A Quick Update

I haven't had anything very exciting to talk about, but I had some proud news about Allan. Once Allan had been signed and sworn in he was given a booklet/study guide of things he needs to know for basic training, such as the phonetic alphabet, chain of command, different ships, etc. He's been going to the gym everyday to keep up with his PT (physical training for those non-military readers) and he's been bringing along his little study guide to prepare for basic training. He's officially memorized the alphabet and doing really well on everything else! I'm so proud of him, but I swear, if he starts speaking in code to me my brain may explode. We found out that there is a test during basic training on everything in the study guide and if he passes really well he gets promoted immediately to E-2 (which is a pay rate and usually takes them a few months to get). He's very determined to pass this and I couldn't be prouder that he's studying so well!
He officially has 5 weeks left before he leaves for basic training. We've been cramming in as much "us" time as possible before we're separated for who knows how many months. Our friends have graciously decided to host a going-away party for him and his other friends which is really sweet. Next months looks to be full of going away parties and more crammed family time. Our cats too seem to know something is up; they've been desperate for attention for him and are usually cuddled up with him. It seems like it won't be just me that will miss him while he's gone.

A Productive Weekend

This weekend I was determined to knuckle down and get all my chores done that I've been picking at for awhile. On Saturday I did dishes and laundry and actually cleaned our house! I've had a pretty bad week so it was really cleansing to get all the clutter out of our house and organize the house, which is equivalent to eating a pint of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream (which I also did this weekend). While I did a major clean Allan went down the street and was able to donate blood. He was so proud to be able to do it before he leaves, and potentially not be able to do it again! The guy is a serious sweetie.

Sunday morning I finished my chores and made a super healthy breakfast since I dug out a bag of whole wheat flour we had in the cabinet. I've tried making whole wheat pancakes before and they didn't come out quite right, but I tweaked this one and was able to come up with some awesome whole wheat pancakes with butter and honey. Yum!

That afternoon we went to the gym where we got a serious workout in. I actually enjoyed running on the elliptical for a mile and a half. Allan helped me a lot on the machine and might I add, I didn't mind having such a handsome man helping me out :) It's been a pretty easy weekend, but very very productive.

The End of an Era

This weekend Allan and I went to see Harry Potter in theaters. We went during a matinee as I figured most people wouldn't show up, and thankfully I was right. I wasn't looking forward to being squished between people and fortunately I had space around me which ended up being a good thing. I was warned this movie would be sad to watch for some parts, but I knew that hardest would be the ending of something that meant so much to me. I hated reading before Harry Potter came out and my mom bought me the book and since then my nose has always been stuffed in a book. The characters of these books were like friends to me. I grew up as the characters grew older. It was an amazing tribute to the end of an era and yes, I cried my little eyes out. The deaths of characters practically ripped my heart out as it felt like losing a friend. It's still hard to believe all books and movies are done and we won't be walking the halls of Hogwarts anymore.

"No story lives unless someone wants to listen... The stories we love best do live in us forever. So whether you come back by page or by big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

~J.K. Rowling

In other news, I officially have a countdown until Allan leaves and sadly we have about 6 weeks left. It sounds like a lot, but it goes by so fast. I'm so anxious to see where our future will go, but obviously sad that he'll be gone and can only contact him through mail. I'm so very proud of him and that trumps all sadness.

Zumba....ouch!

Yesterday I walked 2 miles to get to and from work which isn't too bad, but then I took a Zumba class once I got home and good lord my legs hurt! I've taken a Zumba class before and being a cheerleader I figured this was a piece of cake, but boy was I wrong. The instructor was a mid-late 50's woman and she outdanced  me. It was fun the first 15 minutes, but after that it just started to hurt like hell. I woke up this morning with my legs in some serious pain. Thank goodness Allan is home today to help take care of me. Looks like I'll be stretching a whole bunch just to start walking!

Allan had a class yesterday as well, it was aptly named "Boot Camp." It really made him work, which is helpful considering he leaves next month for real basic training! He's doing so well studying his booklet of all pertinent information. I'm so proud of him!

A Birthday Bash

  This weekend my sister came up to our parents' house with my niece and nephew for his 1st birthday. Technically his birthday isn't until the end of the month, but they won't be up here to celebrate it. I offered to bake him his first cake ever and spent this weekend baking it. I made him a blue cake with yellow buttercream frosting with lions and tigers. It came out really well.

I was so happy to see him and my niece after not seeing them for months and boy! do they grow! Of course my nephew absolutely adores Allan. She played with him constantly and eventually just passed out on the poor guy.

There were many meltdowns, but who doesn't when dealing with 2 kids 3 and under? Eventually we dove into the cake and my nephew covered himself in cake.

Note the front of the cake got smashed thanks to a person walking right in front of my car, thus the cake flew at the dashboard when I had to break. He still enjoyed it. See?

He got blue cake and green frosting smushed all over himself, we were forced to hose him off in the sink just to get him clean.
I also got to enjoy watching my niece play with her baby doll. She's so big now! She mostly enjoyed playing with my dad and was practically impossible to snatch a picture with her running around everywhere with her 3 year old energy.

It was an amazing day just to spend the day with my niece and nephew and sister who I so rarely see.

As for an update regarding Allan. He's looking so amazing now. He's definitely lost some weight, or rather it's turning into some wonderful muscle. He's been pretty down about working out, saying it hasn't really done anything, but just this morning he said he hadn't noticed how much he's lost! I'm so very proud of him!

4th of July Weekend

Allan and I spent our 4th of July weekend with our friends and grilling with our families. On Saturday we met up with our friends at the beach and boy was it hot! We had to park way far away from the beach because everyone was at the beach. We had to walk by Santa Cruz's big draw, the Boardwalk, on our way to the beach we were heading to. The Boardwalk beach looked like someone just smeared a whole bunch of tourists across the sand. I mean, look at it!

 

We met up with our friends and played around for awhile in the hot hot sun. We had brought along a frisbee and Allan and his friend had fun playing in the water with it. It was a really fun day and very relaxing.

But unfortunately we didn't use enough sunscreen and boy were we little lobsters! Allan's chest and back were BRIGHT red and I burned the back of my legs so bad they were purple. Ouch!

Because of how burned we were we spent Sunday relaxing around the house cause neither one of us could move very well.

On 4th of July we had planned on going to our hometown parade, but we never made it over there. We went to IHop with Allan's mom for breakfast which was a really nice way to start the morning. After that we went to her house for a bbq with his brother, his wife, and our niece. She was having fun showing off how well she walks now.

After we spent some time there we went over to my parent's house for a bbq as well.

 

After we spent some time there we went home and relaxed until we met up with a group of our friends at the bars by the beach. Being underage I was DD and got only virgin drinks :)

Unfortunately we didn't see any fireworks because we were covered by super thick fog. All in all it was a pretty good weekend, minus our horrible sunburns we're still getting over.

Allan and I have been working out my plans for when he graduates. I'm very excited to be going to Chicago where my beloved Bears play. We had planned on getting married during the time I'm in Chicago between is basic training and A school, but it looks like he only gets a day between graduation and when he has to check into A school. But all is not lost! We found out that while he's in A school he gets a break from mid-December to early January and he gets to come home! I'm very thankful we get to spend Christmas together and that will probably be when we get married. Obviously with the military involved plans can and will always change.
He's been doing an excellent job of getting into better shape for basic. I'm so proud of him and he's looking more and more like a sailor. He'll be leaving next month and it's really hitting me finally. I'm so proud of him for doing everything he can.

Hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July!