Great News!

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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)