30 days and counting!

We are definately getting excited! 

Time is getting short here in Oklahoma.  In about 30 days, we will have a final out of the base.  I will get all paperwork done, and collected and we will get the blessing to leave.  At that point, we plan on driving from Oklahoma to Maryland.  That in and of itself is going to be stress!  It will be winter time, and having 2 young kids in a couped up car for almost 2 days of driving is not going to be pleasant.  I've done it a few times, and my kids are good,  but they still get antsy and stressed from the drive.

My plans for the drive are to have the DVD players set up so each kid has their own screen and can watch a show/movie.  I also have some colorwonder paper and markers that they can draw with (and I wont have to worry about accidental coloring of the car!). Along with lots of snacks and little toys. 

I'm looking into getting a Cargo basket to fit in the reciever hitch of the car, this way we can easily place our large suitcases outside of the car leaving more comfort inside of the car!  I just hope that we can fit everything in and on the car that we need to bring with us!

The wedding is coming along nicely.  I wish I was home so that I could help prepare more things, but alas, I am taking care of our moving stuff here.  One thing I am looking forward to is baking and decorating the cake!  I can't wait to be home and to be able to help out more, and then enjoy our big day!!

With no personal computer right now, since our things have been packed up and are on their way to Japan, I appologize for not being able to update this blog more often.  I will try to update when I can.

So much to do, So little time!

42... 42... 42...

Is aproximately the amount of days we have left here in Oklahoma!

We are excited!!  It's getting hard to concentrate on work and normal day to day life, because just about everything is going to change for us very soon! 

The Movers will be here next week to pack up our stuff.  I'm so nervous I'm going to accidentally have them pack something that we will need and didnt realize...  We have 2 shipments to take our stuff to Japan.  The first shipment will be going by sea, and will be the majority of our things.  This shipment will take about 2-3 months to get there.  The second shipment is going by air, and will take aproximately 6 weeks.  It's a much smaller shipment and will only comprise of absolute needed things to start a household. (linens, pots, pans, dishes)...

Then of couse, we will have out suitcases full of everything else we will need to live our lives day by day.  Each of us will be entitled 2 checked bags and then our carry on and personal item.  I think we are going to be able to manage with 6 checked bags at this point, and 3 carry ons, as well as each of us will have a personal bag.  The boys stuff can fit almost entirely in 1 large suitcase, which means their total bags equal about 2.  One for toys and crafts, One for clothes and shoes.

Then we have the adults bags...  Well our clothes are bigger, and I have to bring all my military gear with me, so I will have to utilize 2 checked bags.  Oh, did I mention since it's winter, we will need cold weather gear too!  UGH!  So much stuff to have to lug around with us everywhere for a few weeks!   oh well!

I definately can't wait till my final out of the base!  We will have our stuff packed up and then we will start our drive home!  We are going to be with our families for Christmas and New Years!!  The kids are going to be so excited to see their grandparents!  I can't say that Santa will be able to bring the boys everything they dream of because money is very tight with the move being in conjuntion, but I'm sure Santa will see what he can work up. 

Wedding News:
So things are coming along... We still need a photographer, and we need to get the smaller stuff done when we get home.  The Pastor should be in contact with us soon so that we can get our service decided out, and food will be "catered" by our families making favorite dishes for a wonderful lunch reception.  I'll be baking the cake, which will save us A LOT OF MONEY!!  Decorations are easy, as it's Christmas time.  Invitations were sent out and we have recieved a handful of RSVP's back. 

If anyone has any tips on how to stay sane and stress free during this time of our move and wedding planning, I will be happy to hear!

We got Orders!

So, we got our hard-copy orders in hand!!  We are officially going to Japan! 

Now for the stress to really kick in...  We must sell the house!... We must find enough suitcases to pack what we need for travel!... We must find money somewhere so we can pay for the house while we are not living in it and trying to sell it!... We must find money to be able to travel home and have our "big" wedding with our families and friends!... Oh, and we must sell the house, oh wait, I said that already... I'm stressed about this part!!!

 

I am psyched to be going back to Japan!  We will be in the rural northern parts this time...  It wont be as go-go-go as Tokyo district is what I've been told.  I'm excited that the kids will be able to learn the culture, and Trystian can see where he was born! 

On wedding notes:

We got invitations sent out... We even invited the President, Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Daniel Ratcliffe (Harry Potter), and a few other celebrities... ;)  I know they wont actually show up, but it would be awesome if we got an RSVP back with an autograph!!! :)

Too much to do and too little time... Ta-Ta-For-Now!

Trystian Loves School

Well Trystian has been in school for a couple of weeks now, and the fun has NOT worn off yet.  He loves to learn, and loves to see his friends.  He has taken to school much faster and kindly than I had expected.  I had a fear that he would not adjust to it well enough, and would fight to stay home rather than go to school.  But he has taken to school so great!  He comes home exclaiming about what he learned during the day and sings us new songs.  He also loves to wear his school uniform.  He has also done great and had no potty accidents since the first day! 

I hope Trystian loves school as long as he goes!  He is so smart!

bouquets!

So when I went to Michaels for my original idea of a ponsettia and baby's breath flower bouquet, I wasnt expecting them to not have any of the flowers I wanted!!   I went to the dollar tree to grab a few other items later on, and they surprisingly had some very nice flowers for the holidays!!  I grabbed some of their flowers and holly bush leaves, and went home to start on my bouquet. 

If there is anyone out there reading, I really need your help.  What do you think??

 

My shake plan

Well, with my PT test right around the corner, I am trying my best to eat right ever so much more!  I've been exercising like crazy too!  My supervisor told me about this program he uses and has seen great results...  So for lunch one day I made my way over to the little storefront, and tried my first shake!

 

It was awesome!!  I tried the Reese's Cheesecake flavor, and OMG!  Tasted awesome!  How's that for a nutritional shake!

 

That day I bought the shake mix and protien mix to make my own shakes at home.  I've experimented a little now, and made a simple Banana Blueberry smoothie, Chocolate Cherry shake, and then my new favorite tonight is Apple Pie shake!  They have been big hits at home and not only do the kids love them, but so does the hubby! :)

 

This system is all about personalization!  You can use the shakes as a supplement to gain weight, as a way to maintain weight, and also to lose weight!  You can fit them in your schedule for any of your needs!  Anyone can drink them too, so if the kids want a shake, or a sip, no problem!  Safe for all too! 

 

My personalized plan is to drink 2 shakes a day and eat a sensible dinner...  Of course I will be exercising too!  But on the 2 shake a day plan now for only 3 days and I actually feel much more energetic already!  I feel full after drinking the shake too!  And I can still have my sweet tooth with these shakes because I can even make the shake taste like a nutter butter or some cheesecake too! 

 

I went with a friend a few weeks ago to learn about another shake program, which was very good too, but a little pricey for what I can handle...  I know quite a few people on the Body by Vi system currently, and now that I've tried both, i have to say that I really like the Herbalife! 

 

I can't say for sure I have lost any weight, but I will say that I feel better!  We will see where I sit a few days from now when I have properly weighed myself in. 

 

If anyone reading this is interested in trying Herbalife, please get in touch with me!  

Weasley Crafting

So, I'm a knitting loom dork!

While I was deployed a few years back, my Sister in Law had sent me a loom and a bunch of yarn.  With nothing else to do when I wasnt either working or excercising, I decided to try it out.  My first projects were not the greatest, but hey when you first learn something you arent going to be a pro right away!

After a while, i got a lot better... and worked on my first real Harry Potter themed Knit project.  I made Ron's Animal Cracker dubbed hat.



Now since we are preparing for Japan, and Northern cold Japan at that... I am planning on giving the boys just what they always wanted!  Or as Mrs. Weasley says "It's just what you wanted, actually"  Knit hat, scarf and mitten sets, along with a little knit toy.  The start is below...



As I finish the rest of the presents, I'll sure to post them. 

This year will be a "Weasley Christmas" as we will not be able to carry a whole lot in our luggage to Japan.

Toddler bunk beds

I wanted to share our Toddler bunk beds.  I posted on Facebook a long while back, but I thought I would make a post on here about them.  I'm so proud of myself!  I drew out the plans and made them myself!  It took me a weekend to build them!  You can see below the progress of them being built.  If you think they are cool, or would like to have a set for yourself, let me know.  :)

The boys love them!  I've never had any problems with them being too rowdy on them either!  They take turns sleeping in eachothers bed too! 

This is Juno helping me.  She was about 5 weeks old then.

The boys checking out their new bed!  The loved them!!

 

 

And to think, I did this all by myself!  I'm really proud to say that I can do anything I put my mind to!

 

Cake

Well, I tried hard.  In an attempt to save money in December, I made a super small 3 tier cake to practice what it would be like if I did our cake for the reception, so we didn't have to spend uber amounts of money on a professional cake...  This was the turn out.

Not bad for a first time ever making a cake as such...  Definitely not professional by any means... but I like it. :)

Simply a chocolate cake, with buttercream frosting.  A layer of fondant, and fondant flowers.  I made it with 8 inch pans, and cut away the cake for the top 2 layers.

Kon'nichiwa!

Kon'nichiwa!

Everyday is a new adventure!

I'm creating this blog to share our experiences as we embark on new experiences and great adventures!

Meet our family:

Me- Leighann- Mother, Wife, Artist, Airman.

Scott- Husband, Step-father, home-maker at the current moment, but still looking hard for a job.

Trystian- Son, Brother, Pre-Kindergartener, Little "Sheldon"

Atreyu- Son, Brother, Pre-schooler, Little adventurer

Scott and I were Just Married... This week. :) We plan to have a bigger ceremony in December though! Many to be invited. You can see the wedding ideas unfold here even. :)

Well, that's all for now. I will post as I have time.