Frogger

I saw a frog hoppping across the freeway on my drive home from San Antonio yesterday! Recently there have been crazy numbers of frogs and toads here in Texas. I guess every time there's a hatching (bugs or reptiles), there is a plague of them; everythings bigger in Texas. When I drive, I try to look out for frogs because they're so cute and they try so hard to get out of the cars' way. It reminded me of that game called "Frogger". This frog I saw only for an instant was under a car, then it waited for it to pass and then I nearly missed it because it hopped on to the shoulder just in time. What a little miracle dancer.

Speaking of 'plagues', nothing could plague me more than spiders. SO gross. They do to me what snakes do for others. I have nightmares, I shiver when I think of them for too long, etc. They just creep me out. I was walking across a parking lot here on bas earlier this week on Monday, and I'm so glad I look down at my feet occasionally because I was about to step on the BIGGEST spider I had ever seen, that wasn't a tarantula. I recalled this horrifying event to my friend and she says they are called "Wood Spiders". Here is a picture of one. It scares me just thinking about it. Where are all those frogs when you need them? wait - this spider probably preys on those poor little frogs.

Mark's Last Supper

Mark's last day before SERE training, or survival training started off nice and normal. We went to church, we were the music 'staff' in sacrament meeting, and then we went on to our meetings. I gave Sharing Time in primary and had the kids make little invitations for the Holy Ghost..it was cute! Then what was even cuter was the little girl I watched while her mom was conducting the primary music. She was in a fussy mood, but she fell asleep when I was given a couple tricks to do. Here is me with Claire: For dinner when Mark came home from his church meetings we had... HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS! I called it "Mark's Last Supper", yeah.. he said he'll miss me.

Later on in the evening, Chelsea and Sven came over so Sven could buzz Mark's head like his for training. Since Chelsea and Sven want this baby soon, they brought over a ball to bounce on. She kept jumping off every time I'd try to take a picture, so here she is in remembrance of her bouncing hours:
The American Gothic we had to impersonate when I walked out to see my handsome husband like this!!! And then he handed me the rake and hoped I would smile:
I got a better one of "the Farmer" with Sven before the Lundberg's left. I'm going to miss my baldie! Jamie this reminds me of Rod right before your wedding.

Reeder's Digest

Mark and I set a goal when we first moved here to baptize someone. A few months ago (in January) I was over at a neighbors house... on a Sunday night for a girl's party. I always turned her down, but that night I had the feeling I should go; strange, eh? So I went and met a new neighbor who asked me if I was mormon after I turned down some drinks. We started talking and I found out she (Holly Pike) was a member and her husband is not. So I found her, and we became friends. Mark and Dan (Holly's husband) became good friends and Dan became interested in the church. It was a marvel how it worked out so smoothly. Dan and Holly are expecting their first baby (a boy - yes, like our other neighbors) this Thursday, and Dan knew his baptism had been coming soon.

Here is Mark with Dan, then all four of us together, then the Pikes with our missionaries. I have to warn you I look pretty shanty b/c we had been driving all day! no time for a shower... however, it was a wonderful night! Mark and Dan made Holly and me proud. Couldn't have been any better.

Lake Amistad

Saturday we were able to go out to the lake here with our neighbors, Chelsea and Sven. They have a really nice boat that just got a new engine, so it needed some water hours. Since I don't have any inclination to wakeboard or waterski, and just like to sit in the boat anyway, I thought this would be a great trip! It was a beautiful day. I didn't take any pictures of me, so sorry. ;)

Excuse my finger on the top left! We must have started moving. It's her fault she didn't smile:

but here's a nice one of Chelsea - she'll hate me if she sees it. So enjoy it while it lasts. She's expecting her first baby (a boy) any day now! And she was still still jumping in the water like a kid. Love it! And here is the handsome Mark.. who, like me, is in need of a tan.

And just because I'm so good and capturing such flattering moments on camera, here is one of Sven and Chelsea as Captain. They really are a lot of fun! And we'll really miss them.

I forgot about Harry

I had forgotten about a lot of pictures I have taken in the recent past and I am going to try to post more blogs in the next few days of these oh-so-fun pictures that I have snapped around Del Rio. Here is the opening night of the 7th Harry Potter book at the one and only supercenter in Del Rio... you guessed it! Wal Mart, aka Wally World. My friend Rachael asked if I wanted to go with her (I think so she wouldn't feel totally weird), and I said, "I better experience this at least once, especially since I'm reading the books and all." So we went and I had a fun time. Rachael was pretty quiet and trying to not be one of the 'wierd ones'. But I had wished we dressed up or done something crazy like that. I had made Mark a shirt (that I will take a picture of) that says on the back, "Well I have a Nimbus 3000". If you read the first H.P. book, and understand that Mark likes to go 'against the grain just because he can', then this would be kinda funny to you!

It was a lot of fun seeing all the excitement that everyone had. It was a really small Opening Night, but that is what I get for living on the border. I still got a "Slytherin" wrist-band out of it. Mark loved wearing it for a couple days. Yep - he's a Harry hater...how sad for him!

Reeder's Digest - Pilot Training Graduation

On Thursday the graduation fun began. My family drove through the base gate at 4:30 and we were supposed to be in our seats at 4:45. I met them at the gas station and then we raced to the retreat ceremony. I had to prod them along because they were dazed by all the state flags and landscape and the planes buzzing around. It was their first military experience, and they didn't know what to expect. We got to the retreat ceremony and began the 15 minute wait in the hot, humidified sunshine. It was fun to see my parent's reaction to all this. Then the boys marched out into the center and stood at attention while the three planes (the T-6, T-1, and T-38) did a triple flyby. I only video-d that, so I don't know how to attach it. But here is a picture of the retreat ceremony. Mark is right by the guy in the second row. You can see his toes and chin in the close-up:



here's the close-up:


That night we relaxed and ate enchiladas when Mark's family arrived after a full day of standby traveling.

The next morning we went to the breakfast, then the graduation ceremony. I'm still waiting on more pictures from Tessa's phone, but here's what I have. Mark is receiving his wings:

and then they do the awkward stand-for-a-minute and smile handshake:

When that was done, we got our picture taken by Mark's home teaching companion, Brandon Mackay. Here is everyone:


When we got to the flightline I got to pin on Mark's wings! I was so nervous, and they still came out crooked even after all my hard work to make them straight.


Then I gave my newly pronounced pilot a kiss.


Here's the parents: take a guess at which ones are from Vegas? .. I'll give you a hint: they don't go anywhere without those sunglasses!

and..the sisters, so cute!:


Mark's family left at 3am on Saturday, and mine stayed until Monday, so we got to see more fun places of Del Rio! On Saturday we walked over to Mexico and Tessa and I got a picture over the Rio Grande. No, we weren't patrolling the border:


Then on Monday morning, it was raining (again) while we said "goodbye" to my family. My mom is taking the picture, just so you don't think we kicked her out! :


oh! and here's a fun picture my dad snapped of me in the kitchen monday morning cleaning up breakfast. Who knew my dad liked to take pictures??


Here are our dates (as for now) for transition and Permanent Change of Station (PCS):
August 13 - Mark goes to Wilderness survival, Resistance Training (torture training), and Water Survival (in the Florida Ocean with sharks) I'm glad it's not me doing it. He will be doing this for two weeks.
September 13 - Report to Altus AFB, Oklahoma for C-17 training for 4 months.
January 31 - Report to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska!

The graduation weekend was wonderful! It came and went so fast. Uncle Stan and Aunt Linda, I hope we'll see you in Alaska!

Texas has

sheep! I looove sheep, I love lambs, and I love how fluffy soft they are. I saw this trailer of sheep in front of me when I was driving home after I saw a movie, and I had to take a picture... while driving.



Sheep are just so cute, and so lovable. I had learned a couple cool stories about them from Brother Merrill, my religion professor while I was at BYU and I don't know if I can remember them correctly, or even remember. They are referenced so much in the scriptures, that I cannot help feel connected to them. We are all sheep in the Lord's flock, if we're lost, he'll come search for us; we just have to want to be found.

These sheep aren't lost, or found, they're just in a trailer going to get sheared. :) I just love sheep; ewes, rams, wethers, hoggets, or lambs, they're just so lovable.

Favorite Colors - what do they say?

I found this 'quiz/tell-all' on Mauri's blog. She always has fun stuff on hers. I wanted to be fun and attach my two recent favorite colors on here to see what it tells about me. Are they accurate?

What Your Favorite Color Green Says About You:

Balanced --- Relaxed --- FlexibleCompassionate --- Philosophical --- HumbleLoyal --- Inventive --- Unique

What'>http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourfavoritecolorsayaboutyouquiz/">What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

and can't forget ORANGE!
What Your Favorite Color Orange Says About You:
Joyful --- Enthusiastic --- OptimisticOutgoing --- Accepting --- ConfidentLoud --- Unruly --- Impulsive

and can't forget ORANGE!

What Your Favorite Color Orange Says About You:

Joyful --- Enthusiastic --- OptimisticOutgoing --- Accepting --- ConfidentLoud --- Unruly --- Impulsive

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

What Your Favorite Color Orange Says About You:Joyful --- Enthusiastic --- OptimisticOutgoing --- Accepting --- ConfidentLoud --- Unruly --- Impulsive

While on the subject of orange, I thought I'd show my bloggers the 'abstract flower' I did for my light blue room. My neighbor Chelsea and I agreed that orange would work well with it. So here is it. It was fun! I was in the mood to paint, so I pulled out my paint, brushes, and cheap canvases and was done in a few minutes; of course, planning every brush stroke. Be a nice critic.

cookie disaster

So tonight Mark was supposed to bring over a few people who he needed to plan tomorrow's flight with, and I decided to be a good homemaker and bake some chocolate chip cookies. Our oven has always been... disfunctional...and it always decides to act up when I am under the gun. When the oven from the 50's decides to act up, it can do one of two things: the gas turns off, or it gets far too hot. Today it got too hot for the first batch..as you can notice on the left; the edges are dark brown and the centers are too doughy. That means it was cooking too fast. Then for the second dozen of cookies, who's catacomb was this stupified oven, they didn't even get to rest in peace because the oven turned off. You can tell it turns off by lighting one of the burners on top and you can hear the oven whistle back to life. I did, and it started to whistle. I then set the timer for 3 more minutes, because these cookies were still what you would call 'dough'. Then it got too hot, too fast...they burned too. That is when I started to throw the cookies off the sheet onto the cooler. Notice the mess! I'm laughing at it now, but boy was I frustrated with my dumb dumb for an oven. Anyone else have a tempermental oven?

drop night and showers

Last night was mine and Mark's drop. I won't be mean and keep you in too much suspense for too long, so I'll make this short and sweet. Mark will be flying the C-17! Where? Alaska!! We will move (PCS) to Alaska and report probably beginning of February. That is only my guess though, so I will have to post when for certain. We didn't think Alaska was a possibility; it was our first choice, but everyone knows it's rare to get your first choice. If I could figure out how to post a video, I would. But I'm still pretty naive when it comes to computers. Mark and I were both so excited. and in shock.

They did it like an NFL draft. They put up a picture of that particular plane they were going to 'draft' for and then they would call the name. Then after making fun of them and their better half, they would announce where they are going to begin their Air Force Career. So here is Mark's Air Force Draft shirt... and I have to disclaim that I look a bit different in this picture because we were standing RIGHT under one of those nasty lights that gives you the effect that you're Squints on The Sandlot when he's telling his "The Beast!" story



Mark and are are already thinking of how we are going to make it to Elmendorf, AFB, Anchorage, Alaska. It will be in the dead of winter, and probably icy. So we may fly, we may drive, we may have the air force move us, or we may move ourselves.

Today was a fun day! I had a babyshower for my friend/neighbor, Chelsea. Then Mark and I bummed around when he got home after he passed his civilian's pilot license test for the beach aircraft? I'm not sure if that's correct, but it's the same plane as the one he's been flying for the past 6 months. Then I saw a commercial for dip and chips, so I started to crave it. We went to the commissary and then we came home, took a nap, and woke up to a thunderstorm!

Our neighbors were outside playing in it in their swimsuits, narrowly avoiding all the close lightening. Mark went out to scrub down the car, to rid it of it's bug supply on the front. Our neighbor filled up a basin with water and snuck up on Mark!


Mark fought back, and we called it a tie - because Mark's water was freezing. GO MARK!


Oh, and one of my loverly tomato plants fell over. I hope it wasn't it's last Texas storm:


good day!

fresh flowers and green tomatoes

I love fresh flowers in my house. There is something about bringing the outside in that makes it fresh. Hence fresh flowers. These are my recent fresh flowers that are about to be no longer fresh. I'm not even sure what kind they are, but they came in a boquet with purple daisies.


Then, as you may remember, I have two huge tomato plants that Mark and I planted a few months ago. They have survived multiple Texas storms and had a few close calls, but it just made them stronger. So here is a picture of some tiny tomatoes that will soon join their brother and sister tomatoes inside my belly! These are ones the squirells have not reached...yet. Buckwheat needs to work on his tomato guarding skills!



My favorite thing to do with these tomatoes when they're grown is to slice them up and let them be the T in 'BLT'. Oh my.. that sounds delicious for lunch!

curried coconut chicken

This recipe has been my absolute favorite for about a year now. Ever since Mauri recommended it. Even Mark likes it! Usually with him I have to stick to more traditional recipes and dinners. This has been a hit in my branch, my neighborhood and my heart. Ok, I know that sounds cheezy. It's actually more of a spicy flavor.

If you don't like curry, you should like this. If you don't like coconut, you'll still like this. You'll just have to take my word for it. Try it and if you don't like it, I'll send you an consolation prize in the mail.


Yeilds: 6 servings

Ingredients:
3 large boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, cubed
1 t. salt and pepper, or to taste
1-1/2 t. vegetable oil
2 T. curry powder
1/2 onion, thinly sliced and chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed (I ommit the garlic completely)
1 (14 ounce) can coconut milk
1 (14 oz) can stewed, diced tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
3 T. sugar

Directions:
season chicken pieces with salt and pepper. heat oil and curry powder in a large skillet over medium-high heat for two minutes. stir in onions and garlic, and cook one minute more. add chicken, tossing lightly to coat with curry oil. reduce heat to medium, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink. pour coconut milk, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and sugar into the pan, stir to combine. cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

serve over rice and enjoy! people will be very impressed.



Tonight I had my neighbor over for dinner because our guys were night flying. She so kindly snapped this delectable picture. Thanks, Chels!

San Antonio's Independence

For the July 4th Holiday last week Mark had two days off work,which were Wednesday and Thursday (kind of hard when they're in the middle of the week!). On Tuesday, Mark surprised me with a trip to San Antonio the next day! So that night we went and saw Ratatouille (really cute movie), then in the morning we set off for our little Independence Day celebration. When we got to Sea World, it was still raining like mad, so we had to buy ponchos and be dorks for the first half of our visit until the rain cleared. I wore the wrong shoes and my feet were all blistered so I had to bend the backs down and RUIN my shoes. :(. I'm not going to attach a picture of us - because after all that rain and humidity, I think we looked pretty dang nasty! haha. But here is a picture of a Beluga and her baby - they're really tiny, so look close:
there ya go. :)

Here is me and a horse behind - I had to take this picture! I miss horses...


And if anyone can tell me how to attach pictures normally like everyone else can, please help! I can't remember how I did it in my "Hobbies Shmobbies" post; I'm using photobucket HTML code and then resizing - is that normal? :o) So anywho, after Sea World, Mark and I went to the downtown part of San Antonio to check into our hotel room - Mark hadn't told me where we were staying, but when I saw it I was so impressed with him! He found this great hotel at a military discount and grabbed it. Here's a picture of our hotel room from the little garden thing, then me and the pretty fountain, Mark on the river walk, and then us together at the river walk. :D

The next morning we went to the Alamo to remember the independence we got in Texas - every time we go, we're always impressed. It's a very neat place.

After the fun excursion we headed home and reuinted with our little pup who our neighbors were watching for us. Hope you all had a fun Independence Day!! :D

hobbies shmobbies!!

I wanted to write a little blog tonight just for the heck of it. Mark is TDY on cross-country, and I don't like going to bed with no one to check the doors...so here I am at 1 am; what AM I going to do when Mark is deployed? I'll never go to bed...

Today I have been motivated to get organized and really start my soon-to-be hobby of scrapbooking. My neighbor Chelsea is a scrapbooking queen, and every time I see her scrapbooking room/nursery, I get motivated. I have a bunch of the stuff, but I just can't seem to LEAP into it. You know how you have to be 'inspired to jump' and all. Well, I just need to do it. I have pictures, and miscellaneous items that I have to put on paper, but I just need to think of a way to do it. When I work on projects for anyone else, I am very pleased with myself and how the project turns out. But when the project is for myself, I can't even figure out how to start...probably because I want it to be perfect the first time, and I know it just won't be!


One thing that I've found I'm okay at is gardening! Who knew after all those Saturday chores with Dad in the yard, I would ever learn anything? I hope my dad is proud, b/c I planted a garden. My garden is thriving right now, I'll have to take a picture in the daylight tomorrow and post it. In this garden, I have potatoes (yes, I planted whole potatoes from the grocery store because they were getting gross...and they're growing!), tomato plants from the Home Depot (2 of them), 4 rows of carrot seeds, and 2 rows of radishes. I also planted sunflower seeds along side our Carport, and flower flowers (not from seed) in our little flower garden. It is now a 'ritual' every day to go outside and water everything while Buckwheat sits in the grass exercising self-control to not go chase the squirells... it is VERY hard for him, but he's doing better!