I'm Still Here

I know this blog has dwindled, but I am still here.

Ryan was in cycle most of June, then had some leave in July. We needed that time for sure to re-balance ourselves. Of course once we get our footing he usually goes back in to cycle again, but that's just the way it is these days. We try and make routines, stick with them, and spend as much time together as we can. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law came and spent the 4th of July with us and we had some much needed family time.

Sparklers just make everything better.

We've gone to the beach a lot, not quite caring about all the shark issues in North Carolina these days. Don't swim near piers, don't go out too far or in murky water, and just be smart about it. Freak accidents may happen but sharks live in the ocean. That's just the way it is. Plus it has helped us find even more teeth than usual!

Those teeth were all from one trip to the beach last Saturday. It was pretty awesome. Ryan found the big big one, I found the next big one. Both were slightly worn down but still definitely worth keeping for our collection. The square shaped tooth at the top right is actually a sting ray tooth. I know this thanks to my Marine Biologist best friend who solved that mystery for me!

Our other big news lately is that we have a niece! My oldest younger brother Sean and his girlfriend gave birth to a little firecracker girl on the 4th of July, Adrianna Marie. I think she is perfect and I cannot wait to meet her. Ryan and I are officially someone's uncle and aunt.... a first!

So, some things are different, some things are the same, but I am still here.

Hopefully you are too.

4th of July Weekend



It has been a long but fun weekend! My sister in law Hannah was visiting us for the past week and a half so for the 4th of July she tagged along with us and some friends to celebrate. Naturally I got bit by the baking bug so Hannah and I made a Red White and Blue cake from scratch... the red and blue layers were regular cake (which sadly came out a little heavier than I like, less flour next time I think) and the white layer was cheesecake. Hurricane Arthur hit us Thursday night so we started baking the cheesecake then and the rest of the cake Friday morning. We even made the cream cheese icing from scratch! I don't think I've made a cake not from a box and icing not from a can in almost a decade! Not too shabby!

 

 

We then headed over to my friend from work Jo's house and hung out with her, her husband John and my other coworker Morgan until we left for the fireworks. Henry, their adorable pup, wanted to be in our picture too. 

 

We figured it would be insanely crowded on base so we left pretty early to fight traffic. We didn't want to go in the giant massive crowd, personally I was ok with missing LL Cool J, so we decided to drive to work and park there. Luckily with our husbands' active duty IDs we were able to go through the road blocks and park with ease! We could hear the performers down the street and we still had room to play frisbee in the parking lot. Sadly once it got later MPs started directing people to park in our area but most of them still walked down to the field so our view remained safe!

 

The weather got ominous looking but only one or two drops hit us. After the show we could see it rained elsewhere on base but it seemed to stop just shy of us and the fireworks! We had a good hour or so to tailgate and hang out and we all had a blast.

Boys being boys

Surprisingly the fireworks started early, maybe by five minutes, and they went on for a long time! It was a pretty long show, nearly half and hour, and had one of the longest finales I have ever seen. I am very impressed Camp LeJeune! We had a perfect view from the truck and I love fireworks. They are near the top of my Top Ten Favorite Things List (yes it is a literal list) hence the reason Ryan proposed to me during the Disney Fireworks at EPCOT.

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays. I love the country I live in and that my husband serves and I love celebrating that. For my family and my friends and everyone who calls this great nation home, it makes me proud as punch!

 

I am a terrible selfie taker.

We took the back gate home and luckily there was basically no traffic. Thank Goodness! We all hung out a bit longer before heading home and falling sound asleep. Pretty darn good 4th of July if you ask me! Saturday was spent cleaning, playing tennis (my husband finally got a racket!) and getting Japanese food for dinner. We also took the Dup for her yearly 'furminator' bath to help with her ridiculous shedding. She gets a special bath in deshedding shampoo and conditioner and then at least an hour long brushing session. Even the groomer said she was pretty shocked by the amount of hair that kept coming off, and we brush her a lot too! Dup Dup's report card was glowing, they all said she was incredibly sweet to everyone who handled her and gave tons of kisses. That's my good girl! And she looks so cute! I cracked and got her a bandana (since the proceeds go to military service dogs I could not resist!).

 

 

It did wear her out though and she slept pretty much the rest of the day. Sunday we went to church, drove to Wilmington to meet my mother in law and her husband to drop Hannah back off with them, have lunch, run to the commissary and then home again to pack our lunches and prepare for the week. Then we went and played tennis again. Today I am pretty sore (helloooo out of shapeness) and quite exhausted. I look forward to going to bed early tonight.

I hope you all enjoyed your Independence Day!

 

4th of July... a little late!

For the 4th of July we both had a long weekend so we drove up to the mountains to see my parents. The weather was a pretty nice change from the heat and humidity here but it did sadly continue to rain throughout the weekend. For the 4th itself it was really nice, despite the rain, because the fireworks were not crowded and the traffic coming and going was not bad at all!

So. Much. Rain.

Ryan's mom, her boyfriend and Ryan's sister came up to join us for the weekend too. It was nice to have all of our family under one roof for a change! We had a nice time shopping on Main Street and eating the delicious buffet at the Cherokee Casino. Ryan and I also won a good bit of money playing roulette! A definite first, we usually leave in the red, never in the green.

Ryan was embracing his inner leprechaun while we shopped.

Outside the casino

My mom got Ryan and I tickets to see Jeff Dunham ages ago so the three of us went to the show after the buffet dinner. He was hilarious!!! The best part of the show was easily when he messed up with Bubba Jay, went on a huge tangent from that and then forgot where he was and just kept winging it. It was uncensored and absolutely hilarious... the three of us were laughing so hard we were crying! Even though we were up there in terms of seats I loved seeing him live!

I also got myself a Peanut bobblehead (it was all that was left merchandise wise, that area got severely picked) which to the chagrin of all around me I keep playing with. It talks!

It was also nice to be reunited with the Dup. I think she missed us...

But she adores my little brother too!

And I will never say no to family time. This was probably the last chance my family had to see Ryan before he deploys and I made sure to force him into some pictures. Tough cookies my love. :P We had quality family time, sparklers, laser pointers and puppy time.

Of course being back home has mostly been more rain, heat and humidity... but I am glad to be a complete family of three (or two and a dog) once again for a little while longer.

Weekend Independence!

Since I only have my little camera at work with me (and for once it is mercifully slow) I will give a mini update of our weekend! Friday we went and saw Transformers 3 and had dinner out. There was almost a fight in the theatre (over seats being saved) that just boggled my mind. People scare me. Honestly.

Saturday we got Molly! We are dogsitting her until the 13th and I do love having her around. We went to a BBQ at our friends' Russ and Lauren's house and took Molly along. She was terrific. I also made an apple pie for the occassion that went over pretty well.

Sunday was church, lunch and a nap. I felt like I was sixty years old napping for two hours in the middle of the day! We were going to go to the dress rehearsal of the Capital Fourth Concert but it ended up pouring rain so we decided against it. Low key evening really! Until the fireworks! The golf course next to us shot them off Sunday night and literally standing in our parking lot we had an amazing view. Once those finished the National Harbor across the river started. So we crossed the street and went around the other apartment building and had a clear shot straight across the river. Two shows, no hassle no traffic, perfect.

Monday we got up early for us (on a day off) around 9:30 and decided to go up to Mount Vernon with Molly. We have season passes and we've already seen the house so we thought we would just walk around. I knew it would be crowded, but man oh man was that place mobbed! We had to park over a mile away and walk! We ended up having a nice time even though it was pretty warm.



Have you ever seen day time fireworks before?? I had no idea these things existed! They had colorful poofs of smoke that went off with a bang and left trails, it was pretty awesome! The shot off some regular ones with them too.



They also had free birthday cake (YAY America!). And it was good!





And of course re-enactors. Molly enjoyed watching them.




Must have been boiling in those costumes!

Molly was not as fond of the big animals as she was the re-enactors. The sheep scared the bejeezus out of her when she realized they could move! Same with the horse.


From far away early in the day she wanted to go play and see...


But once we got closer she completely changed her mind!

And a few other random pictures from that afternoon...

The House itself, Mount Vernon. Currently the exterior is being redone, normally it is a gorgeous white color and looks brick... it is done by mixing sand with the paint to acheive the texture of brick without the cost or labor!

SO so crowded. Check out the masses of people milling around. That is pretty far from the house too.
Sunglasses make the heat more bearable :P
SUCH a cool camera. I wanted to play with it but I knew I'd get in trouble!
Canon! BOOM! .... eloquent much? Sorry.

We went to the barracks later that night for fireworks, I will post pictures of that later! I hope you all had a great long weekend (:

(PS - My 2 year blogaversary was July 1st. I cannot believe I missed it!!!!! Ugh. Anyone want to help me with a little give away to celebrate? Let me know!)