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!