The One With the Red Door...

Well, as most of you know Jay received orders to MCB Quantico in Virginia. We will be leaving 29 Palms on April 1st. Coming here to 29 Palms we had no idea what to expect. Our names were not on the list for a house and we had to stay in a hotel for 10 whole days (not the best hotel either). It was dreadful but we did make the best of it. Well, hearing that Quantico's wait time for a house on base is "currently indefinite" made us think a lot about where we were going to be living. So we made the decision to find a place out in town. We searched and searched over the past month. Found a few places and picked one out! I have been in contact with the realtor about this place for about two weeks now. I was worried because how could we pick a house without knowing the neighborhood or what the inside really looked like. So I asked Jenny if she thought her mom would mind meeting with the realtor to view the area and the inside of the house. She did!! She had some really good things to say about this place and as an added bonus...it's 5 minutes from Jenny's moms house!!! Can't wait to meet them!!

To give you a little info on the house....it is a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath townhouse. It's located in Stafford, about 20 minutes from base. It is 3 levels (lots of stairclimbing for me!). There are photos below and I will try to explain each...

This is our deck and backyard.

We are hoping the guy who owns this place

will let us have a fence installed.

These are the french doors that

lead into our "bonus room" This house

does not have a garage but instead

has this bonus room (better!!)

This is one side of the

bonus room, with shelves.

This is the "rec room"

It has a fireplace and the spot

above it is for a TV.

Our washer/dryer will also be

down here.

This is a view of and from the deck.
This is the sitting window located in
the "great room" aka living room.
This is on the 2nd level of the house.

This is just an area in the
great room that looks over
the entrance way to the house.

This is the master bedroom (and bathroom)
All 3 bedrooms are located up on the very
top, 3rd floor.

And my favorite thing in the entire house...
my bathtub!! The shower and tub are separate!!

We are looking forward to making it out to Virginia to get started on decorating our home. Hopefully, we'll like it enough to stay for the entire 3 years we are there!! God blessed us and we are so happy to know that we have a place to step foot into when we arrive!!

Special Delivery

Yesterday I received the first surprise that went with the rest of my birthday surprises! I was on the phone with one of my best friends, Jessica and the doorbell rang. It was a lady with a flower delivery. I stood there wondering who they could be from, while Jess was on the phone.... I started laughing and so did Jess. They were from her!!! I was so surprised. I thought they were absolutely beautiful and Jess was so glad that I liked them. However, Jess said (after seeing the photo) "that is not what I paid for!!!" LOL!!! Regardless of all that, Jess...I still loved the flowers!!! It was such a thoughtful thing to do! I have the most amazing friends a girl could ask for. Thank you so much, Jess for my beautiful surprise!! Love you!

30's Not So Bad!

Yep...I have turned the big three-o!! I am officially an old lady....as I have been referred to all day!! LOL!! However, I am embracing my age and am thankful to have made it this far in life! God has truly been good to me!!

I woke up this morning and came downstairs to start my regular morning routine. I was completely surprised by what I found on my computer chair....see picture!! Jay got me my Dooner & Burke giraffe print bag I've been bugging him for and my Coach sunglasses!!! He spoiled me well this year! hee hee!! The day began well. Jenny brought Briana over so I could watch her while she went to class. Jay is on leave so he was home all day for my birthday!! It was starting out to be a nice, quiet birthday. I had to take Cory to the doctor and when I came home Jenny was here picking up Briana. Well, then the doorbell rang and it was Jenn and Jordan. Not sure why they were here until I noticed Jenn was holding a cake in her hand!! They had all planned a little birthday luncheon here at the house. Sneaky girls and of course my husband was in on it! They really surprised me!! Jenny had gone and got my favorite mexican food for lunch and I was showered with love by my favorite ladies!! I will have to share with you what Jenn and Jordan got me when it gets here...it's very sweet! These ladies and my sweet hubby made my birthday very special. This will probably be the last one I spend with these girls so I will treasure it forever!!

Mavericks Season Opener!

Here we are in Cory's 3rd year of basketball!! This year Cory was placed on the Mavericks and he lucked out this year with a very awesome coach!! His coach has been amazing with the kids, making sure they learn everything they need to know!! Cory is really enjoying basektball this year. He's got some of his friends on his team, which he was really excited about! They had their first game this past weekend and they all played really well!! Cory still wants to be Mr. Fancy as he goes up and down the court but in all he did make one great shot! We were so proud and to see the excitement on his face is worth every minute!

Jordan's 28th!!

Jordan, our very dear friend, turned 28 yesterday!! We met Jordan and her family just 6 months ago and they have already become family to us. She is such an amazing person and offers so much good to everyone she meets. She has such a genuine personality and a heart of gold!! I am very thankful we were able to celebrate at least one birthday with her. Our friend, Jenn threw her a party and made her an awesome elephant cake. The elephant represents our friendship. Jordan was there for me when I went thru a terrible time and she said a quote to me that will stick in my mind forever. It is from Dr. Suess' Horton Hatches The Egg... "I meant what I said, and I said what I meant...An elephants faithful-one hundred percent." Since then we have referred to ourselves as elephants and have promised to always be faithful to our friendship!

The Marine Corps will be seperating us soon but our hearts will never be too far!! Love you so much, J!!

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

Birthday Ball #5

Happy Birthday Marines!!!

Last night we celebrated, along with many wonderful men and women, the Marine Corps 233rd birthday! It was a little belated but the marines still celebrated in true marine fashion!

The night began the best way possible...with cheers of praise and gratitude for the marines of 2nd Battalion 7th Marines. Just as we approached the ballroom there was a line of random people waiting to tell our husbands/fiancees/boyfriends, "Thank You" and "Welcome Home". It was like a red carpet event! We walked hand in hand with people cheering and the flash of cameras blinding us as we walked!! I felt extremely proud to be on the arm of one of the elite few.

We came into the ballroom and saw all the Marines in their blues with their beautiful dates by their sides. Seeing all these men back and enjoying themselves together after all they have been thru was a moment to remember. Drinking together and toasting those who are no longer with us. Remembering the good times they had. That is what made this ball so bittersweet. Those who paid the ultimate sacrafice may not have been there physically but there is no doubt that they were in the hearts of everyone in that room. To me, it was like one big family reunion.

We had the honor of having Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North as our guest speaker. He was with our marines over in Afghanistan. Traveling from one spot to another to talk with our men. He gave one of the most incredible speeches I have ever heard. I usually tend to drown out speeches but he drew me in right away. The things he said about our marines was very touching. He was presented with a plaque and a 2/7 Battalion t-shirt!

After the ceremony (which Jay was in by the way) we enjoyed a very yummy buffet style dinner, mingled, took photos, danced and laughed till our stomachs hurt! We then decided it was time to go to our room and change out of our ball clothes and get comfy. We headed down to the casino with Jenny and Brian and gambled for a few hours, only winning back what we put in. Throwing money into a machine makes you pretty hungry afterwhile it seems! So we went and had a dinner/breakfast snack at 1:30 in the morning!! I was amazed that I was still up at that point. After we ate, I was done for. We headed to our room and called it a night!

Jason and I actually had a 2 day mini-retreat! It was kind of like the honeymoon we never got to have, haha! We had to head up the day before the ball because Jason was in the ceremony and had rehearsal that night. We left Cory and Caitlyn with Jenny and then Jenny left them with our other friend, Jenn. Jay and I watched a movie in bed and had room service delivered. Not having to go anywhere or doing anything was wonderful!! We got up the next morning, Jay had practice again and I had a hair appointment. Jay and I decided to take a stroll along the riverside behind the hotel. It was beautiful back there even though we almost got blown over!! It was ridiculously windy!!! We played a little Keno then went and got lunch. Having a day for just us was just what we needed. Sometimes we get so busy and caught up with other thing that we forget to tell eachother and show eachother just how much we mean to one another. We are grateful to our wonderful friends who watched our children for us so we could enjoy these nights together. You all are amazing!!!

Here are some pictures from our very fun and memorable night...

Jay helping Brian out

Cindy and Jenny as the night began

Jeannie and Cindy

Jackie, Cindy and Jenny

The ceremony beginning...

Jay is walking in right here

This is Jay on Sword Detail.

He looked amazing and did a great job!!

Bringing in the cake

GySgt Bell (Jeannies husband) reading a birthday note.

This man has an amazing set of lungs!!

Oliver North speaking

Zach and Jason

This was Jay's right hand man

the entire deployment.
Cindy and Krystle (Zach's wife)

GySgt Evans and Lt. Col North

Evans and Chavez

Golf Co. boys

Brian and Jason

Us with the other couple that looked

just as amazing as we did! =)

2nd deployment and 2nd ball with these ladies!

Carolyn, Cindy and Jenny

Here we are on the dance floor

We absolutely love these two...

Me and the girl who will forever

have a place in my heart!

They are so silly together!

Jackie and Jenny breakin' it down!!

Jay and Brian down in the casino

Jay with his two wives, haha!!

Making memories that will last forever!

This was our last ball with 2/7. Although many of us are moving on to our next destination with the Marine Corps those we have met along the way will never leave our hearts. Thru the years we have lost friends and gained friends. Said hello and said goodbye. Met people who we've never spoke to again and been blessed with those we now call family.

"God may put someone in your life for five seconds, five years, five decades.
God doesn't promise us any certain time with someone and it's what we make of that time that is our gift from God. "

Two Can Play at that Game!

Our little dancer has decided she would like to try some basketball like her big brother this year. A big shock to her daddy!! haha!! She was placed on the Grizzlies and cannot wait to get her uniform!! Caitlyn had her first practice last night and it got off to a good start. She is very lucky to have a patient coach! They learned how to dribble, shoot and pass. Caitlyn is not very good at any of those but we didn't expect her to be. She's never really been hands on with a ball before. She's always too busy playing with girly things. But she did really well last night and was eager to learn! She kept looking over at us saying "I did it!!" It was so cute. Everytime she went up to shoot the ball the coach had to lower the hoop for her because there was no way she was getting it in there! I know in time she will get it. She's already asked for a ball and hoop for home!! Her first game is on January 27th. I will definitely have some pictures up from that. We are so proud of her for being so willing to try something new!!


This is Cory's 3rd year in basketball. He is on the Mavericks this year. This is the sport he waits for every year!! He's played Baseball and Football but he doesn't have the same passion for those as he does for Basektball. It's just his thing! I remember him making his first shot into the hoop when he was 19 months old. The excitement I saw in his face, I still see now!! Even though Cory is very good at basketball he does have some flaws. He is a show off!!!! hahahah!! He loves to get the ball passed to him and shoot from way far back. He knows he can make it in but we are trying to teach him it's not about that. He understands he just likes the glory, haha!! He's always said he wants to be a pro-basketball player when he grows up...he's going to be "that guy". The player that shows off and does some weird dance, haha!! But for the most part he is a big team player and knows that it's about the whole team, not just him! He also has a really good coach this year and was lucky enough again to have three of his friends on him team! Cory's first game does not start until February but I will post some pictures of his next practice.

We have some very busy weeks ahead of us. Once games get started we will be out 4 nights out of the week. It's going to be crazy but it's worth it! Having our kids enjoy themselves is very much worth all the chaos we go thru!! GO GRIZZLIES!!!!!!! GO MAVERICKS!!!!!!!