Birthday Wish List

I know I've been MIA. I went on vacation. I started work. I gained a few pounds. That about sums it up.

Now, I am making this list solely for Brian's benefit (and my mom maybe too). I am turning 29 on Tuesday and I'm not all that thrilled about it. Plus, it's on a Tuesday. Nothing fun happens on Tuesdays. So, Brian requested some gift ideas, so this is for him!

Forever Red perfume from Bath & Body Works

Justin Bieber Someday perfume

((Obviously I am out of perfume...))

James Avery Arrow & Heart ring (size 6)

KHOMO iPad Mini Case

Homesick Texas Cookbook by Lisa Fain

Texas Home shirt on Etsy (size Medium, color Heather Black)

Derek Jeter Farewell Tour t-shirt (size Small)

Derek Jeter Bobblehead

That was a fun way to spend an hour instead of working. If I think of anything else I'll add it! :)

27

I turned 27 yesterday.

I know that 27 isn't old by any means, and I sure don't feel old, but 27 sounds old to me!

I had a nice day. It started with Lucky Charms for breakfast followed by an hour at the gym watching Star Trek. After a shower, Brian and I met my parents in Wichita Falls for lunch at On the Border and some TCBY for dessert.

I think I'll just stay 27 forever. If I don't celebrate any more birthdays, I won't get older, right??

Guess Who...

...got herself a job?!?!

Yup, I am officially employed. Starting next month I'll be a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant for the local school district. I will be working full time and using my degree! (I wasn't sure I'd ever use that dang thing.)

Everyone expects me to be excited, but I'm really just trying not to freak out.

In other news: we're getting the keys to our new place on August 3rd.

This means that August will be a big month for us/me. We'll move, I'll start my first big-girl-full-time job, and I'll turn 27 (yikes!).

I think I'll try to forget all of that and enjoy the last couple weeks of July.

Good Things

1. Lawton -- I have been pleasantly surprised to find that this city has quickly become home. It lacks a Target and many other things I associate with the comforts of my Texas home, but it is enough. The layout of the city makes sense and I have always felt safe. We lucked out in finding our apartment in a good part of town (if we planned to live off post, this is where I would want to live). Something just feels right about living here.
2. Fort Sill -- I miss the brand new PX at Fort Polk, but the Commissary and library here more than make up for that! I will start my sixth library book tonight (that's in less than two weeks). I am a total library nerd/junkie and the library on post is amazing. Huge tables to do school work on, couches everywhere to curl up with a book, and so many book options! I know I'll be a regular visitor. Every time I drive on post (which is relatively often) I feel overwhelmingly thankful for my life.
3. Housing -- Two days ago I was complaining to my mom that we didn't seem to be moving on the housing list. We had been hovering around #73 for awhile and I just didn't see how we could get a house on post anytime soon. Our apartment is a little sketchy and the thought of showering in our leaky weird shower for another few months was starting to depress me. Plus, I really didn't want to keep doing laundry in the scary laundry room at $2.50 per load! Well, whaddaya know, I got a phone call this morning telling us they have a house for us. That's how it always seems to go, right? Hopefully we will have the keys to our place on post by Tuesday evening. Then we can move...again.
4. People -- We have run into a number of super accommodating people who have made our lives here infinitely easier. Most of our belongings are in storage at the most fantastic storage place ever. Seriously. The couple that owns that place is the nicest duo. I want to keep stuff in storage forever just because we like the owners so much. We also stumbled upon the manager of our apartment complex who quickly offered us a furnished month-to-month apartment for an incredibly reasonable rate. It was waiting to be remodeled so it needs paint and, well, really it needs everything to be replaced, but it was exactly what we needed at the time.
5. Brian -- He turned 25 this week. I met him when he was still a teenager and here we are. Sometimes I don't know where the time has gone (2+ years to two deployments, that's where!). His belated bday gift from me arrived today: a big neon Shiner Bock sign for his man cave in our new house. He isn't one to get excited about things, but I'm pretty sure he loves it...in his own subdued way. He's still getting used to his job here since it's muuuuch different than how he spent the last almost-five years. It's been a lot of change for both of us, but he's been a rock. We've had fun and somehow managed to navigate this whole PCS without really fighting. Now that's a miracle!
6. Vacation -- We were so used to being at the mercy of block leave dates in LA that the idea of putting in a packet for leave dates here seems odd to us. That's the word on the streets though: put together the packet and if it doesn't conflict with anything, you can have whatever time off you want (so long as you have the leave days, of course). If everything works out, we should be able to spend a glorious 10 days up in New York with my parents this summer. Key words being if everything works out. We'll see.

That's all for now, folks! :)

Looking Back: 2011

((This is an amazingly picture-heavy post. Just FYI. I took a lot of photos this year apparently...))

JANUARY

I got new boots for the new year...

I hung out with my favorite little man (and his mother!).

I went on a Diana Gabaldon bender for a few months, too.

FEBRUARY

It snowed....a lot!

We took a few long walks in the snow/ice over the 4 days we were snowed in.

I started observing at my old high school.

My parents and I flew to NYC to attend my great-grandmother's funeral.

The famous castle house (it's a family thing).

Playing Monopoly Junior with two of my cousins at my grandparents' house.

What do ya know - it snowed there, too!

I hung out with my brother (and the rest of my family) at three wakes.

The funeral home before the funeral (it was SO cold!).

Almost my whole extended family on my mom's side.

We were able to spend a day in Manhattan with Keith.

Obligatory subway station picture...

My favorite picture I have ever taken. Lady Liberty sure is pretty.

...and the plane ride back (we were the first row of coach).

We got back to TX to find my dad's truck had been broken into - fun fun! (not.)

MARCH

I continued to observe at my alma mater.

I said goodbye to my explorer (after 8 years) and fell in love with my new Fusion.

I hopped on another plane headed for NYC to see my beloved brother.

I ate the best pizza in the world.

I lounged on a pier on a 75 degree day.

Lincoln Center.

Battery Park.

Radio City.

I sent Brian a fun Easter care package.

I enjoyed a (very) windy zoo day with my bff and favorite little boy.

APRIL

Baseball came back!!

I discovered the local frozen yogurt shop - yummmm!

I took a quick trip to Austin (because my in-laws were in a serious motorcycle accident).

It was really hot and humid, but downtown Austin is pretty darn beautiful.

MAY

More baseball. :)

Brian was finally home for R&R!!

We went to the zoo.

We saw a dolphin show at the Texas State Aquarium.

And took a self-portrait overlooking the water.

We stayed in a fab condo on the beach.

And then I had to say goodbye. :(

JUNE

I washed/folded allll of Brian's clothes from R&R.

I perused the sports hall of fame downtown.

I bought super fun birthday presents for a certain 3-year-old I know.

The Dallas Mavericks became NBA Champs.

Mom and I sweated our butts off watching 7-on-7 football.

I took Dad to see Jeff Dunham as a birthday gift (hilarious!).

JULY

July was the month of our epic family vacation. First non-Texas state: Arkansas!

This was a really cool arch on a small country road marking the Arkansas/Missouri state line.

Street art in downtown Louisville.

The Louisville Slugger Museum!!

All the way to Pennsylvania, baby! (Almost finished driving.)

I went on a Wicked date with my brother (super awesome).

Coooouuussins!

We returned to the place of my (and my brother's) birth and where my parents met. We also devoured Michigans at Gus'. Yummm!

We hiked through Ausable Chasm.

We visited Rulf's Orchard.

We stood where one of our houses used to stand.

We drove up White Face Mountain.

And then hiked to the peak.

I had the best adult beverage ever!

This is a Michigan.

I cautiously put my feet in the cold lake water.

The view from our rental house.

Our last morning there.

We had to swing by the Basesball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY (on induction weekend)!

We took pictures outside of every hotel where we stayed.

We stayed at my mom's college roommate's house on the Potomac River. Gorgeous.

We toured the Jack Daniels Distillery (and purchased our fair share of whiskey).

Finally we made it home and I spotted the new football slogan for my old high school.

AUGUST

It rained! (It required dancing in it, obviously.)

I dog-sat for Happy...

Sparky...

and Lucky.

I received this pretty package for my birthday from Brian.

It rained some more (you know you're in a drought when every time it rains you take pictures and/or dance in it).

I turned 26.

On the last day of the month, I quickly drove to LA and signed the lease on our new place.

SEPTEMBER

High school football started!

Belated birthday flowers from Brian.

Mom made me.

A rainy football game with Mom.

This little darling wandered into my life...

...and stuck around.

I baked Mom a special cake for her birthday (she totally turned 29).

OCTOBER

My parents helped me empty our storage unit and move into our place in LA.

We ate at the local steakhouse.

We went to more football games.

We had one last BBQ meal before I headed back to LA to wait for Brian's return.

I attempted to put our humble abode together.

And finally: the welcome home ceremony!

He was finally home, in our place, and didn't have to be anywhere for 4 whole days!

NOVEMBER

Veteran's Day in our hometown.

Dallas trip with my in-laws (that's a jug of beer).

Medieval Times!

That's our knight. He didn't win. :(

We went to a big ICE exhibit (yes, that's ice).

Keith came home for Thanksgiving!!

We jog/walked a 5K on Thanksgiving morning.

Then we got dressed up for Thanksgiving lunch at the in-laws'.

DECEMBER

We got back to LA and I decorated for Christmas as best I could.

I love Christmas decorations!

I also LOVE this tinsel wreath I scored for half-off.

I attended Brian's official redeployment ceremony.

Brian's in there somewhere.

Afterward I babysat this little guy. We watched the Christmas parade together! 

I'm not sure what we are doing here...but we're back at home for Christmas!

Scarlett invaded my mom's snow village.

We ate Christmas Eve Eve dinner at Dairy Queen.

And we talked to Keith on Skype on Christmas morning.

I have high expectations for 2012 and can't wait to see where life takes me (and us)!