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

Pilot vs. Inspector

Zack's work life is so different from mine. This is probably pretty obvious, but I thought I would share some differences I noticed while reflecting on this past week. While there are pros and cons to each job, sometimes I'm pretty jealous of his (but I definitely have the more cush government job).

Zack got to fly to Arkansas, OKC, Kansas, and everywhere in between this week.

I stayed mostly downtown Enid where I met some mice and had a panic attack (almost to the point of hysteric tears) in front of my crew. 

*note, I then had to bother Zack at work to cry on the phone once no one else could see me. pathetic-I know.

Last weekend Zack brought me back the most delicious toffee from some airport in Colorado. 

I not only ate all the toffee but also ate all the other bad stuff that is always in our office! I wish it were easier to say no to cinnamon rolls...oh, and pie...and... 

*note, this is why I'm always tired at work...I'm forced to wake up at o'dark thirty to workout before I get to the office and am greeted by these temptations

Zack completed his last instrument sim. I completed...well, nothing really.

Zack's job worked the complete opposite hours of mine for the fifth week in a row. You heard that right, five solid weeks of a night-flying schedule. *fingers crossed to a new schedule next Monday!

Finally, both jobs seem to drag on a Friday afternoon before we're supposed to leave town...

*note, Yes this is, in fact, the first time I noticed that our jobs probably remind everyone of Pilot Inspektor Lee. Don't worry, this won't spark any ideas for a Pilot Inspektor Pittman.

Birthday Wishes

 

Zack made it back from his Cross Country. He made stops in Amarillo, Denver, Grand Junction, Phoenix, and Roswell. It was a lot of flying, but he had fun.

 My weekend was not quite as exciting. But, it was filled with girl-time including movie nights and my first ever manicure with my real nails. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I'm pretty proud of myself. I've gone a whole month without biting my nails, which is longer than I've ever gone my entire life!

This week so far has been uneventful. I have, however, vacuumed 4 times and it's only Tuesday. I think something is wrong with me... 

Also, I got filmed at work for some video. I told Zack and he said it was because I was the "token Asian." He's probably right...

But I saved all the real excitement for last.

Today is extra special. It is Madeline's Birthday! Happy Birthday to you, best friend. We love you and miss you dearly. Enjoy your day, and know we're thinking of you and wishing we could celebrate!

even hadley wishes you a very happy day :)

Up & Away

 Zack has left for his cross country flight this evening. He's off to Colorado and Arizona with various stops in between. He left pretty nervous, but I'm sure he is having a great flight. I haven't been alone in this house since IFS and that was kind of a depressing time, so I'm looking forward to a really great weekend this time around. Sometimes I think being a military wife really isn't all that hard, but then I never really want Zack to leave. I feel like we never see each other with our work schedules during the week and the weekend is our time. But I'm determined to stay busy and enjoy my time these next couple days.

 

dad, please leave me some money so we can have fun with mom this weekend

dried basil from our yard

 

Feels Like Fall

We have officially experienced these crazy Oklahoma fronts we were told about. The last couple weeks have had some drastic temperature changes. Today we are loving it! Yesterday: High of 95. Today: High of 64. Overcast. Rain. OH YES! This is our kind of weather. I put on a hoodie for the first time in 6 months!

Our lives aren't changing quite as much as the Oklahoma weather since I was under the weather earlier this week. Lazy week just trying to get better.

Work for me is getting a little more interesting. I'm just beginning a new project that is actually above ground. Pretty construction that people actually see and think is interesting. Girly construction...a little bit more down my alley. Ironically, it is an actual alley. It's a breezeway between parking and downtown shops and restaurants. I'm not only more interested, but I'm more comfortable and confident inspecting something like this. So, work should be looking up for the next few months. 

Work for Zack is going quickly. They've begun formation academics, only nine more weeks til track select, and his cross country is tomorrow!

On Monday night, Zack and I opened up notes that were written to us by the lovely ladies at my Washington bridal shower last summer. We were told to open them on our anniversary, and inside each one we found blessings, encouraging words, good advice, congratulations, verses, and other heartfelt messages from all the ladies we love. It was incredible hear what moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, and dear friends had to say about our marriage. They are definitely keepsakes that we will cherish and will turn to again and again.

Highlight of my week: these darling kids make my headbands look absolutely beautiful!

fills my heart with joy

09.10.11

Some favorite photos from our wedding day.

dawgs

don't mind hazel, she's just enjoying dad's beer

Well, it's football season and we are so excited. Loving the lazy weekends watching games, especially the part where we eat yummy food and enjoy the company of friends. The girls got their own Husky gear. I know, I know...but it was just so cute I had to.

Don't worry Hazel, I think I know how to get these things off!

Other things going on...

been getting my craft on

headbands for the kids at home

drying my excessive amounts of basil

been getting myself organized-highlights include prepping all of Zack's lunches for the week and getting all September birthday cards and presents lined up and ready to go. organizing is always a work in progress

zack is busy with night flights and prepping for a cross country

six months and counting...

It was important to get away this weekend. Not only to see my dad and Nancy, celebrate some family birthdays, and get the heck out of Enid...but also to get my mind off all the things I missed in Seattle this weekend. Although I wasn't able to be there, I was celebrating in spirit one friend's wedding and another's wedding celebrations. Missing my best friend's bridal shower and bachelorette party was tough. Those are once-in-a-lifetime events, I miss her like crazy, and what kind of best-friend-bridesmaid am I anyway? 

I wish I could be everywhere at once. 

Obviously I would not have wanted to give away this weekend. We had so much fun! It was our first road trip with Hazel. And we survived!

Hadley helped us navigate through the difficult Kansas terrain.

We got very excited for Nebraska Football.

Hazel stayed very clean.

We fit in at the fair.

We have now lived in Enid for six months. You probably think these last six months have flown by. We think that these six months have dragged on and on. I think time stands still in the Midwest. Something about being in Central Time makes it seem like everyone else is rushing through time and you're stuck in the middle watching it all go on around you. But, I'm thinking this week will go quickly. I love short work weeks!