Tuesday, August 30, 2011

hodge-podge post

1. Last week on a trek to the mailbox, I came upon a cucumber on the sidewalk. It was wrapped in plastic, just lying there in the sun. Having never come across a cucumber on a sidewalk before, I was unsure of any cucumber rescuing procedures. So I just left it there. After all, somebody might go in search of their missing cucumber and who was I to stand in there way? It reminded me of the time Katie was over and, on the same sidewalk, we found a lobster. 


New York is weird.


2. We have two computers in our little family. Christopher has a laptop and I have a computer that doubles as the tv because we're real fancy-schmancy over here. Due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, the computer part (not to be confused with the tv part) of my computer no longer works. The store where we purchased it provided exactly ZERO assistance, so we gave it to someone Christopher worked with in hopes that he might work some sort of computer magic. After many weeks my computer was returned to us and by some miracle, IT WORKED! For all of a week and a half. In that week and a half our personal computer fixer left the Army. We are now faced with a terrible, terrible problem. The computer went into early retirement/crashed/ showed the blue screen of death immediately after I put 998 pictures on it and deleted them off my memory card and before I put them on cd's. 


There is great mourning amongst the photographers here at Dandelions and Daffodils, Inc.


3. They say once you get married you will learn all sorts of new things about your significant other. Happy things, weird things, disturbing things, you name it. I have discovered my dearly beloved's GLARING LIFE MISTAKE.


He doesn't not know how to properly butter bread.


It came as a great shock to discover I married someone who puts butter in the middle of bread, moves it around a little, and calls it BUTTERED. I am extremely meticulous about my buttering. The butter has to reach each and every edge or I won't be able to eat my bread in peace. His method of buttering doesn't bother him in the least, but it makes me very nervous. I have taken it upon myself to be the designated garlic bread maker of the family. It's the only way I can be sure of getting my correct butter intake.


4. Someone found my blog by googling 'yellow children in Africa'. I have no idea how or why.


5. When I picked up my new prescription today, I asked the pharmacist what the potential side effects are. She pointed to a pile of papers she was putting in my bag and said, "all the side-effects are listed here. Of course, the worst side-effect is that YOU'LL DIE."


How reassuring.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

the first ever Fort A.W.W.A.S. tour

Look who came to visit me this weekend!

It's my favorite lives-in-the-north Grandma (not to be confused with my favorite lives-in-the-south Grandma), my mother, and my sister!
They arrived around three o'clock and promptly spent the next three hours looking at and discussing Allison's cuteness. Really, who can blame them? Just look at the child! She is extreme cuteness personified.
After supper I took them all on a tour of Fort at Which We are Stationed, here on out known as Fort A.W.W. A.S.

Right off the bat they made fun of me because my driving was slightly jerky. They were not sympathetic at all that I have only SUCCESSFULLY been driving a standard for the last week or so, and never with such energetic people as my passengers. Christopher's not exactly what you'd call a boucing off the wall passenger.

As soon as we pulled up to the gates of Fort A.W.W.A.S., I began conducting my very informative and in-depth tour. I will admit there were times when I wasn't quite sure what I was talking about. "And here is where, wait a minute, I think this is where the guys who do the...oh never mind, it's not...", but I should be given some slack because it was my first time conducting a tour with Sarah's Touring Enterprise. 

I think they learned a lot from me. "And if we turn left here, we just might see the...oh, look to your right, everyone! Look to your right! Do you know what that is? It's a humvee, but not just any humvee! This one actually has soldiers in it and is rolling down the road! That's is not something you see in your neighborhood every day is it, folks? You may read about about them in your local paper, but you have never seen one at Fort A.W.W.A.S. Oh, look! I see something else approaching! It's a...it's a...never mind. It's just a regular ol' car. We are now approaching where Christopher works. Folks! I see some soldiers! No, I don't know what they're doing but if I were to guess, I would say walking down the road. After all, they are walking down the road. We will now cross over a road called, um, I can't pronounce that name but we're going to cross it anyway. We really don't have a choice now since we're already half way through the intersection." 

They also learned from an expert how to decipher many of the initials on various Army signs. "Over in front of that building you will see a sign that says '1SQ, A BT, HHC 101 CAV'." I would then proceed to tell them exactly what that meant.  (Side note: In case anyone with real military experience --hello, husband!-- reads this, I know that's not exactly proper army lingo. I just don't remember anything else.)

Here I am showing Grandma office buildings. She was very interested in those for some unexplainable reason. 
I drove them to the park on Fort A.W.W.A.S. so they could see the woods, the pond, and the river. 
The purple flowers that I'm holding were a souvenir gift from the tour guide to her tourists.
If you would like your own purple flowers from Fort A.W.W.A.S., just let me know. After all, I know the tour guide quite well.  

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

our wedding~ the ceremony

It occurred to me recently that for someone so intent on documenting every aspect of my wedding, there has been a major time-lapse since I last put up photos. In fact, I had a dream wherein you all thought that we never actually got to the ceremony part of the day because there weren't any pictures to prove it. 

In an attempt to prevent any future nightmares, I now present photos of the ceremony (of which there are many). 

~Order of Ceremony~

Processional
Welcome and brief invocation
Statement of Solemnity
Giving away of the bride
Congregational Hymn- How Great Thou Art
(first verse solo by Erika)
Reading- Jeremiah 29:11-13
When You Say You Love Me
 (sung by Aaron, Elizabeth, Hannah, and Willie)

Charge to the Bride and Groom- Ruth 1:16-17
But Ruth said, "Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you.For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me."

Vows
Exchange of Rings
Prayer of Dedication
Pronouncement of Marriage
Recessional

Marissa and Daniel ~ Hannah and Aaron
         Joanna and Josh ~ Autumn and Andrew
Elizabeth and Willie
Katie
The flower girls before beginning their highly-anticipated duties.
Zachary taking his job very seriously.
Logan was carried down the aisle by his mother so we don't have any pictures of him performing his ring bearer duties in the usual fashion. What we do have is a picture of him looking all cool in his stocking feet at the reception that we'll use here instead.
Stephanie in her lovely dress. I believe I've stated before the I was a big fan of the ruffly/flowery top.
The groom waiting for, well, you-know-who.
I probably don't need to elaborate on this picture. I think it speaks for itself.
I loved the way my blue sash looked over the white dress!
And there we have it-proof that we actually did became MR. and MRS!

(photography by Keri McCarthy)

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

365

One year ago today, almost exactly to the hour, Christopher and I meet in person for the first time.
A LOT has happened in that one year.
But it's been a WONDERFUL year!! 

Saturday, August 20, 2011

nosy vs. well informed

One of my favorite things about Allison is that she likes to look out the window and watch the neighborhood goings-on as much as I do.
Christopher says it's "nosy" to know who lives where, what car they drive, which children and dogs belong where, and who spends the most time at houses not their own. 


I prefer the term, "very well informed". 

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Laura Darling

August 18th-
Events
293 BC – The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded
1909 – Mayor of Tokyo, Yukio Ozaki, presents Washington, D.C. with 2,000 cherry trees, which President Taft decides to plant near the Potomac River.

Births
1774 – Meriwether Lewis, American explorer 
1952 – Patrick Swayze, American actor 
1988- Laura Darling, America blogger

Today is the 23rd birthday of a very favorite blogging friend, Laura Darling. 

We have a lot in common- we both like Brad Paisley, have a knack for getting lost while out and about, talk about Kelly like she's our BFF, dislike having to climb over people if we happen to be late to church, appreciate a good lipgloss, enjoy thinking up great sayings, and, certainly not least, we like to eat, laugh, and talk excessive amounts. We have a history of sending each other very long emails, and we've recently started communicating through text messages. We like to keep up with the times, Laura and I do.    

The only problem with our relationship is that we have yet to meet in person. The lack of photos together is the reason for this little collage. It will have to hold us over until we can take a real picture together.
(Dear Matt, I apologize for cropping you out of the picture with Laura. I promise it's nothing personal. Sincerely, Your Girlfriend's Internet Friend)

We have made big plans for the day when we do meet. Our list includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:

Brad Paisley concert
IKEA
eating
Walmart
Sonic
Grey's Anatomy (We greatly enjoy Dr. Shepard.)
RV and boat show (so we can push all the buttons)
Skittles (I just added that without asking her first, but I'm sure she'd agree.)
Pictures 
Probably get lost at some point 

Happy birthday, Laura! I hope the phrase, "Sweet Nellie Bly!", is spoken 'round the world in your honor! 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

the view from the porch

I have always wanted a front porch.
I'm constanly telling Christopher what my front porch will look like someday. 

It will look like this.
It will be bright and cheerful (preferably white) with lots of plants and rocking chairs to make it look happy.
source
I'll put up a flag or two,
source
and plant lots and lots of flowers all around it.
There will be hydrangeas,
and wildflowers.
I'll make sure the porch faces the west so we can all sit together on the porch swing and look at the sunset.
If, for some reason, the porch doesn't face west, I'll just get somebody to turn the house around for me.My theory is that if men can walk on the moon, somebody can turn my house around. 
Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Monday, August 15, 2011

go big or go home

Last night Christopher went out to buy us a little ice cream for dessert.
This is what he came home with.

I think we're pretty well stocked in the after-supper treat department.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

"A garden is a friend you can visit any time."

The powers that be who own our humble adobe do not allow their residents to dug a hole in the earth, stick in a tomato plant, and call it a garden. I fully understand their position, but as someone who has planted a garden since I was the tender age of 2.5, I just could not go without a garden. To do so would be like an Oreo having no cream filling. IT JUST ISN'T RIGHT. 

And so I present my pot garden.

(You don't think I mean marijuana, do you? Because I absolutely DO NOT grow that.)

Below are my plants the day I planted them, a little over two months ago.
I have six tomato plants, two peppers, and one basil.
Here they are today. 
Please note how the teeny tiny pepper plant in the middle has grown approximately 1/8 of a centimeter since it's planting. I have almost given up hope of it ever producing anything. My other pepper plant has produced one pepper to date, for which I am grateful. Please also note the grass that grew since I planted my garden. I had absolutely nothing do with it, but I'm so glad it's there.

I got tired of rotating all my plants around so they'd all have their moment in the little triangle of sun on the patio, so I moved three tomato plants over by the fence. The plant on the left looks like it's on steroids or something, it's gotten so big.
The other half of my garden is dedicated to flowers.
I have one big pot of Million Bells in the back...
...and yellow and orange strawflowers in the front.
And thus concludes this tour of my (pot) garden.
 I have high hopes for lots of yummy tomatoes and, when I'm feeling very optimistic, maybe even a few peppers. 


Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!

Monday, August 8, 2011

I have returned as Mayor of Babysitterville

For three months I suffered from a terrible case of S.C.D.- Severe Child Deprivation.

Then along came Allison.

She likes to spend the day wearing hats the way kool kids do.
She loves to cuddle with her favorite "doll", the Army bear Christopher gave me. 
We like to visit the playground, and today we went on the swing.
After nap time, we like to take the rubber duckie family down to the pool for a swim.
After the pool, we like to read the Belly Button Book.
Our favorite line is, "Bye bye, Bee Bo!"
I have composed a (very brief) poem that describes our days together:

We go for a walk,
We play with chalk.
We go to the pool,
Where the water is cool.  

If babysitting doesn't work out for me, I can always become a poet.