tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70458467699061018032024-02-07T20:00:50.076-08:00Which Way Is Home ??My Marine-Wife-Life, from Virginia to California, and back, and again...Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-31560158528962545722012-07-05T21:05:00.001-07:002012-07-05T21:05:19.325-07:00$2 Picture Magnet Gifts - AWESOMEMy husband and I were talking yesterday about how we are going to try to make this Christmas an exclusive hand-made gift Christmas. ((TRY)) So I got an idea inspired by some snowmen magnets I saw on Pinterest one time and couldn't wait to give it a try. Check it out!<br />
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Supplies:<br />
Pictures (I did the instant print kiosk and made them smaller by printing four photos in one frame - cheaper too!)<br />
Glue<br />
Clear accent stones (Dollar Tree!)<br />
Magnet tape ($1 from Michaels)<br />
scissors<br />
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Lay the stone over the photo to get the area you want just right. Use a marker to outline the cutting area and cut it out on the inside of the circle.<br />
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Line the outside edges of the stone with the glue and affix the photo onto the stone. Cut off a piece of the magnet strip and stick it on the back of the photo.<br />
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It was that east!!! In afterthought, I glued the stone directly to the whole photo and then cut off the excess, it made it a little bit easier.<br />
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The end results. Super cool, easy, and totally unique magnets that grandparents will love and cherish forever =)<br />
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<br />Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-14483290441817141222012-06-29T16:55:00.001-07:002012-06-29T16:55:17.644-07:00What a busy couple of weeks!These past couple of weeks have kept me so busy that I don't have time to sit still and think. About anything! I guess that's a good thing since Patrick is gone most of the days and nights at his career course, but there are some days I wonder how long I can keep it up!<br />
We've got swim lessons starting soon, the summer reading program, library visits, free bowling all summer long, MOPS meetings, play dates, LINKS workshops, and as if that weren't enough I started taking a few online classes. What the heck was I thinking?! On the bright side we have an abundance of books, the kids are happy, and I'm getting smarter by the minute (ha!)<br />
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I finally broke down and got a babysitter for the girls a couple of afternoons this week. The first time I just went to the pool with a friend and relaxed, swam some laps, soaked up (a little too much) sun, and tried to forget about how hot it was outside. The next time I totally splurged and got a mani and a facial. Go me! But the awesome gal who watches the girls for me is going home for three weeks (waaaahhhh!) so I'm debating on finding someone to fill in during her absence or just suck it up. What to do?! <br />
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I have actually been keeping myself so busy with on the go things that I haven't had time for much craftiness lately, but not to fear - I feel that I'm going to be making something cute for 4th of July real soon, say stay tuned!Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-2770673435634664192012-06-18T15:59:00.000-07:002012-06-18T15:59:18.639-07:00Diaper Cake = too easyI'm hosting a baby shower and had no idea what to get the third-time-around mama to be, except for consumable goods, so diapers it is! But how boring is that? So I've never made a diaper cake before, I didn't get online to look for directions, I just figured it couldn't be that hard, so I went for it.<br />
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Easiest instructions EVER are right here:<br />
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1. Take all diapers out of package, roll them up, and secure with a rubber band.<br />
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2. Locate something round to use as a base. I used an empty oatmeal container. You could use just about anything recyclable, or this is an opportunity to stash away extra gifts (such as shampoos, baby formula, etc.) I put a large rubber band around the bottom part of the container and then started tucking diapers under the band all the way around. Then I did the same on the top part. I wanted something tall enough so that the bottom two layers were attached and the diaper cake didn't fall apart.<br />
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3. Add another large rubber band around the bottom layer of diapers, and start adding diapers to make it a thicker layer. Once you have the bottom two layers, you can just wrap up four or five diapers for the top layer, or what I did was use my shampoo here and did the same thing I did with the oatmeal container - throw a rubber band around it and add diapers for a single layer.<br />
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(Yes, that's Vin Diesel in the background there)<br />
<br />4. Add ribbon to cover up all of your rubber band goodness, and you're all set! Easy as 1, 2, 3. And 4!<br />
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<br />Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-59939183289843565472012-06-16T17:30:00.001-07:002012-06-16T17:30:16.148-07:00Boule Bread - Super simple first attemptI love bread. A little too much I think. So I decided to take a stab at my first boule, looking for something super simple of course! It turned out great!! A little too great, as the recipe made two medium loaves and we are down to only one (less than an hour out of the oven that is). So here you go, it really is simple, give it a try!<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1 T salt<br />
1 T sugar<br />
2 1/2 t yeast (I used the kind for bread machines)<br />
1 1/2 cups water, between 100-115 degrees (temperature really does matter so the yeast will activate properly)<br />
4 cups all purpose flour<br />
butter to brush on top after baking<br />
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Directions:<br />
Mix salt, sugar, yeast, and water and let stand for about 5 minutes. You will see it be a little foamy on top, something like the head of a beer. THIS IS GOOD! If there is no foam your yeast is no good, so discard and try again, making sure water is right temp. <br />
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I threw the flour in my kitchenaid mixer with a dough hook attached, turned it on "stir" speed, and poured the yeast water in slowly. If you don't have a mixer you'll get some good arm muscles kneading all of this by hand, but it is SO worth it! Leave it on the mixer on stir speed for about 5 minutes, or for those of you hand kneading go about the same amount of time, just push past the forearm soreness =)<br />
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Place in a bowl and cover with a clean towel for about 45 minutes, until dough appears to have doubled. Punch down and let rise again, I let the second time be about 30 minutes. I can be impatient sometimes. <br />
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Preheat over to 400. Split dough in half and on a floured surface, one at a time, shape dough into a nice round dome shape. Cover with oiled plastic wrap for five minutes. Grease two round cake pans (or casserole dishes, pretty much anything round will do) and place dough forms inside each dish. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until golden. You know it's ready when you take it out and tap on the crust and it makes a hollow sound. <br />
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Rub butter on the top of each boule and allow to cool for about 10 minutes before taking them out of their pans. Then enjoy!!! My youngest daughter certainly loved them, and she's only 10 months old, so she can't lie. Yet...<br />
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<br />Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-74220951747776634852012-06-12T17:37:00.001-07:002012-06-12T17:37:13.027-07:00Family Vacation!!!Aaaah, the feeling of getting back home to your own bed and pillow can never be under-estimated, but nothing else compares to spending time with some much loved family. It's hard to visit all of our family whenever we want, especially being in the corps and always moving, but it makes it even harder when some of that family is military as well, so we have two very crazy lives that have to sync up for a few moments of togetherness.<br />
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Did I mention that El Paso (unlike 29 Palms) has civilization... like we
got to go to a Super WalMart and the outlets, a bagel shop, the zoo....
all of this no more than 15 minutes from their doorstep. Can you tell
I'm jealous? <br />
<br />We let Patrick push all four of us girls in the big buggy =)<br />
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And my sweet niece A making a friend of a sea lion at the zoo<br />
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All of that stuff was great, but the best part was going to White Sands,
NM. It was absolutely gorgeous - white sand dunes as far as your eye
could see (which wasn't very far while in the extreme winds that were
whipping us around out there as well). I realized I was way too out of
shape to be running up the side of these enormous dunes with a sled in
my hand (workouts start tonight BTW) but it was awesome to look at and
crawl around in. <br />
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It was sad to go, but all great things must come to an end. We got to spend a week with my awesome brother-in-law and the family. And Shannon and I got to drool over Vin Diesel and Paul Walker in a Fast and Furious flashback. It was great to have some quality girl time with her, she rocks!<br />
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Speaking of my rocking SIL, did I mention the swag??? If you don't have a scentsy rep already I highly recommend her, it comes with perks! So the real reason I visit her is to clean out her storage closet...<br />
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My house will be smelling great for a long time!! Go check her out at https://shannonshurtleff.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home to get your house smelling amazing too!<br />
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Well, here we are, back home, about to cook dinner and just letting the kids run around the house doing whatever they want. It was a long drive yesterday and they've earned it, just like us adults earned fajitas and a Fat Tire.<br />
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Looking forward to our next escape from the high desert...<br />Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-87123085657685409972012-06-10T07:44:00.000-07:002012-06-12T17:37:47.497-07:00I'm Back!Good morning America! I know, I know, it has been nine months (as my SIL Shannon informed me) since I have blogged, but let me just say:<br />
<br />
1. I had a baby<br />
2. My husband deployed<br />
3. I drove with brand new baby and 4 year old and 2 german shepherds and stepmother while towing a trailer from California to Virginia<br />
4. I had a super colicky baby the entire time I was there<br />
5. I kept up my college classes during all of this<br />
6. Repeat step 3, but in reverse, and throw in a break-down followed by sitting on the side of the interstate for 3 hours waiting on a tow, then having to spend at extra $2,000 for a big UHaul truck to continue the journey<br />
7. Settling into our new home on base, unpacking (I'd still be living in boxes if not for my Vianne), making friends, losing friends, making new friends, and still waking up at all hours of the night<br />
8. Patrick came home from deployment!!!!!!!<br />
9. Crap, now I have to buy more groceries and do more laundry than ever<br />
10. On vacation at my SIL's house =)<br />
<br />
So, I promise I will get better about this, and give it another whirl. After all, it looks like I am going to be in California for another two years so I have to find some way to keep in touch with my beloved East Coast (and keep my sanity in the 110 degree summers when I refuse to "play" outside). <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-43814716922508091642011-08-17T11:53:00.000-07:002011-08-17T11:53:40.667-07:00Patrick's Big 31!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r0o89To_B3eZlMVM9_WDjlwtCN_iqBbV_zeZssZQlpUMv9QDMTaXR9Y7wz7ezGuNwmOKlJAgoTTgfpI1RDVedX87WLTFUO3RlDXXaZgymdVC2RU9awGK9BcKjrevCOxWn9Guh6RHH80/s1600/P1030522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9r0o89To_B3eZlMVM9_WDjlwtCN_iqBbV_zeZssZQlpUMv9QDMTaXR9Y7wz7ezGuNwmOKlJAgoTTgfpI1RDVedX87WLTFUO3RlDXXaZgymdVC2RU9awGK9BcKjrevCOxWn9Guh6RHH80/s320/P1030522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So yesterday the husband turned 31! He said it didn’t really feel any different than 30. I still think he woke up just as cute as he did he day before, so I don’t see what the big deal is =) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkJtVTuYqz7M4Lxqq1vSLjYPrcvv-GDccQAIAs0Kefny1mbMZdVPRmClf224qckdh_jbZTN0bAF7sqz8PVB7YUY8vBfUrvec6-0uxc5mhEO8qCkYRju-43hWPyCKNh0-p6F4RBSavbgE/s1600/P1030500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkJtVTuYqz7M4Lxqq1vSLjYPrcvv-GDccQAIAs0Kefny1mbMZdVPRmClf224qckdh_jbZTN0bAF7sqz8PVB7YUY8vBfUrvec6-0uxc5mhEO8qCkYRju-43hWPyCKNh0-p6F4RBSavbgE/s320/P1030500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">(This coming from the one who will be turning 30 in 3 more months. It’s all about attitude…I love looking at people in magazines and saying to myself “Wow, she’s 26, I am waaay younger looking that her” LOL)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">I knew there was no way I could top last year’s concert in the back yard. Awesome band (<a href="http://www.confluxband.com/">www.confluxband.com</a>) set up in the back yard, about 40 people, four wheelers, kegs, tons of food, bonfire, beer pong, flip cup, kids games, and riding through the corn field was a little over the top. We would be soooo arrested in this neighborhood for doing just one of those above mentioned items…so what in the heck was I going to do?! Doctor put a big “declined” stamp on my original travel plans to San Diego, so we are literally stuck in the desert!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When in doubt, go shopping!!! There are some awesome outlets down the hill, and in pulling a double duty the place is huge so I figured all of that walking might help the baby along (as in GET OUT). No suck luck as of yet though…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So we spend about 5 hours shop hopping, and still didn’t hit all of the stores. He got new shoes, pants, polos, dress shirts, socks, coffee press, external hard drive, and I just know I’m forgetting something. Of course Just ice got a pair of shoes and I got some jeans to look forward to fitting back into soon =)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xvwxHINCvYYX8AUbdhFFnjgrr__1wKYCcJmcA3nV17Y53_2Xks75V6Fc0jF8hIiV8DIViZY1LNMFnIFSd_w7yD_9FtRyW5Mw3eqi_Qd0zlmHq9EO7yGCb9ERPckxz0_crhEqPzTL1OQ/s1600/P1030503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3xvwxHINCvYYX8AUbdhFFnjgrr__1wKYCcJmcA3nV17Y53_2Xks75V6Fc0jF8hIiV8DIViZY1LNMFnIFSd_w7yD_9FtRyW5Mw3eqi_Qd0zlmHq9EO7yGCb9ERPckxz0_crhEqPzTL1OQ/s320/P1030503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">So now we are hungry and tired (mostly me hungry, go figure) so we head to Rancho Mirage to PF Changs. Yummmm!!! We haven’t been to one of those since I was pregnant with Justice, and it was just as good as I remembered. Even Justice couldn’t stop eating the chicken. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN_hVJ2DyPYfqsx-WQwegU-gkIfDIKXJ-DeZVitxP5UXqOYjo9Dc8WJ782TROXwrgDhI-BG8A8tTdVXfEf67oeqhr5jBAxwlWxHgHVUON2rsirAlnrxrQ_oY_RunCj2I2rfnBbVV9XPg/s1600/P1030504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN_hVJ2DyPYfqsx-WQwegU-gkIfDIKXJ-DeZVitxP5UXqOYjo9Dc8WJ782TROXwrgDhI-BG8A8tTdVXfEf67oeqhr5jBAxwlWxHgHVUON2rsirAlnrxrQ_oY_RunCj2I2rfnBbVV9XPg/s320/P1030504.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> Me at 38 weeks</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLKSFZvfLv15XXKDm6GnjrvKJ4aeoDOuxML3cHIuCnLLPIUH3KLgn6zOFdfRPPKaR44iVBgmFUB8kB-0_ZcByvJqJoaseEjgkJmlMEvHmOPbrMxz2O1-PRkUdNmqWLjrrwnDvls0PQfM/s1600/P1030507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLKSFZvfLv15XXKDm6GnjrvKJ4aeoDOuxML3cHIuCnLLPIUH3KLgn6zOFdfRPPKaR44iVBgmFUB8kB-0_ZcByvJqJoaseEjgkJmlMEvHmOPbrMxz2O1-PRkUdNmqWLjrrwnDvls0PQfM/s320/P1030507.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Outside of Changs</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefoprg0bWYdUh2VZ2pRjhkJ5MRdaKdEbVgIxyomDbWsoxNEM8UMGwjClorFjOO6Y0XCJ458pN_Ie4HcFYplubY6PppkbpqR_dTIAaUvdSAElvcORhyphenhyphenmNq60ZXbd1gyYQYvoEvn9Xf6Y/s1600/P1030515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEefoprg0bWYdUh2VZ2pRjhkJ5MRdaKdEbVgIxyomDbWsoxNEM8UMGwjClorFjOO6Y0XCJ458pN_Ie4HcFYplubY6PppkbpqR_dTIAaUvdSAElvcORhyphenhyphenmNq60ZXbd1gyYQYvoEvn9Xf6Y/s320/P1030515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Loving her food</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKLorJX6xCdpLZbhTuWaGnXIqYySl707DeBCzzGzCm17zM4TaaMCNK7O-5tPEPWjq97KfUlVxoDX-ovnlIvKEA3b-r5CITMFtTbRrvu8t_5gY4cJhZNTo1xad1DTMz4eRl8r5b4BuYbs/s1600/P1030517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYKLorJX6xCdpLZbhTuWaGnXIqYySl707DeBCzzGzCm17zM4TaaMCNK7O-5tPEPWjq97KfUlVxoDX-ovnlIvKEA3b-r5CITMFtTbRrvu8t_5gY4cJhZNTo1xad1DTMz4eRl8r5b4BuYbs/s320/P1030517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We are stuffed!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Of course since there was a Yardhouse next door, we had to stop in there so Patrick could get a beer. It was quite amusing… I’m blowing up his spot but it took about an hour to down half a yard. In his defense, we had just stuffed our faces at Chang’s so I guess that plays a factor. I am under strict direction from Jonathan to “bring my big purse” if we go back so I can smuggle out a glass. I might need to buy a bigger purse…</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GgC_np-5fauATpYn-RyMJq7bWQbZo2_kYDlsOQKd-1a2IhfSu2HDLnlVakvKBZ9B7CMDtfrAvSMqTclD0E2L4xEMxRzCVVi9G3NWK-0J24g44A_5fuSow0eyA9nrnXnH4SR_xWYRrY0/s1600/P1030518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GgC_np-5fauATpYn-RyMJq7bWQbZo2_kYDlsOQKd-1a2IhfSu2HDLnlVakvKBZ9B7CMDtfrAvSMqTclD0E2L4xEMxRzCVVi9G3NWK-0J24g44A_5fuSow0eyA9nrnXnH4SR_xWYRrY0/s320/P1030518.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Patrick's half yard of beer</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5Jwum7q54wE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Justice is cheering Patrick on to "chug" LOLOL!!! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">All in all it was a lovely day spent with the family, and I couldn’t have asked for better in the present situation. Happy birthday to my sweetie!!! </span></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-7384941953736212022011-08-04T17:50:00.000-07:002011-08-04T17:50:07.762-07:00Thankful Thursday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">I figured I’d follow up my “Terrible Tuesday” with a “Thankful Thursday”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, no matter how entertaining it may have been for you to read, and healthy for me to vent, positive things are always better than negative ones.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">#1 – I am thankful for my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means my immediate family, my extended family, my in-laws, cousins near and far, and those friends that are too close to my heart not to be called family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, I don’t call or write enough, and life gets me busy, but know that I’m thinking of you often, even when you don’t hear from me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">#2 – I am thankful for my wonderful daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday was her first dentist appointment, and she went off without me like a big girl before I even knew she was gone, getting her x-rays and cleaning done, and not a single complaint. I’m in the chair next to her getting my own teeth cleaned, and just amazed that she has no fear!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI1vtl1l20ZH11BqzhK62gDxITC_6CRB33iLDiJJlVDWulDAm8tqtSGKmss3ad8887pS0DLYqhAKcdJo0YaSPUQJ69_1-N_XSnwMV1mib8AcfaQxs_fGbZH2NhPdPge3N6Uj6754PAuU/s1600/justice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpI1vtl1l20ZH11BqzhK62gDxITC_6CRB33iLDiJJlVDWulDAm8tqtSGKmss3ad8887pS0DLYqhAKcdJo0YaSPUQJ69_1-N_XSnwMV1mib8AcfaQxs_fGbZH2NhPdPge3N6Uj6754PAuU/s320/justice.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">#3 – I am thankful for the friends I have made in such a short amount of time here at 29 Palms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know in the military lifestyle that you make friends fast, yet it is still a wonder to me at times how it happens that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for myself and on Justice’s behalf that we both have some girls (and one cute lil guy) to hang out with. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">#4 – I am thankful for having a healthy pregnancy and so far healthy baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m thankful it’s a girl (just don’t let Patrick know that, he was secretly hoping for a boy!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Lucida Calligraphy";">There are a bunch of little things I am thankful for as well that I could list off one by one, but my “loaner latop” is a lil older and it doesn’t register all of the keystrokes all of the time, so it is quite a pain, yet I am thankful for it and for my stepmother for letting me borrow it while my dad fixes my Mac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just remember that no matter how bad you think you have it, someone out there has it worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-55919800316564413472011-08-02T16:38:00.000-07:002011-08-02T16:44:27.087-07:00Ding Dang Darned Day<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">Yup, that about sums up the day. Let me start with yesterday, when I fell on the pavement using only my knee to break my fall, leaving a huge scrape that still burns like fire. Thanks to the pain, I finally fell asleep around 5am, waking up at 7:30… so this is where we start.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">In the wee hours of the morning I realize that today is the day… my brother in law is leaving once again on deployment, and it breaks my heart. His wife is my ultimate military spouse hero, and their two girls are amazing. This is a family full of love, tenderness, compassion, and it’s out there for the whole world to see. 14 years of marriage and you’d think they were still newlyweds. My sister in law remains so strong in his absence and is the photograph next to the word “support” in the dictionary. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">It’s hard for people not in a military family to understand deployment. This is the job that all service members signed up to do. They didn’t sign up to be a mechanic, a driver, an admin guy, a cook, etc. They signed up to fight for our country’s freedom, and that job takes them to war. When they are not deployed, their job is to get ready to deploy. That is it!!! As my mom always asks “Does he have to go?” the answer is always “yes!!!” It may suck, and it might not be understood by all, but to a marine/soldier/seaman/airman…this is what they do. Everything else is just prep work. It is their job to fight, it is our job to love them. Funny how something that sounds so simple is the most complicated thing in the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">So, as I am sitting in the waiting room at the Doctors this morning, I start to tear up with a trifecta of sadness. 70% for my brother/sister/family who are having to say their goodbyes now, 20% for me thinking that that is going to be me in two more months, and 10% pregnant hormones. Yup, I’ll pull that card. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">Sucking it up and dealing with it, moving on about my day…. I return home from my five hour trip looking forward to the deliciousness of the pot roast that I put in the crock pot that morning, only to find that I forgot to plug the darned thing in!!! I even turned the crockpot on high real quick and googled how long meat could stay at room temperature without being a danger (yes I was that upset/determined) and I was well past the two hour limit. Darnit!!!! This is just my luck! Grabbing the crockpot to toss the entire thing, I burnt my fingers!! How did it get so hot in 5 minutes? So I resign myself to spaghetti, quick and easy, right?! The water started to boil and I grabbed the box of noodles to dump them in, and half of them dump out onto the floor. At this point I just don’t care any longer. Yup, I picked those bad boys off y kitchen floor, threw them in the pot, and walked away. I’m going to go finish creating this dinner and sit still somewhere before I can mess up anything else. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC";">Thanks for letting me vent, and if nothing else, I hope I accomplished something today by putting a smile on someone else’s face.</span></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-22889860289765048732011-07-28T18:17:00.000-07:002011-07-28T18:17:44.679-07:00Updated Countdown!!<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">So I go to my usual twice a week Dr. appointment and it starts off with “Since you’re 35 weeks we need to test….” And I’m like “wait, I’m 34 weeks” in my head, but figure it’s close enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time the Dr. (not my regular Dr. Kasko BTW) checks me from the NST I decide to ask about it and he said “Well, your original due date was August 30, it was changed too early to September 6, but with it only being a week and monitoring your growth and development, I’m sticking with August 30”!!!!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttt?!?!?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">So I knew I was looking at about 3-6 weeks depending upon the IUGR, but just losing one week mentally off of my time-table made it sink in that this baby is coming, fast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holy cow!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we are taking pre-deployment leave August 15-29… good thing we are going to be back from San Diego on August 21, because who knows what could happen!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">With all of that mental excitement, I am so happy that Justice and I took the time to relax at the pool today with some fabulous friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brave little trooper made her way to the slide, and once she went down, she couldn’t stay off of it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strapped into her life-vest she climbed and slid down that slide at least 30 times, splashing and swimming and having a blast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With temperatures reaching 107 today, the water was exactly what we needed =)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELfU3IQQwqCGE5b86m8inRCSqbx98V9zoDcFBo_xpc9V2CZtCIyeypNYqoTs4a9H7J2iws8Ysw2qNv_J5T7yiiysfrb188xP5TXiWOaiWEAHmvAq3bhEhi00uPvI7M14XilzyST993c/s1600/slide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifELfU3IQQwqCGE5b86m8inRCSqbx98V9zoDcFBo_xpc9V2CZtCIyeypNYqoTs4a9H7J2iws8Ysw2qNv_J5T7yiiysfrb188xP5TXiWOaiWEAHmvAq3bhEhi00uPvI7M14XilzyST993c/s320/slide.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";">I am so blessed to have met such a friendly group of ladies here in 29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took a little bit of time, as does anything, but I can say that it was faster than Pendleton or Lejeune, or anywhere really!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am thankful for the camaraderie shared that crosses the lines of ranks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have run across too many unfortunate people that feel that they wear their husband’s chevron or bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, with certain ranks come certain perks and privileges, but we spouses are all the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether you’re the captain’s wife or the Lance Corporal’s fiancé, everyone is in this game together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yup, my husband is enlisted and I couldn’t be prouder of him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that doesn’t mean that I am not suited to help the Corporal’s wife or have lunch with the Captain’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a great feeling here in 29 to have some like-minded amigos!<o:p></o:p></span></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7045846769906101803.post-64133451408095162302011-07-22T08:20:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:10:26.594-07:00Welcome to ...<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Segoe Print";">So, here we are in the Hi-Desert, pretty much as settled in as you can possibly get at our new home in Joshua Tree, California. New to the 29 Palms Base, new to blogging, but used to the moving around. I got too comfortable living in North Carolina for three years with DH being non-deployable, so I feel practically new at deployments as well, but the time is coming up too fast, so putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it is my only option, other than to fail.</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Segoe Print";">What gets me through the most is looking forward to being back home in Virginia with my family for the duration of this deployment. Having some help with the new baby will be beneficial, not to mention how much I have missed my family since starting this military-wife-life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, the things we do for love!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Segoe Print";">This is my first blog, so I'm making it short and sweet until I get the hang of things and play around with it a bit. I want to have a way to connect with family, friends (new and old), and for Patrick to be able to get a taste of home and stay in the loop while he is far away. Until later...</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe Print";"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9EG-OGHAY9kOskABBtt0ZnUKzAkqH6kLy3KJP1SjTO1ciPVMLVR_nGtAokYJcwz3POdc5XfihDOVH1p4E70MFsHQdMmVxcGZ3h9-2itoi4ADQ_JOirOglN43Oxa_B3C_lKAbAfkZs8c/s1600/bigbear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9EG-OGHAY9kOskABBtt0ZnUKzAkqH6kLy3KJP1SjTO1ciPVMLVR_nGtAokYJcwz3POdc5XfihDOVH1p4E70MFsHQdMmVxcGZ3h9-2itoi4ADQ_JOirOglN43Oxa_B3C_lKAbAfkZs8c/s320/bigbear.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>Natashahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16421713593039004520noreply@blogger.com0