up to speed

Since we live such exciting lives, I thought it would be a good idea to keep you up to speed on what we've been doing!

Today I woke up with a swollen, red, and painful eye. My actual eye doesn't hurt and it isn't red. But my eye lid on top is what hurts. And it hurts near my tear duct. I mean, I'm fine. It isn't life-threatening, and I don't feel like crawling into the fetal position or anything. I'm hoping it just goes away, and I'm not too concerned. I've never had eye problems. The last time I got pink eye was in Kindergarten, and I had to be picked up from school. I got to go to the doctor, got a hand puppet, and got to build a fort with my dad. Pretty good trade off.

Oh, and my eye itches too. If you're an eye doctor, have a huge interest in eye infections, or know a teeny weensy bit about this, leave a comment and give me advice :)

Mark has Wednesday off work! We've not decided what we'll be doing in celebration of this momentous occasion, but it will surely be something fun!

We strung our Christmas lights yesterday! There is this teeny "rule" in our neighborhood that we can't decorate the outside of our homes until a month in advance of the holiday. But our next door neighbors have this elaborate light show going on in their front yard.

Note: I didn't notice that they had their lights out until ours were already hung. So we weren't copying them or anything. And, plus, ours looks really dinky compared to theirs.



This cutie has a birthday party coming up in 33 days! We can't wait!


Swollen eyes, Christmas lights, and birthday parties -- yep! That sums it all up!

Make Your Case

how strong of a case can you build for Christ raising from the dead using these 5 facts:
1. Jesus was killed by crucifixion
2. Jesus' disciples believed he rose and appeared to them
3. The conversion of the church persecutor Paul
4. The conversion of the skeptic James, Jesus' half-brother
5. Jesus' tomb was empty

I want to pick at your brain for a bit, go ahead and POST AWAY!!
-Prince M-

A Christmas Carol review!

Since you begged so nicely, I'm giving you exactly what you asked for: a movie review of A Christmas Carol.



Mark and I went to see it yesterday at our local theater, and overall, I give it a B+

It wasn't 3D. At all. Even though the previews said it was. I'm not sure why -- there were certain spots in the movie that we knew were supposed to be 3D. But they weren't. Maybe you have to see it in an IMAX theater to get the 3D-ness, but they didn't say that in the previews.

So I don't know.

The graphics in this movie are to die for. It is, most likely, the best animation I have ever seen. Ebeneezer Scrooge actually looks like a real man. It's beautiful, really. Well, as beautiful as a huge nose with gray hairs poking from it can possibly be.

Should I be embarrassed that I didn't actually know the story of A Christmas Carol? I knew that the 3 spirits came to see him, that he was a mean man, and that he turned nice in the end. Mark thought it was cute (and hilarious) that I didn't know who Tiny Tim was. Oops! Now I do! :)

The movie is fun, beautiful, and awesome scenery. My only problem with this movie is that the language is almost old English. Seriously, I had to listen very closely to understand exactly what the fudge they were saying. It was definitely very Charles Dickinsish language -- which is cute for adults, but totally and utterly confusing for kids.

There's no doubt about it -- my 4-year old nephew wouldn't have a clue what was going on, because there's no way he'd understand it! Pretty sad that they chose to make that decision. The plot is hard enough to understand, as it is. Add in weird, old English, and you're really lost.

Plus, there are quite a few scary moments. A demon-like ghost chases Scrooge along with dead horses. He also nearly falls to his grave (which looks similar to hell), and it would definitely be scary for a kid.


So, to sum it up, I would recommend it if you're older, but don't take your child to see it. Besides, the themes in this movie are way too grown up. There's no way a child would understand Scrooge loving money, his wife leaving him, him turning into an old grouch, etc. It's just too advanced for kids.

I wouldn't watch it again or anything, but we did like it in theaters. It really was nicely made, and nothing beats seeing Jim Carey as cartoon ghosts. Pretty funny!

tribute to YOU!

Friends. IRL* friends & bloggy friends. They keep me goin'. They keep me truckin'. They keep me.

I think they're great, and I think they're worth mentioning. Worth introducing. Worth knowing.

So, I'm taking my top five commenters and introducing you to the people that keep this blog going. So, in Christine-fashion, I now introduce you to some people that I love:



1. Brittney -- author of Back to the Quarry! She is my friend IRL* and I've known her for, oh, two years! Our husbands are bffs, and she and Chris are expecting their Baby Bee in early May (or late April, if we're lucky!). She is insanely cute, and we share a ton of similar interests. She (and her husband) post a wide variety of posts -- from hilarious, to serious, to informative, and to product reviews. I think she's great! And our dogs just happen to be best friends forever.



2. Christine -- author of Adventures of Christine! She, too, is my friend IRL* and I've known her since 1st grade, although we were never in the same class. She is absolutely hilarious, and her blogs are always insanely adorable and funny! She is, like, precious. Beyond words. And she is also really really good with kids. She is a ball of fun, and if I could describe her in one word, it would be: life. Odd word to describe someone, I know, but she is full of life. Her interests include her boyfriend, Austin, helping the children of the world, God, and living life to the fullest. My nephews also love her, if that says anything about her greatness. She makes up 1/3 of the Muskateers.




3. Emily -- author of The World Inside My Head! I don't actually know Emily, but Christine does. I used to think she was a famous blogger that Christine stalked followed, but then I realized that she is, in fact, a real person. Her blog is insanely fun to read, and she blogs about, literally, the world inside her head. In a fun, bright way. Proudest aunt ever to Ava Ghost, Emily is chuck full of cuteness. Emily blogs about her interests, funny moments, her thoughts, and the beauty of life. Something can always be learned from Emily's blog, even if it's as simple as her love for cupcakes. She, too, is 1/3 of the Muskateers.



4. Paige -- author of Live, Laugh, Love! Paige is my IRL* friend as well! We, too, went to elementary school together. And, just like Christine, we were never in the same class (sadly!). Paigey is a newlywed with an adorable poodle, Fenway. Proud aunt to Riley, Paige blogs about all sorts of things. And I'm pretty sure she participates in more blog carnivals than anyone I know. She is too cute for words and wears a scarf better than anyone I know. A trip to her blog is in order, even if it's just to see her adorable niece dressed up as a sock monkey ballerina. Really, could Paige's blog get any better? I think not.


5. Anonymous -- author of ????! You all also keep me going. Though you don't have a blog for me to read, I still love you dearly. Even if we've never met and you never sign your name, or if we've been long-time friends and you simply refuse to sign up for a blogger account (hehe), I love you! From Becky to Rebecca to Tara to my sister to my mom & dad to strangers of the world, I salute you for being courageous enough to comment. I, just like everyone else, truly love comments and it's encouraging to read what you all say. In a perfect world, each of you would also have a blog so I could read what you have to say, but I'm content with just hearing your thoughts regarding what I write.




Here's to all my bloggy friends! Thanks for being a part of Fort Cox. I love you all! :)


*In Real Life


Note: I will go more in-depth on the Muskateers at a later date! Keep your eyes peeled!

I don't fit in: the blog post where I'm brutally honest.

I don't fit in as a military wife, and I'm pretty sure I never will.

When Mark joined the Air Force, I thought maybe there was some speck of a chance that I would be okay with being separated from him for 7 months. That I would be okay with him being owned by the government. That I would be okay with moving around like it was my job.

But it's been a year since he signed his papers, and here we are. We're a military family. And I don't fit in.

I'm not independent. I'm the baby of the family, and I'm not a leader. I don't have it in my bones to be left alone in a new city for 6 months while my husband is in Iraq. I'm not strong enough to take care of our child(ren) while he's in the middle east. I'm not okay with him potentially going on a remote tour for 1 year in Korea while I'm left here all alone. In all honesty, I'm not quite sure what kind of wife would be okay with any of those scenarios. But me? I'm not cut out for that.

I'm not okay with being away from my family. There. I said it. I really really love my family. And it's pretty depressing to think that I'm missing my nephews grow up. And I have to hear about their lives over the phone. I guess some people don't have nieces or nephews and aren't close to their families. But I am. And it really sucks to be 12 hours from my favorite people on the planet (besides Mark, of course!).

I hate that Mark is owned by his job. We can't go home on the weekends or on holidays even though he has off work. He has to take leave if he chooses to travel so many miles away from base. He can't just "call in sick" like a normal job. And, if I get sick and need his assistance, I might as well ask Piper to help me out. Because Mark can't stay home. He isn't allowed. And I will never be okay with that.

When we have our first child, chances are that no one will be here with us. We're 12 hours from home. So, unless I have a scheduled C-section, and it just so happens to fall in the summer or on a big holiday break, no one will be able to come see our baby. I'm not okay with that, and I never will be.

There's also a huge chance that Mark will miss some, if not all, of a future pregnancy of mine. Or that he will miss a large portion of our babe's life. I'm not okay with giving birth alone in a strange city with no one by my side. I know some women do it with no problem because they're strong/brave/independent or whatever.

But I am not.

I don't think that friends will "make up" for me not having family here. No stranger I will meet will ever be equal to, or better than, my family. In fact, in the last month, I've not spoken to anyone other than Mark& store clerks in person. I'm not interested in going to Air Force wife clubs. At all. I'm quickly turning into a hermit crab, if I'm honest with myself.


And the fact that Obama is my husband's boss isn't too settling, if you catch my drift.


I guess I should be grateful that my husband has a job, that he supports us, and that we have our own house with the most amazing dog in the universe. We live by the ocean, drive a cute car, and are truly in love with each other. But, unless you're me (which you aren't), then you don't know exactly what I'm going through. Even if you are a military wife -- so what? I don't claim to know your feelings or know how you feel.

We might be lifers in the AF, and Mark might retire when he's 43. Or we might get out in 5 years. Who knows? But, as for now, we both know and realize that I wasn't cut out to be a military wife. And I'm not really sure that anyone is.

Announcement:

Disclaimer:

I know it really seems like I'm obsessed with my dog. And, okay, maybe I am. But, in all honesty, she is more like a child to me. And the fact that she's covered in fine, white fur kind of doesn't matter at all. We are kind of attached to each other.


Okay. Back to the announcement:

Today, for the first time ever, Piper successfully buried and hid her bone for later use. I noticed she was moving her little snout around on the couch. I looked over, and, by golly, she was tidying up the blanket. And her bone, which she had previously been chewing, was no where to be seen. When she turned around, I quickly peeked under the blanket, and there it was!

How cute. Really.

So cute that I just had to share. Okay -- carry on now.

5 months!

Our baby girl is 5 months told today! Yesterday, Mark got off work early. He actually got to leave work, go to Virginia Beach, hang out with the Geico gecko, and eat free crab meat.

He lives the good life, I swear.

When he comes home early, we always plan to do something fun -- and yesterday was no exception. We headed to Sandy Bottom Nature Park and blurred backgrounds of beautiful fall leaves. Piper is already sporting her Christmas collar, and she's growing like a small weed.

My current favorite thing about Piper is that she protects me. Westies are vermin hunters and that is extremely disgusting -- but also extremely helpful. Virginia is on the coast, in case you didn't know, and we get lots of bugs. We had bugs in Kentucky, but not like this. And bugs near oceans are bigger -- and, from what I hear, bugs are bigger up and down the east coast.

*shivers*

So on a daily basis, Piper finds crickets, spiders, creepy crawlies, etc. and kills them for me. But she doesn't just kill them. She flops them around, eats their legs, rolls on her back to squash the bug effectively, and eventually leaves the body for me to clean up.

Thanks, Pipey!

If you look closely, you'll see that her facial hair is sticking out. She's finally growing into her Westie look!! Right now she's on the rug playing with a cow hoof. I love her to bits, and on a daily basis, we ask ourselves, "Does everyone else love their dogs as much as we love Piper?!!?"

Because we really, really love her.

----------------------------------

Piper hates Mark's boots. All of them. It's completely random, but she'll walk up to his boots and start barking uncontrollably. She doesn't touch them, bite them, or get anywhere near them. She just barks from afar. I have no idea why. It may or may not have something to do with me trying to stuff her in one of Mark's boots as a baby.


We currently have to put Mark's boots on our computer desk and/or dining room table so she doesn't freak out.

Um, oops? ;)