Adventuring in New Mexico, surprise baby shower, AND Breaking Dawn

Yesterday, there was a planned power outage in our neighborhood, so Ben and I decided to go off exploring.  We drove West into New Mexico and stopped to take pictures of the interesting things we saw.  Ben really has an eye for detail.
Here are some of my favorites:

It was a REALLY good day.  I love spending time with him.
I took some pictures of stuff we found too, just with my iphone:

This stuff is AMAZING

Our favorite place was an old abandoned church.

Last night I got together with some ladies here in town to go eat at an Italian restaurant and go see Breaking Dawn.  Little did I know that it was actually a surprise baby shower for me!
When I walked in and saw the baby plates and napkins, I actually thought, "Awww, who is having a baby?"  (Um, duh, me...9 months and almost 3 weeks....)
I got some really cute gifts and the thoughtfulness really made me tear up!

Presents!

Cupcakes!

D for Delilah

All in all, a very successful day/evening.

Here's Why I'm Mad At Clovis Right Now

My friends just left from their week long visit here in the desolate area of New Mexico that we live in.  Ever since they walked out the door, I have been feeling really nostalgic about home and my friends back there.  The REAL people that I have known for most of my teenage/adult life.  The people that I choose to hang around with regardless of where I am.  The people I text daily/weekly/whenever.  (When I'm home, I don't text a single person back here in Clovis.)
After my friends visit or we go back home to Missouri, I really see just how most of these people I hang out with out here are out of convenience.  I'm sure that's a military thing and everyone gets used to it and what not, but it's really apparent right now.  I can share pretty much anything with my friends, and out here, if you do that...well, it gets turned around on you or rumors start.

I'm not trying to be a downer, and most of the time I try to stay positive and think about the good parts of the friendships I've made out here...but in all actuality, I wouldn't choose to hang out with a lot of the people out here outside of a military setting.
There, I said it.

I wish there was a way I could go back home like 2 weeks before Ben does before we have to leave for Japan.

My cousin-in-law paid for this for her friend's new baby.

This week is slowly creeping by.

Today I:
1. Played Fable 2
2. Did laundry
3. Took the dogs for a walk and sweated my butt off
4. Made us dinner
5. Vacuumed
6. Mopped
7. Dusted
8. Trimmed the hedges
9. Swept the front porch area
10. Cleaned the bathroom
11. Took Ben dinner.
12. Gauged up my ears (I'm at a 6 now)

I'm one tired little lady.  I've got a Netflix movie here, so I may just put that in and paint some more.  I've been trying to get stuff ready for our visit home...but there's just a lot to do, and a lot of it has to be done right before we leave.  I hate the long drive, but it's all going to be worth it to see everyone.

Here's how it is when we go home: It's like we never left and we haven't been living in New Mexico for 2 years.  We pick up where we left off and we're all just as close as ever.  It's a beautiful thing.