Thanks, Will! I think you made an excellent choice.




The new rug makes it feel like a new room...which is perfect timing because I've felt the need to paint or rearrange since we've been here two and a half years already. Maybe the painting can wait, but this weekend I'll be rearranging the living room to make a space for the Christmas tree! I can't wait.

So, I've been tagged to complete some questionnaires, and I'll get around to it, but this morning I'm running late. And I haven't had a cup of coffee yet.

We had a great weekend catching up with AF friends who have already made their way to other parts of the country. However, I am not used to late nights, and I was worn out. We made our requisite Sunday run to COSTCO, not thinking about the upcoming holiday, and it was a mad house. Not a good place to go when you're already running on fumes. To top it off we had to stop at Wal-Mart to buy a few turkeys - fun! Luckily we were able to utilize the 20 items or less lane and didn't wait long at all.

Will sent back a few rugs while he was deployed, and we finally got around to arranging our dining room with one of the new rugs under the table. We had to reorient the room, which I wasn't sure about, but it turned out great. I don't have a picture of the room, but here's the rug (well, it's the one that Dixie is sitting on):

So, it's hard to tell what it looks like, but it's mostly a deep red with navy and cream. My favorite that Will has picked out so far, besides a handmade rug that's at the foot of our bed right now. Dixie was not very cooperative when I was trying to get pictures of the rugs - she's a ham. At least we got the rugs put in place so that they are no longer sitting in the middle of the hallway.

And now Monday morning is upon us. Well, Will's sleeping in a little bit, and I'm about to head out the door. Have a good one!

We're sick.

The crud has descended on our house (Will thinks it came from spending 30+ hours in a plane with over a hundred people as they made their way home from the Middle East, and he finally passed it to me). The worst part for me is that I haven't been sleeping well, so I've been in a fog since Friday night. I need to head out to buy some more meds that will hopefully bring a solid recovery by tomorrow - I have my formal evaluation! Fun, fun.

I had a wonderful birthday on Friday! My sweet husband brought me lunch at work, my awesome class decorated my room while we were eating in the teacher's lounge, and we had treats while we did our math. Will and I headed up to Tacoma to have a pot-luck with friends (I made a delicious antipasto pasta salad, and I'll have to post the recipe soon) - the host was making his mom's stromboli recipe and it was so good. Will surprised me with a cake (mainly because he didn't get one last year and was trying to earn some points). We all went out after dinner, and I was feeling fine until late Friday night. I'll post pictures soon.

For now, we're going to work on recuperating. Happy Sunday.

I must say that it sure is nice to return to life as "normal," even if the norm for us isn't actually having Will home...maybe that will change, though. We've hung out, watched movies, shopped, ate out, cooked dinner, and just enjoyed being together. As expected, there are some adjustments (Where did my clean house go? He snores! How did I forget that he snores?). I had to go to work on Friday and Will's truck was still out of commission (although it is now working), so my sweet husband got up to take me to work...as he came down the stairs, Dixie started barking like crazy! I guess we're all still getting used to having the whole family home.

In honor of Veterans' Day, Will is attending my school's assembly. What a good husband! He'll have to stand up in front of our 500 kiddos and tell them who he is and who he's related to...The kids get such a kick out of it and they my class so excited to meet him. Luckily, we have tomorrow off, so we'll try to get in a round of golf if it's not raining (insert laugh here at our futile attempt to pretend this is not WA in November).

Happy Monday.

He's home.

As expected, Will's return date was pushed back a day. That means tomorrow's the day! Now I just have to get through this day of teaching and a class after school. It's been pretty fun to countdown with my kiddos and they are pretty excited at this point!

T-minus one day and counting...

Please pray for safe travel as they have a lot of stops along the way, and a lot of anxious family members waiting on pins and needles to get them back!

I cannot wait for Election Day to be over so that these childish, mudslinging, accusatory, void-of-information political advertisements will end.

Argh.

Halloween night...

A creepy fog rolled in just about the time the trick-or-treaters started making their rounds. Thankfully, they took my lights off to mean I wasn't home, and they skipped our house. However, my next-door neighbor called and invited me to pass out candy from her front porch. I headed over, thankful for the company and with a bottle of wine in hand. It was nice to see all of the costumes and chit chat in between the groups of candy mongers.

As the trick-or-treating winded down, Mandy and her husband started getting ready for a Halloween party at their other next-door neighbors' house. I had previously declined, but changed my mind when I debated going home alone or hanging out with some neighbors. I had a costume in mind, and at the ready, too (and free). Thankfully, Mandy does hair (and make up) and my costume was complete. The choice was easy as I already have the glasses, the suit, and the Maveric attitude...There I was thinking I was clever, only to run into a rival as soon as I walked through the door...

See? I ran smack dab into Michelle Obama. I, I mean Sarah, was all smiles though...

Sarah Palin with Freddy (?). This face says, "You're not that scary. I shoot large animals out of the side of helicopters. Bring it."


Here is our favorite vice-presidential candidate with Katie Holmes (sans Tom) and Juan Valdez (?) our host.

We ended up having a lot of fun, but it was a late night. I honestly can't remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween, and I'm not sure I will for a long time. Maybe when Sarah runs for president in '16? :)