LOve

I dont have much to say tonight, except for I love time off with my honey. The last week has been awesome just being able to lay around together and snuggle, watch tv, play video games, and just laugh together. I love our life! I'm excited for our lobster dinner coming on Friday, then we're having a few friends over Friday night for New Years, and thennnnn its a whole new year! I'll be posting some of mine and Gregs goals for the new year along with photos of our lobster night as soon as I get them uploaded! Love to all the family back home! We missed you for the holidays, but rest assured, we weren't too down in the dumps. We found ways to keep our chin up. One of those was playing Mario Kart Wii with all my family across the country. You all keep us sane. Hugs and kisses from Texas!

Christmas In Texas

I'm going to start by saying, " I AM NOT OK WITH A HIGH OF 82 TODAY." I keep crossing my fingers for even just the slightest sign of a snowflake, and as the days go by, it gets warmer, and I get more and more sad. It will be okay, I'm just a whiny baby who misses Wisconsin and the beautiful snowbanks.

Greg made it home a week ago, and I've been selfish demanding all his time and attention. But we've managed to complete a lot this week. Christmas cards are done and ready to go out today (I know I'm a little late, but its my first time sending them out so forgive me.) We've been studying, we got all of Jessi's things out of our apartment, and turned her room into a kitty playroom and a wii room. Put one of the couches in there and its good to go. I'm excited about it, because our livingroom doesn't feel so overstuffed anymore. And I even made a nice little corner for the christmas tree instead of shoving it on top of our coffee table.

I think today I might make paper snowflakes, and plaster my window with them so when I look outside, I can pretend its snowy.

Life has been really good to us lately. It scares me a little, because I'm afraid that the next big thing is going to come toppling down on top of us and screw up all our plans, but I'm fairly certain that wont happen.

I'm not sure I have much else to say for today, but I will say, be looking for a post after New Years, we should have photos up of our lobster dinner :D Thank you Marla!

LOVE TO ALL~

Ever thine. Ever Mine. Ever Ours.

So Greg left a few days ago for another trip round the world, and I am left at home. The first day is always the hardest. This time seemed extra hard, being completely alone for the first time since the last deployment, but tonight I had a realization. I am here thinking of him, and he is over there doing the exact same thing. It brought a smile to my face, and for once, relaxation. Life is good. I have the love of my life, and he's working hard so we can start a family and a life of our own and make our dreams come true. He is wonderful. I don't need to stress. I have plans, and back up plans, and if they don't work out, we'll find a way to make things work. We always do. We may not always have the most money to work with, but it all works out in the end. I am so grateful for the life I have been given with him.

I'm looking forward to Christmas. Cooking a nice ham, plenty of wonderful sides, and sharing them with anyone who wants a second home for the holidays. I think thats my role I want to have here. I want to have a home that is always open to someone who needs family, because we all need a support group. Christmas morning I will make Mama Marquardts wonderful cherry crepes, so Greg hopefully wont be too homesick, and someday shortly after christmas I'll do Grandma Arlene's caramel rolls. I miss her a lot around the holidays. How her house was always open, stocked with yummy treats and tampico "orange juice". I hope to have a house like hers someday. Where family or not, you are always welcome. So I am starting early. If anyone needs a place to go, and wants food, please feel free to walk on in.

I'm excited for New Years and Staci visiting. Soo many wonderful things to look forward to in life. We've decided to change our Bahamas vacation to Crete. I want to see more of Europe, and Greg really loves it there. So we'll keep everyone posted!

Lots of love to all those struggling <3

I am Thankful

I am thankful that I got to share this thanksgiving with my husband, even if we are away from home, I am so thankful we could at least be together this holiday season. We even got to share a delicious meal with two friends and our kitties even got a taste of some turkey.. that and Josh gave them a heaping bowl of food afterwards so they were in heaven. It was cute. Now they're all passed out together with their food babies sleeping it off. It was a nice quiet day of talking, video games, and football. The food this year was spectacular! I am so proud of myself :). Bragging rights forever!

I am thankful that our ticket got cut in half, and we only had to pay a $250 fine instead of a $550. That was a lot of stress off my shoulders.

I am thankful the government gives me money to go to school.

I am thankful for my family. You may not know it, and I do not say thank you enough, but you keep me going strong when all I wanna do is quit and come home. You guys are half my strength. The other half is here with me right now.. even if he is playing call of duty...

I am thankful for my husband. The man who makes me laugh, makes me cry, dries my tears, kisses me goodmorning, always tells me I'm beautiful and loved. He keeps me sane. When I get stressed out, he tells me to forget everything and take a day off. I love him soo very much.

I am thankful for my friends. You guys are the greatest, near and far. Keeping a lonely lady laughing and with things to look forward to. <3

Life Is Good

So I would like to say I haven't written because I'm soooo busy. But basically that is a big fat lie. I just dont have much to write about so I wait a few weeks until I feel like I have enough to say. Now just because I'm not busy doesn't mean I am not stressed ridiculously. I've been working on Christmas presents,and I am soo happy to say I only have 2 left to make, and 2 left to buy:). That is such a relief! Makes me excited because I think this year I am spot on with my presents! Yay! Lately I've had a hard time sleeping, but painting has been helping.

We're moving out of our apartment at the end of Dec, and as of yet we dont have a certain place to go... but hopefully by this weekend we shall have that worked out. I'll let you know as soon as I do. I'm still stressed about my court date next week for that stupid parking ticket. A ticket I've had to sit and stress about for the past 2 1/2 months, but next wednesday, whether good or bad it will be over. Then its Thanksgiving!!!

I am so excited this year to redeem my frozen turkey fiasco of last year. I have been planning this turkey all week and lemme tell ya, its going to be great. I'm going to stuff the turkey with an onion, 2 lemons, and rosemary, rub down the outside with butter, salt, and pepper. I know how often to baste it, how to make the perfect gravy.. mmmm. Its going to be epic. I'm making stuffing, corn, biscuits, pumpkin pies, apple pie, brownies, and cookies. Veggie platter, cheese and crackers, seriously I am so incredibly excited! Though it will probably be smaller than last year, it will still be great.

I've also been worrying about my classes, but this week I've really been pushing myself to get this next class done, since now I only have 3 months left. Which is fine, I only have one class left, but at this rate I wont finish so I'm really trying to get that done.

I think thats all for now! Lots of love to everyone far away! I miss you!

Happy Anniversary To Us!

Well its officially been a year, and a week now, but a year, and we did get to go on our retreat to San Antonio, and it was a blast. Greg managed to get a day pass for Friday, so we got up early, went to the gym, and left shortly after that. Got into San Antonio around 2:30 and spend the afternoon wandering around the Riverwalk. We ate the most delicious sushi I have ever had at this place called Zushi Sushi, then we wandering around the riverwalk until late just enjoying the lights and the people, and the atmosphere.

Saturday we got to go to Sea World. Watch the shows, see the animals, goof off like two young people in love. :-) If you want a good birth control option though, go to Sea World, and then the next morning go to the zoo. Let me tell you, it makes you question ever wanting to be a parent. Little angry screaming children, still not my thing. So kids will still be quite a ways off.

They've been sending Greg TDY lots lately, which is fine, just gets a bit lonely in Texas. Hopefully soon they'll let him stay home for two weeks at a time before sending him out to the desert. Lots of love to all my family and friends too far away to chill with. I miss all of you!

Carrots and Peas

So last weekend we got to go to Dallas. Heather managed to get everyone to miss their flight, so me and Greg got to spend Thursday night and most of Friday alone wandering the city just waiting for them to arrive. We finally made it to our hotel Thursday night pretty late, and all we did was go downstairs to the restaurant to eat, and then head to bed. We decided we were gonna get up early, go downtown and check out the farmers market before their flight got in. Well, we ended up coming back with 2 mangos, a pineapple, some apple plums, 10 limes, 4 prickly pears (which I haven't attempted to eat or juice yet but google says they are yummy), 7 zucchinis, and about 20 cucumbers. The cucumber lady misunderstood us, we said one basket and she gave us 2 anyway. Which is fine, we made the Marquardt creamy cucumbers and Zach was in heaven. It was so cool though, all the places were giving out free samples of their products, and everything was so cheap and just so delicous. I wish there was a good farmers market a bit closer to Abilene, but I guess I'll just enjoy the trips to Dallas a little more. OOh!! We also bought a jar of the most delicious cherry jam I have ever had! Sorry Grandpa Ed, it even beats yours.

So on our way back to the hotel from the market, we find out they missed their flight, and wouldn't be in until 10pm that evening, so we decided to go to the hotel, drop the food off, and then head over to the Galleria Mall. This mall is 4 stories, with a 5 GUYS and an indoor skating rink, so we got some burgers, and watched the future figure skaters of America. Then naptime, picked them up, and went into town to have some fun and experience some Dallas clubs.

Saturday we spent wandering downtown, and then Heather, Zach and Lyndsey got to come back to Abilene and experience some good ol Texas two step. It was lots of fun. Sunday was a chill day, we all just hung out and didn't do a whole lot, though we did take them to see the Prairie Dogs at Red Bud Park. ITs pretty neat. Someone at one point in time decided in the middle of a city park to just put this prairie dog exhibit thing. Just random in the center of the park. Its amazing to me that they stay there, the fence is only about 2 feet high. Monday we played pool, there happened to be a 9 ball tournament going on that was free to join, so all the guys decided to do it, and of course Zach took home the first placed trophy. Tuesday we took them back to Dallas, and away they went until their next adventure down to Texas.

Great weekend :)