Getting this dang old thing started back up

Life has gotten in the way of writing.
Last year was a whirlwind, and it taught me a lot about family, friendships, and what is important in life.  I learned who I can rely on, who I can't, and why it's important to always take a step back and evaluate situations/people.  

Updates: 

My family is really dope, and about to be even doper.

I have traveled to some amazing places.

I have eaten some great food.

I was in a theater production of Mary Poppins and it was amazing.

Through theater, I have met some of the most interesting and delightful friends.

I have learned a lot about friendship.


Delilah is on spring break this week, so I'm planning on having us take a couple outings to the local animal places this week.  I love going, she loves going.

We also have been getting our house/plans in order for our return to America this year.  I'm thrilled to say that we will be returning to Missouri after not living there since 2008!  We will only be about 40 minutes drive from my mom, and that just makes me so happy.  Delilah cannot WAIT to get there.  Ben is sending us (along with the pets) back at the beginning of June so we can get a car, get established and comfortable, and begin looking for a house.  That's right, we are going to BUY!  He will join us in July when his duty in Germany is complete.  It's only a month until our first shipment of goods gets picked up and taken to America, so time is quickly running out for us to get organized for that!  Today, we made some strides and pulled things from the attic to donate/organize for the movers to pack.  The guest room is slowly transforming into the "moving room", which is fine.

Tomorrow brings errands to the on base store, German grocery, the post office, and possibly to the flower fields to pick some beautiful blooms to have at our home.
Seems like the perfect way to spend a Monday.

Hope you all had an excellent weekend!

Things to do in MO:

1. Shop for a crib/dresser at Nebraska Furniture Mart.
2. Get my wedding ring cleaned.
3. Have baby showers.
4. Get some dang maternity pants/shorts/skirts. (My hips are much wider than my waist, and Baby Ward is quite comfortable laying low...which makes buttoning my pants hard!)
5. Hang out with all of my friends (duh.)

That's all I can think of right now.  I've got a million thoughts running through my head.

Here's the most recent picture of the belly:

Huzzah!

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.

Good thing my mom has a netbook!

Yesterday was a blast! 
Took my laptop in and told them everything that I was having problems with.  He wrote down everything and was super friendly about all of it. Hopefully it'll come back soon.  So glad Ben got me that external hard drive so I could back up all my pictures and stuff!

We went to PetCo after that and checked out all the small animals.  Totally wish it was an adoption day, but oh well. 

Went to Target and...shocker...didn't find anything I liked.  Target has not been my friend lately when it comes to clothing.  They ONLY carry black or gray leggings in the store.  What about all the other colors that are online?  I want pink and turquoise!  The gray ones just look like tight sweatpants, the material on them doesn't seem like it'd be cute with a skirt or whatever.  OH WELL.

Went to Old Navy and got 3 different black shirts.  Didn't necessarily mean to, but it just worked out that way.  Found a black tank that I had wanted at the Old Navy in Albuquerque, but they didn't have a small!  Good thing Lee's Summit did! 

Had lunch at Panda Express, Jack's treat.  It was quite delicious. 

Bath and Body Works is having their giant sale, so Mom and I checked it out.  They're discontinuing Butterfly Flowers!  I love that scent.  So warm and floral, and it's wierd because I'm not a floral person typically.  I got lotion of that and then a Vanilla Coconut cooling mist that they weren't going to have anymore.  I think it'll feel really good after showering or swimming at the pool.  Smells great too. 

Hobby Lobby was having a sale on their canvases...40% OFF!  It was amazing.  I got 8 new canvases, a new set of small paintbrushes, and a photo organizer box (giraffe print, of course) for $22.  What a freaking DEAL! 

Came home and Ben came over.  We headed up north to see the JBays and to pick up a really cool 1983 bike that Justin was selling to Ben.  Got some dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings (par/garlic boneless wings, I could eat you alllllllll day!), and hung out for a bit.  Hopefully, we'll get to see them more than just that and however long they stay at my birthday party. 

Went over to Chip's afterwards and hung out with him and Mary.  Sat out on the front porch just talking and laughing.

I freaking love being in Missouri. 

Brent is cutting my hair tomorrow, and it couldn't have happened soon enough.  I need shorter hair, the upkeep is getting ridiculous and I have no one in Clovis that I really trust anymore to cut my hair correctly.  My hair is still uneven in the front from the last time someone cut it.  I really need to just go to Brent.  He's a hair whiz.  Always makes people look great.  I'm just gonna put my trust in his hands and hopefully get some discounted salon stuff. 
\
I miss my babies quite a bit and hope that everything is going smoothly.  According to Barnes, everything is great!  I know I shouldn't worry with him around, he adores all 3 of our pets!

I'll be off for awhile I think...

My laptop needs to be taken in for repairs (DVD player and power cord adapter), so I won't be on here until it's repaired. 

Tomorrow I will:
1. Try to find clothes that don't make me look weird at Target and Old Navy.
2. Take my laptop to Best Buy cause it's still under warranty.
3. Go to PetSmart with my mommy.
4. Go get a bike for Ben.
5. Eat dinner with the JBays.
6. Love life.

Yeah, I know it's not a list of 10...which bugs me, but it's my vacation, so I don't have to do a lot!

Yesterday I heard a new word: "glamping"  It's glamorous camping.  Surprisingly, it was all men.  I'm pretty sure they liked each other a lot.  It was a little ridiculous.  A bunch of men going "camping", but having it catered by private chefs, a huge ass tent (probably could fit a wedding part in it dancing), candles, beds, etc...THAT IS NOT CAMPING, DUMMY!

Oh well.

Not much else to say except if I don't get my hair cut soon, I'm going to go insane.  I'm so sick of it.

So here's the thing:

If you don't want my opinion or thoughts, don't freaking ask for it.  If you're just going to blow off what I say, then what's the point of me wasting my freaking breath?
That's so irritating.

I'm out of canvases again.  I guess it's ok, since we're going to Missouri tomorrow, but STILL.  I don't like it that I can't pick up and paint if I wanted to.  Ah well.


Another friend asked me to do a painting for her.  She wants one similar to the one I did yesterday of the family.  She's got a new baby, so that should be challenging.  Never painted a baby before.  Hopefully I can make it look right.  I've got the idea of how I want it to look in my head.

Things I need to do today:
1. fold clothes and pack them
2. go over list of stuff to not forget and make sure I do not forget them
3. vacuum the house again
4. make sweet and sour chicken
5. pick up bedroom
6. make instructions for the care of our animals while we're gone for the person who is house sitting for us
7. try and not get irritated
8. take the dogs for a walk (after 6 so I won't die of heatstroke on the way)
9. shower
10. get passport picture taken

I like to have at least 10 things on my "to do" lists.

OK, Off to fold clothing.

Hopefully I will go swimming this weekend and remain the chicken champion!

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.

Went to a rodeo last night.  Was pretty fun...unfortunately, the camera batteries  DIED right at the beginning.  Meh, oh well.

Only 6 days until Missouri.  I'm pretty ready to get outta this dang town.  I get so fed up with being here right as we're about to leave.

Things I need to do but probably won't:
Mop the floor
Give the dogs a bath
dust

Things I don't need to do but probably will:
Stumble
paint my toe nails

Oh well.  I need to go shower.  That's something I need to do and WILL do.