Lately

Our time in Virginia is slowly coming to an end and we're enjoying it thoroughly. I realize my posts don't have much meat to them lately, but sitting down to write is becoming harder and harder. There's so much going on, but I still don't want to forget it. Since we're going to hit the road right before Thanksgiving (no turkey and potatoes for us!), and wanted to spend more time with Kiley and Jared while we are able to, we had a "Thanksgiving Weekend" a week ago. 

We enjoyed a couple of walks in the slightly cooler, but still beautiful Virginia weather. We walked at Government Island (with our very impatient dog who stole the attention of nearly everyone we passed on the trail) and explored Stafford's Civil War Park.

We saw a bird. And ate a bird.

And, we sat down and enjoyed a delicious meal like a family would- complete with a fresh-baked apple pie from Kiley.

 It was a great weekend- we're very lucky to have been close to a friend and a family member, even after moving across the country. The next weekend was the birthday ball. Every November, the Marines celebrate the anniversary of their "birth." This year, we celebrated the 238th Birthday at a ball in Richmond. All TBS students and staff were there, from several companies. This meant a huge crowd- almost 3000 in attendance. 

It was the first ball for both of us and we truly had a great time. We enjoyed the traditional ceremonies, a meal, socializing, and "dancing." I think those of us associated with Delta Company were also enjoying a "last hurrah" and pre-celebration since we were so close to the end of the POI. Soon, we'll all be heading in different directions as our husbands complete training for their MOS.




























Two great weekends in a row...and now we're finishing up all of the details of our move. These six months have gone by so fast, but we're gearing up for Florida!

Great Weekend at Great Falls.

Fall in Virginia is one of my new favorite things. I could live outside, the weather is always so lovely. So of course, I have to drag my husband out of the house every chance I get.

Great Falls is by far one of my favorite places in Virginia. We went for the first time shortly after we moved out here and I definitely wasn't going to let the fall pass without visiting again. We went on a perfect Sunday afternoon- the leaves were at their peak and just about to fall. The temperature was absolutely perfect. We actually had a nice, relaxing weekend to enjoy. Unfortunately, everyone else in the area had the same idea. As we pulled onto the road leading to the park, there were cars backed up for almost a mile. When we finally got into the park, we were a little disappointed because there were so many people swarming. We're definitely more small-crowd people.

As soon as we broke free from the main area, however, we had the most perfect afternoon.

We climbed up and down the crazy rock formations, I took a million pictures, and Keagan explored the nooks and crannies to find me some shiny shells. It was the perfect mixture of relaxing and adventurous.

We savored every last breath of perfect fall air before the sunset, and then headed to a cute little restaurant in Old Town Alexandria- Bilbo Baggins. It was the perfect weekend before the busy storm- finding a place to live (we did it!), finding a car to buy (we did it!), and finishing out the last couple weeks of TBS (almost there!).

The Home of The Commandants

One of the bonuses of being married to a Marine who is going through TBS and stationed so close to D.C.? The Marine Corps decides you're worth something and invites you to tour the Home of the Commandants and meet the First Lady! A couple weeks back, the spouses of Charlie and Delta Companies got to hop on a bus and have a lovely day in D.C. As you will soon discover, I think this place is super awesome...it's almost an obsession...



 For those of you who are not affiliated with the Marine Corps, I hope to share a bit about this awesome landmark and piece of history in D.C. For those of you who are affiliated with the Marine Corps, learn about this place and the people who have lived there! It's fascinating. The Home of the Commandants is the oldest continuously occupied building in Washington, D.C. The site for the original barracks and the home was chosen by President Thomas Jefferson and the 2nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant Colonel William W. Burrows on March 31, 1801. The home itself, was built in 1806, by the Marines of course (the budget was so small that they were payed in liquor). Remember learning about the British raid in D.C.? Yep, in 1814 they burned the Capitol, the White House, and most of the public buildings. The Barracks and the Home of the Commandants were spared...and as the Marines like to believe, it was because the British thought they were stunningly awesome. ;)

This home has since housed every Commandant of the Marine Corps. Portraits of all of the previous Commandants (except for the 4th Commandant, who did something despicable...) hang throughout the house. What's really neat about the portraits, is that they are painted to show the change in uniform as well as to include a unique item or symbol that each Commandant chooses to be displayed in their portrait. For example, one Commandant chose a Bible and one chose a picture of him and his wife (after being told she couldn't pose with him). The current Commandant gets to decide where they want each portrait to hang, so if a former Commandant is unlucky, he might end up in the basement.

See that couch with it's back toward you? Yep, I sat on that as we were being introduced to the First Lady, only to be told that it is nicknamed "The Dead Couch." Brigadier General Archibald Henderson apparently took a little nap on the sofa in this room and passed away quietly in his sleep. Ever since, it is rumored that Henderson's ghost has occasionally caused mischief throughout the home. From causing odd noises until his portrait was moved to the 1st floor, to throwing his portrait to the floor at the mention of women serving in the Corps, to causing leaky faucets and visitors to faint, Henderson (who resided in the home for 39 years) still believes the home is his to do whatever he wants with.

 Throughout the home, many unique pieces of furniture and decorations catch the eye. There are so many stories in this home, as well as an incredible amount of history and character. In the photo below, the Music Room is shown. The room features a tribute to John Philip Sousa- former conductor of the Marine Band, in case you didn't know. One of the features is that lamp...which you should never go near, because it is worth $2.5 million dollars (or something like that). We also learned all about fireplace shields and how the phrase, "Mind your own beeswax!" came about. For real...look it up.

 The home was beyond beautiful. I loved how nearly every item had a story to tell.

I will totally sit out here every morning when Keagan is Commandant. ;)

 For you other military families out there who have heard endless horror stories about TMO...guess what? The Commandant's House has it's own story. A plate that is displayed in the dining room was apparently damaged by TMO and glued back together. Whether that was just a joke the docent threw out there, or actual truth, I don't know. (I can be gullible, sometimes).

 In case Keagan and I need some space someday when he's Commandant and I'm stressed out, we can just sit at opposite ends of this ridiculously long table. ;) Okay, I'll stop talking about Keagan being Commandant now and instead tell you something I found kind of funny. Apparently, four enlisted Marines are assigned to the home to cook for the Commandant and guests.

 Just look at this ridiculously gorgeous home...

 And Keagan's the Commandant's Study.

 We were even able to peek into the bedroom. It was roped off, because apparently in the past someone thought it'd be funny to climb up on the bed and take a picture. Not cool, dude. How weird would it be to have guests look into your bedroom like it was on display?

This sunroom? Perfect. And what's extra cool, is that the doors open up towards the parade deck of the barracks. So much history. So much ceremony.

 And Bonnie Amos? She was stunning. Really. What a charismatic, genuine, and humorous lady. She was so open and inviting, and definitely helped increase our pride in our role as supporter to our husbands, the Marines. I felt so spoiled and inspired. Bonnie encouraged us to "enjoy life, enjoy it!" She is a true example of what a wife should be- even in the midst of a crazy lifestyle.

As I'm sure you can tell, I really enjoyed this opportunity. (I may have gotten a little carried away on this post). But for real. It was so awesome. I love history and hearing stories that come alive, and this was a wonderful place to experience that. Thank you, to the Marine Corps, for having an interesting history, as well as traditions and pride that continue today.

Carry on My Wayward Mind

Right now I'm listening to The Best of Kansas, eating chocolate ice-cream, and blogging. It wouldn't be so silly of me if it wasn't 8:10 PM and we move in three weeks and I need to find a place for us to live, figure out why my car sounded weird tonight, write a thank-you letter, clean my kitchen, catch up on my classes, and calculate if we can actually afford rent in Florida + that new car (or two...gosh, I hope not). But hey, I sat in traffic for way longer than I wanted to after trying on 12 pairs of jeans and finally saying, "Forget you, retail stores- my legs are not that hard to fit into a comfortable pair of jeans!" Ugh. At least the lady at Zales who cleaned my ring told me she loved it instead of telling me I need to "upgrade" like the nose-up salespeople usually do. Okay, I'll cheer up already. I'm really not that distraught, but somehow it feels good to dramatize it by typing it all out on my computer screen.

I promise I'll write a more significant blog post sooner rather than later (or maybe after I find us a place to live). But for now, just imagine (a slightly crazed version of) me listening to Kansas and taking a few minutes to say hello to you. (I love you, Mom! And for real...I'm okay. :) )

Up Next

Image via Google Maps

We have known for awhile that we would be heading to Pensacola, FL after our time here in the Quantico/Stafford area, but we have a timeline now! We recently received news that Keagan is to report to Pensacola at the very end of November- only 3 days after his graduation from TBS. He will go through several phases of flight training at Naval bases in the area.

1. IFS (Naval Air Station- Pensacola)- This is a about a month long and we think he will be starting as soon as we move.

2. API (Naval Air Station- Pensacola)- After completing IFS, we're looking at a 4-6 week wait until Keagan can start the next phase of training. During the break, we hope to take leave and head home to the Midwest for awhile. API is approximately 6 weeks long.

3. Primary (most likely Whiting Field, Milton)- After an unknown wait period, Keagan will head over to Whiting Field for Primary. Whiting Field is close to an hour away from NASP, so as of now we are looking at temporary housing options near NASP, with a move to the Whiting Field area when the time comes. It is possible (but unlikely) that he may be sent to Corpus Christi for Primary. Primary is approximately 6 months long.

4. After Primary, Keagan will know what aircraft he is assigned and will complete flight training.

We're going to try our best to stay flexible, as we never know what could change and when. Tis the nature of the military. :)

In the Midst of Fall

I feel like we're finally in the midst of fall. The temperatures have settled into the 'just right for jeans and a thin long-sleeve layer' range. It's my favorite- perfect for extra walks, open windows, crisp mornings, dawdling, and taking deeper breaths any time I set foot outside. We're hitting this stage later than we did back home. I am definitely okay with it, although I have begun to accept the fact that my internal calendar will never be un-confused again. Fall in Virginia really is lovely, but I miss the Midwest harvest- complete with endless fields changing colors and the sound of farm equipment drifting late into the night, leaving emptiness in their path.

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The last two weeks were calm, yet hectic all at the same time. Keagan had two four-day weeks in a row, which was beyond wonderful. Our friend, Jared, trekked down from Pennsylvania to spend the long weekend with us, and Kiley came to enjoy a few days as well. The boys enjoyed re-living their college days, by playing Halo for hours. I spent my alone-time baking cookies, making the guys food, and catching up on homework. When Kiley came, we carved pumpkins, watched some "scary movies," and headed up to D.C.

While in D.C., we got to witness (and walk in the middle of) the 1 Million Vets Protest. It was interesting and inspiring to see so many people defend their right to protest and enjoy the monuments that were put up in honor of them.



After the long weekend, Keagan went back to work, and it was business as usual for me. We're turning on lamps a little sooner every night, enjoying a little more time together and with friends, and doing our best to prepare for our next move.

Drizzly October

It's cold and dreary out. I just put slippers on- and a second long-sleeve layer. The heat's not on, the a/c is off. It's only 60 degrees outside! I opened my windows this morning, but shouldn't have, because the chill is still hanging around. My toes are cold. It must be October.

Zulu is sitting on my lap-trying to help cure me of my writer's block, which seems to be around more often than not lately. We've got a cozy apple cider candle burning to warm us up- if that's possible, which I believe it is.

I got up early to finish my library book today- I had already renewed it twice and really just needed to finish it and turn it in on it's due date. It's a checklist-lover thing. I sat on my couch, with a mug of chai, and Zulu curled up next to me. It was a good way to spend a drizzly fall morning. But now, I'm still stuck in the rut of not accomplishing much. We made it to the library, got some crockpot chicken ready to go for supper, and got the kitchen cleaned. I tidied up a bit, but that's as far as I've gotten so far. How is it that I am so efficient some days and struggle so much the next? Oh well...I'll catch up on my homework tonight.

As for it being October, I still can't really believe it. Slowly, I'm easing into the chill. I've been using my cast iron skillet more, throwing meals in the crockpot more, smelling vanilla and cinnamon more, and confusing myself by alternating tea or ice-cream for an after supper treat.

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Last week was the week of organization. Other than reading and studying for my classes, I really had no other responsibilities. Keagan was gone all week, Zulu was spayed and had to take it easy all week, and I didn't babysit. So, out came the nerd in me. First, I started by pulling out a little fall decoration. Nothing big; I just switched out the brighter colors with lighter colors, for more mellow-fall-feel. I swapped out a couple lamps for additional coziness, and bought a new candle- because that's what I do. Then, I tackled every little cupboard, box, and drawer that needed a little organizing TLC and went to work. And finally, I took care of some long-lost to-do-list items. You guys, that's my favorite thing to do. Zulu just jumped off my lap- she knows how lame I am.

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Getting a dog spayed is a very interesting experience for someone who's never had a real pet before. I was nearly in tears when I left her at the vet- in a cold building with a slippery floor that she really didn't like. The vet tech was not personable. Without saying a word, or looking me in the eyes, she took Zulu out of my arms, slipped a leash around her, and whisked her away. I finished filling out paperwork, hearing Zulu cry the whole time, and then had to leave her there for four whole hours. It was miserable. After picking her up, she whined non-stop for a couple hours, before finally allowing herself to fall asleep- her head balancing awkwardly on the cone she had to wear. She was pitiful the first day, but was ready to get back to real-life the second day. Sorry, Zulu. We still have a few days before you can run, jump, climb stairs, and play. We're almost there!!

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As for having fun...don't worry...I didn't just organize. I went for a walk with a friend, had supper with a bunch of military wives, and spent Sunday in Richmond with Kiley and Keagan. We went to a very Southern Baptist-y church, enjoyed some food (of course), and swam in the James River. It was almost 90 degrees, believe it or not! I guess the Midwest isn't the only place with bi-polar weather.

So far, the current week has been lovely. Keagan has been getting off at a decent supper-time, and we're looking forward to enjoying a long Columbus Day Weekend.

And the best news? It's 3:24 and I just got a text saying Keagan is on his way home!! What a treat. TBS you're being nice this week.