Dreams Take Flight

Cross-Country Road Trip!

2010-07-26T00:10:00.001-04:00

I have been a terrible blogger, but for good reason! Brian and I spent last week driving from Maryland to Arizona, where he will be spending the next 4 months in training. A cross-country road trip is something I have always wanted to do, and it was definitely an experience. It took us about five days, but we got to stop and do a lot of fun things along the way!

The first day, we drove almost to Georgia, and then met up with some of Brian's friends from school at Fort Benning for breakfast the next morning. Of course, having breakfast that far south means a trip to Waffle House and lots of grease, but it was so good to see them!

Keiven, Josh (and Finn!), and Brian

Jessi and Me

The second day, we drove through Alabama to Gulfport, Mississippi. We thought we might see some of the oil washing up on the beaches there, but they looked pretty clean to us! We saw a lot of buses full of people in bright yellow vests further down the road, so they may just be doing a very good job with the clean-up.

After a couple more hours of driving, we stopped that night in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is so crazy to see some of the damage still there from Hurricane Katrina. It was a quick trip and we were a bit exhausted, but we managed to drive by the Superdome to the French Quarter, walked along the riverwalk...

...grabbed dinner, and saw the craziness of Bourbon Street!

Days 3 and 4 took us through Texas. Route 10 goes across literally the middle of nowhere! We did stop in San Antonio for some TX barbecue from Goode Co., but after that...a lot of nothing! I think the weirdest thing about driving through the Midwest is the weather; because it is flat and you can see for miles, you can see it raining and thunder-storming, even if where you are is sunny and cloudless. That, and the speed limit is 80 miles an hour and the landscape is definitely a lot different than MD!

Another thing about Texas that I hadn't expected was the windmills! I don't think I have ever seen one in real life, and I was shocked at how many there were and how huge they are. They look like something from outer space!

After we (finally) got out of Texas, we stopped in Las Cruces, New Mexico and did a little extra driving to visit the dunes in White Sands!

There, the U.S. Park Service preserves a portion of a gypsum dune field, and I think it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen (and, accordingly, I took about 1,000 pictures).

It looked so much like snow, and you can even buy sleds to go down the dunes! We went on a sunset stroll through the dunes, and learned a lot from the park ranger guiding the tour while seeing one of my favorite sunsets in a long time!

On our fifth day of driving, we finally made it to Arizona!

2,878 miles later, we arrived at Brian's new home (more like hotel) until December and moved him in. I had planned on staying for about a week to help him get set up and flying home, but decided to stay for more like two. :) This time that we have had together lately is so special and so rare, and we probably won't be able to spend time like this together again until we're married!

...and while spending endless hours in a cramped car together should probably make you sick and tired of spending time with someone, I'm taking it as a good sign that Brian still wants me to stick around for a bit longer. :)

Things I'm Loving Lately

2010-07-13T23:17:00.001-04:00

The past two weeks have been filled with so many amazing times and so much love. Here are some things that make me especially happy:

*You guys! I can't thank you all enough for your sweet comments and tweets....seriously! I am over-the-moon lately (for obvious reasons!), and feel so blessed to be able to share with this amazing little community! I can't say it enough. A million trillion times thank you.

*The fortune cookie Brian and I got during our first dinner as an engaged couple (because I love signs!)

Thanks, fortune cookie! We will!

*Catching up with some of my very best friends after a much too long absence from one another...and that we accidentally matched!

*Surprise engagement pictures! I suck at blogging lately but basically, Brian scheduled engagement pictures for us (prior to our actual engagement) for while he was home on leave because he didn't know when he'd be back home again. I love love them and can't wait to see the rest! Our photographer is amazing (and I'm thrilled that it looks like she'll be doing our wedding as well)! But what I love the absolute most is that Brian knew that they were important to me and made it happen.

*The fact that Brian has practically moved into my room during his time at home. Sure, there's a bit more clutter than before, but I love every minute of it. :) (I hate that it is coming to an end, but this list is about things I'm loving, not hating.)

*Picking a ridiculous amount of blueberries and peaches...I love fruit season!

*Buying a wedding organizer and making plans. :)

*A sweet gift from Brian's mom (wedding magazines in a cute cupcake bag!) and hand-written (and drawn!) notes from amazing friends.

I'm still not quite sure how I got so lucky!

The Proposal Post :)

2010-07-08T15:03:00.001-04:00

I can't thank you all enough for your kind words and congratulations on my last post. Brian and I really feel so blessed. Here is the whole story about how we got engaged...it might get a bit wordy, but I mainly have my blog to help me remember important events in my life. This moment definitely was one of the biggest!

The last two days of our California vacation were spent at the Inn at Sunset Cliffs in Point Loma, right on the Pacific Ocean. Sunsets are definitely one of our things, and I was really looking forward to this last stop on our vacation. Brian told me that he decided in March when we started planning and booking our vacation that it would be the perfect place to propose.

A bench at the Inn

Although we had talked about marriage and getting engaged sometime this year, on vacation, it was definitely far from my mind! Besides the fact that we had done a million things and were having a lot of fun (so my brain was on other things), I also thought Brian was a little too nervous to carry an engagement ring through security in the airport a handful of times (once, they even went through the backpack the ring was in...I'm sure he was shaking in his shoes!)

The courtyard of the Inn

Our room was on the bottom floor, the last one on the right!

That's why, when Brian suggested we get dressed up and go out for a nice dinner for one of our last nights of vacation, I didn't really think anything of it. It was close to our 2-year anniversary and the trip was obviously our main celebration. I figured it was kind of an early anniversary dinner. We headed over to Coronado and had a delicious Italian dinner at La Terrazza.

When we got back to our hotel, we headed back to the room and I was feeling kind of exhausted. Brian went to see if the fire pit was lit so we could sit outside and make some s'mores (so I thought...little did I know, he had already conspired with someone who worked at the Inn, who was prepared to take pictures for us, and Brian was delivering him the camera). I laid down on the bed and said something about how I was going to change into my pajamas. The main attraction of our hotel was the beautiful sunset views, but it was really cloudy that night. It didn't seem worth it to rush outside, but Brian talked me into staying dressed and coming out to the terrace to watch the sunset, even though it was cloudy (I'm so glad he was convincing, especially since there are pictures of it!)

Where we got engaged

He turned around a bench for us to sit on facing the water, and we sat for a couple of minutes before Brian started talking, was suddenly down on his knee, and was asking me to marry him! My first reaction was, "Oh my gosh, are you kidding?" I actually said it out loud, which apparently threw Brian off a bit. I covered my face with my hands and started to cry, hugged Brian (while he was still holding the ring behind my back and trying not to drop it into the ocean) while continuing to cry, and then finally pulled away from him and said...YES, of course! and he put the (BEAUTIFUL) ring on my finger.

Brian is still holding the ring behind my back in this picture :)

I realized at some point that there was a camera flashing, but there were other people on the terrace, so I just kind of ignored it and assumed someone random was taking our picture. When we got up from the bench, Brian thanked the guy from the Inn and explained that he had set the whole thing up in advance! Later, the 'photographer' gave us a bottle of wine to celebrate. He was SO nice! :)

Right after the proposal!

Obviously, the most exciting part of our engagement is the fact that I get to marry my best friend in the entire universe!!!...but the gorgeous ring Brian gave me is definitely the icing on the cake. It is a cathedral set round diamond with pavé diamonds around the band...and I absolutely LOVE it. It couldn't be more perfect for me. When Brian visited the jeweler, he spent hours looking at loose diamonds, and then couldn't find a setting he liked. He eventually sketched out a design of what he was looking for with the master jeweler, and the ring was created especially for me...it is one of a kind! Brian got to see several wax carvings of the setting, the creation of a mold, and the ring in various stages of being made. I think it is so cool that my ring was made just for me...and that the jeweler, Vic, will create a wedding band to fit it perfectly. :)

My ring :)

After the engagement, we were obviously too excited to head to bed! Because of the time difference, it was difficult to tell everyone we wanted to about our engagement. I did get to call my mom and a handful of my closest friends to tell them the super exciting news. After that, my mom posted it on Facebook and then (practically) the whole world knew! After the phone calls, we headed back to Coronado for a couple of celebratory drinks at the Hotel Del...too expensive for a regular day, but perfect for the day we got engaged! As it turns out, the woman at the table beside us had paid for our drinks without ever saying a word to us, and was gone before we could even thank her!

Drinks at the Del

That night, I couldn't sleep...I was up every couple of hours, nudging Brian, looking at my pretty ring, and doing a little celebration dance! I have to say that the day we got engaged was the best day of my life so far...I feel so blessed that I get to share my life with such an incredible person. I didn't think it was possible, but being engaged has definitely brought us closer and made our love for each other deeper.

If you stuck with me for this entire post, you deserve some kind of award. Thanks again for all of your congratulations! :)

Some Big (and HUGE) Vacation Highlights :)

2010-07-02T13:17:00.002-04:00

After a horrendous day of traveling yesterday (and the night before), Brian and I finally made it home! Our two weeks in Lake Tahoe and San Diego felt like at least a month, and it was the awesomest, most fun vacation ever! We got to do so many neat things! Here are a *few* of the highlights...

We went hiking in Lake Tahoe and saw some amazing views (seriously, pictures don't do it justice!)...

...and then rented 4-wheelers...

...for an overnight camping trip (complete with fire and s'mores, of course!).

Brian and I enjoyed the hot tub on our roof to watch some amazing Tahoe sunsets...

...and went to the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction and took a hot lap in a Corvette.

We hopped on a plane and enjoyed the beach in San Diego...

...ate lots of good Mexican food in Old Town (and lots of other good food...and cupcakes!)(and I gained approximately 5 lbs. to prove it)...

...went to the San Diego Air and Space Museum...

...took a surfing lesson in La Jolla (and were actually successful in surfing and not just falling!)...

...and spent lots of time in Coronado on the beach and at the Hotel Del.

Oh, and this also happened. :)

After a nice dinner in Coronado on June 28th, Brian and I went back to our hotel in Sunset Cliffs to watch a (cloudy) sunset where he proceeded to get down on one knee, show me the most beautiful ring ever, and ask me to marry him! AAAHHHH!

WE'RE ENGAGED! It was totally a surprise, so special and so totally us, and I could NOT be happier! I have known for a long time that Brian was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and I'm glad he obviously feels the same way. Today is actually our two year anniversary, but obviously we did our celebrating a little early. :)

Some of you who follow me on Twitter already knew this news, and I am so so blessed by all of your well wishes. The outpouring of love and support from our family and friends has been truly overwhelming (in the best way ever)...Brian and I are lucky to have such an amazing group of people who love us! I seriously cannot stop smiling!

I'll try to write out a full post about the whole proposal while it's still fresh in my mind (because that's obviously a super special moment I am going to want to relive and remember forever and ever), but I have a holiday weekend to go prepare for! I'm going to try to do it early next week...in the meantime, have an amazing 4th of July!

Blogging Day of Silence

2010-07-01T03:25:00.002-04:00

- Posted from my iPhone

California, Here We Come!

2010-06-19T08:27:00.000-04:00

Brian and I are currently sitting in the airport, waiting to board our plane to the West Coast! This is my first ever trip to the other side of the U.S., and I can't wait to stick my toes in the Pacific Ocean for the first time. We have lots of exciting things planned for these next two weeks, and I'm so stoked today is finally here! I had high aspirations of scheduling some posts to keep my blog busy while I was gone, but time just got away from me. I didn't even finish packing until literally a couple minutes before we left for our hotel by the airport last night. So, sadly, things will be pretty quiet around here unless I get some free time to update on our adventures (but knowing my thrill-seeking boyfriend, I'm not sure how much of that free time there will be). I will definitely be back in July with lots of pictures and stories from our trip! Until then! :)

- Posted from my iPhone

Flag Day at Fort McHenry (kind of!)

2010-06-17T10:00:00.001-04:00

Monday was Flag Day, so we embarked to downtown Baltimore to go to Fort McHenry! Celebrating Flag Day there is a tradition in Brian's family...they have gone every year for about 17 years! This is the first time that Brian has been home in a while to enjoy it, and we were excited to spend some time with his family.

I'm not sure if the story of Fort McHenry is only familiar to me because of my MD public school education, so for all of you non-Marylanders, here is a quick explanation. During the War of 1812, the British navy tried to infiltrate Baltimore's Inner Harbor, and it was from Fort McHenry that Americans successfully defended against the attack. During the battle, Francis Scott Key was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner" when he saw the American flag still waving over the fort. Quite the fitting place to spend Flag Day, right?

It was...until we got there and it was empty. We quickly realized that we had missed the memo that the celebration and fireworks had been moved to Oregon Ridge due to construction on the fort. We decided to picnic at Fort McHenry anyway, and then relocate and catch the fireworks later on that night. It worked out perfectly!

Us at Fort McHenry

Flag Day festivities at Oregon Ridge

First fireworks of the Summer!

I can't say that I have ever celebrated Flag Day, so my first experience was definitely successful. A great way to get in the mood for the summer season and especially the 4th of July (which happens to be one of my very favorite holidays)!

Weekend Recap. . .

2010-06-14T14:32:00.002-04:00

Friday. . .

*We relaxed. Brian hung out with Riley.

*We rented Edge of Darkness with Mel Gibson. I couldn't tell you if it was any good, though, because I fell asleep around 9 and only saw the beginning and the end. Definitely leading an exciting, blog-worthy life over here, people.

Saturday. . .

*Met up with some lovely friends and their boyfriends at Boordy Vineyards...

...and listened to a Beatles cover-band, the Mahoney Brothers, while sipping on Sangria and Tango Peach wine. Even though I spilled red wine on my white shorts, plenty of fun was had by all!

Sunday. . .

*After church, we headed to the mall for some last-minute vacation shopping and lunch at Bahama Breeze with Brian's mom. I had pan-seared salmon with mango butter sauce and garlic mashed potatoes...yummmmm!

We are now 4 days out from our two-week California/Nevada vacation, aka Adventure Tour 2010! Lots of running around and packing to do...I officially have no idea how to pack for this kind of trip so wish me lots of luck and send along any fabulous packing tips you have! Along with any San Diego and Lake Tahoe suggestions (especially for food!) :)

On Making Adjustments

2010-06-10T10:49:00.001-04:00

Having Brian home since his graduation has been nothing short of amazing. Would you believe that in the over two years we've known each other, we've never spent more than two weeks (and a couple of days) consecutively together? Honestly, after coping with so much time apart, being together is kind of easy. There's always been a kind of effortless and comfortable way about 'us,' and I feel lucky to have so much of that time lately. I still remember what it's like to be apart, and I still remember that it sucks.

While I expected to have to deal with some growing pains associated with finally not being a long-distance couple for the first time in our relationship, with a little bit of effort, negotiating time spent together and time for our own separate lives has actually been relatively easy. I also expected to start to take our time together for granted, and I would be lying if I said that I haven't. But in the back of my head, there is that reminder that this is temporary, and that there will be other goodbyes.

However, there is one large problem I've discovered since Brian has been home; we definitely tolerate temperatures differently. The weather here has been perfect (to me); sunny and 75-85 degrees. Which means wearing lots of fun summer shorts, skirts, and sundresses and driving with the windows and sunroof open, listening to country music. But for some reason, Brian is trying to freeze me! Anytime we are in his room or in the car, he has the AC cranking full-blast; eventually, it feels like we are somewhere in the Arctic. On the way to the beach this past weekend, I had to steal a pair of his socks because my feet were so cold.

Now, I know that I get cold more easily than the average person and Brian is really sensitive to being hot. When he's too hot, he might even get a teeeeeny bit grouchy. But certainly our life together (which will eventually take us to Georgia, which, if you didn't realize, is definitely in the south) isn't going to involve me carrying around sweaters, sweatshirts, and thick, woolly socks in the heat of the summer...

Is it?!

A Weekend Getaway

2010-06-08T12:18:00.002-04:00

This weekend, Brian and I did a whole lot of driving.

First, to Southern MD for Joella's graduation party to spend time with some of my sorority sisters!

And then to Ocean City, MD for the OC Air Show!

In OC, we tried to squeeze in as much as was humanly possible. Strawberry crepes for breakfast at Bayside Skillet (a must!)...

...watching airplanes from the beach (my own personal version of heaven)...

...crab pizza at Seacrets for a break from the sunshine, meeting up with Amber and her boyfriend...

...for all-you-can-eat crabs and corn on the cob (and fried chicken, hush puppies, steamed shrimp, and clam strips...but who cares about that other stuff?!) at Hooper's...

...a quick stop for fudge and popcorn on the boardwalk, and then, finally, applying aloe to the worst sunburn of our lives (a quick note: don't buy Target's generic sunscreen...it sucks!)

Sunburn and all, the driving was definitely worth it! Brian even got to experience Sonic for the very first time (twice!) :)

A very successful weekend! Now excuse me while I go reapply aloe for the 300th time today...:)

The CRAZY Hotel Debacle

2010-06-03T22:44:00.001-04:00

I've talked before about signs. The silly things that happen that just let you know that things are okay. The inexplicable little things that are just too crazy to explain.

On the night of Brian's graduation, we were SO so exhausted. After a long day spent in the heat, and a week of running around and chaos, we were really looking forward to getting back to the hotel and relaxing for a night before our friends' wedding the next day. I had been staying with Brian's family that entire week, but after Brian graduated, we could finally stay together...very exciting! This part is kind of confusing, but bear with me: my parents had come up for graduation and made a hotel reservation for the entire weekend (Friday and Saturday night). We agreed beforehand that my parents would use the room Friday night, and then Brian and I could use it Saturday night since we had to stay an extra night for the wedding. On graduation day, my mom gave me the key cards to the hotel room and we assumed Brian and I would arrive there late Saturday night and the room would still be ours...

I'm sure you can tell where this is going.

Of course, when we got to the hotel and attempted to use those key cards, the little light on the door shone red and the handle refused to budge. We were quiet for a second in our confusion, and then realized that the sound of a television was coming from the room...our room! Brian went to the front desk, where they proceeded to be rude to him and told him that someone had called to cancel the reservation (UM, not true!), and that the hotel was sold out for the night! Turns out, because my parents had taken all of their stuff and 'vacated' the room, they assumed we were done using it and just gave the room away. While still charging my parents for both nights, obviously.

We had very few options for what to do next. We needed somewhere to sleep, it was almost midnight, and there was only one other hotel in the area; a huuuuge 20-something story Sheraton across the highway. Even though we knew it would be a lot more expensive, we didn't really have a choice in the matter. We went over there (and were a bit frightened to discover that the bottom floor housed a nightclub that appeared to be right out of Jersey Shore) and got a room. We were just relieved to have a bed to sleep in for the night and figured that we would sort out the ridiculous hotel mess in the morning, when I looked down to see the key to the room we had been given.

This totally absurd and frustrating series of events on the day that Brian had graduated as a member of the USMA Class of 2010 landed us in ROOM 2010 in a hotel with literally over 20 stories and thousands of rooms.

Seriously, how crazy and bizarre is that?!

So, with a room for the night and a little reassurance that God has an eye on us, we got a good night's sleep. And after a few choice words, that other hotel offered to cover all three nights we were charged for that weekend, with their sincerest apologies.

Playing Catch-Up...

2010-06-01T13:34:00.003-04:00

When I looked at the calendar on my phone this morning, I literally could not believe it was June! I am so excited that summer is finally here; there are so many exciting things going on in the next couple of months (including a big vacation in exactly 19 days!) Here is a quick recap of what has been going on in my life since we got home from the whirlwind of Brian's graduation:

*Brian's roommate and one of his best friends, Josh, got married on Sunday, the day after graduation. Cadets at West Point have to be single, so a lot of engaged couples use graduation weekend to tie the knot...some graduate and get married on the same day! While it must be a super busy time with a lot of stress, it was really neat that their families and friends were all there to celebrate with them. Brian was honored to be asked to be a part of their big day (and you can see him in the top left of their saber arch).

Jessi and I have gotten the chance to get close in the past year, and she is seriously one of the sweetest girls I've ever met! She was a gorgeous bride, and her and Josh are seriously a perfect match. They are definitely a couple we are going to try to keep in touch with, and we could not be happier for them! It was also nice to spend time with some of Brian's best friends before they all head their separate ways.

*Two of my very best friends graduated from college! Luckily, their graduation was on the Monday after Brian's, so we got to drive down to Baltimore to be there.

These girls are seriously my rocks, and I have no idea what I'd do without them. I am so proud of everything they have done, and am lucky to call them my friends! Decorating our graduation caps has become kind of a tradition since my own graduation two years ago...it makes it much easier to pick our Phi Mus out of the crowd!

After their ceremony, we headed over to Cheeseburger in Paradise, one of our favorite places to get together after big events, to continue the celebrations! It has almost become a graduation tradition. :)

*It has been hot, hot, HOT! Brian has some leave before he has to report to his first assignment, so we have been spending a lot of time together at my house doing this:

We also got joint membership to a 24-hour gym between our houses, and have been pretty good about working out between cookouts and dinners with our families. Obviously, we were the only people cool enough to be there at 9 p.m. on a Friday night, but this body needs to be in beach shape for vacation!

*I finally got my grades for this past semester. I am officially halfway done my Master's with a 4.0! :)

*We celebrated Brian's graduation with a huge party at his house! Being a super fun occasion with lots of people Brian doesn't see very often...I, of course, forgot my camera. Hopefully I can get some good pictures from his mom! In the meantime, here are some beautiful cupcakes I made for his party.

I hope you all had an amazing Memorial Day weekend! I hope to be much better about blogging and responding to comments now that things are starting to settle down around here. :)

A Minute to say "Thanks"

2010-05-31T11:57:00.004-04:00

I'm so behind on my blog lately that it feels like I'll never catch up with all that has happened in the past couple of weeks. But I thought it was important to take a quick second to say a big "thank you" to all of the men and women who keep our country safe and free.

(via)

It is because of you that we can enjoy a holiday like today in the sunshine and cooking out with friends and family. The United States is the home of the free because of the brave. Your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of your families, do not go unnoticed.

I hope to get caught up soon, but remember today to thank the heroes who serve and have served our country to protect our freedom!

“Salute the ones who died, the ones who gave their lives, so we don’t have to sacrifice all the things we love.” -Zac Brown Band

Brian's Graduation and Commissioning!

2010-05-28T12:44:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, May 22nd, Brian graduated from West Point as part of the USMA Class of 2010! The day started very, very early; we woke up around 4 a.m. to wait in line at the gates and head over to the stadium. The theme of the whole week was "hurry up and wait," and graduation day was certainly no exception! We got into the stadium around 7:30, and waited for the ceremony to begin. At 9:35 a.m., the graduating class began marching in!

When all of the cadets were seated, we waited for the President's motorcade to arrive so the ceremony could begin.

Obama and a couple of other speakers addressed the graduating cadets, and then they began to cross the stage to receive their diplomas! Brian's company was sitting at the back of the class, so it was almost an hour before we heard his name, watched him cross the stage and salute the Supe, receive his diploma, and shake hands with Obama.

A couple of minutes later, everyone had received their diplomas. After the benediction, the order "Class Dismissed!" was given, and the Class of 2010 did the traditional hat toss! Children line up during the ceremony for the chance to run out onto the field and grab one of the hats. :)

I wish I could put into words how unbelievably proud of Brian I am. It was a long road for him to even get to WP, and everything he has accomplished while there has taken a lot of hard work. I am so lucky to call him my boyfriend!

After graduation, Brian had to run back to his room to change out of his cadet uniform and finish checking out of his room, for good! We had a picnic at Trophy Point and waited for him to join us. When he finally did, he was definitely looking sharp. :)

Brian was commissioned in a small group by his TAC, someone he worked closely with when he was in a leadership position in his company. His parents added his shoulder boards to his uniform...

...and I pinned his beret with a gold bar.

Brian then recited the Oath of Office, promising to defend the Constitution of the United States in his new role as second lieutenant in the Army.

Seriously, I could not be prouder of him.

After the commissioning ceremony, Brian and I rushed over to a wedding rehearsal, and then we drove away from WP for (almost) the last time.

Brian and I met everyone at The Stadium. An occasion like this one definitely requires celebration! We got a chance to have dinner with everyone who was there to support Brian on one of the most important days of his life thus far, and just unwind and relax! It was so nice to share this very special day with Brian's family, including his parents, sister, cousin, and aunt, my parents, and Brian's classmates and friends, including his Beast roommate, Pat. Pat just graduated from UNC and lives in Chicago, but he is one of Brian's best friends. I'm so glad he and his mom made the trip to be there, as well.

It was definitely a long day, and a long week, but celebrating all of Brian's accomplishments was definitely worth the early mornings, late nights, and chaotic running around. I know it's one of those things I will look back on fondly and remember forever.

Brian's Grad Week: Part II

2010-05-26T16:49:00.000-04:00

On Friday morning, Brian's mom, sister, and I woke up and headed to West Point for the Graduation Parade! The last parade of Brian's cadet career!

During the Acceptance Day parade, plebes who have just gone through Beast (Cadet Basic Training) march towards the Corps and officially become cadets. I thought it was really neat that during the Graduation Parade, the Firsties marched away from the Corps, signifying the end of their time at WP. Then, the juniors took over each company and marched them by the graduating class. As their company passed them, the graduating cadets each saluted their companies as they watched them return to the barracks.

After the parade, Brian ran over to find us in the stands.

Of course, we had to take pictures with his funny hat!

We walked over to Trophy Point, which makes quite the nice backdrop. :)

We grabbed lunch at Ike Hall and I ran around with Brian while he finished up some last minute check-out things in his room. Then, I headed back to the hotel with his family to get ready for the Graduation Banquet! My parents also got in on Friday night, so they got to meet up with us to head back to WP. (I even did my own hair!)

It's kind of sad realizing that this was our last formal event in the Mess Hall at WP (number 6!)

We had such a good time with his family, enjoying Filet Mignon and, of course, Oreo Cheesecake! When we sat down, each place setting belonging to a woman had a rose on it, which was a sweet touch. :)

The distinguished guest for the night was General Casey, Chief of Staff of the Army. He had a really good message for the graduating class, and it was really cool to hear him speak!

When we were leaving the banquet, he was walking out of the Supe's house with his wife to get on their private helicopter...already having changed into khakis and a polo!

Watching them take off from the Plain was really neat! It got reeeeally windy, and then the helicopter just jumped off the ground! I told Brian that I would be fine if he wanted to find a job that afforded us a private helicopter to get around. This picture is supposed to be of us in front of the helicopter, which was so close!, but it is really too dark to see. :)

We headed over to the hop, or dance, after the banquet, but we only ended up staying for a couple minutes. We quickly realized that the wake-up call for graduation in the morning was only in a handful of hours!

Brian's Grad Week: Part I

2010-05-25T15:06:00.000-04:00

Brian's graduation week was so crazy; looking back, it went by in such a blur! The time between last Tuesday when I left and Sunday night when we drove back feels like a whole month has passed when, in reality, it wasn't even an entire week. Graduation activities didn't really start until Thursday, so Brian's mom and I spent a couple of days before the rest of his family came up seeing the sights around WP one last time, hanging out with Brian when we could, and just relaxing before the chaos began. We packed so much stuff into a couple of days, didn't sleep much, and spent a lot of time running around, but I have never been happier or prouder of my boyfriend!

Thursday morning was the Superintendent's Awards and Farewell Review. We met Brian before the parade...he had been up since 4 a.m. practicing for graduation! While our days were long, his were definitely longer.

After a short performance by the Cadet Drill Team, the parade began. Parading is a constant at important WP events. The purpose is to demonstrate the military drill they have practiced, and each company marches by the 'Supe' to be reviewed.

After the Parade, the Firsties on the Cadet Parachute Team got to jump onto the field one last time!

Brian had to rush back to change into yet another uniform (his 3rd of the day, if you're keeping track), we grabbed some food in Ike Hall, and then we headed over to the Awards Ceremony for his academic department. Brian's Capstone group was given the Hollis Award for their work on deployment cycles in relation to soldier morale. His group presented the project to the DoD, and they are actually going to be using Brian's research to re-evaluate how often soldiers deploy! He was also announced as one of the cadets from the Systems Department graduating with honors!

After doing some shopping in the Cadet Store for last minute WP merchandise, we headed over to the Superintendent's Reception. The Supe holds four receptions for the graduating cadets in each regiment of the Corps. Brian shook hands with LTG Hagenbeck and his wife, and then introduced us each to them.

We stayed and mingled with Brian's classmates and their families for a bit and grabbed a much-needed beverage, before heading out (again, quickly) to have dinner at Grey Line Eatery.

Later that night, we went to the Cadet Chapel for a Baccalaureate Service for the Class of 2010. It was a really nice service to pause and reflect, and a good break from running around!

After the service, we were all exhausted...Brian still had to pack up his room and be awake in a handful of hours for more graduation practice!

We ended up dropping Brian off at his barracks and heading back to the hotel. It was definitely necessary to call it an early night so we could be well-rested for all the events of Friday, the day before graduation. :)

Airplane Weekend Wrap-up!

2010-05-17T22:30:00.002-04:00

On Saturday, Brian and I headed to Andrews Air Force Base for the 2010 Joint Service Open House and Air Show for Armed Forces Day! This was my second experience at JSOH, but Brian and his family have been going every year for quite a while. This time around, though, it was just the two of us. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and I, of course, was in heaven!

We spent the day walking around looking at the static displays and watching the air performances! Between the F-16, F-22, P-51 Mustang, and helicopter demos, it's almost impossible for me to pick a favorite! I was floored, however, by the AV-8B Harrier--it is a HUGE, incredibly powerful plane that can hover and fly backwards! It can even take off VERTICALLY!! Part of the reason I love airplanes so much is that I am fascinated by how they work; the Harrier demonstration totally blew my mind! So much so that I didn't even take any pictures of it (a rarity for me, as I'm sure you can tell). :) We also got to see Sean Tucker fly again; he is easily the best acrobatic pilot ever and one of our favorites to watch!

There were also plenty of airplanes painted with mouths and teeth, which is something I just find hilarious. If (When) I have my own airplane, I think I'll totally give it a mouth.

I had never seen the Blue Angels, so the last performance of the day was exciting for me! While I have gone to air shows that have had similar groups (like the Thunderbirds, who were at JSOH last year), it's good to say I have finally seen the real deal.

After the air show, we were pretty exhausted, but headed over to Annapolis and walked around the mall before grabbing something to eat at Punk's Backyard Grill (introduced to me by Amber and completely fabulous!) In keeping with the airplane theme of the day, we grabbed some ice cream from 7-11 and had a dessert picnic at my favorite airplane-watching spot.

I spent a lot of time here in college, reading/studying and watching planes land.

Brian took this perfectly-timed picture of me; he said that if I ever record an album, this could be the cover. Now I just have to learn how to carry a tune and we'll be set!

I think Saturday was one of my favorite days ever. Filled with my best friend and some of my favorite things...I just don't think it gets much better! Tomorrow, Brian's mom is picking me up and we are headed up to WP for Brian's Grad Week! I hope to have some time to post while I'm there. This is a crazy busy time with so many different events to go to, but I want to be able to blog about it all to remember later. :)

P.S. Amber is having a fun giveaway for her 100th post! Go over there and check it out. :)

From the Sorority Files...

2010-05-11T15:05:00.000-04:00

As most of you know, I was a member of Phi Mu Fraternity for Women in my college days (which wrapped up almost exactly 2 years ago!) Even though I've graduated, I try my best to stay involved in my chapter, especially because two of my best friends are a bit younger than I am.

In the past couple of months, a few exciting things have happened in my sorority world. First, my Grand-Little Angela (my lovely Little's Little) took her own Little, Melanie! Melanie is therefore my Great-Grand-Little. That whole thing is confusing but, basically...gosh, I am old!

At the end of April, Melanie was initiated and became a sister of Phi Mu...

...which comes with the privilege of wearing letters for the first time!

This past weekend, Kristi and Joella became alums of Phi Mu. They are two of my closest friends, and two of the reasons I know Phi Mu will have brought me lifelong relationships. The 3-D ceremony is held to signify the moment when seniors enter the 'third dimension' of Phi Mu, or alumna membership. Seven women joined our ranks on Saturday.

I am beyond lucky that Kristi is not only my Little, but also one of my best friends.

The day Kristi became my Little- March 2007

It is amazing to see what she has done in the chapter, especially during her time as President, and to see how she has changed over the past 3 years. I am more proud of her than words can say.

Joella has grown so much in Phi Mu, and she is almost unrecognizable from the person I met almost 4 years ago. She is so strong! Even though she is packing up to move to NYC to do fabulous things, I know we will stay close.

It's hard to say just how much they mean to me, except to say that know what friendship is because of them (and Amber, too). I can't wait to see these two wonderful ladies walk across that stage in less than two weeks. :)

The Beginning of the Lasts

2010-05-04T12:23:00.004-04:00

With May upon us, I have started to get a little bit sentimental. It's hard to believe that Brian's graduation is this month; when we met, the end of his time at WP seemed light years away. What would happen when he was done in New York didn't come up until almost a year after we started dating. Now, here we are.

This past weekend, I took my last trip up to New York before graduation. It was weird to know that it was the last time I'll make that drive alone; I'm riding up with Brian's mom for Grad Week and coming back, I'll sit in the passenger seat as Brian drives away for the last time (at least for quite a while). Weird, and a bit surreal.

Brian was done class on Friday around lunch time, which made our weekend together feel so long. We went over to Central Valley, checked into our hotel and relaxed for a while before venturing over to Chili's to grab dinner. The Quesadilla Explosion salad is my absolute favorite! Brian was fighting a nasty sickness, so we took the rest of the night easy.

On Saturday, Brian woke up feeling a lot better, so we ventured out to Woodbury Commons and the Palisades Mall (seriously one of the hugest malls I've ever been to) to do some shopping for summer clothes! It was sunny and in the 90's all weekend, which definitely put us in the mood for summertime. I got a really cute dress at the J. Crew outlet, and Brian picked up a couple pairs of shorts. Now that he is going to have to dress himself every day instead of just grabbing whatever the uniform of the day is, he needs to start putting together a decent wardrobe. :)

That afternoon, we met a group of Brian's friends at the Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown!

Everyone had pulled their cars into a field overlooking the track...I have never seen so many pick-up trucks in one place! For a minute, I forgot I was as far north as New York.

I had never been to anything like it, but it was so much fun to hang out at the dirt track watching the races, grilling hot dogs and toasting marshmallows, enjoying a couple of drinks, and spending time with Brian's friends.

Later in the night, the cars were much faster and so loud! We are so bummed we only made it out to the dirt track once; if we had known about it before this weekend, I am pretty sure it would have become a tradition! :)

On Sunday morning, we woke up with a mission. There were a couple of last minute things to accomplish in our last NY weekend. Brian has been wanting to visit the headquarters of Orange County Choppers for a while, so when we woke up on Sunday we headed over to Newburgh to check it out.

OCC is the custom motorcycle company featured on the TLC show American Chopper, and a lot bikes built on the show are actually kept in the shop. Brian's favorite was the Comanche Chopper, designed to look like the RAH-66 Comanche Helicopter. On the show, they actually debuted the final bike design by riding it side by side with the airborne helicopter!

I don't really know anything about motorcycles like Brian, but I really liked this one. It had the space shuttle Discovery on it, which is the one we saw launch from Cape Canaveral in March 2009.

Later that afternoon, we grabbed some lunch to go and scouted out a place we could watch some airplanes land. This is one of my favorite pastimes, and there was a perfect place near Stewart Airport/Air Force Base in Newburgh to park my car and have an airplane-watching picnic.

They were doing some practice runs with the C-130's, so we got to watch them take off, do a quick loop, and then land. It was so cool, and probably the closest I've ever seen an airplane that wasn't parked!

After our picnic, we drove back towards WP in an attempt to find a place across the river that Brian can see sometimes when he is running. We ended up finding Cold Spring, a cute historic town right on the Hudson. Walking down Main Street and looking into all of the shops kind of felt like traveling back in time. You could even see all of the buildings of WP across the river! We grabbed a couple of ice cream cones and sat outside on a bench enjoying the beautiful weather before I had to head back home.

When I left, we said our last ever goodbye in the parking lot of Arvin. I have such sad memories of that place, having to end our fun weekends and prolonging our goodbyes. I have really treasured these weekends we have together when I go up to visit him; they are a lot like mini-vacations for us, and this weekend was definitely one of my favorites. I know that we'll look back fondly on the time we've spent together at WP, but I'm glad the next time we will be leaving together!

The BEST Surprise!

2010-04-26T16:55:00.011-04:00

I didn't have a whole lot planned this weekend. As the end of the semester looms closer, my free time has dwindled and I so look forward to relaxing at the end of the week. On Friday, I met my friend Joella at the mall for a little bit of shopping. Brian called me around lunch time and told me he had a lot of work to do and was going to hole up in one of his school buildings to finish it up, and not to worry if I called his room and couldn't get a hold of him. I thought nothing of it; his honors thesis was due today and he has been absolutely busting his butt to get it done.

Just as a side note, I may be the hardest person to surprise ever. In fact, I can't think of a time I actually have been surprised. It's not that I'm a snoop or aim to ruin surprises, but I am just naturally curious and I ask a whole ton of (probably frustrating) questions.

(random picture from Spring Break 2009 in Sarasota)

I didn't hear from Brian again until I was driving up to the mall to meet Jo. I could tell he was in the car, and he told me he was taking a break from his work to run out and get a cup of coffee. He asked when I was planning on being done shopping, and asked if he could "see my face" when I was done. This is how we usually talk about seeing each other on the web cam, so I told him when I got back, it was a date! I got to the mall and Brian called again. I could tell he was still in the car, which seemed strange--the Dunkin Donuts is probably 15 minutes away, tops. He asked what I was doing, and then rushed to get off the phone. I mentioned to Joella that he was acting kind of weird (I can always tell when he's up to something!), but brushed it off as stress from his thesis. I can't believe I didn't connect the dots!

We were trying on shorts when I heard Joella's phone ring. She answered and said that she was in the Delia's dressing room. She had been texting her mom, so I assumed that's who was calling. Then my phone rang, and it was Brian. He asked if he could see what I was trying on, and I was so confused! I walked out of the dressing room, and there he was! He had been calling my friends and texting Joella while we were shopping to surprise me by coming home for the night. I didn't expect to see him until my trip up to New York this coming weekend, and I can't even describe how shocked I was to see him! I had a hard time picking my jaw off the floor, and I jumped up and hugged him and didn't ever want to let go.

Even though Brian had to head back to school less than 24 hours later, it was such a nice, unexpected visit. Seeing each other, especially in the middle of stressful, busy times, just totally rejuvenates the love we have for each other and is a perfect reminder of why we fight for our relationship, even though we are far apart. He said that I make that crazy drive to see him so much, he wanted to reciprocate and surprise me. And he definitely succeeded!

I feel so very lucky. :)

On Living in a Zoo

2010-04-21T14:00:00.003-04:00

I often remark that living in my house is kind of like living in a zoo. Three cats, a large dog, both inside and outdoor fish...it's a just a little bit ridiculous. As a family that grew up mostly without pets until I was in middle school, it almost seems as though we are compensating for all that lost time.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided that I. have. had. it. I don't know if it's something I just began to notice or if the warmer weather is causing all of the animals to shed their winter coats, but there is HAIR EVERYWHERE. I couldn't take it anymore! I was so tired of sitting down on my couch and later going to leave and realizing I had a layer of hair over my entire body. A lint roller can only work so much magic! I had to do something! I closed my bedroom door, vacuumed the floors, washed all of my sheets, and vowed to never let those animals in my personal space again.

All was well for a couple of weeks....until I woke up in the middle of the night, choking on 80 degree air and covered in sweat. Keeping my bedroom door left something to be desired as far as air circulation goes. So, I brainstormed ideas and headed to Target to pick up a baby gate. Sure, it is a bit inconvenient to have to practically leap into my bedroom in a manner much like running the hurdles in track, but sometimes we have to make these uncomfortable sacrifices in the name of being able to wear black again.

When I set up the gate, I was so proud of myself. Problem solved! Until, of course, the dog started sitting at my bedroom door and whimpering night after night. After a while, she got mad and started barking and growling at that gate. Sure, it broke my heart. But I was determined. I ignored poor Riley the best I could.

Soon, the cats got involved. They were obviously broken up about the lack of carpet space elsewhere in the house to sleep on. At times, several of the animals would gather around the gate and make their disapproval known. I began to wonder if they were scheming ways to overcome the barrier.

And then, one night, as I was sitting around watching TV and enjoying my hair-free zone...this happened.

Looks like it's back to the drawing board for me.

Hello, Weekend.

2010-04-16T15:59:00.004-04:00

I've been looking forward to this all week! Nothing to do, nowhere to go. I'm spending this evening...

(via)

Shopping. I've been searching high and low for a couple of dresses that I'll need in the next month (Brian's graduation, banquet, weddings, oh my!), and I'm heading to Delaware to do some more looking. Delaware = no sales tax.

Sweating. I haven't had time for a good workout all week. I can't wait to get to the gym or get outside for a run!

Relaxing. First doing some yoga...

(via)

...and then spending some time in the tub with a Floating Island bath melt and a good book.

(via)

Vegging. This is also known as parking my butt on the couch and watching whatever I want (I set up Netflix Watch Instantly on the Wii today...so exciting!) Maybe with a big bowl of ice cream.

I could not be happier. :) What are you doing to unwind this weekend?

25 Years!

2010-04-14T11:25:00.002-04:00

Today, my parents celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary!

They were married on April 14th, 1985 and then honeymooned in Hawaii.

My mom looks so much like my youngest sister in the second picture! She must have figured out how to use the scanner, because these pictures made their way onto her Facebook page earlier this week. My mom and dad are currently celebrating with a week in Las Vegas...color me jealous! I talked to them yesterday and they are having a great time and perfect 70 degree and sunny weather.

Happy anniversary to my mom and dad!

April Showers...

2010-04-13T16:41:00.003-04:00

I'm home alone this week, but I've actually been enjoying the quiet time to myself...reading outside on the patio, cleaning my room, having free reign of the kitchen, watching Law and Order: SVU marathons on TV and Netflix, and making a dent in my never-ending pile of homework. Walking the dog last night at sunset, I was so struck by the beauty of Spring and everything blooming into life. I catch myself daydreaming of summer, sundresses, and warm breezes more and more this time of year.

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:

if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”
-Anne Bradstreet

The beautiful weather broke today with a dreary, cold rain. But if April showers bring May flowers, I'm not complaining. Plus, I should be able to breathe a little easier (goodbye, pollen!) and finally have an excuse to wear (one of my new pairs of) rain boots.

I'm so looking forward to curling up under a blanket with a cup of hot tea after class tonight (and hopefully getting out early and being home in time for LOST!) :)

Brian's Birthday Weekend

2010-04-12T17:50:00.003-04:00

This weekend, I went up to New York to celebrate Brian's 24th birthday with him! A really good weekend, but it went by much too quickly! We spent the day together Friday before Brian had to head to bed early for a very early 3 o'clock wake-up (on his birthday, poor kid!). On Saturday, we spent the day out at Camp Buckner watching teams compete in the Sandhurst Competition.

Nine-member teams from WP, the WP prep school, a couple of the other U.S. service academies (Navy and Air Force), other countries' service academies, including the Royal Military Academy just outside of London (where Brian trained last summer), Chile, Canada, and Afghanistan, as well as the best University ROTC teams that have qualified from each region, worked their way through different sites designed to test their military skills. The team that works through the course the quickest and incurs the fewest penalties wins the competition. Brian was one of the cadets in charge of the First Aid site, and we watched almost 50 teams work their way through the scenario throughout the day. I also wandered around while Brian was busy and watched teams on the obstacle course, rope bridge, and boat sites. I know Brian does a lot of military training while he's at school, but I never really asked or knew much about it; it was neat to see the array of different things they learn!

The competition took a lot longer than we had anticipated (one of the ROTC teams got lost on the other side of the mountain, and ended up calling the police to come get them!), and I was so sunburnt by the end of the day! I can't complain because while I got out to the site around 11, Brian had been there since around 4 in the morning! (The British won, which was also disappointing.)

I know it wasn't exactly the way B wanted to spend his birthday, but we made up for it when it was over. After a much-anticipated dinner at Chili's (because we had been staving off hunger with only Pop-Tarts all day!), we met a group of Brian's friends at one of the bars just outside post. We had so much fun, and I'm super bummed that I forgot my camera and didn't get any pictures of his birthday celebration! But he had fun, and that's all that matters. :)

On Sunday, we went shopping at Woodbury Commons, the amazing outlets in Central Valley, packed up a picnic, enjoyed the beautiful weather, and ate ice cream. I was really sad to leave when Sunday evening came around. On the other hand, I can't believe that this is one of the last times I will visit Brian at school! Our next visit was going to be B's trip home the weekend before graduation, but I have a feeling I might get up there one more time before all is said and done. :)

Hope you all had fun weekends and not-so-painful Mondays!