FYI English Grammar Alert

Just thought I would let you all know that apparently in recent years there has been a change in what is grammically accepted in spacing. I am sure many of you, like myself, still believe it is expected that we put TWO spaces between sentences. See how nice it looks when I do it? Well, apparently, that is no longer necessary and one space is acceptable. When my dear husband and I got in a debate over who was right, I scoffed that he would argue ME, when I have an English degree. Do I debate engineering? Or nuclear weapons? No, I leave that up to him. However, he pressed the issue, and this morning I was out to prove him wrong and put him in his place. I have humbly been put in mine. It is acceptable to put either one or two spaces. In the past, 2 spaces were needed since people used typewriters and the size of each letter was not proportional. With todays modern computers and word processors', the lettering is all the same proportion, so it is not necessary. You don't believe me? Check it out: http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/t3/wsr/csc120/wp1spa97.htm And if you find something that is contrary to the above PLEASE let me know ASAP. I don't like being wrong :) Ha ha!

Monday Madness

Why does it seem like the alarm clock is extra viscous on Monday mornings? It seems to taunt me. Actually, we were awakened at 5:30, right before either of our alarm clocks went off, by our truck alarm going off. Someone in the neighborhoood has a vehicle without a muffler and it vibrates so loud that it actually sets our truck alarm off, if we are lucky only once a week. I am sure our neighbors are disgusted with us, but unless we cut the wires, there's not way to disable it. I worry every time it happens that Brian will go toppling down the stairs in his barely awakenend and rushed state. To tell you the truth, its a good alarm clock for him...it seem so to be one of the few things that actually get him out of bed quickly. Hmm, anyone know where I can get an alarm clock with the sound of a car alarm as the buzzer? I visited the new Super Wal-Mart today. Why? Why do I do this to myself? What a mad house and I swear that everyone forgets their manners when they step foot in that store. I stopped on my way home and filled up the gas tank. I had to wait in line for that, too. Tomorrow prices are supposed to sky rocket, although today they had already gone up some. We are praying for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. It seems like that area just can't win. Here's a pic of Brian and Haley I took this past Sunday when Brian and I enjoyed our coffee (decaf, I promise!) outside:

Can you believe our Tootsie was once this small?

Great Weekend

As usual, the weekend seems to have flown by way too quickly. It seemed we experienced deja vu, when we rose bright and early on Saturday morning in preparation for our garage sale with the Hlivko's. This week we had it at our place. Kim made chocolate chip scones...so so good! We were amused to see some of the same folks (professional garage saler's) but thought it was even funnier when they bought again. Between the two weekends we had a succesful time, and (most) everything we didn't sell we took to Good Will. Ahh, the nice feeling of a cleaned out house and garage (until we get more stuff to fill it with)! :) Here's a couple pics of all of us hard at work. Saturday night Brian and I went to Chili's for dinner and then watched some TV and lounged. I fell asleep on the couch and was told that I was snoring and that it sounded like a "fog horn." Ahh, the wonderous things pregnancy brings out in a lady. I would feel embarrassed excpect that the same source who tells me I am snoring, quite frankly has little room to talk. Today we slept in and then headed down to Fort Collins, CO. We saw the movie Red Eye, a thriller about a young woman who is forced to comply with what another passenger on the plane tells her to do or he'll have her father killed. We really lke it...not TOO scary (as I am the biggest chicken in the world), but it kept us on the edge of our seats. Then Brian was a dear and took me to the Macaroni Grill. YUMMY! We also discovered on our trip to Fort COllins, that they have now opened a Panera (St. Louis Bread Co.) there. I was so happy I nearly cried. Brian was too, as this has been one of my pregnancy cravings and the closest one is Colorado Springs. Brian is now hoping a Steak N Shake will open in the area and we would be set! Well, its time for bed!

Pregnancy Progress

We're back tracking here a little, but here is a timeline of myself and our little guy (nicknamed Jeb or little Turkey if you didn't know). We first found out on a Friday in March when a home PG test showed us 2 lines, meaning SURPRISE! (FYI, if you double click on the pictures, they will go to full size). Here we are at 6 weeks while on vacation in windy Friday Harbor, WA: And here we are at 8 weeks (you can almost see something)! Here we are at 14 weeks! And here we are growing along at 19 weeks: The little guy and I at 21 weeks: Most recently here we are at 26 weeks:

AND FINALLY THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR IT ALL!!! :)

A Great Read

Last night I stayed up past my bedtime reading a hauntingly beautiful (and Pulitzer Prize winning) book entitled Empire Falls by Richard Russo. It was one of those reads that you can hardly bear to stop reading, but you also dread the ending because then the experience will have ended. I highly recommend it, and if you are not a reader, HBO has made a mini-series starring Helen Hunt and Paul Newman, among other great actors. I imagine it will be specatular, though I am usually disappointed with movies after reading the book. Brian is attending a TDY in town this week for work. It is in depth evaluation training from what I understand. There are missalears from Minot, ND and Malstrom, MT in town for the training as well. They had a long lunch today and Brian surprised me by taking me to lunch at a new Mexican restaurant in town. We're half way through the week...HAPPY HUMP DAY!

Another Week Begins...

Our weekend FLEW by! Friday Matt & Kim had us over for dinner and then the boys went back and forth between our house and the Hlivko's bringing the garage sale goods. Kim and I stayed back and priced things. Of course, we HAD to take a break and go to Culver's for the flavor of the day: APPLE PIE! Yummy! Saturday we were up bright and early. We had a decent crowd, but not as much as we expected. We are going to try again next week, perhaps at our house and see if we can sell a few of the nicer things. Its funny how much JUNK people bought. Things we honestly were planning on tossing in the garbage, people bought up in a flash! We ate dinner at the Cheyenne Cattle Company. It was really good! We ended up talking to a couple at the next table traveling through Cheyenne from California. They have been married 62 years and they were as enjoyable as people come. Sunday we went to "Mass on the Grass" on base. We attended church outside and then we ate lunch with the congregation. Everyone brought a side item or dessert and it was a feast. Then Brian and I went to the commissary, took a nap, and then we had to finalize the list of where we want to be stationed next, since Brian has to turn in the list. Too bad we have to wait another 6 months to find out where we're going, now we're really anxious!

TGIF

Whew, I am so glad its FRIDAY! Its been a fairly busy week. Tuesday evening I went to the Warren Spouses Group meeting. It was a mingle party, where we just chatted with other spouses. Cindy and Lindsey drove in from Colorado and it was great to see them. We positioned ourself in front of the fondue fountain they had. You say chocolate and we're all there! Our friend Beth planned the whole evening, as she is the VP of the group, and she did a fantastic job. The rest of the week Brian and I have been preparing for the garage sale that we are having with Matt and Kim at their place. It will be so nice to get rid of clutter (aka JUNK), but its such a pain in the neck. I am actually getting rid of shoes, if you can believe it. And lots of them. It was a very traumatic time, but I just figure that's more room for NEW shoes. Brian didn't realize we had so much closet space. Brian was able to see the little turkey moving around in the belly yesterday! It was pretty incredible. Tonight we are going to go to Matt & Kim's and we're going to price items and get things situated. We figure there will be people at thier door by the crack of dawn. Jack sent me an email with a really ocol picture of Busch Stadium and the new one being built. Its so sad to me that they are retiring the original Stadium. Just like the original St. Louis Arena, there is just nothing like it. Maybe we can win one more World Series in the Stadium in its honor! Happy Friday!

Tuesday, August 16th

Well, I am following the rest of the Cheyenne gang and starting a blog so that friends and family can keep up on what is happening in our lives. I am now 26 weeks pregnant. Saturday will begin my third trimester! I am in shock at how fast it has all gone. The little guy is kicking up a storm and I can actually watch my stomach move while he rolls around in there. We're still working on getting Brian to see my stomach move, but he has definitely been able to feel the baby kick quite a bit. In fact, I think he knows Daddy's voice and touch! Here is a picture of Kim Hlivko and I a few weeks ago (I was 22 weeks pregnant and she was 32 weeks pregnant at the time of the photo).

This picture was taken at a going away party for one of the guys Brian works with, Chris Richard. He and his fiance moved to Boston and are stationed at Hanscomb AFB. Kim is now 36 weeks pregnant and is ready to have that baby girl! We are all anxious to meet the little gal.

I got a surprise in the mail Friday...a CD full of pictures from the 4th of July weekend. Thank you SO much Jack!! My side of the family all went to the Lake of the Ozarks and stayed at Camp Bunky (my aunt & uncle's), where they all hung out by the lake and went tubing. It looked like a blast! Here's a picture of the whole clan:

Tonight I am attending a Warren Spouse's Club meeting. It should be fun, its always nice to get together with other spouses (mostly wives). Brian and I will write again VERY soon, so keep checking back!