Conman

We're keeping busy down here in Louisiana. Today we washed the car, built a sand box, weedwacked the lawn and took care of a 3 year old. We painted some pictures (his new favorite obsession) and played in the sand. How do 3 year olds have so much energy when they get up at 6 am? He is a never ending energy machine.
It's been nice and relaxing though. I think we're going to head to the zoo in Baton Rouge some time this week and carve some pumpkins.
We're also trying to get Connor on a new schedule (sorry mom and dad) of getting to bed later and waking up later. 6 am is a little ridiculous when we're all on vacation and not working!
Tomorrow's goals: Watch the Desparate housewives I missed. Watch the Army wives I missed. Schedule my SCUBA class for November. Important things, I know :).

Louisiana!

Mom and Dad left this morning and I leave tomorrow morning for 10 days in Louisiana! The Brother and SIL are going to the Dominican Republic for a little vacation and we are watching Connor. Apparently it takes 3 adults to watch a 3 year old.
It should be a good time. I hope Stella enjoys Tim and Cheryl's. She's been kinda crazy lately and hates being away from me. At the dog park yesterday she was very protective of me. She would scare the other dogs away from me and then sit between my feet. Go play dog! You are a dog! Nope, apparently with Glenn gone it is her responsibility to take care of me.

Have a fun weekend!

Happy Birthday Me!

Ok, just have to vent a little. Glenn called this morning and I could hear him breathing, but he couldn't hear me at all! There must have been something wrong with the phones. Hopefully he'll call when he wakes up in the morning (tonight our time). I sent him a scan of my passport too so hopefully I'll have a moving date when he calls back. Cross your fingers that flying out of Minneapolis is cheaper than Norfolk or they might make me fly back there. Annoying since I'll be flying west back over Minnesota.
No big plans for today since my birthday party was the other weekend. Just dinner with the family probably.
Thanks for all the birthday wishes everyone! I think 25 was a better age, but 26 will be an exciting year!

A few of my favorite people.

My favorite picture from my birthday party last weekend. All my favorite girls, including Stella!

This weekend was great as well. Chris' restaurant was amazing. I was stuffed after your 12+ course meal. Amazing though! My performance was not so hot during beer pong, but I did have one game winning shot I was pretty happy with :)

A few shots from the 1st annual Beck's Beer Pong Tournament.

Out of Town

I'm headed up to the cities this weekend to spend some time with my girlfriends up there. Plans for the weekend include: a trip to IKEA (love that place!), a Beer Pong Tournament, Megan's bridal shower and dinner at Emily's boyfriends restaurant (Chambers). Should be fun.
This is the first time that Stella and I have been apart for more than 4 hours in over a month. Hopefully she doesn't freak out too much. Mom and Dad are dogsitting this weekend. I hope dad doesn't mind Stella sleeping in bed with them. Glenn and I have spoiled her. She's too cute to not spoil, right?
Happy Friday and have a good weekend!

Update on Glenn too: Only talked to him once since Tuesday for a few minutes cause he forgot his phone card on the ship. They have left Korea now I think. Guess what he saw in Budan though? A Caribou Coffee! You Minnesotans will understand how crazy that is! It's Glenn's favorite though so he was very excited.

Busan!

Glenn called this morning! I haven't heard from him in a week, but he called from Busan, South Korea today. Well technically from the ship because he has duty from midnight to 8 am, but then he is going to Korea. It sounds like they are there for some official event with a few other countries as well. It was so good to hear his voice and it sounds like he is doing well.

I had to look up Busan as well so I included a picture. It looks like he's not too far from Japan, but on the opposite side that Atsugi is.

I've been so anxious I was going to miss his phone call this week. I need to keep my phone around my neck I think, but he called while Stella and I were still in bed this morning. Exactly 2 more months til I get to see you, G!

Keeping Busy

Many people are curious what I am doing now that I live with my parents and I don't work. Here is what I have been up to since last Wednesday:

- Party Preparations (cooking, shopping, etc)
- Making dinner for my parents/doing their grocery shopping
- Painting the downstairs bathroom
- Reorganizing my mom's kitchen (I threw away something that expired in 1996 to give you an idea of the state of her pantry!)
- Taking Stella on long walks
- Reading my stack of books people have recommended.

Party & Approval

The party on Saturday was so much fun! It was wonderful to see all my best friends together. The food was great (thanks Jen!) and I think everyone had a good time. We played a little Mario Cart, some Cornhole and drank lots of Dave's homebrewed beer. I think everyone was impressed with how good it was. And how strong it was. Good times had by all. Thanks Dave and Jen!

In other exciting news, my Dependent Entry Approval has been approved! Japan is going to let me come! That means that our furniture can be released from storage in Virginia and start making the journey over to Japan. It also means we can officially be on the housing list, get an APO address, a flight scheduled over to Japan and a number of other things for Stella. Woo hoo! For those of you possibly going to Japan as well. The whole process took about 5 weeks from turning in the forms to hearing back. Keep that in mind when planning your move. Now I just need my no-fee passport and I will be set. I called Personal Property first thing this morning to release our HHG. Glenn is going to take care of my ticket over there. Yay! It will be nice to have a date to tell people.

I stink at posting pictures lately. Hopefully soon I will get them off my parents camera.

2 months and 1 week.

Deployments are hard. I miss Glenn. I'm staying busy, but any suggestions to make the distance seem less? Only 9 more weeks to go...

Excited for Saturday

My wonderful sister-in-law and brother are throwing me a birthday party this weekend. I am so excited! Mostly cause I get to see all my friends whom I haven't seen in a couple months, but also cause I get to have a birthday party. I haven't had a birthday party since I was in middle school I think. I told Glenn he has to throw me a huge 30th birthday party, but we'll see if that actually happens in 4 years.
Today I get to run my mom's errands. I guess living at home and having no job means I get to do her errands. Oh well, I'm off to Walmart.