Mexico & new puppies

So I haven't been on here in about two months... I suppose it is time to update what is going on in the Denman household. :)
Daniel was home for Thanksgiving this year which was wonderful!  My favorite holiday.  We invited great friends over to enjoy the feast. Although I do not have those pictures yet, I do have pictures of the table which I am quite proud of.

Then December 2nd through the 9th, we were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  We went down to meet up with my oldest sister, Devonne, and her family along with family friends of theirs.

Delish margaritas that made me muy muy tipsy!

Downtown PV

In the infinite pool... looking right into the ocean

Bliss.

Right when we landed back at SFO, I of course turned my phone on and got a message from my dear friend, Cathy, saying that we were going to the free Kid Rock concert that was on base the next day.  Sounded wonderful to me!  Here are some great pictures from the concert.  BTW, we were so close to him, we could see his stubble! :)

I have not the biggest fan of Kid Rock but his love and loyalty to the troops is so wonderful.  He was thanking us for everything we do.  It is nice to hear that once and awhile.

A few days back and Daniel and I couldn't stand it any longer.  We NEED to go find a little playmate for our Tater bug.  He had been so lonely since our sweet little Beanie passed away this June.  We miss Beans SO much and no other dog could take the place of him but we have so much love to share!  We went down to the SPCA in Vacaville and found the new love of our lives. Now introducing:

Chipotle aka Chips, Chip, Chip-a-doodle, Chipper, Chippy, Chips Ahoy.. We haven't found the PERFECT nickname for him yet.

Now we have our potato themed animals here, Tater Tot and Chip, in their new winter attire. :)

Europe Trip 2010

Well we have been back from Germany for about two or three days and I am finally feeling back to normal (no more jet lag!).

So we decided to try out Space A to get to either Ramstein or Spangdahlem, Germany.  We left the 4th of Oct from Travis AFB and caught a hop to Norfolk, Virginia on a C-17.  That is the first time that I have flown on Daniel's plane and it was a smooth ride.  Once we got to Norfolk around 1 or 2am East Coast time.  We realized that there wasn't any flights that we really wanted to go on or close to where we wanted to go.  Daniel started talking to some retirees that were on our flight over to VA and we decided to rent a van with them and drive about 4 hours to Dover AFB, Delaware.  That was an experience.  So only $66 together we made it from California to Delaware.  Once we got to Delaware, we decided since there wasn't any flights straight to Germany, we would just jump on the flight to Rota, Spain just so we could at least get to Europe.  We flew on a C-5 to Spain.  It wasn't too bad of a flight but at this point we were just exhausted!  Once we got to Spain it was about 5am their time and there wasn't a possible flight to Germany until around 4pm.  We decided to get a room at their Navy Lodge on base just to sleep for a few hours and get a shower.  It was the best $75 we ever spent! Once we got on our FINAL flight to Ramstein AFB, Germany on a C-130 I was exciting! Finally we landed in Germany on the 6th of October.  It was about a 30 hour trip to get there.  All in all, it cost us $141 to get to Europe and it was definitely worth it.

Once we got a few hours of sleep, we were ready to get out and about and explore some more... places we didn't get to go last time we were there.  We went to Trier (LOVE THAT TOWN!), Bitburg, Ramstein, Wittlich, Cologne, but best of all AMSTERDAM!  That town is wonderful! Erin and I took a tour of Anne Frank's house (Secret Annex) which was one of the best experiences of my life.  We also went to the Van Gogh Museum there.  I didn't think I was going to enjoy it that much but it was really interesting.  And I got to see my favorite painting in person which was cool. 

Our trip was so much fun and we were soo happy to be able to see our friends, the Tacbases and most of the Rileys.  Amy was in the States and flew back the day we flew home. :( I got to see her this summer though so I can't complain too much. :) 

All in all, it was an amazing trip and we are hoping to be able to go back very soon!

Thoughts

So I just finished watching the movie, "Julie and Julia", about a woman with nothing exciting in her life until she starts cooking all the recipes from Julia Child's cookbook and it started me thinking.  I am 24.5 years old and do nothing  I don't have any drive for anything.  I have the fleeting thoughts of "oh sure, I could do that" or "maybe I'll try that." but nothing concrete that I am running out the door to apply for that job or go back to school.  It's frustrating when you know are here on this Earth for a purpose but you just don't know what it is. Or rather, you aren't trying to figure out what it is.  I have the luxury to stay at home and be a 'homemaker' if I choose but with no children it isn't very fun or maybe just busy. The ceiling I keep knocking my head against is fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of getting out there and doing something. I always thought, growing up, that I would get married and have babies. Nothing exhiliarating like wanting to become a movie star, or engineer, I just wanted to be a wife and a mother.  And with one of those goals accomplish some 4 years ago and not ready for parenthood, I don't know what to do.  I have an amazing husband who loves me unconditionally and supports me in everything I do.  I quit my fulltime job in May of this year because of the crazy environment and people I worked with and wanted to take some time off and what did he say about it. "Whatever makes you happy." Whatever makes me happy.  I now am at the point where I need to start doing something or I am going to lose my mind sitting at home.  My goal is to get another job by the end of the year.  I am praying that I will be put into the right position at the right time and it is something that I will have an interest in.  I cannot sit at home watching Law and Order and knit all day.  I am not 80! :)  I will find something that I would like to do and interest me. That is my vow.

Washington Part II

The second part of our Washington trip was as much fun as the first half.  On the 8th of September we went to Graham and spent the night at one of our McChord friend's house and met her fiance for the first time which is a good thing seeing as I am a bridesmaid in their November 2011 wedding. :) 
On the 9th of September we spent the night at Daniel's parents' house which was nice to spend some time with them.
From the night of the 10th to the afternoon of the 11th we were in Seattle with the Jones/Mullen family and Jamie came along to spend time with us too.  We went to Red Mill for dinner and had the most amazing burger I have ever had.  Then we went to get delish ice cream at Molly Moons (Theo Chocolate).  After that we went to Kate's Pub for a few beers and some pool.  Um.. I suck at pool.  In the morning we went to Portage Bay Cafe which is an all organic and local products.  It was so delish!
After breakfast we went to our friend, Zach's house for some college football (super boring to me but Daniel had fun) and then had dinner that night at Daniel's older brother with his wife and our two cute nephews, Timmy and Nathan. Daniel bought them Legos and it was fun crawling around the floor with them.  They are very sweet young boys.  That night we spent at Daniel's parents' house again and stayed up a little while watching Wheel of Fortune (one of his dad's nightly rountines!).
We left the next morning on the 13th and drove 3.5 hours away to my best friend from Jr High and High School, Naomi in Gresham, OR.  Daniel made an amazing homemade dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread and a salad.  Her 2 year old son and husband were there and once Noah (her son) warmed up to me, I got to play with him.  He was so sweet and so cute saying things in English and Spanish (his dad is from Peru).
The morning came too soon and we headed out for a ten hour drive.  It wasn't too bad but I just don't like being in the car that long.  We got home last night around 6pm.  With a shower and a quick snack, I hit the hay and slept soundly until 8:30 this morning.  Pure bliss sleeping in our own bed again.
Thank you to everyone who put us up in their homes and who put up with us. :o)  We love you all!

Oh Washington, how I love thee.. let me count the ways

Daniel and I have been in Washington since the second of September and have had so much fun so far. From the 2nd to the 6th we were in Yakima at my sister, Kelley's house.  All of my sisters and their little families came over to Yakima to have our first annual sister gathering,  There was 4 kids, 5 sisters, and 3 brothers in law.  We ate, drank and were merry.  A very cold slip-n-slide one day, game night and a surprise birthday party for our oldest sister for her 30th.  It was so much fun and cannot wait for the next one.  Hopefully everyone can come down to California to us. :o)
The last couple of days we have been at Devonne's.  I always spend so much money when I am here because of the nephews and shopping with Devonne is alllllwwwaayyyyyssss fun but once again so much money!  I love it!
The next couple of days are filled with friends and more family. Cannot wait!

Who woulda thunk it?

So lately I have been wanting to get in better shape. I have been doing okay with eating less and healthy but it's hard.  What I have realized that I really enjoy is running.  Who would have thought?  I am just trying to keep away from the gym.  I want to do enjoyable exercise, not TORTURE which is a synonym for gym to me.  Daniel and I have bikes so we like to go on rides after dinner when the California sun isn't so hot.  We also love taking our puppy/baby, Tater on walks.  Last night I tortured both Daniel and Tater on a four mile walk around the base.  I had lots of fun on the walk but Daniel and Tater (mostly Tater) was pooped when we got home.
But running, awe running... That has become a hobby of mine.  I have gone from not running for years to running about a mile without stopping so much in just a couple of weeks.  I make sure that I don't overdo it.  I mix it up with the biking and walking throughout the week.  I bought new really nice running shoes which always gives me motivation! I just hope I can keep up with it.
My sister, Devonne, is really my motivation though.  She has started running in races.  She started with a mile race during Whaling Days a month or so ago.  She got the fastest time in her age category on her first race! Then just this last weekend she was in her first 5K through the Blackberry Festival and got an amazing 31.07!  I am so proud of her!  I don't know if I am going to get to that point but at this time, I am just enjoy the running. :o)

First time's a charm?

Alright ladies and gents.
I am finally deciding to start a blog.  I don't know if I am going to stick with it but it's the thought that counts right? 
Let's see, what is there it say?
Daniel and I have been in California for over a year now.  I cannot believe we have been here this long already.  We were living off base for the first six months but RIGHT before Daniel's deployment (Feb-Jul 2010) we moved onto base.  Four days before he left!  That made it our fourth move in 3.5 years but that is the military life right?  We are so lucky and fortunate that we got a house on base when we did.  Travis is a HUGE base, bigger than our last one, McChord, and is home of three different military planes.  
In June we lost our first "baby"/mini doxie, Beans when I went home for a week or so and he was in a kennel in a freak accident.  We still miss him soooo much and our family isn't the same without him.  We do have another mini doxie, Tater, who is a rambunctious little guy and so spoiled.  We love him to pieces!
Daniel and I are still getting used to the area around us here but this base is in such a nice place that we love it.  San Fran is an hour away, same with Sacramento in the opposite direction and Napa Valley is about 30 minutes away.  The weather is beautiful but sometimes WAY TOO HOT for me.  I love my air conditioned home. :o)
Daniel is a Staff Sergeant now. For those of you who don't know Air Force rank, he is an E-5.  He is also an instructor loadmaster and is hoping to become an evaluator as well some day.  He works in the training shop in his squadron and absolutely loves it.
As for little old me, I got a job doing the same thing I was doing at McChord (Human Resources for NAF Personnel) down here within TEN days of moving here.  I worked there for nine months and LOVED the work, HATED the environment and most of the people were not my type of people.  Not a good place to be so Daniel and I decided it would be in the best interest of my health and sanity to quit.  I have just been having the time off since then and seeing what I really want to be when I grow up. :-P  I am blessed that I don't have to work to make ends meet and I thank God every day for that. 
This summer/Daniel's deployment, I had a number of visitors which was nice to keep me occupied while the hubby was away.  Lydia was the first to arrive for her visit over her spring break in March. She found out while she was here that she was accepted to the University of Washington this upcoming fall so that was exciting. Devonne and her boys, my nephews Billie (5) and Garrett (1) came in April for a week or so and that was so much fun.  Then I got a nice surprise when one of my best friends in the entire world (literally) caught a hop (military flight) from Germany (where she's stationed) to Travis on her way to her parents' home in Michigan.  She and her three children stayed with me for a week and I was beyond happy.  
Daniel and I had our four year wedding anniversary on June 24, 2010.  We, of course, weren't together but that is okay.  We got to talk to each other and that was enough for me.  
There are a lot of exciting excursions that Daniel and I are about to embark on.  We are driving up to Washington on Sep 2 and going to be there until around the 11th.  We are going to be in Yakima for a few days and all my sisters and their little families are going to be out there as well.  It is just a sister get together and we are going to party like rock stars. :-P  Then Oct 4 or 5th we are going to catch a hop to Germany (possibly a pit stop in Charleston, SC which will be exciting because I have never been there) to see our good friends from McChord.  The two families we were closest with when we were there, both got orders to the same base.  So from the fourth-ish to the 17th we are going to be in Germany and traveling.  We were there in June 09 and absolutely loved it.  Daniel travels there all the time but he liked that he wasn't there for work and was will me.  How precious! :o)  And last but definitely not least, we are going to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at the beginning of December with my sister, Devonne and her family.  I love to travel and to be able to travel with my hubby is better than anything. 
We are so blessed with everything in our lives.  I have gotten to see amazing places, live in great areas, and meet wonderful and lifelong friends.  I am so grateful for  everyone in our lives.  You are what makes us happy. :o)  Love you all!