How Far We've Come

It really did not surprise me how much I was spoiled this weekend. I have wonderful friends and family and they really made my birthday special.

On Saturday, after a fun time with my family, I drove a half hour to visit with my BIL, Brian, and his girlfriend. My time spent with them put a huge smile on my face and warmed my heart.

A little sidenote on our relationship. Brian and I did not get along in the beginning. We were young (15 & 18) and immature when his brother and I started dating. He hated the "C&D" show as he called it. As a couple, his brother and I received a lot of attention and I blame a lot of that on WP. Not to mention, I was the outgoing, always talking, bubble of energy passing through their family. Although we definitely did not mean to, we made each other's lives miserable from time to time.

Well, we are older and wiser now. On the day of his grandfather's funeral nearly a month ago, I was curling my hair in the rather large "kid's bathroom" upstairs. Brian walked by and said, "Oh I can wait until you're done". I said nonsense, we have two large sinks and a huge mirror. So while Brian shaved, I curled my hair. We began talking about anything and everything for a good 15 minutes.

Then out of the corner of my eye, I noticed his mom and girlfriend standing in the doorway smiling at us. I have no idea how long they stood there, but we asked, why the stares? His mother smiled (on the day she was burying her dad) and said "You two have come so far, it just warms my heart". I of course made the jab, "Well Brian now knows he's stuck with me" and Brian laughed and jabbed back, "I am stuck with her, not by choice".

Flashforward to this weekend, Brian and his girlfriend made my birthday so special. They took me out for lobster, good wine, and an amazing dessert (my typical special date with the love of my life). He even ran out on Sunday morning to buy my favorite cream for my coffee and was the first person to wish me Happy Birthday that morning.

I love my relationship with him. I could have not said that a few years back, but I love that he is my family.

200th Post, 25th Birthday

I never thought I'd hit 200 posts when starting this blog a year ago. Its been more than a place to vent, but rather a wonderful community to turn to.

This weekend will also be another milestone, my 25th birthday. I will hit the big quarter of a century mark. As a kid you always think of 25 as when your life starts, marriage, kids, etc. I am very happy where I am at now. Just a month away from his return and living the good life as a mom of two puppies.

We've been together over nine years....And I am twenty-five....Meaning over 1/3 of my life has been spent as his girlfriend/fiance/wife.

Flashback over the past few birthdays:

October 2005- Living in NYC

October 2006- Senior Year of College

October 2007- First grown-up birthday

New bike for him...Working new job for me

October 2008- Living the good life

I will not be able to spend this weekend with him, but I do get the next best thing...football weekend with my family. I am driving those four hours tonight to stay with my parents and get ready for a huge game for my brother tomorrow. After the game, I will drive a half hour to Indianapolis and spend the night with my BIL and his wonderful girlfriend.

I love birthday weekends :)

In the family

My mother did call today and told me that the lump is not cancer, rather a bundle of breast tissue. I probably shouldn't have worried until I heard something more definite, but its my mom. I know a few of you said prayers and I appreciate it greatly.

Moving on to him...

As much as I LOVE talking with him on the phone and as much as I know its a rare occurence to hear his voice, my 10pm phone calls throw off my bedtime!

I can never fall asleep, no matter how tired I am, after I talk to him. I get this sudden burst of energy and it doesn't wear off for hours.

Case and point: 12:13am, wide awake and blogging away.

We had an interesting conversation about power of attorney.

An interesting side story. His mother is his POA and his father is mine. Weird, huh? We were discussing tax returns and the POA subject came up about possibly changing it when he returns.

I do not want to change it to him and he does not want to change it to me.

Its not that we do not trust each other. Goodness, I hope after 10 years we can trust each other. Its more along the lines of stubborness. That is all.

He does not want to be the first to change it and neither do I. He says his mother knows where all of his paperwork is and I smile and agree and say his father knows where all of my paperwork is. He's been doing my tax returns and FASFA since we started dating in 2000. We might be the only married couple who are not each other's POA simply because of pride. His mother often says we act like 5 year olds and this is a very good example of our immaturity.

I think it keeps our relationship young and fun.

Proud sister.

Although the drive from my front doorstep to the football field where my brother plays his home games is over 4 hours, watching him play football makes the drive worth it.



Oh yeah, these people above are not bad either. I love hanging out with my family. The team won, my brother did not get hurt, and looks like he had fun so I call my Saturday trip a success. He also ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns with 227 yards all purpose, but who's counting :)

A month later.

My MIL looked at me today while finally relaxing on the couch and said, "This last week felt a month long". And I couldn't agree more. I can't remember what day is today or how long its been since he left or since Dakota broke her leg.

Sadly, a week ago, his grandfather lost a year long battle with cancer. Typically when an "in-law" passes, sure you're sad, but not usually emotionally invested. I spent the last 9 years getting to know and love his grandfather. He attended both my high school and college graduation. Not to mention I started calling him Grandpa 6 years ago. His intelligence and passion always moved me.

The funeral and visition/wake too place over the last two days and I am emotionally and physically exhausted. I stood in the place of my hubby, who could not come home, shaking hands, hugging family, and expressing gratitude for those who also came to pay their respects to a well-known man in the community.

The past few days only reinforced how much I love his family and how much they make me feel like I belong comforted me during these trying times over the past 9 months. This death also reinforces how much I need/want him home.

And now you think I would fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, but its 1:40am and I cannot fall asleep. Reality hits tomorrow when I head home. Dakota managed to chew through her bandages this weekend and Daisy still needs to stay with my parents for a few more weeks.

I am going to be one happy girl when all of us are back together again.

Spoiled Rotten

My wonderful mother decided to visit this weekend to help me clean so I can concentrate on just studying. She knows I am OCD when it comes to a clean house before any visitors or special occasions. (funny my husband is now a visitor in his own home). She brought along my brother to help with the manly stuff.


So while my brother cuts the front and backyard, my mother cleans, and my SIL runs errands, I am studying in the living room (cough updating my blog cough cough).


Life is good.

Well except for the fact I have the fear of failure now. I have been studying for 1.5 months now and the thought just crossed my mind for the first time this week.


In sad news, I needed to exchange my Indiana license plate for a good ol' Tennessee license plate. I love my Indiana license plate, its my (our) home state. Its where we met.


But I would have to pay $270 more, so apparently it doesn't mean that much. I did take some pictures to document this transfer.


My little (except he's much bigger and stronger than me) brother making the switch.



I love my Support Our Troops License Plate

Hello Tennessee!


Any of you military ladies have to switch your plates or driver's license?

Week Twenty

While talking last night about deployment, my two very good friends and I agreed how time seems like it is flying by since the guys left.

Except when we look at the big picture. They come home in December.

I promised myself and convinced myself I will thrive during this deployment by having things to look forward to each month. And let me just say, its going to be an amazing two months.

May 5th- Cinco de Mayo Book Club
May 9th- Jazz on the Lawn

May 22nd- My college radio station's alumni basketball game
May 24th- BRET MICHAELS!

I am a classic rock girl at heart. During college, I ran a classic rock radio station. That and I am addicted to Rock of Love (whew, admitting I have a problem is the first step)

May 30th- Pool opening and throwing my friend Tiff a birthday pool party

June 6th- Super Jeni's Baby Shower

June 7th- His sister moves in with me for the summer.




Over the years of traveling to WP, holidays, etc., we became best friends. Katie is a year away from her doctorate in physical therapy and needs to complete 3 clinicals. She actually picked FC for her first clinical to live with me while he's away.

June 13th- CMA Festival


Oh so many good things coming my way. I love summer.

I started P90X a week ago. Yes, I did say I would start May 1st, but I hate Monday Moring Dieters (I will start exercising on Monday). And let's just say, I wanted to cry during yoga this morning. Muscles I did not know existed hurt me today. And if I stand for too long, my legs start shaking. I love this feeling.

Lets hold on to what we got...

As part of our Christmas present, my parents bought theater tickets for my sister, brother, his girlfriend, and I. Today we headed into the city and saw "Jersey Boys", a story about the Four Seasons.

I enjoyed it so much. I never realized how many fun hits they released such as "Walk Like a Man", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Let's Hold On to What We Got", and so many more.

While talking about plays, I began listing the ones I have seen and noticed I have been to quite a few such as Hairspray, Tony & Tina's Wedding, Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Lion King...I never thought I would consider myself a theater person, but I actually LOVE going to see Broadway shows. Hopefully I can catch a few more this year.

Just fine

Well after too many consecutive days of spending every waking moment together, I decided for a little break last night.

My mom and I agreed to drag our butts over to my sister's with monopoly and in our flannel pjs. My sister made her husband go and buy wine. With all four of us, the laughing did not stop.

Its been quite some time since I last had more than 1 glass of wine. Somewhere around midnight my sister refused my offer to fold her laundry for $200 worth of monopoly money so I decided to spread her laundry all over her condo. We then began wrestling.

I lost in wrestling and monopoly. Rough night, but oh so much fun.