First DC Trip

When we got here and found out how the base and living conditions were like we decided to make plans, LOTS of plans! The first was a trip to Washington D.C.. Devin had been dying to see the Vietnam Wall and some of the other things right there in the heart of D.C.. We had no clue how to use Metro or trains or anything like that. We have been strict vehicle owners and drivers so I thought how bad can it be to drive in D.C.. Well, we chose to go on 4th of July weekend, I thought since it was the day after the 4th it shouldn't be too bad but wow was I wrong. It took me so long to drive two blocks and our GPS took us right to the busy streets, then there were people everywhere so it was impossible to see much. We couldn't find parking and when we finally thought that we did some guy looked at us and shook his head so I asked him what and he said no parking. I got very frustrated because Devin didn't know what was going on or how to help and I was driving in circles so finally I started getting really mad and I just drove wherever the road took us, we drove past arlington cemetery and Jefferson Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Wall, and I just kept driving until finally Devin said pull over. So we regrouped and finally found parking. We were able to walk around most of the monuments. It was a little stressful because with all the crowds you have to fight your way through and there are so many people taking pictures it was hard for us to get any without people in the way. We went to the Holocaust Museum and that was painful. I loved it when I went a while back but you couldn't see anything because all of the walkways were crammed full of people. So we are going to make a trip in September when all of the kids are in school and the tourists start to die down. Devin loved the Vietnam Wall, we were there for quite a while because there were some guys talking about all of the different symbols on the wall and what everything meant. We did SO much walking that day but it was well worth it. To finish the day off we decided to go to a D.C. Nationals baseball game because they were playing the Braves and I've always liked the Braves somewhat. We didn't realize how expensive the game could be though! It was $25 just for parking. We also had to try the ballpark food, we had the best nachos ever. The cotton candy was a must and we couldn't survive without water even if it was $5 a bottle! After the game we decided we were hooked! DC Nationals really aren't good at all but if they are playing a good team its fun to watch the Nationals get slaughtered! The picture is of Chipper Jones, I was pretty excited to watch him play.

Washington- Maryland

It took us 3 days to drive the distance. We got side tracked in Spokane and spent 4 hours on the way out shopping. That is one thing Devin and I love to do together and we do it well! We drove from Washington through Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and then to our destination Maryland. I have this thing with taking pictures of the State signs as we go through a new state but the only one that really turned out was Indian since it was a little hard to miss. We slept in two hotel rooms and we were feeling a little cheap the last leg of the trip so we slept in the car at a rest stop the last night. When we got to Maryland I was a little let down I guess you can say. I didn't have the highest expectations coming into this but man it was bad at first. We drove in and the town is WAY ghetto, everything looked old and run down. We got on base and discovered that it was tiny. Devin was told to go to a building that didn't really exist and had to ask around to find the right one. He signed in and all of the officers were very immature and not very well put together. Also they were very unprofessional. We thought that it would be nice to check in to our room and take a nap but man that was a bigger let down. The room was so gross, it was old and smelly, the dresser drawers wouldn't stay shut without Devin propping the bottom up with his flip flops, the noises from the air conditioner were like a horror movie, the lights didn't hardly work in the bathroom and the tub faucet wouldn't stop turning to you had to be very careful so it didn't drip. I was trying to be optimistic so I said it would be ok if we got some stuff to make it pretty, we immediately left and headed to Target. We bought some cute stuff but the room didn't seem to change much. We went to the PX and it was so small and cluttered, not what I'm used to seeing at bases. Anyways, we made the room work for about a week and a half until I had a break down because I couldn't sleep. The housekeeping ladies would stand in front of the door and scream down the hall and the offices were right there so it was so loud all the time. The neighbor across the hall always had visitors and he would talk really loud and then there was a phone that would constantly ring upstairs from us and no one would pick up. After days of that I couldn't stand it anymore. They moved us upstairs to a remodeled room with a flat screen TV and a nice desk, there is even an extra drawer in the kitchen and an extra cupboard. So I cant complain although it would be nice to have a stove. Its ok though I can live without it for another 2 months. I think I'm going to go into a cooking frenzy when I finally have a kitchen. Well, we have both adjusted, I feel a little useless being here not working or anything and I get lonely being away from my friends but there is so much to see and I do enjoy showing Devin sights that I have seen from when I was younger.

The Bird

I almost forgot, when I was in Washington I was driving to Spokane one day and this little bird that had a death wish seriously flew right into my car. I am seriously a freak about avoiding animals at all costs, I will swerve off the road if necessary but this little guy he was unavoidable. He was the first animal I ever killed with a car. Well I take that back, I ran over an armadillo in 2007 and I don't know if he survived or not, it was dark out and I was too scared to turn around and check on him. But they have hard shells so I like to think he made it. Anyways, this bird got stuck under the hood of my car and he was moving still when I lifted up the hood but he died pretty quickly. I was pretty sad for him but I'm ok with it cause I knew it wasn't all my fault.

House/ Pet sitting

I house sat at Grandmas for a few weeks in June. I got there end of May to go through the routine then grandma and grandpa left for Alaska. I had so much fun, at first it was weird cause I had no one to talk to but then I found out that the animals were perfect companions so they heard a lot more from me than they probably wanted. I sun tanned like everyday, I had a nice routine of taking the dog out to go pee, feeding him, cleaning the litter boxes and feeding the cats, taking an hour or two nap, taking care of the horses, watering plants, lunch, sun tanning and then movies. It was a little lonely at times but Tyler was able to meet up with me in Spokane so we had some fun together with the time we had. I talked to him like everyday on the phone, I think of him as one of my best friends. I also was able to talk to Devin a lot so that was nice, he was out in the field quite a bit but it was ok, I struggle for the first week or two and then I just become numb and I do fine for the rest of the time. He found out that he could take some leave in between his training so we bought him a plane ticket to Washington so he could drive with me to Maryland. I was a little annoyed though when I got a last minute phone call from him telling me that the cats couldn't come with us. I thought the whole thing was situated and that we were going to get an animal room but apparently they didn't have any available. I was feeling very stressed thinking great I guess the cats will have to go with me to Alaska and ill have to find a place to stay. I hate the burden the cats present sometimes. Its hard having animals with the college life of moving around and now the army life. Grandma was very understanding though and offered that they stay with her and gramps so they are there and from what I hear the cats are loving it. When grandma and grandpa got back it was earlier than I thought it would be so I was able to hang out with them for a little bit before our big trip to Maryland. Devin flew in, I was so nervous to see him. I don't know why I get all weird but I really get weird. I feel so awkward around him whenever we have to reunite. At first when I saw him I wanted to run away and then he just wanted to hold me but I felt so strange. We spent the night in Spokane then went to see grandma and grandpa again and then headed on our journey.

Road Trip

After graduation it was time to head to Utah for Steph and Jeffs wedding. It was a great time, everything went pretty smoothly except for the cake. Im still upset about how it turned out. It was a way dry day so the fondant kept drying out on me and then it shifted in the car so it started caving in on itself. I wasn't to happy with that. Also we were planning on leaving and going on a road trip to visit all of my family one last time before our big move to Alaska but then we found out our car was jacked up. The whole frame was bent and cracked and everything else that could be wrong with it was. Devin decided we should buy a new car. I was not excited about that AT ALL. I hate spending money on big things. But Devin won so we bought a used 2006 Lexus RX. Its really pretty and very nice, just a little more than I think was necessary.

Our first stop was at my moms in Cottage Grove, Oregon. We wanted to meet her fiance before the wedding. The next morning we went to Salem to see my Grammy and Grampy and also my Aunt and Uncle and cousins. Devin had to bring his guns to show Grampy so they had a lot to talk about for a long time. I tried to catch up with Grammy during all of this. We spent some time at Mike and Arel's new house. It was beautiful. When we drove up it was like we were driving up to a mansion cause it is on the corner and its huge. Everything was done with perfection and it looks amazing. I tried to get in some time with Tyler but it seems like quick family trips dont work too well for hanging out. We did get to go to the Woodburn Outlet Mall because Devin wanted to spend a day with Mike doing house stuff. It was way fun in Woodburn. Devin had fun with Mike too, seems like they get along pretty well. Devin is hilarious too, he was dying to go swimming which I dont think he knew at the time that Oregon water in April is FREEZING! He still jumped in and so did Mike. I wish I was there to witness it.

After Oregon it was off to

my Grandma and Grandpas house in Rice, Washington. While we were there we did some site seeing, Grandpa and Devin did a lot of talking, Grandma showed me the ropes of the farm so that when I house sat I would know what to do. We set up fencing and I wanted to ride Mr. T but Grandma couldn't find the bridle and she wasn't comfortable letting me just take off so she led me around for a while until I was bored. It's always so relaxing going to their house, the views are beautiful and its just a nice place to sit back and chill, also a great place to catch up on sleep.

The last stop was dads house to see the kids and spend some time with the family. I was greeted by the sweetest little Abby yelling sister sister as she jumped into my arms, it melted my heart. I think she is so sweet. The twins requested that we had a wrestling match so Devin and I tag teamed Josh and Jeremiah. It was loads of fun. I was so shocked at how much Hyrum has grown too. He is a crazy little boy with so much energy. I

couldn't believe him. He is everywhere all

at once. He is so fast and so mischievous. He always had this little grin on his face like haha see what I can do as he would grab a handful of hair and tug away. Or torment Abby and pour ranch sauce all over her. Funny little boy. We had a great time there but we were gone for so long it was time to get back to Rexburg and finish the moving process. Our plans were to get back to Rexburg, the movers pick up all our stuff and send it to Alaska, Devin left for Georgia for training, I went to my moms wedding in Oregon, then I went to Grandmas for a month to take care of her horses, dogs, and cats, Devin got back and we drove from Washington to Maryland where we will be at until beginning of October and then finally to our final destination for at least 3 years- Alaska!

Devin's Graduation and Commissioning

I am so behind on updating my blog so get ready for a lot of updates. In April Devin graduated from BYU-Idaho with his Bachelors degree. There was a lot of family that came to the graduation/ commissioning. His brother Brandon came all the way from Shreveport, Louisiana to be his first salute. For Devin's graduation present I got him the gun he has been dying to have. He was a little surprised because he got a couple guns before he got the AR-15 which I really wasn't planning on getting but a store had it so it was a very impulse buy but I knew he would love it. I wasn't mistaken. He hopped on his phone to call his brother like 2 seconds after he got it. I wanted to do something creative for him to get it but I couldn't wait long enough so my dad and I came up with a plan to put in on the wall in our living room and see how long it took him to notice it. He was outside playing with the twins and was heading in, he walked in the door glanced over and pretty much looked like a kid in a candy store. He had a perma smile that didn't leave all day. It was a little obnoxious though cause he wouldn't put the darn thing down all day and it even ended up next to the bed that night. Graduation came and went quickly because he had no interest in sitting in the Hart building listening to speakers so he ended up walking in the Taylor Chapel to get his diploma cover and that was graduation for him. He was way more excited to commission then anything. The commissioning ceremony was great. There was a speaker that couldn't be topped. It was Comish's dad. He was excellent. There were four commissions so it took a while but it was a great experience and Devin couldn't be happier to be making the step and being able to move onto officer life. It was so nice for him to have so much family there as support. I always enjoy going to ceremonies or being a part of them, it makes me so proud of Devin and his accomplishments.