Happy Birthday Guns!

Today is my little man's birthday! I can't believe he's 4 already... I remember when he was tiny...well as tiny as he could be...

Look at that face!

I remember the day we went to pick him...we walked in and there were so many yellow lab puppies running around, and Freddie grabbed Guns. He handed him to me and said, "what do you think about this one?" I held onto him...he sat in my arms calm as could be because he knew he had found his mom :) Let's backtrack a bit... we found an ad in the paper for lab puppies, but it was right before Christmas. My family was coming up to visit and I didn't know how they would do with 2 dogs in the house...we contemplated picking him out, leaving him there and picking him up after Christmas...but I told Freddie the only way we would be able to do that is if he had some mark on him that would make him different from the other pups so that we would know he's ours! Well we decided against leaving him, and took him home...while driving home with this precious guy I noticed that he has a little black dot/birthmark on his back right foot...that's when I really knew he was meant for us! Time went on and he grew...

Look at those paws!

And he grew some more...

So handsome!

He is now 4...and loves to play frisbee! He loves to play with his brother and run until he can't run anymore. He is still working on his howling, but gets better with every try. He loves people, especially all of his aunt's that give him all the love he wants! He's learned how to speak now too! Although he drives me nuts at times wanting to go out and play frisbee every 30 minutes, I don't know what I would do without those times together.  Happy Birthday Guns! I love you pup!

Traveling Adventures!

Since I last posted Freddie and I were going on a fun adventure...and what a fun adventure it was! Just a recap of what happened June-August...I walked at graduation!!

My wonderful husband got me flowers!

I was one of few that decorated my cap! It says, "It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."- Babe Ruth

The whole family was there!

After graduation...and I mean like the next day was our FIVE year anniversary!! Now this makes 8 years total of us being together...but what a wonderful day it was...We toured DC, and did a little bit of shopping (because that ALWAYS makes me happy!)...then he took me on a romantic dinner date to Fogo De Chao...it's an amazing Brazilian restaurant that he took me to when we first started dating and we hadn't been since...Of course I wanted him to show off his amazing Portuguese speaking skills...and thanks to a little vino I got the guts to say a few words in Portuguese to the waiter...I was SO proud of myself because anyone who knows me knows that I turn red the moment I start talking to someone I don't really know...it's just this weird thing that happens to me...annoying too!

After our wonderful dinner!

So in love with this man!

We even got to watch fireworks from our balcony that were being shot over the harbor...it was a fantastic day! The next day we were leaving for Germany!!

Germany bound!

The flight was great, but once we got to Germany I was definitely out of my element...It took us forever to find the train, which bus to get on to even get to the train...once we did get to the train trying to figure out how to buy a ticket to our destination was super confusing...but once we got our tickets and got on the train I was a happy camper...

On the train to Oberhausen!

Oberhausen was awesome...it was SO great to see Neuza, Pierce, Solveigh and Tom...Love seeing and spending time with family! They took us to some cool places that we would have never been known were around...it was also great having a personal translator!

Solveigh, Neuza, Tom and Pierce in Dusseldorf

After visiting with the fam for a few days, we headed to Cologne. Again, another beautiful city...and we had some fun things planned...we went to the bridge over the Rhine and put our love lock on the fence and threw our keys into the Rhine! This bridge looks awesome with all the locks that people have placed on it...

Love Locks on the bridge

The story goes that you buy a lock with your loved one, find a place on the bridge to lock it onto, and then throw your keys into the Rhine signifying that you'll love each other forever! So Freddie and I bought our lock before we left and decorated it, knowing that maybe on our 10 year anniversary we would go back and find our lock. 

Team Kight!

We put our anniversary date on it as well as our initials

Check it out!!!

After putting our love lock on the bridge we walked around Cologne and checked out some of the other cool sights...we saw the Cologne Cathedral, which was super pretty!

Cologne Cathedral

Back of Cologne Cathedral

We were only in Cologne for a day, but it was a lot of fun...The next morning we took a super early plane ride to Italy...and I will continue that story tomorrow...until tomorrow folks!!

Travel season is upon us!

For the past few weeks/months Freddie and I have been planning a trip...a trip that will best all trips! We never went on a honeymoon after our wedding, something that seems to happen to many military couples...so, we promised ourselves that for our 5 year anniversary we would take an amazing trip! That trip was supposed to be to Greece, but thanks to Greece being broke and all of the people going a little bonkers the trip has been postponed until further notice...So, where to go for this amazing anniversary/postponed honeymoon trip?? GERMANY AND ITALY!!! We are going for 11 days, and plan on visiting amazing places! I can't even begin to describe how excited I am...in fact, I'm so excited that I kind of somewhat don't really feel like we're going...weird? Another thing that I'm excited for...well there's a couple of more things...is that I'm graduating right before we leave for this awesome trip! AND we are also celebrating our FIVE year anniversary, AND father's day! Whew...That's a lot of celebrating, but I think I'm up for the task :) We leave next week to go to DC so I can finally walk across that stage and complete my college journey...for now ;) I've done a little bit of shopping to get ready for all of these fantastic occasions, but plan on doing a TON of shopping in Italy mostly. We're going to Milan...the shopping mecca!! Can't tell you how pumped I am about that, and just going overseas in general...I'm finally getting to use my passport...ok, I need to calm down...I'm ready to go.like.now! I promise to post lots of pictures when I get back of all these fandabbydozy occasions...But for now, I'm off to make some baby presents for all my mama friends! Have a fabulous month of June, because I most likely won't post again until July!!! Ekk! :D   

The fun that is work

So I am working...YAY! I work once, maybe twice a month...crazy right? I work for Planning Professionals Ltd. (shameless plug :D) It's a great company that plans meetings for corporations, and right now for the Yellow Ribbon Program. It's a program that helps Air Force Reserve families when it is time for the service member to deploy...They get to come to the event and learn so much information...stuff that I didn't even know about being an active duty spouse myself, so it's been beneficial for me in more ways than one...

This last event that I worked at was in Orlando...at an A-MAZING hotel...The Peabody!! It was so stinkin pretty, and they're obsessed with ducks there...so there were a lot of duck jokes floating around (no pun intended :D ) I got to meet some crazy folks, on the way to the event, and at the event...First there was Paula, from New York (think of it in your best New York accent)...she adopted me on the plane she liked me so much...I think it was the fact that I offered her an apple slice (because of the way she was staring at them) and then proceeded to tell me that she would love to, but left her glue for her teeth at home!! Therefore her teeth couldn't handle the apples...WONDERFUL! She was a hoot! Then I had a great time with some of the Yellow Ribbon folks themselves...hilarious people that are trying to make things better for those in need...Oh and I might add that I got to work with my 2nd mom, and Court! Super fun gals that made me laugh majority of the time I was there...

I've got to say that I'm loving this job a bit...Now I just need to find something to do with my time during the week and I'll be set...This is the perfect job because I get to travel, work with military folks, and work with kids! Seems like a win-win to me...especially because of all the personal travel trips that I have planned for this year...More on those later :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Monday!

Paintball

My brother

This kid here

is a famous paintballer...guys know him all over the country...he's so famous that when he walks through paintball fields people whisper, "it's him...Happy!" (Happy is his call sign)

Well, maybe not everywhere he goes, but it definitely does happen...

It makes me proud :) I'm his big sister, and he's famous in the paintball world...at least I think he is.

The honorary player

My dad is not only pretty much the sponsor of this paintball team, but an honorary player. He got a cool jersey to wear and everything...I made my own shirt for the occasion and was dubbed a coach (something I do not take lightly). I have a nice raspy voice to prove it!

We went to watch NTX play at the national paintball tournament...they were amazing!

I am always extremely impressed by the amount of speed, agility and ground maneuver tactics that make up this sport. 

They made it to Sunday, which is a big deal...at that point they were 19 out of 46 teams. They did not make it all the way to finals, but they were still amazing. Not sure what place they actually came in, but cheesy as this is about to sound...they're NUMBER ONE to me :D

I'm proud of you brother and all you have accomplished! Love you!

Way to go NTX!! 

Traveling folk

The past week has been crazy! We went to MN to surprise Freddie's parents and that was very successful! His mom could not believe her eyes, but was SUPER happy to see her little Fraddie-cat...It was fun to spend some time in colder weather, although I missed the snow once again! Why is that I like the snow, but it does not seem to like me!? It snowed the whole week before we got there, and then did not snow a lick while we were there! INSANE! So after spending some much needed time with the in-laws, we said our see ya laters (not a big fan of goodbye's) and boarded a plane to TX! Got to see my now 25 year old baby brother! And spend time with the fam...love it.

Happy Birthday Brother!

He had a GREAT birthday and said that he doesn't feel 25...I hear ya brother...I still think I'm like 23, and act like I'm 12! haha...there were many jokes thrown around...the hubs got to meet my brother's better half i.e. Heather! Good food and good cake were had by all! After 2 fast days in TX it was time to say our see ya later's again, and head back to the dirty south! We had some lunch with my mom before driving an hour to get our precious boys and then headed back to GA! We made it just in time for Freddie to get us a seat at BWW's to watch the Pats lose in the Super Bowl!! All in all it was a very good trip...there were just a few glitches...we finally got Freddie's wedding band thing situated after FOUR months of dealing with morons! I was just so happy to finally deal with some people that still know what customer service is...does anyone else have that problem? I don't know if it is just because I have worked at Nordstrom where they stress customer service, but I feel like there are so many companies now that customer service has become a thing of the past! All of there slogans should be, "once you buy our crap it's not our problem if something happens to it!" Freddie bought me a Louis Vuitton for my graduation present...super excited about the purse...didn't use it when I first got it because I didn't want to take it out of the bag because it was just so pretty, but I decided to take it home to show off what graduating from college gets ya...after 4 days of using my pretty new purse I looked at the bottom of the backside and my blue jean color had transferred onto the purse!!!! I wanted to cry and throw up all at the same time! I couldn't believe that this happened...so thinking that LV would totally take care of everything because of the quality of bags, we called their customer service...she told us to try and wipe it off with a damp washcloth, and if that didn't work take it to a store and they would be able to fix it...great. We took it to a store and do you know what they told us!? Not their problem...it's the jeans fault...there's nothing they can do!!!!!!!! ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDDING ME!? I haven't been that disappointed in a long time...can't believe that something that expensive would just be ruined like that and that there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING the company can do!? Needless to say...I will no longer be a LV customer. I will only buy my stuff from stores that I know have good customer service and want to keep their customers...Never again will I purchase something without asking about the customer service policy first, and if they tell me in a round about way that "once you buy it it's not our problem" I'll put the stuff down and leave!! It's sad that people don't care to help people anymore...I know there are still people and stores out there that will, but it seems to me that there are so many more that won't... Enough of my rant about customer service...and onto one about how frustrating it is looking for a job in a small military town! I have a degree...I think jobs should just float into my realm and allow me to pick from them :) wishful thinking I know. So I will continue to look, and even go place to place (yep, the old fashioned way) to find what I want! As for now, I will continue looking for a job and start sewing again. It's time...I've had a long enough break and I have way too many friends that are having tiny humans to not start sewing again...I need to get to making their presents!! Wooo Hooo!! Bet y'all can't wait!! I'm off for now and will write again soon! Happy Tuesday!

Work out's make my body go AH!

So after months of being away from the gym, and attempting to workout at my dad's (but was unsuccessful due to pulling the boys instead of them running with me, ugh!) I started working out again at the gym! I realize that I do not need a gym to workout at...that I have the great outdoors a few steps outside my front door, but it's not fun to workout outside in GA...not fun at all. It's not bad right now because it feels more like spring than winter, and no I'm not complaining...but the summers are brutal! There are more gnats than any other living thing in GA, and the mosquitos have about a million meals a day when a person is outside...so this is why I prefer the gym. Might I just add I am in pain today! But I love it...I know what you're thinking, masochist...but there's just something about knowing that you worked your muscles so well that they are aching...but it's because they needed to be worked, and they are loving that you have found your way back to the gym as well...so, I'm sorry muscles, bones and tendons for not working you the way I should have been...I will try not to let it happen again! Besides, Freddie can't be the only one with a rockin bod!! I gotta work on my fitness!! Happy Thursday everyone...and I hope you can get out and work your muscles too!!

2012 and Freddie!

It's a whole new year!! It's somewhat odd because everyone around keeps saying the same thing...that 2012 is going to be one of the best years yet! SWEET! I love best years... I think it really is though...I've started the year out as a college graduate! Can you believe it?! I know, me either ;) It is still somewhat hard for me to grasp because I have yet to receive that special piece of paper that I worked tirelessly for, but when it comes it is getting its own special frame and will be hung for everyone to see...maybe I'll even paint arrows all around it so no one misses it when they come in my house :) Another great way that this year has started is that FREDDIE CAME HOME!! He's home from the land of dirt and turbans... he couldn't be happier, and neither can I!

Here's my handsome guy!

So he got home the day before his birthday!! Lucky me!! And lucky him...he got to have Christmas the day he got home and opened lots of fun presents that included a Cowboys yard gnome :), truck bed-liner from my parental units, and some new clothes! The next day he turned 28!! He doesn't seem that old to me...I feel like just yesterday we were celebrating his 21st birthday with his fam, and then going to a movie and drinking some boonze farm in his truck! Hehe the good ole days... Poor thing had to go to work on his birthday, but was not about to tell anyone it was his birthday for reasons of not wanting to be taped upside down to something and be made forced to drink unspeakable amounts of liquids or something...So we went to our fav sushi place, had dinner and came home for cake and presents!!

It's homemade :)

He got more great presents...

Clothes...

Shoes...He was so excited he made it float in thin air!

And his very own camera!!

He got some video games also that he is super excited about!! He said he had a great birthday, and he'll get to celebrate again when his fam comes to visit! Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband a girl could ask for. I love you with all of my heart, and can't imagine my life without you...here's to many many more happy birthdays! I love you! 

So as you can see my 2012 has started off great! I hope it continues to be one of the best years yet...12 is my favorite and lucky number, so we'll see...Oh! Happy Friday the 13th y'all...here's hoping this day is more lucky than some like to think! :)