Happy Anniversary To Us

No this is not a recent picture and no I did not cut my hair. This was taken two years ago here at Olive Garden in Killeen, TX. If you are thinking I look tired, it's because I was. I had flown all night, leaving AK at 2 am and arriving in Texas as 2 pm and then driving three hours from Dallas to Killeen. Sure, it only takes two and a half hours to get from Dallas to here, but we got a little lost. And not on purpose either. I remember driving through a town called Waxahachie. Yup, I was in the south and wondering what the hell I had gotten myself into. After taking a few back country roads and being a little freaked out by the Texas Chainsaw Massacre looking houses, we arrived at our destination. And what a nice treat after such a long and grueling day- Olive Garden!
That being two years ago today, I look back and think "Wow!" It's so funny...before I even met Cameron, I had seen him on some girls myspace and I remember thinking he was just SO cute. I had just recently moved to Anchorage and saw he was 23 and lived in Eagle River. Like girls do, I was daydreaming and thought there is no way I will ever meet this guy and plus, even if I did, he probably wouldn't go for me- I thought I was just much too young for him, being 20. Our story is long and complicated but when I realized I would actually have a chance at meeting this guy (he was my new friends boyfriends best friend) I thought, "OH my god!"

A lot has happened within these past two years. Cameron was deployed for a year of it, with a trip home for 3 weeks half way through. This picture below was taken right before I took him to the airport to head back. We were in such a rush I brought nothing, besides him and his stuff. When we were checking him in the lady said I could walk with him through security and to the gate- I just needed my ID. Yeah, didn't have that. So I said my goodbyes at the security gate and off he went. I did see him plenty in the next 6 months though. On skype that is. We talked every day, every chance that we got whether it was just saying hi or bye. Time difference was a challenge. 12 hour differences. So when I was going to bed, Cameron was waking up and vice versa. But, somehow we made it work. Since him being gone happened at the beginning of our relationship, I feel like we really got to know one another. We couldn't just sit and watch a movie together, we were forced to talk. I mean, I guess we could of just stared at eachother over skype but what fun would that be?
We should have stock in Alaska Airlines by now with all the trips back and forth once Cameron returned home. One trip I took in particular was when I flew down March 2009 to welcome Cameron home from his tour in Iraq. His parents were unable to go down and I just couldn't leave the poor guy hangin with no one to welcome him home. I'm pretty sure his parents would have made it if I wasn't going to, but I wasn't really willing to find out. In case you don't know, the Army isn't really much into planning things and having a schedule. And if they do, its about 2-4 weeks off schedule. So planning a trip down to meet Cameron was a little tricky. I was going to have to get there before Cameron and some how make it from Austin, TX to Killeen by myself. I was not about to trust that Cameron would be home in time to pick me up, although I really hoped that was the case. So, after flying 12 hours and almost missing my flight in Chicago, I arrive in Austin at 2:30 am. It was pointless for me to get a hotel for 5 hours, since I would be needing to catch a shuttle to the train station at 7ish. So, there I sat and slept a little until 7 am. I think the train out of Austin left around 10, and there I was to board it. Had to get off in Temple and from there a shuttle from the train depot brought me to Killeen. No one but me was headed there (I understand why). After hearing my story, the lady offered to take me straight to my hotel, rather then letting me off and catching a cab. She said they would charge me an arm and a leg. I stayed at the same hotel that we stayed at when I first came down to Texas, so it was familiar which was really nice. I checked myself in and there I sat...waiting to hear when Cameron would be home. Luckily, he was on the last flight out of Kuwait before a big sand storm hit and grounded the planes. He would be home in about a day and a half. I would have had a pretty boring vacation in Texas by myself if he didn't make it home. His friend who got in one day before him was kind enough to make certain I made it on base to where Cameron would be released. I had got a flu bug the one day I was there by myself. Thank goodness I was feeling better by the next day because I had to get up at 5 am to go get Cameron. It was POURING rain that morning. I went downstairs to walk out the door and ran back to the room to change. Flip flops and a t-shirt were not going to work. They held the ceremony inside since it was raining, so there were no bleachers like outside. That meant when 400 soldiers walked into the room, all I could see was the first row of them. When they were released I ran through the crowd, looking and looking for him which was not easy as I am only 5'1. Finally, I spotted him out of the corner of my eye and ran and jumped up his arms and wrapped my legs around him. I was excited, ok!? We spent the next week going to bbqs his friends had, spending the night in San Antonio, going to eat at all my favorite places we don't have at home and spending all his hard earned money on new clothes for the two of us. The picture below is us at the Fort Hood main gate, sportin our Texas gear.
In between that, Cam came home to AK for a week or so, then in June I went down there again. Odd thing is, I really don't think we took any pictures during those trips. We're kind of bad at this whole picture taking thing. After visiting Texas in June and having the best time floating the river, soaking up the sun by the pool and eatin some good Texas bbq, I decided I wanted to move there. We thought that Cameron was getting out of the Army within 7 more months and that we could just wait it out till he was able to move back home with each of us flying back and forth a few more times. But that just wasn't going to cut it. If you know me, you know I come up with wild ideas and run with them. Hence moving to Anchorage, buying a new house.. and so and so on. Once my minds made up, its pretty much a go. Cameron was a little shocked by my choice, he didn't think I would actually do it. But I got my house rented, applied to school in TX and made plans to ship our cars to Seattle, us (Cam, Rett and I) meet there and drive our happy selves to Texas. July 20, that is just what we did. Cameron was happy to have the Silver Bullet (his truck) back in his life and I was happy to be out of Alaska enjoying some sunshine in July. I claimed Retta as my driving partner even though she sleeps the whole time. Cam and I spent a lot of the time talking on the phone since we were having to ride in separate trucks. After leaving Seattle at noon on a Monday, we made it to Texas on Wednesday night/Thursday morning at 3 am with Cam having to go to work at 5 am. We did stop in Colorado to see Rai and Thomas and had ourselves a delicious breakfast at Village Inn before hittin the road. We really wish we could have spent more time, but at noon Wednesday is when Cameron got the call saying they lost his paperwork for leave and he needed to be at work the next day. Pedal to the metal, that's how we roll! Cam and Retta can be seen below at our new home.

In the past couple months, we've had ourselves quite a good time enjoying life in Texas and seeing different things. We took another long road trip and headed to South Carolina for Labor Day to visit Cam's dad. We've driven to different places in Texas...Austin, Houston, Waco, Salado and lots of small lil towns that hardly even count as towns, one being Cameron, Texas. I love driving in the country and seeing the cows and farm houses with wishes I'll some day have 20 acres out here in the middle of nowhere...someday. And probably the biggest thing that has happened to us since me being here is finding out the news I was pregnant a month ago. Totally unplanned, but we are both excited! I feel like the picture below shows our Texan sides, sittin on a bale of hay wearin cowgirl boots. That was at the bar, a place I will no longer be frequenting....

And now this brings us to today, our two year anniversary. We decided to celebrate at the same place we did two years ago, Olive Garden! I wasn't going to complain about that choice. I definitely went overboard and ate way too much food, and even ordered dessert to go. I'm a sucker for chocolate cake lately, I just couldn't help myself! Not purposefully, I ordered the same thing I did two years ago, just with a different sauce. Portabello Ravioli, yes please! Obviously, I was a lot tanner two years ago. That is what I get for being pregnant- no tanning. And Cameron of course is wearing his signature white hat like always. Too bad there will be no Olive Garden in Alaska next year to celebrate three years. Perhaps a trip to the lower 48 will be in order... with a baby in tow!
♥Happy Two Year Anniversary To US ♥

Nothin Like a Lil' Monster Truck Action

Sunday morning and I'm sittin here lookin out the window, catchin up on all the blogs I read. Its sunny today which is a good start to the day. Looks like some yard work is in store for us. Our lawn is SO long, its ridiculous. I figure I'll mow the front, Cam can mow the back (since its bigger :)) and that'll be my workout for the day...or week. Before the yardwork, and housework, and school work sets in though today, we did have ourselves a good time last night at the monster truck show. We went with our friends Mike, Lynsey and her son Donavon. I had never really been to somethin like this, but I had a good time. If the truck show at the fair in Fairbanks counts, then yes, I have been. But I don't really think that counts.

This was the multi engine tractor pull, or something like that! Anyway, this thing had a 1700 cubic inch engine! That seems insane. Most engines are like what, 5 something? Not that I really know a whole lot about engines, but I do know that that one right there is dannnng big!


This is the only good shot I got of the monter trucks. Apparently my camera isn't too great with the action shots. Oh well!



Save the best for last. Just a quick shot of Cam and I before the show. We got there early thinking there was a "pit party," so Donavon could get some autographs but that was only on Friday night. Needless to say, we had some time to kill before the show started. Why not take a few pictures?

Beautiful Spring Day In ... Texas? or Alaska?

I most certainly felt like I woke up in Alaska this morning, on a beautiful, spring day. But no. The Texas star on the house confirms that we are still in Texas, darlin. Even though, I am going to put that star on our house in Alaska. I was so surprised to see that the snow stuck. Makes me miss home a lot today. But I'm sure the 60 above degree weather we will be having tomorrow will remind me how happy I am not to be in Alaska this time of year. Makes me so confused though, do I wanna live in Alaska again for a few more years, or make it a quick trip and return to the states. I feel like Tennessee or something like that might be a happy median, between warm sunshiny weather and a few flurries to make the holidays seem a little more holiday-y!

I know, I am going off on a tangent there. Anyway, plans for the day. Not a whole lot! Might go into Walmart so I can sign my acceptance thing, but the lady I have been talking to isn't there and I'm so shy when dealing with people I don't know. Perhaps, I'll call and talk to the lady first, and at least let her know I'll be coming in. I should write a paper that I was due awhile ago, but we'll see, haha. Enjoy your humpday everyone!

Ice Cream and Puppies!

I have the best boyfriend ever. Just look at that dessert he dished up for me! Boy, oh boy was it ever good too! I knew Stephie would want to see a picture, so here it is! Cameron laughed at me too, I told him you'd wanna see it! Don't mind the ugly blue bowl. I really wish he would have used a white one, would look so much more appetizing. But then again, strawberries, icecream and chocolate sauce looks appetizing no matter what it is in! Clearly, he was not planning ahead for the photo..



Cameron snuck off to bed early while I was still doing my online class, UGH! He said he probably wouldn't be able to fall asleep so I walked in there after my class and sure enough, he was asleep! He would probably kill me if he knew I put this picture up. Little Colt boy was up there on the pillow next to him snoozin away. Retta jumped off the bed and woke him up, otherwise he would be passed out next to Cam. He's getting so big it looks like in this picture! Colt, that is. Makes me sad. But for now I will enjoy him being a cute lil cuddle bug. I will feel bad when I have to kick him off my pillow when I go to bed! He sleeps in his kennel though and loves it, Retta is enough dog in our bed for night!

Snow, Snow, Snow... Love It!

Here is what we woke up to this morning :) It was so much fun to actually go outside and play in the snow, which we did for a good hour or so. This was colt's first time seeing snow, which he wasn't really a fan of at first, but Retta got him out in the mix of it all...for a little while. He then can be seen hiding out in the shed, by the lawn mower, wishfully thinking of summer sun! Hard to believe that on Sunday I was laying out on Jamie's deck in our bathing suits soaking up the rays working on our tans, and today was a "snow storm." On the news they reported that this was the worst snow storm since 1982...Oh, Texas. You just can't hang with the big boys can ya?

Workin' Gal

This week has been pretty uneventful. Just when I thought Phenergan was my friend, turns out not so much! Spent another few days laying on the couch in misery, not being able to eat anything. I finally decided some b6 vitamins may help (I'm willing to try almost anything) and seems to be that they did! Now, maybe it's just coincidence and in a few days I'll be right back to square one, but I REALLY hope they are helping. It's so hard to plan anything out when I never know when I'll be feeling ok or not. So the big news for the week, I got a job! Bad timing, kinda. I'll be doing cake decorating again, which I have always loved! They just need to contact one of my references and I'll be golden. It is only part time, so it shouldn't get in the way of too much. And I'll have Sundays off, which is so nice. I've always loved having Sundays off, time to relax and prepare for the week ahead. So anyway, enough with that. Tonight we are going to Leander, to see Quinn and Jamie, since I'm pretty sure James is still gone. We didn't go there last weekend so I'm kinda missin' seein all them! Not really looking forward to the drive, but oh well. It usually goes by pretty quick. Other than that, nothing and I mean literally NOTHING exciting has been happening around here. Excitement for me is making it through the day not being sick.. if that's any indication of the excitement around here. Hope everyone enjoys their weekend :)

Monday, Monday..

So, I have been on a little "break" if you call it from blogging. I was just not feeling up to par. I ended up having to go to the ER on Friday morning since I had not eaten or drank anything in 3 days. Well, I had TRIED to eat and drink, but was throwing up every hour on the hour. They got me all doped up on saline and zofran and sent me on my way, with a prescription for phenergan. Phenergan, I LOVE YOU! When I got home from the hospital I immediately went grocery shopping, since that hadn't been done in about 3 weeks. Got home and just stuffed my face with a smoothie and breakfast croissant sandwich. Food never tasted so good, I swear. Saturday was pretty uneventful, just went to our friend Lynsey's house and hung out. Sunday was a fabulous day! Massages, outback steakhouse, Dear John, and chocolate oreo banana milkshakes to top it all off. While grocery shopping the other day, I bought a little single serve blender for 12.88! It's a hamilton beach one, works super good! So we made a special run to get oreos, bananas and chocolate ice cream last night. It started out being 70 above Sunday morning but within two hours it had dropped into the 40's. Not cool. The wind was blowing soooo hard, and I hate wind. I was wearing a cute dress and cardigan with my cowgirl boots, but changed into some jeans for the rest of the day so I didn't freeze to death. That was pretty much our weekend. I LOVED the massages we got. I heard some business about not get a massage before your second trimester, but I wasn't totally convinced that what I was about to do would cause a miscarriage. The lady who did my massage does prenatal massages, so she knew where to massage and where not to massage. Afterwards I was so relaxed. Now I know why people who get massages all the time do! I'll definitely be getting another once I start getting bigger. I'm off to make a smoothie though, Happy Monday!

Oh How I Miss The Weekend...

I have not been feeling well, AGAIN. So, it has taken me some time to get goin on this. I think I've got this whole sickness figured out. The past 3 weeks I have been sick only on Mon, Tue, Wednesday and been fine the rest of the week. I surely hope my little philosophy holds true because I'm really looking forward to having a nice Valentine's Day with Cameron since it is our first one we are actually together. Last year I couldn't even send him the cards I bought because they were so close to coming home and had shut down the post office over there in Iraq. Not sure why but I brought the cards with me when I moved, but I still have them. So he will be getting them a year late! I can't quite tell you what we have planned for Valentine's Day, other than lunch or dinner and going to see Dear John. There is another lil surprise in there he just can't know of quite yet. Anyway, I got sidetracked. This past weekend we went down to Leander for the weekend and what a weekend it was! Our friend James has been friends with the country singer Tommy Shane Steiner for a long time. He sings the 2001 hit, "What if she's an angel," good song! I used to listen to it all the time. Anyway, James lets us know Tommy invited us over to watch the UFC fights! I said, must be just for the boys. But no, I was invited too! How cool, I was sooo excited! But I played it cool.. haha. He's just another normal guy, who was wearing a headlamp when we walked in and was trying to get the tv set up. That is Cam and I with Tommy. Cam was excited that Tommy put HIS hat on and Tommy let Cam wear his black hat. It matched his outfit more..haha. So we hung out there till the wee hours of the morning, then had to stop by Mcdonalds to feed me and the lil baby who were just starving! On the agenda for the next day was the superbowl! We had meatball subs and italian sausages! And I added some brownies and mint ice cream to my menu! What a GREAT game! I'm so happy the Saints won, for the first time EVER! They had never even been to the superbowl, so how cool for them!! Now it's back to the grind and catching up on homework. Boo..

Blog Award - Thanks, Marg!

How wonderful. I have been puking my guts out for the past two days, but have been feeling a little better today. I've had nothing to blog about, unless you were curious about me throwing up every hour for 13 hours the other day. Lemme tell ya, NOT fun! Then I finally get on here and see Marg gave me this blog award- There is happiness in this world again. I had lost it somewhere along the way towards the bathroom. So, I guess I have to list 10 things I am happy for, and then list 10 blogs that make me happy. Here goes my list of 10 things that make me happy... these are in no particular order.
1. right now, MILK makes me SO happy. I think I've drank a half gallon today by myself.
2. My doggies. They are always happy to see me, and I too am happy to see them. Unless colt has done something bad...then I am a little less than happy. Dogs give so much unconditional love :)
3. My family. This includes my parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews and so on and so on. Never a dull moment with all of us around. Who wouldn't be happy over that?
4. Texas winters = no snow. Need I say more on why this makes me happy??? Such a rough day when its 60 above and I gotta turn on my seat warmers.
5. My good friends that have been there since forever. I'm pretty sure I've told each of them that it's so hard to come by GOOD friends once you get older. People seem to be just...weird or atleast not someone I would wanna hang out with 24/7, share my stories, and be stupid with. I am blessed!
6. Friday Night Lights, the tv show. I don't watch many shows, but this show I just LOVE. It reminds me of cheerleading back in highschool. Plus, Tim Riggins is so easy on my eyes. Never mind that he's a drunk.
7. School. Weird, I know. But it makes me happy that I'm going to school to get a better education for myself and someday hopefully finding a job that makes me LOTS of money. Ok, maybe I should forget lots of money with my desired profession.
8. Cameron and Baby. We really are so lucky to get to be parents, even though it was totally unplanned. And I can only imagine what it would be like to have a baby with someone who is a little less than enthused about it. Cameron is SO excited, which makes me that much more excited. Thinking of names and looking at nursery stuff makes me happy!
9. Whew, this is taking some thinking. number 9... the beach. How could I forget the beach? I LOVE visiting Hawaii, Florida, Mexico, anywhere by the water!
10. Facebook. How cheesy am I? But being away from all my friends and family it makes it so much easier to keep in touch and creep around on people and see what's going on in their life. I love seeing what everyone is up to in the frozen north, colorado, florida and idaho ;)

Whew! Now ten blogs that make me happy. Goodness gracious. I must say I love all my friends blogs dearly. Those are located on my sidebar, under those I stalk. Haha. Then I would go find all those food blogs that I just adorED until 2 weeks ago, but I'd rather not have the fruit and yogurt parfait I just had come back up. I shall pass this award on to others :)

Baby Furniture Redo

Ugly toy chest, right? Kinda. Ok, yeah. But... (drumroll) TA-DA!
I found the cutest little blog called Better After. Its all about furniture redos. Thought this little toy chest was cute. She also has a cute crib that someone redid. Stephie, if you stay with me this summer, this will occupy our time ;) I have two dressers in the garage from Cameron's parents. Plus I have one in Fairbanks in my dad's crawl space that is pretty cute. Or should I say, could be pretty cute. Would just have to sand off the puppy stickers I stuck to it when I was 5. Whatever theme I choose for the babies room, I still want it to be eclectic and "lived in." Boys rooms can be shabby chic too, right? I don't see why not. I'm gonna have to check out garage sales and stuff here to find some good things. Alaska just doesn't have the best selection of old furniture and such like the south does. Bonus: the Army will ship it all home for free!

Good morning y'all :) I'm having a lovely morning sitting by the fire at our friends house in Leander. On my drive out here yesterday my mom asked me what kind of animal I was thinking about for the baby when it gets here. Heck if I know, right? But then I began thinking and thought, elephants! Cameron's sister just gave me an elephant statue thing that she didn't want anymore, but I just adore it! I planned on painting it red and putting it in the living room, until yesterday. Now I plan on putting it in the babies room. How cute would it be to have the babies room in elephants? I think it would be great. Elephants stand for so many things, that are just perfect. They are mainly associated with honor, strength, and patience. In western cultures they stand for reliability, dignity, power, and royalty. In Chinese culture they stand for happiness, longevity and good luck. I just thought this to be so perfect! I LOVE the bedding set pictured here, for a girl at least! I haven't found a cute boy one, but I'm sure there is one out there. I take that back, I have seen a few but nothing as adorable as this! I understand it is kind of early to be picking out themes and such considering I don't even know if its a boy or girl, but I just love the idea of elephants! Maybe I'll change my mind, maybe I won't... Time shall tell.

Homework, Homework, Homework...

Lucky! The dogs and Cameron get to just lye around while I'm stuck doing homework. I have 4 assignments, 3 journal writings, and 2 tests to get done by Sunday and I really just see no end in sight. Thankfully, one of my teachers wrote this morning saying she was flexible about due dates as long as people let her know what was going on. How perfect! I wrote her and let her know I hadn't been feeling well and asked for a few days extra to get the 3 journals and 1 test in to her. She hasn't wrote back, but I see no problem. So that should help! Seems like I do my best work at night when I don't feel so sick, so hopefully tonight I can just whip right through this stuff. What an eventful Friday evening. Poor Cameron. I told him to go to our friends house and hang out over there so he wouldn't be so bored and that way I could get my work done a little easier with no distractions from him or the dogs. We'll see if he goes. Update on the preggie pops: I haven't thrown up since I got them. I eat one before I get out of bed and then every hour or so until noon when I am generally fine after that. These are a godsend! They are spendy and I heard jolly rancher sours might do the same thing. I couldn't find any when we went to Walmart last night, but I'll keep my eyes open for them. Now off to get educated!

Preggie Pop Drops

All I've got to say is these things better work! I sent Cameron on a hunt for these the other day with no luck in finding them, poor guy. Finally, I went to babies r us with a friend yesterday in Austin and found them. I bought two packs, just so that if they did work, I would have plenty before I had to run back and get more. They taste pretty good so I can't complain about that. I LOVE the lemon ones, go figure! I just don't know what else to do and this whole being sick thing is REALLY gettin' old!

First Doctor Visit

Not really what I was expecting. Not that I was really expecting much, since I'm kind of new to this whole thing. Anyway, they just did a test to confirm that, YES, there is a little booger growing inside of me. Then they gave me a prescription for prenatal vitamins and folic acid. Next came some information on medicaid and how to apply since I am no longer covered on my parents insurance. You would think I would somehow be covered under Cameron's insurance even though we aren't married, since it technically is his dependent. We'll have to look into that. So, that was that and I was on my way. I went down to the Health Department or whatever and filled out my application for medicaid. I'll hear something within 15 days on whether I get it or not. On the way home I just HAD to have Arbys. Sooo yummy. I haven't been able to keep anything down besides fast food at night and if that's what it takes, then I'm all for it. I apologize for the lack of pictures. I left my camera at a friends house and plus, what the heck am I suppose to take pictures of? Cause lemme tell ya, I am not lookin so photogenic these past few days. Anyway, I'm off to bed. Night y'all :)

Our Family

It never crossed my mind to start a "family" blog. It was just the two of us and the dogs of course, but our lives aren't really THAT exciting and blog worthy. But on Sunday we found out we will have a new addition to the family come September/October. This blog will be a great way for all our family and friends to keep up with whats going on and my thoughts on being pregnant. Cameron is rushing me to get ready so we can take Colt to his vet visit and me to my first doctor appointment. Update to follow later today!