Here's to Five Crazy Wonderful Years!!

Today was mine and Joe's 5th wedding anniversary! It's very hard to believe that we were married five years ago, yet so much has happened since then, it also seems like a lifetime ago.

Joe and I met in the pizza parlour where we both worked. He finally talked me into a date and after an incredible evening of endless talking I knew I would one day marry him. I went back to my best friend, Jessica's house and told her this, and she thought I was crazy. Four months later Joe told me he wanted to marry me and officially proposed five months after that. After living together and dating for almost a year and a half we were married. It was a beautiful and amazing wedding, one that we couldn't have dreamed to be better.

Six weeks later Joe went to boot camp, and since we had yet to spend even a night apart, at the time I thought it was the most difficult thing I would ever go through. The training continued after boot camp, but at least we could live together again, and I would be able to see him most nights. Then partway through training Joe shattered part of his spine while jumping out of airplanes. We were told he would have to be in a back brace for six months. We got home and settled in for a long recovery only to find out three weeks later that I was pregnant! Not only that, but apparently I was allergic to being pregnant because I proceeded to throw-up constantly for the next five months until I was eventually hospitalized and put on some intense medication to be able to hold down food. The rest of the pregnancy went smoothly and I had a wonderful, natural, drug-free birth. The day I brought Joli home from the hospital Joe had an accident while diving and it was later discovered that he had a tiny hole in his heart which they would have to perform surgery on. After having a heart procedure, Joe then continued on with training. Six months later he finally completed training and went on to do his job, and although I had been warned, I was still unprepared for the amount of time he would really be gone, and that was all before deployment!

This past year we made it through our first deployment and are still madly in love! I came home today to find a wonderful and unexpected gift!

We decided last week that since we hardly ever get to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and sometimes holidays together, that we would spend the night out just the two of us.
We went out to a wonderful and very delicious dinner overlooking the bay and the city. Then took a walk along the pier. It was so amazing and felt like we were dating again.

Afterwards we went and saw a movie that we had both wanted to see and celebrated the fact that it was the longest amount of time we had spent together without Joli since she was born! It was a fabulous night. Our relationship may always be crazy, but it's also beautiful and amazing, and I'm so looking forward to the rest of my life with my husband!

Downtown Discovered!

We have lived in San Diego for almost five years now and we rarely visit the downtown area. Not because we don't think it's cool, but because parking is horrible! Today my sister came down on the train so we had to go downtown to pick her up, since her train was late we figured we might as well check it out. There's always a cool fountain no matter where we go.
This bench was really cool. It was done completely in tiles. Also perfect for running.

We were only a few blocks from the bay so we walked down and see the big boats.

I love this statue but have only see it from afar. It's so big and beautiful!!

Joli also learned to climbed trees on our walk. It's so exciting to show my little girl how to climb trees!

Since Brianna's train had finally come in and we were still several blocks away, I thought it would be fun to take a ride on a pedicab. It wasn't too expensive and Joli loved it!

Typical Day

We went to the beach for 45 minutes today. Brody stepped up as gaurd dog.

They both dug holes.
Brody decided Joli was too slow.

Eventually he took over completely.

Joli almost got buried.

So she moved on to simpler things.

About five minutes later Brody started doing a happy dance and plowed into Joli causing a bloody nose. So we went home.

Joe's only been working halfdays this week so we've had the wonderful benefit of his presence. Tonight Joli talked us both into playing in her room. She wanted to play dress-up.

Joe's costume was the best!

I loved mine!

The pimp and his princess.

I thought I looked like a Doodlebop?

Then we all took turns doing a cheer. Joli's was "Mommy. Daddy. Joli. YAY!!

More Weekend

Joli found one of Joe's backpacks, put it on, and told Joe that she's "Daddy Joli".
Joe and Joli spent a lot of quality time together yesterday afternoon. Joli wanted Joe to play play-doh with her and I had no idea how talented he is in that department!

Joe's also the master of fort building. Joli is so lucky to have such an amazing daddy!

I wanted brownies super-bad so I had Joli help me with them.

She was an amazing helper.

Brownie batter is apparently too irresistible.

While Joe and Joli were playing, this is what I was doing!

The whole area was covered in weeds and I pulled it all up and planted some pretty mini roses! I'm so excited. Cross your fingers that they live.

Earlier today I went over to Kacie's to water her plants for her found that her tomato plants had gotten HUGE. So I picked off all the ones that were shriveled or ripe, only leaving the green and almost ripe ones. There were so many that I didn't quite know what to do with them, but after throwing away the bad ones I went and picked some of my basil and mixed it in with the tomatoes and some fresh mozzarella, and it became a very delicious salad!

Taking Back Christmas

After many years of putting over a thousand miles on my car every Christmas in an effort to see all of mine and Joe's family, we have decided that this year we are staying home! It is always so wonderful to see our family and usually Christmas is the only time of year that we really get to see every one, but by the time we get home we've spent about 48 hours in the car, and that doesn't include stops! So we are going to decorate our house, and make hot chocolate, and start our own traditions. Since I was pregnant with Joli we've been going to the festival of lights in Balboa Park and the Christmas parade in Coronado. We've also made and effort to go to the beach in the month of December, because we live in San Diego and we can! When I was in high school I loved to buy the gingerbread house kit and make a beautiful gingerbread house, so I think this year we will do that! I also decided that since I'm the one working my butt off in the kitchen to make Christmas dinner that I'm going to make something that I love. So this year we are having Christmas lasagna, because we can!

If our family and friends want to spend Christmas with us, they are more then welcome... to spend Christmas with us. If they are looking for a vacation in the fabulous city of San Diego, I'm sure there is a whole list of websites that can direct them to all the fabulous places to stay while on their vacation. Our Christmas will be spent at home, relaxing and enjoying our time together. Doing things like baking cookies, putting up decorations, making gingerbread house, wrapping presents, or just enjoying a nice mug of apple cider.

This year we are taking back Christmas and making it our own. This year I will not be stressed out about fitting every thing in my car, driving in the snow, or making sure I see every one. This year I will stay home with my family, and cherish every moment that we are all together. Next year Joe will be deployed again, and I'm sure I'll be on the road again. But this year we will home together, and that's all I want for Christmas!

Ground Squirrel Defeated

For about a year now Joe has been in constant battle with the evil ground squirrel in our backyard. This morning we woke up and saw the little stinker digging another hole. So Joe ran outside and stuck the hose down the hole. After about two minutes the ground squirrel tried to come up from another hole. So Joe stuck the hose down that hole, while the ground squirrel popped out of another hole and decided to start running across the yard. That was when Joe used his creative thinking to get a bag of manure...
After hitting the squirrel about three times, he got out the shovel and waited for it to finish twitching.

Here he is on the way to the trash can. I was a bit surprised that it looked more like a rat than a squirrel.

The rest of the day was much less exciting. Every one spend the day recovering from something. Joe from his bite on his foot, and Brody from his surgery.

Joli was recovering from her many hours in the car. She put on her fireman jacket and said that it was snowing outside and she didn't want to be cold, then went out on the porch.

I was just missing being home and being able to work on things, so I put a new backing on my blankie. I love weekends!

Living Life

I have so enjoyed being home again. I really love having a nice home, hanging out our clothes and just making things pretty. Here I am doing one of my favorite things.
Joe took a few pictures of me hanging clothes but he was on the phone and not paying attention so they weren't very good. I had to take my sister to the train station today so she could go home. We were sad, she didn't get to visit that long. Plus I underestimated the amount of time we would need and she almost missed the train! Early, early this morning I had to get up and take Brody to the vet. Today he lost his manhood. He's taking it very well.

Joe is also my patient this week as he was stung by something in the grass that the doctor is convinced is a scorpion. So his left foot has swollen up to twice the size of the right foot and he can hardly walk. He's just not having a good week.The kittens are crazy as ever. At least they've mostly figured out to stay inside when the door is open. Here are the levels of kitties.

Joli has decided that dramatic is the best way to go. Earlier this evening, as I was planting some vegetables in my garden, I was explaining to Joli that she couldn't walk on the garden or she would kill the plants. Then as she crossed her arms and stomped away I distinctly heard her say "Fine! You mean old woman!". I just tried not to let her see me laughing. After I was done with the gardening we went out front to pull a few weeds. I reminded Joli not to get too close to the street. She let out a big sigh and said "Once upon a time there was a girl that got hit by a car. The end." I'm looking into the best drama schools.