Missing....

Hello out there!! I'm sure you've noticed (or maybe you haven't) but I've been a little MIA for awhile. Lots of things have happened or getting ready to happen and I just haven't found that time to get around to some things. I really am going to be back to blogging. Hopefully at least once a week - I'm shooting for more though!!

I'm not 100% where I have left off so, I'm going to just start off from Alan getting back from Basic and how things have gone from there. When he got home to Texas we decided to go ahead and get married at the Court House due to the Army needing paper work fast so we could start getting BAH and he could live off post. So, on June 15, 2010 we went downtown and were married. We are planning to have a formal ceremony next June.



After a very, very shot week home Alan went up to Kansas where he has been stationed at Fort Riley, which is right outside of Junction City, Kansas. Once he was here and settled we planned on him coming down to get me right away but like always the Army had bigger plans for us. After a couple days of being at post they sent the boys off to Cali for a month long training, so coming to get me right away didn't quit happen. Everything ended up working out just fine, I was able to finish up the summer session with my job, pack everything, and even have a couple days to say good-bye to all the amazing people that I was leaving behind.



Once we got here, we searched and searched and searched for some place to live. We got here right at the same time the University was getting into their fall session so a lot of the housing was taken already. After almost a week of trying to find some place to live, we found where we are now (we would have taken on post housing but the wait was/is 18 months - we are still waiting to get to the top of the list) and it's the best place I could have asked for. There are only 6 units and the one we live in is a duplex, the neighbors are amazing, and it's right across the street from the City Park. We were really lucky and couldn't have asked for a better place.

Not to long ago A got orders to deploy. Not very happy about it but we knew it would come eventually and this is what we signed up for. I'm dealing, there isn't any other way to state it. I'm trying to stay strong for my husband, I'm trying very hard to not loose it around him - he doesn't need to know how hard this is for me when he is going to War. Things have gotten tense between us, nothing super horrible but we argue about the small things to the big things. I try to remember that he is stressed, I know he doesn't want to leave but it's soooo frustrating for him to take out work on me at the end of the day. It doesn't matter though, I will always love him, stand by his side, and support him in anything that might be. From joining the Army, to going to War, to what ever the road might lead and I know he will be by my side as well.



Other then that life is still moving forward, I love my new job (I'm a Nanny again, to a 6.5 mo old baby), now that it's getting warmer and there is a 99.9% chance that the snow if finally over and Spring is here I really am enjoying the state of Kansas, I love being close to my family, I love being close to Clare (even though I have not seen her much and I let her down the other weekend - thankfully we have an amazing relationship and she forgave me, or I at least I believe she has). BUT even though I love all of this so very much I do miss Texas and all the wonderful people I had to leave behind. I miss the almost always way to warm weather, I miss my friends, I miss my "kids". I know I can always visit all of them and I do plan on doing that, very soon!

Well, that is the quick update of what has been going on these days. Like I said, I plan on being back at least once a week hopefully more though!! I've missed my blog and being able to just let it all out!! Thanks to all of you for sticking it out with me!!

<3 KJ

Recap of everything!

So, I know that I said I would be back more often but I forgot how much 10 little 2 year olds will wear you out during the day!! MAN do they stay busy at all times!! Even during nap time I'm busy with eating lunch, getting ready for the next day, or finishing up the craft that we did in the morning!! On top of those crazy kids running at all times we have some crazy sickness going around as well in the younger rooms!! In the infants rooms (older and younger) we have Fifth Disease, Chickenpox, Hand-Mouth-& Foot Disease. Then on top of that in our room we have some funky stomach thing going around - the kids come to school fine and usually by lunch or after nap they have a fever and we have to send them home. MOST (but not all) of the parents in our class are awesome and do what is best for their kids and the kids in the classroom (as well as us teachers) and they will keep us updated as the day goes on. Well, most of these kids will go home and that night get sick to their stomach and run a super high fever, then the next morning when they get up they are good to go - happy go lucky, no fever and no stomach thing any longer. We have NO idea what it is - well, my co-teacher and I have both managed to get this wonderful bug - she had it a LOT worse then I did, so I'm lucky in that way! Other than that it's been a wonderful time so far. I love all the kids (even then ones that drive me nuts) and the other teachers are amazing - I couldn't have been any luckier to have found this job!



Easter was great - I went to Dallas with my friends mom and her little sister. We meet up with my friend, Jacki at her house and hung out there. It was nice to get away for a little while and spend a holiday with a family I love. We went to Church on Easter Sunday and then we had a wonderful steak brunch that afternoon. Let me tell you - when you give up meat for 40 days/nights your first taste of meat that day is the best thing you've ever had! This is my second year to give up meat and it wasn't as hard this year as last year but that last day always seems to be the worst!! I did manage to overdue it and give myself a tummy ache but I got over and I have put meat back into my diet and not a moment to soon!! :)



In other events - Alan told me that he wrote my dad and asked his permission to MARRY ME!!! Of course my dad told him that he had his blessing and I'm so super stoked and excited!! Nothing is set in stone as of right now and I don't have a ring (ya know that whole he is in Kentucky thing) but that fact it's there and it's going to happen has put a permanent smile on my face for sure!! I DO get to go and seem him next weekend if everything stays on track and nothing changes on his end! I'm so super excited to see him - I feel like it's been forever not 8 weeks - but we are half done and hopefully with this new job and so much coming up it will fly by!



Anyway, I hope you all have a great weekend and I will be back!! :)

Love, KJ

Long, Long time...

I know, I know I've been slacking in the blogging these days and I really have no reason that I should be. Lots of things have been going on for me. Alan left for boot-camp, I lost my job, I've just been dealing with life!

Yes, I said I lost my job. I went to Houston with my friends one weekend, had an amazing time hanging out and being with the girls. I came back and went to work on Monday - the boss isn't there right at that point, so I go along with what I do when I'm there. He comes in, tells me he has to let me go. I'm not mad at anyone or anything. There just wasn't enough work for me to do around the office - I really was bored 90% of my day. He was awesome enough to give me 3 weeks of pay, Cobra my health insurance, and no fight unemployment! So, it could have been a lot worse.



I have been looking and looking. I applied for unemployment and that is just a pain in my butt to say the least - so much to do but thankfully I'm "entitled" to said unemployment! They make you apply for 5 jobs a week and to keep very strict logs of the searches. They at any moment can all and ask to see said logs, this I don't mind - I know they are just trying to keep track of what people are doing and making sure they are putting themselves out there. It's just a lot of searching up to this point.

I didn't want to tell a lot of people that I had lost my job. Not sure why, I think I was a little embarrassed that I had. I finally mentioned it to a family that I babysit for and she sits on a board of Day School right down the street from my house. All her kids have gone to school here before elementary school and I have only heard great, great things about it. Thankfully this mom really likes me, talked to the director of the school, and talked me up more then I personally think she should of BUT thankfully it has worked in my favor. Yesterday and today I went up to the school, talked to the teachers and the director and got to interact with the children. Just to make sure that it REALLY was something that I would be interested in doing. Of COURSE I LOVED it more then you will ever know. Kids are my life if you haven't picked up on that. I might not have any of my own but I do believe that my talent is working with kids - so as of today I have another job and one that I will NOT be bored at!!



I'm hoping that after today I will get back into blogging - I've really missed it, it's such a way to get things off my chest. I don't know if a lot of people read this blog and I'm alright with that. I love being able to put it out there and know that I'm not being judged, that I can ask anything and I'm sure that the answer will get back to me. So, in other words, I'm back at the blogging. This weekend I'm headed to Dallas for Easter - so I will have TONS to tell you come Monday!!

Have a great weekend, a very happy Easter, and thank you for being so understanding in why I've been MIA for so long!!



Love,
KJ

1 week 3 days down...

I love him and miss him like crazy - but knowing what he is doing is keep me strong. That and some amazing friends, near and far, that keep me busy and remind me that it really isn't that long. Thanks to those friends - you are amazing!!

Love,
KJ

Army - 19d!

Cavalry Scout: Army 19d!

I had no idea what this was until a few months ago - I have been saying for awhile there is something that I have been wanting to share but just have not done so up to now but it's time.

The boyfriend decided that he was going to join the Army. I am so very prod of him. I think it's amazing that he has decided to dedicate his life to serve and protect his country.

My family is so proud of him - my dad and oldest brother were in the Army. My other older brother is in the Air Force Reserves. His family has a long military history as well.

This is something he has always wanted, this is the time that it was supposed to happen. Everything is falling into place.

Right now he is in Galveston visiting his dad before he ships out to boot camp. It's almost like training for me - to know what it's going to be like when he's gone. It's different. It's hard. At least right now he can text me or call - when he's gone that isn't going to happen or it's going to be very little. So very hard!

He's going for 16 weeks. 8 weeks of boot camp. 8 weeks of tech training. 16 very long weeks. After that there is a graduation - everyone will be going, including me of course. I know it's selfish but I don't want everyone else there - just me BUT I this isn't about me. This is about him and how he is going to be a Solider.

I'm not sure what will come after those 16 weeks, where he will be stationed. What the future is going to hold for both of us. We have talked a lot about the future. But for right now, we are taking it one step at a time. So.Very.Hard!

I love him, I will support him, I will do anything to help him make this possible. This is his dream.

I will update as I know more, how I'm feeling. It's going to be hard. I'm sure there will be lots of tears at first even long after at first happens. I know it's going to be hard. Why can't it just be easy? I will need support. I will look for support where I can find it. I know it's there. I have amazing friends both in real life and in my blogging life. Still, will it ever get easy to say goodbye, not matter where he will be going, no matter how long he will be gone? I am thinking that's a big.fat.no!

Thanks for listening. Thanks for understanding. Thanks for being my friend. Thanks for letting me turn to you when I'm going to need it.

Love,
KJ

So Nice....

I was choose by Sarah for this awesome award. If you haven't read her blog you should head right on over and do that - she is an amazing Army Wife and raising her daughter in Germany right now. She also has TWO other blogs - a cooking one and a weight loose one. She is an awesome person and I'm glad that I get to call her my friend!! Thanks Sarah for the award!!

This award requires you to list 7 interesting things about yourself and tag 7 other bloggers!

1. I am highly allergic to many, many things - including food. I have been allergy tested for airborne allergies but not food. I think I might have to get on that sometime this year - it seems they are only getting worse!

2. I have a dog named Bailey who will be 10 this year and a cat named Tux who will be 2. I am going to have to find Tux a new home sooner then later because the boyfriend is very allergic to him (the only allergy he has). IF you know of a good home, let me know :)

3. I'm lucky enough to have a "second" family. This family was there for me growing up and they are still there for me today. They have seen me trip, stumble and fall flat on my fact - but they were always there to help me get up. I love them more they will ever know!

4. I am also lucky enough to have some of the greatest friend around. I'm not sure I would have been able to survive everything if I did not have them.

5. I have two tattoos. One is on my lower right hand side of my back and is a Celtic Cross with the Irish flag colors. The other is on my back between my shoulder blades and is a Celtic triangle with shamrocks in an awesome green color.

6. I was a Nanny for many, many years for many different families. I think that if I could some how get health insurance out of the deal then I would go back in a heart beat - those kids were my life and I loved (I still do) more then anything!

7. I have 3 older half brothers. One was in my life for awhile but he got into a lot of trouble and I have not been in contact with him since. The other 2 were not in my life until I was in high school but I'm so very happy I have them now - they are amazing big brothers and I wouldn't trade them for the world!!

Now the lucky 7 people I give this award to are:

* Clare

* Tina

* Angel

* Libbie

* Jen M.

* Jenny

* Jennifer H.

New Years Resolution 2010

Since I'm all kinds of delayed on doing post I figured that it's my style to do a New Year's Resolution post a little late - but I figure late is better then never, right?! Anyway, to make this a little more exciting I'm adding pictures, all of which I have found off the internet! I swear, some day, I will get back into the swing of things and post real things, about me - with my own pictures but for now - this is what you're getting!

1. Get Organized/De-clutter!


This of course is not my house but something that I would LOVE to have and look like but that's just wishful thinking where I'm living right now. I'm starting in the kitchen and moving from room to room - taking out everything, cleaning the area - and either throwing everything away or donating the things that are able to be donated. I plan to get rid of a LOT and that makes me feel good - this project is going to start in about a month - I will keep you posted!

2. The always fun one - Loose some weight. I used to be very over weight and didn't realize it until I saw some pictures - I went to Weight Watchers and lost about 50 pounds. I stopped going before I reached my ultimate goal. I have put on about 10 of those pounds back on so I have gone back to Weight Watchers and have lost 1.3 lbs in about a week. Not bad, not bad! I'm sure I'm going to blog about this as I slowly loose the weight!


* There are other things that go along with this resolution but I will, some day soon, address that in another post*

I know that's only two things for the whole year but I feel that they are BIG (well for me they are). I'm sure as the year goes on I will think of other things I want to change and when/if I do I will make sure to keep you informed on those. I hope everyone is having a great 2010 and until next time - stay safe!

Love,
KJ