Quick Thoughts

Dannika has some viral thing going around her school, so shes been home for two days now.

Those who know me hate when my routine is broken, and her being sick has put a wrench in it.

(I am a creature of habit, routines, and schedules...blame it all on the Marine Corps)

Those who know me know that if I miss a workout, I get extremely irritable, cranky, and unpleasant.

I didn't get to go to the gym today because Dannika is sick.

Then I remembered a friend of mine (who is an athlete) post on Facebook a while ago about how hard it was for him to take a "rest day" from working out.

I remember him saying how he literally had to fight the urge to go to the gym (guilty!).

But he wrote about how as an athlete, rest days are imperative in order to get stronger, faster, better.

Remembering that Facebook post from a while back help me find my center, and relax a little about missing ONE day. 

(breathe...it's gonna be ok)

It also made me realize how much I rely on the gym for my day to anxiety, stress, and overall well-being.

While the gym can be a great thing, it can also control you.

This is not something that I like about myself.

I sometimes plan my entire day around my gym time....not good.

Today reminded me that I need to rely more on God for things like my anxiety, stress, and overall well-being, and allow my gym time to be a supplement to that.

Dannika is missing picture day today, and I think I am more sad about that than she is.

I love cheesy school photos.

I'm pretty sure they'll do a make-up day.

Other than that, life is just peachy!

Our Marine Corps ball is this weekend, and I am really excited for it!

Happy Thursday, y'all!

 

Living with Degenerative Joint Disease

It's been a while since I've blogged about my knee problem (s). 

When I was discharged from the Marine Corps, I was deemed 60% disabled.

I was diagnosed with degenerative joint disease (AKA osteoarthritis) of my right knee.

It is most common in women over 45.

I thought I'd blog about my journey with this debilitating ailment up until this point in my life.

I've had this since I was 26ish and it's progressively gotten worse over the years....

No one said the Marine Corps would be easy on your body, and it definitely did its' number on my knees....

And I'm not even a grunt...I can't imagine those guys bodies!

I had Synvisc injections which is an injectable medication called hyaluronan.

 Synvisc is typically administered as a series of three injections into the knee joint, each injection spaced about one week apart. 

Synvisc has been shown to help alleviate arthritis symptoms for 6 months, and to delay the need for knee replacement surgery.

Unfortunately for me, I had a HORRIBLE allergic type reaction to Synvisc, was hospitalized, and had to have my knee drained several times to alleviate the amount of swelling I had. 

My doctor was stunned when he saw how big my knee had gotten!

 

I had an arthroscopic surgery prior to getting out of the Corps.

The ortho surgeon was hoping that I had enough cartilage in my knee to where she could shave it down to make it smoother, so it would hurt less.

When I woke up from anesthesia, I could see the look of disappointment on her face.

She told me that I did not have enough cartilage in my knee left that she could work with.

So my knees are clearly "out aging" the rest of my body (thank you Marine Corps!).

So people always say things to me like, "It can't be THAT bad if you're working out every day, and running!"

To those people...

I want to punch in the face. 

Actually, I'm in a constant state of pain every single day.

Parts of my day (like right after my work out), I'm in excruciating pain.

Some days, when I get out of bed, I can't even bend my right knee and am forced to walk around stiff legged for a few minutes before the fluid in my joints allow my knee to bend.

And even then...it takes another few minutes for my knee to bed to a full 90 degree angle.

Don't ever ask me to sit on my knees, cause sitting on my knees is like sitting on a bed of hot nails.

I'm a girly girl, and I love my heels, but I don't wear them nearly as often as I would like because frankly, after a day of walking around in a heel, my knee is usually swollen to the size of a tennis ball.

But I smile, put on my happy face, and work out every day.

Why?

Because my knee hurts, but just because my knee hurts does not give me an excuse to let my health go down the drain.

No, I can't go for a 10 mile run like I used to for fun, but I have revamped my work out style to accommodate my old ass knees. 

It's not perfect, and my knees still hurt afterwards, but it's not nearly as bad as running.

I still run (against the wishes of my doctors) because running has always been my "go to" stress reliever.

I deal with the pain because taking care of the rest of my body is important.

I already have bad knees...

I don't need the rest of my body following them.

So to those of you sitting at home making excuses for yourself on why you can't carve out an hour, 30 minutes, or even 20 minutes out of your day to get up and move, I don't know what to tell ya.

I'm a full time mom of two very busy kids, a full time college student, a wife...

My life is hectic, but I find time to make time for my health.

Put on a smile, and suck it up!

Any of you dealing with any chronic ailments?

Things I Love Tuesday

When I say my prayers, the first thing I ALWAYS say is "Thank you for my life."

My life isn't perfect, but it sure is full of great experiences, amazing people, and good health.

I couldn't ask for much more.

As I sat here today thinking about what to blog about, I realized a lot has happened the last few days that I love.

Here are things the things that have happened in my life the last couple days that I love...

Nick and I love working out...

When we get to go to the gym together...I love it even more.

Shameless gym selfie...

After church on Sundays, I like to go the gym and do a light work out.

Nick prefers to stay at home to do yard work and projects around the house.

Miraculously, he agreed to come with this past Sunday!

I was pretty thrilled!

Saturdays for our family are normally spent just hanging out together at home.

Nick suggested that we head to the Franklin Animal Safari Park in Franklin, TX last Saturday.

It's a drive thru animal park where you can feed the animals as you drive through!

They come straight to your window.

We saw zebras, camels, llamas, pigs, hogs, longhorns ostriches, emus, deer, and TONS of other animals.

The kids had an absolute blast, and Nick and I did too!

I love a man who knows his way around a toolbox.

I'm lucky that I married such a handyman.

Ever since we bought our house, I've asked Nick to mount our bedroom TV in our room.

He did it for me this weekend, and even hid all the wires behind the wall!

WINNING!

 

I spend most of my days yelling phrases like, "NO MATTIS!" or "MATTIS, NO!"

But I can't help but love this cute little trouble maker of mine...

The other day, he got into my flour in the pantry and decided to play in it.

All I could do was scream for Nick because I had stuff all over my hands from preparing dinner.

And...I was afraid to see the inside of my pantry...

And then there was this...

He found my floss....

Having a daughter who is just like me!

Most Sundays, our family is yelling at each other and rushing each other to get out the door in time to make it to the early service at church on time.

Amazingly, last Sunday, we all woke up at a reasonable hour in the morning, took our time getting ready, and even got to enjoy breakfast together.

I even had time to curl Dannika's hair!

She loves getting dressed up and getting her hair "did".

Last night, she asked to do an oatmeal mask with me.

Seriously, she's like my mini me...she's dramatic (I don't deny my dramatic tendencies!), wears her emotions on her sleeve, and loves all things girly.

An amazing vacation bible school program for D!

Our church is still fairly new, and didn't do a VBS this year (they did do summer day camps all through the summer).

Our friend told us about an amazing VBS program at our local Christ United Methodist Church.

I signed up Dannika, and she ended up having an absolute blast!

The theme was "Everest", and they did all sorts of Mt. Everest themed crafts and games that glorified God.

We'll definitely be partaking again next year!

Delicious summer salads with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio.

We eat a TON of salad during the summer.

It's easy, refreshing, light, and healthy.

With our summer schedule jam packed, it's nice to be able to throw something together in just a few minutes, and have a delicious meal.

What are some things y'all are loving these days?

No, I Don't Want to Make Money From Home

I feel like we are in a fitness revolution.

Every time I log on to my Facebook or Instagram, my feed is bombarded with people's "gym selfies", work out motivation, crossfit photos, healthy food photos, marathon finish photos, shakes, and the list goes on.

It actually makes me smile knowing that more people are taking control of their health and fitness. 

I'm not one of those people who get annoyed with people's constant fitness motivation and "fitspiration".

It's motivating, and if it can motivate ONE person to make one healthy lifestyle change in their life that day, then you did your job. 

But can I tell you what really gets under my skin?

People who have absolutely no education and background in health and nutrition dishing out health and fitness advice like experts.

It also bothers me that multilevel marketing companies (not gonna name them, but you know 'em) can make someone instantly an "expert" by calling their independent sales consultants "coaches" and "nutrition experts".

It also bothers me when people buy into all this marketing.

"MAKE MONEY FROM HOME!"

"MAKE YOUR OWN HOURS!"

"JOIN MY TEAM!"

"GET FREE STUFF!"

Now, I'm just go ahead and say, I have lots of friends who do multilevel marketing that are making a pretty decent living for themselves.

I also like to buy certain products from them....like Scentsy and Younique mascara (just their mascara).

Other than that, I usually politely decline their offers to me to join their "teams" or I just start ignoring them.

I'm not trying to be rude, but I spent a good 3 years of my career as a Marine on recruiting duty.

I didn't sell mascara and candle melts.

I freaking sold the Marine Corps to young men and women up for the challenge and bettering themselves.

And it's a pretty dang stressful job.

I worked with a combat vet and purple heart recipient in my office, and he used to say all the time that recruiting was some days harder than combat, and that he'd rather get shot at again than be a recruiter again.

True. Story.

So as you can see, I am pretty much OVER "selling" anything.

I don't want to sell anything ever again for the rest of my life.

Well, I just went on a tangent there.

I guess my point is, I love that people have found their own way of losing weight and staying fit (that works for them).

But it doesn't mean it works for every one.

You'll never see me drinking an Advocare shake or drink, and you'll never see me doing some Chalene Johnson piyo video in my living room.

I have my own fitness routine and healthy eating habit that has worked for me for YEARS.

You're not going to change my mind on that, because it's been working for me.

I obviously never complain about losing weight on my own after having babies, nor have I ever complained about my fitness and my body....

It means I'm happy with what is working for me, and your shakes and drinks isn't what I'm looking for.

I love you friends, but please stop asking me to join your team to sell your stuff.

I admire you for doing what you gotta do to make money from home and make your own hours.

It's just not me. 

Oh, and I'm going to see John Legend tonight!!!

whoop whoop!!

MIA

Did I forget to tell y'all I started college this week?

It's the reason why this blog has taken a back seat.

Since my husband is a full time active duty Marine/college student, I figured now is better than ever to go ahead use those trusty GI Bill/veterans benefits!

I've been putting it off since I got out, because honestly...when I discharged from the Marine Corps, I was SO OVER LIFE!

I just wanted to relax without a care in the world, take care of my kids, and most importantly enjoy my freedom from Uncle Sam.

I had no intention of being a slave to Uncle Sam for 10 years to immediately becoming a slave to an institution of higher learning.

I needed a breather from Marine Corps life.

But here I am...

I'm done with my "breather", and ready to move on to y next chapter of my life. 

Thankfully, I took a lot of college in my off duty time while active duty, and a lot of my military education also transfers over as credits, so I'm not totally starting from scratch as a freshman!!!

So sorry for neglecting this blog!!!!

So, since I have a few minutes...

Here's an update on my life through photos!!!

We bought his Camaro powerwheels for Dannika for Christmas before she was really even old enough to drive it.

Then of course, we moved to Massachusetts with its' eternal winters (and cheating football team...), so the Camaro didn't get much drive time.

But she's officially back in commission here in good ole Texas!

Mattis loves being Dannika's passenger, and this Camaro has officially made Dannika the coolest kid in the neighborhood.

My favorite photo of the week....ever.

Mattis just got out of the bath, and peed all over the floor. 

The best part was that he's never seen his own pee come out, and he was SO fascinated by it.

Once he was done peeing, he was SO proud of it, and kept smiling and pointing to his little puddle of pee.

He kept pointing to it and screaming, "Wo wo!! wo wo!!" (his word for "water")

Just a sweet moment of my kiddos morning routine...teeth brushing.

We went fishing over the long MLK holiday.

What was supposed to be a relaxing fishing trip by the lake turned out to be less than perfect.

Regardless of how awesome these photos look........

Dannika and I put some Honest Company (deet free) bug repellent on....

Honest Company bug repellent repels bugs.....

Attracts Bees....

Dannika and I got swarmed by bees....

Dannika and I ended up screaming and running around like banshees being chased by swarms of bees...

Dannika and I sat in Nick's truck watching Mattis and Nick fish.......

Mattis stuck his hand in an ant bed....

Ants swarmed Mattis' hand...

everyone freaked out...

we went home....no fish

Oh and poor Mattis has bites ALL over his hand and little ant blisters....poor baby.

The weather was GORG last weekend so I got go on a nice little run with Mattis.

Nick and Dannika planted their winter garden....

I have NO green thumb, so I made the cute signs...

 I decided to layer framed photos on these cool indents in our walls....

This is just a "prototype", and I am planning on painting the inside of those archways a darker color...

I was giving my D some lovins' and Mattis was JEALOUS....

I seriously want Dannika's wardrobe...

Why can't they make adult wardrobes so cute and cheap like hers?!?!

So there's my life so far!!

I won't be blogging as much since school is taking up SO MUCH DANG TIME!!!

But I promise to at least keep it updated once a week, and I PROMISE to keep up with y'all!

Skinny Cheeseburger Casserole

One of my favorite things to do is to take a fattening, hearty dish and make it healthy.

I like to scroll through recipes and figure out ways to make it healthier without losing its deliciousness.

I found an awesome recipe for cheeseburger casserole on foodnetwork.com (I believe it was Bobby Dean's recipe), but it was loaded with fat.

It used ground beef, rotini pasta noodles, butter, cheese....

I'm salivating thinking about all these delicious fatty ingredients, but like I always say...

Nothing tastes better than being healthy!

I replaced the pasta with sweet potato cubes (Nick and I don't eat refined carbs of any sort after lunch time), I replaced the ground beef with extra lean ground turkey, I replaced the canned tomatoes with fresh tomatoes, I replaced the butter with olive oil, and I used a cheddar cheese made with skim milk instead of full fat cheese.

I also halved the amount of cheese the original recipe called for.

I tweaked the recipe and made it healthier, and made it my own.

Ingredients (in absolutely no particular order):

1 1/3 lbs of extra lean ground turkey (I used Jennie O's extra lean)

3 medium sized sweet potatoes (peeled and cubed)

1/2 a head of chopped iceburg lettuce

1/2 of an onion (finely chopped)

3 roma tomatoes diced (save the juice!)

1 can of low sodium cream of mushroom soup (I prefer low sodium over fat free because frankly, we all need to cut down on salt, and fat free just means a lot of other crap is in it that we don't need in our bodies.)

4 cloves of garlic (finely minced) <---I'm a garlic addict...feel free to use less

salt

black pepper

2 tbsp tomato paste

2tbsp dijon mustard 

1/2 cup of skim milk cheddar shredded cheese

1 cup of dill pickles (finely chopped)

chopped scallions for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take a 9x12 baking dish/casserole dish and spray with non stick spray (I use Pam olive oil).

2. Get a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Once boiling, throw your sweet potatoes in just until they get tender. Don't let them overcook, or they'll be mushy and turn more into a mash in your casserole! Once they are done, drain them, and put them aside...they should not be mushy!

3. In a large skillet, heat your olive oil over medium-low heat, and add the onions. Cook until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the ground turkey and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper (I just throw in a big pinch!). Stir in the tomato paste and cream of mushroom soup, then add the diced tomatoes and mustard. Let the mixture get bubbly and thicken (just a couple minutes).

4. Gently stir the sweet potatoes into the skillet with the ground turkey, and transfer it to your casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese and diced pickles. Put in the oven for about 20 minutes.

5. To serve, just spoon onto a plate and add iceberg lettuce on top!

My family loved it!

My husband took it to work as leftovers the next day, and couldn't stop talking about how good it was!

I'll try and start posting more recipes soon!

It's been so long since I have, and I have an arsenal of super delicious and healthy recipes that I cook daily for my family!

The New Years "Resolutioners"

As a long time "gym goer", I've always dreaded this time of year.

I've even taken the month of January off from the gym and stuck to at home work outs just to avoid it.

For my fellow "gym buffs", y'all know that this is when the "New Years resolutioners" hit the gym in full force causing crowding in gyms all across the nation.

 

Completely shameless "gym selfie".

 

My definition of a "New Years resolutioner"...

Someone who:

1) Doesn't normally work out regularly

2) Feels guilty about what they ate during the holidays (Thanksgiving until now)

3) Is normally a "gym goer", but stopped going over the holidays, and is trying to "get back on the train"

 

And lastly...

 

4) Made a New Years resolution to lose weight and get in shape this year (as they do EVERY year).

Their motto is always, "This is THE year! For real this time!"

 

To be honest, these people used to annoy me.

They used to annoy me to all hell!!!

I used to enjoy watching the gym become less and less packed as the month of January wore on.

It meant people were saying "screw it", and going back to their old ways.

Then I could finally have "my gym" back with all the "regulars" I was used to seeing.

 

As I've gotten older and "more mature" (not totally mature yet....lol), I've learned to be a little bit more patient and grew a little more compassion in my heart.

 

With the obesity rate in America at an all time high, and diseases like diabetes and heart disease being so rampant amongst us, I am all about a "healthier America".

After the New Year, I went to my gym at the same time I always do with a positive outlook.

I had the mentality that maybe I can motivate someone to continue coming for the rest of their life instead of quitting a month into it.

While statistically, the gym will start dying down once the end of the month comes, I hope that at least ONE person decides to change their lifestyle for a healthier, fitter life.

So instead of being annoyed at the crowds in the gym, and being annoyed that I had to wait for a machine...

 I switched up my work out to accommodate the machines that WERE open,

Something as simple as changing your attitude and your outlook at the gym can make your January gym experience way more enjoyable.

 

Motivate someone...and take more gym selfies!

I like to take candid photos of my hot husband while he lifts/squats.

Another shameless gym selfie!

A "Little Big" Town Called AGGIELAND

I admitted it already that I've been totally slacking on this blog.

I totally have good reason, but apparently it's not good enough for some of my friends/readers. 

I really have been enjoying life in Texas so much that I really haven't had time to blog.

This is home for me, and as the saying goes, "there's no place like home."

When I tell "non College Stationers" that I'm a native to this town, they look at me bewildered.

"OMG, You had to LIVE here your WHOLE life?!"

I mean, I'll admit...the shopping here kinda sucks...the mall sucks...we have no Nordstrom's...

It is a town overrun by chain restaurants (thanks to the college students).

They say it like I must have had a horrible life cause I was raised here, but honestly, I couldn't think of a better place to grow up.

I call College Station the perfect "little big town".

Because of the University (Texas A&M..whoop!!!), the population is around 100,000 (because they count the students).

Anyone who lives here knows that when summer break/winter break comes around, this town becomes an absolute ghost town.

But I love that the permanent residents here all know each other (whether it be personally or through someone....a friend of a friend of a friend type deal).

This place is home to me, and to me, home is the best place on earth.

I spent 10 years in the most beautiful part of the country...Southern California.

"So Cal"...where you have 350 days of AMAZING weather...gorgeous beaches at your finger tips...Disneyland...Los Angeles...San Diego..........

Never a dull moment there which is why I call the "OC" my second home away from home.

BUT...even with all the California sunshine, Texas is where my roots are, and it's where I feel most like myself.

I can say "y'all" and "fixin' to" without anyone giving me weird looks...

Kids call grown ups "Mr." and "Mrs." and say "Sir" and "Ma'am".

College football is a religion here....it comes second to God.

I can drive an hour and a half and be surrounded by my family...

This is MY home...MY roots...

The Marine Corps can take us all over the world, but at the end of the day, Texas is where I belong.

We live on a cul de sac, and Mattis' favorite place to sit and chill is in the middle of the cul de sac on the curb.

After two miserable Winters in Massachusetts, this picture makes me so happy. I walked my daughter to school in December wearing a skirt!!!!!!!

 My son loves balls. 

He's obsessed with any object that is round and even resembles a ball.

I can confidently say that his first official word is "ball".

He cried and cried and cried when he saw this stuffed basketball at Hobby Lobby, and I finally gave in. He was BEYOND THE MOON excited when I finally let him have it...

A look of straight VICTORY! "yes!!!! Mom got me the ball!!!"

Our friends have chickens, and we went over to see them on Friday. Mattis just thought they were the coolest things ever. He barked at them like a dog cause he thought they were dogs...lol.

With Nick being gone this week, life has gotten a little crazier taking care of the kids alone. I cherish the evenings when they are both in bed, and I can relax with a glass of wine...

I WISH I TOOK A FREAKING BEFORE PIC!!! I've been on a new work out program the last month and a half with Nick. I've been lifting a LOT more weights on top of a cardio routine. My abs have never looked so defined and so hard. I've always wanted to have that little crease in my hip area, and I finally got it!!! GAINZ!

Random photo of my little man eating his lunch...turkey sausage, raw bell peppers, and cheese.

My favorite part of our house is that we are literally a 2 minute walk away from the neighborhood park. 

It's literally at the end of the street.

Dannika rides her scooter ahead of me while I push Mattis in the stroller behind her, and bam! We're at the park!

Dannika made some friends at the park, and got in the front seat of some boy's Jeep. Daddy would not approve...lol.

I hope everyone had an awesome weekend!!!

10 Year Fallujah Reunion/Cali Vacay

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the famous Battle of Fallujah in the Iraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom).

The first Battle of Fallujah was in April of 2004, and the second Battle of Fallujah was in November of 2004.

Straight from Wikipedia:

The Second Battle of Fallujah—code-named Operation Al-Fajr (Arabic,الفجر "the dawn") and Operation Phantom Fury—was a joint American, Iraqi, and British offensive in November and December 2004, considered the highest point of conflict in Fallujah during the Iraq War. It was led by the U.S. Marine Corps against the Iraqi insurgency stronghold in the city of Fallujah and was authorized by the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Interim Government. The U.S. military called it "some of the heaviest urban combat U.S. Marines have been involved in since the Battle of Huế City in Vietnam in 1968."^[14][15]
This operation was the second major operation in Fallujah. Earlier, in April 2004, coalition forces fought the First Battle of Fallujah in order to capture or kill insurgent elements considered responsible for the deaths of a Blackwater Security team. When coalition forces fought into the center of the city, the Iraqi government requested that the city's control be transferred to an Iraqi-run local security force, which then began stockpiling weapons and building complex defenses across the city through mid-2004.^[16] The second battle was the bloodiest battle of the entire Iraq War, and is notable for being the first major engagement of the Iraq War fought solely against insurgents rather than the forces of the former Ba'athist Iraqi government, which was deposed in 2003.

My husband Nick was part of the second battle (Operation Al-Fajr).

He was with 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines, Golf Battery...an artillery battery turned provisional rifle company.

Along with fighting in this historic battle, he also did security for the Iraq elections that year in Mudayasis, Iraq. 

It's one of the most life changing events in my husband's life, and it's a time that he talks little about.

For as long as we've been married, I've learned bits and pieces about his time in Fallujah through stories from friends, reading warrants for awards he received, and on occasion, he'd tell me a light hearted story about his time there.

I know it's a battle that turned, my then 21 year old husband, into a battle hardened man.

He wears medals on his chest from that battle that Marines do double takes at when he's in uniform.

I know questions burn in their minds on how/where/when he got those awards.

I'm his wife, and I still don't know the full story.

But I do know that I'm proud of him for all he's done up until this point in his career, and I can tell you he is one of the most humble men I know.

He'll never brag or boast about his "time at war" like some Marines do (most of whom have never done anything in war).

In fact, I know he's great because of the stories I hear from the great men that he worked with and fought beside in this battle...they'll brag and boast about Nick all day long...

I guess that's how you know you're respected...

When others want to talk about your accomplishments more than you do.

Nick never attended his 10 year high school reunion, nor did he give it a single thought.

High school was merely a point in his life he had to get through to become a Marine, and he really didn't care to go back to the small town in Alabama that he grew up in.

Small town = Big drama

When he found out that 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton was hosting a 10 year Fallujah reunion, he didn't hesitate to buy two tickets to California so that we could attend.

A perk to being back in Texas is being able to ask my mom to come and watch the kids so that we could go on our little mini vacay to California!!!!

The reunion was well executed and thoughtful.

The guest speaker was General Natonski (ret.) who was the commander of forces during the battle of Fallujah.

He told stories of heroes during that battle, and told stories about what it was like in Fallujah during that time.

He talked about sitting on a roof top in the city and watching a jet drop bombs on a building across the street filled with insurgents and demolishing it.

This is a photo of Nick, me, and General Nicholson.

General Nicholson was originally supposed to be in General Natonski's position in Fallujah, but he was injured by an IED blast in Iraq, and was medevac'd to receive treatment for his wounds.

Col Frasier (ret.) and Nick.

Col Frasier was Nick's Commanding Officer in Iraq.

He also wrote Nick an glowing recommendation letter for his MECEP package, and I can't say that his recommendation letter didn't have something to do with us being here in College Station today.

California will always be my second home. 

The sunshine and beauty of Southern California can't be beat!

I love going to California because we have so many close friends there!!

My best friend Kim, graciously opened the doors to her home to us so that we could crash!

She even let us have her Tahoe for the weekend whenever we needed it!

That's friendship right there!

Nick and Kim's son, Logan cuddling.

Kim's husband is currently in Iraq, so her boys really enjoyed having a dude around the house.

Of course we couldn't leave beautiful California without going for a run in the gorgeous weather!

Kim and I walked through some of the model homes in an new subdivision in Orange County.

I found my perfect OC home!

Lastly, we met up with our good friend Mike to have a drink!

Mike and I were recruiters together, and he took great care of me while I was pregnant!!!!

We're so thankful for him and we love him...if you can't tell by Nick's gesture....lol

We had such an amazing time in California!

Every time I go visit California, I am reminded of just how blessed we are as a family to have gotten to live there for so long.

What's even better is that this time, we got to come home to Texas!