Meeting the Neighbors

The house we live in on post is a quadplex. So that means we have a family that lives above us in a house that is a duplicate to ours. Well, a few nights ago my wonderful husband asked me to make one of his favorite late night snacks, bacon wrapped smokies. They are little smokies, wrapped in bacon covered in brown sugar and then broiled til crispy. They are delicious, but a pain to make because the are so messy when they cook and they tend to smoke a little due to the broiling of the sugar and fat. So it is about 12:45 at night and we are watching a movie while the snacks broil away and then we begin to hear a loud shrieking noise and an automated voice saying, Fire!! Fire!! Low and behold the very miniscual smoke has set off the most sensitive smoke alarms ever made in our building . . . that's right, you got it, not only do our fire alarms go off but seeing that it is a shared building so do the ones in the home above ours . . . at one o' clock in the morning. So of course the husband from upstairs come to check to make sure everything is okay, and it is, but none the less, not the way I wanted to meet our neighbors.

Thanksgiving

I cooked a turkey for Thanksgiving, seems simple right? Not for me, no I like to complicate things whenever possible. I decide I am going to go with all the rage this year and cook the turkey breast side down, seems simple right? Flip it over into the foil pan cook. So the night before thanksgiving I am looking up a recipe and I notice I need a V shaped rack or something like that to cook the turkey on. I don't have a V shaped rack, so I call my mom (at 12:00 am her time) to ask her what I should do. She helps me improvise, so what did I end up with? A 17 lb turkey (that was the smallest turkey they had) balanced upside down precariously on my broiler rack which is then balance on top of my handi foil throw away roaster pan. I do have to say, it did work out, the turkey was moist and delicious, but I think I might just invest in the v shaped rack it would have made my life a lot easier. I also think I might just get to the store earlier so I don't have turkey for 20 with my family of 4.

Lists

Things I didn't expect:

1. Before we joined the Army I never expected Peter to be able to assemble and disassemble an M-16 in 3 minutes.

2. I did not realized that there could be so many acronyms for things that you would need a 100 page dictionary just to figure out what people are saying.

3. I did not expect so many people to ask the question, "What made you join the Army?"

4. I did not expect that the traditions of the military would mean so much so quickly as a new Army wife.

5. I did not realize that I could fit everyone's clothes into two small closets.

6. That it could be crazy windy today with temps of 30 and dry and 70 degrees the next day. How do you dress for weather like that?

7. That speed limits of 25 could be so prevalent (like every street I drive on it feels like. (Speed limits on post are strictly enforced and you do not want to get a ticket from an MP - Very Bad.)

8. That my car can actually go 5 miles an hour when that is the posted limit and that I can actually walk faster than that (probably).

9. I did not realize I would ever love to wear jeans (and I do now seeing that it is cold here). Hoping that I can love closed toed shoes, I am a die hard flip flop fan currently even at 30 degrees.

10. I did not realize what a blessing the Army life would be to me and my family. It is an experience that has changed the Dell family for the better the experience thus far has been priceless for us.

Missing Member

But during this time (since early October actually) Peter has been away at OBC (Officer Training) in San Antonio, Texas. It is December 1st and it feels like he left ages ago and I just miss him terribly today more than any other day thus far. Doing life everyday without him is like trying to ride a bike with no hands - doable but not as easy, the balance has to be just right or you will crash. I know what you are thinking that it comes with the military life you chose, but it still doesn't make it any easier. I know that our time apart is almost over for now (2 1/2 more weeks to go), but in truth, this seperation has served as a reminder that we no longer have control over when he is home or when he is gone and I have to be totally honest, the thought of him being gone for a year scares the s*** out of me, excuse my french. I just am not sure what it would be like to lieterally lose a year of his life intertwined daily with mine. I know that it is going to happen at some point (in a very etherial manner of speaking), and I know that we will make it through it, but I still won't like it (like any one does, right!).

And Babe, if you are reading this, I want you to know that loving you is what is right with my world. Knowing that just me alone is enough for you is a gift greater than you can imagine for my heart. As time has passed from February my heart has healed, our relationship has blossomed again, but the day I read the note you wrote me in the field saying my love for you was the most valuable in this life was the day I truly came to believe you, not just in my head but in my heart completely as well. I love you, I always have, and I always will whether we are next to each other on the couch or thousands of miles apart, my love for you is unceasing and the love I get in return from you is priceless to my heart and soul.

Okay so that was longer than I anticipated it would be, but nonetheless there it is, my heart overflow for the night.

Halloween

So I took the kids trick or treating tonight with a friend of mine and her kids. Wow! I think every child within a 10 mile radius was also out as well, leading me to wonder, if all the kids and their parents are out, then who is left to hand out candy? Nonetheless, there were people handing out candy to my little pirate and fairy.
Going trick or treating is quite the adventure when your kids are 3 and 5. We started out strong, running, laughing, playing, all fun and games. Things were going good as we rounded the corner of the street, they were excited to be with there friends and dying to eat the candy they already had gotten.

Now as we go to the second block things began to deteriorate slightly. There was some whining, but not too much. However, as we rounded the corner on the second block (the furthest point from our starting point) things went under in a hurry. The kids (mainly Ben) are whining that their feet hurt and their baskets are heavy. Benjamin is lagging so far behind its ridiculous, leading my friend to ask, "Is this overwhelming for him (AKA: Is he always this slow?)." To which I respond, unfortunately, yes he is always this slow the kid doesn't get staying with the group, or hurrying in any way shape or form. It is a foreign concept to him, he resides in the World According to Ben and everyone else needs to get on board. In his mind he isn't the slow one, we are all just going too fast. And even as I listen to Ben tell me he is done and wants to go home, something in me wants to keep going from house to house, why might you ask do I want to continue the torture that is trick or treating when my kids no longer care to get anymore candy? Well, the buckets aren't full and for some reason it seems like they should be full! Keep knocking, get in line, just because it isn't fun anymore doesn't mean we stop we press on until we have conquered EVERY SINGLE HOUSE!!!

Now I have to say that although my gut reaction is the one stated above, we did stop and head back home when the kids stated they were done and wanted to go home and play, the mother in me took over my overacheiver mindset and we trekked and yes I do mean trekked, dragging my pirate and trying to control my fairy who was so hopped up on sugar she might have actually been able to fly given the chance back home to play for a little bit.

Going trick or treating with preschoolers is kind of like eating 2 fat pieces of rich chocolate cake. Each bite seems so delicious and the second piece doesn't seem like a bad idea until it is all consumed and you feel sick to your stomach like you are about to explode and you never want to see chocolate cake for a long while. Trick or treating is so fun at first, the kids look so cute, they are having such a good time on the first block you go to so you think lets continue the fun and go to a second block until you get to the back corner of the block and you realize no one is having anymore fun, the kids aren't as cute, you aren't as cute as you snap orders to stay out of the street and you don't want to see one more lighted house giving out candy that you will have to stop at, you just want to get back to square one, take off the costumes and not see halloween decorations for another year.

Well, the night is over, the halloween festivities which have encompassed our entire weekend are over, the costumes hung up, the kids are fast asleep, and the candy is calling my name as I resist the urge to raid their pumpkins for anything gooey and chocolate. Although I am glad that the night is done and normalcy will reign again as Monday arrives, in all seriousness, I did enjoy watching the little faces of my pirate and fairy as they looked with wonderment at their full pumpkins and all the candy like it was a million dollars sitting right in front of them. It is amazing how easy it is to thrill little ones. A $17 costume changes their whole persona and a bucket full of candy makes their night. They are precious and sweet and I look forward to lots more halloweens to watch them thrill over costumes and candy.

So I have been MIA for a while as we have began settling our life here in OK. So what might you wonder has been up with the Dell's?

We are super excited that our house is coming available in ONE WEEK! We are currently living in a little apartment and without 90% of our things which all remain in storage. I have taken for granted having a plethora of baking dishes, all my clothes (specifically a jacket!), couches, chairs, and all the little things you don't realize you use all the time (envelopes, markers, stamps, pictures). Cooking with one baking dish and one mixing bowl is shall I say challenging?! I have never washed dishes so often in one night just making dinner. But I get to view the house on the 9th and then we can move in! And bonus it is on the first level! Our apartment that we have now has two flights of stairs, one set to just get in the house and then one to get to all the bedrooms and bathrooms, that's right you have to go upstairs just to go to the bathroom, and yes it is inconvenient, but soon to be over!

Peter is away right now for training and we are missing him terribly. We are actually going to see him next weekend and the kids and I are super excited to see him!

Grace and Ben are enjoying school and we are all trying to acclamate to the weather. It is not the same as Florida . . . duh. Last night was in the high 30's low 40's I believe? Quite a change from the 80 degrees in the south.

So I am back on the horse and will update more often now that we are in the swing of things, sort of.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!!

Happy Birthday to the man I love. I hope that your day is special. Just a few special things about you!

1. Only your humor can get me in stitches at the most innocuous thing.
2. Your smile lights up a room.
3. Your quiet strength and caring spirit makes you more attractive to me every day.
4. Your children adore you and your ability to be a human jungle gym is amazing.
5. Only you can wear a blanket cape and make it look good!
6. Who else can I trust to be my human GPS within 6 minutes of arriving in a new place?
7. You look good in ACU's, when you leave for work I wonder, "Who is getting their butt kicked today, Hooah!?"
8. Your intelligent and the best problem solver I know.
9. You care about me and even let me be a little ridiculously crazy at times (i.e. Grace's school, the king bed, need I go on?)
10. You love me and our kids and we love you, we are a family and I wouldn't have it any other way, and that in my opinion is pretty special!

I love you my dear and I think you are an amazing man. I am so glad that we are taking this amazing journey together. I look forward to all that the next 20 years hold and can't wait to open our bed and breakfast. I love you with my whole heart!

Your Wife

Family

So we are headed out tomorrow for Oklahoma. Our new home with the army and I had the last dinner with my family tonight. It was alot of fun recounting memories, playing games and eating a meal. I am really close with my family and I am going to miss them all so much. I never really envisioned myself leaving my family "for real," and now the day is upon me. I will miss my dad and his witty demeanor and even though it drives me crazy, his opinionated comments. I will miss my mom, my best friend, she is always there to help, to hug, to laugh, and to comfort. She has been my shoulder to lean on and cry on for as long as I can remember. I will miss my brother Billy who was my best playmate when I was little. What other brother would be your dance partner when you were obsessed with dancing and singing. I will miss my brother Ryan who is passionate about whatever he does. He can love big and is the person you want on your side, no matter what. My family is great and I will miss them alot. I am already looking forward to coming home.

Whining

Whining . . . just the word is annoying. Peter and I have been trying to teach the kids (mainly Ben) to just use his words to ask for what he wants instead of whining about everything and every little thing requiring tears. Tonight was a small success followed by a reverting back to whining. I guess I am just being paid back for all of my whining as a kid and as a teen. In fact, when I was talking to Ben tonight I was reminded of working at Winn Dixie as a teenager. Why you might ask . . . well that is were I met my lovely husband of ten years. I was a cashier, he was the front end manager (however, he was not my manager, he was the manager over the baggers really, although I am sure he would disagree, this is the truth.) Peter used to say that I was a whiner with a poor work ethic (very suave right??) and one day presented me with a new name badge that instead of saying my name said "Whiner." What about my whining was so attractive, I don't know but it must have worked, because here we are.
Nonethless, we are tackling the whining. If you here of a woman who chose to go voluntarily deaf, it may be me. Am I whining right now about whining????

Road Trip

So we have been on a road trip to check out our future digs here in Oklahoma. I don't think I ever thought that I would say that I will be or live in Oklahoma, but exciting none the less. We have spent the last two days in the car with our two little ones. It is 20 hours from Riverview to Lawton. It is quite a haul. The first day seemed to fly by, but the second . . . not so much. I think the last 3 hours from the middle of nowhere Texas to Lawton was like an entire day all in itself.

During the trip I drove for a while, and of course I prefer to drive when there is no exits to get off of and I can just set the cruise and not worry about getting everyone lost. I am the only person on the face of the planet that has the uncanny ability to get lost while having a GPS tell me exactly where to go. And of course I take over and I end of driving through Dallas, Texas, I think I only stayed on each road 5 miles each and to make matters worse it was like 5:30-6:00 drive time traffic. I think possibly my worst driving nightmare. My wonderful husband, who needed a break, stayed awake and helped me navigate all the road changes, exits and traffic.

Our kiddies were really angels on the trip, with the exception of the necessary to every road trip bantor like, he's touching me, she has more pillow than me, I can't see the dvd, She's pressing the buttons, and the mother of all questions: Are we in Oklahoma yet? Tehy weathered all the sitting well, and I am really proud of them. Which will be rewarded with some hotel pool time tomorrow.

We have (obviously) made it here safely and we are getting settled into our Best Western hotel room (the lap of luxury) and are excited to check out the area tomorrow.

We are having dinner with another military family tomorrow night as well and looking forward to making a connection here in our new home to be. It will be nice to see a friendly face when we return to stay for good!