Laughs for the Weekend

It's been a very long time since I have wrote and I am not even going to try to summarize what has happened in the past few months since the last post. That would take way to long. But as many of you already know, Austan and I finally tied the knot on June 14th and I recently moved to Twentynine Palms, CA to be with Austan until he deploys. When I finally decided that the best thing for us would be for me to move out here for us to spend time together before the deployment he was leaving in November. Now that I am actually here they are getting deployed sometime the last of September beginning of October. We aren't for sure when he will be leaving because they are sending them in 3 different sets, but his entire battalion will be in Afghanistan the first week of October. So what this means is we will be coming home for predeployment leave September 3-17. We can't wait to see everyone and enjoying time with our families and friends. At the same time, I know that the closer we get to coming home the closer we get to him actually leaving and even the thought of that I can not stand. Of course he says it will be spring before we even know it and that means him coming back, but we still have several major holidays that he will not be here for that have to come first.

Many people have asked what I will be doing after he leaves and what I am doing now since living in California and school is starting just around the corner. Right now I am enjoying my time being a wife and doing everything that I can for Austan. I am not working and am not planning on looking for a job. I will not be here long enough for all of that. I am however taking online classes through Western for this semester and will be returning home when he leaves.

OK, on a little lighter note.... I absolutely love living here. There is nothing like being able to drive to the beach every weekend if you want. The city that we live in isn't the fanciest, but what else can you expect when you live in the middle of the desert and during the summers the temperature gets up to 120.

This past weekend we did indeed hit up the beach and had a wonderful time. We have gotten really close to the owner/co-founder of the ultimate watersports brand, Body Glove. Bob and his wife Patty always welcomes us into their home and allows us to stay in their guest/party house for a weekend and treats us to meals and along with their children hooks us up with great deal at the dive shop. There is nothing like spending time with nice, down to earth people. Anyways, we along with one of Austan marine buddies, Les, enjoyed the weekend at Manhattan Beach and let me tell you there was some sites to be seen other than the beautiful beach and some amazing waves. The beautiful weather bought out some of the finest tanners! The first day we were there, there was a man in a high cut speedo that looked like it was from the 80s with all the bright colors. He had the back hair and all!! And if that was enough laughs for the weekend the second day was even better. When we found a place to lay our stuff I started looking around at the people around us and noticed a man to the left of us wearing yet again a speedo. Austan notice that not only was it a speedo, but a v-string one and not too long after that we finally realized that it was a v-string THONG!!! Even though it was a site to be seen the looks on people's faces as they walked by was priceless and kept us laughing the whole day!!

Pictures from Bridgeport

Here are a few pictures that I stole from Austan that he took while training at Bridgeport, CA. I thought that I would post them for all of you non-Facebook and/or MySpace users or if you aren't friends with him.





Look at how deep this snow is...
I would hate to know that I had to survive for a week out in this...


This is the plane that they brought Austan and the other guys that were chosen to do the K9 training along with workers from the base back to 29 Palms from Bridgeport on yesterday.
Austan on the plane...
Loading a Hum V in the airplane...

TGIF

Think Goodness it is Friday even though that means that this is the last day of Spring Break and school is back in session in 3 days, ugh. It has been a good week though and we have gotten more wedding stuff done and just got good news about Austan.

Monday, Mom, Claire, and I went to Glasgow to finally look and try on our dresses. They were all right, but need some alternations done to them, which that was to be expected. After we left the bridal shop we ate at Pizza Hut and then headed to Bowling Green to see if we could get more wedding stuff done while Lathan wasn't with us. (It is much easier to do things with only one child.)

While in Bowling Green we went and talked to a lady about getting flower ideas and prices and she is giving us a bid that I will pick up soon. We got several ideas about what to do for the wedding shower and reception in the books that we looked at. So Mom and I went to several different stores looking for vases and finally found the perfect ones for the wedding shower at Deals and then went to Trees and Trend and got vases, plates, and candles for the reception. And after LOTS and LOTS of thinking we thought of an idea for the actually ceremony so I went back to Trees and Trend on Tuesday and got more vases for that. I don't want to say much about what we got because I would like for it to be a surprise to everyone, but if you really would like to know, I will tell, maybe just not in a comment.

A little update on Austan, I talked to him again last tonight for the first time since Sunday night/Monday morning at around 1 AM and he said that he had just got off work then. They headed back out in the field Monday morning and got back to the barracks last night. He is so glad to get a hot shower and is very tired of seeing snow. He said that it had already been in the 90s at 29 Palms and it is only March. Today they headed to Hawthorn, Nevada. which was about a 2 hour drive from Bridgeport, to run the range there. This range was like running though a war zone with ammo going off everywhere. He said that is has a witch (to put it in clean terms). His platoon ran it today and tomorrow the other 2 platoons are going to then they are heading back to Bridgeport. The training is officially over for him and on Tuesday everyone (expect for Austan) is heading back to 29 Palms.

We have heard for a while, but haven't said anything about it because with the Marines you never know anything for sure and I didn't want to tell everyone and then be like no he's not going to, but it is official now so we can tell it. Austan has been chosen to go to dog training, which means when they get deployed he will have dog with them at all times to sniff out bombs and other things to that nature. I really don't know what all he will actually do and I don't even know if he knows yet. He is super excited about it though. We thought that after he left Bridgeport that he would be heading the Camp Pendleton, CA to do the dog training for 6 weeks, but today the CO of his company informed him that it was a for sure deal and he would be going to Virginia to do the training. So he is leaving Bridgeport on Sunday and probably flying to Virginia on Monday sometime. Now this means that he will only be 10 hours away!! So we are all excited and are planning a trip out there and done even know any details. LOL! I guess we are getting a little head of ourselves, but are so excited about it.

Well, that is it for tonight, but hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

What a wonderful day?!?!

Today has been wonderful, with the weather finally getting warm, the beginning of Spring Break, getting to talk to Austan, and getting more wedding stuff accomplished, I couldn't ask for a much better day other than to start feeling 100% again. Mom and I have both been sick these past few days with severe sinuses, but she went to the doctor yesterday and got us both medicine and we feeling a lot better than we have. This is one reason why we didn't go to look at my wedding dress today, but are now planning on going on Monday. We went to River's (Scott's nephew) 3rd birthday party today at Chuck E. Cheese then Mom and I went to Target to register for the wedding shower. We were in there for over 3 hours! Scott took Lathan and Claire with him to entertain them while we were there. Austan and I are now registered at Pampered Chef and Target and the wedding shower is planned for April 26th at Belmont. I don't have all the details yet though. After we left there we all went to eat at Smoky Bones. So it has been a day filled with family and it is a great feeling!!

On another note, Austan made it back from the mountains last night, but is still not back to 29 Palms. He said that it was VERY cold and he was super tired because of it. They slept in snow caves and on Thursday had to kill a goat and cook it for their food. (I know, very sad :( , but I guess they had to eat).

Well, hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the weekend and a wonderful Spring Break for those of you that have one this week. =)

Where did the weekend go?

It is already Sunday night... I can't believe it. I have a psychology test that I have been studying for today and can't wait until it is over tomorrow morning. Anyways, I didn't go look at my wedding dress yesterday, Mom and Claire have been sick and she didn't feel like going with me so we are going to shoot for this weekend. I ordered my garter last night from http://www.gartersbykristi.com/ and I would highly recommend anyone needing one to check out this website. She has some super cute ones on there and she is even doing a custom order for me. :) She seems so sweet too.

Austan did call again last night and he is doing good. They have been in classes ever since they have gotten to Bridgeport and tomorrow they will be heading out for actual training. Wherever they are going it is going to take them 11 hours on foot to get there, at 10,000 feet above sea level, with temperatures ranging from -20 to -30 degrees, and winds from 50 to 70 mph on top of that. They are at 700 feet above right now and I know is it hard enough on them. I think that they will need many prayers to get them through this. He has heard that they are coming back on Wednesday, but at the same time heard it might not be until Friday.

Hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend and have a good week at work and school! Keep Austan and the rest of his company in your prayers this week!

Now back to studying....

Just As I Thought

Well just as I thought, I didn't get into the Communication Disorders program. Now I am planning on waiting until Austan finds out if he is getting deployed or not and then going to decide from there what I will do about school. Moving is now a possibility. :S

On a positive note, I did order Austan's wedding ring today and it will be in within 6 weeks, so we are getting closer and closer to getting married!! The cake topper and chocolates that we ordered should be in pretty soon also.

Always Waiting on Something....

Well Austan made it to Bridgeport last night after an 8 hour bus ride and of course has no service to call. He did buy a 600 minute calling card before he left the desert in case this did happen, so I have talked to him a couple times since he has been there. They didn't do much today other than get more gear, but I am sure that the training will begin soon.

I have been waiting to hear if I have gotten into the Communication Disorders program for a couple weeks now and many people I know have already gotten their acceptation letters, so I am hoping for the best. Our mailbox was knocked down by a semi a couple weeks ago and now we have a new one up, but the mailman can't get to it, so they have been holding our mail. Mom is going tomorrow to the post office to see if it is there. I really don't think that I will get in because of my GPA, but still wanting to know for sure. If I don't get in I really need a Plan B in my life because I am now a junior and have all gen ed finished. I don't want to be in school for ever and don't want to take classes just because. I have been trying to think of something I can do with my life as far as a career and can't come up with anything that I think I would in enjoy more than being a speech therapist.

Well I am glad tomorrow is Friday and have the weekend to look forward too, I am hoping to go look at my wedding dress on Saturday to make sure everything is right with it. I am so excited about that, even if school always has me down!!!

My Wedding Dress Came In!!!

When I got off work yesterday I went a few different places and then when I came back to the apartment my phone I had fell out of my pocket in the car. So when I decided to text Austan I couldn't find it and finally figured out that it was in my car. When I went to get it out I had a voicemail and it was Erin from Bridals of Regiss Park letting me know that my wedding dress had came in. I was so excited because when I ordered it they told me that it would take 4 to 6 months before it would get here. I ordered it is November so it only took 3 months. Now mine, Mom's, Claire's, and the bridesmaid's dresses are all in. All we need now is a wedding date. Austan has said that he is suppose to found something out at the end of this month about when and where is he going, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that he actually will.

He leaves on Wednesday for Bridgeport, which is in Northern California, for cold weather training and will be gone for 3 weeks. I am hoping that he will have cell phone service because I have gotten spoiled to being able to talk and text him several times a day.

While Austan was home over Christmas we got our engagement pictures taken by Mike Ingram, which he is wonderful, and I am sure that most have already seen them, but here are a few of my favorites...

We NEED a Date!!

I always seem to forget or put off writing....

Last Saturday, Mom and I went to the bridal show that was here in Bowling Green. We had a really good time and got a lot of good ideas for the wedding planning that isn't coming along too well. We can't seem to find a date for sure because of Austan. They haven't even been scheduled to deploy yet and who knows when they will be or if they even go now and as everyone knows you can't really plan a wedding without a date. But we are just taking one day at a time and hoping for the best.

It's a New Year...

Well I originally started this blog for my English 300 class to post my papers on, but I think with the new year beginning and a lot of things changing and happening within 2009, I am going to try to start writing on it. I had wonderful holidays in 2008 and was so glad that Austan was able to be home for 16 days. We are always very busy, but these days who isn't, on Christmas Eve we had breakfast at Grandma and Pop's and lunch at Mamaw and Papaw's. Then Austan and I exchanged presents that night. On Christmas Day, we opened Santa presents, went to Mac and Janette's for lunch, and that afternoon we went to Maw and Paw (Austan's grandparents).

Johnna, Austan, and Claire at Grandma and Pop's
Austan, me, Mamaw, and Papaw
Austan with his present from me... Sony Cybershot Digital Camera
My present from Austan... Coach purse

For New Year's, Austan's parents had a party at their house, which was nice to enjoy everyone coming over there. I think that everyone had a wonderful time.

Before the night started...

Also, in the 16 days that Austan was home we celebrated his 24th birthday. Several friends and family joined us at Shogun to eat dinner and then some of us went bowling afterwards.


I took Austan back to the airport on Sunday, January 4th and now we're back to work.

Last night, I booked my next trip to Cali, which is next weekend. He gets time off for Martin Luther King day, so instead of him coming home I wanted to go out there.