The Bucket List

Brandon calls it the dump truck list because I am always saying I want to go here, do this, do that, so this summer I made a list of what must happen in my life before I die.  Let's hope I have at least 50 years left to accomplish these things.

1. Go to Russia.  THIS WILL HAPPEN in 2014. Holland America has multiple cruises to St. Petersburg and my plan is to use our tax return to book one. Whether all 3 kids will be going has yet to be decided, but I am getting on a giant boat with delicious food and will be standing in palace square. I have always wanted to go to Russia and it always seemed like such a far away fantasy but not anymore! 

2. Catch a halibut in Alaska.  You would think after living there for 18 years I would have gone deep sea fishing, but I did not.  So now when we go back that will be on the Alaska trip things to do. Who knows when that will happen, but I have seen everywhere Brandon grew up so now it's his turn.

3. Catch a marlin and mount it on the wall.  This will happen in Florida or Cabo.  Both possibilities when we live in Florida in 8-10 years.

4. Visit all 7 continents. This goal came about when I made it to Africa, so now I have three left. Antarctica, South America and Australia.  All great cruising possibilities.

5. Go to Ireland. Because it's beautiful and we are already in Europe.  It can't be that much harder to go a little bit further. People do it all the time.

6. Visit all 50 states. I only have Vermont left.

7. Go on a cruise every other year. This started in 2009. We won't be able to go next year but waiting one more year is fine. In my opinion cruising is the best way to spend a vacation and I want to do it as much as possible.

8. Live on the beach.  Hopefully in 8-10 years.

9. Finish my Bachelor's degree.  This should be done 14 months. I have exactly the right amount of money in my GI Bill as I have classes to pay for so it should work out perfect.

10. Learn Spanish.  For when we move to Florida. And because I want to work for the Federal government and it can't hurt.

11. Go to Greece. Maybe before we leave, maybe after we retire. There's plenty of time for this especially since we can hop from the states for the rest of our lives as long as Brandon survives the next 8 years.

12. Go to Egypt. Let's let things settle down over there first.

Skydiving used to be a top priority, but I turned into a big wuss when Brice was born and I don't know if I could handle it anymore. I think I could do a tandem jump but I just don't know. My Grandpa flew skydiving planes and I rode with him one, even had to wear a chute, so we will see.

It's a short list, not so much a dump truck, but those are the things I really want to do!

December to Remember

I am already over Halloween and Thanksgiving.  We can even skip Christmas and move straight into baby shower season and I wouldn't mind, but this year I want to start some new December traditions.

First: Daily Christmas movie watching. My friend Shauntai does this every year starting on the first. I think she stole it from ABC Family but that's fine, I want to do it!  So now I need to find 25 Christmas movies, and I am including Charlie Brown and Prep and Landing in this list that DOES NOT INCLUDE The Christmas Story.  I despise that movie, and if I can help it my kids will NEVER see it!

Second: Reading a children's book every day and MAYBE doing a coordinated craft along with it.  That idea came from Pinterest of course, so I hope I saved the link. The kids love doing any kind of project and I am hoping this will make them love reading more than they already do.  (Well Brice does, but Cody is getting there!)

Third: And probably what I am most looking forward to. HOT CHOCOLATE!  I LOVE hot chocolate. It's warm, it's chocolate, and it's warm. I have a ton of K-cups for the Keurig but I have also been looking for different recipes to make my own. While it would be ideal to have a new kind every day, that might be more frusterating than fun, so we will try as many as I can find.  Some are cooked in the crock pot so they will (I hope) last more than just one day!  And of course if anyone wants to send us the flavor box of HoCho they sell at Target and probably Wal-Mart I will not object. :) 


I am really looking forward to this so I hope it works. And I hope I remember to take a lot of pictures!

Happy Birthday Cody!

Cody is 9 years old today!  I can't believe how fast time flies.

Age 5. McCalls Pumpkin Patch in Albuquerque

Age 6.  Taking family photos on Kirtland AFB

Age 7. Just moved to The Netherlands!

Age 8. Not such a chubby little kid anymore :( 

Age 9. Today!!  Cody has been living in The Netherlands for 2 years, traveled to 11 (!!) countries and spent the summer in the states for 2 months!  He learned how to swim, enrolled in actual swimming lessons. He is in 3rd grade studying American history and becoming a math whiz. We are so proud of you Cody and can't wait for many more years!!

Baby in the Making

If you're reading this you probably already know we have a baby one the way! Tomorrow is 19 weeks, almost half way there, and we cannot WAIT to find out what it is. In the meantime, people have already started asking me what we need, and since it's pretty much everything I went ahead and started a registry.  Another reason I want to know what it is! 

I figured the easiest site would be Amazon.com since they usually have free shipping and sell pretty much everything. We are also goign to try out flushable diapers and see how they work out and if we like them.  If they don't oh well, but it's worth a shot.

So, here's the link to the registry, and stay tuned for the gender reveal!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&id=2TDCZQGT4M646&type=baby