let the count down begin.

Less than ten weeks until John graduates. I cannot believe how fast our time here in Virginia is going. We have made such great friends and have got to know the area so well for only living here five months thus far. Virginia has been great to us. It's the thing that lets me know all the other moves to come will be completely a-okay.

Anyway, let's catch up. Better start with John's week out in the field. He has not said much about it. Other than the first half was apparently worse than the second half. It didn't get below 30 degrees at any point, which is great news. But they didn't get much sleep (other than one night where he thinks he got close to seven hours!). Other nights he was up every two hours. I will try to pull some more stories out of him. And I made it through Thursday and Friday. Friday I picked up a new friend named Annie from the airport and ran into a hometown (as in Bellevue) friend at the mall (so random and great).

So. "Valentines Day" turned out to be fantastic. We did dinner Saturday at a Thai restaurant, played Banana Grams afterward (I won four games straight ... we'll say it's because he was exhausted), then a movie (which we both fell asleep to). Sunday church and a massage. The massage was great. A whole hour! We both felt like we could have gone straight to bed right after (before the sun was down). It was a great Valentines day treat, may even become a tradition for the holiday. And Monday John had OFF so we celebrated more. I love three day weekends. I think every weekend should include Monday. It makes that next Tuesday-Friday doable and even enjoyable. But it makes that next five day week seem way too long. So as expected, we enjoyed our three day weekend (well more like 2.5 day weekend ... John didn't get home till mid morning Saturday, but that just means I had time to make a breakfast).

Tuesday-Friday was not extremely eventful. Some highlights include: Annie stayed with us (same Annie I picked up from the airport ... she's newly engaged to one of John's friends in his platoon), we filed our taxes! (now watching the bank account for our return), John got to "blow things up" out in the field, I had one day of subbing (fifth graders are not too bad), John was home around 1600 both Thursday and Friday (I'm trying to forget the 2030 arrival on Tuesday), I made some enchilada's for the first time (turned out great).

And here we are at another weekend. Gosh, I love having him home... even if it's just to stare at him while he does his homework. Ahhh, weekends. 

less than 48 hours.

It's almost over! Well, I have made it to Thursday. Barely. I subbed Monday (Valentines day) for just a half day and loved the class. Then came home to a bouquet of lilies and LOVED those. Have I ever mentioned how wonderful my husband is?

"The hardest thing about this week is missing you. Six days of love from your husband."

Such a great surprise. I was like a giddy junior high student who finally got a hello from her crush. It was wonderful. I have read the card about five times a day. This week has surprisingly gone by quick. It is the going to bed part that I am just no good at without him. I need him, I love that I need him. I subbed yesterday (Wednesday) which was great mainly because it makes falling asleep at a decent time possible (after being on my feet all day and using my brain too much trying to figure out how to explain 3/4 to nine year old kids). The class wasn't too bad. Typical talkative third graders. I was told that I am gaining quite a good name in the district, which means I should be "requested specifically" now (fingers crossed). Then last night, got a call to sub for the band/chorus class (the one I subbed in last week) for tomorrow! AND for dates in March, which means she specifically requested me!! Very exciting news.

Today is being devoted to preparing for John's home coming. Grocery shopping, cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, washing the sheets, and writing something sweet in his Valentines card. I cannot wait to see that man. I will post an update of his week out in the field once I hear all of the exciting stories. Thankfully our weather has been in the 50's all week!

sad, again.

Well, tomorrow starts FEX II. John is currently on base preparing right now. Then he will spend five nights out in the field.

Five.

As in I won't see him again until Saturday. I may go crazy missing him. He has been rather busy with homework for the last few weeks. Poor guy. He is getting more and more busy as time goes on, and thankfully I have been receiving sub calls (answer to prayers). Last Monday I was a third grade teacher and then a band/chorus junior high teacher later in the week. And tomorrow I will be a fourth grade teacher. Subbing is proving to be quite fun, but I am still more than ready to have my own classroom. Hoping this week brings lots of jobs to keep me occupied. Not that I will have much free time- the wives already have something planned for every night but Thursday and I am sure there will be something planned by then. So very thankful for my fellow Marine wives.

The table at our Super Bowl party!

I cannot believe how quickly our time here is passing. Graduation will be here before we know it.

Back to the FEX ... As we all know, tomorrow is Valentines day. I am a little sad that we are spending our first Valentines as a married couple apart. Don't worry, we are celebrating next weekend. Actually, we both planned the exact same thing. John has said he was going to plan the dinner and such. So I let him be, and decided I would get him a massage for next weekend (perfect after a week of sleeping on the ground in the cold) so I scheduled one ... a couples one, of course. Thought I would give it to him in his card at our dinner he was planning. That was until I saw an internet site that John had up ... for a couples massage. Ha! I tried for awhile to talk him out of it, saying we didn't need to spend the money, I wanted to do other things, etc. It didn't work. He thought I ruined his surprise. So I had to confess that I had already scheduled us one. It is getting harder and harder to surprise each other. We know each other too well, we think alike. Just means we have to get more creative I suppose (good thing he doesn't know about the other gift I got him, creative here we come)!

homework. for both of us.

Homework has been consuming my life. And not just my homework ... John has been having a lot of homework lately. Such as, printing and "laminating" with packing tape (I am now the "laminating" queen). AND working on his order. Now, I do not fully understand this concept, but I will do my best to explain. An order is pretty much exactly what it sounds like - an order. Ha, it gives a run down of the enemy and the plan and everything in between...including the weather, and location of everything surrounding them, what they are to wear, etc. The picture is of John giving me his order. The coffee table is being used as the "map" ... complete with a remote control as a creek and coasters as check points, and the wii remote as a road (I think). Needless to say, it is exciting life - being married to a Marine [Even if homework means no netflix.] We still do dinner and 'the Wheel' as usual, my favorite hour with him (beginning with dinner)... and Oh how I am missing him now! One night down, one to go! I just cannot express how much it stinks to sleep in our bed alone!

At least I have had my own homework to keep me busy! My own homework has not been as successful or exciting as John's. I have been attempting to schedule an observation in an elementary school here for four weeks. The first district told me no. Straight up. The second said yes, only after they received an email from my professor stating the requirements (only one day of observation). Then the 'yes' school told me to contact a specific school in their district. I tried, for one full week. Emailed the contact person, no reply. Called the contact person, "in a classroom" "in a meeting" "will get back to you" (yes, that is three phone calls). So, I called the district, got placed in another school and finally went for my observation yesterday! Today is when I write the analysis. I am half done, but ready for a nap (those TBS wives kept me up way too late last night)!

Other exciting news, I have finally been called to substitute teach! Monday I will be teaching third graders! I was beyond words excited when I got the call. Hoping this means more calls will come. Say a little prayer for that. I need just a little something to keep me busy, even though I truly do love being a stay-at-home-wife. There are just hours in the day that I feel a tiny worthless (all those years of working has destroyed by ability to do nothing). :)

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.