BRRRRRRRRRR PT

We started up doing PT again this morning. When I left it was -2 with a windchill of -9. We went for a nice little 2 mile run OUTSIDE. I had frost on my face and hat and neck gaiter, and when it’s really cold out, my eyes water, so I had frozen tears on my cheeks. BRRRRRRRRRRRR But it felt good to be out moving again.

There wasn’t anything going on this morning again after 0930 formation, so my squad leader let me come home. I got some laundry and computering done. At 1300 formation, I found out some good news! I am no longer in Bravo (B) Team, but I’m now in Echo (E) Team. E Team is the Brass Quintet!!!!!!!!!! Yay!! And I’ll also be the Operations rep for E Team. That was good news – I love playing in BQ. After checking with my new Team Leader, he didn’t have anything else for me, so I was done for the day. I went to the PX and got a few things and then home. Ryan was off early today – not much work for them to do, so they send them home early some days. We hung up some pictures and did some other things around the house and then went to get Robbie from day care. We headed into Watertown to go to the mall and we ate supper at Burger King (Robbie’s choice) on our way. When we got home we played for a little bit and the Robbie went to bed and I stitched some.

High: 13
Low: -2

Mommy/Son Day

Ryan had to work today, so it was just me and Robbie. We went to the Golden Unicorn for their breakfast buffet, and as always, it was really good. Robbie had a pancake, 3 sausages, some scrambled eggs, 3 slices of peach, and 2 little donuts. I had 4 pieces of French toast, some cottage cheese, and 2 little donuts. We both had chocolate milk to drink. Then we came home and played with cars, trucks, and balls until naptime. While he slept, I took care of some financial business (refinanced Ryan’s truck from Wells Fargo to USAA at almost half the percentage rate) and then stitched. When Ryan got home from work, we went to our local Chinese buffet place for supper. In the evening after Robbie was in bed, we watched “Jarheads” on HBO and I stitched more.

Oh, and it warmed up today too. Low was -2 and high was 14!

Cold!!!!

The past couple of days have seen temperatures barely above zero. At night it’s been getting down to about -10 with windchills around -20. BRRRRRRRRRRRR Thursday was another nothing day at work. We did have to go back in for a 1300 formation, but once that was done, we were done for the day.

Friday I didn’t work until late. I got a few of my boxes put away and did some stitching. I had formation at 2200 for 2 troop return ceremonies. I think the gym heat must be on a timer or something because after the first ceremony when we were waiting for the second, it sure got cold in there. Both ceremonies went well other than the announcer didn’t know how to read or talk. It sounded like he had never done anything like that before. Not a good impression to make on soldiers’ family members. But at least more soldiers are home now. Oh, if any of you have heard that 10th Mountain Division is going back to Afghanistan and being extended to June, that is correct. But it doesn’t affect me. It is only the 3rd Brigade that that is for. So don’t worry about me having to go back over there.

Well, it’s 0130 – just got home from the ceremonies. I guess I should get to bed. And if you’re interested, the current temperature is -2 with a windchill of -21.

Snow!!!!!!

Yesterday we had a lake effect snow warning. It started snowing around 5 or so and we got about 6 inches by this morning. When I went out to shovel in front of the garage this morning, there were no less than 4 or 5 snowblowers going in the neighborhood. Ryan joined them soon after and took care of our sidewalks and the area by his truck.

After formation this morning, I went to Clothing Sales and bought a new Class A uniform. The ones I have, I’ve been wearing for 7 1/2 years since I got them at Basic Training. They’re pretty faded and old looking, so I decided it was time for new ones. Getting them took about an hour of the morning and by the time I got back it was about lunchtime. I came home and had a fried egg sandwich and other stuff for lunch – after a stop at the Post Office on my way home. After lunch, we had formation at 1300 and had an awards ceremony. The band members that had to leave Afghanistan early for one reason or another got their awards, and everyone got their medals. All got the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, some got the Humanitarian Service Medal, and a few got the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Once we were done with that, we were done for the day. I stopped at the grocery store on my way home for a few things for supper, and then computered the remainder of the afternoon.

Supper was chicken & veggie noodle soup. I did it in the crockpot. I used a bunch of leftover chicken, chicken broth, a red pepper, a yellow pepper, 1/2 an onion, 2 cloves of garlic, carrots, and some spices. About 1/2 hour before we ate, I added some frozen peas and the noodles. I used bowtie pasta, but Robbie said they were butterflies. Works for me! I also made some cornbread muffins to go along with the soup. Ryan really liked it and ate 2 huge bowls full. He’s going to take some of the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

After we got Robbie to bed – he didn’t want to go and was fussy most of the evening again – I crocheted on a baby blanket for a friend.

High: 30
Low: 1 (current temp)

Church, Football, and Stitching

We went to church this morning and got there just after the service had started. There was a quadruple Baptism this morning – four children from the same family. It was a good start to the service! Robbie was a good boy again, and colored quietly in his coloring book most of the time. But anytime we stand for something, he holds his arms up for me to hold him, and he “sings” when we’re singing. We talked for a while after church with Ian and Emily (Emily is doing much better – still has a little bit of pain, but it’s getting better every day) and then we headed to Applebee’s for lunch. Then it was some shopping – new jeans for me and Ryan and a few other things. When we got home it was naptime, but I don’t think Robbie slept at all. He sure was fussy when we went grocery shopping later and during dinner preparations. We had breakfast for dinner – scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausage. Bedtime was early for Robbie since he was sleepy and fussy, and then we watched the AFC Championship game between the Colts and Patriots. I got a good bit of stitching done during the game, as well as making my weekly phone call home to my parents. And the Colts won the game! Yay Colts!

Off to bed now. . .

Low: -6
High: 12 (current temp)

Saturday!

Today was sleep in/special breakfast/play day! Ryan let me sleep in this morning – I slept until 7:45. I know to some of you that’s not sleeping in, but when you’re up at 5 or 6 every morning, it is sleeping in. LOL Once Robbie was awake (about 8:45 or so), I made cinnamon rolls for breakfast. They were good. Even Robbie ate 2 of them. Then we spent the day playing – blocks, balls, cars/trucks, etc. I also did some computer stuff, and during naptime I stitched some. In the evening I had to go out to post for a Troop Return ceremony. The band’s commander and other 3 soldiers that were left behind came home tonight, so the whole band is back now. The ceremony went well despite the sound system not working, and after it was over, we uncovered the band’s guidon, officially marking our return! Once I got home, I looked through a few catalogs, uploaded some pictures, and checked my message boards. I’m off to bed now.

Here are a few pictures of our house and the snow we got the past couple of days.

Snow to end the week!

Yesterday was our Solider Readiness Check day. We had to be at the soldier service center at 0830 for a briefing and some inprocesing and then was the long wait for the medical part. I waited in line until almost 1300, and finally got into medical. They read my TB test from Tuesday, took some blood for a mandatory HIV test, checked vision and hearing, talked to a behavioral health guy and a health care provider. All of that was quick – I was done about 1345 and was able to head home for the day. Once home, I got some stuff done around the house and computered and made supper. We had tacos.

This morning it was snowing more, and continued pretty much all day, but off and on. We have maybe 2 or 3 inches now. It was a do nothing and boring day at work, but we did get to finally make music. We had a rehearsal for tomorrow’s welcome home ceremony and that went surprisingly well! Once we were done with that, we were done for the day. I came home for a while and was just about to get into the shower when Ryan called and Robbie’s daycare teacher had called him. Our poor little guy isn’t feeling well, and he was having a hard time breathing and eating and was couging and couldn’t sleep. So I headed out to get him, and on the way there I managed to get him a doctor’s appointment for just a little bit later. After I picked him up, we headed out to post to the doctor’s and didn’t have to wait hardly at all there. Robbie was a very good boy and it was deemed that he has a small sinus infection. So we waited in line at the pharmacy for his antibiotics for that and then came home and played until Ryan came home from work. Ryan snowblowed our sidewalks when he got home, and then we had the chicken and potatoes that I had done in the crockpot for supper. It was really good. I baked some chocolate chip cookies (from pre-made dough that Ryan had bought from someone at work that was selling it for a fundraiser). I should have taken a picture of Robbie after he had eaten one. LOTS of chocolate! After he was in bed, I stitched for a while.

I’m off to bed now, too. I wonder how much snow we’ll have in the morning.

Low: 27
High: 31

Back to work

Yesterday morning was our TB test – the plant anyway. They’ll read them on Thursday. After that we didn’t do much – just waited around for a while for information about the rest of the week and that was it. After we were done, I went into town to Michaels to exchange something and get something else. And then back home to get stuff ready for the Post Office, and then I went there. Mailed some things, got a couple of money orders, and picked up my last 2 boxes mailed from Afghanistan – had to sign for them since I insured them. I was home by 12:30 after all that. I spent the afternoon doing some stuff around the house, got supper going in the crockpot (cooked on high), computered some, and crocheted some before I went to get Robbie from daycare. Dinner was good – pork chops with a sauce made from cream of mushroom soup, cream of mushroom with roasted garlic soup, cream of celery soup, and worstershire sauce. The pork chops were nice and tender after having cooked all afternoon. We had mashed potatoes (fake ones) and corn with it as well. After bedtime for Robbie, I crocheted more.

Today we actually “worked” all morning. After formation, we chopped/scraped/shoveled and otherwise removed the ice from all the sidewalks around the band buildings. I also went to the optometry clinic to get my glasses adjusted and now they don’t hurt my ear and nose. I was let go for lunch about 10:45 and I came home and got a batch of laundry started and Robbie’s clean clothes put away. Had to be back for 1300 formation, and the only thing that happened there was information was put out about the rest of the week. And then we were done. Yay. On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store for milk, cheese, and pepsi, and stopped to pay our water bill for the quarter. When I got home, I did more laundry, vacuumed the house, and balanced my checkbook. It was a productive afternoon. I made tacos for supper and as usual, there weren’t any leftovers. We played for a while and Robbie had a little thing of ice cream for a treat before bed. Then it was crochet time while we watched tv.

Overnight low: -12
Today’s high: 14

Ice and Yuck

So much for the snow we were supposed to get. It sleeted and rained all day and it is a mess out there. We probably have an inch of ICE in our yard. I was off from work today for the MLK holiday and daycare was closed, so Robbie and I stayed home and played. During naptime, I stitched a little bit on my first of hopefully 12 (or more) ornaments for the year. I also did some computer stuff. I also took some pictures of all the ice we got:

Ryan and Robbie had pizza for supper, but I didn’t eat anything. Last night my tummy started hurting and I was up part of the night being sick. My stomach still didn’t feel like food although I may try some dry toast or something in a bit. After supper we had bathtime, and I got a couple of pictures of Robbie playing with his new bath fun toy: And I got a VIDEO of him playing, too.

Church!

It sure was nice to go to church as a family again this morning. I enjoyed my chapel services in Afghanistan, but nothing beats being with family. Robbie was very well behaved and even sang some during the hymns and other singing times. Everyone at church was glad to see me back, and Pastor welcomed me back during his announcements. After the service and Robbie’s cookie time (Ryan and I didn’t have any), we stopped at a few places to do some shopping and then went to Wendy’s for lunch. We headed out to Post to the PX for a few more things and then back to Best Buy where we were able to get much cheaper flat screen monitors than what they had at the PX. We got 2 (a 17″ for me and a 19″ for Ryan) for just a tiny bit more than one 17″ would have been at the PX. Of course, they only had TWO models available at the PX, so not much to choose from. Once we got home, we set our new monitors up and boy do I have a lot of room on my desk now! I’ll be able to pay bills, balance the checkbook, write letters, etc. without having to use the about 2 inches of the front of my keyboard drawer that I had been using. Of course, it’s more space to collect clutter as well, but I’ll just have to not let that happen.

After playing for a while, we made pigs in a blanket and mac & cheese (pigs n’ cheese) for dinner. Robbie helps us set the table. After Robbie went to bed, I stitched on a piece and finished it. I’ll have a picture tomorrow – too late and tired tonight.