513 love

It wouldn't be a trip home if it weren't jam packed with fun.

I met my most adorable nephew, Liam, for the 1st time.  Another reason we're excited to be moving back to Cincinnati, we'll get to watch this handsome guy grow up!

I was able to, very briefly, celebrate my cousin twice removed's 1st birthday (I think that's the correct title for my cousin's daughter's daughter.  I think.)

My friend Jessica planned our other friend Amanda's baby shower for the weekend I'd be in town.  Seriously, I could not have better friends!

In 2 days, the 4 of us celebrated Carissa's wedding and Amanda's baby.  I'm so grateful for friends like these.

I also managed to squeeze in a meal with my longest friend, Holly.

The rest of the weekend was spent soaking up as much family time as possible.  This trip home solidified that we are making the right decision to move back to Cincinnati.  4 days was simply not enough time with these people.  We don't plan on staying in Cincinnati forever, just the 2 years it will take Jason to finish school, and during that time I intend to spend every spare moment with the people I love and miss so dearly.

Until next time,

Carissa's Bridal Shower

I was back in Cincinnati last weekend getting pumped for our big move throwing my best friend a bridal shower.  After months of planning and prep, I am so thrilled with how things turned out on Saturday.

All of the food was great, the fruit bowls with dip in the bottom and veggie cups with ranch in the bottom were huge hits.

There were 60 invited guests so name tags were a must IMO, if not for them, for me!

I had these fabulous glasses made for the bridal party.  I want to drink everything out of mine!

This girl and I have been through some crazy stuff in our lives and I couldn't be more proud to call her my BFF!

 Um, does she not have the most adorable niece/flower girl?!

Ha, this is a terrible photo but we played a game where the bride and groom had to match answers to questions and for every one she got incorrect, she had to add a piece of bubble gum to her mouth.  She could barely speak by the end.

I had my lovely friend Rebecca come out and set up her photo booth.  It took everyone a while to realize what it was and what was going on but once they got the hang of it, everyone had a blast playing with all the fun props I made.

Of course there were gifts.  I think this is a pretty common sight at bridal showers these days.  It seems that every bride's number 1 wish on their registry is the stand mixer and the reaction when they open it is always so awesome!

Seriously, this woman is going to make the most gorgeous bride!  I cannot wait to see her walking down the aisle, I'm probably going to cry!

I love these women!  I cannot wait to spend more time with them when we move back to Cincinnati.

My BFF and I with our momma's.  I could not ask for a better foundation to my support system.  These women are truly amazing.  Seriously, I could not have pulled this shower off without the help of my mom.  She made all of my great ideas become a reality.

Less than 3 weeks till she becomes a Mrs..  It's going to be another great, whirlwind weekend and I cannot wait!

Our Group is Growing

A couple months ago a small group of military spouse bloggers living in San Diego got together and we've been getting together once a month ever since.  What started out as a small group of 5 has now nearly doubled into a group of 9!  This weekend, 8 of us (we missed you Emily!) got together for lunch and pottery painting.  We are all very different but have so much in common that we never run out of things to talk about and laughter always echoes around us.  These get together have become something I look forward to every month.

 3 of the OG's (Original Girls, of course!)

Nicole, Kara and Katie

The ladies painting.

  

  

The whole group!

Left to right:

Elizabeth of The Young Retiree
Nicole of Adventures of a Semper Fi Family
Yours Truly
Kara of Ramblings of a Marine Wife
Ines of the few, THE PROUD, the wife
Victoria of Anchored by Faith
Katieof Going Coastal
Katherine of The Newsom's Nest

Katie blessed each of us with cookies and individualized homemade ornaments!

We've already started discussing plans for next month so if you're in the area (Jordan, I'm talking to you.  We're meeting in your part of town in January) and want to join us, let one of us know, we'd love to have you!







30 Days of Thankfulness {Day 25}

Each day this month I'm joining up with Katie to share with you the many things I am thankful for. I'd love to hear what you're thankful for.

Day 25: I'm thankful for my BFF(s), all of them.

I know the concept of "BFF" is one person, your BEST friend, but I have lots.  I tend to collect a new one at each stage of my life.  So far I've been lucky enough that I haven't lost any along the way (maybe one but that's another story for another day).

Elementary school: Holly

I have very few memories since the age of 7 that don't involve Holly.  We attended K-12 together but didn't really meet until 4th grade.  From that point on though, we pretty much did everything together.  School, church/youth group, sports, Girl Scouts, everything.  After college we even worked and lived together.  She was my rock during my parents divorce and she stood by my side at my wedding.  She's the friend that we can go weeks, months, even years not speaking and then meet up and it's like we were never apart.  I love her.

Girl Scout camp at age 10

 

17 years later at my wedding

High School: Carissa
Sissa and I met the summer before 9th grade at volleyball try outs.  We clicked instantly and although we have had our ups and downs, we're stronger than ever now.  We navigated the awkward stages of high school together (including our black lipstick infused punk rock days), survived deployments, divorce and distance and our friendship came out on the other end thriving.

 

Freshman dance

10 years later we both had deployed husbands during the holidays so we spent them together.

College: Sarah
Sarah and I met the summer before our freshman year of college.  We both showed up at EMU a month before the rest of the freshman to start our jobs as equipment managers for the football team.  We were the only 2 females among 150 males so we instantly latched on to each other.  I am so grateful for our brief time together.  Sarah has been dealt a very crappy hand in life.  She spent most of our freshman year in the hospital or sick in some way.  She only attended school for a year before her health became too poor and she was forced to move back home.  In spite of it all, she has an great spirit and is an amazing person.  Last year she had to have brain surgery and was so devastated about having to shave part of her hair that I shaved mine too to show my support.  That's how much I love this girl!

I think this was after a game, it was always our time to relax and unwind after a crazy busy week.



 

I'm so honored she was by my side on my wedding day!

Army: Kristi
Kristi and I met at FLW and I've never met anyone as selfless and kind as her.  We only lived near each other for a short time but her love and support never ended despite the distance that separated us.  I know that I can count on this girl for anything as long as I live.

 

Some how I have no photos of just the two of us.

 

We had such good friends at FLW and were always hanging out in large groups.  I love all of these ladies!

Japan: Kristin
(yes, this is still technically the Army stage of my life but our time in Japan deserves it's own stage)

I'm quite certain that I would not have survived 3 years in Japan at Camp Zama without her (and Melissa).  Our daily therapy sessions on her couch/in her kitchen were life savers for both of us.  It is nice to have a confidant, someone you can share your secrets with and spill your guts to and know you won't be judged.  She is such an inspirational friend.  I want to be like her when I grow up ;-)  Her relationship with the Lord and her children make me want to be a better Christian and an even better mom (whenever that time comes).

2013 Army Ball at CZ.

The day she left Japan.  Thankfully it was only 9 days before we did.

Our families reunited in America just days after leaving Japan.



Post Army: Only time will tell...

New Friends!

When you move every 3 years (or less), making new friends each time can be a daunting task.  It's not as easy as when you were 5 and you can walk up to a girl, say "Your shoes are pretty.  Want to be my friend?", and skip off together to the playground (I saw this happen once at vacation Bible school).  Luckily for me, Katie from Going Coastal took some of the stress out of friend making here in San Diego.  She rounded up a bunch of military spouse bloggers who are all relatively new to the area and organized a super fun brunch at Crepes and Corks.

I had a delicious chicken pesto crepe.  Everyone else ordered something sweet so I'll have to go back and try a sweet one next time.

We sat around chatting for two hours and probably would have sat there longer if our parking meters hadn't expired. (our server was definitely not a photographer!)

Nicole {Adventures of a Semper Fi Family}

Kara {Ramblings of a Marine Wife}

Me

Katie {Going Coastal}

Emily {Just the Stew of Us}

We're making plans to expand our group and meet up again next month and I'm already looking forward to it!

Speechless at my brother's wedding

For the first time ever in my life I was left speechless last week.  Literally.  Unable to speak a word.  IT. WAS. TORTURE.

So I woke up last Tuesday (the day our HHG were delivered) to a sore throat that I just knew was going to turn into something more.  I had no idea exactly how much more it was about to become.  I struggled through the delivery of all our stuff

before I passed out for a 4 hour nap while my AMAZING husband began the agonizing process of unpacking.

I woke up long enough to cook dinner and go right back to sleep.  The next morning, I left to fly back to Cincinnati for my brother's wedding.  Traveling while sick might be one of the worst things EVER but there was no way I was going to miss this flight.

OJ, water, and pretzels helped me survive the flights.

I immediately went back to sleep the moment I arrived at my girlfriend's house, not the reunion either of us had hoped for but a necessity for sure.

The next morning was go time!  Wedding prep was underway with or without me, so I joined in as best I could.  A relaxing mani/pedi with my mom, sister, and sister-to-be definitely lifted my spirits, if only temporarily.

 Then my husband's flight arrived and he sure did his part to make sure I had a smile on my face even though I felt like I was dying.  We found this bunny suit and he insisted on wearing the head around.

 Then we rehearsed...

and had fun doing it.  (that water bottle in my hand did not leave my side for an entire week except for the 20 minutes during the actually ceremony)

 After business was taken care of we went back to their house for dinner and they gave gifts to the wedding party.  All the groomsmen got jerseys, I was wicked jealous! (except my husband chose the dirty wings!  BOO that!)

We didn't make it long after dinner, that's when I really, really started to feel bad and I knew I had a long day ahead of me on Friday so we punked out early.  I'm going to skip the wedding, that will get it's own post tomorrow but that's the day I lost my voice.  Not being able to talk the day I saw most of my family for the first time in over a year was torture.  Good thing my sister is awesome at reading my lips/mind and understanding my gestures/sign language.

First thing Saturday morning I was at urgent care being diagnosed with sinus bronchitis, I let my sinus infection (I was almost certain that's what was wrong with me) go untreated so long it turned into bronchitis.  Not cool folks, not cool.  Don't let a sinus infection go untreated!  I definitely learned my lesson.  With an antibiotic Rx in my pocket I decided not to cancel my scheduled dinner plans with my best girl friends and I'm so glad I didn't.  It might have been difficult communicating with no voice but it was just nice to be in the company of women who love and support me.

I tried my damnedest to enjoy my weekend with friends and family despite feeling like crap.  I wish I could have been a bit more myself (ie. talkative) but it was nice to just be in the company of these people.  For a brief minute I felt a little sad that we didn't choose to move back to Cincinnati.  I miss the people so much it hurts!

Come back tomorrow for a recap of the wedding.  There were some amazing surprises you're going to want to see!