family and food.

The holidays are full of wonderful stories and gifts and games and laughs, but this year the food is what is going to make a lasting impression on my overflowing belly. We have been eating like kings (and queens). I feel ready to be back in my own kitchen (jobless), and cooking up a storm. But before that happens, we have a week in Topeka to enjoy family and friends. Omaha was good to us. We had a very enjoyable week with family and a few friends (Campbells, Martins, Brook, Mar, Anna, Derrick, and our Southridge family) ... and a chicken feast, soup night, Chinese, chili, enchiladas, and pizza (and all of the sweets I am embarrassed to mention). We were also able to see Grandma and Grandpa Gussy, which of course brought lots of laughs and a competitive card game.

Thus far, Topeka has brought a huge family get-together, Christmas, and an Italian feast, and a mexican buffet. Also a quick trip to Oklahoma, and babysitting baby (who's not such a baby anymore) Jude! The rest of the week includes hanging out with mom and dad Lynch tomorrow and Thursday (hopefully a KC trip, and more amazing food--french toast, mmmMMMm) and spending time with Wes and Ash all day Friday! I truly have wonderful in-laws. [We'll see some friends in between.]

Christmas snow.

Tonight is our first Lynch family Christmas (family = John and Tenisha). I can hardly wait for John to get home. I was off early due to the snow (so appropriate since we are celebrating our Christmas tonight ... who doesn't want snow on Christmas ... whether it's the 25th or "Christmas"). And I have been patiently waiting for John. I have cleaned both bathrooms, packed both suitcases, vacuumed every room, washed our sheets, finished all the dishes, and dusted our room. Only have the living room left to dust, and the house will be ready to leave (it does make sense to clean before leaving). 

I am proud to say we have not turned our heat on yet.

I have never been quite this into Christmas (4th of July and Thanksgiving are my holiday favorites). BUT this year is different. I have been saying Merry Christmas to John at least ten times a day since the day after Thanksgiving. This year I have a family (a very pint-size family consisting of John and myself) to start new traditions with. Although I love my mom’s traditions (mainly the ah-mazing chicken dinner on Christmas), it is fun to start our own. Funny all this talk, and really I have no idea what our Christmas tradition(s) will be. Guess I will know after tonight. 

happy birthday ... to me.

Well, I am a year older and I feel a year older. This birthday was not the same without a birthday party (thrown by myself, of course). BUT it was a good birthday, other than having to work. When I picked John up he came out with beautiful flowers in hand. Then took me to Cheesecake Factory, where we both enjoyed the best meal ... starting with avocado eggrolls, followed by our main courses (Burger and sweet potato fries for John/Bang-bang chicken and shrimp for me), and completed with a Snickers cheesecake. OUTSTANDING. Needless to say, we had lunch and dessert for the following day. I also received letters/presents in the mail! Nothing better than that. Oh, and a North Face jacket from John that I am in love with (that's both John AND the jacket that I am in love with).

John has been doing Land Navigation at school and is enjoying being "lost" in the forests of TBS. I have been contemplating quitting my current job and have also applied to substitute teach (much more in my line of business). And our blender has broke.

In other, more uplifting news, we added to our Christmas tree (even put a present under it!) and are ecstatic to come home in less than a week (Nebraska home first, then Kansas home)! AND we have rented Super Mario Bro's for our wii and ... our addiction is back.

Christmas is in the air.

This is one of the few years that I have allowed a tree to be up prior to my birthday. I have a good reason though, we go home in less than TWO WEEKS! So we need time to enjoy our precious, skinny tree. Other Christmas decorations include our new nativity scene which I am loving more every time I see it. The little details are perfect in every way (thank you, Theroults)!

We have completed most of our Christmas shopping (only have three more to buy for ... out of 18). Ahead of the game, if you ask me.

I went back to Nebraska this past week for a dear friends funeral (keep the Batchelors and Jon in your prayers) and left John to fend for his own. He did well. Even got a Tan belt while I was away (they started their Martial Arts training ... not a dress belt). It was good to spend a short amount of time with family and friends but even better to come home to my husband. Probably won't be leaving him again for quite awhile.

There is not much else going on in the Lynch household. John should have a couple "easy" weeks before Christmas then the wonderful weeks in the field will begin (that is when all friends and/or family are invited to come visit and keep me company). Our adventure on the East coast is still greater than we imagined.

so so so thankful

Oh, this weekend! Where to even start? Mom, dad, Troy and Tori got in Wednesday around 2100 and that is not even when the fun started! John was off at 1200 (that is when the fun started) and we did lots of running around to prepare for their arrival ... ya know, last minute things like finding and buying a baster and placemats. Not a lot happened Wednesday once they arrived (other than the exchanging of plans, excitement and hugs). 


Thursday, wow. Let's first say, I thoroughly enjoyed hosting Thanksgiving and would gladly volunteer again. Sadly, I do not have photos of all of the side dishes. But I am good at lists. Our menu:  Creamy mashed potatoes (with one sweet potato for added sweetness), sweet potatoes with pecans and parmesan, green beans with bacon and mustard vinaigrette, whole wheat rolls, grandma Olga's mac-n-cheese with creamed corn, homemade cranberry sauce (John's doing, and soooo good), stuffing with jalapeno's and cheddar, and of course, the turkey. I only stuffed the turkey, John grilled it, and my dad carved it (along with John). Mom just helped on just about every side dish! 

Such a great lunch. And pies to follow. After the turkey wore off, we headed to the Marine Corps Museum. It sure is nice! We walked around for quite awhile, got lost several times, and learned a lot! 


The following day (or shall I say BLACK Friday!) was quite eventful. We stayed up and got to the mall right at midnight to be the first to grab all of the deals. We made out like bandits, after 4.5 HOURS in the mall!! It was by far thee most intense Black Friday I have ever experienced, and I have experienced one every year since I was 12. We shopped till we were literally dropping (as was everyone else at the mall, quite funny to walk around and see random groups of people sitting up against walls at 0330 half asleep IN THE MALL). Needless to say, we came home to great naps (or sleep?) after all of our deal findings. The rest of Friday was a blast. We again went out to shop (this time we left John and Troy sleeping, but Dad came!). Just did a quick one. Then the Husker game of course. Then for a third time, mom, Tori, and I went shopping. Most shopping ever in a single day, insane. We made three homemade pizza's that were delicious and played "Fish Bowl" and we all laughed till our stomachs hurt (mainly at John and Mom). Sadly, the boys took the win. [Tori has great video of the game on her Facebook page]

Saturday was tourism day. Arlington Cemetery, White House, Three of the Smithsonian Museums, Lincoln Monument, Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum, Ben's Chili Bowl (restaurant that was featured on TV and we now know why) and then the big DC mall. Quite the day, as Tori put it " 10 hours on my feet. ouch. but sooo much funnnn!" [she has great pictures on her facebook!]
Sad to see them leave Sunday after church, but good knowing John and I will be back in the midwest in three short weeks! My next post will probably be about all of the laundry I have to catch up on ... :) 

thankful.

My family is coming!!! (Well part of my family, miss you Tyler and Lia ... and Lynch's). Mom and Dad, and Troy and Tori will be here in EIGHT short hours. OMG. I cannot wait. I do feel entirely too young to be hosting Thanksgiving- considering I had no idea how to choose a "good" turkey.
BUT I have started my cooking ... mashed potatoes are in the fridge (thanks for the recipe, Car), just need some bake time tomorrow. Apple pie is cooling as we speak. And Pumpkin pie just came out of the oven (John made it, yes, he is home! Has been since noon today). And starting on the green beans! YUMMM.

I have never realized how much goes into Thanksgiving. It has always been my favorite holiday, so I am glad I am elbow deep in it this year.

More to come Monday.

realizing.

Washington, D.C. (and surrounding areas) has everything. We attempted to Christmas shop this evening (after having thee BEST lazy Saturday morning/afternoon) ... we only bought for one person thus far [you, Ash], but we started to discover just how much more this area has to offer (other than all of the outstanding history that we have only briefly touched). For instance, when you type in our zip code to the Crate&Barrel website, there are nine that are "close." INSANE. Two of which are outlets (none of which we have been inside of yet). We also experienced quite the sushi night (and boy we have missed sushi!). At one of the malls in McLean there is a sushi restaurant that has a conveyer belt with tons of different sushi and nigiri. You simply sit around the belt (bar like seating) and grab the plates of the sushi you want. Each plate is colored to represent a price ($5 being the most expensive), then when you are all finished they find your total price by adding your colored plates. It was something else! And sits right in the middle of the mall, between the escalators. Wish I had a camera with me. Otherwise things have been quiet around here. John was at the Rifle Range all week and did GREAT! He amazes me. I have just been working and doing homework. OH! And we bought plane tickets home for Christmas! We are missing ourselves some Vandament's and Lynch's time (and Backhouses and Varneys).

I have lots of homework before Thanksgiving and John has lots (well, two) of late nights before his time off ... which is quickly approaching and I am realizing I have not practiced many of the dishes I had wanted to. We have no set plans as of right now, other than to enjoy good food and each other. We shall see.

just a quick note ...

to say that, if you are going to take your 14-16 year old son to Starbucks, make it a legit date.

I am sitting in Starbucks working on homework (I have been here entirely too long) and in walks a Mother (I'd guess she is in her late forties) and her Son (or some teenage boy who looks like her). The Son has in earphones. They order fun drinks (or some drinks that look awfully fun compared to my herbal tea) and sit down. After sitting for roughly five minutes, with no words exchanged, the Mother gets on her cell phone. The Son sits across, still with his earphones in. They sit like this, across from each other with no real contact for over twenty minutes. It makes me sad. Mothers, take your Sons on meaningful dates, as if they were Brad Pitt and you are their biggest fan. I hope I have Sons. Either way, I have a Brad Pitt I am waiting to on to get home from the Rifle Range, and I really am his biggest fan.
[note: pray for John boy this week, he has his Rifle Qualifications, with rain in the forecast]

weekend, weekend, weekEND, WEEKEND!

A recall of this past, wonderfully, long weekend. John was off at 1230 on Thursday for Veterans day. We went straight to Arlington with the Monroe family. And let me just say, there is no other place to be on Veterans day than Arlington cemetery. It was breathtaking. I have been to an American cemetery in North Africa and it blew my mind, but Arlington, oh my. We attended a ceremony to Honor and Remember those who have passed. John and I then went our own way and journeyed through this breathtaking cemetery that holds so many brave men and women that paid, and continue to pay, our freedom.

We have only touched the iceberg on history on this wonderful East coast, but we had a good start. Glad we still have so many months left here. So much to see and do. I think Virginia is going to be a favorite location to be stationed. We finished Thursday with a delicious dinner at Bonefish, again with the Monroe family.

Friday was everything a Friday should be. Sleeping in, big breakfast at home. Bumming around. A fantastic dinner at J. Brians. And J. Brians will be had by anyone who comes to visit us. It was the kind of restaurant where you don't talk to one another once the food comes--the only thing that comes out is "ohhhooohhh, mmm, yum, my my my, wow, oh." Repeat. And an occasional swapping of forks. Oh, I almost forgot one of the best parts of Friday ... for lunch we made Pigs in a Blanket, with pizza dough and turkey sausage links (John was craving them, I married the best man). 

Yesterday (Saturday) we took a motorcycle ride to Tyson's Corner. And the best description of Tyson's Corner is --- nyc in a three story mall. It has EV-ER-YTHING! We didn't shop much, just enjoyed the trip there and checked out what they have (they have a Banana Republic Petites STORE, and an Ann Taylor Petites... whole stores, people!). John introduced me to West Elm which is my new favorite store. We enjoyed West Elm, each others company, coffee from Starbucks, then took the ride home. 

And it did not stop at Saturday. Today we attended a church that we have enjoyed more than any other thus far. Made a quick trip to base for uniforms, haircut (John), and a few groceries. And grilled .. shh, don't tell ... fish and asparagus for lunch. YUM. And attended our Bible Study and enjoyed ourselves there as usual. And now we are here. On the couch typing on two computers, smooching every once in awhile.

Ball (and the 'do)

This weekend has been one of my favorite to spend with my hubs. It started off a little rough- Friday John had his first day out at the range. Had to be on base at 0430 and did not get home till 2030 (8:30pm, Brook). But once he did get home, he met me at a dinner event where a wonderful General gave his testimony and a word of wisdom to the younger christian Marines present. We slept in Saturday, then started getting ready for the Ball. John got a high and tight and I followed in his steps and got what my brother would call a "Halle Berry haircut." John loves it, and I think it is SO fun. We continued to Richmond, VA for the Ball.

In my own opinion, the Birthday Ball was just a little above par. In John's opinion it was "a great time of something." There was a birthday cake, but we did not get any. Due to the fact that we were the newbies, our tables were downstairs. As the actual event took place upstairs, we watched on two large screens that often just showed the logo of TBS. Now, don't read this wrong, it was not in anyway a bad experience. The speaker was engaging. Though I can't recall his name, he made me laugh and forget how hungry I was. The rituals that took place were evocative. The food was plentiful, and most was quite tasty. And the company was what made the night.

The rest of this week will include three working days for me, three 0430 mornings for John (and probably late nights). Squad leader for John (for the next three weeks-more to come). More shooting, which he seems excited about. Good news is he has a 96 this weekend (that is, he has 96 hours off ... four days). We are still debating what we will do- NYC, DC, Virginia Beach ... love the east coast.

much ado about the week

Isn't he handsome?

Where to start. Let's start with John because I am convinced his days are more exciting. It is only Wednesday and this week has already held so much for my Marine. He had inspections for his Blues. Had a three mile hump (that's a hike) with 70 lbs on his back. Was issued his riffle. Had his first BIG test (which he, of course, passed with flying colors after studying this past weekend). He had to retype his autobiography in a different format. Did the O Course back-to-back (O stands for obstacle). Started his days at 0530, 0600, and 0700. Not too horrible. And the latest he has been home this week is 2000 (knock on wood for tonight).

As for me, I have been to the dentist (2.5 hours spent at the dentist, they are thorough to say the least). Other than the dentist, I have started a job! That's right people, I am a working woman again. And let me tell you, I have been ruined, I like being a full time wife better. I am working at Aquia Christian (mentioned previously) as a "teacher" of the students who still wear diapers--infants. It has been interesting thus far. I start at 0700 and am off around 1600. Not too bad of a day, and surprisingly they have gone fast (they = two, I just started Tuesday). I walk to work, walk home for my hour lunch break, walk back to work, and walk home for the evening. So far so good. I am sure stories will come.

In other news: 

• We hosted a pizza party last Saturday night that had an amazing variety of tasty pizza's! It was quite fun and ought to become a regular occurrence.

• As a couple, we attended a wonderful Bible Study last Sunday evening. They even served us dinner! We broke bread (ate some yummy pulled pork and corn casserole) and studied Galatians with four other couples. Such great company and discussion. We plan to make this a weekly priority.

• John and I are now proud owners of a beautiful ................... cilantro plant! We will see how long the relationship lasts (with the new plant, that is).

• We made crab rangoon. [Special thanks goes out to my fellow Marine wife, Ashley for the recipe.] They were (and still are-we made enough for every meal this week... on accident) AH-ma-zing.

That should about catch us up (this has to be the last time I wait almost a week between posts).

it's almost 2200 and no husband.

It's almost the weekend, and boy is it needed. Good news, I found a dress for the Ball. Horrible news, John is not home. It's almost ten here and he is still waiting to be secured on base. Which means it will be at least another thirty minutes. Tough night, but the Shrimp Tacos are smelling good and waiting for that husband.

spouse orientation

I had planned on writing this yesterday (Tuesday) evening, BUT John got home at 1730! It was wonderful to have him home before dark. We went for a run, made pizza dough for a Country Pie, made the Country Pie (John thought of it as a piece of art), ate the Country Pie, chatted with both sets of parents, watched a movie, and were still in bed by 2300.

Yesterday was Spouse Orientation, which was very informative. The best part was John was there with me for the whole six hours! We learned all about Tricare and all our free healthcare that comes with it. The Chaplain did a mini marriage counseling that was thoroughly entertaining. The wives broke away from the husbands for an informative Q&A time with past TBS wives. We ate lunch at the chow hall-much like school cafeteria food, but decent nonetheless. Met a Marine who leads a married's Bible study that we are excited to attend on Sunday evenings! Such a great Tuesday. And it did not stop there.

Though I have not been formally offered the job, I had a promising interview yesterday at Aquia Christian School. It is about a seven minute walk from our apartment. It is primarily a daycare for infants to five year olds, but more of a preschool for the three year olds and older. It would be a nice little job and does not require a car. Not sure how ready I am to start working again. More to come on that in the following weeks.

a little bummed

John was moved to a new platoon yesterday. The reason being they want to keep the platoons somewhat equal (as far as race and specialty are concerned). He was pretty bummed. The two weeks of meeting new friends has now started over. And Monday starts Phase One of TBS (We are out of Zero week!). Which means the classroom will get more intense and tests will start flowing from his ears. He amazes me daily.

As for me, new platoon means new wives to meet. I have been quite the social butterfly this week. My "group" of two wives has now multiplied to six. It has been great to get to know these amazing gals.  We are both developing new friendships and are still lovin' everything VA has to offer and as much fun as it has been to hang out with all these new friends who are in the same boat, I am thrilled to have a weekend with John.

my cRaFTy side returns

I had taken an unannounced and unexpected sabbatical from my crafty lifestyle (I haven’t even OPENED my scrapbooking bin since 2009 summer), but am happy to report that as of today I am back in action.  I have started to dream out, draw out, create, build, and make a quilt. Now this is will not be your typical, elaborate quilt most are use to. Instead this is a t-shirt quilt—a quilt of my collection of high school football games, high school clubs, college volunteer programs, college clubs, and mission trip 

t-shirts.

Now that the hard work of the “template” is finished,

it is only a matter of weeks before I will be ready to start sewing. We don’t exactly have a sewing machine as of yet. The plan is to do all of the preparations—the measuring and cutting, and then worry about finding one at a garage sale or thrift store. Which ultimately means we may have an office of squared t-shirts for quite some time… John is yet to learn of all that this quilt will entail.

Speaking of John…he has started week two of TBS (although I believe it’s still a “zero” week). Today I actually got to spend some time with him while the sun was still up—he called and asked Ashley and I to meet him and Mann at the DEERS office for new IDs around 1400. It was quite the treat. We accomplished that and now have our insurance squared away as well. Other than that his week will consist of hearing tests, written tests, PT tests, swim tests, class as usual and other various assignments, tests, and activities. Makes me feel a little guilty that my week will consist of cutting squares...

Feels Like Home To Me...

We successfully made it to Virginia! I love it thus far. Love the tall, skinny trees. Love the cool air and sunny skies. Love the grocery store down the street. Love all the stores only 3 miles away. Love saving money at the commissary. Love spending 2+ hours cooking for John each evening. 

Love our "backyard" 

We are blessed to live by another TBS couple who just recently got married-The Mann's. And when I say live by, I literally mean they are about 100 yards away from us. They have been wonderful. Lt. Mann and John (err.. Lt. Lynch) ride together to school everyday and are thankfully in the same Platoon. And Mrs. Mann (Ashley) and I get together to swap recipe's, watch chick flicks, walk to the grocery store, browse Target, spend hours in the commissary, etc while the men are at school. 

Our first "TBS Spouse event" is in two weeks, which is where we will be able to meet the other married couples going through TBS right now. John's current schedule calls for longer days than nursing ever did! He is up and out of the house by 0500, and returns to me between 2000 and 2100 (that's military time folks!) They say the schedule gets better in the next few weeks, so we are both looking forward to that. 

This is my first day back on the blog, which I guess goes to show I have been keeping pretty busy. Speaking of busy, it's 1925, which means time to start dinner! 

more pictures to come on Facebook soon! 

We're MOVING!

We will arrive in Virginia on October 6th--after hauling our car behind a 16 foot moving truck. That's right ... we are moving ourselves. More to come once we arrive.