really hitting me hard today.  I'm going to miss my friend sooo much!  I like the military lifestyle because I've always wanted to travel and see different places...but there are downs.  And getting so close to people that they become your family and then having to leave them behind is definitely a down.  That's where I'm at right now.  It's going to be an all-nighter!  I ordered an Ultimate Cheese Lover's pizza from Pizza Hut (Jennifer's favorite and now she's got me hooked!)  I'm going to jam the blues out with Pizza and Classic Rock  : ) 

                                            

True friends are hard to find, and even harder to forget!

  

It's love!

                                                  

Calli talking to her baby!

 


It's not good-bye...It's "I'll see you later".....

                                        

So excited!  We're moving in less than a week and the movers get here on THURSDAY!  Which...is 2 days from now.  I really need to get my butt in gear because it's going to go so quickly! AGH!!!  Mildly freaking out....