catching up

just checking in to catch up on all that's been going on here in pensacola, fl!  in a disappointing turn of events, the first house we rented was broken into so out we moved and now we're into a house we love in a safe and adorable little neighborhood.  our two spare bedrooms mean space to roam and it feels so great!  they are just begging for visitors :)

vince starts ifs {introductory flight screening} in early january so until then, he does pt and mcmap (physical training and marine corps martial arts} every morning and has most evenings off to catch up on some well-deserved resting after all of his hard work at tbs {the basic school}.  notice all the acronyms?? i'm still learning, too!  once ifs and especially primary flight school begin, he'll be busy all over again.

as for me: i have a job, at last!  after a few weeks of moving in, moving out, then moving back in again, i was beyond ready to get to work.  i was hired just last monday as an administrative assistant/legal administrator at a law firm in downtown pensacola.  it's the greatest location and my twice-daily walks to the post office to retrieve mail are the perfect chance to explore the little street where the office sits!  i'm feeling great about the job and especially about the people i work with.  they are God-loving and have been more than welcoming.  two coworkers have even asked me to join their bible study.  i don't think i could have asked for the more perfect job.

i couldn't possibly write today without mentioning the big game tomorrow... we can't wait to watch our cats face the duke blue devils.  it is so much fun to root for walk on jarrod polson!  GO CATS

photos of beach coming soon!

celebration

it's been just over one year since my first post so i couldn't resist sharing another birthday memory with everyone.  this year, it's carli jo's sweet sixteen:

new car!

 a surprise trip to indy

 and a celebration at her favorite restaurant:

our trip home has been a true breath of fresh air and leaving this place is once again, bittersweet.  we are beyond excited for our move to pensacola and another adventure but it is never easy to leave the family and friends we love so much.

here are some of the memories we've shared with them since we've been home:

walton-verona fall festival

camyrn's soccer game

homecoming- isn't she beautiful??

tomorrow, it's off to pensacola!! 

sweet cami girl

just a few of my favorite pictures of my sweet little sister, cam:

a birthday and a graduation

there has been so much to celebrate these last few weeks and it has been a whirl!  my grandma's 90th birthday party was last weekend and we treated her to the most special party ever.  my dad and sisters went all out planning the two-day event for all of our out-of-town guests.  family i'd never even met came in town to celebrate my sweet grandma.  i've never seen her so happy. 

wednesday, we celebrated v's graduation from TBS.  i am so proud of his hard work these past six months.  he is the toughest guy i know!  we moved out of our place in virginia on friday and headed home for 30 days leave.  we are really going to miss all of the wonderful people we spent our time with while we were there.  thanks to all of the bible study girls who made this time easier and a lot more fun, too!  we can only hope to find friends as good as you at our next duty station.

 

last but not least, we are proud to introduce to you the newest addition to our little family, tuck!

he's the sweetest little pup and we can't wait for our friends to meet him.  looking forward to catching up with everyone while we're home.  we've missed you all too much!

edit

just wanted to post my first edit for a photo editing class i'm taking!  so excited about this:

before:

...and voila! the after:

more to come!

three cities one week

vince keeps calling me a "world traveler" because every time he's in the field, i'm off on a new little adventure.  i'm so blessed to be able to do these things!  this time, i headed to santa fe to visit lindsey {my newlywed friend with a wild-fire fighting husband}.  new mexico is so beautiful and different.  the mountains are breathtaking and the landscape is different than anything i've seen before.  we did the most amazing hike in taos and ended up at the top of a mountain with a postcard view.  i wish i could have taken my camera so i could share it with all of you!  i did get to capture some pictures of our hike through the tent rock monuments:

and here are some photos of my walk around the town of santa fe:

thanks to linds and bri for having me!  it was such a good week and you guys made me feel extra-special.  i have missed you so much.

while i was in new mexico, vince completed his final fex: the war.  it rained on them more than they would've liked but he survived and is looking forward to graduation on september 12!  

the day after he got back from the fex, we headed to dc for the redskins game.  we got the royal treatment again in the hagen family suite.  they are so generous to include us!  

friday night, we met the caldwell family at luke's football game.  i'm so glad we were able to cheer him on for at least one big win- congrats, luke!  it's always wonderful to visit with this family.

the night was a long one because after the game, we drove straight to philly to meet up with friends.  traffic got the best of us but we made it in time to get a few hours sleep before we headed out at 7am to catch the navy/notre dame game.  it was a tough one to watch but we were glad to be able to spend time with our friends before the big move to florida- yikes/yay!!  thanks to mrs. battipaglia and jeff for having us at their place for the weekend.

can't wait to see our family for v's graduation!  be home in ten days!! 

viva espana!

i'm just getting back from one of the most unforgettable weeks of my life.  europe was truly amazing.  barcelona is the city of my dreams and one of my favorite places on earth.  we explored for four days before heading to rome and here is just a peek at what we saw:

the magic fountain at the barcelona national art museum

cheering on our cats even abroad

the plaza at the center of barcelona

barcelona monestary

barcelona club de futbol

castle at the top of the city

montjuic

the dragon at park guell

park guell

view of the city

casa batllo

la sagrada familia

best tour guides ever!!!

we did a lot of walking in barcelona but we saw it all!  the city has so much history and culture.  the people were so nice {and especially helpful when we were lost} and i got some serious practice on my Spanish.  

next, our adventure took us to the city of rome.  i can officially check it off my bucket list!  the roman colosseum was everything i thought it would be and more.  it was incredible to see it in person and the pictures don't do it justice.  the sistine chapel was breathtaking, too!  

trevi fountain

the roman colosseum

inside the colosseum

pantheon

st. peter's basilica

this was the trip of a lifetime and i am so grateful that i had the opportunity to go.  it was so generous of gus and nick to show me europe's best.  best brother-in-laws ever!  

vince was in the field while i was out of town on his second-to-last FEX.  All went well and since they got to sleep inside, they avoided the rain.  the guys who didn't already have flight contracts got their MOS's {military occupational specialty} the friday prior.  congrats to our friends who received an MOS.  you all make exceptional officers!

yesterday, we headed to annapolis to visit with friends and went to the first navy football scrimmage of the season.  it's always so fun to catch up with everyone.  we visited with the caldwell family and got to see the coaches too.  annapolis feels like a second home after all the time we've spent there and it felt good to be back!

one month from today and my man graduates from tbs!  the countdown begins...