It's ok because it is Justin's Birthday today!!!!!

Well, Thanksgiving for us was good, how about yours? I made a turkey, that cleverly hid its gizzards and neck... and I surely DID look for that stuff only to have it found by my husband while he carved it! Yes, he would chuckle and pull something out, then chuckle again... you get the idea. Here is where I hang my head in shame because this has happened not once, but twice to me. But even though it is Teri 1 Turkey Bird's 2, I can still cook'em tasty! hehe.

Savannah helped with the pie, and the boys helped with the mashed potato's. We also had green beans, and corn. It was a lot of food for our little family of 5. So, Joseph and I were the only ones to eat anything really. After it was all done, each of the kids decided to opt out on some certain food. Savannah did not like her pie, although it was divine! The boys avoided the potato's, and they were so yummy! And the turkey, yea, a 9 pound turkey was all for Joseph and I.. Savannah and Justin asked for a turkey leg, but ended up not even touching them. So I packed everything and we finished everything off later that weekend.

The first week of December was a busy one for us. Joseph started his new job at 6-1 Cav.. Hooray for a CAV unit again! Let me tell you, it is like night and day between the infantry units and cav units! We are both ecstatic to be back in the cav! His first week was easy since the other 1SG was still there working. So Joseph would pop in every now and then to check up on things, but tried not to disturb the other guy too much. He sat in on meetings and started to get acquainted with his surroundings and his new soldiers. Everyone is very friendly there, and the BN Commander LOVES to give hugs! hehe. It is like a family already over there and Joseph and I both are excited to serve the soldiers and families! I am very excited to get involved with the FRG!

So Tuesday I had my ortho appointment and I was so sure they were going to say congrats and take these darn braces off, but alas, no, I have about another month or 2! Grrr! hehehe. Oh well, in the end it will be worth it!

Thursday was the hail and farewell. It was my first experience with the new 'team' and it was awesome. It was the best hail and farewell I have ever been to! I immediately felt welcome. You could just feel the friendships and bonds throughout everyone. I cannot wait to be in with them like that too!

Friday was Joseph's change of command ceremony. It was really cool, and I just love how the Army works. Everything looks so neat-o and reaffirms my lust for my husband! HA! Hehe. I just LOVE my man in uniform and it never fails when I see him working his thang at work! Hehe. Ok I will stop now, I think I am blushing!!!!

Saturday was the Ball for 1-36, Joseph's previous unit. I had promised Melissa that I would discuss this in more depth, and I will. It was the WORST ball I had been to! It was basically a circus of monkeys.. but I don't even want to give them that much credit! A circus is organized...

We arrived at a fancy hotel downtown, and it was beautiful! Think 1920's sheik. Chandelier's and high ceilings, mirrors, and just an old swanky vibe. As soon as we got inside, Joseph was summoned to the upstairs ballroom to practice for the grog bowl. We sat in there the whole 'social hour' and just waited. The CSM was like a chicken with his head cut off. He clearly had not prepared for this evening.. After 45 minutes it was time to start the receiving line and come inside. Joseph and I went to the photographer and snapped a picture real quick, and I wish we had more time to fix the photo because well, uh, I look like I have Jessica Rabbit boobs.. at least that is what I saw in the glimpse of the photo as I was walking away to get in line. lol.

ANYWAY! So we were seated and we started the ceremony. They forgot the order to things even though there was a program at every seat. We did the posting of the colors in the wrong place, and they completely left out the fallen soldier's table and toast! It was embarrassing. Many soldiers were already drunk from the "social hour" so they would not be quiet, and the CSM kept shushing everyone saying "sit down and shut up".. classy, I know. The BN commander also referenced that everyone was acting like kindergartners... sigh. So, the grog bowl was not forgotten, obviously! And Joseph went up with his commander when it was their turn to add to it. So, Joseph was totally dissed in the program, and he was NOT EVEN mentioned!!! He had been out of the unit for less than a week, and they already snubbed him! I was angry! Well, that pretty much was it. A lot of yelling and drunkards, and silly crap all evening. Joseph and I both came home with headaches and we were stunned, yet not because that is how this BN works... Dysfunctional! Blah!

It was interesting. So here we are now. It is Justin's birthday! 8 years old!!!!! And we can finally say good riddance to the old BN.. well, I take that back we have 2 hail and farewells coming up! One this Thursday and one next Thursday! Oh joy!!! hehe. I am sure I will have fun stories for those too!

Ok, it is a long enough rant! Have a great week!

PS. Melissa I will post pictures as soon as we get them.. Unless of course I just cannot bare to post my junk on here!!! lol

It's been so long!

Well, So much has happened since I last "really" wrote anything! Whoopsie! I will try and be better about it. So, I should back up about 2 and a half months when Joseph got home. August 6, 2010 1-1 AD came home from Iraq with the presidential order that all but 50,000 troops come home! This was AWESOME because Joseph was scheduled to come home in November, so we got 3 months knocked off our tour! We were both thankful, and the kids were overjoyed having their dad home. Plus I did not tell them he was coming home so it was a total surprise when they saw him!



Of course Joseph had to go back to work right away for about 2 weeks, and then came leave which ended up being around 36 days off! Score! It was the longest time he had EVER taken off and was so much fun! We took the kids to school and picked them up together just about every day and he was available to the kids after school for homework and hanging out. We all LOVED it.

While Joseph was on leave, we took the kids out of school for a week and headed out to Orlando Florida for Walt Disney World. It was AWESOME! We had so much fun and it was just a great time. Let me tell you, Florida is H-U-M-I-D!!! Yuck! We would walk outside and it was as if you just got out of the shower! But we pushed through and by the 2nd or 3rd day, it was not as noticeable. We hit up Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, and Blizzard Beach. We could have hit Hollywood Studios, but figured the kids were too little for that still. We also walked Downtown Disney. I am really looking forward to our next family getaway... I wonder where we will go next?!

So, now Joseph is back to work and the kids are in school. I get three hours a day all to myself, which lately I have been spending time with a new friend, Hilary. So I should say, I get to play for 3 hours a day!! WOOHOO! Hehe. It has been so much fun having a friend again. I have missed that interaction, and it really does make a difference in how I act and feel. I have my husband home and I get a new friend! Life is so awesome when it wants to be! Also, sometimes Joseph and I get together for lunch and have a "day date". I am SO looking forward to having ALL day to do whatever I want/need!!!

Basically that brings us up-to-date and current. Now it is time for me to go clean a little more and then head over to the school because it is parent/teacher conferences today. That is not fun and I do not count this as my "play" time!

Mom is lazy and needs more work

I think kids seriously do things because they think "Mom is not busy enough"... Just my thoughts on today!

Today is a New Day

Ok I walked for 1 hour, had 2 shakeologies, 2 low carb broccoli and cheese weight watchers things, and lots of water.

Last night I slipped a little with 1 cup of ice cream and 2 100-calorie packs of pringles... yea. BUT today is a new day and I am ready! Bring it!

Day One Again....

Today is Day One of my diet/exercise plan! I have re-re-re-re-re-re-re started (you get the picture). To keep me from getting too discouraged I tell myself that I only fail when I give up and I will NOT give up! So here I go again.....

New Changes

This year has been bringing about new changes for myself in many different ways. My husband deployed, my uncle (my dads brother) passed away at Christmas, and now two weeks ago my father passed away too. It brings me to think about how I live, and how I am with the people around me.

When my father passed away we were trying to go through his things and clean out the space for my grandparents so they would not be burdened with anything. It was painful to throw out things and give things away, but I know it was the best thing to do. That brought me to think about my house and the hoarding that I have been doing. lol. I just have tooooooo much stuff and it is un-necessary to have so much more than I need, so I am doing a lot of "spring cleaning".

When we got back from taking care of the services, I had a check up appointment. I had many concerns because my grandmother had a hysterectomy last week due to cancer, and my father passed away from heart disease and my grandfather just had a heart attack too. I had questions about my health, so it was good to get checked up on. I did get my cholesterol checked and it is on the high side, and with my dad having heart disease so I have had an awakening to my health.

Diet and exercise are starting up and I am determined more than ever to get my body healthy again. I know the risks were always there, but now it is basically in my face and I cannot look away. I choose to make this personal tragedy a positive nudge for me and recognize it as such.

It has also made me think of the people in my life and how I should make a better effort to connect with them and stay connected as much as possible because my relationships with my family and friends are very important to me. I have always thought this, but maybe not acted on it as much as I should. I will try and be better about that.

To my family and friends, I love you all, and I am truly grateful that you are in my life.

Holiday 2009

This was an interesting end to 2009 for us. I will not go into details but it has truly been tough and emotional.

One great joy from the holidays was the kids and their innocence that they brought into the mix. To see their faces light up on Christmas morning warmed my heart and made me feel very special to have them in my life. I am grateful for my family and I love them with every inch of my soul. 2010 will bring frustration, gratitude, loneliness, hope, patience, love and appreciation. I look forward to the end of the year when I can be with my one and only again and continue our future together. I love you babe, and I am so proud of you and what you do for our family and our country.

Happy New Year everyone. Enjoy those who are in your lives and those you love most. Never take them for granted and appreciate every moment.

Pictures from Christmas: (We made the kids sit in front of their presents for about 10 minutes before the adults where ready for the madness to begin. I have to say I have some patient kids!)