Tree Family

My favorite little girl

2011-10-19T01:15:00.000-07:00

Ally is three! I am so proud and blessed to be her mom. Here are some of my favorite things about her:

She can read! Since I also love to read, we will sit on the couch together with our books and enjoy.
Her imagination. She has conversations among her cars, toys etc. that are hilarious! She also insists that she is a bird ;)
Singing. She makes up songs and walks around all day singing to herself.
Independence. She can get herself dressed, get a snack from the fridge, wipe her own bum, buckle her carseat, make her bed, and peel her own fruit.

I think she has inherited her father's height since she is taller than most children her age.
Every morning (around 8) she wakes up with a smile.

I love my little girl so much and can't imagine life without her!

opportunity missed

2011-10-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

House hunting in Germany is a PAIN! (that is why I sent my husband ahead to do it without me) Apparently I should have been here as well...
J found a great house, in a great location, and signed a contract. When he took it into housing, for some various issues, it was denied. I'm still not sure why the base housing office can deny a house, but whatever. So he tried to negotiate with the landlord over a few details that would allow us to rent the house. We really really wanted it, because of the location, price, etc. did I also mention that it was brand new?
The landlord and realtor one day just quit returning phone calls and rented the house to someone else.
Yesterday, I happened to meet the person who got our house. Apparently the landlord fixed all the issues in our contract and gave it to this other family. The kicker is, this house is a duplex, with an American family living in the other half. Not just an American family, a family in our ward!
I admit that being pregnant makes me a bit emotional, but I cried yesterday with the knowledge that I could have had a friend right away, had we gotten that house. I cried knowing that all those days I was throwing up and feeling miserable, stuck in my house without a car, I could have been meeting people and spending time with others of my faith. I cried because I wonder what I did to deserve missing out on such a great opportunity that would have helped my transition here immensely.

A little bit of positive

2011-10-03T02:29:00.000-07:00

I feel like my last few posts have been downers, so here are some positive thoughts.

Thanks to Zofran, I am back on track with my life. I now feel (mostly) normal and am able to function as a person. I have caught up on housework, unpacked most of the boxes, and am starting to gain (instead of lose) weight thanks to eating food! I am back to baking and cooking meals, which pleases my family as well. I was really against taking medication while pregnant, but my doctor advised it so that I can be healthy and hydrated. I feel so much better! I have not thrown up for three days now and I don't miss it at all!

I wake up every day and just remember how cool it is that I live in Germany. The scenery is gorgeous, my neighbors are friendly, and everything is fun to explore. Ally and I go for walks to explore our fun village and she is constantly fascinated by the amount of nature. She fills her hands with acorns, flowers, rocks, chestnuts, apples, leaves, caterpillars, snails, etc. and loves it. We have a playground right across the street, but she spends more time observing and touching than she does playing. I took my first touristy trip on the train to Trier, which is the oldest city in Germany, and saw some fun old ruins.

My house has a HUGE back yard. We have a built-in grill and patio on the main level, landscaping and a garden plot on the second level, and a grassy yard with an apple tree, plum tree, and blackberries on the third. We also have a gate connecting us to the next-door neighbors, who are our age with a 2-year-old girl.

I got my car! I now have transportation to get me where I want to go. That, plus feeling good enough to go out, means playdates and other social opportunites for me to make new friends. We have enjoyed exploring the stores and trying German food.

Last thing on my list is getting internet hooked up at my house, which will hopefully happen today or tomorrow. Be prepared for some pictures once my connection speed is up to it!

How do you do it?

2011-09-27T04:44:00.000-07:00

Some days I wonder how anyone has more than two children. I have really been struggling with morning (all day and night) sickness, to the point that I am dehydrated, exhausted, and honestly becoming a very bad mom to my toddler. She has probably spent more time in front of the TV/Xoom in the past few weeks than in the rest of her life combined. I feel so guilty dismissing my little girl so that I can attempt to take care of myself. I know she is missing all the quality time we used to spend together. Not to mention my poor husband who is suffering from a serious lack of home cooking.
I literally throw up everything! I will find something that settles in my stomach one day, only to have it come right back up the next. I have tried every suggestion of morning sickness remedies, sucking on candies, drinking ginger tea, eating soda crackers before getting out of bed, etc. Nothing works for me. Am I just overwhelmed with moving, etc? I don't remember being this sick with my first pregnancy.
Some days I ignore my nausea and try to go about a normal day, only to collapse the minute my husband walks in the door and sleep until the next morning. I suppose it doesn't help that I live in a foreign country, far away from anyone I know, and without the support of friends or family.
I am counting down the days until my second trimester arrives, hopefully bringing with it a reprieve of all the vomiting! I have my first OB appointment tomorrow, so we'll see if I am sick enough to require medical help.

my VERY long day

2011-09-18T00:25:00.001-07:00

Since I have been in Germany for three weeks now, I decided it was time to tell the story of my trip getting here. Due to the Air Force and their delays, we did not get our orders (which are necessary for booking flights) until a month before our departure. This meant that there was not room on any flights for the dogs, prior to the dates Josh needed to report. Also, my pet-friendly TLF (hotel) reservations were cancelled by some unhelpful person, so we had nowhere to put them once they arrived. We opted for Josh to come alone, find us a place to live and get everything set up, then I would have one awful terrible stressful day and bring Ally and the dogs at a later date. I stayed with family for three weeks prior to flying to Germany.
I was a bit apprehensive as the day approached, knowing that I would be dealing with a lot. My day started at 4:30 AM, when I woke up to take the dogs to the airport. The Air Force booked me on Delta, which does not fly dogs during the summer, so they were flying Continental. I found the cargo drop-off and filled out the paperwork. Then a guy helped me finagle them into their kennels and attach all the necessary paperwork. He also attached zip-ties to all four corners of their doors, which I did not think about until later. Did I mention it is quite expensive to fly two large dogs across the country? So I paid the fees (gulp!) and hoped to meet up with them in Baltimore. Then I drove over to the terminal, parked, attached all 4 suitcases together and rolled through the airport. Thank goodness Delta did not charge me for my extra luggage (which might be partially because of that video on YouTube of all the army guys returning from a deployment...) which I was not expecting because Delta and I do not have a good track record.
After I finished dragging my four large pieces of luggage through the huge long line to drop it off, my parents showed up with Allison (who I left with them so she could sleep for a few more hours) and we went through security. Sometimes it is nice to travel with a toddler and not wait in lines. Many airports have a line for families that is a lot shorter than the regular one. Such is the case in Salt Lake City, yay!
Unfortunately our 4-hour flight was completely booked. I decided to bring Ally's stroller and carseat for our upcoming layover so I had a little trouble getting down to the plane. Plus the gate people neglected to let me board first, so I may have bumped a few legs, shoulders, etc. as I worked my way to the back of the plane with everything, through a full flight. Why oh why do they board front to back? I have never understood how that makes sense.
I had just taken a pregnancy test the day before flying, so I knew that I was expecting, but not feeling it yet. That changed throughout the day as my exhaustion began to set in. Halfway through the flight, I decided that snacks were just not enough, so I opted to buy one of their boxed lunches. Of course they ran out before getting to my row towards the back of the plane, and by this time I was desperate for food. I ended up getting some random snacks in a box (and paying plenty for the privilege!) such as marinated olives and whole grain crackers covered in birdseed. Seriously Delta.
We landed in Baltimore and that is where my day really began. Delta (who I will never again voluntarily fly) did NOT transfer my luggage to my connecting flight. I had to collect my luggage, this time with Allison, and take it to the AMC terminal to check in. I was hoping that they would let me do so 8+ hours before boarding. When I approached the military international terminal, I was immediately offered help and snacks. They checked my orders and took my bags. I then ran back to the other end of the terminal to collect my dogs, who had a layover in Houston and therefore landed after me. I picked up the dogs (on big flatbed rolling cart) and took them outside to the pet area so they could relieve themselves. Then I remembered the zip-ties on all 4 corners of their kennel doors. Ugh! Of course I had nothing even remotely sharp with which to cut them (since nothing sharp is allowed to pass through security). I asked every random stranger who passed until one person finally produced a knife, (not sure where they thought they were going with a knife in an airport, but I didn't ask). I thanked them profusely and allowed my dogs to run around for a few minutes. Then I rolled them back to the AMC terminal, where I was informed that I could not check the dogs in for the flight until boarding time. In 8 hours. Seriously. I paid the fees for this flight (did I mention that flying dogs gets really expensive?) and rolled away, piling Allison and her carseat and carryons on top of the kennels.
I had been looking forward to enjoying the comforts of the USO, which has such amenities as couches, beds, movies, snacks, etc. but unfortunately does not allow dogs. Instead I had to roll my kennels (and carseat, and carry-ons, and toddler) around the airport for hours, trying to find food outside of security and something to entertain. My flight was scheduled to leave at midnight so I needed distractions, and lots of them. I had packed a bag full of such distractions, many of them gift-wrapped, so every time Ally got antsy I allowed her to open a "present" and play with it for a while.
Luckily my flight ended up leaving sooner than expected so I dropped of the dogs, put Ally in her pj's, and boarded the flight. I was hoping for both of us to sleep for the majority of the time, so that we would acclimate quickly to the new time zone. That did not happen. We got a few hours of shut-eye, but mostly watched movies and stared at each other, bleary-eyed. Ally did take a short nap on the shoulder of the (single) young soldier next to her, who was obviously not used to children. Sorry! She also threw up twice, which I think was more due to travel than illness.
We landed at Ramstein, where Josh was waiting to meet us. Unfortunately, he was not allowed into the baggage claim area, where bags were strewn all over the floor. I claimed the dogs (did I mention that they weigh 80 and 100 pounds?) on another flatbed cart, piled the bags on top of that, rolled the carseat and stroller behind, and stumbled my way out to meet him, maneuvering through all the people and luggage scattered everywhere.
At this point, I was so frustrated and exhausted and gross and hormonal that I might have cried a little bit. My poor husband (who I had not yet told about the hormonal part) was very sympathetic, loaded the bags and took me to the hotel where I was able to shower and regain some dignity. I then informed him of the news (which I wanted to do in person) and tried to stay awake the rest of the day.
The End
Oh, and then I started throwing up, and have not stopped since...

jet lag and morning sickness

2011-09-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

...not a good combination!
Well it's official, the puking has begun again. Last time it started at 10 weeks, apparently this child is impatient because I am only 6 weeks along and puking merrily. I literally get 'morning' sickness, which hopefully subsides as long as I keep my stomach in close proximity to food for the remainder of the day.

And officially, YAY!

getting settled

2011-09-01T00:30:00.000-07:00

So I made it to Germany, with everything in tow. A few snags along the way, but that is only to be expected. Now I am trying to recover from jet lag and preparing to move into my house tomorrow! I was pleased to discover that my German studying has paid off, I was able to successfully communicate with my landlord, who speaks limited English. I am loving the climate here as well as the beautiful scenery. It feels great to be done traveling and ready to get settled in.

goodbye

2011-07-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

tonight I am grieving for friends that will soon be lost. Usually I think that moving is easier for the person who is leaving, but I am really struggling as we prepare to leave this place. So here is my list of things I will miss about North Dakota:

Emily
Darla
Chelsea
Kristen
Katie
Bree
Auralee
Carol
Danielle
Susan

How hard is it to just SMILE?

2011-07-19T21:19:00.000-07:00

In the Air Force, many people have desk jobs. A lot of those individuals represent the group of people who support and serve other military members and their families. In the process of preparing to move, we have been dealing with many of these support personnel. As a whole, I have been greatly disappointed by the lack of help and service we have been given. Moving is stressful on any family, but moving overseas complicates matters greatly. We have had to coordinate things such as packing dates, vehicle shipping locations, passports, regulations for international travel with pets, and storage or sale of many of our possessions. Throughout this process, I have had a distinct lack of helpful information and friendly faces. The people who should know the information we need are either unwilling to share or simply take their own sweet time supplying it to us.
I worked for many years in customer service. I have worked at McDonalds (ugh), Cinnabon, Panda Express, Hollywood Video, and Old Navy. In each of those places, I found people who took pride in their jobs. Those who came to work in their uniform (no matter how tacky), on time for their shift, and served customers with a smile. Those who made it their business to understand and share useful information. I tried to be one of those people, and for the most part, I think that I succeeded. I greeted each customer with a smile and did my best to help them conduct their transaction efficiently.
Now, as a 'customer', I am constantly frustrated by those who seem to have no pride in what they do. I truly believe that working for the Air Force is more important than serving fast food. People's lives are complicated by inaccurate information and an unwillingness to help, not their lunch order. As a military spouse, I have been ignored, misdirected, disconnected, given wrong numbers, and treated with indifference. My best sources of information are friends who are currently living overseas, not the people whose job it is to give me that information.
I feel like I am swimming upstream, trying desperately to get my house and all the paperwork in order, to make the transition easier on my family (hence the blogging late at night). I simply wish for everything to go smoothly while we begin this new and exciting chapter in our lives.

names

2011-07-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

   As a teacher I spent a lot of time in schools and working with children. Some days I would ponder what causes parents to choose a certain name (or spelling) for their child. Trying to teach a child to write a long, confusing, non-phonetic name is such a pain! The one that sticks in my head is "Zjhavese". Seriously.
   My other pet peeve is naming a boy child after his father. I think that family names are important, that's why everyone in a family has the same last name. A child identifies a lot with his or her name, and is stuck with it for an entire lifetime. Being named after someone who lives in the same house with you would be confusing at best and could possibly cause problems in the future with things like a credit report.
   While I was pregnant, I had some fun with my husband, suggesting funny names like Aspen, Apple, Ashley, (Ash Tree, get it?), Cedar, etc. but I would NEVER submit my child to that torture! Kids are mean enough without fueling the fire. However, my husband does have a cousin with the name Douglas Fir Tree. Seriously.

Families

2011-07-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

   I grew up in the middle of a large family (8 children). As a member of that family, I heard many comments from other children at school, mostly crude or negative. Oftentimes, I felt like I was just one of a crowd. Teachers wouldn't know my first name, or I would be confused with one of my siblings. I was referred to as 'one of the Rollins girls'. As an adult, I admit that I have done the same to children of large families. I have called them by the wrong name or neglected even learning their first name. Unless I spend a lot of time with that family, and get to know their individual personalities, I find it difficult to distinguish between siblings. I know one family with 6 boys and all of their names start with the same letter. Talk about confusing!
   I had some good experiences as well. I always had someone to play with, when we moved I still had a whole bunch of familiar faces. I learned organization, responsibility, and how to interact with others. I had a lot of quirks teased out of me at home. I have to admit that at times, I am still embarrassed by my family. I had days when I wondered if my parents truly wanted me as an individual or if I was just part of the package.
   My husband and I are slowly building our own family and traditions. We do not have a set number of children we think should be part of our family, but the number is definitely lower than eight. Some days I feel that I need to defend my choice to have a 'small' family'. I really feel that some people can handle many children, and I am not one of those people. My goals for my children are that they always know they are loved and wanted, and I need to have less children so that I can focus more on the ones I have. Especially with my husband in the military, I have had to be 'solo Mom' for birthdays, holidays, weekends, camping trips, doctor visits, etc. I HATE being dependent on anyone, even my husband. When he is around, he is a fabulous part of our family, but I am the one who is constant and manages the day-to-day situations. As that constant provider, I need to maintain my sanity, so I try not to take on more than I can handle. I would rather be a good mom to a few children then a decent mom to a lot.
   I spent a lot of time with pre-schoolers who were often neglected or just ignored. I had children who knew all the characters on Nickelodeon but had no idea what a cow said. I had children who would wear the same clothing for days in a row. I had children so starved for attention that they would do anything to win a teachers approval. I loved these children but hated their circumstances. I am determined that my children will never be viewed as neglected. They will have everything they need, including attention from me.
   I have loved spending time with my daughter, teaching her and watching her grow. We have had a great few years together and formed a bond that will last forever.

Stress of moving

2011-06-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

I have always thought of myself as a 'bloom where you are planted' kind of person. I moved a lot growing up and never really had an issue with finding new friends or adjusting to a different environment. Life goes on about the same wherever I have lived. We eat, sleep, go to school, work, and spend time with friends.
As I have mentioned before, we are moving to Germany soon. I like to think that I am pretty prepared for living overseas. We requested this assignment, so obviously we want to live there. I actually spent the majority of my childhood in Europe, so I am really looking forward to it. Living overseas does not scare me one bit. I have every intention of travelling, learning new languages and soaking up the culture.
The difference is, that now I (instead of my parents) need to be responsible for organzing the house, scheduling dates, planning and packing, and finding a place to live. The last one is really stressing me out. I have heard horror stories of people waiting in a hotel for months and not being able to find a place to rent. Living on-base is not even an option for us since the waiting list is so long, but I am especially worried about finding a place to rent that is close enough to the base that J won't have a super long commute and that allows pets. I want a good neighborhood for my daughter and a place where she can start (hopefully German) preschool. I don't know why I am letting it get to me so much since I really can't do anything about it until we are actually there.
The best part about the whole situation is that my sister-in-law (who was a realtor in a previous life) and her family, have just moved to Germany as well. They are stationed at a different base, but are close enough that we will have family to visit for holidays, etc. Closer than we have ever lived to family since we have been married! I have high hopes that she will give me all the information I need to make the transition smoothly, and possibly even scout out some homes for us.
I really have not had an issue with anywhere else we have lived. I have found jobs, finished college, and started a family while following my husband's career. I am really looking forward to this next adventure, and I'm sure I will enjoy every minute, once I find a house!

My Baby Can Read

2011-05-19T18:22:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about that program seen on TV. I literally mean that my 2.5 year old CAN READ!

Seriously, I'm as blown away as you are. I have seen some signs leading up to it, but when she picked up a book (Are You My Mother) and read it to me word-for-word I just couldn't quite believe it. I waited until J came home from work to see if she would do it for him. I picked a library book that we had only read once before. Same thing, reading along the lines with her little toddler finger tracing the words. Here are some things I attribute to her early reading (aside from my degree in elementary ed):

I have read books to her DAILY from the time we came home from the hospital.
I point out letters and words EVERYWHERE, signs while driving, cereal boxes at the grocery store, etc.
I let her pick the books at the library.
I take her to Storytime every week.
We play with words, sing songs, and pick out rhyming words.
We line up letters on the fridge, with her puzzles, and on paper.
I trace the words with my finger while reading.
I pick a word from each book to have her 'read' every time it appears.
(and No, I did not purchase that program. I oppose it on educational grounds. I also have not pushed her beyond her interest level.)

Apparently I have passed on my love of reading to my daughter (Success!). Now if only she had inherited my teeth...two years old and already a cavity =(

Amy's Religious Rant

2011-05-13T12:22:00.000-07:00

* I am LDS, if anyone reading this wants to know more, check out lds.org. If you are not my same religion, a lot of my pet peeves might not make any sense to you.

-Go to chuch. Every Sunday. Unless you are sick in bed, just go. It's where you are supposed to be.

-Sing when you are supposed to sing. Seriously it only sounds good if we can drown out all those enthusiastic tune-deaf people there.

- Fulfill your calling. You said 'Yes' and someone is depending on you to do your calling. If it were a job you were getting paid to do and you just didn't show up, you would get fired. All the people working together help things happen each Sunday.

-Don't try to socialize at church. Sunday meetings are for learning and discussing religious things. I am ok with the occasional "Oh, your hair looks nice" or "Wow you look great from all that exercise" but don't have serious long conversations in the hallway about personal business. That is what phones are for.

-Don't complain about not having enough time to socialize. If you are not happy with the extra activites being offered, be proactive about it. When I moved into the ward, there was no book club, so I started one.

-Don't come to church once every 6 months and then get offended when nobody knows who you are.

-Don't depend on the church members to support you if you are not willing to help in return. I have no problem giving service, but if it's for the same person over and over again with no reciprocation, it gets old fast.

-Don't ask about how many children people are planning to have! Even the church teaches that family is between a husband and wife.

-The chapel does not have assigned seating, switch it up a little!

-If you have taken time from your life to learn to play the piano, either embrace it or sell your piano! Pianists are always needed (except in my last ward, who had a self-playing piano in the RS room).

-Start your talk with something besides "today I was asked to talk on..." or "when the bishop called me, I almost didn't answer the phone..." and "if you look up repentance in the dictionary, it says..."

Once I had a sister...

2011-05-11T17:42:00.000-07:00

I have many sisters, but one has been on my mind a lot recently. We were so close in age, that as children we hated each other, in high school we competed with each other, and when separated by college and marriage we became best friends. We used to send each other packages filled with fun and yummy things that were unavailable at our current location. Despite the distance we kept in contact and knew all the details of each others lives. We shared successes and woes, complained and consoled and basically acted like close sisters. She was my maid of honor and I was the one she told when she eloped.
Gradually, things between us began to change. Our views on important topics began to differ. I found myself biting my tongue instead of expressing my opinion, and I'm sure she did the same. Things like church, family, money and education were taboo. My life was heading in a new direction as I dedicated myself to what mattered to me. Her goals and interests did not coincide with my own. The weekly phone conversations ebbed. I no longer shared everything in my life with her. She got a new job, and I began school full-time. Somehow, slowly, we forgot to keep in touch.
Some days, I miss having a friend-sister. I have plenty of friends, and plenty of sisters. That specific relationship has never been duplicated. I miss having that one person who knows me so well I can tell anything to (besides my wonderful husband!). I miss those reminiscent conversations about people and places and situations from our childhood.
It has been years now since our last conversation. Years since I have heard her voice or received any communication. I have no doubt that I am partly to blame for our separation, but I wonder if someday we can regain what was lost. I wonder if someday she will want to meet my daughter, and be a part of the family again. I hope.

Canine companions

2011-04-14T15:10:00.000-07:00

When we were first married, we made the decision to get a dog. We knew that it would be a lot of work, and difficulties could arrive if the military ever made the decision to send us overseas. Eight years and two full-size dogs later, we are faced with the difficulties of transporting our canines with us to Germany.

Hurdle #1: Airlines will not fly dogs if the outside temperature is above 85 degrees
Since we are moving in July, pretty much everywhere the temperature is above 85 degrees.

Hurdle #2: Dogs can go anywhere in Germany, provided they are on a leash.
My lab has NEVER walked nicely on a leash. She will follow directions and stay in close proximity but literally chokes herself every time we walk her (and we have tried a lot!)

Hurdle #3: It is a long flight across the ocean, and my lab has separation anxiety. I can just see us sitting in the cabin, listening to her howl, for the entire flight.

Hurdle #4: Finding a place to rent in Germany, with two large dogs.

Hurdle #5: The cost. Airline-approved kennels + dog fare + vet visits + a vehicle large enough to transport them. Honestly smaller dogs would be so much less work but I just can't stand the yapping!

Despite the abovementioned setbacks, we are determined to keep those members of our family, as part of our family. That is what we agreed to when we adopted them as puppies. I would not give away one of my children because they made life difficult for me, and I will not abandon one of my pets because I am not prepared. I have started talking to people who are in Germany, to get their advice, and made a plan to overcome all those hurdles.
Now if I can do it, why can't everyone else? Daily I see military members putting dogs up 'for sale' or 'to a good home', for the same reasons I have just mentioned. It makes me sick to see how many animals are being abandoned because they are an inconvenience to their owners. Sure being a dog owner is difficult. So it being a parent. So why does society condone people dropping off animals at shelters? Why are we not held responsible for our actions?
Now, do I ever regret having dogs? Sure!
Do I hate picking up dog poop? Yes!
Do I sweep my floor multiple times a week just because of dog hair? Yes!
Will I leave them with total strangers for the rest of their lives because I did not plan ahead? NO!

Spring

2011-04-13T18:59:00.000-07:00

The snow is gone! After months of whiteness (sometimes greyness), the grass is once again visible and the birds are singing! I can't wait to spend more time outside, going on walks, to the parks and in our backyard. The last major storm of the season I spent with two good friends, who are also moving this summer. The three of us looked out at the blizzard conditions are commented on how nice it feels to know that we will NEVER live through another North Dakota winter! I have made some great friends here, and enjoyed many things about this area, but the winter weather is definitely not at the top of my list. I just can't enjoy the beautiful snow when it is too cold outside to play in it. On to Spring!

Great News!

2011-03-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

After 8+ years of living in the 'Dakotas' we have finally received word that the military is shipping us overseas! Germany to be exact. Since J was out of the area the day he found out (as he usually is when something momentous happens...) I heard the news over the phone. I literally spent the rest of the day smiling uncontrollably and blurting the news to anyone with whom I came in contact (sorry random teenager who bagged my groceries). The timing could not have been more perfect. As I huddled inside watching another ND blizzard, I could say "It's my last winter here!"
I spent 3 years of my childhood in Germany and remember fabulous food, people and traveling all over Europe. Not to mention the fabulous slopes where I first learned to ski! We cannot wait to experience more life outside the U.S.
In order to more fully appreciate the culture, we are planning to live off-base, and I have already spotted some GORGEOUS places for rent. The only problem looming in my otherwise beautiful horizon is how to move 2 large dogs overseas in the middle of the summer, and then find a place willing to rent to us, with them. Those dogs joined our family 7 and 8 years ago, so we will jump through the hoops required to keep them with us (although certain logistical aspects are daunting). Apparently dogs in Germany are literally treated as family members and taken into many stores and restaurants!

new goals

2011-03-06T14:38:00.001-08:00

Last year I participated in a great program offered by the base called Soar Into Shape. The program promotes healthy habits such as eating fruits and veggies, drinking water, and daily exercise. Following that 10 week program, I began training for a triathlon. Summer kept me pretty busy with all the outdoor activities. Then...winter set in, and I have been lazy, spending lots of time baking and eating.
This year I am again motivated and have started the SIS program again, with a definite goal in mind. I have been counting calories and working out, with the help of myfitnesspal.com =)
Despite not owning a scale, I think I am already starting to see results, with one week down and eight more to go. I am still baking, but my proceeds are heading to my husband's office instead of my waistline. I enjoy exercise and can't wait to move my workouts outside onto the great trails (and new outdoor track!).

Pet Peeves

2011-02-03T18:09:00.000-08:00

my current list of pet peeves:

when someone puts me on speaker-phone
people using bad language (especially in front of my daughter!)
narrow-mindedness
children being mistreated/abused/neglected
people who expect help but never help in return
bad-mouthing the military/America
people who refuse to learn something new, because 'this is how I do it'
bad breath
running late
freezer burn
when people use the wrong there/their/they're
when teachers lick their finger to pass out papers (gross!)
redundancy - ATM Machine, PIN Number
having to walk through smoke to get in a building
people who are always negative

Super Saturday

2011-02-01T12:49:00.001-08:00

I am in charge of the activities for Relief Society for my ward. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here. We usually have one big event that takes up most of the day on a Saturday (hence the name). It involves classes, food, and projects. (some people would say crafts but I'm not very crafty so I call them projects). I had a great group of people who helped with the decorating (since I have not been blessed with any artistic sense) and the setup, and the food.

The project that I was in charge of (as well as everything else!) was a can rotator. Here are some of the MANY pieces that J and I cut in preparation for the day:

shelves,

legs,

and edges

In hindsight, I should have limited the number of crafts people were able to sign up for, since this particular one took at least 20 minutes to complete (and I had supplies to make 35 of them). We offered a variety of other useful and cute projects but honestly my time and energy were focused purely on this table. Next time (if there is a next time...) I will do some things differently, but mostly I think the day was a success!

Snow

2011-01-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

Snow, snow and more snow! Now, I am a fan of winter. I love winter sports, especially ice skating and snowboarding. I love the beauty that freshly fallen snow creates. I love playing in the snow and watching it fall. I even love a good day of being snowed-in.
Lately, however, I feel like I have had enough. The snow is still beautiful, but it just keeps falling! I am also beginning to feel vitamin D deprived from lack of sunshine. Last winter, I had no problem with going outside, to the gym, to the play area, or wherever. This year I just want to curl up in a blanket and read.
When we lived in SD, we would get a huge snowstorm...then all the snow would melt away. The first time it snowed here, I didn't even bother shoveling. I figured it would disappear in a few days. I bet that first snowfall is just the beginning layer to the massive piles that are now everywhere.
My favorite thing this year has been the snowblower. Whoever invented that wonderful device deserves a huge hug. Now, it's an older model and far from perfect, and leaves a rusty puddle in my garage, but man oh man can it clear my driveway!
Today I am also thankful for a sturdy snowshovel, boots, gloves, hat, scarf, facemask, goggles, snowpants and woolen socks!

Where are you from?

2010-12-14T18:49:00.000-08:00

this is a question I have been asked my whole life, yet I still have no good answer. I get all flustered and try to pick something based on the day I'm having. The reason is that for me, there are many possible responses to this question depending on the meaning:

Where I was born... Maryland
Where I graduated from High School... Japan
Where my parents grew up... Utah
Where we just moved from... South Dakota
Where we live now... North Dakota
Where I lived the longest... England
Where I want to live...Washington or Colorado
Where I met my husband... Japan
Where I went to college... Utah & SD
My favorite place... Japan
My earliest memories... Germany
My state of residence until I turned 18... New Jersey

do you see why I'm confused????

Year in recap

2010-12-12T14:23:00.001-08:00

According to facebook, I spend more time on there than my blog, so I decided to combine the two. Here are my favorite posts of 2010: (*disclaimer, they are all about Ally so if you aren't as in love with her as I am you might have Ally overload!)

-Ally is playing with the Fisher Price Nativity set, giving baby Jesus kisses, I love it! (8:44pm December 7th, 2009)

-Quote of the day: "Ally, the plunger doesn't go in the toilet! oh...maybe it does..." (2:11pm January 22nd, 2010)

-When Ally replies "NO" to everything, I get her to say funny things =) (11:22am January 26th, 2010)

-wrote a reminder on my hand in blue ink; Ally keep saying "ouch" and kissing it =) (2:54pm February 3rd, 2010)

-Ally keeps eating her purple crayon...not the other colors, just purple! (12:42pm February 17th, 2010)

-returned to the kitchen this morning to find Ally happily smearing oatmeal on the bottom of her feet =) (1:41pm February 26th, 2010)

-Ally is putting a tissue to Toby (the dog)'s nose and saying "sneeze" (9:47am March 12th, 2010)

-my daughter said her first sentence today: "Ally oatmeal too!" (9:08am April 2nd, 2010)

-my 18-month old decided to potty train herself: took off her pants, sat on the potty and filled it! (8:38pm April 26th, 2010)

-my daughter's first words this morning: Mommy, I love you =) That's starting off the day right! (11:12am May 6th, 2010)

-been around so many relatives lately, Ally called a random woman with gray hair "grandma" today =) (8:05pm May 12th, 2010)

-laughed so hard today at my loaf of french bread with 2 tiny bites taken out of the end ... and my toddler with a guilty face in the grocery store line =) (12:10pm June 24th, 2010)

-Ally's joke of the day (singing) "Five little tractors jumping on the bed, one fell off and bumped his head" (3:29pm July 30th, 2010)

-while playing dominoes today, Ally noticed the double zero. She became very concerned, carrying it around, looking for the dots that "fell off!" (9:34pm August 8th, 2010)

-note to self...don't let Ally put flour in the mixer while it's going...she dropped the measuring cup which spun, flinging flour EVERYWHERE! (7:09pm August 16th, 2010)

-in the middle of potty training, Ally decided to remove her pants and take the potty outside to sit on it! My neighbor was very amused... (12:53pm August 17th, 2010)

-I told Ally her room looked like a tornado hit it. She looked around and said "Yes, a tomato!" (8:16pm August 29th, 2010)

-Ally wanted me to do the "popsicle course" on Wii Fit this morning =)

-words of wisdom from my almost-2-year-old: "boogers and poop are gross!" (9:32am September 13th, 2010)

-raked up a big pile of leaves...and taught Ally to jump in it! (2:11pm September 27th, 2010)

-my daughter swatted a fly with her hand today! (thanks for the hand sanitizer Chelsea...) (9:54pm September 29th, 2010)

-Ally says "I love you Mommy...can I have a raspberry please?" with big eyes. How can I say no to that? (4:10pm October 6th, 2010)

-A shot in each leg, blood drawn from her arm, and Ally said "thank you Doctor" when we were done! (2:07pm October 12th, 2010)

-Ok I'm calling it...Ally is officially potty trained! (10:10pm October 23rd, 2010)

-how I know I have been landlocked for too long: Ally saw a large puddle today and said "the ocean! I see the waves!" my poor child is deprived =( (2:19pm November 5th, 2010)

-Ally's revelation: "Lia (the black lab) doesn't have eyebrows!" (7:09pm November 15th, 2010)

-took Ally bowling tonight, she kept saying we were going to "the bowling"...it took me a while to realise she thought we taking her to "the bowling, Ally" (the bowling alley) =) (10:19pm November 20th, 2010)

-pulled out the nativity set. Ally found Joseph and decided he wanted to " be a ghost for Halloween" so she pulled his cape over his head. Then she found Mary, paired her with a sheep and started singing "Mary had a little lamb..." (8:37am November 23rd, 2010)

-I told Ally we were going shopping and she looked confused, "we already have bananas Mommy..." (7:53pm November 26th, 2010)

-explained to Ally that the books with stickers on the front belong to the library...so she started pulling off the stickers! (9:32am December 7th, 2010)

-The gate guard today said "Hello ma'am" Ally pipes in from the backseat: "Mommy's not a man!" (3:30pm December 9th, 2010)

recent projects

2010-11-20T06:33:00.000-08:00

I helped a friend make a doll bed for her daughteran oak bookshelf for another friend's son

and a changing table for an unborn girl

I found a beat-up little table and painted it with chalkboard paint!

Another FREE dresser, too bad it was blue and red...

now look how cute it is!
Every project I intend to be my last, since I would really like to park in my garage! I just couldn't resist these last two for Ally, since we will be stuck inside to play for the majority of the next few months.

Can't Argue with FREE!

2010-11-17T16:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Bulk Trash Pickup Day. Almost half the families on base are being relocated by the end of the year, and it's too cold for yard sales. So, a friend and I cruised around base looking at the opportunities. We literally had to return home to get the truck! Now, you can call me cheap, but I got everything pictured above (plus more) absolutely FREE! I also got a dresser for Ally which I am currently refinishing with girl colors and a bunch of scrap wood for my projects. Plus a pocket knife (still in the box) that J informed me is worth about $80. Not bad for a night's "shopping".

deployments are good for my marriage

2010-10-10T18:28:00.000-07:00

Because we are being audited by the IRS (EEK!) Josh printed out his deployment information from his career so far in the military. He has been gone a total of 873 days! I get so many comments from people about how they would not survive if their husband was gone as much as mine (or at all), so I have compiled a list of reasons that separation is good for a relationship:

appreciation of spouse - I really notice all the things he had been doing around the house once he is gone, and all the things I no longer have to do when he comes back. I find myself saying "thank you" when he takes out the trash or changes a diaper. On the flip side, it is also very nice to be appreciated for all the things I do on a daily basis.

development of personal skills - hobbies to pass the time; I have coached sports, taken up sewing, canning, etc.

independence - knowing that I CAN do everything around the house that needs to be done. I can also set a routine and do things at my own pace.

friendships - the opportunity to spend time with other people and develop those relationships that are nice to have but are not a priority when he is around.

correspondence/communication higher priority - phone calls become very important and exciting to receive, so do emails and video chat. I find myself scheduling time to talk to him, or dropping what I'm doing when he calls; putting my marriage as a top priority, where it should be.

lack of controversy - it's difficult to argue with someone over something mundane when conversations are short and far apart. The time between conversations usually puts things in perspective.

timeframe for goals/resolutions - homecoming is a great end goal to work for. I lost all my baby weight during one separation period by setting a goal and working towards it.

career support - I show that I support my husband's career when I can build a life wherever he is stationed.

asking for help - on occasion, I have had to break down and ask for help. This is a very humbling experience, but it gives other people that chance to serve.

absence makes the heart grow fonder - while separations are difficult, there is no greater feeling than being reunited with the one you love!

Now I'm not saying I like having my husband gone. I definitely love having him around (most days!) but I don't fall to pieces being alone. I had a lot of practice being apart while we were friends, engaged, and since being married.

singing child

2010-10-04T18:40:00.000-07:00

Just in case anyone missed this on facebook:

We live on a military base, which has a flag display by the gate. I explained to Ally about the United States of America and how each one has its own flag. I then started singing (because that's what I do in the car). I sang the national anthem and also the Pledge, which I learned working in a Preschool. Ally calls it the "flag song" and started requesting me to sing it every time we passed the flags. After a few times, she started singing it herself.

Along that patriotic note, the National Anthem is played daily through speakers all across the base. At 5PM if we are outside she will stand with her little hand over her heart until the music stops. I love it!

Ally turns 2!

2010-10-04T18:30:00.000-07:00

My wonderful sweet girl turned 2 today! I am so blessed to be her mother.

Some of her favorite things:

singing
reading books (like Elephant and Piggie)
going to the playground, especially the swings
fruit! She could eat fruit all day, raspberries in particular
snuggling with Mommy at bedtime
cooking (we make messes together)

Skills:

count to 13
sing the Pledge of Allegiance (and many other songs)
spell her name
identify about half of the letters in the alphabet
identify all the colors
a great memory for names
using the potty (95% of the time)

My favorite things about her:

how she speaks in full sentences
when she says "I love you Mommy!"
singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider every time she sees a drainpipe
how she shares with other children
when she tries to say certain words, the "s" comes out her nose (h-nuggle for snuggle)
how much she loves her Daddy
that she has enough hair to put in pigtails
she changes word in songs to be funny (Twinkle twinkle...applesauce!)

I love my little girl!

potty training!

2010-09-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Ally has been working on potty training recently. We are definitely not 100%, but the end is in sight! I am very excited not to buy diapers anymore =)

Especially with my husband gone right now, I have had my hands full. Let's just say that bedtime is my favorite time of day, since she is at least a consistent sleeper.

I honestly believe that I will not be one of those people that can have many children and be mentally stable. As wonderful as my daughter is, and as much as I LOVE being a mom, I have days that I just wonder how other people do it. I am beginning to feel that there are more members of my family that have not arrived yet (at least one) but I am looking forward to a large gap in age between Ally and the next one. I really feel that it has taken me two full years to recover, emotionally and physically, from being pregnant the first time. I am finally back to my normal self and my normal activities. While I am not "baby hungry" yet, I am definitely getting closer to the idea of having another one.

I grew up in a large family and always thought that I would have one too. I love children and have been involved with groups of them in every aspect of my life. From babysitting to coaching to my degree in Elementary Education, I really enjoy working with children. In church I have always a leader of the younger generation. While my public involvement has not changed, I do like to have my private home life under control. I don't think that I have a "difficult child" but I do think that my personality requires a certain lack of chaos for me to function correctly.

Despite my limitations, I am determined to be the best mom I can be for my child.

bountiful harvest

2010-08-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

have I mentioned how much I love fresh vegetables?

it's thrilling to plant seeds and watch them grow into recognizable produce

(I never knew onions grew on the surface like this)

With all our wonderful fresh ingredients, Ally and I have been doing a lot of cooking. She loves to help measure, mix and of course eat!

Vegas Vacation!

2010-07-23T11:38:00.001-07:00

at Excalibur for the Tournament of Kings
fountain show at the Bellagio

ready for a comedy show (Josh got called up on stage but I couldn't take pictures!)

Josh gambling (or trying...)

our suite at the Riviera

We planned a vacation with another couple, who couldn't come due to a deployment, so Josh and I ended up spending 4 nights in Las Vegas by ourselves. My parents came to visit and stayed with Ally while we were gone. Leaving her for the first time was one of the harder things I have done in my life (and remember, I completed a triathlon the day before).

We ended up having a great time, seeing lots of shows and basically being tourists for the week. With temps always above 100 and some days closer to 115, we were literally baking out on the strip during the day, but it was an experience to remember.

During one show, Josh was the audience "volunteer" on stage, and I wish I could have gotten it on camera! He was picked on quite a bit, since we ended up in the front row at most of the shows we attended. Luckily he is not fazed by crowds of people and was very gracious about being the brunt of jokes. Of course, I was laughing hysterically with my husband on stage holding a flower in his teeth.

Our time in Vegas was a lot of fun but also exhausting. We were both ready to come home and relax after our vacation, and see our darling daughter =)

We came home to a well-stocked kitchen, a clean house and a happy daughter, so no complaints about my houseguests/babysitters!

Triathlon 2010

2010-07-23T11:24:00.001-07:00

Due to peer pressure, I began training for a Triathlon about 3 months ago. I like to keep in good shape but I haven't trained for anything since the 5K in high school. I began by moving my workouts from the gym to outside. Luckily, the weather here in ND is perfect for morning exercise; a little humidity and not much heat.

here is my little trainer

and me coming in for the final run!

Since I did most of my training either pushing a stroller or pulling a trailer, I did fairly well when it came to the final event, which consisted of a 400 meter swim, 12 mile bike and 5 kilometer run. I accomplished my goal which was to complete it without stopping.

The group of ladies at the top are all moms in my ward. We encouraged each other and talked up the race so much that others wanted to join too!

One year ago today

2010-06-06T12:08:00.000-07:00

In the past year I have learned to love and appreciate so many things about living in North Dakota. I have to admit, I was not thrilled to move here. But, being the positive person that I am, I made a list of possible good things. Here is my new list:

Awesome thunderstorms

enough rain my garden grows without watering it

so many mosquitos I always carry bug spray

appreciating small things like IHOP

all the great people in my ward

all the programs for small children

the fact that I can leave my car running in a parking lot and not worry about it being stolen

the wonderful athletic facility that has rekindled my relationship with personal fitness

no traffic, ever!

wedding

2010-05-29T07:53:00.001-07:00

Ally and I took a trip to Utah for my sister's wedding. While we were there we did some other fun things too.

Here is my cute sister, all ready to get married!

What someone did to their car...

Outside the temple, after being sealed for time and all eternity.

At the dinosaur museum. Ally enjoyed seeing all the exhibits, especially the big bones (she calls them di-so-saurs).

Ally with her cousin Leona. She acted like an older sister, showing Ally around.

Checking out the horses at grandparents house.

Of course we spent a day at the zoo. It was a little windy, but we appreciate any weather above 50 degrees so it was great. Here is a mother elephant with her baby in the background. Ally's favorite animals at the zoo were the tigers. Actually, her favorite was the random goose that flew in, but tigers were her favorite caged animal.

Now that we live twice as far away from family and make less trips, we have to cram in as many activities as possible while we are there.

miracles of life

2010-05-29T07:01:00.000-07:00

A robin built it's nest along the fence in our backyard. Thankfully the dogs haven't bothered it so Ally and I were able to watch as four little birds emerged from the eggs. We check on them every morning as the mama bird chirps angrily at us from further down the fence line.

Here is my little munchkin who has discovered the fun part about Mom cooking.

Don't be jealous! This is just how cute she is =)

My motivation

2010-04-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

First of all, I am the kind of person who loves projects. If it is something I can do that takes effort, I am ready. I love hard work and seeing results. I also believe that I can do anything.
In the past I have built furniture, tilled yards, erected fences, painted houses, installed sprinkler systems, and mucked horse stables. I love learning new skills and feeling the sense of accomplishment associated with work.
So when a friend asked if I was interested in helping with her garden, I was very excited and immediately agreed. Along with the garden, she has decided to raise chickens (I might have encouraged that a little bit...). With her husband gone for the next two months she really needed some assistance.
My wonderful husband already has a lot on his plate. He has a very stressful and intense job which occupies a lot of his time (and includes being on call 24/7). He is happy with his life and family but really has no interest in additional duties. He did a lot of work on a ranch growing up so he is very handy but not especially willing. Unfortunately for him, he is stuck with me...

So basically I signed us both up for some very hard work. In the past few weeks we have transformed a shanty into a chicken coop (painted red like a barn) and a weed-choked lot into a garden. I am revelling in my work while J is looking forward to the end. Being the wondeful man I married he has stuck by me but recently pleaded "Amy, please don't make any more friends with big projects!"

Am I a pushover?

2010-04-09T12:45:00.000-07:00

I was recently part of a group in charge of making centerpieces for an activity. Somehow I ended up purchasing the supplies, growing the grass (which took 2 weeks), helping make the "eggs", tying ribbons and finishing off the baskets. Ugh!
I think I just can't say NO when someone needs help (plus it's one of my callings). The frustrating part is that my group is made up of a lot more people than the 3 who have been doing all the work.

I started with wheat, soaked overnight then planted:

It grew nicely with constant attention:

I trimmed the growth a few times

Here is the finished product:

The eggs were made by wrapping starch-soaked string around small balloons and letting it dry before popping the balloons.

The funny part about this story (in retrospect) happened when I brought the string "eggs" home to assemble the baskets.

North Dakota has an almost constant wind blowing. I usually don't even notice it anymore. I got out of the car and pulled out 3 grocery bags full of eggs, which weigh next to nothing since they are hollow.
The wind caught one bag and eggs started falling out. I picked those up and more fell from the other bags. I would pick up one and drop two more. When the wind caught them they started moving, fast. Basically they were like little tiny tumbleweeds rolling down the sidewalk, street, and neighbors lawns.

Luckily, my wonderful husband was home and rushed down the sidewalk (in bare feet) catching the runaway eggs. I must have dropped at least 30 which would have decimated the batch we had created.

At the time I was practically hyperventilating, but now I can laugh at the scene =)

the saga of the couch, continued

2010-03-06T13:51:00.000-08:00

After much deliberation, we decided that the couch we originally purchased was just not meant to live in our basement, so we returned it to the store (it's nice to own a truck). We then began looking for a new couch. Now, I am HUGE about comparison shopping, I love to know I'm getting a good deal. I had done my research and picked the best couch originally. So, we had to start all over, this time looking for something that could come apart, as well as fit our criteria for comfort. Unfortunately, this portability results in a more expensive couch. This is what we ended up with:

It is basically 2 recliners stuck together with a shared armrest. We can now enjoy our home theater surround-sound system in complete comfort.

The view from the couch

(cord covers coming soon)

A day in the life of Allison

2010-02-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

I like to smear my breakfast in my hair,

then I wear lots of layers because it's COLD here!

I play at the gym while my mom uses the machines. I like to go down the slide.

I do crafts at the library...

and sit on my own carpet for story time. Then we take home lots of books!

Some days we go to the Escape Zone. There are lots of toys and friends to play with.

At home I like to have my mom blow bubbles,

I play with my dog,

and do puzzles,

and color (usually on the paper)

Then I smear food all over myself...

and get a bath.

By this time, I am exhausted,

so I go to sleep.

THE END

the saga of the couch

2010-02-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

so we bought a couch and brought it home (it's nice to own a truck)the only problem is our stairway is too narrow to get it to the basement...

so it got stuck!

and made a huge hole!

and a mess!

to be continued...

"raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..."

2010-02-24T21:40:00.000-08:00

a few of my favorite things:

-snow falling

-talking with good friends

-hot fresh homemade bread

-sleeping babies

-cuddling to watch a movie

-whipped cream

-snowboarding

-hyacinth

-random facts

-boots!

-teaching

-walking Toby

-reading a good book

-my daughter

only where it's cold

2010-02-12T15:59:00.000-08:00

I walked out of the gym the other day and saw this:

Sun dogs are caused by ice crystals floating in the air between us and the sun. Just goes to show, you can find something beautiful in nature no matter where you live!

Decade in Review

2010-01-24T08:20:00.000-08:00

2000:
Misawa, Japan

I was a senior in high school, captain of the soccer team and the cross-country team, editor of the yearbook. I was on the class council, NHS and MUN. Attending early morning seminary plus refereeing soccer in my spare time. Somehow I found time to sleep, eat, and date boys! I really enjoyed living in Japan, going to the Festivals and eating yummy food.

2001:
Move to Utah

I started my first semester at BYU on a half-tuition scholarship. My job at Cinnabon helped me make lots of new friends. I started coaching the Spanish Fork HS soccer team and loved it! My first semester was a shock as I realised that everyone at school was intelligent and hard working so I needed to try and keep up. I enjoyed a week-long camping trip with friends that took us to every national park in Utah. I also spent time with grandparents who I didn't get to see much while I was growing up overseas.

2002:
Engagement

Finished my first year at BYU and worked for the summer at a Japanese restaurant. My good friend Josh enlisted in the Air Force and began writing me often (sometimes daily). While he excelled in Basic Training, he missed his freedom, and especially me =). I was seriously dating an RM, but we separated just in time for Josh to come home on leave and propose! May I add that our first kiss was 2 days prior to the engagement, even though I'd known him since I was 14.
I caused a serious car crash, which resulted in 2 totaled cars and me being life-flighted with a collapsed lung. Due to the strength of the priesthood blessing I received, I was able to go home the next day with few complications.

2003:
Wedding

We planned our wedding in West Jordan Utah. We had everything set when all *heck* broke loose. I went to Japan to visit my parents one more time before getting married. While I was overseas everything, and I mean everything went wrong with the wedding plans! The major things were the temple being closed and the chapel being double-booked. This was one month prior to the date so of course the invitations had already been sent out. Maybe I should have taken this as a warning, but we got married, civilly, on the date we had planned.

2004:
South Dakota

We started our married life together, got a dog and settled into the area. I got a good job as a teacher's assistant in a preschool, which allowed me to attend college while working full-time. Josh worked as a mechanic on the planes, which involved long hours on the flight line. He deployed for 3 months. I was called to be in the Primary Presidency. I felt a bit overwhelmed since I had no experience but ended up loving it! (this was part of my inspiration for becoming an elementary teacher)

2005:
South Dakota

Josh deployed for 4 months. We added another dog to our family, a husky. We kept my sister's dog for 6 weeks while she was deployed. I tore a muscle in my leg playing softball (and got hit with the bat...) which still bothers me sometimes. The funny part is that the doctor who examined me asked me lots of times if I was being abused by my husband! Josh didn't think that was so funny... Chopped off 8 inches of hair and wore it spiky!

2006:
Sealing

Josh deployed for 5 months. I was called to be an early-morning seminary teacher. I ended up doing this for 3 years in a row. It was so good for me to get that dose of spiritual nourishment on a daily basis. We were sealed in the Jordan River temple for time and all eternity. We both continued taking college classes. I visited my parents in Japan before they moved. Since I needed more to do, I added a second job at Old Navy and enjoyed the discount =).

2007:
Josh deployed for 6 months. I commuted 60 miles each way to school in Spearfish, where I completed my classes towards an elementary education degree. I started a program at the local Youth Center teaching sports basics to 3-5 year olds. I had 4 wisdom teeth plus 2 baby teeth extracted, OUCH!

2008:
Graduation! Baby!

On our 5-year wedding anniversary, I found out that we were pregnant! At the time, I was student teaching in a second-grade classroom to finish my bachelor's degree. Josh and I were both so excited to find out it was a girl!

I graduated in May and Josh in June. Josh was accepted into OSI after a long and involved application process. Allison was born in October and we celebrated our first Christmas together as a family of 3!

2009:
Moving

Josh left for FLETC in Georgia for 4.5 months. Ally and I stayed in SD and I babysat a 2-year old a few days a week while her mom worked. I had a great gym partner who motivated me to work out 5 days a week and lose all the baby weight! We flew out for Josh's graduation and then enjoyed a cruise to the Bahamas, coming home just in time to pack up and move. Since this was our first move with the AF, we didn't know what to expect. Now I know not to look forward to our next move!

2010:
North Dakota

So far, lots of snow and cold. I look forward to our coming adventures.

matching

2010-01-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

For my birthday, I got a new pair of boots (I decided I needed more since I will be wearing boots half of the year) Ally got a pair too.

gingerbread house demise

2010-01-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

beginning with the frame
add a roof and some accessories

cover with candy

find a hammer

and pick up the pieces!

4 people, 3 shovels, and 2 hours

2009-12-30T09:50:00.000-08:00

this is the walkway leading up to my front door

snow piled in the back of the truck (all I want for Christmas is a 2-car garage...!)

me, shoveling. It really took us 2 hours just to uncover the driveway enough to get out.

Well we definitely had a white Christmas! Two of my sisters and a niece flew out from Utah and were excited about the amount of snow to play in. I think we got over 2 feet in one day. Unfortunately it's cold, dry powder, so it's not much good for anything except shoveling =( Actually it would be perfect for snowboarding, if we had any hills around, not to mention mountains.
It has been fun having visitors, and it was nice to have extra help with the shoveling, but J and I both agree, it's time to have our house back!

A weird day

2009-12-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

As the proprietor/engineer/leader of the ward book club, I encourage people to submit book ideas as well as attend the monthly meetings. This month I had lower attendance than usual, with an interesting newcomer. Let's just say there is a conflict of interest with my husband's job... This puts me in a strange position, since the person in question doesn't know what my husband does for a living.
Anyway, I am searching for a peaceful, tactful solution that doesn't involve me being questioned by the authorities. This poor girl didn't know what she was getting into by joining my club!

frustrated and upset

2009-11-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

My trial right now is Cub Scouts. At first I thought the hard part would be getting familiar with all the awards, ranks and advancements. Since I obviously have never participated in Scouts before, that part has been difficult to sort out. Regardless, I have plowed through and am getting a better understanding each week. The problem is not the ceremonies, or even the boys. I have a great group, and although it was supposed to be a joint calling, my other half is usually too busy to help out much. Nope, I pulled off a good pack meeting tonight, singlehandedly. With a lot of work and preparation, I had all the achievements ready to award, a fun game, song and cheers. The boys participated and had a good time. My struggle isn't even with the parents. Most of the boys have good, supportive parents who help them achieve their goals.

My problem is the administrative part. I recently completed my first purchase of awards for a pack meeting. Having been asked previously to limit my spending from the budget, I have been just paying out-of-pocket for the few supplies and snacks necessary. To my surprise, I spent over $82 on awards! Chagrined, and hoping to be reimbursed, I submitted my FIRST receipt for these symbols of my boys' achievements and hard work, only to be rebuffed and chastised for spending any money!!

Now, may I ask, what else could I have done? Not purchased the awards my Scouts have earned? Paid for them by myself like I have been doing for everything else? Waited a few months before turning in my one and only request for reimbursement?

I think it highly unfair that I was put in this position to feel guilty about spending money on something that is normal and necessary.

Does it make me a bad person to want to feel some appreciation every once in a while? Or at least more guidance as to what I should be doing?

Maybe I just take things too personally.

feeling helpless

2009-10-27T08:35:00.000-07:00

My hubby's brother is deployed to Iraq (again) so he suggested I come visit his wife in Colorado while he is gone. In the past few weeks, her two sons (28 months and 16 months) have both gotten sick, injured, and otherwise visited the emergency room 4 times. Her husband was in a car wreck and lost a teammate, and also his job in the Army. They have moved twice, with the help of neighbors and ward members. Her mother-in-law (who came out to help) has put the family in an enormous amount of debt due to bad choices and refuses to take any responsibililty, as well as being extremely critical of her parenting methods and very unhelpful.
So I am here, doing my best to help and feeling a bit helpless since most of the situation is out of my control. I can play with the kids and cook dinner to give her a break but not ease the stress. I am just praying that things work out with him finding a job and that they can get out of debt.

Big Day

2009-10-07T06:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Allison!

This is us one year ago today. She looks little but Ally weighed in at 8lbs 1oz (no wonder I look tired).

Ally has such a cheesy grin, I have had many people tell me how they can't stop smiling back at her.

Some stats about Allison:

- she confidently WALKS all over the house
- She has 11.5 teeth
- She will eat ANYTHING
- She LABELS all her favorite things (dog, cracker, milk, frog, book,)
- She says a few PHRASES like "I love you" and "all done" and "thank you"
- She loves her mom but Dad is definitely her favorite. Every day he walks in the door, she yells "DADDY!" and makes her way toward him as fast as her little legs can go.
- She loves BOOKS, especially ones with pictures of animals and other babies
- She plays peek-a-boo by covering one of her eyes with her hand.
- She is obsessed with BUTTONS (on shirts, dressers, bathtub, etc.)

My life has definitely changed in the past year. I went from a full-time student with 2 jobs to a full-time mom. I went from the wife of a mechanic to the wife of a federal agent, from SD to ND. I was a teacher for other people's children, now I get to teach my own (I still coach other kids though). My life is very different but very blessed. Now that Ally is a part of it, I can't imagine doing anything else. She keeps me on my toes and I am never bored.

Focus on the positive...

2009-09-24T09:38:00.001-07:00

Why do we, as women, judge ourselves so harshly?

Why do we focus on the five pounds left to lose instead of the 35 already lost?

Why do we stress about the one room in the house that has not yet been cleaned?

Why do we feel guilty about the one night this week we had hot dogs for dinner?

Why do we look at others and compare ourselves to them, seeing only the good qualities we have not yet attained?

I think we are inherently predisposed to bettering ourselves. Unfortunately we go one step further, causing frustration and anxiety by focusing on what we have NOT done yet instead of our potential.

My goal this month is to focus on the positive! I will give myself kudos for what I accomplish and recognize the good in my life.

-I will be grateful for the new friends I have made instead of lamenting the ones left behind.

-I will appreciate the beautiful fall colors instead of concentrating on the imminent winter approaching.

-I will congratulate the successes of my daughter's development instead of the thoughts of a past career.

-I will take advantage of the opportunities I have to visit family instead of thinking about the distance between us.

-I will enjoy the challenge of a new calling and the opportunity to grow in an area outside my usual comfort.

-I will recognize my Savior's love and all the many blessings I have in my life.

This will be a great month!

Two looong trips

2009-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

We traveled to Utah twice this month.

The first trip was planned in advance, for my little brother's wedding. He is now married to a wonderful sweet girl that is adjusting to being a Rollins (it's difficult, we are weird). We flew out for a weekend, attended the wedding, visited in-laws, and somehow also drove up to Boise for a day. First class on the way home, plus another adult to help with Ally made for a nice, if fast, trip. (my 5th trip since Ally was born, my 1st with Josh around)

Us at the temple

The next trip was less than 2 weeks after the first due to my grandfather's passing. He was 88 years old and just beginning to consider moving in with one of his children to be looked after. Since my grandmother preceeded him in death almost four years ago, it was not completely unexpected, but still sad. We drove the almost 20-hour trip in two days, mostly at night for Ally's benefit.

Here we are at a Splash Park in Utah (note the mountains in the background).

My yard in ND (pre-fence)

My yard (half of a fence). And still deer...

The day we left for Utah (the second time), we finished installing the fence to keep our dogs in and the deer out. I have to brag that I did 90% of the fence post installation while Josh was at work, although I needed help with the stretching.

I have been attempting to find my niche since we moved here in June. I feel that I am making progress with the neighbors and people in the ward, as well as other moms at the awesome playland and family area at the gym on base. I finally realised what I had been missing when a mom mentioned to me that her daughter needed a coach for her soccer team.

Ever since graduating from high school I have been coaching soccer, I even ran a program through the Youth Center at my last base for 3-5 year olds teaching the basics. Naturally I jumped at the chance and am now joyfully coaching a 4-year-old team. I love interacting with children and I love sports so a combination of the two is exactly what I needed to feel involved.

People Eating Tasty Animals

2009-07-15T15:37:00.001-07:00

Ok this blog isn't about eating animals, I just saw that on a bumper sticker and thought it was worth repeating (sorry to any animal rights activists I may offend).
Ally and I took a last-minute trip to Minneapolis this weekend, tagging along with Josh on his first TDY. The drive was uneventful but the weekend was awesome! We went to the zoo;

Ally pet a goat

and LOVED the prairie dogs (one of her favorite words is "dog" so she had fun yelling that at the little furry guys who would stand up and chitter).

*One of my major pet peeves is when parents deliberately teach their children incorrect things. If an animal is in a cage with a large sign identifying it, don't call it something else! I seriously watched a mom tell her older children to look at the 8 foot tall "duck" in the ostrich cage. Ok it's one thing to call a bison "buffalo" but everything with antlers is not a deer!

We of course also went to the Mall of America, which is HUGE!

This is the middle of the mall, I think I counted 4 roller coasters as well as lots of other cool rides. All the stores (4 floors) surround this central area. It took me about half an hour to walk around each floor, so we spent a good part of the day inside the mall.

MMM Cinnabon. My first job was actually at a Cinnabon. Funny story, I was "let go" because I had an "unacceptable rolling technique" which means I rolled them counter-clockwise instead of clockwise. I still eat them though.

It was nice to get away, I feel somewhat secluded here now that I can't drive out to visit family in one day anymore. I am slowly finding my place here in the ward and on base. The base here actually has some really great programs and facilities that I intend to take advantage of.

New life in ND

2009-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Ok... I finally feel like I live in a house, instead of walls held up by boxes. After a one week wait in TLF (not quite the 1-3 months we were told) we were given the keys to our house. It is a refurbished (old) house but with a spacious yard and basement. Not too bad considering our last house had zero storage space.

We had originally decided to rent a house off base but apparently heating bills range from $500-700 per month to combat the regular -50 temps, and the city of Grand Forks is quite a commute from the base. Also, trying to find a house to rent with 2 large dogs is a struggle all by itself. We will definitely be buying a home at our next station, but this one will do for now.

Lately my life has consisted of unpacking, playing with Ally, and building...

Here is my latest project. With a little help from Josh (and some materials from the Self-Help store, Ha, Ha!) I constructed a shelving unit to hold my growing stockpile of food! (P.S. Don't attempt this without a nail gun, it would have taken forever!)

Ally has settled in quite nicely and is very mobile. She now has a vocabulary of 10+ words, including "more" and of course "dog". She loves following the dogs around and poking at them. Thank goodness I have been training them since they were puppies to put up with abuse because they sure get a lot from her! I try to teach her to pet softly, but she just repeats "soft" and pokes them in the eye...

My ward has been very friendly, about half military, the other half are college students. At church today I counted 10 pregnant women and 8 babies younger than Ally. Definitely a family ward. My only complaint was the lack of a book club, so I started one.

For the most part, I think we can be happy here. Josh is enjoying his new job and I have met some nice people. Oh and the gym on base is awesome! Now I just need a new gym buddy to keep me motivated.

Ally-gator

2009-05-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

Look at those teeth!
Thanks Kira for the cute hat!

We finally got our orders 2 weeks before we are scheduled to arrive in Grand Forks. We have no choice now but to move ourselves because of the late notice, so we have been packing, cleaning, and trying to schedule everything that needs to happen between now and then, including vet appointments for the dogs, inspections for the house, reservations in TLF here and there, a moving truck, packing supplies, repairs, and people to help! Also because of the late notice, we have to kennel our dogs (at $42 per day!) until we get into a house, which could take up to 3 months since we were just put on the waiting list when we received our orders. Poor Josh has been running around like crazy trying to do everything in 2 weeks that he should have had 2 months to do.

We also recently learned that someone in MPF (the people in charge) wiped clean Josh's dream sheet (a list of places we would like to live) without his knowledge, just prior to assignments being given out at his school. So basically it looked like we had no preference where we wanted to live, so we were given North Dakota. Gotta love the Air Force. The worst part is, Josh has priority over most of the guys in his class because of his time in service, time in rank, and time on post, so he would most likely have gotten his top choice. I hope that someday I can look back on this time and laugh because right now I am just very frustrated.

I threw a baby shower for a friend today and only 2 people besides her family showed up. I really wanted her to have a good turn-out since this is her first baby and I know they could use some help getting everything. I put a lot of effort into her shower and invited lots of people and now I feel that it was basically a waste of time. I was very disappointed not to receive a shower from the people in my ward before I had Ally so I was trying to make sure the same thing didn't happen to her.

As I prepare to leave this area, I have been reflecting on my time here. I moved every 3-4 years growing up so I didn't think I would have any problems with the military lifestyle. I have now lived here for 6.5 years; the longest I have ever lived anywhere my whole life. As much as I disliked this area at first, I have grown to love it and now I hate to leave. So many big changes in my life have happened here and I have found some of the best friends I have ever had. This is where I spent the first few years of my married life, where I graduated from college, and where my daughter was born. This is where I learned what it truly means to be a military spouse by surviving 4 deployments and 11 TDY's. I will miss all my friends here who have helped me through those life changes and trying times.

Cruisin'

2009-05-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

Ally and I flew out to Florida for Josh's graduation, then we celebrated by going on a cruise! Josh's brother and his wife joined us and we all had a great time!

Here is our little family, finally reunited!

This was the beautiful beach at Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Our cruise ship is in the background. It was so big it had a few pools and a waterslide up on the deck. There were also over 200 cabins on my floor alone. We spent 2 days on the ship and 2 in the tropical paradise.

Every day we had a different towel animal. Ally liked to destroy them but I managed to get a picture before she ate this one's head. Ally made lots of friends on the ship. I had so many random people just stop me to say how cute she was. (I have to agree...)

Here is me getting my hair braided. It hurt a little but was totally worth it! Between swimming, sunning, snorkeling and just walking around in general, it was so nice not to have hair everywhere.

Josh and I fed sting rays. After I fed mine, the guy picked up the ray by his fins and it spit water in my face!

I just loved all the beautiful fragrant flowers all over the island. It was definitely a VACATION!

Yay for Yard Sales!

2009-05-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Friday and Saturday were the days of the annual Dakota Ridge yard sale. My good friend Heather =) offered her garage for me to sell some of my furniture before we move (in one month!!!) So I recruited some men (thanks men!) and loaded 2 TRUCKLOADS of things to sell. Now my house is empty and I have an extra $500 to play with, Yay! I only had 2 things to bring back home, even with Juli trying to sell them to every person who walked or drove past the driveway. Seriously she was taking things to people in their cars and pitching sales. Thanks Juli! p.s. do you want my credenza...?
On a sad note, my friend Sarah who has been here with me for 5 years, is moving tomorrow. She has been my gym buddy, my visiting teaching partner, my travel companion, my friend and my person I call when I need to talk. Thanks Sarah for all the good times and good luck in Colorado!
Happier topic: on Thursday I leave for Florida, my husband and my cruise! I can't wait for him to see Ally and how much she has grown since he left. I am so excited to go on an actual vacation and also to not be a single parent any more! Although, Josh coming home means that the countdown begins until we move and it makes me sad to think of all the good friends we will be leaving.
We have decided to move ourselves so I have been packing and cleaning all week. Ally is not much help. So many things to do!

baby pics

2009-04-17T17:13:00.001-07:00

While I was in Utah, a friend of the family took some pictures of Ally for her website and advertising purposes. Check out her blog for some examples:

http://mysecondmile.squarespace.com/blog/2009/4/8/ah-little-girls.html

(Ally is the second set...)

You can also check out her website http://www.littledreamerstudio.com/ Go to view your session and the password is allison for the whole group of pictures. Heather, you might recognize some of your awesome head wear...

Home again, but not for long...

2009-04-11T20:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!

Ally having an allergic reaction (I still don't know what caused it) at Hogle Zoo.

Ally's first ride in a swing.

visiting friends in Utah (do you recognize any of these people?)

Stout family

Ally with cousins.

Ally with her great-grandpa

and her other great-grandpa

My sister Susan and her friend the donkey at Custer State Park.

She (the sister, not the donkey) came out to stay for two weeks. We had a great time visting the local sights and playing with Ally. For the first time since Josh left in January I was able to shower alone, go out with friends, and have an adult (if an 18-year-old counts as adult) to talk to on a regular basis. Basically I had a wonderful 2 weeks. I then spent 3 weeks in Utah visiting family and friends. My entire clan of in-laws (minus Josh of course) was in town for Conference so they decided to get family pictures taken. I realised that Josh was the only one of 9 siblings missing from the pictures, even all 23 grand children made it, and started to cry. I will be the one with red eyes in all the family pictures =(.

I was able to go watch Conference in the Conference Center, which was very exciting. My sister Susan again stepped in and watched Ally so I could attend. It has been so nice to have someone that comfortable with my daughter that I can leave her for hours on end without worrying. Too bad she doesn't live closer...

My wonderful mother-in-law took me out to my favorite restaurant: Macaroni Grill! for a fabulous dinner before I left. The drive home was long but familiar. I have made that trek at least 20 times while living here. Ally was a great traveler and slept most of the day. It is nice to be home but lonely with no one around. I was saturated with family in Utah.

In ONE MONTH I head out to Georgia for Josh's graduation, followed by a cruise leaving the next day! After that, we will be packing, cleaning, and moving to North Dakota in June. The good news is that Josh will be stationary for ONE WHOLE YEAR. In the 6 years we have been married, he has never been home for a whole year in a row before. He is looking forward to spending time with his daughter and starting his new job, even if it is in North Dakota =)

Ok this time it's real...

2009-02-24T12:39:00.001-08:00

We are moving to NORTH DAKOTA!!!!!!! I know, I'm shocked too. Not even Fargo, but 70 miles north (look next to Minnesota on the state line). Grand Forks is actually an air force base and it has an international airport. I ran the numbers on Mapquest and we are 1245 miles from Salt Lake City and 1056 miles from Colorado Springs. So much for moving closer to family... The base has mostly refuelers and a homeland security section (where Josh will most likely be working). It seems very similar to Ellsworth, but a little bit smaller. I forgot to ask about our report date, so more info to come...

Our trip to Florida!

2009-02-18T18:15:00.000-08:00

Ally and I visited Josh last week and did lots of fun things. I can't remember the last time I went on an actual vacation, not just visiting family. We stayed in Jacksonville at a Hyatt (nice!). We ordered room service and went for walks on the riverfront. We took Ally to the zoo and the beach (really I was the one who wanted to go). Here is her first experience with a gorilla.

Unfortunately she slept through the beach trip...

Proof that nice weather exists

Josh with his baby girl. He held her all weekend and was very sad when we left.

Ally cutting her first 2 teeth. She bites anything she can bring in contact with her mouth.

All in all, it was a really fun trip. I was a little worried about flying with a 4-month old, but she was wonderful on the planes and in the airports. By the end of each flight she had charmed all of the people sitting close to us. I even got my checked-bag fee waived because she smiled at the guy behind the counter!

we are moving to...

2009-01-27T21:20:00.000-08:00

just kidding! Despite numerous assurances that we would have something in writing by Josh's second week of training, he is now well into his 4th week and has nothing. I have been waiting to blog about where we are moving, but still no word. So I decided to blog anyway.

I have recently discovered the joys of facebook. I spent the last few days finding and chatting with people from my past. It's very interesting to see what friends and acquaintances are up to now. I even dug out some pictures from high school and posted them.

Also, in my desire to stay busy, I have become a Pampered Chef consultant. I have been addicted to PC for the past few years but never really had the time to get into it. Now I can spend time with other people, share some of my favorite things, and also make a little money. (I thought that I would make money working at Old Navy also, but only my wardrobe expanded, not my finances, so we'll see how this goes...)

Allison grows every day and is so much fun. I love to dress her up (thanks Shauna for the outfit and Heather for the flower!) and make her smile. I can't wait to visit Josh in 2 weeks!

single motherhood: week 2

2009-01-14T18:43:00.000-08:00

Having been through multiple deployments, TDY's etc., I thought I was prepared for yet another separation from my husband. I am sad, not for myself, but for him, knowing that he is missing Ally. I guess training keeps him busy during the day, but each night he calls and asks how "his girls" are doing and it breaks my heart. He is so worried that Ally won't even remember him.
From my end, I can't complain. I have a happy, healthy girl who sleeps through the night and takes multiple naps during the day. I have time to do everything I need to do, maybe too much time. Transitioning from full-time working student to full-time mom has been an adjustment, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

My main difficulties being alone include:
recovering my trash can after Sunday night's windstorm
carrying all my Primary stuff, diaper bag, coat, carseat, baby and blanket to church from the car
not going over on my cell phone minutes

Ally wearing jeans

The joys of a new baby...

2008-12-29T05:31:00.001-08:00

Josh and I made a gingerbread house this year. The windows are melted gummy bears that worked out quite nicely, except the foil from the baking sheet stuck to the insides.

Ally in her favorite Christmas present. She really likes looking out at the world so the Bumbo chair is perfect. It came with a LARGE warning label not to put it on high surfaces in case the baby could tip it over and fall off. Sad that some people put their babies in danger so they need a specific label warning against it.

I love dressing her in little people clothes! Speaking of Ally, yesterday at church she threw up all over me during sacrament meeting. Apparently I left a trail as I rushed her out to the bathroom. One of the wonderful women in the ward (Mary H.) came and helped me clean her up. It was definitely a 2-person job. Luckily I had a backup outfit, but my poor baby had to wear little blue pants and a onesie for the rest of church. I, unfortunately, did not have a backup outfit for myself, so I just smelled funny for the rest of church. One of those things about being a mother that I never thought would be fun, but the day after I can laugh about it. It did make me realise that I will be dependent on other people to help while Josh is gone.

Happy Birthday to me!

2008-12-22T13:20:00.000-08:00

My new pressure cooker/canner. I am so excited to can food!

Ally in her Christmas dress, which no-one got to see.
This week, Ally got her shots and Josh got the flu, so between her fussing and Josh deciding if he needed to throw up, we were late to church on Sunday. I just sat out in the hall and then set up my Sharing Time in the Primary room. I had a sharing time all prepared with activities and visuals on the board. I even had two nice young men from another ward playing Christmas carols on their cellos. (they were actually just practicing before they played for their ward, but I invited them to provide my prelude music for Primary) I waited and waited but no children came in to the room. Finally someone informed me that the remaining meetings had been cancelled! By the time I put away my materials, most people had already left the church. I still have a whole stack of Christmas cards that will probably not get delivered. To top off my frustrating day, my vehicle decided not to start due to the cold weather.

Today has been better. Josh let me open my present even though my birthday isn't until tomorrow, so all day I have been playing with my new toy. So far I have canned chicken and potatos to add to our food storage. I think it will come in handy while Josh is gone, so I don't have to cook as often for only myself (10 days until departure). I am also looking at buying a new vehicle (yay!).

ally

2008-12-13T20:44:00.001-08:00

Christmas time!

2008-12-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

Ally has started smiling! She loves the Christmas tree and turns her head to look at it even when I am trying to rock her to sleep!

Toby getting into the Christmas spirit.

My tree. I made the tree skirt last year because I could not find a blue one with snowflakes.

When I was younger, I was always slightly embarrassed by my family's Christmas tree. My friends' trees were always tastefully decorated with coordinating ornaments and an overall theme, like the ones in stores. Mine at home was completely covered with a random assortment of mismatched remnants of ornament sets and child-made crafts. Each ornament was special, but as a whole, the effect was not so pretty. Now that I have my own tree, I have a mix between the two. I decorated mostly in one theme, but added random ornaments, such as baby's first Christmas, some japanese and german ornaments, like the pickle. I'm sure some day it will be covered with memories just like my parent's tree.

all about me

2008-12-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

1. What time did you get up this morning? 12:30, 4:30, and 8:00
2.Diamonds or pearls? diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? twilight
4. What is your favorite TV show? smallville, but only the first 3 seasons, or Alias, also the first 3 seasons
5. What do you usually have for breakfast? chocolate-chip pancakes or eggs
6. What is your middle name? Carol
7. What food do you dislike? mushrooms :(
8. What is your favorite CD at the moment? They Might Be Elders (mormon parodies of popular songs, look it up at DeseretBook.com or listen at http://www.halestormentertainment.com/p_music_details.asp?sID=jnlofpn4
9. What kind of car do you drive? Toyota 4Runner
10. Favorite sandwich? toasted turkey and pepper jack
11. What characteristic do you despise? closed-mindedness
12. Favorite item of clothing? fuzzy boots
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Australia
14. Where would you retire to? somewhere in the Western US, not too close to family, on a chunk of land that still has all 4 seasons and not much wind
15. What was your most recent memorable birthday? 22, took Josh snowboarding and he broke his knee
16. Furthest place you are sending this questionnaire? Afghanistan
17. Person you expect to complete it first? who knows?
18. When is your birthday? December, same day as Joseph Smith
19. Morning person or a night person? morning
20. What is your shoe size? currently 7.5, I'm hoping it goes back down to 6.5 so I can wear all my pre-pregnancy shoes
21. Pets? 2 dogs
22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us? my husband has a new job and he loves it!
23. What did you want to be when you were little? a bird
24. How are you today? motivated to get Christmas decorations up
25. What is your favorite flower? hyacinth
26. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to? May 15, Josh graduates from FLETC and comes home
27. What are you listening to right now? my freezer humming
28. What was the last thing you ate? scones with creme fraiche and strawberry jam (mmm...)
29. Do you wish on stars? I used to wish for gumballs when I was little, I never got any...
30. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? sky blue
31. How is the weather right now? looks cloudy
32. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Amanda!
33. Favorite soft drink? root beer, after it sits open for a few hours
34. Favorite restaurant? Macaroni Grill
35. Hair color? blond/brown
36. What was your favorite toy as a child? bike/rollerblades
37. Summer or winter? summer, no winter, no summer, ummm
38. Chocolate or Vanilla? vanilla ice cream, chocolate everything else
39. Coffee or tea? gross!
40. Do you want your friends to complete this? of course
41. When was the last time you cried? when Ally got diaper rash
42. What is under your bed? storage tubs and a fire-proof safe
43. What did you do last night? slept intermittently, fed the baby, slept intermittently
44. What are you afraid of? tripping and falling down the stairs while holding Ally
45. Salty or sweet? both together
46. How many keys on your key ring? 1
47. How many years at your current job? Mom: 2 months, my previous job doesn't seem to matter anymore
48. Favorite day of the week? it used to be Friday, now they all seem the same
49. Do you make friends easily? yes
50. How many people will read this? probably 10
51. How many will respond? probably 2
52. Do you like finding out all this stuff about your friends? yes
Josh holding Ally, wearing his uniform for the last time, Yay!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

Allison getting a baby massage from her aunt Rhonda (I got one too). It's nice to have a massage therapist in the family...

Our little family made a trip down to Colorado Springs to be with Josh's family for Thanksgiving. We had 19 people, most of them under the age of 10. By the end of the weekend, I was very glad to only have one child, who still sleeps most of the day. The dinner was good, I ended up making a lot of it since the host became ill (sorry Lauren). Dessert was better. We had a good time with family, and then got stuck an extra day due to weather. Our sister-in-law braved the weather and it took her 3.5 hours to get to Denver. We decided to spend another night, but even so the roads were icy on the way back.

I did brave some stores on Black Friday, Walmart included. I have a very handy baby carrier wrap from Heather so I just strapped Allison on and dove into the craziness. I got some good deals, mostly for my husband (yay Lowe's!) I have to say that Walmart was not as bad as I thought it would be.

Emergency Preparedness

2008-11-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

This week, Josh and I both felt strongly that we should start preparations in case of an emergency. I'm not sure if these feelings were influenced by the recent weather, the outcome of the elections, having a new baby, or just something we have been procrastinating for a while now. Anyway, we packed our 72 hour kits with all sorts of goodies (thanks Cabelas!) and supplies. I ran a search online for a list of items to pack and the very first result was lds.org! Interesting. Then we beefed up our food storage (thanks Sam's Club!) so we have enough to last us for a while. It really is a good feeling to know that we could survive independent of others for at least a month or two.
Here are some of my favorite things:
MRE's (these have really improved since I remember eating them years ago)
water filtration bottles (it's a water bottle with a filter built in)
extra tiny blankets
foldable tools
Technology has really come up with some nice things. We are now debating buying an emergency generator. A family in our ward was without heat during this last storm which would be horrible. Also we have a large freezer full of food that would be wasted without power to keep it cold.

As always, I need to share a picture of my little girl.

Kudos to Josh for receiving his CCAF degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. Ironically enough, his graduation ceremony coincided with his last day (ever) working on the aircraft. Starting M0nday, he is officially an Agent in Training for OSI. For those of you who don't know what OSI is, watch NCIS which is basically what he will be doing, but for the Air Force. He is excited to:

1. Not wear a uniform

2. carry a gun

3. do something "worthwhile" for the Air Force

I can understand his frustration as I have been here with him during his 6 excruciating years as an aircraft maintainer. He has worked long hours, been called in on so many weekends I can't even remember, and deployed yearly, not counting his numerous TDY's. Just last night he was called 3 times between midnight and 2 AM by someone out on the flight line who needed help to do their job. I'm sure he will come home tonight and breathe a sigh of relief that it is over.

2008-11-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

I finally made it out of my house this morning t find a huge snowdrift across my entire road, with this Yukon inside of it. My dog was nice enough to pose for the picture (he loves the snow).

this is the view out my back door. Unfortunately that is the only access to my back yard (also full of snow).

This is my neighbor's house. Behind that large drift is their front door.

It has been almost exactly 6 months since our last snow day, in May. I have to say that snow days are not quite as exciting since I don't go to work or school any more. I don't think we even got that much snow but the strong winds just piled it up together. Gotta love that SD weather!

Allison, 4 weeks old!

2008-11-04T08:35:00.000-08:00

My little pumpkin

lounging after a bath

This blog is rapidly becoming a page about Allison. I hope that those of you who read my blog will recognize me as a new mom and cut me some slack. I used to have so many things going on all the time, and now I have one main focus, which takes up most of my time.

I am recovering from the weekend, during which I had 18 family members visiting for Allison's blessing. My tiny little house could not hold them all! Thank goodness not everyone arrived simultaneously. I think they took pity on us and visited in shifts. It was nice to have so many of Allison's grandparents, aunts and uncles willing to hold (and change) her. I was very touched to have all those people here who love us and our daughter.

More about Allison

2008-10-28T08:14:00.000-07:00

She is already a daddy's girl.

Here is my baby, sleeping (as usual). She really sleeps a lot and cries very little. I think I got lucky. We actually took her on a road trip last week, which went really well. She slept all day in her carseat with barely any complaint. Hopefully this continues when she is older.

I never knew motherhood would be so exhausting. I used to wonder what I would do with my day when I didn't have a "job". Nowadays I am proud of myself if I do one thing a day. Kudos to all those moms of multiple children out there. I am exhausted with one!

She has arrived!

2008-10-08T19:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, here is me about 12 hours before I delivered

Here is our little family. Josh is the cutest dad ever.

Here is Allison. She mostly eats, sleeps, and yawns (as pictured)

I was a little surprised, since I was technically due to deliver on the 16th, but I am definitely not arguing with her arrival. My water broke at 2:30 AM Tuesday and she was born at 8:30 AM. 8lbs 1oz 20.5 inches

She is my new favorite person in the world. More updates to follow...

School is in session...

2008-09-29T21:56:00.000-07:00

The weather is cooling, the leaves are changing colors, and I am NOT in school. I realized today that for the first time in years, I am not attending/working at a school. I honestly believe that I have been in school for the past 18 years of my life. How strange it is to not worry about homework or lesson plans or even getting up at the same time every day.

Josh tells me I deserve a break because for the past 3 years I was teaching early-morning seminary, which was a wonderful experience, but I don't know how I got the sleep I needed. Add student teaching on top of being pregnant, and this has been a long year. I can't believe I have been pregnant since January! And it is almost over. My doctor said I am dilated 2 centimeters, which means almost nothing in the long run, but I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel! We still have some things to move and finish (like her crib) but I am almost ready to be a parent. In a few years I will be getting little Allison ready for school and then fall will once again mean something. For now I am enjoying sleeping in and not following a regular schedule, for the first time in my life.

Life at home

2008-09-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

We are continuing to get the house ready for a baby, re-arranging furniture and cleaning (I must be in the nesting phase) I can't reach my feet but I feel a need to clean out the fridge. Apparently the Air Force has decided that a 2-bedroom house is large enough for 3 people to live in comfortably. I have to disagree. Especially after living in this house for 5 years with a husband who likes to build furniture. It has been a little difficult trying to fit her and all her stuff into the house. Plus my mom is coming to stay for two weeks and we no longer have a guest bedroom. I guess we will see how it all works out...

Toby and Lia. I wonder how they will do with the new addition...

My handsome man =)

Josh all dressed up in his blues. He won an ACC safety award of distinction for saving a jet and pilots from a faulty ejection seat handle. I am very proud of my military man!

furniture

2008-09-21T22:37:00.001-07:00

Josh the handyman. It is so nice to have a husband that is good with tools. He built this bookshelf to hold all the books Allison will acquire.

This is her toy box. It is already full. The crib is currently under construction, but will hopefully be finished before she arrives...

Allison waving Hi!

Finally, here is the baby belly. I am just beginning to get to the uncomfortable stage, but I'm hoping for a few more weeks to get my house in order before she decides to make an appearance.

Finally a blog...

2008-09-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

Apparently I am behind the times so I have decided to start a blog. Many exciting things have been happening in my life lately so I will post them to share with anyone who cares to read about them.
First and foremost, I am due to have a baby girl in about 3 weeks. Josh picked the name Allison and I love it.

I recently had a very PINK baby shower with lots of fun people and games. Thanks to everyone who came and for all the nice gifts!

my PINK cake

Lindsey (my neighbor) and her little girl Aliza

my good friend Raxsel made lots of yummy food

and I got so many cute little girl things!