Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow, It's been over a month since I've updated. Time has gotten away from me. We have been so busy lately, I feel as if I've barely had a chance to keep up w/ anything or anyone. We had the moving company come to our house Nov 26 to pack up most everything to put into permenant storage for while we are in Okinawa. That wasn't as much of a nightmare as we'd initially thought it would be. I hope all our moves (at least the packing and movers) go as well and as easy. After we had everything packed up for perm storage, we had to finish taking everything else to our temp storage unit or to my mom's where we are staying til we leave for Oki. Then it was time to do the most dreaded - cleaning everything in the house, including getting the carpets cleaned. I think our house was cleaner when we left it then when we got it. Which is sad, considering it was brand new construction, just for us. Whoever the cleaning company was they hired, did a bad job. But oh well, I feel good knowing that the couple and there 2.5 yr old daughter are moving into a house that is nice and clean for their fresh start here. I know I would want the same. We started staying here in Harkers Island, NC w/ my parents the evening after we closed on the house. Things are going very well here. A lot of people questioned how odd or difficult it would be to live w/ your parents again. It's great. It's a whole different dynamic now. My parents do their thing, we do ours. We do things together to some, but there really arent any set requirements, other that to clean up after yourself. We have the whole upstairs to ourselves, w/ our own rooms and bathroom. It's very nice and I'm so glad we get all this time to spend w/ them before we leave. I know in a way it will make it that much more difficult, but I will cherish these last few months here. I wish we could do the same w/ Matt's parents and my dad and Jo, as well as the rest of the family.

Wow....it's been well over a month since i've had a chance to update this. I promise i'll try and do better when we get to Oki. A lot has happened since i started this post. Christmas, which was great. Max got tons and tons of stuff. Had to actually take a few things back, some b/c he already had them or I knew he'd out grown them before we left. Which I hate to do b/c i don't want to hurt anyones feelings, but theres no use in having it just sit around and collect dust. We exchanged them for items he needed or items that we knew he'd play w/ for a while. Max got an Urlacher (Chicago Bears) Jersey from us, as well as some books and smaller toys. He also got an Inchworm that you can scoot on or bounce on to move. He got some clothes, some neat toys like a tool box w/ shapes you hammer in the corresponding holes, and soo much more. I can't even remember everything he received. It was a fun yet sad time, knowing that we'd be leaving in a matter of a few months. Max now has 7 teeth. He got his two top front teeth the wk following christmas. He claps, blows raspberries (it's a game between us actually, we do it back and forth), throws his arms up and yells (which translates to 'touchdown!!!), and waves. He's learned so much lately. He's also learned to drop cherrios and other food off the high chair or walker for the dogs....which isn't so great when we're out to eat...and theres no dogs...

Anyway, we had a great new years. we spend new years eve shopping in Greenville w/ our friend's the Jenkins and Andersons and then spent the night at the Jenkins.

Matt got his promotion to SSgt on the 1st and was pinned on the first day back from their holiday, which was Jan 3. Max and I were both able to be there and I was able to pin him! It's the first one i've been able to go to. We have a lot going on now. We are trying to get everything straight for the movers/packers to take all of our Household Goods for the slow boat shipment. We have to make sure everything is seperated and doesn't get sent at the wrong time. That shipment goes at the end of this month and our express shipment goes at the beginning of March. We found out our flight schedule, we leave the day after Max's birthday. Because of when we're leaving and when the shipments are scheduled, we'll be having Max's birthday party about 10days early. I'm currently working on getting it all put together. I hope it turns out well.

Been a While

We have been so busy lately and I have been sooo slack with this. A lot has happened since my last post. First off, the almost best news - - - - - - Matt was selected for Staff Sergeant!!! We are sooo happy and excited!!!! It sounds like he'll pin on in January, and I can't wait!! It'll be so nice to have the extra money with the big move and everything coming up. Max had his pictures taken earlier this month. That went great!!! I'm so glad my good friend Sheila was with me. I seriously doubt we would have as many awesome pictures if not for her help. It was so hard to choose!! I had to pick 7 poses from 134!!! Usually they only take 30-40pics, but Max is such a ham and just did such a great job, so snapping so many pictures seemed more like fun than a job to the photographers. It was so funny watching two grown guys laying on the floor or jumping around making all kinds of noise! They were the best! Sheila and I also got to do some shopping and have a great lunch at Olive Garden that day (we need more of those by the way...) We've also had a few sicks days as well. Luckily not too many or too bad. My sister-in-law, grandmother, & dad's birthday were just recently as well. As well as my late grandaddy's. I always think a lot of him around this time of year, between his birthday and so many other family holidays. We had the NC Regiment Young Marine ball this past month as well. That was a blast! Our kids closed out the dance floor! They danced the WHOLE time!! You can tell we PT them alot!! Such Stamina!! Our kids are such a great bunch and we are going to miss them so much! Matt, Max, & I as well as our friends Lee & Sheila and their family (and about 40 other ppl) did a 5k for Breast Cancer on Saturday morning. We were a lil soggy afterwards, but not so much from the rain. The rain pretty much stopped in time for it, had a few sprinkles here and there. However, our friend Katy and I got into a splashing contest. So we splashed each other (and Sheila) at every puddle we could find! At the end when Sheila joined in, we were at a miniture Lake of water and I pulled her into it (and of course she reciprocated lol). Unfortunately a picture was taken of our silliness, so we are awaiting the newspaper on Thursday to see if it is in there. Not sure how pretty of a picture thats going to be! lol But it was great fun. Not too often we get to just break down and be silly. We got somewhat of a better idea of where we will be at in Okinawa when we go. And speaking of going to Okinawa, we've had our house up for sale for not quite a month and a half and have received 2 offers (this is the best news)!! The first we found out about saturday evening (and we accepted) and then today I got a call from out agent saying that she got another yesterday evening (but it was lower than the other)! I am just ecstatic! Didn't take long at all!! We signed the paperwork sunday morning and now it's just a matter of time and the buyers getting all there stuff done. Hopefully all goes without any problems. Oh! and I almost forgot! Max has his first hayride last week! My mom, Max , & I took my grandmother to Mike's Farm in Richlands/Beaulaville and out to eat for her birthday. The weather wasn't the greatest, but the rain let up enough for the hayride out to the pumpkin patch. Max and I both got pumpkins and then we rode back, had a snack at the bakery, Max's great grandma bought him a shirt and we headed out. It was lot of fun and I know my grandmother really enjoyed it. Well, better sign off here. With accepting the offer on sunday, we agreed to closing on the house in of Nov, which means we have like a month to pack up and figure out what goes where and when, etc. So much to do!!

Legs of Jello

That would be the best way to describe how I feel after my Mom's With Wheels class. This was day 2 of the class and I know I'll sleep well tonight (I just hope Max does!). I really enjoy it so far, but man oh man, it's very difficult at times! It's a post-pregnancy class to help us mommies get back into a shape (other than round apparently). I wish I'd seen the advertisment for the class earlier on, so I could have started to get back in shape a lil earlier. My friend and I did start walking together every (well most)mornings about a month ago. And Matthew and I would go on walks at the park every now and again (he'd usually not want to go w/ me after work since he'd already done his PT and would be tired). So I have done some stuff, but not nearly enough it seems. I had to get my measurements done today. Figured that would be a nice smack in the face first thing in the morning. I'm not sitting too badly though. According to them. I do have some owrk to do though. Just hope I can keep this up after the class ends. We're supposed to wear a pedometer all the time and try to achieve 10,000 steps a day (equals about 3 miles). Yesterday was rather laid back for Max and I, but i did do a lil shopping. I had about 6,000 for the day. Yea, today, I had 6,000 by about 1pm. Over 5,000 by the time I'd left the class (1115am).
I'd really like to start riding my bike everyday, but we have to get a bike trailer first, unless I strap Max to the handlebars : ) I don't think he'd that too much though.
It would have been so nice to start all this stuff earlier. Than, looking for Ball gowns for the Young Marine ball and our USMC ball, wouldn't be so discouraging and difficult. I spent yesterday afternoon looking in New Bern, and I think this afternoon will be spend in Jacksonville trying to hunt something down to wear. Speaking of, I should get a move on it, I'm burning daylight just typing away on here.
Oh! And a big ole' Welcome Home to our friend who returned yesterday and Happy Birthday to his wife and a great friend of mine!

New to this, Bear with Me

Well, this is something new for me. I have a few friends who blog regularly and thought it would be a great way to update family and friends now and while our family is stationed in Okinawa, Japan for 3yrs. I'll *try* to keep this up and as regular as possible, but life is quite busy for us, and it's things like these that will fall through th cracks.

To start off, for those who don't know, we currently have our house up for sale (so those near-by put the word out to any incoming personnel or anyone else who'll listen). Which is just loads of fun. Mind you, I don't let my house become a pigsty, but having to keep it up to the level of cleanliness and lack of clutter - when you have a 6month old who crawls, stands and plays with EVERYTHING, is very difficult and annoying. I sooo hope this house sells quick. It's been shown 3-4 times already and another real estate agent came alone to check it out, and it's only been on the market for 2weeks now. So far, it's been shown when we were out of town or gone for the wkend, so I haven't had to deal with someone wanting to see it in like 20mins or something (thank goodness!). We just returned from vacation in the OBX last sunday, and had a wkend long Regimental encampment with the Young Marines this past wkend, plus everything we had going on during the wk last week. So needless to say, we haven't really had much chance to do alot around here.
This past weekend was spent at the encampment at Camp Bonner Boy Scout camp, in Blounts Creek, NC. Most people have absolutely no clue where this is. I, on the other hand, have spent many a summer there as well as tons of holidays, sundays, etc. Most of my family lives in this little town. Not really sure if town is the right word though. Theres a gas station...the camp...a creek...ummm thats about it. It's out in the boondocks. Needless to say, my husband and I had to lead everyone to and from the camp. I actually didn't stay at the camp overnight, nor did I get to be there much of the time. I really enjoyed the time I was there though. My son & I stayed at my dad's house each night a most of the day saturday. Luckily, my dad and stepmom were able to watch Max for me so I could get out to the camp part of the day saturday and sunday morning. Our Young Marines had a blast. They were able to do a lot of stuff - archery, shooting (bb guns on a range), canoeing, swimming, crafts, & some nature stuff. A few of the older kids also go to climb a 35ft tower and repel down the other side and do a low ropes course. On Sunday we had the Colorguard & Drill competetion between the 6 units. Our unit earned 2nd place in both Colorguard and Drill!!! We are so proud of them! My husband & I are really going to miss the kids and staff of our unit. We may help out with a unit in Okinawa, but I doubt they'll be as great and that the staff and kids will have such a great relationship with each other.

As far as family news, as most people have probably heard by now, Max is around 21lbs and is 28inches long. He's a big guy. Our lil linebacker. Lately he's just learning to do so much! Just during our wk of vacation he started crawling better, pulling himself up to stand and sit himself up. Plus his first tooth broke through! Everyday he gets better and better at everything. He's so fast too! I can't believe he'll be 7months in a wk! Oh, and now Max has two new lil cousins! MacKenzie and Lawson (born 3 days apart to my cousin and to my aunt)! We're so excited that they are here and doing so well. We can't wait to meet Lawson. Matthew and I are busy with the house, getting stuff done for Okinawa (passports, etc) and so much else that we end up doing. We had a great visit last wk from Matthew's Grandma, Aunt, and Cousin who live in Iowa. It was the first time they met Max (hope they weren't expecting a lil baby!). We really enjoyed seeing them. We are all doing well though. So far *knock on wood* we haven't caught the bug going around thats making everyone sick. Well, now I have a ton to do today, as usual it seems, so I better scoot!