Christmas Decorating

Last year for Christmas we didn't really bother to decorate. I think I did our mantle, but we didn't have a tree or anything like that. Ryan returned home from Afghanistan last December and we spent Christmas in South Carolina with his family, so it seemed like added stress to get a tree and do all the large scale decorating knowing we wouldn't even be home. This year we knew we had to decorate... or at least I did. Ryan is starting his SDA/B-Billet and we actually were told he would be working through Christmas. I was bummed, especially since we initially planned to go to New Jersey, but then we found very recently he actually can take leave. We did a lot of soul searching and thinking and decided to stay home this year, just the two of us.

 

We had Thanksgiving at Ryan's family's house, but my family was there too, so we saw everyone in our immediate families. We also plan on driving to my parents' house for New Years since it is less of a drive than New Jersey. It was a very hard decision for me since I really treasure any time I get with my Babci and Poppy... but with Rylie I am worried about her knocking them over. Seriously. Plus it is a long drive (11 hours or so) and I don't have a lot of vacation days, especially knowing I need a week or so in the near future for my gallbladder surgery. So, stress and practicality won out and we will be spending Christmas in our own home this year. Now, onto the decorations!

 

Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care.... along with my Christmas village from my Babci and Poppy that I got to take some of.

Our other stockings adorn the picture window. I won the knitted ones last year and they took the place of our little cheap felt ones! I didn't have the heart to throw them away (especially the Dup Dups!) so they are incorporated elsewhere.

 

 

My nativity set... which I love so much. I also sadly broke one of the wise men this year, both his hands broke off, but nothing some super glue couldn't fix.

 

I have had this advent calendar for ages. It used to hang on the door to my bedroom growing up and it is now in our dining room.

Ryan got us some poinsettias and they nicely compliment our advent wreath. Ignore the fact that I still had our fall placemats on the table, they are wintery now!

 

 

And of course, an overall panorama effect. Our tree is up and decorated (now complete with star since we broke our old one two years ago) and our house even has lights up outside. Perfection.

 

All decorations... and fires... are Dup approved

 

Note: I am a bit behind blogging, as per usual, but I feel like not many people are out there reading at this point any way. It is a little disheartening. I will keep writing, even if it is just for me at this point. There used to be so much life and activity here... now I am lucky if I get a single comment on an etnry. So, if you are out there, thanks for sticking around. - A



Military Spouse Appreciation Day

To all the wonderful Military Spouses out there, I just wanted to say thank you. To my blogging friends, thank you for getting me through some of my lowest lows and celebrating my highest highs. To my real life military spouse friends, thanks for the drinks, the movie nights and the general gripe sessions you've endured at my side. I never realized when I met my husband that being a "military spouse" would become a part of my identity, but it has. Now, don't get me wrong, I take no credit for anything my husband does... he does his job and he does it damn well. I am proud of him and his accomplishments... and that is what they are. His. But I am proud to be on this journey with him.

Sometimes that means spending a holiday or a birthday or anniversary alone. Sometimes that means going to Walmart at midnight to get baby wipes so he can "shower" in the field. Sometimes it means living 3,000 miles apart for nine months while he goes to school and you hold down your "good" job and save money to buy your first house. Sometimes it means a tearful goodbye knowing he is deploying for the next 6-8 months. But it also means cherishing every moment we have. It means enjoying each holiday, from Thanksgiving to Saint Patrick's Day, in case you are apart next year. It means long, bone crunching hugs and sweet kisses that have to either last awhile or make up for lost time. It means phone calls long into the night ignoring the fact that you have work in four hours. It means your heart skips a beat when you unexpectedly get a text message or an email. It means having so many first kisses that you lose count.

There is something to be said for being a military spouse. They are some of the strongest, kindest and most adaptable people I have ever had the honor of knowing. Near and far I am proud to consider them my friends. Thank you. Thank you for being there for me when I needed you, for advice when I was lost, and for just listening when it was necessary. I appreciate every one I have met and I know these relationships will last a long time. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Job Interview

After eight months of applying for jobs in North Carolina I finally scored my first job interview this week! It is for a library aide on base at one of the base libraries. I love books so it is actually something that appeals to me! Sadly the pay is pretty dismal and the hours are 0-40 (never zero but anywhere in between) and rotating with some nights and weekends. At this point we are willing to look past that even though Ryan and I both wanted me to get a day job with normal hours. After eight months we are realizing that it is impossible in this town (or so it seems) so I decided to go for this.

I was pretty excited to score an interview, but it ended being a lot more intimidating than I imagined! I wore a suit for the first time since April and made my way to the interview on base.

I was very surprised to learn I was being interviewed by three different people at once! That was new for me. They all had packets and asked me tons of questions which they then all wrote my answers down on. Everything from team work to high stress situations to past jobs to how I handled certain situations. My thinking cap was on for sure. I made them laugh once or twice so maybe that is a good sign (especially since it was attempted). The interview lasted over forty-five minutes and I will hear either way come mid January. Oy. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Hopefully I get it! They are hiring two aides at the research library and one at the main library (which is the one I am really hoping for). I know it is competitive as they had three days of interviews but you never know.


And Wednesday I managed to get all my baking done!

I made chocolate walnut crumb bars (my mom's recipe), peanut butter chocolate chip brownies, rolo pecan pretzels and forgotten kiss cookies (recipe is here on Mommy Musing's Blog (although I did add an egg to it)). Breanna helped me out, which I really appreciated, and she even brought her KitchenAid mixer and her dog so Rylie could play with Bo outside and be out of our hair. Well done!

And it is official: My wisdom teeth, two uppers, are coming out on January 4th. I am mildly terrified as I have an illogial fear of the dentist. So send good thoughts my way. I may not blog for a bit, depending on how drugged up I am following the whole procedure (of ripping perfectly good teeth out of my mouth), so if you want to send me some guest blogs for that weekend I'd appreciate it. Anyone ever been in my position? Feel free to share: imyewneek@yahoo.com

We are heading to my parents' house today for the holidays. Merry Christmas everyone and hope we don't get snowed in on the mountain! And I hope we all survive the Mayan end of the world... even though it means getting my wisdom teeth out when we do....

Holiday Blog Swap 2011

The ever amazing Roller Coaster has organized this holiday blog swap among some amazing military spouses (and organizations)! We are all switching blogs for the day to share some of our favorite holiday memories, stories, advice... basically anything to do with the holidays. As always there may be that special military spouse twist to some, but you will have to read them all to find out!

My entry for today can be found on the lovely Amanda's blog so please go check it out and leave her some love!

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Now my guest post today comes from Christina at The Journey of a Navy Wife. In her own words, here she is!

My name is Christina aka "Married to a Sailor". I like to write about how I view military life - My Journey as a Navy wife. I'm pretty upbeat and positive when it comes to the challenges of military life. I take it as it comes, plan nothing and expect everything. I thrive in this lifestyle. I have only been a Navy wife for 3 years, but I have learned so much. I'm independent and I like to think my husband is the dependent one- he just makes more money ;) I have 3 obnoxious furbabies that keep me sane- I'm never "alone". I can be found at http://thejourneyofanavywife.com

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Christmas is my favorite holiday. I love the holiday scents, I’m like a little kid when it comes to seeing Christmas lights, and I love to decorate.

Thankfully, since starting my Journey as a Navy wife, my husband and I have not missed a Christmas together. In 2008 he graduated boot camp on December 19. He then had to fly to Pensacola to check in on the 21st and on the 22nd we drove down to bring him home to Tennessee just in time for Christmas. In 2009 the ship was in the shipyards, so we had no worries about being apart. In 2010 he had an underway just before Christmas, but was back just in time for Christmas leave to begin. This year, Thankfully, we get Christmas together again. And like every other year, it will be spent in Tennessee with family.

I’ve noticed that I have a lot of “Navy” themed ornaments, and decorations. It all started while he was at boot camp. I was SO proud and excited for him. I bought Navy stockings, Sailor snowmen ornaments.. Etc. Now, 3 years later, it continues. I’ve noticed every year we seem to have some sort of new Navy Christmas decoration. The Navy isn’t just his job, it’s a big part of our life- and my Christmas tree sure is showing it.

The down part to my husband being in the Navy or military in general, is having to travel to be with family for Christmas. I love spending the holidays with my family, but with the planning, the driving and saving extra money to drive 13 hours home and 13 hours back is sometimes stressful. Christmas is a time to be joyful, but slowly, I feel I’m turning into a Grinch! Ok, I’ll never be a Christmas Grinch, but sometimes I think of how wonderful it would be to spend Christmas in our own home, just me and my husband, or maybe family drive to spend Christmas with us. The big decision for us will be when we have children. Will Santa only come in Tennessee or in OUR home in Virginia. This will be something I’m really going to have to consider.

Growing up, my parents were divorced, and remarried. So, I had something like 12+ family Christmas get togethers to go to every year. I loved seeing my family, but my holiday break was so stressful - even as a kid! Now that I’m 24 (nearly 25, gasp!), I still have those same feelings I did as a child. I don’t want our children to feel stressed as I did, and do. Even my husband gets stressed when we go home. Leave is never long enough to see our huge families- but we feel obligated to visit everyone, leaving us very tired and absolutely drained (13 hours in a car doesn’t help!).

I know in his Career with the Navy, I’m not going to be lucky enough to have every Christmas, every anniversary, holiday or birthday. But I know when we do miss one, we will find a way to make it special. A care package, maybe a phone call, an email, or just knowing that he’s thinking about me at some point during his busy days, That’s all I need.

But this Christmas, I am excited to go home. This Christmas is about my mother. In 7-8 years, my mom has not had all her children together for Christmas- or any holiday. My brother left for the Air Force in 2003. In 2008, I married my husband who joined the Navy shortly after. In the past 4 years, I think I have seen my brother 1, maybe 2, times. My husband has only met him once. Now, he has a little boy who is about 8 months. I have yet to meet my nephew. My brother is stationed in Germany. All my siblings have grown up and we all have “other halves”. This year, my family will be together again, and my family of six, has grown to a family of 12. It will be amazing to see how much we have all changed. To see my mom when she sees all her kids in the same room, grown up and now, 2 grand babies. My brother’s choice of job and my husband’s choice of job has separated our families for holidays, but now, we will spend this Christmas together. This Christmas will be special to me, but most of all, It’s the best gift my mother could ever ask for. This Christmas is for her.

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Corned Beef and Cabbage FAIL

I love Saint Patrick's Day. I am pretty heavily Irish, I mean my maiden name begins with O', a dead give away! One of my grandmothers was 100% Irish, and her husband was at least half (my real dad's parents). My mom always went out of her way to make the holiday special for me even though she has no Irish blood. She would make corned beef and cabbage and Irish Soda bread and all sorts of things. Did I mention Ryan and I met for the first time at a Saint Patrick's Day Party???

You catch my drift at this point. It is one of my favorite holidays.

So I was pretty excited to cook my first big Saint Patrick's Day dinner.

I went to Trader Joes after work on Wednesday and got all the essentials. Potatoes, onions, carrots, Irish Soda Bread (aka Blarney Scone! Hahahahaha... sorry) and Irish Butter. I just needed the actual corned beef. After wandering the store a bit I found the meat wall and got my five pound slab. It was already in a marinade with these giant peppercorns and big bay leaves and other things. Here I am thinking, "Sweet! One less thing to do!" So I get my stuff and go home.

After dinner that night I throw it all together in the crock pot. I paused a moment and debated rinsing off the beef and making my own marinade but... nahhhh. It would probably be better! Trader Joe's hasn't failed me yet!

Oh, but it did. Mistake one.

I throw it all in the crock pot and see the cabbage sitting aside. I am not a huge cabbage fan and my crock pot isn't huge, so I thought I would cheat and get shredded cabbage.

Mistake two.

I wake up the next morning, get the crock pot out of the fridge, and turn it on low.

All day I was so excited. Ryan would have his first home made corned beef and cabbage and our friends were coming over, it would be great. Well Lauren and Russ ended up not making it ( :( ) as Lauren got stuck at work, but we did wait til after 8 for them. I figured after nearly 13 hours in the crock pot this meat would be fall apart fantastic.

Oh, so so wrong.

The spices took over! Why did I not listen to my instincts and rinse the darn thing!? It permeated the vegetables and my poor shredded cabbage, mistake number two, was wilted and brown in the rubble. Oh crap. I tried to pour the juices out to reduce it to a sauce and ended up with cornstarch congealed blobs in potpourri water. So we skipped the sauce.

Ryan, bless him, was praising me up and down and eating it and saying it was delicious. As I chewed my Blarney Scone I looked at him and said,

"It's awful. I taste it too you know!"

"No, no it's not!"

Pointed look from me goes here.

"Ok, maybe just the vegetables...."

Ugh.

I felt so bad! The meat for some reason was not fall apart tender. It was rough. The flavor there was ok but the veggies were like cooked potpourri. It was terrible. We ate the meat with spicy mustard and lots of bread and butter, but the veggies were left basically. Anyone ever see Back to the Future 3? Remember when Marty is back in time and his great-great-great grandfather serves him rabbit he just hunted for and he takes a bite and spits little bullets onto his plate? That was us, with peppercorns or whatever the hell they were.

After we felt bad throwing out the veggies but they were inedible! What a waste :( But Ryan opened a bottle of White Zinfindel and I felt better.

And as Ryan put it, "Don't worry my love, you can practice again next year!"