Picture-less Memorial Day

So good news....bad news. Bad news is I am still unable to post without pictures because my main computer is officially dead. Good news is we will get a new computer in about a month. Also good/bad is that I will continue to blog without pictures until said new computer is acquired.

.

Our Memorial Day was pretty fantastic. Being by an military post there were some pretty cool things going on. We decided to spend the day just with our little family and stayed away from the big activities. We went on a run with the girls and our double jogger (seriously I have used that thing daily since we got here and I LOVE it). We ran up and over and around and down the big hill to our section of the Ord Military Community.

.

There are no less than a kabillion parks in our community. They are ALL over! It is almost a rule that you are within site of a park where ever you go. We have played at 4 different ones all within a 10-15 minute walk from our house, and there are SO many more.

.

So after our run around yesterday we ended at one of the bigger park/recreation areas. I challenged Marcus to a game of 21 at the basketball court while the girls ran around. After three games of 21 (with Olivia threatening to poop her pants twice) we waltzed passed the game of soccer played by the youth, passed the family playing tennis on the tennis court to the playground where the girls played and played. It was totally magical and so much fun.

.

My buns are getting the workout of my life here. We are at the bottom of a pretty steep hill and to get anywhere on foot requires me hiking up that bad boy..... whilst pushing two kids in the stroller with all their snacks and what have you. It is the best bum workout EVER! That combined with all the other walking/running I have been doing I am pretty sure my legs are going to rock this summer. (I just need to remember to work other areas of my body too!).

.

So we got home yesterday in time for naps and just spent the rest of the day watching movies and eating BBQ pork and tater tots for dinner.

.

I also had Marcus' Army guy friends over for dinner on Sunday (Jacobson and Murphy.... or if you are Olivia it is Jafofsons and Muwphy). I felt like the hostess with the mostest and it was SO wonderful to entertain in my new home. They are such wonderful guys and it really made my heart swell to know that Marcus had surrounded himself with such good people while we were separated. I made ranch cheddar chicken (the recipe off the back of the hidden valley ranch bottle and it was SO FREAKIN' GOOD!). I told the boys it was standing order that they are invited to Sunday dinner every week.

.

I also dragged out my dusty Settlers of Catan game and we played it. Jacobson totally beat us. I demanded a rematch at a later date.

.

Church was awesome. Our ward is HUMONGOUS. It was the size of my old ward on Sunday and that was with at least half the people out of town for the holiday weekend. I met some REALLY nice ladies and now know of some playgroups and such that happen weekly. I still haven't found out if there are any ladies groups playing basketball, but there are a few outside courts here and I will just have to keep challenging Marcus to 21 to keep my game up.

.

It is so sunny, breezy and beautiful here. It feels so good to get out of the house and explore everyday. My cell phone doesn't work very well inside my house, but I try to call people when we are on our walks because that is when I get the best reception.

Home.

I am home. All is quiet. This is the first time I have had a stretch of time and just sit down all by myself since we left on our Army adventure. The drive went way better than I expected. The girls were real big troopers. (Katie--there were no peeing on the side of the road shenanigans this time!).

.

Some highlights of the road trip...

-Seeing a Mary Kay pink Cadillac in Portland.

-Taking a REAL long lunch break the first day of driving.

-Eating my first EVER In-N-Out Burger (and animal fries....divine!)

-Having the WORST allergies EVER.

-Belting out the entire Wicked soundtrack with Kaitlyn

-Oooing and Aaaaahing about all the scenery

.

Save for 4 boxes or so, I am totally moved in. Kaitlyn and the in laws were the BEST ever and really helped me to bust out the unpacking. I just need to do a little more organizing and finish hanging things on the walls and I am pretty much done.

.

It is cool and sunny and breezy here. The wind tastes salty from sweeping in over the bay. Monterey has a small town feel to it and I feel pretty confident that I can make it to all the main places fairly easily. My car is all registered for driving on post, passed the SMOG test (a pre-requisite to getting registered). I have been up to the Presidio to see where Marcus is studying his brains out.

.

We have been down to the beach and it is gorgeous. Frothy, white caped waves breaking along a sandy beach as far as you can see. We went to a fabulous Mexican food restaurant RIGHT on the water with sweeping views of the bay (inexpensive and beautiful setting). I have shopped at the Commissary all by myself (well me and the girls), been to some of the playgrounds, shopped at TWO targets, walked along Cannery Row.....whew! No wonder I feel so pooped right now!

.

This might just be the most magical place ever.

.

It probably helps to be in such a magical place with my magical Marcus. Sigh.

.

Olivia is so excited to be with her Daddy again. She hasn't quite got used to all the other Army guys who are here too. Anytime she sees one she thinks it is him. It is pretty fun to watch all of them come home after school, some driving, some walking down the hill to their homes on our street. She thought it was so cool to pick him up from school yesterday. When we stopped at the gate she kept asking who the guards were while I was pulling out my ID.

.

Bianca is warming up to him. She didn't really know what to make of Marcus when we first got here, but I think it is starting to sink in that he lives with us now. That he is her Daddy. She calls him Dad and is getting more and more comfortable with him. Those two kinda have to learn who each other are. Get to know each other again. It is so sweet to watch Marcus with his babies. He is doing such a great job and trying so hard to get back in the swing of things.

.

Our computer situation is going to be a little dicey for the next few weeks, but I will try to upload some pictures of our new home as soon as I can!

Countdown.

In less than 48 hours I will set out (with Kaitlyn, my in laws and my kids) for sunny CA. These last few weeks have been a whirl wind. My computer died a few weeks back and have not been able to access my pictures, hence no blogging. (I hate blogging without pictures to post!).
.
Everything that was "essentials" that I had here at the house got all packed up today. Who knew I had so many danged "essentials". The living room is full of stacks of all my "essentials". Good thing we have the large moving van!
.
I have been totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love the girls and I have received from family and friends. I had a totally amazing Going Away Party put on by Michelle and Helen. The surprises that ensued that weekend rocked my world and I cried like a baby. It was a perfect weekend with all my favorite, favorite people.
.
Some amazing girlfriends threw me a Ladies Night Out Party, which left my abs hurting from laughing so much. People kept telling their "wasn't it so funny when Vashti embarrassed herself THIS way"..... Or " Remember when Vashti totally embarrassed herself THAT way". Apparently I embarrass myself quite frequently. Totally character building, I say.
.
I have been drinking in all the moments. It makes me feel full and contented to think the wonderful people here that fill my life. Such examples for how I want to live my life and the person I want to be. Friends and family who love my babies as much as I do.
.
I am so excited to see my Marcus. To be together again. Sigh. It has been 10 months since he left for basic training. At times it has felt like the days are flying by so fast, while other times if feels like an eternity passes in one day.... slowly crawling by...
.
Keep us in your prayers as we embark on our road trip! I will do better about blogging when we get there, even if I can't access my pictures I will write about our adventures!

At the Johnson House

When we aren't gallivanting across the country side like vagabonds and are actually at the In-Laws, this is a pretty normal scene around here.

Konks sitting with Grandpa and Olivia sitting with Memaw. Mom, meanwhile, is usually running around tidying up and getting everything ready for bedtime so that way when the girls go to bed I get to watch my latest obsession. Lark Rise to Candleford. Netflix it baby, you will be so glad that you did!

Hi Daddy

Hi Daddy! We just wanted you too see how freakin' precious we are in our matchy-matchy Sunday dresses.

Mommy says she loves these dresses on us. She said she really loves how it slows down Konks at church, so instead of sprinting down the aisles she just does a brisk jog.

Daddy we love each other a lot and always give really big hugs!

Daddy, Do I have to go to Primary when we come on your Army trip? I really loved Nursery and I ask Mom every week if I can go to Nursery instead of Primary. Can we bring these dresses with us when we come on your Army trip?

.

Love you lots and lots and lots,

Olivia and Bianca.

Multiple Personality Disorder.

When Marcus was home at Christmas Olivia decided that her most special blankie has a name. Her most special blankie that she has to sleep with every night was now called Yuckie. It was decided. That was it's name and that was it.

Then a month or two ago she was in the room with me and told me to be quiet because her Prince was sleeping. She often tucks dolls or teddy bears into bed to give them a nap. A little while later she came out with her Prince and was walking around with him.

Her Prince is her Yuckie. She rolls him up in a very specific way, on the diagonal, and then she holds on to him closer to the top and the little part that flops over is his head. When it is her Prince it ceases to be her Yuckie and vice versa. I get corrected constantly if I refer to her Yuckie while it is assuming the personality of the Prince.

.

She talks to her Prince and goes on adventures with him. If her wrapping job isn't up to the standards of her Prince then she will unwrap him and start over. It totally cracks me up but also makes me slightly nervous that she now has multiple reasons to be attached to her multiple personality Yuckie.

Long time, no blog.

These last few weeks have been rough. Lots of big and little things going wrong, kids being sick, me being sick all culminating in my lack of mental abilities. ................................................................................................................................................................ For my husband being gone since July I have felt like I have been doing a really good job of being all that I need to be for the girls and keeping up with all of my Mom jobs. Even if I had a harder day I always did something to change the scene or get us out of the house and shake things up. Tell myself that my attitude set the tone for us and it was up to me to change it or wallow in crankiness. ................................................................................................................................................................... I don't think I could even explain all the things that went wrong last month if I really tried. It wasn't one big thing or even a few major events. It was more like everything ALL day. I would even analyze at the end of the day "was this day really as hard as I felt like it was?".... "Am I just over reacting about this right now?". .................................................................................................................................................................. The truth of the matter was no matter how hard I tried to change things up or have a sunny outlook some catastrophe would happen 5 minutes later. It was out of control and it was the darkest time I have had since Marcus being gone. I just could not catch a break and no amount of optimism seemed to help. ........................................................................................................................................................................ I also didn't feel like blogging. I didn't want to blog about how I was struggling while still in the middle of it and didn't have the heart to blog anything else uplifting because I didn't feel uplifted. ....................................................................................................................................................................... A great friend suggested to me to pray about it. I was honestly trying the absolute hardest I most possibly could and it was not enough. To let Heavenly Father know of my struggles and despite how hard I was working and trying I just couldn't do it and for Him to carry me the extra that I lacked. ....................................................................................................................................................................... A weight was lifted from my shoulders that was staggering. A burden lifted that was so huge I didn't understand the weight of it until it wasn't there anymore. There was still a good week or two after that were things just kept going wrong, but I was starting to get a better handle on it. ..................................................................................................................................................................... Marcus kept gently hinting that I had not posted on the blog for a while and after house sitting last week I feel like things have finally slowed down enough to blog again. We are so close to being together again. One more month until we move to California with Marcus!