We are finally home from our whirlwind trip to Texas. It was so great getting to see our families. We started out on December 18th, staying with Brian's step-sister and husband, Amber and Randall. We had a blast. His step-brother and wife, Tom and Cristina, came over as well. We watched some oldies, but goodies: The Neverending Story and Star Wars. I was pulling for Legend and The Last Unicorn, but was outvoted. :(
The next day we drove to San Antonio to see my sister Kaeli, her husband Rusty and my two fabulous nephews Sutton and Mason. Sutton is growing like a week and Mr. Mason loves his Aunt LaLa. He's the only baby that will let me hold him without screaming. :) Looks like I'm getting better at baby holding. We went to dinner with Brian's Dad and his sister Miranda at The Pearl in downtown San Antonio. I had a fabulous time catching up with them.
Next we were off to Victoria to see my Dad, step-Mom, sister and brother. Dad made fried venison and I pigged out, as usual. We celebrated Christmas a few nights early. Brian and I got a lot of Texas memorabilia which will make our Qatar home feel a little more like our real home, Texas! While in Victoria, I put Brian and Dad as users on my bank account. Since we will be in Qatar, Dad is taking over as slum lord for my house in Houston and needs to be able to access my information.
We then drove to Houston to see Brian's Mom Karen and step-Dad Jack. Karen made a HUGE feast for Christmas Eve and we got to spend time with Brian's sister and her fiance, Erin and Joe. We stayed up late playing Clue and The Game of Life....I lost. Meh. It was fun and I love spending time with all of them.
Next we were off to Goliad to stay with Mom at the ranch. Brian got to shoot at some hogs, but luckily for them, none were harmed. I got to see my Aunt Janey, Uncle Mike and cousins Dustin and Layton. Dustin brought his fiance (girlfriend at the time - they got engaged last night) Brooke and we all played games and shot fireworks. We went over to my Uncle John and Aunt Barbara's ranch to see the wedding location and to try to find out where we are setting up the wedding tent. It's huge and there are only a few places it will fit. I also got to see my cousins, Lisa and Jenny, whom I haven't seen since 2008. We also drove to Refugio and had lunch with my Aunt Brenda, Uncle Bruce and cousins Barbie, Becky, Molly and Kate at Moya's.
Finally, we drove back to Houston to Brian's Mom's house the night before we flew home on December 28th. I FINALLY got to meet Brian's step-sister Amanda. It's hard to believe that it took two years to finally meet the McClures. I love them all already!
We drove 915 miles in 9 days....Needless to say we were happy to be home, but loved every second of our trip.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Merry Chistmakwanzahanakkuh!!
Today is my last day at work for a week and a half! WOOHOO! Today is our 3rd to last day in Virginia Beach. We will be living in DC as of December 31st. I can't believe I moved out here 2 years ago to be with Brian. I couldn't have asked for a better outcome to my life. He is all I expected and more in a partner. Moving out here was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I know I worried my friends and family by picking up my life and moving out here on a hunch, but I hope you all can see the happiness it’s brought me. (Not to say there weren’t many tough times too, but I like to think it made me stronger in the end.)
OK – enough sappy talk. :)
Brian’s orders are IN. We get home from TX on December 28th and the Qatar movers are coming to pack our things on December 30th. Then we are off to DC to spend New Year’s with our close friends, Mark & Kledia. I can’t wait to live in DC. It’s a fabulous town and I’m looking forward to experiencing all I can while I’m there…pending snow storms. I also plan on working out like a fiend to look decent in my wedding dress. I have 4 months to ship shape up, so I’m sure it will work out.
We are having some friends over tonight to make dinner and have some libations. It’s not a going-away party. It’s more like a I-will-see-you-in-a-few-years party. :)
We are beyond excited to get to Qatar, but I’m even more excited to get to TX and see our friends and family. Our time is stretched thin, so for those of you we don’t make it to see, I apologize. We have this problem every year trying to make everyone happy with visiting, but our trip is short and sweet and we aren’t going to stress ourselves out trying to make everyone happy. Sorry to be a bunghole, but that’s how it is – so don’t get grumpy with us is all I’m trying to say! :)
That’s all for now. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
A week and a half left in Virginia Beach
Yep! That's right...we have 11 days left in Virginia Beach. It's time to get packing! Brian found out today that we can take 3500 pounds to Qatar with us. My question: How much is that!? Is it a desk? A car? My bed? I need something to compare to or else we are going to be way over or under. All I am concerned about is our bed and my kitchen stuff. The rest, we can replace while we are over there or have registered for.
We leave for Texas next Sunday, December 18th and return home on Wednesday, December 28th. I cannot WAIT to see all four families. It will definitely be short and sweet, but we will be back in April for the wedding for a few weeks. We are bringing the puppies with us to TX and leaving them with my Dad while we are in DC for the Embassy school. Hopefully we will get them back. ;)
Once we return from Texas, we have 2 days to finish packing, have the Navy load up our belongings and move to DC for 4.5 months. Brian needs to completely redo his wardrobe for the school. He has to wear suits everyday, so if anyone is looking for Christmas ideas for B....he needs gift cards to Men's Warehouse!
I'm still trying to figure out our schedule in DC to see if I can continue working at The Dump. It's looking like I will be commuting back and forth every week. I will, hopefully, be here 3-4 days a week and in DC the remainder of the days trying to catch up on the Embassy classes. They record most of them if you cannot attend so you can watch them at a later time which will be helpful if I get to keep my job. If I can't commute back and forth, I'm going to have to quit working and go to school full time, so for our pocketbook's sake, I hope I can do both.
As for the wedding - It is coming along. I have reserved the tables, chairs and the tent. All I have left are flowers, centerpieces and general day-of set-up....I think. I KNOW there will be more things popping up all over the place, but I have been getting quite a bit of help from the family down there.
What else...I am pretty much done with my overseas screening and Brian should be getting definite orders in the next few days...which makes everything 100% official. Right now, it is only 99.9% official. ;)
That is all for now...over and out, party people!
We leave for Texas next Sunday, December 18th and return home on Wednesday, December 28th. I cannot WAIT to see all four families. It will definitely be short and sweet, but we will be back in April for the wedding for a few weeks. We are bringing the puppies with us to TX and leaving them with my Dad while we are in DC for the Embassy school. Hopefully we will get them back. ;)
Once we return from Texas, we have 2 days to finish packing, have the Navy load up our belongings and move to DC for 4.5 months. Brian needs to completely redo his wardrobe for the school. He has to wear suits everyday, so if anyone is looking for Christmas ideas for B....he needs gift cards to Men's Warehouse!
I'm still trying to figure out our schedule in DC to see if I can continue working at The Dump. It's looking like I will be commuting back and forth every week. I will, hopefully, be here 3-4 days a week and in DC the remainder of the days trying to catch up on the Embassy classes. They record most of them if you cannot attend so you can watch them at a later time which will be helpful if I get to keep my job. If I can't commute back and forth, I'm going to have to quit working and go to school full time, so for our pocketbook's sake, I hope I can do both.
As for the wedding - It is coming along. I have reserved the tables, chairs and the tent. All I have left are flowers, centerpieces and general day-of set-up....I think. I KNOW there will be more things popping up all over the place, but I have been getting quite a bit of help from the family down there.
What else...I am pretty much done with my overseas screening and Brian should be getting definite orders in the next few days...which makes everything 100% official. Right now, it is only 99.9% official. ;)
That is all for now...over and out, party people!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Testing, Testing.....
This is my first post. I figured this is the best way to keep friends and family in the loop of our status, so you can read at your leisure.
Things are getting real...real quick. Brian took me to the Navy Clinic to start my overseas screening. I got all of my immunizations: MMR, Tuberculosis, Polio, Tetanus, Flu and Chicken Pox. I go back on Friday for the reading of the Tuberculosis test and to start another round of shots for Hepatitis and Typhoid. I feel like a pin cushion.
On the home front, we have started boxing items that we are not going to need for the next 5 months. Everything we are packing now will meet us in Qatar. I am having a hard time down-sizing. I am officially labeling myself a pack-rat. BUT, so is Brian - of all things gun and military related. I'm most certain we are not going to be able to take guns with us, so we will need to find a temporary home for them while we are overseas.
Wedding planning is coming along....slowly. I'm kind of at a stand-still for now. That's all I have to say about it or else I will go on a stress-inducing rant. :)
I suppose that is all for now....more updates to come as orders come in and moving plans are more solid. :)
Things are getting real...real quick. Brian took me to the Navy Clinic to start my overseas screening. I got all of my immunizations: MMR, Tuberculosis, Polio, Tetanus, Flu and Chicken Pox. I go back on Friday for the reading of the Tuberculosis test and to start another round of shots for Hepatitis and Typhoid. I feel like a pin cushion.
On the home front, we have started boxing items that we are not going to need for the next 5 months. Everything we are packing now will meet us in Qatar. I am having a hard time down-sizing. I am officially labeling myself a pack-rat. BUT, so is Brian - of all things gun and military related. I'm most certain we are not going to be able to take guns with us, so we will need to find a temporary home for them while we are overseas.
Wedding planning is coming along....slowly. I'm kind of at a stand-still for now. That's all I have to say about it or else I will go on a stress-inducing rant. :)
I suppose that is all for now....more updates to come as orders come in and moving plans are more solid. :)
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