Merry Christmas!

Don't be deceived by the happy family in the picture, seconds before the flash there was whining and crying and yelling, and jabbing of elbows and even some bribing just to get a good picture....I didn't win the battle in what the boys wore and there wasn't the perfect picture but after a while you just have to say whatever and Merry freakn' Christmas! A Majority of them turned out like this...

I'm not a professional photographer--SHOCKER but our tripod delivered just fine. After an hour of torture (Erik's face says it all) and more bribing we ended up taking our favorite picture right outside our door. Matching outfits are done--over it! Pictures are rough with boys!! Happy Holidays!

Very Sound Advice

I was taking the boys to school yesterday and Erik out of the blue decided to give me some very good advice for the day, he said Britt you should never poop at school because mean kids will look under the stall and look at you pooping, or look through the cracks and know that it is you, I was caught off guard and kind of felt sad for my little buddy because it sounds like he was speaking from experience, so I asked him if this had happend to him and he said yes that's why now when he has to poop at school he holds it until he gets home even when it is "really bad" He said that chicken nuggets make him poop so especially those days are bad, Awwwww poor little guy! I told him that he should go during class when all the other mean kids are in class and won't be in the bathroom to disturb his privacy. He also told me that they are g-a-y, yes he spelled it out because apparently that is a new swear word and he thinks it's bad to say it out loud along with the "h" word and all the others that he now knows are "bad". Isn't there a book called "Everybody Poops" I need to get that for him so he can get over this new fear and not be ashamed to do his business!!

Speaking of funny kids this is my favorite you tube video of the week

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHBQqvvKBxo

P.S. Stay tuned for acutal pictures next week! Rich gets home in 43 hours! Who's Counting?

No creative title....just read :)

I really don't have anything new to post about because my camera is broken and although everyone is asking for me to post a picture of the ring I don't have a camera to do that...why don't you stop making excuses and buy a camera you ask? Santa is bringing it so you will have to bear with me a few more weeks until I can post some new pictures.

I really wish I had a camera the other day though when I had a cheese disaster in my kitchen...I was making macaroni and cheese (surprise) and somehow the cheese packet got a tear in it--I have no idea how, but when I went to shake the packet to get all the cheese down at the bottom I shook it and cheese exploded EVERYWHERE! I mean every crack and crevice of my kitchen was covered in yellow powder, all over my face, my counters, my floor, my stove, my dogs! And looks are very deceiving because that packet doesnt look like it packs alot of cheese in it but let me tell you there is a hell of alot of powder in that little bag and I had the mess to prove it! So what do we learn from this disaster? To make sure your cheese packet doesnt have any holes in it before you go shaking it!! Maybe it was a sign that I need to start cooking real food.....

I'm a day late in posting this but I also wanted to wish Harms a very Happy Birthday! I couldn't ask for a better best friend even if I were to create one myself. You don't find very many genuine people in this world and she is one of them--I will cherish our friendship forever babe! You really are my favorite person, I always tell Rich that the only person that I could live with for the rest of my life next to him would be you, I hate being states away but I miss you and love you to pieces and always will!!

Baby vs Ring

Jenny is right on--I am pregnant with triplets and we already eloped!!! Can you even imagine if that was true....oh jeez.....I'm supposed to be keeping the secret until December when Rich gets back...but YA RIGHT like that's gonna happen I couldn't keep my mouth shut for two days. I don't have an ounce of patience in my body and Rich is overflowing with patience--obviously!!!! because we have lived together since the beginning of time.

But we are finally finally finally finally finally did I mention FINALLY engaged!!!!!!!!!! Three words----about damn time! I basically told Rich it was either going to be a baby or a wedding but either way I was going to get one of the above and now that my emotions have settled and I'm not a crazy woman anymore I'm glad we made the rational decision to get married first. :) Although our track record does show we do things a little backwards.

I might add that blogs make it oh so nice to post things like this so that you don't have to call/text everyone. So there you have it my secret is out of the bag... bring on the wedding bells baby.

A few things...

So our latest project was this backsplash in our kitchen....its like antique lookin' tin that was super easy to install.....but now I'm stuck and need some opinions, should we leave it the color that it is or paint it? Does it blend in too much or clash with the counters? Please be honest because if you're not, then you leave me with an ugly backsplash!!!!! And people will walk through my house and say to themselves, poor thing, what an ugly backsplash and she thinks it looks good. :)

This picture has nothing to do with backsplashes, but it was one of our last nights and we both look pretty smashed....I mean awesome.

I might have a secret!!!!! SHHHHHHH I'm DYING to tell but I can't, not yet anyway, but I atleast had to say the word secret to keep me from spilling my guts. I will tell soon....

Alot to say

What's been going on in our world....... BLAH BLAH BLAH!!

-Started my final year of Nursing School! Hip Hip Freaking Hooray!!

-Rich got home......an even bigger HOORAY!

-The boys came home from spending the summer in Utah....We missed them terribly!! -Rich's family came to visit...they are the main reason I haven't blogged because we were having such a fabulous time that blogging was the last thing on my mind!

-Our camera died so she is also to blame for no blogging because no pictures = boring blog!!

oh I need to change my background before I lose my mind--any good wallpapers anyone wants to share???

Now the blog turns sad.....but it has to be done

So I have been thinking of all these great things to post about the last couple weeks and have just been so busy to do it, but today I'm feeling completely demotivated and blogging seems to be my therapy of choice.... This post is going to be depressing and awful but bear with me (if you want) because I need to get it out. First let me just say that I know I am truly blessed and that I have more to be grateful for than some can even imagine---I know this, I truly do--BUT today all of that is just blah blah blah...... Rich just returned from Afghanistan not even three weeks ago (the honeymoon phase hasnt even wore off yet) and today we get the news that he will be deploying again in three weeks through the end of the year and at this moment I'm just not sure if my heart can take anymore. This will be our third deployment in 9 months and not to mention I was PROMISED that he would be home for the rest of the year. This was completely unexpected and I hate that my emotions are constantly influenced by when Rich is coming home and when he is leaving again, I want our life to resume to "normal" so bad I can't stand it. Everything I wanted and hoped for when I met Rich has been put on hold so many times that I feel like we constantly take one step forward and ten steps backward. I want to get married, I want to have babies, and most of all I want to live the life that I know is ahead of us and today it feels like we will never get there. The worst part is the guilt that comes along with feeling all of this--this isn't the attitude that I should have, I knew what I was getting into when I started dating someone in the military, but I was willing to take that plunge because it meant that I had Rich, and thats all that I wanted. My role is to be supportive of him and to be positive and full of encouragement, so why do I feel so negative? I know that these feelings will pass as the initial reaction of shock wears off, but I had to write what I was feeling right here and now in the moment.

I really am a positive person and I will find the silver lining in this situation because my life is full of things to be grateful for........ the most important thing being Rich. :)

See this really was a coping mechanism for me because I'm already smiling (wow she sounds bipolar) ----I'm really not it's just that my high of having Rich finally home was crushed today and now I'm just picking myself back up.

What's goin on.....

Chels is here! She has been here for about a month, it's always nice to have a piece of "home" here and it has been so nice to spend time with her. I think she is enjoying herself and might even call VA home for a while. If I have it my way I will have all of my girls out here!

Went to DC Improv and saw Flip Orley. He is hypnotist, comedian and he is such a good time!Nothing like watching a bunch of strangers make complete fools of themselves! For those who don't believe in hypnosis, go see him...you will believe!!

You are all wondering what Mac N Cheese has to do with what I have been doing....two words....COMFORT FOOD! I really don't know what my problem is lately, but I do have a problem. I cannot get enough of this cheesy deliciousness. I can't tell you how bad it sucks to make dinner for one person! This blue box never lets me down! I think i'll go make some now.....

Counting down the days, hours and seconds for Rich to get home!!!

Cheap Thrills....

Things that excite me right now.....

1. Edy's Take the Cake Ice Cream......tell me one person that doesn't like the taste of cake batter? I made a mistake by going grocery shopping while on my P......well you know....and I left the store with 3 things of ice cream, a bag of peanut M&M's, Oreos and a twix, this little carton of heaven was by far the best purchase..DELISH!

2. My 3 inch Memory Foam mattress topper and Memory Foam pillows. You are thinking what?!? For the longest time Rich and I have been sleeping on a poor excuse for a mattress, when I take the sheets off it looks like a cereal bowl for crying out loud, everything sinks to the middle. Buying a new $2000 mattress isnt exactly in the budget right now so the next best thing was a mattress topper, if you have my same dilemma, GET ONE! You will not be disappointed, I sleep so well I was late to work 3 times last week! OOPS!

3. Girls nights... Obviously I couldn't have a date night right now even if I wanted to, but really-- aren't girls nights close to being the best thing ever!? I hate to say that its been easier having Rich gone, but there is nothing like a girls night out (or a girls night in) to help take your mind off of the stresses in life. I am so blessed to have such amazing women/girls in my life both here in VA and of course my favorite girls back home reading this... Harms I would give my right arm to have a girls night with you right now! I would be lost without each of you in my life! xoxoxo

4. The song from the preview Pineapple Express, its called Paper Planes by M.I.A., it is not anything that I would ever listen to before or like anything you would find on my IPOD but I dare you to listen to it and not break out in dance, its the most random song with random lyrics and sound effects but something about it just gets me... After the first minute I'm tired of it but the beginning makes you wanna shake something.

Generation Kill

So I have to dedicate this post to Rich....I have to start by saying he is the most humble person I know and the only good thing about him being deployed is that he can't see that I am posting this, or he would have me take it down for sure......he never talks about himself or how he has accomplished so much throughout his career but truth is he has accomplished more than most Marines ever will. He is apart of the most elite group of Marines known as Reconaissance Marines. He has reached the pinnacle of his career in more ways than one and truthfully I just adore every ounce of him. Last night his movie career even took off! HAHA not really but what I am getting at is a new HBO mini series called Generation Kill (not the nicest title...doesn't make you feel warm 'n' fuzzy) but it is about the Marines of the First Reconaissance Battalion during the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom. A retired marine and friend of Rich's named Eric Kocher plays him in the miniseries as Gunnery Sargeant Barrett. A Rolling Stones reporter followed them for several weeks and documented everything that went on, so it is a factual account of what they went through. A few warnings it is raunchy and irreverent but at the same time it portrays them as real as possible so you have to appreciate that for what its worth. Check it out on Sunday nights at 9pm......if you're expecting a feel good war movie you will be disappointed....this is real life people! oh and I'm allowed to brag a little bit without making you all throw up right? Right!

Time for an update...and I was Tagged

I hope you all don't think I am the most depressing blogger ever! I just had to let it all hang out in that last post and I feel much better!
So I am on my 2nd round of deployments and we are already into our 2nd week so things are movin' and I'm feeling motivated! There's a little saying in the Marine Corps that as the woman you need to make it through atleast one deployment with your man in order to really test your relationship and that it truly reflects your integrity and dedication to eachother. blah blah blah, but after going through one I really see the importance of it--and as hard as it was at times, I survived, we survived and we are better because of it. Hopefully after this one I will not only survive but I will get something shiny out of it!
So I was tagged like a year ago with the husband tag--I'm not sure if I technically qualify to do this tag, but he is close enough right? so.....



How long have you been married? Not married but been together for 4 years and been living together for 2 1/2 years which is just as hard AND wonderful as being married! It will happen someday, for now we are just fine...really.
How old is your hubby? Rich will forever be 29, for those of you who know him, this is not me dodging the question this is the truth.



Who eats more?.....depends on what we are eating, Rich can definitely put down some food, but he is no match to me with some oreos and milk!
Who said I love you first? Rich started saying something crazy like, " I love your snacks" and I'd be like, You love my what?!? and he would just smile and say you know what I love....but being the woman I insisted that I had no idea what that meant (even though I did I just wanted him to say the real thing not something gay like my freaking snacks!) so eventually I won, and he definitely said it first. But I quickly quickly followed!
Who is taller? He is. Thank goodness, not sure I could date a smaller/shorter guy. Is that mean?
Who sings better? Rich thinks he sings better....and to be honest he does sing better.
Who is smarter? Hmmmm we are smart in different areas, Rich can't spell to save his life or my life for that matter, so I definitely wouldn't nominate him for the spelling bee, but one thing I love about him is that he will suprise me with new things that he is actually really smart on and I had no idea he even knew about. He is street smart and book smart, I'm mostly book smart, but that's why I have him around so I can ask him questions! Together we can figure anything out--even Ry's math homework which can suprisingly be hard!

Who controls the TV remote?.....we have had this battle many times but there are nights when we both are interested in the same thing like the Hills haha! But on nights where I want to watch HGTV and he wants to watch something with motorcylces or something manly we compromise and switch off. But I think deep down he loves HGTV.....
Whose temper is worse? Rich is as patient as they come, which is awesome for me because I need all the patience I can get. I'll get mad real quick but get over it just as fast, if something really upsets rich he lingers on it, but that doesn't happen very often.
Who does the laundry? Will someone please explain to Rich that the laundry is not done just because you put it in the dryer!!!!! You still have to fold it!! He will take clothes out of the dryer put them in the basket and by the time I get around to folding them they need to be dryed again because they are so wrinkled! He definitely tries to help and for that I give him credit, he will start loads and I appreciate that, but all in all I do it.
Who does the dishes? We share this job, Rich hates having dishes in the sink so he helps out with dishes all the time. I love that. I clean the rest of the kitchen for sure though.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I sleep furthest away from the door, I have a phobia about that, but there are nights, occasionally that we will swap just to change it up. Wierd huh? Mostly because our mattress sucks and I get tired of sinking in to the middle of the bed. Time for a new mattress.
Who cooks dinner? RICH RICH RICH!! I do breakfast, he loves to cook, he will get so excited about a really good recipe and did I mention he likes the food network? Yup! I'm sure he appreciates that I just shared that! He cooks I clean. We both work and go to school so it's only fair to split it up.

Who is more stubborn? Me for sure. no question. Im trying to be better though.
Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? ummmm probably him, that stubbornness of mine can be a B%$^#. We both hate to fight though I don't think we have ever had a fight last more than a couple hours. We forget why we were even mad.
Whose parents do you see most? mine
Who has more friends? Alot of our friends are couples, and we both have friends from back home so that makes it pretty equal, I stay in touch and talk with my friends more than he does though.


Who has more siblings? If you count my step and half siblings we are equal. He has two brothers and a sister, I have two sisters and a brother.
Who wears the pants? I DO! He knows I am the final decision maker, maybe I need to not be so opinionated. We definitely talk things through together and make important decisions together but for the most part I just decide because I am a little bossy. ok maybe alot bossy. not proud of it though.

When it Rains is Pours...

Don't you ever feel like when one thing goes wrong everything comes crashing down? Ok maybe I'm exaggerating because I am in the heat of the moment now, but after reading Ash's blog the other day about her day at the post office I felt like the last two weeks of my life have been just like that! Only I didn't even get to pee my pants! I'm seriously going to list everything that has gone wrong for us.....not for your pity just to VENT!

1. BOTH boys got some virus possible strep and I had to miss work to stay home with them. Never fun to use your vacation days for things other than vacation.
2. Rich's motorcyle had to get some work done on it and the day we went to pick it up from the shop ($470 dollars later) he pulled out and got to the first stop light, not only did it break down again but he ran over a nail and we had to replace a $300 tire. OUCH!
3. So I ordered the tire online because they said it would be delivered next day--10 days later I finally get the tire. I called and complained about their false advertising. Still didn't get my refund.
4. I paid our mortagae payment online and somehow they processed it TWICE, ok that wouldn't be a big deal if it was like a utility payment or something small, but it was our mortagage people! And I found out when Rich went to put gas in the car and it declined his card--so he called me.......ummmm Britt why is there no money in our account??
5. We took the boat out with some friends and got caught in a lightning tornado storm and almost died.
6. On that same trip I left my cell phone in the car thinking it was a nice safe place for it, but some idiot (me) left the sunroof open and it rained of course (hence the tornado/lightning) and my phone was floating in the cup holder.
7. I took it to Verizon and they told me all they had in stock was a bright pink version of it--I could take that one or wait a week to get a black one. I told them that if I wanted the pink one I would've bought the pink one in the first place and that they could take my $5.00/mo I pay for insurance and shove it if they didn't get me the same phone I already had. The poor guy at Verizon didn't deserve my attitude by any means but at this point I had reached my max.
8. Then I woke up with a tick in my thigh!! Who wakes up with a tick in their thigh unless they are on a mountain somewhere?!? We figured out that the dogs brought them into our room. so nice.
9. And the latest and greatest was the other day when my front tooth started turning gray so I took a trip to the dentist to discover that I had fractured my front tooth somehow and need a root canal and possible veneer, I didn't mind that so much---until my little sister called me lauging hysterically saying, So mom said you have to get dentures?

oh and Rich leaves Saturday for Afghanistan again....I need a hug from someone--anyone!!

Memorial Weekend in DC

We had a wonderful memorial day weekend...But I think if I have to eat another hot dog or hamburger I will lose my marbles. By the 17th BBQ you are thinkin'...havent we done this every day since Thursday?!?! Ok I know I exaggerate but I feel like we had a BBQ for breakfast lunch and dinner all weekend.

Out here in DC, the big thing on Memorial Weekend is "Rolling Thunder" which is an event founded by Vietnam Vets in order to celebrate not only soldiers who lost their lives in wars but also Prisoners of War Missing in Action. Over 750,000 people and over 500,000 (yes HALF A MILLION) motorcycles gather in the pentagon parking lot Sunday morning to ride in their honor. They call it Rolling Thunder because when all of the motorcylces ride the whole city sounds like thunder (duh).


It is a HUGE event, even for those who are not military or who do not own a bike. They raise money and donate to all types of charities. It really is a wonderful and overwhelming day to be apart of when you stop to think of its cause and what it represents. Sure we are very biased being that us and all of our friends are military and own motorcycles...but I would put this event on anyone's checklists of things to do in life. You will not be disappointed. Here are somes pics from our weekend!! Good food, good friends, great weekend! Hope everyone had a good one!


Just because we are bikers doesn't mean we look like this. Looks are very deceiving, he was as nice as could be.


Rich got a new hat and thinks he is Indiana Jones now. Back off ladies he is all mine.

Oh and we took the rugrats to the pool!

Naughty Girl

So we have had kiwi for 2 1/2 years and throughout those years Rich and I have had about 87 arguments about her peeing on the carpet and have gone through about 87 new rugs. She goes on walks and I let her out all the time but for some reason she just likes to "do her thing" on our soft carpet. The arguments go something like this and let me just say it is the same each time almost word for word and nothing changes.....she still pees....and we still argue!!

Rich: BRITTTTT!!!!!!

Me: (oh crap I know that yell) yeeaaahh????

Rich: Kiwi peed on the carpet AGAIN!!!! (and then you hear him yelling at kiwi as if she is a child and knows what he is talking about)

Me: Ok.......well why are you telling me? Can you get the carpet cleaner and start cleaning it?? The time it takes to yell my name and wait for me is time you could be using to soak up the pee!!!

Rich: Where is the carpet cleaner?? Where is a rag?? (It's in the same place it always is but for some reason he has to ask every time)

Me: ok I'm coming with the rag, it's going to be fine, it's nothing we can't clean up and if I can't get it up we will just get a new rug.

Rich: Why do we continue to get nice things when she ruins everything??

Me: Well I'm not going to have a rug that has pee stains all over it and I'm certainly not getting rid of her!!

And then he has to pout for ten minutes until I convince him that it's just a rug.

Ok two things, 1. I know I was a horrible potty trainer and by 2 1/2 we should be over the "accident" stage, but I'm pretty sure he was there when I was potty training her, so isn't he equally responsible?? and 2. The joys of having dogs completely outweigh the problems that come along with them like peeing on rugs and chewing on the cabinet wood corners in the bathroom... Right?!?! I'm not sure what to do about our little pee monster. I guess we should buy stock in rug companies.The funny things is that five minutes after the incident Rich is the one cuddled up with kiwi on the couch........ he is such a push over!

I'm Laughing...are you?

Check out this You Tube video-----Am I just easily entertained or does anyone else find this hysterical!!! Watch the guy in the center. Too funny. Let me know if I'm just really lame for laughing. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QVRNOZAdsY


We expect these people to run their own country yet they can't even do a damn jumping jack! Incredible.

Daddy's Home!

I had to play the oldie! Daddy's Home!!

Well Deserved R&R

Hey hey!!

Wow I was on the verge of getting kicked out of the blogging world if i didn't get my act together and post something!!! Sorry Ladies.....I have been busy "catching up" with my man--very very busy with him no time for computers :)!! But he is home and life is great, we just got back from a much deserved vacation to Florida. We went to Miami/Ft. Lauderdale for four days. Absolutely beautiful, a little crazy though with all the spring breakers but we enjoyed ourselves very much. The hotel was by far the nicest we have ever stayed in......Ever..you know you are real classy when you see a bidet for the first time and think what in the world does that do? (the toilet that sprays warm water on your butt). Not sure why anyone really needs one of those. Needless to say I think Rich used it 7 times a day. He would have brought it back with us if he could. He's gross.

I was so excited to see the sun for the first time this year that I got a little out of hand and layed out way too long... I was a lobster the rest of the trip. We are quite the vacationers---can't keep Rich out of the bathroom and I look like I am on fire. But we had a wonderful time!!

Best Grandparents EVER!

I swear I dont know how some of you girls are so amazing at posting every week. You are blog rockstars. Either I am a horrible blogger or just don't have a very exciting life. Probably the latter of the two.

So who has the best grandparents EVER? I do!! My sweet grandparents came out to visit me again. They are the biggest ball of FUN you can imagine. Not to mention they cooked me dinner, did my laundry, went grocery shopping for me, the list goes on and on but most importantly they kept me company! My grandpa can never pass up a trip to Costco and my grandma is always up for Target so they were great shoppers. We had such a great time together-I hated to see them leave! Thank you thank you for all your love and support you both are such great shoulders to lean on and I love you dearly! xoxo

Nice to be home....

Ok no more sad posts--we have a month down! Halle-freaking-lujah! And I have to say that I'm glad the holidays came and went as fast as they did, I just didn't quite have the Christmas spirit this year, but I had a wonderful time in Utah. Despite my hellacious travel getting there, when I finally arrived, all the problems getting there were well worth it. It was so nice to see my family and friends, being so far away you really appreciate spending time together even if it is sitting on the couch and watching tv. I love you family!!! Thanks for understanding my time is split among 3 families and as much as I would love to spend the entire vacation with each of you, Im thankful for the time I had and I miss you already--so hurry and come see us! Oh and if you're wondering where any pics are.......ya I brought a camera and the battery died the first day and I had no charger...SMART MOVE!!
It's kinda nice to be back home and I must say the positive side of Rich being gone is that when the weekends come I have so much time to do random things that need to get done but I never want to do. But now I really have no excuse--sooooo I spent my Friday night and cleaned out my closet, I rearranged the order of my clothes three times, including color coding and everything--is that wierd??? HA! When I finished that I moved to the bathroom and put all 389 of my bath and body works lotions in order of ones I like to ones I don't use (im seriously not exaggerating I have a million of them). Today I'm going to tackle "the drawer" Do you all have that one drawer in your house that everything gets shoved into when you dont have a place for it or dont want to take the time to find a place--ya well I have one and it desperately needs to be cleaned out so I can shove more crap into it. Its too full.
Hope everyone had a Holly Jolly Christmas and Happy New Year.....2008 will be a great year!