Me so sorry

Ugh, just when I thought my life was going to mellow out in 2012, January happened. Let me get you up to speed:


We rang in 2012 at the Aulani.
Chris turned 27.
My sister came for a two week visit.
We swam with sharks.
Spent a week on the big island.
Saw lava!
Sarah turned 21 here.
Attended a farewell.
Planned a farewell.
Attended the battalion's Valentines in Vegas event.
Covered the ProBowl and Ohana Day from the field!
Participated in my first tailgate!
Went to my first change of command (two to be exact).
Watched the GMen own Tom Brady and his Patriots =p

Dreamland

I usually have some pretty interesting dreams, but last night’s dream took the cake.

I can’t always remember my dreams but this one was kinda hard to forget.

Dream one:

I was having a sleepover with a beauty pageant friend of mine that I haven’t seen in person since 2009. The only thing I can remember is rummaging through her drawer of bras and I was super tan.

Dream two:

During this dream I was going to the hospital to visit my doctor when he informed me that I was nine months pregnant and that I was going to have this baby very soon.

Say WHAT!?

The first thing that ran through my mind in my dream state was I didn’t get to take monthly bump pictures and post them everywhere, I didn’t get to blog about it and I didn’t get to take maternity pictures. My mom is gonna be pissed!

This did not feel like a dream what so ever.

Probably the weirdest part about this dream was my belly.

It wasn’t round.

It was oblong and you could see the babies spine and it kind of looked like a chameleon’s spine (weird I know).

Even though I had been admitted to the hospital on orders that I would be having this baby today because I was in labor (didn’t feel like I was during the dream) I somehow found myself in the woods, which where adjacent to a beach taking the photos I wanted. Even weirder, my photographer was my friend Karen who PCS’d a year ago this month!

I finally have the baby, a boy, but I didn’t have him at the hospital. I had him in my childhood home. He didn’t look like me, Chris, or anyone we know.

What does this mean!?

How to speak Army

With three years of Army wife experience under my belt, and two years of being a Cadet's girlfriend while he was in ROTC, I can confidently wall the walk and most importantly understand the talk!


Here are some key acronyms and terms you will come across often:

PCS: Permanent Change of Station. You do this every three years or so.

ETS: Expiration Time of Service. When your contract is up.

POV: Privately Owned Vehicle. What civilians drive.

GOV: Government Owned Vehicle. What military drive.

LES: Leave Earnings Statement. Military pay stub.

R&R: Rest and Recuperation. This is usually about two weeks and is taken during a deployment.

TDY: Temporary Duty. This is no longer than six months. Anything longer than six months requires a PCS move.

MTF: Military Treatment Facility. Where you go for medical appointments.

MPs: Military Police.

Duty Station: Where you work and sometimes live.

Installation: Where you work and sometimes live.

Garrison: Where you work and sometimes live.

Commissary: Military only grocery store. MUCH cheaper.

Post Exchange: Similar to a Khols.

Class 6: Similar to a convenience store and it sells booze.

ITR: Information, Tickets and Reservations. You can book lots of trips and excursions through them, usually at a discounted rate.

Sh*t Bag- A useless or lazy Soldier.

Down range: Refers to being deployed.

Enlisted Ranks:

Officer Ranks:

What's for dinner this week?

Keeping with my promise to Chris to cook more than chicken and to cook things from the cookbooks that are collecting dust I collect, i'm making an effort to try new recipes.


Monday: Grilled lemon and herb pork loin chops with garlic rice and steamed sesame soy beans.


Tuesday: Trying my hand at my first pot roast with PDubs crack I mean creamy mashed potatoes (I will never make another version of these spuds from here on out). I hope PDubs doesn't steer me wrong on the roast.


Wednesday: Fried rice from my Monday leftovers. Trying NOT to throw food away and be more penny wise.


Thursday: Switching up my lasagna recipe and hoping my girl PDubs doesn't disappoint. Let's hope Chris doesn't notice the cottage cheese and sausage.


Friday: Since Chris is away at PTA doing a recon for the night, I'm FINALLY going to try PDubs enchiladas. I really like MY version, but hers looks yummy and is easy enough for me to whip up after work. 


Saturday I have a farewell dinner and mai tai cruise with the ladies of the 84th and Sunday is ProBowl! Cannot wait to eat yummy tailgate food.


Man I look like a Pioneer Woman creeper this week. But her stuff is awesome! Can't wait for new cook book in March =) Also note the chicken free menu, I bet he will still grumble though. #Can'tevercatchabreak

No Words Wednesday

I took my sister and her friend to check out some huge waves up on Oahu's North Shore. When I say huge I mean 35 footers. The photos don't do them justice. Ya gotta just see 'em in person to really get some perspective on how awesome they are.

As we were walking back to my car my sister's friend called us over to check out the sunset. I am glad we were listening because it was the most amazing sunset I have ever seen. The sun was so red!

What's for dinner this week?

Kinda sorta back to a meal plan…

My sister is visiting and had a few special meal requests and after eating out in Disneyland I was more than happy to get behind the stove!

Monday: Grilled Teri Chicken (I make my own marinate by using pineapple juice, guava juice, soy sauce, garlic and ginger) and veggie low mein.

Tuesday: Stuffed chicken parm (I will share the recipe, I just need to find time to write it out!).

Wednesday: Turkey Enchiladas (I will share the recipe, I just need to find time to write it out!).

Thursday: Grilled rib eyes with twice baked potatoes a la PDubs.

Friday: BBQ Chicken Pizza

2012 Resolutions

2011 was good to us so I have big expectations for your 2012! Like many Americans, I have a few things on my to do list:


Become a water warrior and drink more H20!
Be a lean, mean, fighting machine (No more excuses!)
Make photo books!
Upload photos to a more secure site (Flickr, Shutterfly, Snapfish, ect)
Blog events as they happen v. post dating them
START packing up our house :(
Call my grandparents more

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday to the man who changed my last name and my address: my wonderful hubby! 

We have rung in seven New Years and seven birthdays together and I hope we keep the trend going.

Even though you are turning into a grandpa, I still love you =)