She's Alive!

Okay - it's been awhile. A long while since I have posted anything new on my blog. I am posting now only because I haven't posted in so long, not necessarily because I have anything to post about. Though, I am sure I'll find plenty to catch up on!

Starting with September: Devon came home for three weeks - for his R&R. He had been gone for 3 months already. We didn't do a whole lot for those three weeks other than spend time with each other and the boys at home. We did play tennis several times which was a lot of fun. We also won a trip through some contest that I randomly submitted our names for at a mall. We had to drive to Austin and spend some time with the Windham crew while they pitched their not-quite-time-share deal. We had to decline, but in the mean time submitted enough family and friends' names to get some raffle tickets and we won another trip. :) We know we will be using one of those free trips to spend some time in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area before the Family Reunion next year. Devon has never been to the place where I grew up and has yet to meet many of the family that lives there. I am really looking forward to that trip! We did take some family pictures while he was here, but we took them on his camera so I don't have the pictures! I have this one from tennis though! Not the most flattering but it will do.

Devon's Dad also came to visit us with his at the time soon-to-be wife! They are now happily married and living in Arkansas. We have yet to get any pictures of them, but we are happy to have Barbara as a part of our family now! It was great to meet her and see Dev's dad and Molly too. :)

My mom, sister Amber, and her friend Melissa came to Texas for the yearly road trip. Mom and Melissa were happy to be new road trip companions for Amber and I this year. :) We were happy to have them as well! Mom flew into Killeen to see the new house and the new city I live in. I drove her on Post so she can get a small sense of what Army life is like...a very small sense. Then we drove south towards San Antonio - though we made a detour at the San Marcus Outlet Mall....amazing Outlet mall - best I have ever seen. Great stores and amazing prices. :) I look forward to another visit there. From there we headed to San Antonio - checked into the hotel, visited the temple, then picked up Melissa and Amber from the airport. We had an amazing weekend visiting the Alamo, Sea World, and walked the River walk. Mom had to leave Saturday, so we took her to the airport and had a sad farewell-til-Christmas.

We then headed to downtown again, ate dinner, then experienced some of the fun attractions, including a mirror maze, Guinness World Record museum and "the vault" which consisted of us trying to get through laser alarms...very stealthily. :) The next day we slept in really late :) then went to the San Antonio Zoo. The next day we made it to the Waterfall Caverns and then I took Amber and Melissa back to the airport and then headed North home...but stopped at the outlet malls again to pick up some trunks I just couldn't resist! :) Not swim trunks...decor trunks ya know? Anyway! Here are some pics!

In November, Rebekah and I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner. Neither of us had ever been in charge of the turkey before so we did a practice session two weeks before Thanksgiving. The turkey ended up being the easiest part. Thanksgiving dinner two weeks later turned out to be a lot of fun and all of the food was great! The only thing that would have made it better was if Devon was there.

Did I mention the weather is so nice outside that the boys don't want to come in until they are entirely too exhausted??

Jonas is actually resting his head in the water bowl...this was after he was drinking while laying down...Scout is mid-bark in the picture on the right - Jonas won't let him play with the big ball that wears Jonas out.

Now I have a short span at home - next week I'll be in California for work, home for 2 days, then to Indiana for one week over Christmas, then home 1 day and on to Carlisle, PA for 3 days. Lucky me. I am looking forward to seeing family for the holidays! I am also looking forward to some relaxation after the holidays! Hopefully by that time I also find out what I will be doing with work! I role off my current position December 31st and have yet to figure out what is next in line. Hopefully something great!

Until then - I'll just keep enjoying my boys and looking forward to word from Devon!

OKay - here's the bedroom paint color!

So bright yellow - it wasn't a horrible color, but not the calming, peaceful feeling I want in the bedroom.

Before:

I can't find my camera so I had to use my phone - not the best pictures - almost makes the blue look green...but they'll have to do. :)

So here's the after:

Somehow - Jonas managed to be in both the before and after picture....

Quick Hello

I have painted my bedroom the perfect blue I have decided. I was going to go with a grayish color but decided that was a bit too blah - so I went with a perfect shade of blue (for me). I have yet to take pictures though - so I will try and do that when I find my way home again this weekend.

But anyway - I had to post this picture of my husband looking like a rockstar soldier. He's hot! :) I might be slightly biased on that fact....

But Devon is doing well - he is learning lots and training lots! More exciting than anything is that we found out his 18 day leave begins on September 6th! Well...his flight is 9/6 - but we are not sure if his 18 days begins on the 6th or when he actually gets home because it will take a couple of days for him to get home.

At any rate - he'll be home soon and my work has been amazing! and are letting me take the time off to spend it all with him. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful and brave husband and a job that understands my situation and is willing to be flexible with me!

So here's Devon! :)

VOTE VOTE VOTE

Okay - we have other things coming up to vote for...but I thought this was important too! I am not sure if the results will really get anywhere, but at any rate I think we should make sure our voices are heard!

Here's your chance to let the media know where the people stand on our faith in God, as a nation. NBC is taking a poll on 'In God We Trust' to stay on our American currency.

Poll is still open so you can vote, but I am not sure for how long.

VOTE!!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/

I'm Still Here...Wherever HERE happens to be...

I haven't posted in a while, but there really hasn't been too much going on. Well, nothing new anyway! I have been traveling a lot for work. I am actually traveling more than I am at home. It is a bit rough and I miss my boys so much! Thank goodness for Monica, my pet care provider who stays at my house and watches my boys whenever I am away! THANK YOU MONICA!

I will actually soon have a roommate - or sort of two. Rebekah and Bryan will move in August 1st - they are both in the Army, but Bryan is starting medical school in Houston this fall. They are an amazing couple and the new situation is going to work out great for us both. WELCOME HOME REBEKAH AND BRYAN :)

Besides that - the one week I was home recently I decided to be semi-productive. I have this long long list of things that I want to do to our house or certain things that I want for the house - I can't imagine how long the list would be if we owned the house.....

One thing on the list was to paint the kitchen and breakfast area. The kitchen was painted a light green on one small wall and then about 3 or 4 feet of another wall behind the refrigerator - I'll never understand why the previous tenants or owners painted that bit. The breakfast area was a bright and happy yellow - but not quite what I wanted. So I went with "jovial orange." Devon and I had gone to Wal-Mart before he left and I picked up the first orange I saw - loved it.....of course as I got closer to the time of painting I wasn't sure, but stuck with my first impression. I painted! I painted some of the odd walls back to white to clean up the look a bit...here's the before and after!

Before:

After:

Do you like the color???

I guess I'll just do one thing on my list each time I am home. As long as I do at least one things will start looking pretty good! :)

Oh yeah - that is a new dining room table too! I just bought the table settings and I love having fresh flowers when I get home - Devon used to greet me with them almost every time he'd pick me up from the airport, but now I pick some up when I grocery shop. Either way works, but I bet you can guess which way I prefer getting the flowers. :)