Two years

It's been two years today.  Two years since Stephen lost his best friend, his battle buddy, his brother.  PFC Conrado Javier was KIA in Afghanistan in 2010 during their first deployment.  Javi was a sweetheart he was a little quiet and shy at first but when he got used to you or was around his friends he was hilarious and always making jokes.  His favorite thing to say was "That's badass!" you heard it All.The.Time. lol he wasn't only my husband's friend I considered us good friend's as well.  He always helped my husband and I when we would argue or have a misunderstanding he knew how Stephen was being affected by the way and he always took the time to make sure I knew that he loved me and just told me to hang in there for him.  He was a light to everyone he knew.  I was able to attend his funeral in his hometown in CA in January of the following year.  It was by far the hardest funeral I've ever been to.  I was very glad though to speak to his mother and hug her and just be with her for a few moments though we couldn't understand each other very well *she speaks Spanish I speak English* but the language difference didn't matter we didn't need words we just knew and we just held onto each other for awhile and we cried together.  It was beautiful ceremony I think about 500 people were there.  The graveside service was just as moving, I can't hear Taps without crying now.  My husband won't ever forget, he won't ever stop talking about him or thinking about him and I'm glad.  He was an important part of his life much more important than I can understand and sometimes I don't think wives can ever really fathom how important that one friend can be to them during a deployment like they went through.  And that's ok I'm just so glad they had each other as long as they did.  

Please if you're reading this today please send a prayer up for Javi's family this day cannot be an easy one for them no matter how much time has passed.  Thank you.

RIP Javier

A Catch up post

 Via

Well the last few days have been all kinds of fun, busy, and disturbingly Hot!  Apparently this weekend will be the hottest we've had in 6 years!  I can't even imagine, since becoming pregnant my tolerance for hot weather *which has never been very good I'm a fall/winter/spring girl all the way* has pretty much gone down to Zero. 

 Via

Well Wednesday was just about the best girls day Ever and I am completely and totally sure of that because I enjoyed myself So much I forgot to take Any pictures, seriously not one I don't even think I pulled out my phone.  It started out with mom and I getting ready and husband bringing us burger king breakfast *can you say guilty pleasure?* then we headed over to my aunt Dianna's house and we all piled in her van after hugging and laughing *when we're together we sound like the witches from Macbeth cackling and stuff except we sound like we've also been smoking for 40+ years when none of us has ever smoked lol* and oohing and ahhing over each others clothes and hair and what not.  We then went to a quick lunch to Strings for some awesome Italian food and as usual great service *I am there to much the waitress had no problem touching my stomach as soon as we told her I was pregnant and telling me to bring sonogram pictures next time* after completely Stuffing ourselves we got to our real destination the little beauty supply store that also sells Miche Bags it turns out Miche is going back to only parties and online sales so everything was 40% Off we were sooo excited we each ended up getting a purse and a cover at a crazy good bargain!  I have to say a HUGE thank you to my mommy who got me mine she is so sweet!

This is a really bad picture of my Miche with the cover on, I Love it!  A better one will come!

Then we went to a book store, thrift store, walmart and did a little shopping, Kmart, then Lowes to get me an Air Conditioner *because ya know I'm a grown up now* after that we decided to drive an extra hour just to see a movie!  We got there in plenty of time to get movie snacks like nachos, popcorn, and soda.  And saw the most amazing movie, it was so sweet and so good!  Perfect for any married couple, girls our with their friends, or anyone who is likes to see a real marriage portrayed and see what it takes to keep a real marriage going we saw the film...

Hope Springs

 

Via 

Another amazing Meryl Streep movie and Tommy Lee Jones was as fabulous as always!  Steve Carrell was hilarious and just perfect for the part he played.  You laughed, you maybe cried, you walked away touched with a perfect sense of what real Love is.  That it's not just fuzzy feelings and chemistry, it's hard work, forgiveness, respect, listening, and most of all commitment.  Not just commitment not to cheat or do someone wrong but commitment to work through any problem or obstacle that comes your way.

 

We ended the night with a couple quick stops at Marshalls and Ross, it was an amazing laughter filled day and night with my two best friends ♥

Via

Now today my dad and my husband are hooking up our brand new air conditioner and thoroughly destroying my house...but that's ok lol anything to help with 107 degree days.  Stephen and I have a big to do list today we're going down to the bay area tonight and staying in a hotel and then tomorrow morning going to Mountain View where he does his Reserve duty for 'Family Day' on our extremely limited budget.  Now I've never actually been able to go to any family day like events while he's been in the military because I was almost always a few continents away.  I'm very very nervous but so happy that I can be there for him.  I just want to make him proud and fit in as normally as possible.  Standing out can be bad lol.  But also I'm a little nervous because he wants to try and stay the whole time from 9-3 because he feels weird about leaving early *I'm pretty sure they wouldn't stone him or anything but hey I'd be a bit nervous to if I was still the new guy* but I have to look at this realistically I'm like 4 months pregnant I get hot Very easily and that's quite a while to be outside for me, and not only that but I tend to get sick...All.The.Time. I just don't want to embarrass him, I want to be a help not a hindrance.  So I would really appreciate some prayers!

My 21st Birthday! All 3 parts!



So my 21st birthday was on December 8th.  I did no drinking on this day, at all.  Instead I had the house to myself and did a little pampering and primping!  My husband was out in the field shooting expert with something or other and I was pretty sad about not getting to talk to him on my birthday again (let alone ya know actually BEING with him on my birthday).  But then I got a surprise phone call and low and behold he got back on time to talk to me for a few minutes!  It deffinitely made my birthday!  After that I got stuff to make cookies and a cake (with my dad, its a tradition I have NEVER had a store bought cake ever we always make it together), then my family and I went and picked out a Christmas tree!  I opened some gifts (my favorite present was the COMFIEST pair of slippers I've ever put my feet into!) so all in all a GREAT birthday!

The next night (friday evening) I went with my mom and my aunt Dianna and had a girls night at a local casino with lots of adult beverages for myself!  By the time we finished I had a spectacular buzz (my mother would call it rip roaring drunk) and 55 dollars more than I had walked in with!  So we did what any 3 married women out on a friday night would do...we went to Dennys...at 4 AM.  And let me just say WAY to many people in Dennys...I had an excuse I wanted to know why on earth they were all there???  And I inquired...loudly...and they loved it...no big deal im like a Dennys rockstarrr!



So I though, awesome birthdays over now time for christmas...or is it over?!?!?

Nobody in my life has EVER been able to surprise me (I mean like surprise parties or gifts) partly because I'm nosey and paranoid and partly because I'm a genius (mostly the latter) well guess who finally surprised me???

THATS RIGHT!  My husband!!!!...and I know I know but sorry girls back off he's all mineee ;) lol but he did it with help from two of my bestfriends, my mother and my bestie Lauren!  On monday I had a one of a kind, wonderful surprise party!





It was amazing, I had a little tiara, balloons, my aunt and my grandma were there!  My favorite resturaunt, wine, sparkling wine (thank you Lauren), ROSES, a cake, and a couple presents from Juicy Couture!  But the most amazing thing was that fact that they all got together and did it FOR ME, I didn't have to plan it, pay for it, organize it, plant the seeds in anyones head, I did NOTHING.  My husband knows I get down around my birthday because i plan all my friends and families birthdays and they are always amazing!  But when it comes to my own I have to do it every year and it never turns out even remotely how I want it.  Always made me kinda sad I had to do it for myself.  Well the love of my life wasn't having it this year and got my bestfriend (who lives in OK now and is currently back visiting, YAY!) in contact and said something he wanted to make sure happened and voila!  A surprise Marie the world has never seen :) Lauren cried twice, I got a buzz, got to hang out with almost all of my favorite people, and eat my favorite italian food...what is not to love???

I loved it all, and I am so in love with my husband it's ridiculous!