8:54 PM - Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

OUR TRIP WEST CONT.....

2ND LEG TO UTAH!!!

The last leg to Utah was the hardest. We did 12 hours or so in one big boring haul. The drive consistent of us finishing up 3 books on CD by David Baldacchi, taking pictures of the scenery, and eating subway. I even listened to cattle/stock prices on the radio while going through this:
 

 When we hit Wyoming, the first part was great, the last part, l was the HIDEOUS part - thus no pictures of it. Here are a few of Wyoming:


Then we hit Utah, Steve's old stomping ground. We got to see family!!!!
So first we went golfing:
 

And then we went shooting with Dave.. He's an amazing marksman:


We shot a target from a 1000 yds away!!!!!!

We went on a hike, petey loved the ice melt water:

Then came the family BBQ!! Oh gosh was it hilarious watching the little kids go nuts.


Unfortunately, Handsome killed on of Dave's chickens. It had dug a hole under the fence and got into the dog pen and so it was game on for Handsome. Dave had been trying to keep them in the chicken coop and the predators out for a long while, all to have one escape!

We had a great time with the 4wheelers and getting the dogs worn out and seeing all the family. We totally loved every minute!



8:40 PM - Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

OUR TRIP WEST CONT.

DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY



We drove on 74 ->40 -> Through the Blue Ridge Mtns. Steve thinks they are gorgeous, even if they aren't rugid mountains. Steve's dad and mom, Dave and Gayla helped us drive the whole way to Utah. They were in his truck and we were in my 4runner with the animals.

TENNESSEE

Once in TN we made an impromptu stop in Memphis to see the Grand Ole Opry. Boy were Gayla and I underimpressed. We had pictured it this old, vintage building full of history. Instead we got this:

This is totally not an old building. This is a modern monstrosity next to an oversized mall. BOO!!!!!!!!

MISSOURI

We easily made it to just shy of St. Louis our first night, completely overshooting our "plan". It worked out well because it got us to Kansas City early enough the next day to guarantee a hotel and time to scoot around.
Below is a fun montage of me discovery a photo app on my phone:

Then when we got to St. Louis!!! We got more fun pics!!!!


Kansas City

In Kansas City we at a heart attack at a place, that I do not remember the name where we did not understand a single thing they said and so we ended up ordering this for lunch:
After the heart attack we got settled down and went to the the Royals, Red Sox game!





7:53 PM - Posted by Unknown - 0 comments

OUR ROADTRIP TO WEST COAST


NORTH CAROLINA

After leaving farewell party, we loaded up the final items in our vehicles and headed to Gastonia, NC. Wife's original and always #1 home (in her heart). We got to see family and go golfing a bunch. Steve bought himself a new set of the RBZs and had to use them every free chance he created. I got to see my little niece and my god-daughter, Sydni. We got her a camper chair that looks like a crab for her birthday. She loves it now. You can't tell me she's not one of the cutest things on the planet!!!! Also while home, We got to see my sister and her now fiance, Dustin! We spent time with my brother and sister-in-law Liz. While we weren't golfing at the Crowder's Mtn Golf Course, we went hiking: mom and all her kids, their significants and all the pluppies.
Zeke and Daisey loving the cool creek!

Mom and son
Mom and the boys, Steve trying to kiss Dustin
Mom and her girls
Finally a decent pic of the boys

We also went out to eat for Dustin's birthday, and got to go out with JP and Celeste (cousins).  Even Pat and Liz cooked dinner for us one night at their adorable house in Belmont, NC. We had a great time in North Carolina and next time we need and will go to the Mtns so Steve can meet more of my mom's side of the family!





Sad tears and Steve got a promotion!
8:05 AM - Posted by Unknown - 1 comments
Our time in Hatteras has been greatly marked by our Buxton family. They threw us a going away party including a coast guard cake. It was a mixed evening as we did greatly miss our "glue", Bernice, but we did do his favorite cheers and played his songs. This as "B" at New Years at Mike and DeDe's Tiki Bar. This was also where the going away party was. This is how we like to remember the man that forever changed us. We fell in love with the island once we met Bernice and our future family. Thankfully, there's the internet and cell phones so keeping in touch will not be too hard. Sunday's will be spent on the phone catching up with Laura, his college roommates Dave and Sue, Aly and Andy, Leah and Tommy (and Nova), Lindsey Billy and Gayle, DeDe and Mike, Marshall, Rosie, Marty and Kathy, Jesse and Mark, Edgar, Chuck and John, also my family that has already left: Kelly and Joel and Joni and her babies.. Order is not of importance, but just as I looked at a picture of everyone.  Rosie got a cake made for the party to mark Steve's promotion from BM2 to BM1. We've promised to come back every June and also to send crab to them from the West Coast. Below is our family.

Here we are being silly about to cut the cake.
Now May 1st, the day we left the island, Steve got promoted, finally!!!!!!!! His duty section got in formation and Sr. Chief read the promotion and his award and Chief Lord stood looking a little silly. Mike Harrell, who was Bernice's best friend and basically his brother and I pinned Steve during the ceremony.

Here is Steve, officially a BM1!!!!


This last 2 months has been super emotional for us all, but we are stoked to start a new adventure and expand our family even more! Currently we are hanging out in Gastonia, NC with my family. We've gone golfing and trying to be lazy. I will post throughout our trip across the country. We already had a small scare with our cat. She got loose and ran into the woods in Plymouth and I had a doozy of a time getting her out.


First Blanket made
4:08 PM - Posted by Unknown - 3 comments
This is the first blanket I made:
I crocheted it for my brother and his lovely wife. It's the size of an area rug, basically 72 x 60. I loved making it and plan on making more!!! The next one is going to be more earthy colors and look like a block quilt


NEW YEAR!!!
7:07 PM - Posted by Unknown - 0 comments
Well we made it through the holidays in one piece! Thank the Lord. Seeing family, trying to get presents out on time, it's very hard. I got everything off in the mail, almost perfectly: only messed up one present. It was awesome to see everyone: my brother bought a house and my cousin and his wife closed on one! Played with the niece a bunch and even made it to midnight service. It was a hard holiday because we will be going to Steve's family for a few Christmas's down the road.

First things first the hubs turned 31! I started this painting before the holiday season but it got put on the back burner to finish everyone else's presents: I had to apologize to him for that. :) Then since it's his birthday week, he got a pair of shoes and some new shorts! Being in civilization we went shopping a bunch. It was fun just to window shop.

This is the picture and soon I'll have it on canvas for him.


Then Cat graduated from UNCC!!! It was a great graduation! She starts her new job tomorrow and we are stoked for her. This was her grad/birthday present <- -

She worked super hard for that degree and now she's in Georgia and now it's not Atlanta, Augusta or whatever Steve and I kept saying. It's Gainsville. No idea why it was so hard to get Gainsville. Gainsville. Gainsville. Gainsville. We did dinner for her graduation at Nicks in Gastonia and had a great time with the fam and friends. Even Dustin's family came!

Between the shopping, getting presents finished and out in the mail, we got to check out Pat and Liz's new house: which is AWESOME!!!! It's so stinking cute. He and Liz did a good job with the floors and decorating. We also got to see our niece (well cousin's - JP - baby, but whatever). She's one solid baby. Weighing in at 25 lbs. she's one solid 9 month old tot. They too are getting a house and will be planning on putting their horse in their future stables. We even got to go out with them all one night. Unfortunately, we missed out on JP's birthday which was last night.

Then finally Christmas - it was perfect. Cat woke me up and we all got to go through the tradition order of things: breakfast, stockings, and then slowly open the presents!! We got a tent, clothes, steve got gold panning stuff, metal detector. We are stoked for all the toys.

I made pat and liz a blanket and I'm stoked it went well because I plan on making many many more. I was surprised how relaxing crocheting is. yea yea "old women" do this, but it's nice.

Knowing this was my last one in Gastonia, I did a lot of reminscing, which makes things nice, puts a smile on your face but also makes it harder to drive away on Christmas day.
As much as I love going home and seeing everyone, I'm happy to be back in my own bed. There is something to be said to wake up in your own bed and doing your own routine.

Just when we recovered from the 9 days in my ole hometown, here comes New Years. We made it to midnight this year, a big woohoo for us! We went to our neighbor's bar and watched them drop the crab pot! Now it's time to get on with the new year. No resolutions except to try and be healthy and active and try new things.

over and out!


We made it one year!
5:12 PM - Posted by Unknown - 2 comments
Yesterday a year ago I married my best friend in the entire world. This time the day was spent indoors, not on the beach with family and friends, while it rained a record amount of rain (so definitely no gorgeous sunny weather either). It rained 6.96 inches! Not being able to get on and off the island easily, our options were drastically limited. a 3 hr ferry ride and Lord only knows how long you have to wait to get back on the island. Many have waited hours. So, we decided to have a simple day together. First, we slept in - to 8am! And, had fancy breakfast consisting french toast and coffee. After a run to the grocery store - the best way to spend your anniversary day, right?, we went to the jewelry store. First I picked out a new chain for a pretty pendant my parents got me for graduation (clasp broke on the original one) and then Steve showed me a few things he saw there the other day. We ended up picking out a pretty sterling silver starfish. After a nap, we got dressed up, well, i got dressed up, and we went out to dinner at Diamond Shoals. We had sushi and talked to our waitress as we were pretty much the only people in the place. After we got done eating, she came out with a piece of chocolate cake and had written "Happy Anniversary" on our plate. We even had to blow out a candle! We ended the night at our neighbor, Bernice's. It was truly a great day. I spent it with my best friend and husband, Steve.