A Certain Someone is Coming Home Today

I'm pretty excited about it!

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Deployment Number 2

As some of you know or kind of know, Kyle has recently left on his second deployment, this time to Kandahar, Afghanistan. We're told he will be gone for nine months, but with the military you never really know until they are actually on the plane leaving or returning. This deployment has been and will be quite different than the last, for both of us. I have experienced pretty extreme highs (feeling such kindness on d day, when anonymous strangers paid for our breakfast and friends checked in on me all day) and lows (pulling over on the highway because I was crying) already. But one thing is for sure, I don't think I've loved my husband more (or my cats; they're the best buddies).

Reenlistment Ceremony

On Wednesday, Kyle re-signed his life away to the Army for another two years. So, yes folks, that means we'll be in Texas until at least April 2015. It also means we will likely experience a long separation starting sometime this summer. There was a cute little ceremony and nice words were said about Kyle; I also got an appreciation award (well, Sarah T. McPhearson did), and awkwardly took pictures while the soldiers were doing their soldier thing. Kyle perfectly planned his reenlistment so that he'd have basically a five day weekend (since you get the rest of the day and the next day off when you reenlist, and he already had Friday off). Smart guy, my soldier. 

After getting our names on the papers fixed, we celebrated with lunch at Mooyah, a burger place Kyle recently discovered and wanted to take me to.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

Two Years Ago

I married a good man.

- Mrs. M

Date Weekend

Kyle and I last minute got a spot to go on a free military marriage retreat last Friday through Sunday; I had class until 5pm on Friday and the program started at 4, 2.5 hours away, but they said it was OK if we came late. I had never heard of Great Wolf Lodge and didn't really know what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised when we drove up to hear their own theme song playing outside, and giant wolves welcoming us. This place was pretty amazing, especially for a couple of Northerners living in Texas, who wouldn't expect to see anything moose and forest-themed anywhere near here. We didn't go in the water park at all, but enjoyed the atmosphere and amenities. It was a really nice weekend; the marriage training part was fine, and we had more free time than expected. I doubt Kyle and I would come to such a place ourselves, and spend close to $200 a night, but it would be really fun with kiddos I imagine. The room keys were wristbands (to not be lost in the water park, and I had no sound issues at night. 

lego version of the resort!

awesome as it would be if the wine was waiting for us when we arrived, I brought it from home :)

oh, and there is a Starbucks at the lodge!

Saturday night Kyle and I went to dinner at Rainforest Cafe, which was crazy. I would have loved this place as a kid, though it was pretty fun as an adult and being able to drink their delicious drinks. I do have to question the research that was put into rainforest wildlife in planning this establishment, but I forgive them their inaccuracies. :)

While I did work on homework when we had some down time (Kyle was napping so it was OK), it was the perfect opportunity to get away, before the semester really got going. We got home Sunday early afternoon, and continued date weekend by going to see Silver Linings Playbook (which finally came out here!); I loved it and I think Kyle enjoyed it too. It was a good weekend with my love.

- From the desk of Mrs. M

A Year at Home

Every relationship has its important dates. The day you started dating (April 16,2008  around 1am), the day you got engaged (December 21, 2010 around 1 am...this is the first time I noticed that. I can assure you it was not planned on his part!), the day you get married (March 7, 2011, a Monday morning), and then if you're as cool weird as us, the day you had your wedding party (June 15, 2012, 4pm). For those of us in the military, we also have other days. Days when our soldiers get back from deployment (and days when we have to say goodbye, but those are not the fun dates I'm talking about). Sometimes we don't know what day a redeployment will be until a day or two before. But these are also special days. I was lucky enough to get my husband back right before Christmas last year (December 18, 2011, around 3am). Why do I have a sneaking suspicion our kids will be born in the wee hours of the night? ;)

This year is the longest we've lived in the same town since high school (graduation 2006). I've more than once found myself saying or thinking, "so this is what it feels like," to have a "normal" relationship. Even if our normal includes a constant threat of another deployment, I'd take a normal day with my husband over an extraordinary day with anyone else, any time.*

Check out the video I took last year of Kyle's redeployment ceremony. Or don't. It's mostly shouting and marching and flag waving.

- Mrs. M

*Maybe unless that means a normal day is driving for 12+ hours with unhappy cats for a couple days. Never again!

Mandatory Fun

Yesterday was another mandatory "fun" Army day, where this time we went to Stillhouse Hollow lake (where Kyle and I went camping) and had a bbq. The thing with mandatory fun as the Army does it is that most people do not have that much fun because they would rather be somewhere else, and you have to sit around until you are released at 4pm, while everyone complains and talks about how they do not like the Army. And sometimes they play volleyball. I asked if anybody likes being in the Army, and it seems you only might like it if you are at Sergeant rank or higher. Maybe. I certainly do not understand why the Army works the way it does, why it seems so so much time is wasted instead of, you know, effectively training and preparing our soldiers before sending them off to war. There is such a lack of organization and communication, and it is frustrating for everyone involved. On the other side, it is a reliable job. Anyway, here's some pictures from the scenery at the lake. 

 Kyle is quite talented at skipping rocks. 

S.