Tina turns 25!!

After a long day walking around the zoo, we came back to the hotel room and celebrated my 25th Birthday. Ryan made my cake at home and brought it with us. Finally, after 2 and a half years of living at a Marine Corps base, I got my sweatshirt. For years now I've been wearing Ryan's sweatshirt but I have my own now...thanks honey! We walked across the street to the Texas Roadhouse...the best BBQ place. They have huge barrels of peanuts and you can drop the peanut shells on the ground. Found out Olivia like BBQ Ribs since she engulfed a few of mine....yes, I was craving a huge full platter of ribs and enjoyed every last one (although I finished them off at home...it was a huge platter).

I want to thank my wonderful husband for making my 25th birthday one to remember. I love you!!

Ft Worth Zoo

Waiting for Daddy to come out of the reptile exhibit. Mommy's morning sickness didn't like the warm building. And, you can see Olivia's scrap on her forehead! Ouch!

Parrots in the tree on the left

Sleeping lion on the left



Ice Cream break!!

Ryan signing 'fish'


Female hippo

Ryan surprised me a week before my birthday telling me we were going to take a trip to TX. Since he had my actual birthday off this year, due to President's Day, he took us to the Ft Worth Zoo!! It was a lot of fun. After a rough night in the hotel Thursday with a little one who just won't sleep, Friday went very well. Here's the funny part. We were awakened at 0530 with a phone call from our security company saying the motion sensor went off...darn cats trip the alarm again. So, Olivia was up very early but was able to get a good long nap in before we left for the zoo. We ended up putting her in the bathroom in the pack 'n' play so the light wouldn't keep her up...it worked.

Once arriving at the zoo, it was in the 70s but overcast so the weather was very pleasant. We went all over the zoo, looking at the elephants, chimps, goats, lions, and bugs. Olivia's favorite exhibits were the birds. She kept signing 'bird' for parrots, geese, ducks, eagles, owls but to her they are all birds. We did end up having a little accident. Olivia somehow tripped on her own toes or a pothole, but she took a dive head first into the concrete and scrapped her forehead up pretty bad. Luckily, she was distracted by the animals to cry for very long...mommy forgot a pacifier in the van.

We enjoyed lunch at the park, and got some ice cream before heading back to the hotel to open presents. The day was very nice and she wore herself out walking around the park pushing the jogging stroller. It was the best birthday ever!!

P.S. Just have to add this because it is so funny. We saw the great silver-back gorilla poo along with an orangutan. Also, the last exhibit we saw were the chimps who were feeling very sexual that day since, on accident, we caught two of them on video pleasuring each other. Caught us by surprise and was really funny.

Bithday Surprise!

Ryan called me from work last week with a wonderful birthday surprise...we're going to the zoo!!! It might not seem much, but when your hubby misses two birthday's in a row due to deployments, it's nice to do something special. For those of you who don't know, I turn a quarter century on Feb. 13th. My dad always wanted a Valentine's Day baby but mom said she's not waiting, LOL.

We're packing up the van and taking Olivia to the Ft. Worth Zoo. She's not able to identify the more exotic animals but she knows bear, cat...lion is a cat right now, bird...parrots are birds too, duck and we're working on fish. We'll spend two days in TX and go out for a wonderful birthday dinner. This morning as Olivia is banging her fork on the kitchen table while eating her Eggo and I'm typing out my thoughts, it occured to me. We haven't really done anything special for birthdays apart from going out to dinner. If you count my trip to Japan to see Ryan in 2006, yes, I was there for his birthday, and I suppose that counts.

With Presidents Day being the 16th, the entire MarDet (Marine Detachment at Ft Sill for future reference) has Friday and Monday off. The perfect time to go to the zoo. Last time we were here in Lawton for Artillery School, Ryan and I went up to the OK City zoo, and I was not impressed. I've been to the Ft Worth Zoo as a kid but really don't remember anything. An exciting adventure...hopefully the first of many.

Today I must go out searching for a screen to place between Olivia's Pack 'N Play and our queen bed so she does not see us. Due to the traveling Ryan does for work, he's been able to save up hotel points so one of the two nights will be covered, the other covered by our check book. We're staying in a great hotel with a little kitchenette. We try to get the largest room our budget allows so Olivia is in a little corner of her own away from the TV noise and our bed. The screen is an added bonus so she thinks she alone.

I know, you're thinking we're bad parents for putting her all by herself, but you'll understand if you have kids or will have kids who are tall enough to see over the railing of a pack 'n play and won't go to sleep if they see you.

Need less to say, there's lots to do here to get ready to go. Must get ready to shop for milk...I'm going to try and make french toast for breakfast Friday morning before the zoo since the hotel doesn't have a free breakfast...then off to find a screen. Oh, must take lunch to Ryan...can't forget.

Til next time...

Being sick!



January 2009 Medicine Park, OK

Correction about Electricity

Finally, called the electric company because the final reading for January was higher than what the meter actually said yesterday. Turns out due to the ice storm we had last month, the meter reader could not come out to our house so they estimated what our usage would be based on Jan. 2008 usage. Problem is, the previous owners were in this house and used a lot more energy in the month of Jan. that we do. So, the meter reading for Feb. should even itself out. Friend of mine said she remembers the lights being on all the time with the previous owners lived here...so I have an idea as to how much there were spending every month for electricity which is ridiculous.

Yes, the construction workers have stolen water and electricity from our neighbor's, who promptly handed their bills to the builder, but we've been lucky. I've locked up the water spouts and electric outlets (although the month of Jan had the locks off most of the time) for a while as to prepare for the worst.

Everything is undercontrol and we feel much better knowing that Feb. should be a much smaller bill.

Electricity Out tThe Ears!

Ok, so I think I've been complaining here on the blog a bit more than I should. Pictures are few just because nothing really has happened although that's not really a good excuse.

Anyway, so I got our January electric bill and it was over 1000 kwh's more than last month. We don't understand why such a jump. To be honest, the construction workers have been known to steal water and electricity and there is a new house nearly finished right next to our property. We suspect they took some electricity while we were gone for Christmas vacation, but there's no proof so we just can't hand the builder our bill.

Another thought was the ice storms we've had and the really cold weather but here's the kicker. Our neighbor keeps her house at 70* while we keep ours at 67* (65* now that the bill was so much higher) and yes our main living space is slightly bigger and faces south with more windows but that shouldn't make our bill so much higher. The rate of fuel didn't change so we are at a total loss.

Not to worry, we are able to pay our bill, it just frustrates us not knowing if this is our fault or someone else's. The only thing we can do is try to consume less energy and hope next month's bill decreases by quite a bit. I even replaced the light bulbs we use the most with energy efficent bulbs and our bill still increased.



On a brighter not, since I don't want this post to be all negative...the doctor told me over the phone I am 6 weeks and 5 days pregnant. That's right on the money for what we had suspected. This means by my calculations that the due date is September 25, 2009. I'm fighting to get a first trimester ultrasound performed to verify the due date (standard of care at Fort Sill is one ultrasound at 20 weeks and that just isn't going to hack it for us, and we are unable to go off base for care even though there are Tricare Prime approved doctors in town...that's a whole other story for all the military wives reading this). My first appointment is the end of Feb, some silly group educational appointment that everyone who has kids says is rediculous.

And that's an update!

New Private Settings and ICE

If you are able to read this then we both have successfully figured out how to set and get into a private blog. I've been meaning to do this for a while now and a friends horror story prompted me to follow through.

Nothing really has been happening other than bad weather and the family being sick. Monday it rained then the temperature dropped giving way to freezing rain. The base was closed Tuesday so Ryan had the day off. Wednesday he did not have to go into work til Noon and this morning it was 9AM. It's been a slow week as we are also recovering from being sick. Olivia had a temp last weekend and now I have a bad cold. Unfortunately, I am unable to take any meds to help me get through this so I've been researching natural remedies. Don't know if I'll venture outside today or not but cabin fever is starting to set in.

Soon to be Private

To every one who follows my blog...

I've been thinking about setting my blog to a private setting meaning you'd have to be on the list to read anything. If you'd like to continue following our adventures...I know, what adventures? LOL...just send me your email address and I'll add you to the list.

I'm thinking Feb. 1st, I'll change the setting to private so until then.

I'm Pregnant!!!

Found out today that Olivia will have a little brother or sister in September...I'm pregnant. I guess the posting about nothing really going on here is dead wrong since so much is happening. Ryan and I are excited and wanted to share the joy with everyone who we are unable to communicate with on a daily basis. Will keep updates frequent.

Ryan's New Truck

We do have exciting news...plans changed and we traded in the Rodeo for an '06 F-150. It already has the spray-in bed liner and a topper...as you can see. Like the van, the deal was great and we did not have to roll the Rodeo loan into the the new loan...Ford paid off the loan!!! We got and extended bumper to bumper (the same policy we have for the van) and the monthly payments are lower than Rodeo payments. We now have a reliable V8 truck that can haul much more stuff around than the Rodeo ever could. Our first thought was how much we could make on a partial-dity move between the truck and the van. Ryan is very excited he now has his truck and those who lived in OK understand that trucks are everywhere.

Same Old Story

It's been a while since my last posting, but that's because not much has been going on. Olivia is addicted to Mickey Mouse Club House which is both good and bad. It's great she enjoys a fun educational cartoon (you learn to problem solve and it's somewhat interactive), but it's bad when she wakes up in the mornings and hands me the TV remote. Ryan and I have been playing hide and seek after dinner with her the past few nights. It's a blast, she's a great finder but not so great hider. There's only a few places to hide in the house she can find you and if you are not poking part of your body out of the hiding place, she really can't find you. The best spot is in our master bathroom tub. It's big and deep so Ryan's back pokes out the top and she can find him no problem.

Olivia had her last set of shots til kindergarten on the 15th and is right on target for height and weight. She's 20Ibs (the scale was old and manual so I think it was a bit off) putting her in the 5th percentile, and she's 32.25 inches long putting her in the 25th percentile. We've just got a teeny tiny as Grandpa Collins would say.

We did get some nice wood delivered to the house for our fireplace and outdoor fire pit. It's mostly pecan, which I've been told smells really nice. Tonight we'll have a bonfire to help celebrate our neighbor's 28th birthday...she enjoys bonfires so I think it's a surprise from her husband, he'll supply the beer.

Other than that, the weather has been cold, although today is supposed to get near 60*. I try not to go anywhere in the van since I end up spending money when I do. Till next time...

My New Ride

Olivia and our new min-van...yes, a mini-van!!! I'm the proud owner of a mini-van...maybe if I say it over and over again, the van will appear to be an SUV instead of the "Mom Mobile". It's a 2008 Chrysler Town & Country Touring with power doors and a power lift gate. Seriously, the deal we got on it was too good to pass up. We will be growing into it as a family and it gets way better gas mileage than the Rodeo. After a scare with Olivia being sick and luckily I had the Rodeo, we decided to get a second car for safety reasons. Enjoy!!

Christmas Pictures

Opening her new Little People Car Garage from Uncle Travis and Aunt Sarah

Eating at Big 10 with Grandma and Grandpa

Ryan holding cousin Lydia

Opening gifts at Nana and Papa's

Olivia's favorite activity...spinning with Nana

Making icing with Aunt Katie

Kisses for Mommy

Reading with Papa

Holding Lydia and Olivia eating after seeing Santa

Minnesota Santa

Waiting in line to see MN Santa


Alas, here are the Christmas pictures in no particular order. We spent our days bouncing back and forth between the grandparents houses in an attempt to satisfy everyone's busy schedules. Christmas Day was spent at the Collins' while December 26th was the Rankin's Christmas day due to Papa's work schedule. We met baby Lydia, our new niece on the Collins' side, and Olivia enjoyed attempting to poke her in the eye was well as give Lydia her pacifier. Olivia and I got sick towards the end of our stay telling us it was time to go. She did a great job on the long 14 hr drive home (and the same drive up North). Oh, and the cats came with us, so they enjoyed the drive snuggled down in their beds.

Happy New Year

As Ryan and I reflect back on what a year 2008 has been for us, we are blessed to know that we are surrounded by friends and family who love us. We are grateful to be the parents of our darling Olivia and for the adventure called life the Marine Corps has taken us on. Thinking back to this time last year, we did not even know if we'd be moving away from 29 Palms, let alone, buying a house and mini-van. We hope this new year brings as many new adventures and interesting experiences as 2008.

I sit here recovering from our loooong 14 hr drive back to OK from WI/MN yesterday listening to Olivia push around her lawn mower while walking in my ballet flats. We enjoyed our trip to north. There are tons of pictures I must go through to pick the best ones to share here for everyone. Those will be posted shortly. Now, a trip to the 24 hr Walmart is needed to get bread, milk and eggs...the staples!

Love to all and Happy New Year!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Waiting in line to see Santa

She did not cry but enjoyed herself

Eating at the food court after seeing Santa
(I am holding cousin Lydia)

Santa

Santa sent a video message to Olivia. I love technology!!

Ice, Ice, Baby...Ice!

When we woke up this chilly morning, the thermometer told us it was below freezing. So, we bundled up and started our day. Ryan had a different experience. He was slipping and sliding on the driveway trying to get the ice off the car window's. Olivia and I watched from the front window and were glad to be inside. It took him nearly twice as long to get to work due to the black ice on the highway. Needless to say, I won't be going to my much needed hair appointment. And so it has begun...crazy temps, even crazier wind, and ice, ice, Baby...ICE!!!!

A Different Christmas Poem

My sister-in-law, Sarah, emailed me this great poem. Please feel free to copy it and email to those you know who have a family member in the military.

A Different Christmas Poem

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

'What are you doing?' I asked without fear,
'Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!'
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts.

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said 'Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night.'
'It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,'
Then he sighed, 'That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers.'
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam ',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.'

' So go back inside,' he said, 'harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right.'
'But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
'Give you money,' I asked, 'or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son.'

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
'Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.'

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

Merry Christmas

This year has just flown by for our family. We started out in 29 Palms, CA and are now settled into our new home near Fort Sill, OK. It certainly feels like winter with the chilly weather and blistering wind. I think it might be worse that 29 Palms wind, minus the sand. The house is all decorated, the tree is up and Christmas cookies are warm from the oven. We'll be traveling back up north to meet our new niece Lydia and to visit family and friends. Our Christmas will be celebrated early and then we'll drive the new van north (cats included). We do hope everyone has a safe, exciting holiday season, and we wish the best for the New Year. To our friends from CA...enjoy the winter weather while you can...cause it's cold everywhere else!

Just Some Pictures

As I'm sitting here writing this entry, it is currently 24 degrees outside (feels like 16 degrees) and my toes are cold. Here's some pictures over the last few weeks I thought everyone would enjoy.

Olivia sitting in the same basket we let her sleep in after coming home from the hospital. At that time, she could stretch out inside the basket.

Talking with Grandma and Grandpa Collins on webcam...she knows they can see her.

Olivia loves her giant snow globe from Uncle Travis...she really enjoys making the music play.

Wearing a homemade knitted dress and sweater Grandma Collins wishes to become an heirloom.

Olivia standing on the bench in the background at Moppets (MOPS-Mother's Of PreSchooler's).

Our Thanksgiving Dinner

The Collins Family before dinner


Keira (sorry I don't know the spelling), Mike and Olivia


Our dinner mates

This year for Thanksgiving we stayed home once again. We traveled over across the street to our wonderful neighbor's, Mike and Sarah, to enjoy a lovingly prepared turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Mike's parents were there as well as good friends from their church. Olivia enjoyed being the center of attention after warming up to all the new faces. She even gave Mike a huge hug while helping him clean the dishes, something she has not done before because we think she was unsure of him. She devoured her dinner and enjoyed apple pie and ice cream for dessert. Next year, we've all agreed to have dinner at our house...come one, come all!!

The Mom Song

So, I haven't figured out how to post video yet, but here is a link for the greatest song about Mom's ever!!

http://blogs.northlandchurch.net/2008/08/11/the-mom-song/

It's called The Mom Song from the Northland Church in FL, and is a tribute to mothers set to "William Tell Overture". Enjoy.

Happy Thanksgiving

We'd like to wish all our friends and family a Happy Thanksgiving. As we look back on the wonderful memories we've made with friends these last 4 years traveling with the Marine Corps, it is hard to imagine life without those memories. I want to give a special thanks to my dear friend Robin Chartier, who took me under her wing and showed me how to survive deployments, how not to sweat the small stuff and always had an extra spot at her dinner table. I'd also like to thank my mother who came to my rescue by dropping everything to fly cross country to take me to the hospital, always helps me when I need it most, and loves me for who I am.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone who means so much to this family. Safe travels for all our loved ones on the road this busy holiday season.

Loving her Kitty!!

Correction and Olivia's Sick

My wonderful sister pointed out to me this morning that I called the large animals in the refuge by the wrong name. There are bison...not buffalo...roaming the vast expanse of the refuge. LOL, I get it but the locals think those that say bison are crazy and people down here are just that...crazy. Buffalo are in Africa and bison are here in North America. Well, it was still an enjoyable day watching the bison/buffalo in the park.

Oh, and this morning at 4am, Olivia woke up throwing up everywhere. After an early trip to Walmart for Pedialite, she is sleeping soundly. It's the first time she's actually been throw up sick so she's not feeling so hot. Hopefully, this will pass soon and I won't get sick.