the 26 year old Knight!

card from Jude!

John's birthday was a success! (not that I believe there is a such thing as an unsuccessful birthday, unless of course you don't believe birthdays are a big deal) The big day started with a little surprise breakfast for the still-sleeping John...chick-fil-a...nothing better, in his eyes at least. He was beyond surprised when I woke him up and told him breakfast was ready (which is not too abnormal). He came out and saw the chick-fil-a and was thrilled. Great start to his big day! We then took a break from birthday, and John did a little studying. We went back for more food (back as in, to the kitchen). Then it was present time!! I have been hoarding the cards John has been receiving so he had no idea he had quite a stack! So we did cards, and lots of them ;) ... then he opened his two gifts from me. Pants and shoes (Uggs!) for him to wear that night.... so on to that night. We drove to Baltimore to attend a Medieval Times dinner and tournament with some of John's fellow Marine buddies. It was quite cheesy, but oh so fun! John was knighted for his birthday and given a light-up sword! Ha.

So adorable, he honestly was excited. Our "knight" (green one) lost the tournament, but that did not ruin the night. We still cheered our hearts out and eat until we were exploding. You ate everything with your hands. Everything = chicken, ribs, potatoes, soup, garlic bread, and dessert. 

I think it was great. And John really did love it (the birthday as a whole). Last night he said, "I've never really had this much response on my birthday before," Ha. He is adorable.

So the rest of this week includes John being gassed! (yes, they actually gas them, blurry eyes will happen tomorrow, and John is guessing the blurriness will last awhile...I think it's crazy, but it is "training"). Then Wednesday and Thursday he is out in the field again, leaving me alone at home eating frozen pizza and watching chick-flicks...it's only one night (little chance it will be two)... And Wednesday is when Minute to Win it is on, so I'll have something to enjoy... I am trying to convince myself it will be okay.

shhh... let's keep this quiet.

so. John's birthday is Saturday, as in this Saturday, as in the 29th of January. We are going to a Medieval Times show/dinner in Baltimore (that is not a surprise to him-he chose). But I would love for him to get some love from back home that could surprise him and make his day/week (speaking of his week ... the week after his birthday is another FEX ... booohoooo). He only gets on here about once a week to check on my posts so I am gambling that he will be too busy this week and it'll wait till next Sunday or later. If not, and you are reading this, babe. Darn it.
Back to it ... here is what I am thinking...send him anything- a card, something funny, 26 of anything (that's what he is turning!!), just a text, etc. If you need our address, please feel free to message me on Facebook or shoot me a text. Hope the word spreads.

...and he's back!

John returned safe and sound. He was exhausted, but felt the second half was better than the first half. And boy, was I glad to have him back. He was off semi-early Friday afternoon, so we started the weekend off with a big dinner and a movie at home. Then spent Saturday working out and shopping (and by John's choice...when he is in the mood to shop, we shop). Then we made the best turkey burgers ever! They had carrots and other veggies in them, then a sauce that was to die for and they were perfectly grilled by John. Sunday was church, study time, naps, and Bible Study. Monday (which John had OFF) was our lazy day. No working out, no getting dressed for the day. John did some more homework and we made breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. I love cooking, in general. And I love cooking for John so much! But cooking with John is something I love even more!

Otherwise, not a lot going on in the Lynch apartment. I have still been attending workout classes on base. Pitaiyo is my new favorite. I have also been working on my current class, which is becoming quite stressful. John has been working, as usual. Today he had another Land Navigation test out in the woods and an FBI dinner tonight, the rest of his schedule consists of class time. I have been getting up with him to "help" him get ready. Not sure how much help I actually am, but he sure does love it. Making his coffee and pining his shirt are my two morning jobs. It's the least I can do, considering my busy wifely schedule.

can't sleep

I just can't sleep thinking of my husband out there in the gusty 20mph wind. For those of you who don't know ... this week is John's first FEX (Field Exercise). It is a week in the field where they have an enemy and are acting as a battalion to defeat the enemy (and sleeping in the cold, and not showering, and eating nasty space-man-like food, and painting their faces, and ultimately they are freezing their butts off carrying around 90+ pound packs). Us wives are sad and thinking of our Marines often. John left Sunday evening to stay on base before the FEX. Let me just say I am unsure of how I ever slept 22 years alone. I miss him the most when trying to sleep. He is not next to me as he should be. BUT he did come home last night. I picked him up around 1900 and we went to dinner (after he took a 35 minute shower to wash the paint off of his face), and talked and talked and talked and kissed and kissed and hugged and kissed and kissed and kissed. Then he went back to the field today … till Friday. So two MORE nights ... and I thought the first two sucked ...

I am so thankful for the wonderful Alpha Co. wives I have! I will try to give a report of how he says it went over the weekend, [though I may be understandable busy hanging out with the husband I am missing so much right now.]

What I have been doing (other than missing John): shopping at West Elm, watching “Whip It” and all the Food Network shows, cleaning the bathrooms, shopping at Crate&Barrel, shopping at Ikea, putting together a shelf-thingy from Ikea, game nights with the ladies, laundry, working out daily (love the classes offered on base), sleeping-in because I stay up as late as I can so falling asleep is a little easier, and that’s about it. I still have several things on my FEX-week-to-do-list (that I will, hopefully, accomplish tomorrow). Hurry up, Friday. 

Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday. Hurry up, Friday.

burn victim.

Story of the week: I burnt myself good.

The amount of tape was probably over kill.

So I decided on the tilapia and hash brown dish (mentioned in the last blog) and everything went smoothly … till I started plating it. Let me explain the recipe (which, by the way, was amazingly delicious), you start by browning the hash browns in a skillet on the stove top. You then add some veggies, then finally the tilapia. Once the tilapia is added you transfer the skillet to the oven, and bake the dish till the fish is cooked through. Sounds easy, and it was. So I removed the dish from the oven (no burns there), and put the skillet back on the stove top, grabbed our cool, funky shaped plates, then grabbed a spatula to dish up the fish/hash browns, then grabbed the skillets 350 degree handle for a better grip…OUCH! Let me tell you, it was bad. And it hurt like no other burn has. [I must also mention that I typically burn myself once a week while cooking, but they are usually little tiny burns… on the back of the hand, the forearm, etc. Not on my palm. I blame the fact that I have been out of the kitchen for two weeks.] Oh man, did it hurt. So RN John came to the rescue. For those of you who may need this tip: soaking your burn in milk soothes (but only for about 10-15 minutes). I ate dinner with my hand in milk. The burn... or burns...are better. I only have two blisters left.

good to be home.

The end of our Christmas break was as vivacious as the beginning. Some highlights: eating at The Burger Stand with the family, Just Dance for the wii (videos to come on Facebook), french toast breakfast, lobster dinner and our day of shooting.

Let me first say that I am a horrible shot, but I will gladly blame my small hands for most of my shooting imperfections. I wish I could tell you what all we shot (any Lynch, Backhouse, or Varney can give those details, if known). Regardless, it was a fantastic day with 70 degree weather and quite the shooting crew. 

one lobster for everyone!

New Years eve brought lots of seafood. It brought me back to the first big Lynch family dinner I ever attended. New Years eve, 2003. We had lobster tails and shrimp galore. Troy boy attended with me to hang out with Brett (or maybe for a sense of security) and we all took pictures around the table after dinner. It was wonderful, as was this year. Though I think the food quantity multiplied (along with the number of family members). Then came the goodbyes. Let's just say it is good to know we will have a few visitors during these next five months.

We brought in the New Year with those Eckhardts that we just cannot get enough of. It was a wonderful end to a wonderful year (2010 truly was good to us).

And we are back! Back to the 68 degree apartment (still not turning on the heat), back to the wonderfully cheap groceries at the commissary (where I spent two hours this morning), back to the friends (even a new one as of yesterday!), back to cooking elaborate meals for my hardworking husband (fish pie or tilapia with hash browns tonight), back to the precious Christmas decorations (that are staying up for at least one more week), back to the D.C. malls we will never fully explore... it's so good to be back.

I still have one suitcase to unpack (the biggest one, in fact...this may surprise most of you who know me well). But I have already set up the wii fit, and my slippers have not left my feet. And John has already enjoyed a cup of coffee and was off this morning in his new boots.