We wish you a merry Christmas

Merry Merry Christmas from our family to yours!! I hope everyone has a great couple days planned and gets to spend a lot of time with family. I know we are :) This is the first Christmas since Ryan and I got married that we will be home in Minnesota with our families ♥ I couldn't ask for anything more this Christmas!!

My Mother in law had Open heart surgery last Monday to remove the lining of her heart. She was in the ER while we were home visiting last year, (actually the same time we were in the hospital having Joshua)and ever since then she has been having problems with her heart, on way to many medications trying to fix the problem. But nothing worked so they ended up doing surgery. She is doing pretty good recovering here at home. Please keep her and all of her family in your prayers, he older brother passed away on Wednesday morning. Christmas isn't going to be the same here at the Strickland house, but we are doing our best to make a happy Christmas!

We had our ultrasound on Tuesday morning, we were torn up until the last minute if we were going to find out the sex of our baby. We ended up finding out, I think more for my peace of mind than anything. We are buying a 2 bedroom townhouse and it really put my mind at ease finding out the gender if this little one :) We are going to be having another little boy in May! Now we know we will be able to stay in this town home for at least a couple years. Joshua and this new baby will have so much fun growing up together!! I will have my hands full with two little boys but it will be so much fun ♥

I hope everyone had a great week and is having a great Christmas so far! The guys and Amy just went to get some groceries so we can start our Christmas eve dinner :) I am making a lot this year, since my MIL is still out of commission from her surgery. Ham, Potatoes, stuffing, corn & biscuits are on the menu! Yummy Yummy in my tummy! Have a great weekend friends, enjoy your families and don't forget about all of our military families that are spending Christmas apart this year, because they are sacrificing for YOUR freedoms! Love Love ♥

Merry Christmas!

We got our Christmas cards made a couple days ago. My daddy made them for us :) I was hoping to get some new pictures done here, now that I am actually looking pregnant and not just chunky. That just never worked out though. Ryan has been working some strange hours so it never worked out to get him and my Dad available at the same time.



Merry Christmas blogger friends :) With all the snow we are getting around here I wish Christmas was here so it could start warming up! Too bad that won't be happening for a few more months still. Why did I ever want to come back to Minnesota?! We got at least 19 inches this last Saturday and are supposed to get 2-4 inches over night tonight. I love how beautiful it is, but I'm over the cold!!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Love love ♥

We did it!!

We did it!! What did we do you ask? We made an offer on a home and it was accepted!! We have started the process to owning our very first home :D

Tomorrow morning we have our home inspection, and we need to get the report of the inspection to the Realtor ASAP and then as long as nothing major is wrong, the whole va/mortgage process should be starting! I can't wait to be in our own home again, and cook our own meals, and start our life outside of the military. Even though he has been out for almost 2 months it still doesn't feel real to me yet... and the only thing I can think of is because we don't have our own house. I still feel like we are just visiting. I think this will be a great start to moving on with life.

We will have about 4 months to get settled in before the baby comes and disrupts our whole lives again. I am hoping Joshua will get into some sort of a routine before this little bundle of love comes :)

I hope everyone has a great week! I plan on bringing my camera to the inspection tomorrow so hopefully I will post more pictures of our beautiful home soon! Love Love ♥

We did it!

Our Realtor came by today and we put in an offer on a townhome that we totally fell in love with a couple weeks ago when we were out looking at houses! We don't know when we will hear, but hopefully it will be soon. If they accept our offer our closing date with be January 21st. We were hoping to get something by the end of the year but that would really be pushing it! It is a beautiful town home, it was built in 2005 so it is only 5 years old. Very good quality for the cheap price they are asking :)

Here it is!



hopefully we will find out this week if they want to accept our offer, and then we can set up our inspection and get the whole process started! I am so ready to be on our own again and get ready for this little jumping bean in my belly to come.

I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday! Love Love ♥

17 weeks!

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Today marks the 17th week in my pregnancy. I feel like I just found out yesterday we are going to be having our 2nd little blessing and now I am almost halfway there.

Me @ 17 weeks pregnant:




I hope everyone is having a great Tuesday :) we got some birthday/Christmas shopping done for Joshua yesterday. I was feeling very productive. Tonight it is over to my parents house for Taco Tuesday! Enjoy the snow Minnesotans Love Love ♥

WOW! FREE baby sling!

I just got this promo code in my email and thought I would share it with all of you here. All you need to do is go to this site : Seven Everday Slings , click on shop now, choose which baby carrier you want (make sure to check out the "sizing" page so you get the right size). After you choose your sling, you will automatically be redirected to the "shopping bag" all you need to do it enter the promo code "turkey" and you will get your free sling! You do need to pay shipping and handling, but it is so worth it!

Let me know which one you got K?

Enjoy!

My life is pretty boring?

Whenever I come on to write a new blog post, I don't know what to write about. My life is boring it seems. But then I think about all that has happened to us in the last couple months, think about all the changes (and more changes to come), and I realize its really not that boring. But I never know what to tell all of you, my wonderful bloggy friends about. So here is a little recap of what is happening right now in my not so boring life :)

Ryan got out of the army in September, the day before Joshua and I flew home we found out I am pregnant! (I will be 15 weeks on Tuesday). We moved everything from our big 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom rental home in El Paso, to Ryan's parents garage/basement where we are staying currently. Ryan started a new job working security at General Mills World HQ. Joshua started walking! I made it to my second trimester of this pregnancy :) We have seriously started our house search, and are going to try to buy by the end of the year.

I guess that is most of the major events that have happened over that last 7 weeks. Not so boring after all huh? What is going on in your life? Anything you could use prayer for? PLEASE let me know, I would LOVE to be a help in your life!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend :) We did, except for the horrible loss the vikings had today. We are still vikings fans!! Have a wonderful week friends!! LOVE Love ♥

And this is why

And this is why our week was a lot more eventful than we planned :)



Tuesday night there were some crazy strong wind here in Minnesota, as well as in Wisconsin. Ryan was working, and Joshua and I were just dropped off at Ryan's parents for the night. We were all in the living room hanging out, when the whole house went black. This was at about 7:30... I was getting ready to give Joshua a bath. Needless to say Joshua did not get a bath Tuesday night! We went to bed early hoping to have power in the morning. We woke up to a freezing house and a fridge full of warm, thawed out food on Wednesday morning. We went and got some ice to stick in the fridge with the hopes and saving any cold that was left in there. We went to my parents to wait for power, and ended up spending the night Wednesday night. We were so surprised the power wasn't back on when we woke up Thursday!

Thursday we took a mini road-trip to Wisconsin (Next Post) so Joshua could meet his great grandma and grandpa Strickland for the first time. He was so good for the 2 hour drive there and 2 hour drive back. He slept a little more than an hour each way and was nice and happy the rest of the time :) When we were on our way back Thursday evening around 7 we got the call that the power was back on! YIPPEEE!! We have power!!

I hope everyone had a great week, our weekend is just ending, Ryan had Thursday and Friday off. And sadly Ryan has to work on Joshers first Halloween and won't be trick or treating with us :( But we will take many, many pictures for Daddy! (And Yoooou!!) so enjoy your weekend blogger friends, and wish us luck as we head into our Monday. Love Love ♥

Another possibility...

We have found a house that I have absolutely fallen in love with. I know I shouldn't have, I know that's the first rule when you are house hunting. But I failed. I LOVE THIS HOUSE. Here's the thing... We didn't get approved for as much as we thought we would, and unless we could come up with $10,000-$15,000 this house more than likely isn't even a possibility. Its possible right? I can dream!



It doesn't look amazing from the outside, but it is pretty updated and would be perfect for our little family. So if you feel like donating to my cause feel free (haha right?)

Well I hope everyone is having a good week so far :) We have had an interesting one for sure... I will write about that tomorrow! Let's just say that little windstorm we had Tuesday is STILL affecting us. Wanna know why? Come back tomorrow! Have a great Friday Friends!! Love Love ♥

Walking Joshua!!!

My big boy took his first steps a few days ago! I such a proud mommy ♥

We are looking at our first house! eek!

Tomorrow at noon we will be having our first showing of a house, we have seen a few of them that we like. But this is the first one that the Realtor has actually gotten back to us on and has set up a time! I am excited to actually get to go check it out, how awesome would it be if this one worked out for us? It is a cute little townhouse, we have some friends that live in the same neighborhood actually so that would be kinda fun :)



I'm assuming because it is so cheap it will need a little work, but that will be a lot of fun! We can make it our own home and add our own style. I am super excited if you can't tell :D

I hope everyone is having a great Wednesday! Wish us luck on our house hunt. Love love ♥

Fall is here! I think....

We have been having the most amazing weather this fall!! It is October. In Minnesota. Today was the first day in the last 5 days it did not reach 80 degrees!! Seriously! I am LOVING being able to be outside with my babycakes. We have been playing in the leaves, in shorts and t-shirts! How crazy is that? In Minnesota. In October.

Here is one of my favorite pictures that I snapped today when we were enjoying some time in the leaves.



but I love this one too, Showing off his latest feat! My baby can stand!!



But the cold weather is coming... Monday it is supposed to be colder. I am NOT looking forward to it. I know Joshua doesn't like cold weather either, so that could make for a loooong winter!

I hope everyone is having a great week so far! Only a couple more days until the weekend. Well Ryan's weekend is today and tomorrow :) Have a great night blogger friends. Love Love ♥

The search has begun... well not officially :)

So we've been discussing what we want to do next. Obviously right now we are just saving up money and know that this is not how our lives are going to be forever. But yesterday we looked into a few things and realize that we could easily qualify for a loan, so we have been starting to look at some houses! I am so excited, thinking about being on our own again, in our own house! I know it won't happen right away, it will be a long process of finding the house that is perfect for us and then making offers and all that entails with buying a house. I know it is a long process, but the process has started and that just excites me to no end!

Sorry I have not been on here a whole lot lately, our computer has been going really slow and Ryan's parents computer is always being used :) Hopefully I will be on more regular again here, even if it is just a short littler update. I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Happy Tuesday! Love Love ♥

Wanted: My Life BACK please :)

Don't get me wrong... I am so thankful that my in laws are giving us a free place to live. I don't know where we would be right now if we weren't here with them. But I am SO not used to living with anyone but my husband and baby. Especially with how sick I have been lately I just want my own home, my own space! I am ready to be back in charge of my own home (as long as it has a dishwasher). I know I am never really in charge of my life, God has control over everything. But lately I feel like everything is just happening around me and I really have no say. Not a good feeling :(

Ryan just started his new job yesterday, he seems to like it so that's a good start :) He is working security at General Mills, and was all excited because they have a little grocery store inside with discount food. Hopefully this is the beginning of us saving up some money and getting our own place SOON.

I was planning on putting up pictures today, It has been WAY to long since I have updated pictures. But for some reason this computer isn't letting me put any pictures on. Maybe later today, or else tomorrow when I am at my parents house I will put some pictures on! I hope everyone is having a great week so far. Only a couple more days until the weekend :) have a great Wednesday! love love ♥

Fall=♥

I am LOVING this weather we have been having lately! The leaves are starting to change colors, it is cool but not freezing yet. We can go outside and enjoy the outdoors without sweating or freezing. PERFECT! I just need to get some winter clothes :) After living on a topical island for 3 years, then a desert for a year, its time to rebuild my winter wardrobe! I have plenty of shorts and tank tops (a lot of good that will do me).

We have been busy unpacking the last couple days. The trailer and truck are empty, now its just getting everything out of boxes and finding everything we need. Ryan's parents garage is full of our stuff, and I am not looking forward to the task of going through it all!

We have been so blessed the last couple of days. Ryan has been here Sunday and has his 2nd interview today, and at least 2 more set up. One of his friends has set him up with a security firm, and his uncle just got him an interview with his business. Hopefully one of these jobs will work out soon and we will have an income again. Ryan's parents are being awesome and letting us take over there basement for as long as we need it. We are hoping to be out in the next few months but it all depends on what kind of a job Ryan gets, and where he decides to go to school.

Well I think my Mom and I are about to go find some garage sales :) Ryan is returning the trailer and getting a few things done before his interview at 1:30. I hope everyone is having a great week so far, Happy Tuesday!! Love Love ♥

taco tuesday with the family :)

It is our first Tuesday in Minnesota, so obviously we are having tacos tonight :) My little brother is at the doctor right now, he hurt his thumb and is going to see if he needs a cast or what. We are waiting for him and my Mom to get back and then it is time for some TACOS!

Ryan got his orders today! He will officially be out of the army on Friday. Only a few more days until he is a free man :) Now to decide our future... where will he work? Where will he go to school? Where will we live after his parents house? So many decisions that we have to make, that will impact our future. Prayers are greatly appreciated :)

I hope everyone had a great labor day, and is having a great Tuesday! Love Love ♥

we have arrived (well some of us)

Joshua and I flew in to Minnesota on Thursday! Ryan found out on Thursday afternoon that he will be getting orders on Tuesday and will be leaving El Paso on Friday. So he should make it here to Minnesota by next Sunday. 1 week from tomorrow! We have been gone for only 3 days and I miss him already :( hopefully the next week goes pretty fast.

Our last week has been filled with packing, packing, and MORE packing. We got the trailer last Friday, had some people over Saturday and got so much done. We were so thankful to have such wonderful people sacrifice their Saturday to help us! We fit way more in that trailer than anyone thought we would be able to. It was amazing!

We were out of the house on the 31st. We spent a few nights in the hotel before flying out at 7 am on Thursday morning. Ryan is still in the hotel we were staying in, until Monday. After that he will be staying with some of our old neighbors for the rest of the week until he leaves to join us!

Joshua and I went over to my in-laws Thursday evening and checked out where we will be living for the next few months. We are so blessed to have such awesome family supporting us! They are turning their basement into a room/living space for Ryan and I and giving Joshua his own room. Way more than we could have ever asked for! We have wonderful family and I am so thankful for them!

Well Joshua seems to have decided he wants to go to bed now... we attempted bedtime a half hour ago and he wasn't going for it. Maybe this time! Goodnight bloggers. Hope everyone had a great week, and is having a great weekend! Have a wonderful Sunday :) love love ♥

7 days!!

We have 7 days until we need to have the rest of our house packed up. We need to be out on the 31st and we need at least that one day to clean it up :) I have been CRAZY busy packing up the house lately.

Today our pastors wife & son came and took Joshua for a couple of hours and I got a lot done! I got almost all of our dishes packed up and all of the books packed up. I have already done all of our clothes and everything from the walls. Our house is already starting to feel so empty!

And now for my 30 day blog journal:

I haven't been doing to well keeping up with this huh? I wouldn't have even started if I had known we were going to be moving, and so busy!

Day 23: A youtube video

This is easy :) Is it cheating because it is one that I uploaded? Oh well!



my happy baby boy.

I hope everyone had a good Monday! Have a great week bloggy friends :) Love Love ♥

Day 19- My Wedding ♥

This is probably my favorite topic so far! I loved my wedding. I don't think it could have been any more perfect than it was. Here are a few pictures from my wonderful day. 6.9.2007


Getting ready for the big day! My Mom and Sister helping me :)


We were taking too long. The sign says "womens dressing room"



my beautiful bridesmaids & flower girl (my little sister)


my prince.


Mr. & Mrs. Ryan Strickland


We had perfect weather for our perfect day ♥ I couldn't have asked for anything more. It was better than I could have ever imagined! Although we had technically already been married for 3 months, our wedding was amazing.

I hope everyone is having a good week. Halfway to the weekend! I am off the sleepy land. love love ♥

only 2 more weeks!!

We have exactly 2 weeks from today before my husband is officially out of the army! It is so crazy how fast this month is going, but at the same time it feels never ending. I am not sure I am ready to be back in the "civilian" world, I haven't been anything but an army wife for 3 1/2 years. But ready or not, it is happening!

The next two weeks will mostly consist of packing our house, to be out of here on the 31st. BUT in order for the packing to even begin, I need boxes! You would think I would have already started packing... but no. That isn't very possible without boxes is it? I have done everything possible, but that is definitely an essential when it comes to moving.

and now for my 30 day journal blog. Day 17 (August 17):Day 17 - An art piece

This is pretty much the only painting I have in my house, the only thing on my walls besides pictures. So I will write about this lovely canvas painting!

My friend, and neighbor from Japan, painted this and gave it to me as a thank you for watching her fish while she was on vacation. I absolutely love the colors, and I love cherry blossoms. So it is the perfect combination for me. She is so talented! I wish I could paint something even half as beautiful as this :)

I hope you are all having a good Tuesday! Joshua is taking a nap, so I need to get some cleaning done before he wakes up and makes messes. Have a great day friends. Love Love ♥

I'm not so good at this huh?

I was hoping this 30 day blog journal would kind of be my accountability partner. I have just been so busy the last few weeks I have not had the time to even turn the computer on!

Word is Ryan will be out of the army September 1st, and we will be moving ourselves back to Minnesota. So I have 2 weeks to pack my house up, and no boxes. Don't be suprised if I'm not on here much in the next couple weeks. Life is crazy at the moment!

Blog Journal Day 16 (August 16): Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)

Hmm I guess a song that makes me sad would have to be "If tomorrow never comes", my husband in the army, and though he has never been deployed that is what this makes me think of. How short life is and how we need to make sure and tell people how we feel. It really puts life into perspective and makes me a little teary eyed.



Well I hope everyone is having a great Monday so far! Have a great week friends :) Love Love ♥

Day 11 (oops I missed a FEW!), and prayers please

Our internet has been acting up lately so I haven't been able to get on here, I'm just gonna skip the few days of the 30 day blog journal that I missed!

Day 11 (August 11): A photo of you recently.

As I am looking for a recent photo, I realize I am always the one behind the camera! I need to make my husband take some pictures once in a while :)


This is the best you are going to get!

My old neighbor from Japan has been in Maryland visiting her family for the last couple months, spending time with her neice Gracie who has been battling a tumor on her brainstem since November of last year. Jessica's neice passed away Sunday morning, she was only 7 years old. Please keep Jessica, and her whole family in your prayers as they go through this incredibly difficult time.



Gracie before she got sick



Gracie and Aunt Jessy the day before Gracie went to heaven

Please keep this family in your prayers, I can't even imagine losing my baby at such a young age...

A photo that makes me smile :D

Day 7 (August 7th) A Photo that makes you smile!

Oh boy, how can I pick just one? I love pictures, and so many make me smile! Well this is one that makes me smile :D <-- that's me smiling.

Any picture of my baby boy's smile makes me smile :)

I hope everyone is having a great Saturday. Me & the hubby got to go out and do some shopping with out the baby today and it was wonderful to have some alone time. Now dinner is cooking (Spaghetti, meat balls & home made breadsticks!) I am supee excited! Have a great night friends & hearts;

20 of my favorite things

As I was writing the title to todays blog I got that Christmas song stuck in my head

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages, tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things

we used to sing this song in choir when I was in 7th grade :) The year me and my hubby were in choir together and became friends. Ah what a good year that was!

Anywho onto todays post:
20 of my favorite things (after the 1st 2, in no particular order)

1. Jesus--- No brainer, Jesus is my favorite thing!
2. Family-- Life is so empty without family, I can't wait to be back in MN!
3. Reading-- Is there a better way to spend a rainy afternoon?
4. Nap time-- I say this because nap time isn't happening right now, makes me realize how much I love it!
5. Sunshine-- Puts a smile on my face :)
6. A crisp fall day
7. Road Trips with the people I love
8. Gardening- I can't wait to get back to MN so I can have one :)
9. Going on long walks, when its NOT really hot
10. Date night with my hubby
11. Decorating my home
12. Dr. Pepper
13. Minnesota- If you didn't notice I'm excited to move HOME!
14. Friends-- It's nice to have someone who understands
15. Dishwashers- I miss this. My next house will have one
16. Being pregnant-- (my first pregnancy was awesome, hopefully they all will be)
17. My baby boy's smile -- So Sweet :)
18. Garage sales & Thrift stores with my Mama
19. Dogs-- Especially my baby deuce
20. Chocolate- I almost forgot to put chocolate!! Oh boy!

These are a few of my favorite things.. Not the top 20. Just 20 :)

Hope everyone is having a great Friday! I am so ready for a relaxing weekend. Love love ♥

Days 4 & 5 (oops :)

Day 4 of the 30 day journal was a busy day for me and I didn't get on the computer, so I am making up for it today :)

Day 4 (August 4)- Your favorite book

This is an easy one to answer too.

I have read this book 3 or 4 times, I can't remember exactly. It is an awesome story of acceptance & forgiveness. I would highly recommend it to anyone that loves a good love story like me ♥


Day 5 (August 5)- Your favorite quote

Hmm my favorite quote? I love this one by Helen Keller
"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision"
It really makes you think doesn't it?

This is another good quote. I try to live my life in faith to Christ. Even though we can't see our future we just have to have faith that He knows what He is doing in our lives. Just take it one step at a time with Jesus Christ by our side.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
This is something that I have been really working on lately, with all that is going on in our life I need to just have faith that He will make things happen how they are meant to happen.

I hope you are all having a great Thursday. Only one more day until the weekend!! Love love ♥

Big boy!!

Day 3 of 30

Day 3 (August 3, 2010)- Your favorite telivision program

This is probably the easiest question I have every had to answer :) My favorite show is King of Queens!! I love Kevin James, and I could have watched it over and over. I have all nine seasons (aquired over many weeks apart from my husband and having nothing better to do :) and I watch them just as much now as I do when I bought them.



Watching Doug get himself in trouble, and Arthur do crazy things, I laugh at the same stuff I have seen 50 times and notice new things that are funny. If you haven't seen this show then you are really missing out! I love it :)

30 day blog journal!

So this actually started yesterday but better late than never right?! I am never on here on Sundays.

Here is the list of topics for the next 30 days. (copied from Ecstaticaly Pregnant)

30 Day Blog Journal

Here are the topics for each day:

Day 1 (Aug. 1) - your favorite song
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Day 1 (August 1, 2010)
My favorite song would have to be Come Thou Fount. I have always loved this song, and I guess I didn't realize it was my favorite song until right now :) Another song I absolutely love is Traveling Soldier by the Dixie Chicks. I can't hear this song and not sing along.

Day 2 (August 2, 2010)
My favorite movie... hmm that is a tough one! I have seen so many movies but I have a hard time picking a favorite. I guess if I absolutely had to choose I would pick The Miracle Worker. I haven't seen it in so long! But I used to work at a video store and I would play this movie over and over and it NEVER got old. It is such a good movie!

The little girl does awesome and makes me want to keep watching it over and over. Hmm I might have to try to find this again now. I want to watch it!

I hope you are all having a great Monday :) Love Love ♥

So Much is happening!!!

Wow the last few days have been so crazy!! So much is changing super soon :) here is something that I know for sure I can share:

My Dad has been working a horrible shift (2-10) for about 6 months now. It's not as bad during the summer, but during the school year he wouldn't see my little brothers and sisters from Sunday night until Saturday morning (THATS CRAZY!), his boss is willing to talk to him about maybe becoming a photographer (which would be a HUGE blessing for him) at his work, which would more than likely bring a shift change. So please please pray this works out for him it would be a wonderful thing for my family.

Another HUGE thing that we just found out yesterday, more than likely Ryan will be out of the army and we will be heading back to Minnesota on September first. Yes, ONE month from tomorrow!! AHHH!!! That is going to be an awesome thing if it really works out. Right now we are waiting to see if Ryan will need to surgery repeated on his ankle, if he does we might end up staying a little longer for that to get done. But either way it is going to be happening so soon and I am SO ready to be back in Minnesota with family and friends :)

and here is the last thing happening (This is a HUGE one too!!) My family just found out thursday that there is a little girl available for them to adopt. She is 2 months old, and they said yes! So very, very soon I will be having a new baby sister (it will be younger than my son haha!) I am so excited to get back to Minnesota and meet her.

seriously this has all happened in the last couple days and it has been very hectic trying to figure everything out. I am so blessed though and I have an AWESOME life. I hope you are all having a good weekend, and have a great Sunday! (its potluck at church for us :) yummy yummy)love love ♥

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Tuesday!

I know I haven't been on here much lately but frankly, life is boring! Not to much is going on other than the normal: Crabby baby, messy house, lazy mommy :)

I think I decided today Joshua will be walking before he gets teeth. He has no sign of teeth! He is almost 8 months old already. When he is sitting he pulls himself up onto the furniture to stand (I'm SO not ready for this!!) He actually was walking along the couch yesterday!! AHHHHH!!! He can't even crawl and he is ready to walk. That boy is so determined.

Ryan had an MRI on his ankle yesterday, and he has an appointment on August 12th to find out if he is going to need surgery again. This will really decide when we get to get out of the army and move back HOME. So pray everything turns out well for that whole situation :)

I need to go get the dishes and laundry (UGH) done before Ryan gets home, then it is time for TACOS!! Yummy yummy in my tummy. Hope you all are having a great week so far, love love ♥


My In Laws, with El Paso in the background

Happy Friday Friends!

We had a wonderful week with Ryan's parents and brothers. We didn't do a ton, but we spent a lot of time together and it was very relaxing. They got here Sunday afternoon and were able to come to church with us Sunday night, then we went out for chinese! We did some swimming at the hotel, played apples to apples (possibly the best game EVER), and played a few other card games and board games.
A lot of good memories :) Joshua loved having his Grandma and Grandpa strickland here, and had so much fun with his Uncles Tyler and Alex. I can't wait until we can move back to Minnesota and he will be able to grow up knowing his aunts and uncles and grandparents. Hopefully we will be back there for good soon!
Well I am off to fold some laundry and then head to bed. I have been exhausted the last couple days and I am hoping Joshua lets me get a good night sleep tonight. I hope you are all having a great Friday, and have a fabulous weekend! Love love ♥

Monday Minute

Its time for Monday minute :)



What's your real name?
Melissa

Have you ever fabricated a story or anything on your blog?
haha no? What would be the point! This is me. Like it or leave it.

When in the car do you listen to the radio/CDs/iPod/etc?
everytime! We listen to the radio or CD's usually... every once in a while the Ipod.

Describe the 'sexiest' item of clothing that you own
haha nothing?

Would you be willing to breastfeed your friend's three year old child?
Umm definitely not. That would just be wierd. I wouldn't even be willing to breastfeed my own 3 year old child. By that age they could remember someday... that's messed up!

hope you are all having a great monday morning. My in laws are here, and our AC stopped working las night so we are now stuck at home waiting for the landlord to come fix it! It is way to hot to not have AC. Have a great day friends! Love love ♥

Friday is here!!

For some reason this week has felt so long!! I don't know why, because Ryan hasn't been working late or anything. I hate weeks that drag on and on. But today especially is draggin on! Ryan has next week off of work because his family is coming to visit :)

I got my new vacuum at the PX yesterday, and we got home and realized it wasn't the one that we wanted. So we ended up going to target and getting a different one. I love it already :) Ryan vacuumed last night! It's a miracle!! Then I finished up today and I love how clean my floors look now ♥



I love it!!

I hope you are all having a great Friday! And have a wonderful, blessed weekend. Love love ♥

Grocery Shopping Thursday :)

I am in the middle of making a HUGE grocery list. We haven't been grocery shopping in about 3 weeks (maybe even longer!) So Today, I have the honor of going major grocery shopping with Mr. Joshua, while Ryan is at work. Oh Joy! No really, its not that bad, I just strongly dislike going on my own. Even more than going on my own, I HATE putting groceries away. At least I pick Ryan up from work on my way home so he can do that :)

Before the grocery store, I am going to the PX to (hopefully) get our new vacuum! I just hope they have it in stock and we don't have to wait forever... our old vacuum died the other day. After 3 year. 3 years with a $30 vacuum isn't to bad though!

Well my crabby boy (who still is showing no signs of cutting his teeth!) is telling me its nap time! Which means as soon as he lays down, I have floors to sweep, dishes to wash and laundry to put away. Ryan's family is coming on Sunday so I want to make the house sparkly clean to impress my mother in law :)

Have a great Thursday everyone! Love love ♥

Our Deck :)

This has been our little project over the last couple weeks. Our back yard is all sand... so not to inviting to go outside and just chill. So we decided to build a little deck so we have somewhere to go :)



Got this all done in a couple hours



I just realized we don't have a picture of the completed thing... here is Joshua laying on it. We are going to get indoor/outdoor carpet on it eventually but for now its just a blanket :)



My guys hanging out on our new deck!

I hope you are all having a great monday :) Love love ♥

Five Fact Friday

I was browsing my bloggy friends today and came across this idea from Ria Thurston @ Life as A Wife! You should head over and check out her blog, she is such a cutie. And I am even more partial because she is from MN and goes to the church that I love and miss very much!

Here are 5 facts about my life :)

1. I started dating my husband when I was 15 years old & he was 16


2. He joined the army about 4 months after we started dating, and was gone the whole summer before his senior year at basic training.


3. Ryan moved to Japan 2 days after we got engaged, and came back to Minnesota a week before our wedding and left to go back to Japan about 4 days after we got married. I moved to Japan after he had already been there for 6 months, in August of 2007




4. I left Japan in October of 2009 when I was 33 weeks pregnant, to go to Minnesota to have my baby boy! Ryan got to Minnesota in November, about 3 weeks before Joshua was born.



5. We drove for 4 days when Joshua was 2 weeks old, to get to Ft. Bliss, where Ryan was being based next. It was a LOOONG drive with a 2 weeks old and a dog.




Those are just a few facts about my life :) A few of the times that stick out in my ind the most. I hope everyone is having a great friday. I am! I got my cast off this morning. I am so super happy (I have a tan line from it). Now I need to do some therapy 2 times a week for 3 weeks, then see where we are at after that. Have a great weekend friends love love ♥

Wordless Wednesday

I had THE perfect picture for wordless Wednesday, my baby boy was laying on his towel at the pool this morning drinking his bottle with his legs crossed. It was too cute :) but then I got home and realized I didn't have a memory card in my camera!! I took like 10 pictures of my friends kids and Joshua, and NO card. :(

So here's my 2nd choice :)



Joshua with our pastor (his honorary Gramps while we are in TX) at an El Paso Diablos baseball game on the 4th of July.

im back!

Sorry I have been a little MIA lately. It's been a 5 day weekend for Ryan and we were going non-stop! And when we weren't the husband stole the computer. Once he's on I have no chance of getting on :) I haven't put pictures on the computer in about a week so when I do I will update you on our weekend and all of our "doings". We had a lot of fun things planned and also had some time to just sit around and relax!

Joshua was 7 months old on Saturday! He is getting so big, and so mobile. He's sitting up and rolling everywhere. He is starting to crawl! Can you believe that? He only goes backwards but he gets where he wants to go and that scares me. My baby is getting way to old. He is babbling non-stop and starting to laugh. But one thing he does not have is teeth!! He's been teething for a couple of months but those bad boys just will not break through. I am so ready for them to make their appearance and give me back my happy boy :)

Well its bath time in the strickland house! I hope you are all having a great Monday!! Love love ♥

What's for dinner?

I ask myself this every night. Then when I don't know the answer I ask my husband! He usually says "whatever you want to make". The problem is I never feel like making ANYTHING. When it is hot out I don't want to turn the oven on, our air conditioning is AWFUL. We have it on as high as it goes along with every fan in the house and a few portable ones and its STILL hot in here. Drives me insane!

So... What's for dinner? I'm thinking chinese. But I know I shouldn't! So probably spaghetti. Something easy and delicious!! Ryan had CQ last night, then came home and worked on our little deck we are making (Pictures to come). He just got done and layed in bed... pretty sure he's sleeping! I'm gonna wake him up for dinner soon :) But I think it's going to be an early night for everyone. Joshua was up every hour last night, so of course I was too. He is FINALLY taking a nap right now. He has been awake for 10 hours! What a crabby little boy.

Hope everyone is having a great Thursday and is ready for a nice LONG, relaxing weekend. I know I am! Ryan has Friday-Monday off :) have a great weekend friends. Love Love ♥

Family comes to Texas! (in PICTURES)