Wordless Wednesday #84

I am officially an Aunt!

Happy Birthday Finley

We would like to take this opportunity to wish Finley a very Happy Birthday! Today she turns one and we celebrate having her be a part of our extended family. Finley you are by far the weirdest, most energetic and entertaining dog we know, and we look forward to seeing you grow into the beautiful adult dog we know you will.

(Luna, Tucker, Penny, & Finley)

Our 6th Wedding Anniversary

Today D and I celebrate our six years of marriage and all I can say is - boy has it gone by fast; two dogs, two cross-country moves, ten overseas trips (just him...), lots of time being separated for special occasions (six birthdays, four anniversaries, one Thanksgiving, and one Christmas), one looooong deployment... and here we are.

I can also say that it has ALL been worth it. I am constantly asked how I am able to handle it by non-military folks. Sometimes I say "Oh it's not that hard," or "I'm a very independent woman who likes constant change," or "He makes it worth it by showering me with lots of great gifts." Most times I am serious when I offer up these answers - though I'm often just trying to humorously change the subject - but always I end with "he is just worth it." And this is the truth. He constantly reminds me (especially when we're apart) that I am loved, always appreciated and always thought of, and yes, he actually does shower me with very nice gifts (like my newest upgrade): 

(Old Canon Rebel)                      (New Canon EOS 60D)

He's done a good job of sticking to the 'traditional' anniversary gifts (last year - wood - he bought me a pair of fantastic wooden jewelry boxes) but this year - the year of iron - he bought me a camera... wait, what???

His thought process behind this anniversary gift was very sweet. He's going to graduate school for his next job - meaning no more deployments for several years, and minimal travel - so he wanted to offer something that we could both enjoy and share together in our new surroundings, something to help forge my budding photography skills. I love it! And I love him!

Happy six years, D!

Watching Dogs Play in the Snow

News stations have been announcing all day long about Public School closures that are happening around our region, and it appears that not even snowplows are currently safe as a Department Of Transportation plow got stuck in the snow on the Martin Way on-ramp onto southbound I-5 in Thurston County.  I don’t live in Thurston County, but I can only imagine how bad it might be there.  The Pacific Northwest seems to be going through a major (major for us, laughable for everyone else I’m sure) winter storm as Wednesday we accumulated the most snow we have had in twenty years.  I will admit that I have missed more days of work than normal, however just getting out of my neighborhood is laughable as side streets are hilly and covered in black ice. 

D had sent me an email stating to be careful when running (after the dogs) in the snow... “Running in snow, you kind of lose track of curbs and such...”  I said that there is so much snow on the ground that all of the curbs seemed be leveled out.  He then retorted “Also, no, the curbs LOOK even, but put your foot down wrong, and you can break your ankle.”  He then sent along this diagram. 

Anyways... I have enjoyed my many days off and what’s more enjoyable than watching dogs play in the snow?

Wordless Wednesday #83