whoop

Menu for this week:

Monday: X

Tuesday: Breakfast

Wednesday: Stir fry

Thursday: leftovers

Friday: Chicken teriyaki and egg rolls

Saturday: ?

Sunday: Meatloaf and veggies

I've had an interesting week.  Went to a funeral last Friday. Spent most of the time with Aunt Margaret and Uncle Rick. It was a trying time, of course, but the air was much different than other funerals I've attended on Ben's side of the family.  I have a feeling that there's going to be some deep conversations happening soon.  

I really enjoy hanging out with Margaret and Rick.

I've packed up Delilah's Easter basket already. Instead of filling it with crappy junk toys and loads of candy, I filled it with books, a chocolate/pear buddy pouch, and some all natural lemon treats.  She's also getting a lamb, because that's the Easter tradition.  I wish Ben was here to celebrate with us..but I'll take loads of pictures to help him feel like he was almost there.

I'm taking Delilah to a Spring celebration at church on Saturday as well.  They're having an Easter egg hunt, food, pictures with the Easter bunny, pony rides, face painting, etc...It's kind of like an open invitation to the town for some good fun.  I'm really looking forward to it!

It's really hard not having Ben here.  I'm getting used to doing things on my own, but it's wonderful that my mom helps out so much.  I don't know what I'd do without her and Jack.  They are keeping me sane, along with my amazing friends.  I just wish he was here seeing all the new things she does every single day.  Just in the last 2 weeks, she has learned how to:

*Tada

*wink (a cute blink)

*she says a slew of new words and signs including please, thank you, grandpa, love, dog, kitty, more, and a bunch more

*she barks when she sees dogs

*she can sign the word dog

and tons more. I take as many pictures and videos as I can...and send him a bunch daily.

Got some great news about Otis...he isn't a pitbull and can come to Germany with us.  I've met with some amazing trainers, and they're helping me find ways for him to not be afraid and defensive with other dogs.  I want to really get him trained well before we go to Germany.  

That's all for now.  Goodnight.

(Oh, and hello to the girls in Clovis who are still stalking my blog.  It's really creepy!)

Time to start some serious menu planning.

I have been seriously slacking in the menu planning department.  I figure if I make it tonight, go to the store tomorrow, I won't lose my list or forget...right?

Keep in mind, I will usually not do all the meals in order.

Dinners:

Monday: Porkchops

Tuesday: Wontons with rice 

Wednesday: Crockpot Pineapple/Soy sauce chicken

Thursday: Quesedillas w/ guacamole and black beans

Friday: Parmesan chicken bake w/ veg.

For breakfast this week, I'm making breakfast cookies (the recipe can be found on my pinterest).  They are basically baked oatmeal.  No sugars or other unhealthy stuff in it.  I'm even using almond milk instead of regular milk.  (Honestly, if I could never drink cow milk again, I'd be OK with that.)

I'm also going to use Delilah's yogurt and make some frozen yogurt drops for the morning.  

Speaking of mornings, I absolutely love love love waking up in the mornings and having coffee and breakfast with my mom and Delilah.  We are right next to their big sliding glass windows, so we can watch all the birds, squirrels, and hopefully soon...rabbits in the yard, and it is just a really nice way to wake up!

So busy!

Gosh, I've been so busy lately! Having so much fun seeing my family and friends, it's making being away from Ben only a little easier.  

I do get to talk to Ben at least once (usually twice) a day.  We're still working out the time difference thing, but it's getting easier to figure out what time it is there.  Like right now, it's 11:19am, so it's 2:19am there.  Tomorrow.  He's in the future!  

I've been working hard on getting Otis to be able to come to Germany with us.  Leaving him behind with my family just isn't an option anymore.  He and Delilah are too close, we love him too much.  I've got a DNA test sent out and I'm just waiting for the results.  He is microchipped as a Basenji/Corgi mix, which is what I think he is.  I'll know for sure soon enough.  

I don't feel like typing a bunch, so I'll just end the post here with some pictures:

I'm doing the color run in June. Team name: Weapons of Ass Destruction

Merry late Christmas to me!

Decorating Otis with her necklaces

Painted Hobbes, just for fun!

The Lorax

Lady and the Tramp

Squid

I sent these to Ben to hang in his room in Korea.

Back in Missouri, and it feels so good!

We are finally starting to settle in here in Missouri.  The boxes are unpacked (except for a few of my summer clothes), things are hung on the walls, and I'm getting my room set up the way I wanted.  It's fun being able to decorate a new space.  I'll take pictures once it's all done.  I've got a lot of projects pinned too.  This is going to be the year I learn how to sew.

My poor mom has been sick since a couple days after we got back.  So frustrating.  She watched Delilah for us the Saturday after we got back so we could go out before Ben left.  I got a text from Mom at 7 that morning telling me to please hurry home because she was sick.  We rushed back to relieve her...no one wants to take care of a toddler when you're ill!  She's been down with the nasty bug since then, but is looking and sounding better.  

I miss Ben, of course.  What makes this deployment easier (so far) is that we can facetime and have at least twice a day since he got there.  It makes me happy to be able to talk to him, and I know it makes him happy too.  I can see it in his eyes that he misses us.  I already can't wait for him to come back and visit!  He starts his first shift out there tonight, so I'm excited for him.  He'll be going to work right as I'm waking up tomorrow morning.  The time difference is weird, and is taking some getting used to.  He's just waking up when my evening is starting.  

It was really fun going out with my friends before Ben left.  I definitely missed that and missed all of them even more than I realized!  Had some fun times pranking a friend...he deserves it and played it off him not being mad pretty well.  I'm really glad I'm back.  I've already had more fun since I've been back than I would in 2 months of being in New Mexico.  

Delilah loves it here too.  She loves running through the house and talking to everyone.  She's enjoying her new space so much, she's hardly playing with any of her toys!  Too much new stuff to explore.  I can't wait for it to be spring so we can go out and do more.  

I've got to get outta here though, I've got a couple orders for some canvases!  

Saying good-bye

Clovis is the first place I lived with Ben.  It was our first home together.  It was the first place that was our's. I'll always look back and remember the excitement we had our first day here, unpacking, and setting up our home.  It's changed a ton since we first got here, but it's our's still.  We have spent time watching movies, laughing, cooking, playing games, and entertaining our friends.  

Clovis is where we rescued Otis from the pound.  He was the cutest, sweetest, neediest little guy in there.  I had to have him.  He and Rilo became friends and he fit right into our little family.  Had we not gotten him, I would have been attacked by a dog while I was pregnant and could have been the victim of a home invasion.    We also got Margot here.  A feisty little ball of fluff we rescued from being euthanized.  She warmed up to Otis, even though he was terrified of her.

Clovis is where my daughter was born.  The hospital staff are absolutely wonderful, and I wouldn't hesitate to have another child here.  They were patient, attentive, and caring.  My daughter spent the first year of her life here.  She sat up, tried solid food, crawled, walked, opened her first stocking, got teeth, walked, laughed, played, read books, and had many other firsts.  She has been up and down the halls, in and out of every room, and has made me laugh everywhere.  This was her first home, so for that, I'll look back fondly.  

Clovis is where I met friends that I will hopefully have for life.  We may not talk daily, but I love them dearly and am thankful for each of them.  Colsie, Elsa, Mira, Ashley...you 4 ladies have made/did make living here much easier.  I have enjoyed spending time with you, getting to know you, shopping, going out to eat, drinking wine, and watching movies.  You all are wonderful girls.  

Clovis is where I had my first real classroom.  Cameo Elementary was the best job I have ever had.  The people that I worked with were absolutely amazing, dynamic, and caring teachers.  Darla, Kathryn, Cheryl, Gaylinda (TEAM AWESOME), and others...they are stellar teachers and I am proud that I worked and learned from them.  I cherish all of your friendships and what you taught me about being a teacher.

Clovis is where I learned to be more guarded.  I had never had too many close girlfriends before marrying Ben and moving to a base.  I was thrown into friendships with ease because of the close ATC group.  It was easy to befriend people for me, being as I'm friendly and can get along with many.  It was not easy to discover that for months/over a year lies were spread about myself. It was incredibly disappointing, but my continued niceness to them only makes them look worse.  At our next base, I will be more guarded with whom I spend time with.

Clovis is a place we lived for 5 years. Clovis is a place where I have made some incredible friends. Clovis is where I learned.  Clovis is a smelly town that sometimes can be pleasant.  Clovis is a smelly town that can be incredibly frustrating.  Clovis is a place we lived. 

 It's time to head on to a new adventure.  

My days:

*Had friends over yesterday to watch football.  Super fun.  Love spending time with them.

*Packed up a ton today.

*Mom booked her ticket out to Clovis so she can ride back with me, Delilah, and the pups.  (Ben and Margot will be in the Uhaul)

*I started watching Dr. Who.  Totally campy and British, and I love it.

*Delilah steals my heart every single day.  She's the smartest, most wonderful, most beautiful little girl in the whole world.

*Ben and I have been watching Homeland.  Holy crow, it's so good!

*I can't believe we're outta here in like 10 days.  Ben is stressed out because people on base here that push paper are the WORST, but I know everything will just fall into place.

That's really about it.  I'm going to try and go get some sleep.  Another big day tomorrow.

Playing the waiting game

We have 2 weeks left here.  We're waiting on Ben's orders to come down.  It's a hurry up and wait game with the military.  The house is so close to being packed up.  Most of what is left are things that we use or will use on the daily.  I also need to pick up some bubble wrap for some of our breakables.  My wonderful mom is flying down just so she can ride back with me...otherwise that would be a 12 hour car ride with 2 dogs and a baby...by myself!  (Ben is driving a U-Haul).  Holy crow, no thanks.

Nothing much else is going on.  Just getting ready for the move, which isn't easy with an active toddler!  

All my artsy stuff is packed up, so I'm getting quite itchy in the creative sense.  I have so many ideas of new projects...just gotta wait til we're more settled before I can.