Our Getaway Weekend

Well tomorrow is Blake's 25th Birthday! So I knew Blake was going to have the 10th-13th off from work and I planned a trip. I told him that we were going somewhere for the whole weekend. All he knew was it was in Washington. So Friday when I got off work we headed out for Mt. Rainier. It is only about an hour away from our house so it wasn't a bad drive at all. When we got there he thought we were going to be staying at a hotel, but to his surprise I had rented a cabin for us. It was absolutely perfect! We didn't get any service on our cell phones, so we couldn't talk to anyone. The peace and quiet was truly needed for the both of us. We went to dinner Friday night and hung out in the room for the rest of the night. The town that we were staying in, was so little! Like there were only 5 family owned restaurants, a general store, and a gas station. So that is how little! Saturday we went and got breakfast and I had already had a reservation for us to go horseback riding! It was so much fun! We rode for about an hour and a half. We stopped at 2 spots that were so gorgeous! And after that we went to Mt. Rainier National Park. Sunday we also went into the National Park. There was so much snow! The snow was taller than our car. They had it all pushed to the side of the roads! It was a lot of fun! We got home this morning around 10:30. We had a lot of fun and cant wait to go back! Here are a few pictures from the weekend!

Update on Blake...

Sorry guys... I don't think I am going to get Blake on this computer and write about NTC. But I did find some pictures of him that his team lead Whitaker took so I will post a couple on here. Pictures from NTC at Fort Irwin, California.

The 2nd picture is of Blake and his team leader Whitaker, the 3rd picture is Blake and his friend Massaro (these are of course their last names because that's what they go by in the Army, which is funny because that is how i know most of the guys in his unit, by their last names not their first names) The 4th picture is Blake in his truck! Blake and his team leader Whitaker had to drive this truck out to their mission and the truck had no windows and no roof. And of course on their way out, it started raining, which turned into hail. So funny story... but they were not happy! The 5th picture is of Blake shooting a guy jumping out of a window, since they were only training he didn't actually kill someone but he will be killing in Afghanistan.

Here we are again

Daisy and I are back from Alabama. We got home early Monday morning around 2:30 am. So I was pretty tired, but couldn't sleep all day like I wanted to, because I had to go to work at 12:45. But its ok! Alabama was a lot of fun! I got to see all of my friends, and family. The first week I was there, I had to take Daisy to get surgery. She had a bladder stone, and since it was cheaper in Alabama we did the surgery there. The surgery went perfect and you can tell that she feels a lot better! Daisy loved playing with Eli, my dad's dog. She also loved going outside without being on a leash. It always took forever for us to get her back in the house. But she is doing good! Still spoiled as can be! The last day I was in Alabama it snowed! It never snows in Alabama, so I don't know what happened! But my flight was cancelled and I was put on another one and I was so thankful that I actually got out, because Delta had cancelled more than 300 flights for Sunday and Monday! I'm doing good, just kinda tired. It's Thursday and I have yet to unpack. I hate that part of traveling! But after this blog I am going to unpack and clean the house because... BLAKE IS COMING HOME! I am so excited that February is over and Blake is coming home! Its crazy that it has already been a month! He was supposed to come home on Friday but yesterday he called and said that he isn't coming home until Saturday! Which is sad but at least he has Monday off! So now we only have about 3 months left together until he deploys. So please pray for us that we will be able to spend as much time together as possible, and that we will find out his leave dates and his deployment dates soon! Its crazy to think that June is right around the corner! But Blake is so excited to be going over there! He is ready to go, so I'm ready for him to go, get it over with and come home! As soon as we know anything I promise to tell whatever I can. We probably wont be able to tell you where he is actually going because most of the time it is classified, but we will be able to tell you that is he is going to Afghanistan and when he actually leaves. So again pray for us, and pray for the rest of the families in Blake's company! Well alright this house is a mess and I need to start cleaning! I will write soon and let you know how Blake's training went! I might have him write a blog about NTC... you never know!!

Will ya'll be her godparents?

Well Blake has been gone for almost a week now at NTC. I have been staying with one of my friends here, Tami. Her husband, Matt, is in Blake's company. So we hang out with them all the time. In these last couple of months we have become really close to Matt and Tami. And in December they had the cutest little girl, Keelie. So last night I was sitting on the couch and Tami and Keelie were on the other one and Tami looks at me and says, "So Matt and I have been talking about this and we want you and Blake to be Keelie's godparents!" I was like really? Yes! I almost started crying! She told me that she wanted to wait until we were both here but Matt couldn't wait any longer and he went ahead and asked Blake. So she wanted to ask me before Blake called. I was super excited, so Blake calls like right afterwards, and I was like oh my goodness we are godparents! He is super excited too! Keelie just loves Blake! Anytime Blake holds her she falls asleep in his arms! He is so good with kids! So when I have a good picture of Keelie I will post it.

NTC

Blake left yesterday for Fort Irwin, CA. He had to be at work at 4 so I took him. That way his car wouldn't have to sit on post for a month. Blake will be there for a month, the first week they will process in and unload the trucks, the second and third week they will actually be training, and the fourth week they will process out and load the trucks back up for leaving. So what will they be doing here? Well at Fort Irwin they have a town set up like if you were actually in Afghanistan they even have Afghan people there to make it more real. They train the soldiers for everything. Blake should be home between March 4th- 8th.

Since Blake will be gone for a month, I will be here in Washington for a week, then I will be going home to Alabama for 2 weeks, then I will come back to Washington for a week.

Surgery?!?

Well Blake and I took Daisy to the vet this past weekend for her regular checkup and everything seemed fine except for the vet felt something in Daisy's bladder. So we had to bring her back two days later with a full bladder, and sure enough she has a urinary tract infection, so we got antibiotics. But that's not all he said he still felt the bump in her bladder and he suggested an x-ray. so we said ok to it, and he called back and told us that Daisy has a bladder stone about the size of a walnut. Poor thing right! I know! So he said that usually you can put your dog on a diet to get rid of these stones, but since hers had gotten so big she will need surgery. So of course I had to ask "How much does this surgery cost?" And he reply with.... $900 to $1000. I was like WHAT?!? I looked at Blake and said we can't afford that! So I decided to do some searching for other vets to get estimates, so I called two others, on said it would be $1100, well that just went up a $100 which isn't any better. And the other one said we would have to come in for a consultant. Yeah right and pay for another vet visit? I don't think so! Well I am going home on Feb 14th for two weeks. And I decided to check with some of the vets in Montgomery, because everything is cheaper in Alabama! Which by the way is soooo true. So I called the Blue Ridge Animal Clinic and I asked about the bladder stone removal and how much it costs and the vet there told me that it will be between $250-$300!!! I was so excited and I told her so. I told her, "You have no idea how happy that makes me, I live in Washington State because my husband is in the Army and our vet up here wanted us to pay $1000 for the surgery", she responded with "Well maybe I should move." I was so glad to know that we will be able to get the surgery for Daisy. I fly in on the 14th and Daisy surgery is scheduled for the 16th, and it will take her a couple of days to recuperate, but at least she will be better! Our poor Daisy! :(

The Life of a Dog.... a Spoiled Dog

I always tell my mom that Daisy is so spoiled. She always replies with a spoiled dog for a spoiled girl. I know I am spoiled rotten! I have always known that simply because I was the youngest kid and my Dad's only little girl! What can I say?? But back to Daisy! Anyways... this past weekend Blake and I went to the Posh Paw to get Daisy's food. And at the Posh Paw they have these cookies that are baked just for dogs. Which of course we had to get her one! They have all different kinds, they have little donuts, cakes, apples, cowboy boots. Its crazy but Daisy is so spoiled that every time we go to the Posh Paw she gets at least one. Also she has so many clothes its funny. When LaMar, Jan, and Andrew were here in December I put on a little fashion show with Daisy's clothes. She has a raincoat, rain booties, 2 houndstooth sweaters, 2 dresses, and 3 or 4 t shirts. We also had to take her to the groomers this past weekend. I love when she gets her haircut because she looks so prissy! And of course we get new bows for her hair. I know what your thinking... you put bows in her hair? That poor dog. But she doesn't mind. She actually keeps them in, and it makes her look more girly. While we were at PetSmart waiting for her to be done. Blake and I decided to take a look down the clothes aisle. She certainly doesn't need anymore clothes but they always have cute stuff. When we were looking we saw a lot of funny t shirts for dogs. There was one that said "You cant afford me" (and the afford part was in gold), also "Honey, You cant buy attitude like mine", also "I'm the princess you scoop it up", and last but not least they had a valentine's shirt that said "I'm the pooch to smooch." I love them all but we got Daisy a pink t shirt that said "I love my mom" we thought that it was so funny and cute that we just had to get it!! I cant wait for everyone to meet her and love all over her! She is spoiled but she is our only child for the time being, so we get to spend all of our extra loving and money on her! By the way here is a picture of her cookie that we got her!