We're Ready to Go!!

It's Tuesday morning and I'm ready to hit the road. Unfortunately that won't happen for another 7 or so hours. I had my suitcase packed yesterday, Jay woke up this morning and got his packed before PT. PT wasn't until 9:00 this morning and it was a family one. I went along and we did a lot of fun events. We had a water balloon fight, but only the dependents got the balloons. We also climbed up a slide and jumped off into a pit. Then the actual work out was a ladder. Then an easy jog back to where we started. The guys then did a dizzy bat relay. They had to spin around with their head on a bat and then run to the other end and back. It was quite humerous to watch. Jay's head was cocked one way, his body turned another direction, but somehow he managed to run relatively straight. I got a good laugh at it!

I hit up the commissary on my way home. $100 later I came out and finally got home. Unfortunately that's only half my menu for the days when Jay's parents are here. Ohs wells! It doesn't happen often.

I have to take all of the pies in to Jay at 1:00 so the guys can gobble them up. I'll be glad to get them out of my fridge. Jay is supposed to get off at 2:00... which means he may be home around 4 or 5. Our goal is to leave at 6:00. Yippee!!!!

I'll be sure to update when we get back!!

Finally Made the Pies

Yesterday, our landlord brought us another bucket of cherries. These were freshly picked, still with stems and pits. I didn't have space to put them in the freezer, so I had to make them into something today.

This morning, I started to pit the cherries with a spoon. My fingers looked like they were bleeding. The cherries were so juicy. It was taking me forever to get the pits out without killing the cherry. I was wishing I had the pitter that our landlord used a few days prior. Jay went and asked her for me and brought it back. I was so glad to see it! I finished much faster than I would have, probably an hour or so faster!

I used flour, salt, and crisco to make my crusts. They turned out pretty good. I was reminded of the several years I made pies at Beck's, for Ruth. I didn't make twenty pies like we did back then, but did get four in and out of the oven.

The first two I made normal, with a flower cut out in the middle. The third one I decided to try a lattice top. It actually turned out pretty good. I was happy with it. I was out of dough and didn't want to make another batch, so I ended up doing a crumble topping. I used mom's recipe that she puts on an apple crisp. Jay tried it out tonight and thought it tasted good.

Now I have to figure out what to do with three pies. We obviously can't eat four pies by Tuesday and there is no room in the freezer right now. Jay is going to take them and give them away at the office tomorrow. I'm sure someone would like to have a fresh cherry pie!

I survived the Spur Ride!!

I had a great time at the Ladies Spur Ride today. Not only was it fun and I like the competition, but it was great to be able to experience some of the things that Jay's does on a daily basis. Now when he's talking about some things, I can actually picture what he is talking about.

Our first event was putting on the parachute equipment. We buddied up and put it on each other. That wasn't too difficult. We then did a mock jump. They have a wooden platform that the guys use to practice jumping. We lined up like they do, hooked up to the static line, then jumped out into a sand box.

The second event was an EST2000. It was a simulator that allowed us to shoot air M16s. We did three rounds of 20 shots. We were scored on each and our best score was recorded. I didn't do very well the first time, I was shooting really low. I learned what I was doing and fixed it for the second round. I scored a perfect 20 out of 20!! I was the first one to get them all!! They then put up a city scene and we had to shoot at the bad guys that would pop in and out.

Props to this trooper... her baby is due this week and still did the entire thing with us!! They didn't make her lay on her stomach to shoot, but she still ended up with a 20 out of 20!

The third event was a written quiz. We had to match ranks to their symbol. We also had to write who was in charge and second in charge for the different chains of command. That was no problem. Those are the things I studied last night, so I knew them all!!

The fourth event was an obstacle course. This was the most difficult thing to do during the day. We had to low crawl, then high crawl under wires, then flip a tire a specificed distance, then high knee through some tires, pull someone on a sled, and the last thing was to push a humvee. I was the first one out of the shoot. After the low crawl, we had to stand up and run to the high crawl. I took a dive to get under the high crawl. That got my half way through the wires already. Let me with some grass stains, but it was fun!!! We had the best time of all the troops!!

The fifth event was a grenade toss. We had four different stations, some of them kneeling, others laying. We had a certain area we had to get the grenade into. I got three out of four. I missed the one because I jumped over a wall first and did a barrel roll before throwing the grenade. I wasn't quite focused and threw too far to the left. Ohs wells!!

The last event was assembly and disassembly of an M16 and an M9. Both were pretty easy because I had already practiced them. We had to do each one within 2 minutes. I got both done in around 30 seconds. No problem!!

We had a little awards ceremony at the end, when every lady was called up and received her spurs. We got little spur key chains. They are pretty cute.

Now I just have to figure out how to get really bad grass stains out. My shirt has a good one and the knees on Jay's ACU pants that I wore are pretty green. It was all worth it though!!

Way to go Blackhorse ladies!!

Preparing...

Tomorrow's the big day! We have our Lady Spur Ride at the squadron and I'm really excited. We get to try out a lot of things that the guys do on a normal basis. A few of the stations are a litter carry (one person laying on a board, four people holding the board and running) grenade toss, assembly/disassembly of a M9 and a M16, shooting simulator, putting on parachute equipment, mock jump, and an obstacle course. I tried my outfit on tonight to make sure it all worked. I am wearing Jay’s ACU pants and a shirt that we made today. We are also putting camo face paint on! We’re going to look great!

I made flash cards today to help me learn some of the material. I’ve been struggling to learn the enlisted side and what each position does. I think I now finally have them figured out. I also learned the Army chain of command, starting with a squad and finishing with the entire Army. A few more things I need to concentrate on and then I’ll be good to go.

Here is Jay helping me out with the Army crawl. I think I’ve got it down!

The Cherries Have Arrived!

When I got home tonight from a party, I found two bag fulls of plump, juicy cherries! They look so good, I wish I liked them. Now I just have to figure out what to do with them all. I want to make a pie with some, that is if they are the right kind of cherries. I'm not a cherry expert. I may have to freeze a bag. If I do, do I put sugar on them or just leave them plain?

Cherry Pie!!

Our landlord and her daughter are outside right now bagging fresh cherries. They are huge and a beautiful dark red. I don't really even like cherries, but they sure do look good. I went out to get something out of my car, and she asked if we like cherries. I said yes, knowing Jay loves them. She said she would bring us up a bag this evening. That means I get to make a fresh cherry pie!!! Yummm. Jay will have to eat it quick before we leave next week, but I bet he can handle that.

Wishing we were home!

Andrea, Jacob, Jacquelyn, and Nicole

I am really wishing I could be home right now. My entire family.... and I mean EVERYONE (including my sister and her family from China) was home this past weekend. My sister and her family flew in at the end of last week and will be hanging around for a couple weeks. That means my niece and two nephews are home and I can't even see them. Along with them, my other sister and my brother and his wife are around.

My mom and my youngest nephew, Alex.

Yesterday, there were 15 people at my parents house to celebrate Jacquelyn's fifth birthday. They had a huge feast for dinner and it was one of my favorite meals! Jay and I were wanting to be there so bad! In the middle of their afternoon, our night, I called dad to tell him Happy Father's Day. It happened to be great timing because they were getting ready to have cake and ice cream for Jacquelyn's birthday. Instead of talking on the phone, we hopped on the computer. Jay and I got to be on webcam and join in on the singing of happy birthday and watch Jacquelyn blow her candles out. We also got to see my whole family, grandma and grandpa, my aunt and uncle, and my great aunt. It put me in tears afterward, but I'm sure glad we could be there (kind of).

I can't wait to go home again, but unfortunately I'll be flying solo. Jay will be deployed by then so Christmas will be lonely. It will be so wonderful to have my family around me! I miss them all so much!!!!