Last Saturday

I called my mom while we were out running errands. I knew she had weekend clinical's for her nursing school (an A student she is) and her side job, but we thought, if we bring a pot of soup and pies, can we come for dinner? She called my grandparents, and after church, church meetings and naps, we drove into Boise. It's not more than a 50 minute drive or so. We got to my mom's house, unpiled, and were greeted to a lighted Halloween Tablescape. After all she had done that day at school, she made the table look perfectly festive. There was orange soda with chocolate straws and candy owl cones for the kids. We talked about the Balloon Kid, and h1n1, and Thanksgiving plans. We took samples of 3 Marie Callendar Pies, and finally bathed the little kids in her swimming pool bath so they were ready for bed on the drive home. My lousy iphone photos just don't capture it the way it should. And next time around, I'll remember my Grandpa does not like Potato Cheese soup. Or Razzleberry pie. But he loves Lemon Meringue from Marie's.

my grandparents

ps- Ryan passed his boards! I knew he would, but he did it! No more tests for 10 years for this guy, unless, he fellows. Or trains in allergy with the Air Force. And, I think he is. Let's pretend there are no more tests....

pss- My trunk or treat ward activity turned into a 2 ward activity and a spanish branch. Can you imagine? Helpers anyone?

psss- the Pirates are coming out at our house this week. I love Emma's dress!

Giveaway

Go here for my friend Melissa's darling, darling banner.

You won't want to miss this...

oh, and neighba-lady, Traci of Amazing Mae, has a great tutorial on a burlap pumpkin.

life here

View from out my kitchen. Wide open spaces with the subtle sound of the highway.

(warning- totally random post)

Landon turned 3 and potty trained himself on the same day. I turned 31. It was easier turning 31 than 30. Starting school an hour later gives me a better start to my day. I'm ready to go by the time I wake everyone up- I like that. Emma's preschool and dance, and Tanner's scouts and school are going well. We gave Tanner a "bonus year" and had him repeat second grade. I am so glad we did- he is doing so much better and his confidence has dramatically changed. He's not the oldest, or the tallest, and his teacher says he is shaping up to be a gentle leader, a new place for him certainly. He has not thought twice about it either- if we had not moved we could have never pulled it off. I agonized so much over what to do, talked to so many parents and teachers and reading specialists, but it came down to just me, Ryan and prayer. Isn't that what always happens?

We have gotten a good taste of military life now. Ryan has "readiness" days where he might see 2 patients and then has to get fitted for gas masks and exercise. He likes his staff and most all of the doctors that went active with him seem to be young and just out of residency too. Once again, it's just a nine-bed hospital. There is an OB unit for delivery- where I think most of the action is. Ryan's call schedule has been very easy. He takes week long call and gets paged very little. I got a mac daddy migraine this weekend. Sunday to be exact. He took me into the base Urgent Care (ER) for an IV. From 1-10 I was at a 9 (and as he pointed out, even in labor with a bad epidural, I've never ranked myself that high) and they could not push IV meds on me. There was no pharmacist to release the meds to the ER. He happened to be the on call doctor and said he could admit me to the floor and then they would have to call in a pharmacist, but who would watch our kids? They doped me up on some shots that brought it down a bit and now Ryan is under orders from me, if that ever happens again, admit me and knock me out.

I credit my migraine to two things, the smell of smoked food. I think it's a trigger. Ryan thinks I'm crazy. I point out to him even when I'm pregnant and sick it's the worst smell to me ever. He says he doesn't forget- it is vividly in his mind watching my "reaction". And, secondly, I attended a festival on base for just the medical officers. There I met other wives who detailed there husbands deployments and the challenges they faced and I could not get there conversations out of my mind. I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking how could I live for 9 months without him? And I know they need 40k more troops which means they need more doctors. And our base is considered a high ops base. Meaning, they pull from us often. Ryan says, I need to stay away from the other wives and not just smoked food smells. As of right now, Ryan is scheduled to leave next December. Which he points out, they might not need him. Overall, he still likes his job as Captain, Chief Internist. He thinks it's funny. He's the only internist, that's why he's chief chair.

Landon just bit Emma on the nose, my phone never rings. Still trying to find the rhythm of this place. And although there is so much unknown with the Air Force, still no regrets from either of us.

And I love fall. It starting to feel crisp here. I am breaking in my new cardy uggs. Love those too.

(still love my banner Traci.)

(bought this burlap glitter banner and witches boot on etsy this year)

(board from Real Deals. Love that place.)

My menu board.... dry erase. Trying to get meals organized better.

No Qdoba to run to last minute at this truck stop town.

I was inspired to paint some furniture black from a couple KY friends. Ryan thinks he's going to come home to the entire house painted black. I think I'm about ready to put down the can. I bought my office chair on Craig's List.

See how organized I am? Just don't look at the floor.. or the desk... or open the hall closet.

Question?

Can I pull this off?

Does this look like a large garbage bag mashed into a pumpkin?

I was asked by my new bishop, "If you could have any calling.....?" To which, I replied. "Activity Chairperson???"... To which, a couple weeks later it was extended to me, and to my husband, 1st counselor in the young men's (about Ry's calling.... I guess you need to hunt, own a truck, a motorbike/quad thing, or play football, and since, Ryan played junior college football, he fit the requirement. When he was announced for his calling, no mention was made of him being an eagle scout, or husband, or doctor, or new Airman. No. Just that he played "college football" to which I saw him cringe, because it was "junior" college and that was over 10 years ago. Although, I think he's in pretty good shape. Just less hair.)

Anyways. I am the Activity Chairperson. I put together a list of activities I would like to do and then I got my budget. Pretty much like 10 bucks. I could not believe it. And I have the Trunk or Treat, November Pie Social, and Christmas Breakfast.

Do you think my garbage bag pumpkins (I was thinking of making 30-40 of them for the round tables) look like garbage? I am at loss on how to pull this off. I ordered orange tablecloths and would like to layer them with cheesecloth, piles of yard leaves, and then the pumpkins. Does this look as cheap as it is?

Any ideas out there? Here's my press posters/flyers/insert.

ps- did I mention, I know no one. And have no committee. Stephanie H. where are youuuuuuuu?