Show Us Your Life - Military Families

I really enjoy reading Navy Wife, Navy Life. Watch me sink or swim and found that Kim's doing an interesting thing through another blog. So I found on Kelly's Korner that she does a 'Show Us Your Life' and this time it's about Military Families.  I think I can actually comment on this one for once.

Wedding Day

For those of you who know me or think you know me you can feel free to skip this. If you don't, feel free to read on and learn about my ongoing journey as a Navy Wife.

So who am I?

My name is Michelle. I'm from Illinois, but honestly I don't miss it.  Especially since I've seen how cold and snowy it is there and it's not here.  I'm a Midwestern girl who has discovered that the ocean is a wonderful thing!

I married my high school sweetie just days after he graduated from boot camp. Yes, we were young.  Just out of high school.

Friendship Oak in Mississippi

Dining Out

During our wonderful journey my sweetie went through NROTC and was commissioned as an officer in the Navy.

We've moved 10 times in the 18 years that we've been married.  I've had more jobs than I'm willing to recount, but I don't care.

I feel that I've been really lucky since we have been on both sides of Navy life.  As enlisted wife and as an officer wife.  Which can bias some people against you.

Deployment 2010

We've been extremely lucky in our adventures.  We have only deployed twice.  How that happened I have NO clue.  I know people who've been out more than they've been home.

We've made wonderful friends along the way and it's been a great learning experience.  There's good and bad, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Christmas Wishes

Even my animals understand that on Christmas everyone should get along.

Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Darby, Pumpkin & Kyla

Veterans Day

Just a heartfelt thank you to all the veterans out there.

You are appreciated!

Trick Or Treat!

Pirate Ship Jack-O-Lantern

Posh Kitty Jack-O-Lantern

Most people know that Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday!

If you didn't know before, you know now.

Every year, when home, the hubby and I carve pumpkins while watching 'It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown'.  Normally we would eat cheap pizza as well, but we're on a diet so that was kept out of this year's festivities.

As he does every year, the hubby carved a pirate ship.  He got a number of compliments this year from adults as well as children.  I did the cute little kitty this year.

Fear the Darbysarus!

I don't want to look at the camera!

Now I normally make fun of people who dress their dogs, but now that I have a small dog myself I just couldn't help myself.

I really got a chuckle out of this costume.  Darby is in NO way mean or aggressive, so turning her into this fearsome creature was quite funny.  She doesn't sit well for taking photos, but this time I think she was mortified.  I will have to do a photo shoot with her again soon.

When my friends came over to trick or treat their son thought she was so cute and wanted a photo op.  Who was I to deny?

All smiles!

Don't they look a bit evil?

And as with every year since my buddy and her little one started trick or treating, they came to me for the photo op.  He's a ninja and the closest I can think to describe her costume is a modern geisha.

She's the cool kinda mommy who will put on a costume to go along with her kid's costume.  Cool mommy points there!

We gave out full size candy bars this year.  We had on hand a little over 90 pieces of candy.  At the end of the night we had about 20.  Close to 65 trick or treaters this year.  Lighter than last year, but still pretty good!

Halloween Bash!

The phantom greeter

The masquerade centerpiece

My friend Angie has a Halloween party every year.  Every year has a theme.  Last year was come as someone or something dead and was a hoot!  This year was masquerade.

Had I known it was more geared towards Phantom of the Opera (my favorite!) I would have chosen a different costume.  Oh well!

Upon arrival you noticed the phantom at the door.  And of course I could not pass up on the photo of the lovely center piece.  There was trivia posted all over the house that you had to answer in order to play the game.  There are always prizes!

Our hostess

Stacey looking sexy!

As you can tell our hostess was lovely.  As always!

I do apologize for the quality of the photos, but all I had on me was my phone camera and the lighting was more for ambiance than for photo ops. LOL

And I had to get one of my buddy, Stacey, she just adorable.

Honestly these photos don't do them justice.    And I do have to admit that I was suffering from some major costume envy!

Sponge Bob and Tavern Wench

I must say that I was really glad that I wasn't the only person who wasn't exactly sure what the costume of choice was.  Many people were in gowns and masks, but there were a number of people like me who just wore a costume.

I was really lucky this year too! Although my dear hubby was unable to go with me, my buddy Deborah drove.  Which meant I could try all the drinks that were offered.  And I did!!!  In fact I went back and 'retried' two that I wasn't so sure about.  LOL

A pirate and his queen

There was video trivia at the end of the night.

I had to duel this vicious pirate (lol) but came out victorious in the end. What can I say? I'm a geek about horror movies. Although the newer ones were harder for me because I don't get to watch them as often. *sigh*  Luckily for me he was gracious about my win.

It was such a hoot!

A group of gals from SOS

I had to get a photo of this group.  Everyone in this group is a member of SOS.  That's the Surface Officer Spouse group.

It was so much fun to get to catch up with each other and dress up for fun instead of formal or semi-formal.

Angry bird and pig

I just had to get this last photo. It was quite clever on the parents part. Mom and Dad wore jeans, green long sleeve shirt, painted their faces green and had a pig snout. The little one wore all red and had a angry bird mask on a stick.

I thought it was very well done.

The party was a blast! Sadly this is the last one because, as is the case in the Navy, Angie will be moving.

Thanks for all the fun Angie!

And the better quality photos?  Well Angie took those.  Thanks for that too!

Afghans In Heaven

I meant to post this sooner, but as per usual I got side tracked. So my apologies for the tardiness on this.

I no fear your camera!

The first of this month TJ, my mom's cat, passed away.

We got TJ when I was in high school. He didn't leave with me when I left home as he was truly my mom's. He lived for 22 years. And as I type that sentence I just realized how old I am and now you will all know. Oh well, so now everyone knows I'm ancient. I think I'm okay with that.

The running joke was always that TJ was older than dirt.

I still remember him as a young cat. He'd wander the neighborhood we lived in with no fear. He used to leave 'presents' for my mom on the front door steps. It could be a mouse or a bird or any other small critter that was unfortunate enough to cross his path.

TJ napping

I still laugh at the thought of him sitting in the recliner like he was Al Bundy, if you don't understand that reference Google Al Bundy sitting on the couch and then you'll see. He'd actually have a paw over his privates. You know this thought just made you snort a little.

As he got older TJ got cranky. He got the nickname of grouchy old man and many other names that weren't very nice. His only joy in life was the afghans that we had, but I'm not going to tell you what he did to those things. I'm keeping it classy.

He had a tendency to get pissy and would attack your leg for no reason. Well I'm sure in his mind he had a reason, but we were not privy to that information. Your best bet was to show no fear. That's why my legs were relatively unscathed.

He is what started me calling certain cats 'guard cats'.

Farewell TJ!

You will be missed.

Hurricane Irene (Aftermath)

So after having no power for 3 1/2 day, Dominion Power came through and got it back up and running.  I didn't realize how much I missed noise (the TV or the A/C running).  Nor did I realize how much my animals missed it.  LOL

Boy Scout Pumpkin

I had to laugh when this arrived the day AFTER Irene left the area.  Pumpkin feels he is now totally prepared for the hurricane.  And when the next one comes, he's all for bugging out.  I on the other hand am not so sure.  But it's good to always be prepared.

He'll be glad that we're moving back into the bedroom.  The air mattress is fine, but life is so much better when you sleep on a mattress that won't eventually deflate.  Not that we're spoiled or anything.  lol

Darby's Elation!

Darby greeted me in the window when I came back from running some errands.  The power was back on and she was OH SO happy! She definitely did NOT like the air mattress.

Life is going to start getting back to normal now that we have power.  And now clean up can begin in earnest.  It's hard to undertake any major projects when you know that you have no A/C to go to.  I really don't like being hot, sweaty and tired.  And really who does?

Thanks again to my friends Steve and Greta for coming over to help me chop up the larger branches in mine and my neighbors yard.  I really appreciate it.  And a special thanks to Dominion Power for being so quick to return power.  I know there's over 1 million customers that are without power, so kudos for the quick response.