Sunday, January 31, 2010

It's Cookie Time!

It's that time of the year again!

Girl Scout Cookie time!

Hopefully, I'm not too late with my order {I totally forgot about it in all of the hubub of moving!}

Then, I mentioned it to the other families in my quad and they were ALL about getting their hands on these quintessential American cookies before they jet off overseas.

Me?

My favorites are the Thin Mints and the Tagalongs {peanut butter patties} and Ian LOVES the Samoas {tagalongs.}

YUM!

What's your favorite?

Friday, January 29, 2010

Week Four- Project 365


First picture, ever, taken with my new camera! So excited to have my t1i!

My oh-so-handsome husband, at Disney Hollywood Studios...aka MGM.


My banana dream cake (banana cream filling with a chocolate chip, walnut banana bread cake with chocolate ganache icing!) from Wednesday's surprise birthday party!


Abigail hamming it up for the camera on the trail, in the woods, on Thursday!


D'Artagnon, my in-laws male miniature dachshund, doing his thing.


All of our luggage lined up and ready to be loaded. Now we just need to figure out how to condense the two duffles and two messenger bags into one chest. hmmmm...

Amazing cheesy dreamy grits from The Flying Biscuit restaurant in Charlotte. Had a great time with Courtney!


Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Thoughts from the FPO

I'm sitting in our training centers' library excited to finally have internet.

Our quads (4 mini suites that share a common family room,) are awesome, save for the MckNasty bathroom with peeling paint and a green and red mold on the roof.

Awesome.

The people in our quads are great too! With a JMan (girl though,) and two other families, each with two kids. We're going to have fun!

It was beautiful weather when we got here on Monday, but Tuesday we saw the temperature start to plummet, and the weather is saying we're expecting 6-12 inches of snow this weekend! Insane! My first American snow! {maybe}

I'm exhausted from stimulation overload. There's alot of smiling, laughing, chatting, and getting caught up. Our days will start at 6 and end sometime around 10:30-11.

We'll go to our vaccination clinic soon. Some people have to get 15 shots. I don't think we have to get as many since we are going to the Middle East {there aren't too many insects/pests there.}

There is only me and an older man {going to London, apparently,} in the library.

It took me 72 minutes to load 5 pictures.

My "home," is beautiful. And it's all ours. For 2 months anyways.

We got our address for our Vancouver home, where we will be living for 4 months starting in April, and it is GORGEOUS! I'm so excited! Plus we'll only be 1/2 a mile from our good friends.

Everyone here has a baby. I'm feeling wAy left out.

My Queen sized down comforter doesn't fit on our King bed but our queen sized quilt does. Weird.

We're considering a 2-3 day vacation after our training before my sister's wedding. Beach maybe?

I love my new camera. I just can't get enough of it!

I need snow/rain boots.

I watched a kid drink 4 glasses of sweet tea {Good Lord!} and felt bad for his parents.

We're loving our healthy eating options. More on that later.

Bye ya'll!

Momma G's Birthday

We celebrated my Mother in law's 51st birthday last week.
She appreciated the "21" candles, I believe.
My brother in law and his fiance came over as well!
Sid and Ian, goofed off before dinner, as usual.
And we had us some sweet corn. Whether it was in season, or not. Either way, it was delicious!

Coach, Sweet, Beautiful Coach

On Friday, of last week, Ian and I were rushing around like mad to get things done. Mrs. Angela called to tell me she had something before we left, so we met her where she was at, which, was where else, but T@rget!

{a little back story first. Mrs. Angela and I spent an entire shopping day trying to find the perfect black bag to replace my one from last year. I am extremely picky about my black purse. It has to feel nice. It has to have one large pocket with two-three side compartments. It can't have alot of decor or studs or colored stitching. It needs to look classy without looking old lady like. And, it MUST zip up completely.}

So, we got to T@rget, and Mrs. Angela had a surprise for me!


Presenting the magic.

Opening the magic.


ooooh, I love her. And I love IT. Sweet Love.
(not bad for a mirror shot!) My Birthday present for 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Basically, my present for the rest of my life, lets face it!

It's technically mahogany, but I think I can sneak by with it with a black OR brown outfit, so I am so SO so excited about it.

And it smells good.

Score.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A Walk in the Woods (Also called, Making alot of Noise.)

Last Thursday, Ian and I had the Alderman kids for the evening, and planned some fun activities to help them blow off some steam.

We took them to Cici's, played wii, hide n' seek, and sardines, and generally just had a great time together.

But, first, we took them to our favorite trail in Oviedo. It's this tiny nature trail that perfectly captures what the real Florida looks like and it's flat. Well, no duh, it's Florida, but still. It's perfect for running around in, climbing up trees, watching birds, and taking pictures!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Tomorrow's the Big Day!

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, Ian and I will pack up our one suitcase and hit the road from Charlotte, NC to Richmond, VA!

Our time here with Courtney has been such a blessing to us. Sweet, sweet fellowship with a dear friend.

But, man, are we excited to arrive at our training center and "settle in." 

I'll get to make our bed (not our parents'!) and set up OUR kitchen (also, not our parents'!)

We'll meet our quad mates and be informed about what the next 2 months will look like! I'm so excited about tomorrow!

Sorry for the lack of posting and my getting behind on posting my Project 365 stuff. Since we got the new camera, and Ian's laptop's SD slot is broken, we're trying to figure out a new way to upload the pictures to our computer. 

I can't wait to get caught up on all that is happening with ya'll!

Love,

]

Friday, January 22, 2010

Goodbyes Suck

'nuff said.

Packed, cried, hugged, laughed, packed, ate, lounged, cried, packed, and cried some more.

Tomorrow morning begins the traveling for our 4th move in 8 months.

Bleh.

But really, putting aside all of the packing and cleaning, organizing and getting rid of stuff...the worst part about THIS move, is the goodbyes.

Please pray as we hit the road tomorrow morning, going up I-95 to Charlotte and then on to Richmond on Monday.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Surprise!

Last night, my girls surprised me with an early birthday party! They knew how bummed I was that I wouldn't get to celebrate my (Feb 16th) birthday with them again this year, and how I was semi depressed about spending it in VA at training.

So, imagine my surprise when I walked into {what I thought was a normal} girls' night, only to see this:


We had a great time {as always,} eating, chatting, and laughing. Amazing how there are always great stories to be shared and good conversation to be enjoyed!

The girls' got me some really special gifts! They knew that from here on out, Ian and I are limited to our 2 suitcases + a carry on each, so they tried to keep the gifts small and portable.

Katie and Jessica got me this adorable heart shaped bowl with two chick flicks and lots of candy and popcorn!

Courtney had this amazing calender made with pictures of us all throughout the years! It folds flat for travel but folds out to stand up on a desk or table top!

So cute!
Jessica also made me these great scripture cards {because I want to start memorizing more,} and put them in a tiny photo album! She's so creative!

Jaci got me a travel set (with a luggage tag, which I desperately needed more of!) and a middle easterny scarf. Love it!

Not pictured is a mirror that Katie got for me last weekend that I could put in our shipping crate, so its already on its way to the port!

Thank You, God, for such amazingly wonderful friends.


Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Basketball?

Sometimes I forget if I've actually posted on a topic.

Take, for example, our trip to see the Magic play. I don't think I delved into it...not that I now really remember much, due to my lack of interest.

How long until college football starts up again?

8 months?!

Well, Que sera.

Then, 3 days later, we got the opportunity to go watch one of my favorite little men tear it up on the bball court.

He might only be 4 but he is fierce.

There were even several wrestling matches between kids as they fought over whose turn it was with the ball.

Highly entertaining.

WAY more than the professional league.

Then again, this league doesn't keep track of score, which is kind of a cop out, I think.

His team should have won. They were just too darn cute!


Monday, January 18, 2010

Gotcha Day!

Today, was our "Gotcha Day."

Not to steal thunder away from all of those adoptive families.

I mean,

My 'baby' is not human.

And, in fact, is not alive.

But OH stinkin BOY, am I excited, because this baby:


Is mine!

Or, you know, "ours," with us being married and all.

But who I am I trying to fool?

It's mine.

I called dibbs.

And Ian doesn't really care, haha!

Lots of reading and fiddling, practicing and researching!

Speaking of research, I agonized over the Canon T1i and the Canon xsi, with the xsi being a step below the t1i but also being less expensive.

In the end, we chose the T1i so that it could take me further (since we'll be moving overseas,) and because of the live video option.

Now for research on a camera bag!