Happy 237th Birthday Marines!

On Thursday, November 8, 2012, Hubby and I went to the Marine Corps ball to celebrate its birthday! The actual birthday was not until Saturday, November 10th.  I was so happy that this year we could go, but it was some-what sad due to the fact that the hubby is getting out so this was our last ball. I love getting all dolled up and seeing him in his uniform.   The ball was located in downtown San Diego this year so it wasn't a far drive (which I love!) I got my hair done prior and then we drove down to finish getting ready in our hotel room.. then it was time to enjoy the night! ….  or so we thought. The ceremony was fine, and dinner as well, but right after dinner - almost everyone left! I was so shocked.. The entire ballroom was empty except maybe two couples by 9pm. (the ball started at 7pm) I was disappointed because all the other years it wasn't like that, but like Matt had told me.. the Marine Corps is changing, it's not the same anymore.    It probably didn't help that the drinks at he hotel cost $7.50 - it could easily get expensive quick!
So after we realized how lame it was this year, we left and went downtown with a few friends.

Once I found my dress, I immediately fell in love with it and knew I wanted to do the classy vintage look. It worked out great especially with the length of my hair.

Look at how many medals he has now! 

Our professional photos we had done

 I dyed my hair back to dark brown, darker than my original hair color.. .I love it!

We met the most interesting man in the world while we were at a bar! Lol

Now, time to sell all my ball gowns from the previous years, haha! 

I also want to give a shout out to all the Veteran's to thank you for everything you have done and continue to do for us. Especially a big thank you to my incredible husband! I am so proud to be his wife  and for how far he has come. Of course we cannot forget all of the family members who wait patiently for their loved ones to come home.

24

I turned another year older on the 23rd of August. That makes me 24 now. We celebrated my birthday on a Friday since my birthday was on Thursday and we both worked. But he did surprise me with a couple gifts on my actual birthday with some cute notes. I thought that was really sweet. And after dinner on Friday, he made plans with our friends to surprise me with a birthday cake at their house to celebrate. My parents even sent me a little something too.

That morning I also got my hair blonder and cut it shorter.

A Love So Strong

Have you been in love, or in love? Or maybe just have a crush? Think to the time when you got to go on a date with that person for the first time, the first phone call, texting, that first hug, and that amazing first kiss. Remember how it gave you butterflies and time may have stopped for those first few seconds and all that was there was you and that special person? That is exactly how I feel each homecoming reunion.

Those butterflies start fluttering hard, the nervousness of seeing your loved one after over 7 months, the first kiss, and that first hug filled with an unbelievable amount of love. Even though there are hundreds of people all around being reunited it only feels like two. me and him.  I really can't even explain half of the emotions and feelings it brings and how exactly it makes me feel - it's really something that a person has to experience for themselves. Just know, those days will always be remembered, as well as the ones where he leaves.

So on homecoming day, I woke up and got his sign ready to go on the garage. I used glow sticks and taped them on to make a sweet message. Even though he was scheduled to come in the afternoon, I was hoping they would still glow a little bit a night but they never did :( thought that matters though.

 I also added some red, white and blue tinsel with stars around the garage.

It was red, white and blue glow sticks.

After I got his sign ready, I made his poster and then I decided to check the hotline for when they are scheduled to come in and the time got pushed up from 2:30pm to 1pm!! That made me freak out because I was really counting on that extra hour and a half. So now it was around 1130pm and I had to quickly text our photographer to let her know of the time change since she lives further away and then hopped into the shower, got ready and left to go to the air station. (below are some of the photos)

His sign I wrote on both because I loved each of the ideas I thought of.

I got there and met up with my photographer and we stood around for awhile waiting. Then Matt text me telling me he was in the air, I was so happy reading that, I knew just in a matter of less than an hour we would be in each others arms. So there were a few times when I thought it was him flying in but it was just Marines training with the other helicopters that day since it was during working hours. It got a bit confusing, haha.

Finally.. I knew because there were 2 big groups of 6 large helicopters. It was so awesome to see. I have never witnessed anything like that. Well, the helicopters landed, then they had to taxi around and get in their marked spots. Then the engines had to cool off and shut down. Then they finally lined up, marched over and got dismissed.

I was looking everywhere for Matt. I couldn't find him and all I saw was people hugging and kissing around me and he still was no where to be seen. I probably looked like a crazy woman Lol
Finally, I saw him and ran towards home.  And instantly, all those days, weeks, and months apart was nothing compared to having him back with me, having him hug me, pick me up and give me the sweetest kiss.

He showed me inside the helicopter then we looked everywhere for his bag because there were so many and they were scattered around a bit.

Overall, homecoming was awesome. Oh and did I mention it was on his birthday?? So I got hit with a double whammy   a birthday and homecoming.  It was great celebrating the two.
Once we came home, he talked to family for a bit, then we went to hubby's birthday dinner of choice (buffalo wild wings) and came back for the ice cream cake I made and he opened his gifts.

 Ever time I decorate for him as a little "surprise" homecoming gift… but it seems like I always somehow outdo myself…. .worried about next time haha

 Christmas and birthday gifts since he left in November lol

So during this deployment, I felt like I grew into who I am and want to be, learning more about me and my future. Started my career and continuing my education, and as well as Matt thinking more of his career and accomplishing his goals we both set for New Years resolutions. I think good things are to come in our future, isn't that what everyone hopes for anyways?
We left off where we were, maybe even better! and it felt wonderful.  I love having him home, but it's sad to say I already don't want him leaving again. I felt like that the first night. You just never know when and how long…. you want him to stay forever.  but for now, I think we both are enjoying the time together

Twix Ice Cream Cake

Who doesn't love cake and ice cream? Who doesn't love the both combined?? Well, I know I enjoy ice cream cakes and the hubby really does. So to switch it up this year, I decided to make an ice cream cake for his birthday.

He had a very special birthday due to him coming back home on the same day as his birthday! It was definitely a great day.
Anyways, I'll write more on that another time but here is a quick step by step instruction if you want to do it yourself for a special occasion or maybe just because!

What you will need:
1 bag of candy (any of your choice, but I used twix)
1 tub of cool whip (12 oz or 16 oz)
1 jar of carmel  (12 oz I think)
12 ice cream sandwiches or if you want a larger cake, then use 24
1  8x11 pan (if using the 12 sandwiches, otherwise you'll need 9x13)
Foil (optional)


Well, you don't have to line your pan with foil but I did because I didn't want the sandwiches to stick to the bottom, but then again I have come to realize it's worse when it sticks to the foil, although it is easy to remove. So if you want to just skip the step of laying foil down, then that's fine too.

Then cut up your candy into smaller pieces so they are prepared to go. I think I only used maybe 7-8 of the bite size candies, so you won't need the full bag but that's a personal choice. This was a hard part to not eat any!

 Ice Cream sandwiches, unwrap them from the wrappers. I only took 6 out of the freezer at a time because I didn't want them to melt

Lay them across in the pan

Layer the cool whip on top the sandwiches

  Then take your carmel, get it a little warm and put that on top of the cool whip, I mixed it in a bit throughout to give it a swirl effect.

Lay twix (or candy of choice) on top of it all

Then repeat the process one more time and make the top a bit more "appealing" and decorative. Then put foil on top of it and stick it in the freezer to enjoy later!


And here are a few from his birthday

Crazy to think he's 25… Even crazier to think I've known him since he was 16!