Deployment Bucket List

Well, here is my deployment bucket list.  I have it written down in my deployment journal, and will probably add to it as things come up in my brain.  

1. Finish school

2.  Learn to play the piano

3.  Have a slumber party

4.  Road trip to the Outlet Malls (kind of already did this one!)

5.  Run a 5k (I'm thinking of the Color Run)

6.  Learn to sew

I am sure I will be adding more to these.  There are also some unspoken ones I have, but it's a huge jump and only God can pull them off, so I'll leave those between us until it becomes real :)

It's been a while **Picture overload**

Wow.  It really has been a while since I have updated this thing!  I said I would try and keep up with it, and oops!!  I haven't.

I will post to try and update everyone on what has gone on since then to catch you up to today.  I will probably have some separate posts for the longer updates :)

Since our vacation to San Antonio in October 2011, Cooper was bit by a rattlesnake.  We didn't even realize he was bit until he came on the porch, and sat down immediately.  My dad was outside and didn't hear anything.  He usually comes to the porch and barks or walks around, so sitting down was unusual.  We thought he cut his leg at first...until it started swelling.  It was about 10:30pm before we took him to the emergency vet.  That was a horrible time.  The vet scared the crap out of me.  And this boy is definitely not a cheap one!  But he is so worth it :)

This picture doesn't even begin to show how swollen his leg/foot was.  My poor baby.

He HATED being in doggy ICU, but he was such a trooper and loved it when mommy came to visit (which was every day).

The scar on this side of the leg.  He has a little bit on the other side as well, but he healed up nicely.  He will always have the battle wound to let us never forget how close we came to losing our boy!

In November my dad and I flew up to Kansas for my cousin's wedding.  It was SUCH a beautiful wedding. The flight to get there was not so fun.  We had a 6 hour layover because of horrible planning.  Thankfully the ride home was MUCH better.  Here are some pictures of the wedding and leaves changing (my first time seeing them ever!)

She was so beautiful!

Next up is me and Chad's vacation to New Hampshire for Thanksmas :).  We combined Thanksgiving and Christmas and saw his family right in the middle!!  

We helped pick out and decorate the tree

All ready for Christmas!!

We went and saw a show.  It was amazing!

Thanksgiving dinner :)

It was a great trip!

Next up was Chad's and my vacation to Fredericksburg, Texas.  It was a great vacation. 

Our cute little B&B

We went to the National Museum of the Pacific War.

We did a lot of hiking on this trip as well.  It was great, even though I was sick.  I had gone to the ER a few days before to find out I had a bad cold (worst ER experience ever...first one actually.  That's another story for another day).

Since then I have helped some friends get engaged.  It was so beautiful and perfect!

I've gone to several graduations, had a lock-in with the youth, and several other things.  I'll update more later!

Best Weekend Ever!!

Chad and I were able to go to San Antonio for the weekend.  His best man was getting married, and he was the best man in this wedding.  :)  We both agree that it was one of the best weekends we have ever had together.  One of the best trips!

We had the rehearsal dinner on Friday night, where I learned to Armenian dance.  It was great!  They said I got it really quickly, and thought I did well.  They tried to get me to dance at the wedding, but there was a lot more people there, so I didn't end up dancing.  Then the wedding on Saturday.  We had a couple of hours before the wedding, so we ended up going to a couple of stores, and ate at this AWESOME Thai food place.  The wedding was nice.  I have never felt more like family from people I have never met before (besides online).

Sunday we decided we were going to go to the Wildlife Ranch.  You feed the animals from your car.  It was a blast, and a little scary.  Then we went to the natural bridge caverns.  It was so much fun!  We drive home to find out that we actually DO get to go to New Hampshire and see Chad's family in December!  YAY!  I booked those tickets.  I have to admit I hope it snows so that I can see some and get good pictures :)

Now on to the pictures!!

Beautiful centerpieces.

Loved the cake.

The head table.

Trying to get me to dance, but I chickened out.

Our hotel room.  It's a little messy.  Excuse it please :)  This is the hall way.

Chad being a dork brushing his teeth.

The room.  I told you it was messy.  We had just packed up.

Peacocks.  The beginning of the Wildlife Ranch.

They knew what to do.

An old elk.

These sheep would not leave us alone!

Glad these guys didn't come up to the car.

They had two buffalo.  This guy didn't seem to feel too well.  They didn't come up to the car.

Just look at that face and those ears!

Loved the view.  We were looking for the Zebras.  Oh the Zebras.

And the Zebras showed up!

He didn't want me to leave!  He licked my pants.  Chad and I both were leaning in the center console with our feed cause we each had a Zebra trying to get all the feed!

The Zebras with the car behind us.

They are beautiful animals!

"Excuse me ma'am.  Could you roll down your window so I could get some feed please."

"Pleeeeease"

"I WANT FOOD!"

"I'll smile pretty for food!"

The Rhinos in the cage.  You can kind of thee the one on the left has an odd horn that leans down instead of goes straight forward.

Would you feed an Ostrich that came walking up to you like this?  I think not.  We didn't.

That was as close to the camels that we got.

Very gentle and sweet.

Babies!

Llama!!

teehee!

Cute little donkeys.

Kangaroos.  They didn't get close though.

Beautiful Giraffes!

The Natural Bridge Caverns!

It was really hard to get good pictures, but I finally started to get some.  Even without a flash!

The drought even effected this!  It is usually filled up with water to the white line.

The end!  I hope you enjoyed the pictures :)