Happy Anniversary

This weekend marked Glenn and I's 7/6 anniversary! Seven years since we tied the knot at the courthouse in Pensacola and 6 years since our big I Dos with family and friends.

We didn't do anything too crazy this year. Glenn grilled a delicious dinner and we enjoyed each other's company. As a gift to us, Lincoln slept til 8:30 am (with a feeding at 2 and diaper change at 4:30) and then took a 3 hour nap in the afternoon. Awesome. He was crabby all through dinner but that is the longest nap he's ever taken in his crib at home.

We're hoping to have a friend watch Lincoln so we can go out to dinner in a few weeks after things settle down at work for Glenn. Just in time for me to start back at work. Yikes.

Enjoy your week!

Birthday Fun.

So turning 30 was not the wild and crazy party that my last several birthdays have been. No Yokohama Oktoberfest this year. Glenn asked me what I wanted to do on my birthday though and I was pretty lame, but I enjoyed it all the same. :)

I wanted to buy some pumpkins and flowers for the porch so we went out to a farm in Virginia Beach and picked up 4 large pumpkins and 2 yellow mums. I think they look pretty cute and unlike last time we lived in Norfolk (in 2007), they didn't get stolen 10 minutes after I put them out!

After enjoying the fall festivities, Glenn watched the Vikes, I worked on my curtains and then we got cleaned up for dinner. I thought we were just going to have a romantic dinner. Perhaps our friends, the Morans, would be there since I had mentioned it at the baby shower the day before (it was a Kelly-tastic weekend).

Glenn had arranged other plans though. Eight of our closest Norfolk friends were at Norfolk Chophouse to surprise me. Nine if you count tiny 2 month old John. We sat Homecoming dance style too. Boys on one side and girls on the other! :)
Glenn had special ordered cupcakes (Samoa girl scout cookie flavor, red velvet and carrot cake. Dang, he knows me pretty well!) and a special birthday girl "wine" glass.

It was such a fun night. I love you Mr. Here's to my thirties! It's going to be a pretty crazy year. Less than 3 months til D day!

Glenn @ Work

Glenn was gone the last couple weeks and I got a single picture out of the deal. That's one more than I usually get though! Probably because someone else insisted they take a picture. Just wait til this baby is born, Mr, I'm going paparazzi around here.

Glenn is right in the middle. Looking as handsome as always. Have I mentioned he has lost 20+ pounds? I'm so very proud of him. Although his timing is suspect...just as I'm packing on the pounds.... :)

You look good, Mr!

VAW-120's 642

Glenn's off again for a few day, but this time he's going in style- his own personalized plane!

They rotate names as people leave the squadron and new people come, but in Japan it wasn't until just before we left that his name was added. I guess it helps when there are 5 times as many planes.

See you soon Mr!

We missed you!

Last month was the Norfolk wine festival...always a wonderfully drunken good time. Last time we lived here, I missed it because I was studying for my LEED AP exam for work. Bad planning on my part. I did get to pick up Glenn and then escort him home as he puked out the side of my newish car, but that's a whole other story.

This year's festival was beautiful weather and made all the more fun by the return (to us and Norfolk) of our friends, Chris and Gizelle. We hadn't seen eachother since July 2010 until the beginning of this year.

I love having them so close! We missed you!

Also, side note, doesn't my hubby look gooooood in this pic? Yeah, I thought so too.

From my hubby

Cause he's the best. And no this is in no relation to mother's day. And no I'm not pregnant, but I do have a sweetheart for a hubby.

Wordless Wednesday: Master Closet II

Wordless Wednesday: Baby Isabel

Happy Birthday, Glenn!

I love you baby!

Welcome Home, Glenn!

Together at last!

USS George Washington Visits Thailand

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Juan Pinalez

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand – After 56-days at sea, the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and her crew of 5,500 Sailors arrived in Laem Chabang, Thailand, Aug. 6 for a well deserved rest and relaxation port visit in the coastal city of Pattaya.
“The crew has worked very hard since we left Japan back in June and they deserve every opportunity to enjoy themselves,” said George Washington’s commanding officer, Capt. David A. Lausman.  “I fully expect to see them out in full force shopping, enjoying Thai food and taking tours.  They’ve earned it.”              

The port call marks the ship’s second visit to the partner nation of Thailand since George Washington arrived in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) in 2008.            

 During the visit, more than 250 George Washington Sailors will participate in eleven community service (COMSERV) projects to help further the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Thailand. Sailors will also have an opportunity to experience Thai culture through numerous tours offered by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) program. 

“It’s exciting to see how many Sailors have signed up to volunteer their free time ashore helping others,” said Cmdr. Brian Haley, George Washington’s Chaplain.   “You’d think with being at sea for so long, they’d want to relax but they’re actually more interested in helping people and making a difference.  It’s wonderful to see.” 

The COMSERV opportunities will allow Sailors to contribute to the beautification of local schools, temples and pay visits to elderly residents at an area nursing home.          
  “I’m very excited to spend so much time in Thailand. Not only will I do the usual tourist stuff, I’m also going to volunteer my time and participate in a COMSERVE with a local school,” said Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Bobby Anderson, from Houston. “There is so much to do in Pattaya and with as much time as we’re given, I look forward to doing it all. There are elephants to ride, tigers to see, temples to visit and a really cool zip line in the middle of the forest to go on.”
        
George Washington will also welcome aboard nearly 300 representatives from Thailand and provide them with guided tours of the aircraft carrier. These honored guests include children from a local orphanage and government leaders.  The tours serve to educate the public on the inner workings of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier.          
  “I am thrilled to have people tour our ship.  It’s a great opportunity for them to meet our crew and learned about what we do.  That’s the secret to securing stability in the region; opening the doors to minimize misunderstanding,” said Lausman.
  
George Washington returned to patrolling the waters of the Western Pacific on June 12, 2011, departing her forward operating base of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka.  Onboard are more than 5,500 Sailors from George Washington and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5. George Washington’s mission is to ensure security and stability in the 7th Fleet AOR and to be in position to work with our allies and regional partners to respond to any crisis across the operational spectrum as directed.
-GW-

41.667 Days!

Yesterday Glenn received his 1000 hours patch! That means that he has spent 1000 hours or 41.667 DAYS flying the E-2C Hawkeye. Wow! Congratulations, Mr!

Glenn at Work

I finally got a few pictures from Glenn at work. Here he is with his LSO (Landing Signal Officer) team helping bring the planes on board. They grade each airplane as it passes/lands which is why they all look rather intense. Although, I'm sure in the sunshine with blue skies and few clouds like this day, they weren't so stressed. I'm not sure how they get a guy on board in the pitch black, with low clouds and he's already boltered (failed attempt to get on board) twice! Better you than me, Mr!

There he is! And the E2 too!

Glennjimen

Glenn had been gone about 2 weeks now. I'm hitting the usual slump of it settling in the he is gone for a long haul. I'm trying to settle in to my summer routine, but with the end of most of my English classes in sight, it is not my usual busy schedule. A lot more pool time instead!

I should have mentioned before that Glenn cannot check his hotmail or fe.navy.mil account while on the ship so if you would like to send him an email, you can reach him at Glenn.Smith@cvw5.navy.mil. They keep a pretty busy schedule, but I"m sure he'd love to hear from you.

Mail can be sent directly to the ship via the US Postal System at:

LT Glenn Smith

VAW-115 Unit 25428

FPO AP 96601

Care packages and cards are always appreciated, I'm sure. It will be "awhile" til I see Glenn next. With an earthquake and mass evacuation in the spring, this year is a little atypical unfortunately. Of course, I can't mention when or where he is or will be for security reasons.

I miss you, Mr! I'm off to watch my girly summer TV shows that I only watch when you are gone!

He's Home!

In case my post on Thursday wasn't clear, Glenn is home! Happy dance time.

I've Got a Feeling...

or maybe tomorrow... it depends on this weather...come on sunshine!

Ugh.

Not how I had planned on spending my morning...

Happy Valentine's Day

 Happy Valentine's Day, Mr! I love you and can't wait to see you soon!

Since you are gone again this year, I just went ahead and posted your card from last year's flowers on the fridge (again). We'll celebrate this weekend in the sun! Muoh!

Christmas Time in the City

My hot Christmas date came home last Saturday! It's finally starting to feel a little like Christmas around here. Since Glenn is home for awhile this time, we decided to go out and celebrate in Yokohama for dinner on Sunday night. We went to Queen's Square to check out the Christmas lights and trees.

Then we went to a restaurant called Daidaiya (which my student translated as Little Orange House...?). The food was delicious, the wine was excellent and my date was the best.

We did the 7 course set menu and it was excellent. We even had a perfect view without any reservation.

 

Welcome home, Mr. Why don't you stay for awhile? :)

Keen Sword

Here's an update on what Glenn has been up to lately:

Japan, Us launch biggest ever joint military exercise