Finally! Photo Update, too!!

My sister told me some time ago that I need to update the blog. She's tired of seeing the same thing, day after day. It feels strange to post without photos but, until I replace the now defunct camera, I shall forge ahead. For you, Amber. Ma belle soeur :)

It's been what, 5? 6? months since I've posted. I suppose that there's a lot to catch up on, but nothing out of the ordinary. Let's see... I went to Germany for my annual training and didn't do a thing. The weather wasn't pedestrian-friendly, I didn't eat all of the treats that I'm used to noming (darn calorie-watching!), I didn't want to be away from home and my relatively new job, I missed Shayne, the "baby", etc, etc, etc. So I let the opportunity this year to take advantage of a free trip to Europe slip through my fingers and just chilled in my silent, bare, boring barracks room. I was just feeling...blah. Weird, right?

I've picked up crochet. Again. Sure, I've dabbled a bit here and there over the last decade or so. I have a 24"x 24" blanket that I worked on when I was preggers that never actually aquired "full blanket status" as I never learned how to finish off a granny square, much less connect a bunch of them together. I've thrown away more yarn than I could shake a stick at thanks to too many abandoned projects, never getting further than creating long, long, long chains. I did hold onto a "Crochet for Dummies" book, though I never opened it after getting it home. Then, a breakthrough! I picked up a copy of "Stich N' Bitch: The Happy Hooker" at the library and fell in love with the adorable, modern projects and instructions so simple that a toddler could understand them. I felt energized and remotivated to pick up some hooks and yarn. Then, another breakthrough. I randomly stumbled across a darling little book titled "Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet". I was hooked (pardon the pun)! Amigurumi is the Japanese art of producing something cute and adorable and stuffed, out of yarn and fiberfill. I've found that learning crochet is a lot like learning to read. You struggle, you struggle, you struggle some more and it's just not happening. Then, a lightbulb just...wow!! You get it! It makes sense! It's all so clear!! Since July, I've made 3 cupcakes, a handful of flowers, a monkey in a dress, a can of sardines, and a couple of eggplants. I love making these little guys and they look just like the pictures on the patterns. No doubt I'll want to try out blankets again one day but, in the meantime, yarn food and animals are rockin' my world.

A week after my return from Germany, Shayne and I hosted a huge luau in honor of his promotion to Master Sergeant. He planned the party for months and I couldn't get over how amazing this guy is with details. The ideas, the spreadsheets, the food! Stuff that never would have crossed my mind, sure as heck crossed his :) It was a success and everyone seemed to have a great time. Lesson learned: you won't know if you're having a good time at your own party since you're too busy "hosting". I said many prayers of thanks that day since we had the extreme good fortune of having Shayne's family visit and they became our co-hosts and relieved us of so much stress the day of and after. We wound up with so much party stuff that we've decided to host an annual luau. I kind of like thinking that the basement is full of pink lawn flamingos and a tiki-bar for whenever the luau-madness strikes!





Mom came to visit for several weeks this summer, to see Amanda promoted to 2nd Lt. Her visit is making me realize that I need to see my family more often. Once a year seems far too little and moms grow up so fast. It seems like just yesterday that I was a little tyke in her arms and now she's already figured out how to get cinnamon and whiskey on the ceiling of the kitchen, all by herself. Sniff. We took her to a Screen on the Green, featuring "Rebel Without a Cause". I feel a little bad that that was all we got to do so hopefully she plans another trip soon. I also got to be the first person to salute the new officer in the family. The seriousness of the occasion didn't prevent us from giggling like nerds, though :) We still take care of Freddy for her and get to see Amanda every weekend, which is the most family time I've had ever since high-school. Woo!!





Let's see...what other news?

Our Washington Capitals season tickets arrived last week. It's awesome to be able to hold them and realize "you're going to every game this season". I was tempted to write in and complain a bit about Jose not having a single ticket with his photo proudly displayed upon it but will restrain myself. This season.

Kaya turns 12 this week. Let's not talk about it.

Shayne turned 35 last week. He won't talk about it.

I think that about wraps it up. I