Busy busy busy

Been quite busy lately.  Lots of stuff going on.  Here's a rundown:

*My great-uncle got very sick suddenly and was in the hospital unable to talk.  Mom had this urgency to go see him, so we drove up that night.  We talked to him, and he knew who we were and understood what we were saying.  I told him that I loved him and to get back home so we could come visit again.  Within the week, he passed away.  As sad as I am, I'm so thankful that I got to see him one last time.  I'm glad he met Delilah, and I'm glad I got to tell him I loved him.  They're still trying to find out what caused him to pass. 

*I've been going to trivia night with a group of friends once a week.  I'd love to put where, because it's really a fun place, but I have some actual crazy people that read my blog, and I honestly don't want them to know where I go.  

*I've got 2 friends getting married within a year (October and March).  Ben and I are in both weddings!  Delilah is the flower girl in one of them.  I'm so excited and happy for all of them, and I can't wait to celebrate.  

*Working on getting our passports...it's such a darn process.  It's all coming together though.

*I got baptized and joined the church that I've been attending!  It was an awesome experience and I'm so glad that I did it.  I've really been growing and learning a lot in the church and I feel really at home there.  

*Delilah is saying more and more words every single day.  She can say more words than what's typical for her age, and can sign most of them as well as some that she can't say.  She communicates so well, and I'm just so proud of how smart she is.

*My computer died on me.  I was going to just wait around, use my phone, not worry about it...but Ben had me go out and get myself a new one today.  A brand new one.  A Mac.  He really takes care of me.  Delilah and I are so lucky to have him.  

*I ran a 5K!  I did it!  I am so incredibly proud of myself.  Ran the entire time and had a blast doing it.  It was the color run on the 1st of this month.  What a freaking fantastic time.  I'm looking to do some more!

*I'm getting a Bountiful Baskets started for Harrisonville. If you don't know what it is, you should.  http://www.bountifulbaskets.org

Picture updates:

painted this for a Disney redditgifts exchange

Pre-race. We were ready.

The three team runners!

Victory beers!

Part of my anniversary present.  The other part was a Keurig!

For my sister-in-law's birthday.

Sidewalk chalk paint. Easy to make.

She's such a cuddler!

Started a series of paintings pink+gray for Delilah's future room

Day at the park!

This dog loves her.

These two...they are just so adorable. He loves her so much, and she loves him!

Part of the wall of paintings for D's future room in Germany.

She got into my BRAND NEW lipstick.  When I caught her with it, she smiled and then signed "pretty" to me.  She was right, so I couldn't be mad!

Outside on her play set

Facetime with Daddy!

Completely unintentional-my footprint and she happened to step right next to it.

Trash bag couture.

Got baptized and joined my church!

Delilah and Mom were there to see me baptized!

Another beautiful day in my life.  I'm so blessed.

My beautiful, wonderful, smart, awesome daughter.

A few thoughts in my head.

1. If you're not going to wear sunscreen, don't complain and whine when you get a massive sunburn.  It's freaking July, people.  Wearing sunscreen so you're not in pain isn't rocket science.  Gosh.  Also, please put it on your kids.  If you think it's uncomfortable, it's super painful for them too.  Responsibility!

2. Fact: (1) Something that actually exists (2) Something that is known to exist or to have happened (3) Truth known by actual experience or observation, something known to be true. Something that can be proven true.
  Opinion: (1) A belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. (2) A person view, attitude, or appraisal.

Do I really need to lay it out like this for some people?  Fact is something that can be proven true.  Opinion is something that you believe yourself, you could be right, you could be wrong.  If people don't agree with you exactly, remember that you are not spouting fact. (Especially when it comes to child rearing, fashion, food, health, relationships, etc...)  Just an FYI.

3. I know a lot about our neighbors just by walking the dogs everyday, and I realized this when I brought Ben along with us the other day.  I'm also known as "The dog walking lady".  I've been referenced by that at least 2 times in town by people that recognize me from the neighborhood.  No, I'd never seen these people before in my life.  I'm OK with this title.  I'm active.  Soon, I'll be "The dog walking lady with a baby".  I'm OK with that too.

4. Most of the people on the Cannon Wives page on facebook are really bored housewives with no education who spout off information without checking it first.  That is why I choose to ask my questions elsewhere.


Anyway, on to other things.

I love my new maternity skirt and shorts.  They are so much more comfy than wearing the beband.

We're going to a fireworks display tonight!  Hopefully, people will just go to that instead of setting them off in the country or even in their neighborhoods.  It's rained 3 times here this year, and the wildfires have been out of control.  I'm OK with no fireworks anyway.  They freak me out.

Here I sit, with coffee watching Glee

Glee makes me miss show choir sooooooooo much.  I miss being onstage and performing...

It's cloudy and crisp with just a hint of a breeze outside today.  I think I'm going to light one of my fall scented candles...because that would just complete it.  I love fall and can't wait until the weather totally changes over from disgustingly hot (like it was last week) to comfortable weather.

I'll say something.
Sincere apologies hold a lot of weight with me.  So does the truth.
Having done neither, I know 2 young men in a lot of trouble right now due to the lack of respect and the push of an angry friend. I'm not going to go into details, but I will say that I just sent an email to my very good friend (who is like a father to me) here at Cannon who I don't think will take the information I have let him know in a good way.  Unfortunately for the 2 young men mentioned above, they will be around when the email is read and will probably be ostracized.  One of the young men isn't even welcome at anyone's homes anymore.  That's what you get though, especially when you are so disrespectful to me here.  I am friends with everyone and have helped out everyone.  It was a mistake of their's, and now they'll have to accept what comes.
Ben was a bit apprehensive about me telling my friend what happened (due to past circumstances), but while we were at a friend's house, he said, "Actually, you know, things would be different if either one of them apologized about it to either of us."
Too true, Ben, too true.

And now, some happy pictures!

Ben and Margot playing Call of Duty

Waiting for me to throw a toy!

Sleeping...comfortably? Yes, those are my legs.

My little family makes me happy.

It's another lazy Sunday in the Ward house....although, Ben has the mow the lawn and has a draft for fantasy football tonight.  I'm probably going to turn on The Soup and start making breakfast here in just a bit (after my coffee, please...let's get our priorities straight!)

I need to get the laundry done (blech), I need to start taking pictures and documenting everything we own for when the movers come. (I'll probably do that when Ben goes to his draft)  I also need to finish Colsie's painting for her.  

Ben and I went to Bath and Body Works last night to pick up some candles (2 for $20!!!) because I also had a 20% off coupon.  He loves fall scents the most, so I grabbed leaves and he picked out pumpkin patch.  Spiced cider is burning in my house right now, and it feels like a fall day.  I don't want to go outside yet and ruin the illusion of cool crisp weather...cause it looks quite warm out my window.

That's about all for now, hope everyone has a fantastic Labor Day.  I plan on sleeping in.

I thought this weekend was going to be a bit more exciting.  I also thought Ben and I were going to go out on a date, but that didn't happen.  Friday we went out with people, Saturday we stayed in until we went to Heather and Dustin's. I thought we were going to go do something beforehand, but I'm not going to be a nag.  Thought something was gonna be going on tonight, but now that no one wants to do anything, we're just going to sit at home and watch a movie, apparently.  I've been home all day long.  I've cleaned all day and just got done taking pictures and recording his Nintendo games as part of my preparation for the movers.  I'm effing bored.
I'm just slightly frustrated.

New sketch

My friend Colsie wants a colorful wine painting done for her kitchen.  Here's the sketch I did tonight, done with oil crayons.

I'm going to try to be done wallowing in self pity for a bit.

After being super homesick Saturday and yesterday (I cried like 4 times yesterday), I've decided to do a "make Danielle happy" post.

First things first.  I got a new lotion from Bath and Body Works (with a coupon, of course!)

OMG, smells SO good!  Kind of reminds me of an orange dreamsicle!

Secondly, I went to the vet today to fill out some more of the pets' paperwork to send in to Japan and I discovered that to get their kennel cough shots, I would not have to pay an office exam fee, and that that shots were just $7.50!  The woman who helped me fill out the rest today was super nice and I know it was a pain, but she was really helpful.  I'm really thankful for that.  I think it's because I'm so nice every time I go in and I also care a lot about my animals.  (I've also sent like 7 new patients their way)

Thirdly, I am officially all booked up subbing for the rest of the time we're here, minus Wednesdays.  I may have that day off, or I may get called in to sub at another school on those days, who knows.  But seriously, having a job lined up until we leave took about THIS MUCH pressure off of me.  

Fourthly, although I'm still stressing about Japan,  things seem to be falling into place.

Fifthly, I have had 2 hits of interest in my Pontiac that I have for sale. *and one guy actually came out tonight to look at it!*

Sixthly, I have a new True Blood to watch.

Seventhly, my aunt and cousin are at my parents' house.  Yes, she finally had enough, and even if it's just for a couple days, I'm glad she gets a break from the douche.  Hopefully, she stays strong.  No one deserves the treatment he is giving her and I'm glad my mom is there to be her backbone.

Eighthly, I got to talk to Mary last night and she made me feel oodles better about being homesick.  I was crying to her and I hate doing that, but she listened and helped me just calm down.

Feeling a lot better today, but I still miss home.

10 Things That Make Me Happy

Found this blog: A Glass Half Full, and she had this cute list on her's about things that make her happy.  I decided to make one of my own.

1. How happy Rilo is when I walk through the door.  Seriously, it's like she hadn't seen me in weeks, even if I'm just gone for an hour.  That is love.

2. The smell of Christmastime.  I can tell when it's getting close to my favorite time of the year.  Yes, it's freezing cold, but the air has a smell to it that will always remind me of my childhood.

3. Painting.  I know I'm not a professional, but I really like doing it.  It relaxes me, and I like being creative.

4. Making my husband laugh.  He chuckles sometimes, but when I can really get him going, it warms my heart and crinkles my eyes.

5. Coming home for vacation.  Yeah, Ben and I don't take "normal" vacations, our's are spent seeing family and friends and it is WONDERFUL.

6. The pictures I have of everyone.  I covered my dorm room in them, and now they're all over my house.  Only difference is that now they're in frames.

7. Having a cup of coffee and not having to do anything else while sipping it in the morning.  Sure, it tastes good when I'm rushing about in the morning trying to get ready, but it is even better when I can just sit and enjoy it.

8. Finding a REALLY good book to read.

9. Traveling with my husband.  Luckily, we're in the military and have the privilege of visiting lots of new places.

10. Candles/Scented house things.  I love smelly good stuff.

I think Otis got out the back fence today

His dreams of playing with the neighbor dog have been fulfilled.
Somehow, our fence got open, and he got out.  I'm sure he did, because I didn't see him out back, and he didn't come to the door when I opened it.  Rilo was barking from inside, and Ben went out and saw the gate was wide open.  At this point in the day, Otis would usually be jumping all over the place dying to go for a walk.  Instead, he's passed out on his blanket in the middle of the living room.  All signs point to him getting out and coming right back.
What a good boy!

Now, I need get off this damn computer and take a shower.  My house is a wreck and it needs to be taken care of.  (Because then we can watch Episode 5 of True Blood-season 3)

Wombat

I'm currently waiting for the sun to go down so I can take the pups on a long walk.  Gonna try to go pretty far seeing as how I won't see them for 2 weeks.
That actually makes me super sad.

I think it goes without saying that these are my babies and I love them to pieces.