I am a new bride who is loving the new role of wife! I am learning how to cook, keep the house clean, and satisfy my unsatiable desire to learn about anything and everything.
G.I. Joe has had some time off work, so I have been spending time with him instead of writing on here. Maybe that makes me a bad blogger, but I just can't give up any time I have with him.
Even to do something as fun as blog!
G.I. Joe and I love to just hang out together. Usually, we do free at-home stuff though. We love to play games like Scrabble
(we used every single letter in this game...and were really proud of it), Upwords, ERS (a card game), Dutch Blitz (the best card game ever invented), and now Uno.
We just added Uno over the weekend. We bought the Toy Story version. There is even a "Claw" card which, when played, the opponent has to lay down a card with a small alien in the corner. We love it.
Another thing we do in our spare time is explore. One day we walked all in the woods behind our house (ended up in the apartment complex half a mile up the road). We love to visit old army forts and parks. Swinging is my favorite.
It is kind of rare for us to go out on a "date" date, but Saturday night we did. And we had so much fun.
We went to O'Charley's. As rarely as we go out to eat, this is our restaurant of choice. Their rolls are just perfect and they have half-price appetizers from 2-7pm and 9-10pm. We usually get just appetizers. SOooo yummy. I wanted to take a picture, but all the food was gone before I remembered. Ooops.
Then we went bowling. We have only lived here for a few months, so we are still learning where things are. Saturday night we found the bowling alley. And it is adorable.
It is in a barn. They call it "The Bowling Barn". How cute is that? And only in the south do you go "bowlin".
We had a lot of fun. G.I. Joe beat me...soundly...both games. In fact, his score was double mine the first game. I never boasted of being a good bowler. Maybe I need to work on my stance...
I don't know what it is about bowling shoes, but I love them. If I could, I would wear them out. I know they're supposed to be ugly, but I have never thought so. Maybe it is just because I associate them with something so fun.
Then, to top it all off, we went and saw a movie. After a hot fudge sundae and lemonberry slulsh from Sonic. It was a perfect night.
It may seem simple, but it doesn't take much to entertain the two of us. I guess that's why we get along so well!
And an update on my poison ivy. It definitely got worse before it got better. It spread all over my legs, my arms, my shoulders look like they are just sunburnt, and my neck is covered. It is still itching like crazy, but the swelling and the redness are starting to go down.
I tried Ivy-Dry, Hydrogen Peroxide, Alcohol, Ivy-Rest, and just plain hot water. Honestly, the hot water worked better than anything. The other things were really starting to burn my arms, so I quit using any of them.
This is one of those times when, just as it starts to get better, I think "I should have gone to the doctor." Oh well.
I am a huge fan of Louis Armstrong. I always have been.
G.I. Joe and his mom danced to his song, "It's a Wonderful World" at our wedding.
It was really precious.
A couple of weeks ago, G.I. Joe and I were at a store here in town. It is similar to Barnes and Noble, but a little less fancy. They sell used books, CD's, movies, and games, as well as new ones. They also rent movies and TV shows.
We don't have TV so we have had fun renting TV shows.
Anyway, I found a Louis Armstrong CD. I have always wanted a Louis Armstrong CD, but I never actually bought one. Actually, I never found one, but I wasn't looking very hard.
This particular store had a three disc album for $3.99!!!
I love good deals.
I have one of the discs in my car and another in the stereo in the house.
Cooking to the horn of Louis Armstrong is one of the most fun things ever!
Because I have been enjoying his music so much, I wanted to share him on here. I found this video on YouTube and decided to post this particular song because my nephew is crazy about "The Jungle Book".
I don't know if he appreciates Louis Armstrong yet, but he is showing quite a bit of musical promise so I'm sure he will.
I just love watching him sing! He looks like he is having so much fun. And listening to him is so much fun!
Next to our mailbox is a small flower bed. Earlier in summer, the most beautiful irises bloomed there, but lately all that has been blooming in that spot is the poison ivy.
Last week, I decided I would weed the little flower bed because it was starting to look really ridiculous.
My mom and my sister have always been highly allergic to poison ivy. I never got it that bad. I might get one little spot, but it would usually go away within a couple of days.
That was my mindset going into this weeding job. Sometimes, I just do stupid things.
I did wear gloves, but also wore short sleeves and shorts.
My arms are the worst, but it is on my shoulders, my legs, behind my knees, on my neck, ears, and two small patches on my face.
Needless to say, I have been pretty miserable the last few days.
BUT on a happier note, I have to tell what my wonderful husband did for me last week!
First of all, since I moved into our house, I have had a hope of one day putting a bakers rack in the kitchen. There is a perfect spot for it, and the counter space in the kitchen is very limited. I didn't want to pay full price for one, I just kept my eyes out for one at Goodwill, consignment stores, yard sales, etc.
A couple of weeks ago, G.I. Joe and I woke up early on a Saturday morning and checked out yard sales. We were driving through our neighborhood when we noticed one house had the most beautiful bakers rack sitting outside!
I said, "Turn around! That was a yard sale, and they have a bakers rack!" I was already turned around in my seat and jumping up and down.
G.I. Joe turned around and we drove back by, but we realized that it wasn't a yard sale. There was stuff sitting outside, but the owners had apparently just set boxes and this bakers rack in the yard to get it out of the house.
We drove by that house four times trying to figure out why it was outside and to gather up the courage to ask them.
We never did get the courage.
We went home, but I could not forget about it. I called my mom, who is amazing with these types of situations, and she immediately encouraged me to knock on the door and ask, with some cash.
Well, I am a bit of a sissy and wouldn't go by myself. So I tried to talk G.I. Joe into asking, but we never had time to go.
A couple of days later, he went for a run. He came back only ten minutes later and said, "Quick, put on your shoes. I want to take you for a ride."
At first, I thought he was just being crazy, but then I remembered the bakers rack.
He had knocked on the door and asked the man who answered about the bakers rack. Apparently, they had given it to someone else, but that someone else never came to pick it up.
He said we could have it. For FREE!
I was about to flip my lid. We loaded it in the truck and brought it home. I Clorox wiped it down real well and brought it in the house.
It fits perfect in the spot I wanted it! I cannot walk into the kitchen now without a happy little sigh and a little stare. I love it.
G.I. Joe added his own little touch to the top.
That old saying, "It never hurts to ask," was definitely true for us!
Four months ago, yesterday, G.I. Joe and I were married. I can't believe it has already been four months! It seems like four weeks.
Ever since I moved here after our wedding, we have been searching for a church. We have visited so many in the area, and liked and disliked different aspects of all of them.
A few weeks ago, G.I. Joe's commander was telling us about the church he and his wife had been visiting. So we checked it out this past Sunday. I must say we were very impressed.
The church building itself took up several blocks downtown. We went to the contemporary service and really enjoyed it. The musicians were very talented and sincere. The pastor who spoke was not the senior pastor of the church, but did a very good job. Everyone was so friendly to us. I was so excited to discover in the bulletin there is a ladies Bible study every Wednesday, starting in two weeks, for 30 weeks!
G.I. Joe and I really enjoyed the service and were VERY excited about all of the different ministries we saw offered.
Then it got better.
Last night, G.I. Joe and I were just chilling at the house talking about his deployment. I asked him, "What happens if my car breaks down while you're gone?" G.I. Joe got sad because he hates the thought that he can't be right there to take care of me. He told me that we would sign up for Triple A and find some good towing services.
As we were talking, we saw a car pull up and two people get out. They started walking toward our door. We looked at each other, but neither of us recognized them.
There was a man and a woman at the door. They introduced themselves and explained they were from the church we had visited! We invited them in, and they proceeded to tell us all about their church and ask us if we had any questions. We had put on the card we filled out that G.I. Joe was in the Army. The woman looked at me and said, "We have all kinds of ministries for military wives, including a class for women to help them cope with deployment." Then the man said, "It seems like everything breaks down when your husband is gone. We have a ministry to help you when your fridge breaks down, the washer stops working, or if your car breaks down on the side of the road."
I looked at G.I. Joe, and he looked as shocked as I did.
I cried a little.
It is amazing how God can answer prayers, even little ones like that.
Needless to say, G.I. Joe and I are planning on joining this church. We are so excited. I already have two classes I am going to get involved in, and the children's minister is supposed to contact me soon about getting me in as a volunteer in the children's ministry (something I really enjoy).
God works in mysterious ways. Maybe not on our time frame, but He always has perfect timing.
I have not written in a while because my beautiful neice just arrived! She was born on July 22. She is healthy and so so sweet!
G.I. Joe and I could not make it the day she was born because we had a Batallion Social that evening. Here we are all dressed up:
We were able to leave the next morning and spend the weekend with my parents. My parents had the weekend job of watching Magellan so G.I. Joe and I were able to help out.
G.I. Joe and Magellan had a lot of fun together.
Magellan is learning the sounds that different animals make:
The reason he does the "Hut, hut" for the elephant is because "The Jungle Book" is his favorite movie, and the elephants are his favorite part. He runs to the TV before the scene even begins, start dancing, and saying "Hut, hut" on beat when the elephants start marching. So because of that movie, he thinks the elephant says "Hut, hut".
It's too cute for us to correct.
On Sunday, G.I. Joe had to come back home to go to work the next day. I stayed with my sister for several days to help her with transitioning to two babies instead of one.We ran some errands and just had fun with the two babies.
Magellan is really enjoying his little sister. He is ready to share with her:
One day, my sister and I were sitting on either ends of the couch. She was holding the baby, and Magellan was crawling back and forth between us. All of a sudden, he just reached for his little sister! So we set Jack down and let him hold her for a minute.
Every time we say, "Give Sissy some love," he puts his head to her head and says "Ohhhhh". That is what he is doing in this picture. After about 30 seconds, he handed her back.
Most blogs show these beautiful houses that are perfectly decorated.
Weclome to my blog.
Here is a picture of the view from our couch:
I can show this picture, though, because I am hopeful that it won't always be dull.
This is a Before and After event.
In my defense, we haven't even been married four months yet. And also in my defense, I have only ever decorated
a childish bedroom and a college dorm room/apartment.
Never a whole house, and never without Disney princesses.
G.I. Joe has been telling me that he really wants to see some pictures or something up
on the walls, but I am terrified of putting anything up! You would think with all of the
spackle experience that I have under my belt, I wouldn't be so afraid of holes in the
walls.
But I am.
Sometimes the only thing to do is to face your fears. My mom and sister can't come and help me because the stork will be visiting my sister's house any minute.
So I went shopping.
Adult decorating shopping.
No Disney princesses.
First I went to Tuesday Morning. One of the best stores ever.
I found this:
I love, love, love it.
(I love, love, love him too.)
I also found this adorable frame.
I am going to blow up one of our wedding pictures and put it in it.
My wish/dream/goal/plan is to get a pretty little table,
put it against a wall that I have picked out in our living room,
hang the gorgeousmirror behind it,
and put picture frames all on top of the table.
Wish/dream/goal/plan.
That means I have to find a table.
I also ran by Kirklands. Another great store. They just so happened to be having a HUGE sale
I got both of these for $35.00.
They were marked for $40, but the girl gave me a $5 coupon!
I love cool cashiers!
I hung them above our couch.
I can't decide if they need to go closer together, or if they need something in between them.
Like this amazing clock we got as a wedding present from the secretaries at my dad's church.
Hopefully, I will have prettier pictures to show you of our house soon...and no more blank walls!
I am married to the most patient and incredible man in the world.
I have been suspecting that, but last night proved it.
Last night was one of those nights that is funny today, but we weren't laughing last night.
In case you haven't figured out the G.I. Joe reference, my husband is in the Army. He is a Second Lieutenant. He has been commissioned for a year now, so we are Army babies.
Last night, we had our first FRG meeting.
FRG = Family Readiness Group
The FRG is what keeps family informed about what is going on with their soldiers,
especially during deployment.
Our first FRG meeting was a picnic on post. The FRG leaders split up some of the food items as potluck. I was supposed to bring a side. So I made a watermelon basket.
I am actually pretty proud of it, just don't look to closely...
We had a lot of fun. I got to meet a lot of G.I. Joe's soldiers and commanding officers and their families.
Things were great until the picnic ended.
G.I. Joe was put in charge of taking the giant grill to get rinsed out, and to count and put up all the chairs. I had to drive separately to the picnic because G.I. Joe came straight from work.
So we had two cars there.
Being the adoring wife that I am, I didn't want to go home while G.I. Joe had to run around post cleaning off the grill and putting up chairs. I wanted to go with him. Mistake #1.
Since we are Army babies, we still have a hard time finding our way around post. The picnic was at a park just inside Gate 6. (There are a lot of gates to get onto an Army post) So we left my car at the park, and I hopped into G.I. Joe's truck with just my phone and keys.
G.I. Joe decided that he would go out of Gate 6 and head up the road to the next gate because he was familiar with that particular gate. Mistake #2.
As we were pulling up to the next gate, G.I. Joe says, "Do you have your ID?"
Okay, for those of you who know less about the Army than I do, let me stop and explain something.
Everyone who is in the Army or an Army spouse must get a military ID card. Not only does the military ID card get you lots of great discounts in stores and the movies, it also is a requirement to get onto an Army post. No exceptions.
When G.I. Joe asked, I realized my ID was in my wallet, in my purse, in the floor of the back of my car. On post. I was off post. Are you understanding the problem? Mistake #3.
So G.I. Joe turned around to go back to get it. Further complication. We can't even get back through Gate 6 without the card.
Dangit.
G.I. Joe had another guy waiting to help him count and put up the chairs, so we didn't have a whole lot of time. So G.I. Joe said, "I'll just leave you at Wal-Mart, take these chairs, get your ID, then come pick you up."
Great plan.
Except for I brought my keys into Wal-Mart with me.
Mistake #4.
After an hour of shopping at Wal-Mart (most of which I enjoyed by walking around and talking to my mom on the phone), G.I. Joe came back.
We went to Gate 6, but it was closed. Certain Gates close at certain times.
So we went to the 24 hour Gate. I had to wait inside the Guard Shack so G.I. Joe could go onto post, get my ID, and bring it back, so that he could then bring me onto post, and I could drive my car home.
I walk into the Guard Shack and sit down. And guess what I am still holding.
Yes.
My keys.
Mistake #5.
I called G.I. Joe, and he answered by saying, "I know, the keys." He came back, I gave him the keys, and he left again. When he drove off the second time, I realized something else.
The whole reason that we had driven off-post in the first place was because we didn't know how to get from Gate 6 to anywhere else. Now G.I. Joe had to find Gate 6 in the dark, drive back to the Gate I was waiting at, and then Find Gate 6 again with me.
Oh, and the truck has no gas during this entire adventure. Just to make things more exciting.
Anyway, he finds Gate 6, gets my ID, comes back to get me, takes me back to Gate 6 to get both cars, and we started home.
As I am following him, the grill starts spitting out hot coals.
I took a picture.
(Don't think about the complications of my driving and taking pictures at the same time)
The arrow is pointing to the hot coals that had just fallen out of the grill. I quickly braked to miss them, so that is why everything is a little blurry.
Yes, the picture was that important.
Anyway, we finally got home. I kept waiting for G.I. Joe to explode at me for
1) insisting on going with him,
2) forgetting my ID,
3) taking my keys in Wal-Mart
4) taking my keys in the Guard Shack
5) just for being dumb,
but he didn't. We got home, and he kissed me and said, "I love you," with a smile on his face.
I said, "I wouldn't have blamed you for leaving me at the Guard Shack all night."
He pulled me really close, hugged me, kissed the top of my head, and laughed.
"I wouldn't do that."
He is incredible. Sometimes it takes that kind of night to appreciate what you have.
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Magellan is learning the sounds that different animals make:
