Alabama

While driving across Alabama today on our way to the Atlanta Airport, I was thinking about all the things we love about Alabama and all the things we will NOT miss about Oklahoma.

We will not miss:

1.) The blasted wind
2.) The lack of trees, water, hills, or anything pretty for that matter
3.) The horrendous customer service
4.) Having zero options for eating out. Having zero options to do anything, really...

Okay, I know I sound like a true hater, but in just this one short week of living in Alabama I am in love. Everything about our new home is better than everything about our old one. I get excited over every little thing. I think we were stuck in Oklahoma for a better perspective of everywhere else we'll call home.

So far we have enjoyed good company, good food, and beautiful scenery. We survived the tornado warnings and thunderstorms. And, in general, we have gotten very excited for our next chapter. Zack is totally amped for helo training. He just began studying. His new squadron seems like a really great community to become a part of.

More on our move to come...

End to the Enid Era

I haven't blogged in awhile. It isn't because nothing has been going on, and it isn't because too much is going on. I just feel nothing really worthy of writing about has been happening. I mean, I could talk about how excited we are to move, how sad we are to leave friends behind, how much work we're doing to organize this move right before Christmas...but it all just seems kind of obvious to me and not in need of written attention. 

We just had our last weekend in Enid, America. It is the close of our Enid Era. I guess that deserves a few blogged words.

Since the beginning of November, we have had people staying at our house. We absolutely love to host 

(so please don't take this the wrong way), but it was so nice having our house to ourselves for a whole weekend. We enjoyed our time together in our house, but we don't really enjoy our house anymore. It doesn't look anything like our house because it is all disassembled and ready for packing. Also, all we talk about is how much nicer our new house is going to be. For example, our weather has drastically changed from 70's all December to 19 degrees (that "feels like" 6) this morning. We froze this weekend and kept thinking about how our new house will have a fireplace to curl and warm up in front of. We loved living on base, especially for our introduction to Air Force life. Being off-post at Ft. Rucker will be a fun next adventure, though. 

We shared a meal at BBQ Joint with most of Zack's class. Them ribs are the only things worth eatin' round these parts. Guess we'll miss that little shack in the middle of nowhere. Another favorite place we made sure to visit on our last weekend was A Little Bit of Seattle. I think it's funny that our favorite places around are not actually in Enid. But we had fun singing along to Christmas tunes while driving to our favorite spots. We have been sharing almost all our meals with friends lately, and we are so grateful for the good company.

Yesterday was our last Sunday at the chapel. We enjoyed becoming a part of a small church community. The one thing we are really not looking forward to when we move: church shopping. The Chaplain reminded us that God will be with you always, to the very end of the age, and also gave Zack a chapel coin. And that's true, no matter where we go or what church family we are a part of God will be with us. Everything for this move has come into place in perfect timing. We know that this move is God's plan for us.

We watched some sick snowboarding videos this weekend. This made us very excited for our Christmas vacation and also helped Zack decide on a new life goal. He wants to become a Red Bull pilot for the helos that film all the crazy stunts. It sounds like an exciting second career to aspire to. Maybe even too exciting, we'll just see about that.

All that is left now is packing up our stuff. Now's our chance to get rid of all the stuff we really don't need. It is hard for a pack rat like me to downsize our crap-I mean, treasures. But that is one of the things I love about moving the most, a clean slate -- out with the old and in with the new. 

Countdown

10 more days of work

9 hundred miles or so to travel to our new home

8-ish months til UPT graduation

7 thousand to-do items

6 teen nights on Edwards Street

5 states to drive through

4 weeks til Seattle

 3 days til December...what?!

2 weekends in Oklahoma

1 week or so left with Peter in town

We have gotten orders and are preparing to close our chapter in Enid and move down south. Being a military family is interesting. This time around we know what to expect, but we are definitely still adjusting to this lifestyle. It takes a whole lot of faith. We are so excited to see what comes next. 

Some things are exciting - like looking at our new house possibilities. But it's sad that our own home already looks like someone else's...all the walls are white again. 

Some things are stressful - trying to find a new job. But having a stay-at-home husband for the time being is awesome.

Some things are scary - like pretty much all the unknowns. Almost everything about this move is unknown for us. I have never been to Alabama. Zack has never flown in a helicopter. Neither of us have lived on an Army post. But I love our adventures together, and we have been looking forward to this one for awhile. 

Life is a little crazy right now. I feel like we spend more time counting down than we do counting up. We're always looking for the next step. Marriage. Graduation. Commissioning. Moving. Moving. Graduation. Moving. It is important to remind ourselves to enjoy each moment. To take advantage of what we have in the present and stop worrying about our future. As a planner...this is practically impossible for me. Fortunately, the wait for this move has been way less stressful than the last-I hope this trend continues.

Thanksgiving

Things we are thankful for, especially this Thanksgiving:
 

wonderful family to spend the holiday with

 

 

cute traveling puppies

 

a reliable new car to make our trips with

and last, but certainly not least, a new brother-in-law. Congratulations Trent & Zhenah

It was a fun, but tiring weekend :)

Love-enworth

Three years ago today, Zack proposed in Leavenworth. It was a wonderful trip in such a beautiful place.

This Christmas (which is soon--crazy, I know) we are headed back to spend a few days in a cabin in Leavenworth. Let the countdown begin!

Hello, Tulsa

For our anniversary we were blessed with a wonderful gift from an even more wonderful, friend. Thank you, Zandra, for making this weekend possible. We had SO much fun relaxing, enjoying the holiday, and checking out Tulsa. 

Steps to enjoying a Veteran's Day weekend with the husband:

1.) Get rid of the pups.

2.) Start with massages.

3.) Stay at a fabulous bed and breakfast.

4.) Note to self: a B&B where you don't have to awkwardly spend breakfast with strangers at the crack of dawn is the best kind of B&B

5.) Eat delicious food.

6.) Watch Bond.

7.) Sight see.

8.) Eat FREE food. Love Veteran's Day.

9.) See Noah Gunderson!

Best. Weekend. Ever.

P.S. - Tulsa is beautiful.

Track Select

The day finally came. Congratulations 13-10! You are T-6 complete and are ready to begin the next step in your careers!

Zack got HELOS!

I am so proud of him. He has been working so hard in UPT and I am so excited he has the opportunity to have this Air Force career.

Track Select day was really fun. My dad made it down to share in the festivities, which made it special.

What this means for us now, you might ask? We will move to Fort Rucker, Alabama in the near future. Zack will start pilot training there for about six months, working hard to hopefully get an HH-60. No matter what bird he gets, though, we'll head to Albuquerque, NM for more training afterwards.

It's crazy to think about leaving some people here in Oklahoma. It definitely makes it bittersweet. But, we are confident that this track is what God had in plan for us. We know that wherever and whenever life takes us, it is always in His hands.

Now we play the waiting game for orders to come.

10.11.12

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

We are celebrating your birthday by not going to work tomorrow!

Wish we could celebrate it with you. Miss you. 

Nub nu.

Also, yesterday was Jed's birthday and tomorrow is Zoey's. So many in a row!
 

 

T-6 Complete

I'm not really sure how October has already come and gone, but I am so excited November is here! There are so many things to look forward to in just the next couple weeks.

Here is a quick little blurb of updates. Just for you, Alicia! :)

Last Week:

Halloween on base housing was pretty fun. We totally ran out of candy and had more trick-or-treaters than we have ever had before. It's fun when you know most of the faces behind the costumes. We were totally the lame house on the block. We had luminaries outside and fall decor inside, but no Halloween decorations. We went to a pumpkin patch last weekend, and they were out of pumpkins. Those are the moments when we totally rag on Oklahoma and wish we could live anywhere else. But I did carve pumpkins with Brian when I was home. His = Awesome. Mine = good effort, at best. 

I had to work my first night shift last week--of course, once it is finally cold weather. I froze out there with all the guys till well past midnight.

Zack completed formation last week, which was his favorite block and the one he performed the best in.

We had a lovely weekend with friends--13-02 Assignment Night, bonfires & s'mores, a 25 mile bike ride, BBQ Joint, and a church potluck. A classmate of Zack's has moved in with us for the next couple weeks...so we always stay in good company around here. Weekends in Enid aren't so bad after all.

November is a month of many family birthdays (just so you're prepared with all my blog posts about them in the near future). I got birthday organized yesterday afternoon so we're prepared through the rest of this year. Phew!

Yesterday we thought of Papa Bob celebrating his first birthday in heaven. 

Today is Rudy's birthday!

This Week:

Zack is T-6 COMPLETE! As much fun as he had in the T-6, he is glad to be done and is ready for whatever comes next. Only 8 more days till we find out.

The only other noteworthy news in our lives is our new camera. We got a new digital SLR, finally! And we love it. Here are some pictures from our bike ride. We've just began practicing, so be prepared for much better pictures on this blog in the near future!

Home Means Nevada

Today is Friday of the week I'm back at work after having 7 workdays off. I don't particularly want to be at work, and to make matters worse...everyone at home has the day off. Boy, I sure do miss Nevada Day. Oklahoma should seriously start celebrating it.

A lot has been happening, and I have neglected this blog. Two weeks ago (oh. my. gosh. already?!) was my best friend's wedding rehearsal. I flew into Reno on Thursday, drove to Chico on Friday, and had a wonderful weekend celebrating Madeline and Matt! It was a beautiful wedding...perfect, really. I got to see friends and family, but most importantly witness my friend's true love and happiness. She was gorgeous, by the way. And even though I was there to witness it, I still can't believe it. I now know how all my friends felt when I got married and said how crazy it was. It is crazy. We're all growing up! It just seems like life is on fast forward.

Despite being very sick on the ride home, we stopped at Polka Dot. A favorite childhood spot. We always stopped on the way to Grandma and Grandpa Milldrum's house. This time we stopped as big kids. We also got to swing past Grandma and Grandpa's old house when we were in Paradise for the rehearsal dinner.

After a lovely weekend, reality came. My mom was scheduled for surgery Monday afternoon. It was easy to forget about when we had so much going on during the weekend, but then Monday came. She had a very successful procedure. I was so grateful to be able to be there with her not just on the day of surgery but for the whole week! I stayed home and hung out with my mom, tried to get some stuff done around the house, and also got to see some people in Reno. Our greatest success was cleaning out Mom's closets. Talk about a chore! But I did get paid in clothing :)

I really enjoyed my time at home. Also, I enjoyed my time out of Enid, America. But I did miss Zack and the pups. He spoiled them the whole time I was gone. They went on walks, runs, and to the lake. They also kept my spot in bed warm for me.

Now that I'm back in Enid, we are on the countdown. Zack has just a handful of rides left in the T-6 and Track Select is almost here!

In Loving Memory

Today is my Papa Bob's memorial service. I would give anything to be there in person, but I am there in thought and in heart.

I miss the only grandfather I ever knew. I will always remember--hugs from you, your laugh, waves in the halls of RHS, you reading the Christmas story before Christmas Eve dinner, the way you prayed before supper, you listening to music and playing the organ, trips we had--like going to Grass Valley and camping in the RV, watching movies with you, that you enjoyed cookies 'n creme ice cream :), and that you always loved me, were proud of me, and kept me in your prayers. Love you, Papa.

uptdate

Since it has been awhile, here is a blog about pilot stuff.

UPT Update - Zack is sim complete, instrument complete, and really enjoying formation.

This weekend we went to an air show in Wichita and had a blast. It was fun to think about what life would be like depending on which of those planes/helos he ends up getting. Right now he is still undecided about a track, much less an actual aircraft. He wanted helos until he began having so much fun in formation. 

So...we'll see next month!

How Zack is surviving UPT and me, life, is our new espresso machine. Our caffeine intake is through the roof right now!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thinking of you today

-Happy Birthday-

Love You!

We miss you.

Fall Cravings

Fall is here! It's official. Pumpkins and fall decor are out, and on our road trip home last weekend we noticed the leaves are turning. As the weather is changing, so are our appetites. Dinners are now using those hearty, warm dishes and I'm digging up my recipes.

Last night was Beef Stew. I thought I'd pass along my mom's recipe that is just delicious and I always crave when we get these wet, overcast days like today.

Beef Stew

1-1/2 lbs stew meat (2" cubes)

1/4 t. salt

1/8 t. black pepper

1 T. vegetable oil

1 large yellow onion (cut in round slices)

1/2 t. sugar

6 oz. beer

3/4 c. beef stock

3/4 t. dried thyme

1 bay leaf

4 medium carrots (1-1/2" lengths)

1/2 lb. potatoes

1 tbs. corn starch 

Heat oil in bottom of dutch oven. Add meat and brown on all sides -- about 7 minutes.

 

Remove meat and add onion, salt, and pepper. On moderate heat cook the onions till they look like pictured below -- about 8-10 minutes.

 

Add sugar to onions and stir frequently for 1 minute.

Add beef, beer, beef stock, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover for 1-1/2 hours. *make sure you use a cold beer so you can finish the other half of the 12 oz. bottle while you cook!

Add the carrots and potatoes in the last 20 minutes. At the end, mix in the corn starch to thicken.

It is difficult to get a pretty picture of completed stew, but I think this says it all!

 

Us-Haul

This weekend we moved my dad and Nancy out into the country. We packed up the pups and headed out Friday after work.

Did a lot of hauling, lifting...and falling (oops). I fell out the back of the moving van. Let me tell you...it left a mark. A big mark. And the six hour drive home was miserable...

We were pretty productive getting the heavy furniture and vast majority of all their stuff out to the new house. We enjoyed the cooler Fall weather, watching Hazel take on the big dogs, and being country folk even for just a little bit. I mean, who wouldn't love this view.

The girls were very good on the road. Their favorite parts were the potty breaks. Our favorite stop is just North of Blackwell. A rest stop with a dog park and our favorite Oklahoma sign.

and just for fun...

Baby Hadley at the same "H" in March