Here are a few pics...

for anyone who: missed having a White Christmas, moved away from somewhere that snows, is jealous of us living in Spokane, or is just plain ole interested.

September: (no tree branches in view~and a nice view across the street)

December 27: (tree branches weighted down, and no view across the street)

I don't think I've ever seen trees like this before: (this is in our front yard too...)

Crazy huh? And it's still snowing today. Apparently we've gotten about 50 inches this month!

Merry Christmas

I haven't been in a blogging mood lately...but we wanted to say Merry Christmas and we're thinking of you!

Fall

Devin and I had our first experience in a pumpkin patch last weekend. It was fun. Thanks to my friend Diana we have some adorable pictures! We ended up picking out a sad little mis-shapen and scarred pumpkin. I love it! We wish Daddy could have gone with us, but maybe next time.

Before and After

So here are the pictures I promised of the table that I've been working on for Devin's room. It didn't exactly turn out like I expected, but I'm still happy with it. I have to say that I don't think I will EVER do this type of project again. I am definitely not talented or creative when it comes to redoing furniture.

The highchair was mine when I was a little girl and my mom made the new cover for it. Isn't she talented? It totally matches Devin's curtains (which my mom also made by the way).

I'm afraid to ask...but what do you think?

Keeping Track

For any of you keeping track I actually got out and did something productive today. We have this table for Devin's room that needs to be stripped and repainted. Well today my neighbor helped me carry it outside and I started stripping it. I'd say I'm about 30% done...and not looking forward to the next 70%. I'm not an expert on redoing furniture so I went and bought spray paint to help motivate me to finish the project in the next week before the weather gets really bad. Wish me luck! I'll post before and after pictures when it's done...I can't promise it will be next week though. (Especially since I can really only work on it during Devin's naptime).

Long Nights

So, I figured with Dave out of town the time between Devin's bedtime and mine would fly by~since this will be my only alone time. But after the last two nights I'm not so sure. Ugh! These nights are dragging by. I know I will get into a routine soon, but for now it's junk food, no cleaning, sweats, and general laziness all day. This can't keep going. Tomorrow I get my act together and do something productive. =)

Goodness!!

If you're teething and you know it whine some more...
If you're teething and you know it whine some more...
If you're teething and you know it, then your squealing surely shows it, if you're teething and you know it whine some more

Days like this...

relax me. I know after about three months of overcast winter I'll be ready for sunshine...but after many days of 103 degree heat, I'm enjoying the overcast, breezy, drizzling day that is today. I definitely miss my Florida daily rainstorms and weekly thunderstorms. Spokane doesn't seem to get those. I was told we had thunder the other day, but it didn't even wake me up so it couldn't have been too bad. I feel refreshed today. What a lovely day. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.

Crib shopping

For those of you who don't know~ our crib got recalled about a month and a half ago. After doing the paperwork and mailing the required hardware in we finally received our 'voucher' to go and purchase a new crib last week.
I originally thought it would be exciting to go and pick out a new crib. BUT this was not the case. What a frustrating experience. It was only exciting to buy her crib the first time. (We got exactly what we wanted the first time.) This time the shopping experience was not fun at all! Everything we liked was way above our price range. We finally found one that we agreed on. I have to say it wasn't my favorite but it's not bad~Dave likes it, it matches her dresser, and it was in the right price range. So, I went to pay for it and of course they didn't have it in stock. GRRRR!! Now we have to wait anywhere from 7-21 days to get it.
Our poor girl gets to sleep in her pack-n-play for another couple of weeks. I can not wait to get her room put back together again!

Mini-me

No, Devin is definitely not a mini-me to her mama...it's all about her Daddy. She does have some of my attributes (note the blue eyes) but just look how much she takes after her Daddy~Sigh~I am definitely in love...

Devin's first Airshow

Last weekend we took Devin to her first Airshow. Our girl did really well. I was surprised she didn't fuss when those Blue Angels got to roaring overhead. Here are a few pictures to remember the day by...

A New Friend

How sweet that Devin made a new friend this last week. The first time she played with Katelyn (affectionately known as Kate-Kate by her mommy) was on the 4th of July. A couple of days later they played again, and then today we went to the pool together. "Sharing" as best as they can in Kate's front yard...

Big smiles for the camera...

Me & Devin, Diana & Nicholas, Staci & Kate

What a lovely sight. Two little innocent girls with smiles that light up their face learning how to play together. Little hands that use each other for balance, little loud voices talking in a language only they can understand, and an occasional 'get away from me' cry.

Hard Lessons

Some lessons are harder to learn than others. This week Dave and I have been learning one of those hard lessons. It's hard to trust that God has the master plan and we need to follow it. Sometimes we feel like we are right where we are supposed to be, walking down the right path, but God says 'No, You need to take a turn here'. It's so hard to take those turns when they aren't what you expected. Hopefully we learn this lesson well...

Ridiculous!

I can't believe it's almost mid-June and we have the heat on in the house! This is ridiculous! I don't think we've ever lived anywhere that we had to have the heat on in June. I'm not even sure it reached 60 yesterday or today. Think warm thoughts, think Florida beaches, think sunshine.

Is the end in sight?

Soon...seven more LONG days to go. *Sigh* I am so ready for these next seven days to be done. As soon as they are over we are vacationing. =) I am so unrestful for the next week that vacation excitement is in my head only...it hasn't quite hit my heart yet. Here's to staying busy for the next week~keeping my hands and body busy will hopefully keep my mind busy as well.

Life and a $3 piece of 10ft webbing

So Far, I have been inside of helocopters with the ramp down, gone to the top of the second highest peak in our training area, eaten bugs and other living things you find in the ground, been in the middle of the ocean throwing up, floated down a river on a raft that fighter pilots get when they bail out, sewed extravagant things with scraps of webbing and parachute harnessess , wiped with moss right off of the log I was sitting on. The list goes on and I do have numerous funny stories.

This latest trip we were introduced to basic rock climbing techniques, rappeling, bringing a litter with patient down severe rough terrain and being safe at it. These are all things that my new job revolves around. But when you take your body and wrap a couple of loops around your waist and legs and tie it off with a simple square knot, you can be somewhat trusting because you know how to tie that knot, this is called a swiss seat. Now, take that harness and about 250 feet of rope, take a step off a 200 foot high lip with nothing underneath you and have your 210lb body resting in that harness you made with that little piece of webbing. Call for your brake about 50 feet down, Feet still not on rock, you left that up there, and let go of your rope and have your buddy down there at the bottom hold the rope taught....Lean back now they say, farther they say....I could really use some of that moss again right about now.

Rocks! Fun as crap! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I have learned so much in this short amount of time. But I am tired of being a Tech School student again. This trip was good because we got to be in the same tent as the other NCOs, Like being in a pool during adult swim.

I leave Tuesday for Desert Survival and then after that trip, go on Integrated, which is where I get to teach for one full day. YAY! Then its graduation.....

I could not have made this Journey without my dog, daughter, and my lovely wife! I would do anything for you and sacrifice everything. I know you have done that these past few months

Love you

Update

Our Devin is 7 months old! She can now sit up by herself if you sit her down (she hasn't figured out the logistics of getting into or out of the sitting position by herself), and how to do a sort of army crawl/centipede scooch around the house. Still no teeth, but I have to admit I'm not really in a hurry for that...she can just take her time.

We have a couple of big months coming up...our first Mother's Day and Father's Day, and both of us have birthdays in June. Not to mention Dave's graduation next month.

I realize that the majority of my blogs have to do with Devin, but you have to understand that she is our world. ;) However~I do promise to try and come up with other intersting subjects to keep you informed of our going-ons. I just don't think you'd be interested to read about the really boring things like yard work, laundry, dishes, yada yada yada. Dave has lots of good stories about his class, maybe when he's done he'll put some of the good ones out here for you.

The first of many~

trips to the park was made today. We had fun even though it was a bit chilly. It was supposed to be like 64 but I don't know if it quite made it to that. Devin got to swing for the first time (other than her baby swing of course) and she had a good-ole time. She also got to kind of slide but we couldn't capture it with a picture. I can't wait for warmer weather so we can do this more often.

It has begun

The quest to get back in shape and lose some baby weight has officially begun. Today I went to my first session at the gym. I went to this great cardio sculpt class that kicked my butt! It felt so good to work out~even if I was exhausted after the first 15 minutes. The instructor (the wife of Dave's class leader) was super encouraging and gave me some pointers for diet too. My goal is to lose 10 pounds by the 6th of June. Here's to sore muscles and jeans that will fit soon. =)

What's that?

After I put Devin to bed tonight I took Maylie out back to do her thing. While I waited on her I began to look around my yard and freak out. Now keep in mind it was that dusky time of night. As I looked around I thought "What is wrong with my yard? What am I going to do? Why are there all these discolored spots?" Then I realized...it's just green grass. Hahahaha!!! Yep, we have the beginning spots of green grass! Yay! That must mean that spring is truly starting to peak it's beautiful sunshiny head. I can't believe it's been winter so long that green grass had me freaking out.

My creative juices

are definitely flowing. The last couple of days I just want to quit doing household chores and make something. I want to make some birthday cards, scrapbook, and make Devin's rug all at once. BUT I haven't let myself since I have about a million other things to be doing right now...which, of course, includes clearing off my scrapbooking space.

I was watching this household Do It Yourself type show the other day and they sewed four bath rugs into a big square to make a rug for the living room. For those of you who don't know I've been looking for a rug for Devin's room for months. The ones I find are either too expensive, too big, or the wrong colors. I think I'm going to go and buy a few bath rugs and sew them together. That way I get the colors I want, the price I can live with, and rubber backing for when she spills stuff. =) Boy, I can't wait to get started!!

Spring anyone?

So yesterday we got up with big plans to head out and do something fun. We weren't sure what, but we were looking for a day outing for the family. We had a couple of ideas including the zoo, aquarium, or science center. BUT we took one look outside and changed our minds. Grrr, we went from gorgeous weather to this..
As far as I know it is officially spring now...when will the weather catch up?

Fear

It's amazing how fear works. I don't have alot of insightful thoughts on this one, just a short story about Devin's fear. In order for you to understand why I found this amusing I have to give you some background information on our girl Maylie.

For those of you who don't know our family rescued Maylie (a black lab/border collie mix) when she was 14 weeks old last December. She was such a cutie pie. Well a little over a year later she weighs about 80 pounds and is just the sweetest girl. We never worried one minute about her being around Devin (other than just being big and not always so mindful of her big ole paws).

Devin just thinks she is the greatest thing. Devin giggles at her and plays with her and pets her~and Maylie loves her right back of course. Maylie is always on the floor next to her when she's playing and always follows me when I'm putting Devin in bed. (There's also licking going on that mommy does not always approve of) Devin doesn't get scared when Maylie barks, or jumps up at her when she's being held...she usually just giggles at her.

Here's where the fear comes in. While we were out doing some shopping yesterday we decided to go into a pet store. They had the cutest little puppies in the center of the store in a little cubicle. While Dave wandered, Devin and I stopped and looked at them, then moved on the birds (which caught her attention big time), then moved on to the rabbits, more birds, then back to the first set of puppies. She just took it all in...until we got back to the little 4 pound puppies. I bent down so we could be eye level with the cuties and then it happened...A puppy had the nerve to stand up against the glass on two legs! Boy did Devin jump. She turned away grabbed on to mommy and let out a whimper. Needless to say I found it hilarious that our 5 month old who has no fear of her 80 pound Maylie was scared to death of a little 4 pound puppy in the store. BUT have NO FEAR~~I gave our girl a hug, stood up away from the puppies, and moved on to meet Daddy at the fish tanks. Daddy took her and she was just fine to stare at the brightly colored fish.

Growing, growing, gone...

Devin is such a busy girl now! Before we know it she's going to be sitting up and crawling. She rolls all over the place and somehow manages to turn herself in different directions. Today while I made a snack she rolled almost all the way across the living room and ended up under her swing. It probably didn't feel so good rolling over the base of the swing but she didn't complain~I actually think she was proud of herself. When I called to her and asked her how she got there she just grinned from ear to ear.

Reality TV?

So, I've never really been one for the reality TV shows. I've never gotten into Survivor, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, or any of the ridiculous ones where people live together. I think I watched a full season of American Idol while Dave was deployed one year and then I've watched an episode here or there of Survivor and Dancing with the Stars. (I have to admit the best part of American Idol are the auditions).

BUT last year I got hooked! I started watching So You Think You Can Dance. Now this is a reality show I can get into. I can't wait for it to come on again this year. I looked it up and I think it said it starts again in March. Woohoo!!

This year (the last couple of months) I also got hooked on Project Runway and since we now have this wonderful invention of recording TV shows (without having to find a blank tape and learning how to work the VCR) I just click a button and can watch it when it's convenient for me. Like this morning I got to watch the new episode from last night. I don't know why, but I love this show. I can't sew anything more than a button, but it totally enthralls me.

Some days I just want to get rid of our cable. I mean we lived without it for almost four years in Germany~but other days I love it!

As I read back over this blog I think how trivial it is and that I sound like a loony, but it is 6am and I have been up for like an hour and a half. Teehee. Oh well...you get to hear my early morning thoughts.

My morning debate

So, I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should go back to bed or not...Devin woke up around 4:30 to eat, finished around 5:00, then I had to let Maylie out to go potty. By that time it was close to 5:15. My alarm is set for 6:00 (Devin has her four month check up at 7:30). Ugh, I am SO sleepy! Good thing I had the coffee ready to go last night. It made itself at around 3:30 for Dave. Oh well, I've made the decision to stay up. I'm going to waste time sittin here on the computer drinking my coffee until I have to get ready.

I hope Devin decides to take a long nap today 'cuz her mama will be joining her.

Growing so fast

Thanks to our friend Jessica~Devin now has a new toy to help her sit up. She wants to sit up so bad! I have to say she is so darn cute!! Our little girl is growing in leaps and bounds. What a fun age she's at right now. She is such a blessing.

Welcome Home

For those of you who don't know Devin and I just returned home from Texas. We were there for three weeks and the last couple of days that we were there the weather was in the 80's. Phew!! It was the first time Devin has ever been able to wear short sleeves or just hang out in her onesie :) (Poor little winter baby)

Anyways, when we got home our bodies were in for quite a shock. The snow is so deep! In some places it's above my knees. Dave has even sunk in some places up to his waste. It is unbelievable. Here is a picture of our kitchen window...can you see it behind the small little icicle?

Tylenol anyone?

Have you ever known that you were going to have a headache before it happens? Tomorrow is going to be one of those days. Tomorrow is going to be one of the longest days of my life.

Snow

I just thought I'd show you the unbelievable snow we've gotten. It's been snowing for several days now and it just keeps coming. The snow on the car is a little over a days worth. I hope you can get the feel for how deep it is...I tried to get a picture of Maylie standing in a part she hasn't trampled down, but of course she didn't want to cooperate.

On a side note, since we live on base we have rules about shoveling. Hahaha, I'd just like to say "Yah right!" It would take me a very long time to shovel the sidewalk and driveway...not going to happen with a three month old.

Grrrrr

So the one thing that I haven't wanted Devin to do (with extreme passion) she has decided is a nifty thing to do. Apparently it is especially nifty when mommy is driving and can't do much about it. :) Words can not express how this makes me feel...even if it is so darn adorable. See for yourself:

For those of you who don't know~I was an extreme thumb sucker~even into my teen years. It was the hardest thing to quit. I think it could be compared to quitting smoking. I'm surprised to this day that Dave doesn't wake up next to me sucking away. I so don't want that for my daughter.

So today after we took Dave some lunch~he's busily working on school projects with his class~she happily sucked and slurped on her thumb all the way home; I took her out of her carseat, removed her thumb, and told her she was a stinker. This was her reply:

I absolutely can not argue with that face. I'll just have to keep pulling it out for now until more drastic measures are needed.

Big Day

So here is my first post on “OUR” blog. Jeannette, I love you so much for putting this on and talking smack…hahahaha, just kidding. I really do love you.

Tomorrow I start my long awaited formal training on to what I like to call “The Dream Job” aka USAF SERE Specialist. It entails way too much for me to tell you now, but maybe if you are around and you take me out and buy a round, I will share a couple stories. It has been a long awaited path of blood, sweat, and tears. I can honestly say I have done every single one of these for this job. My emotions are so tied into this I can hardly describe it.

I want to thank those that did and did not believe in me to get to this point, and those that think I am crazy for doing this. Jeannette, I cannot thank you enough for supporting me in my career choice but the road is not done yet. It’s barely started. I cannot wait to see you after every day, every trip, and that fine day when I am up on that stage. Without you, it means nothing.

Tonight, I am calm and not really collected. I am calm because I am confident. Not so collected because I have no idea what is really in store for my “team” tomorrow. You see, there is a plan, and we have no idea what it is. It is basically show up “here” (here is usually somewhere an hour away) and do “this” before you get “here” (This is usually 3 hours of something). You see how this is adding up.

Alright, I am tired, motivated, and talkative all at once. I look forward to seeing loved ones in June…Don’t expect much more than this until then. Love all…..Dave

Immediate Regret

So, I've been bored with my hair for weeks now and desperately wanting a change...well today I decided to take matters into my own hands. So this afternoon I took some hair and created bangs. The cut job isn't bad at all...it's just that I immediately regretted cutting it. I think it makes me look much older. Don't get me wrong, I've had bangs most of my life but this time I made them pretty thick. Oh, well. Good thing hair grows back and I have lots of little clips to pull it back in the mean time.

It's amazing how Dave reacted. Before I cut it I kept going to him and asking his opinion-I'm sure he got annoyed with me. He said that it didn't matter to him (of course) and that I would look beautiful no matter what (sigh). I went to him after the deed was done and told him, amidst giggles, that I regretted it. Amazingly he then had the audacity to say "I knew you would". If he knew this beforehand why didn't he share the knowledge? Silly man.

Now I just have to wait for time to pass. I think my next big idea is to go and buy myself a box of haircolor and cover up the grey. Yes, that's right...I have grey hair. I can't help but giggle to myself and think about how this next venture will turn out.