Dear Snow, You should come more often!

We got a huge snow storm. By huge, I mean huge for Southern Virginia. We have lived here two and half years, and I think it's snowed 3-4 times. I've never seen more than maybe 2 inches of snow. This snowstorm we got 12 inches!!!! Ward Conference was cancelled, everything was shut down, and we are STILL stuck indoors. They do NOT know how to deal with snow here! Luckily our power has remained on.
Much against John's dismay, we built a snowman. You have to take advantage of the snow when it comes so rarely! We used chocolote covered nuts for the eyes, mouth and nose. I couldn't figure out why Pudger was so eager to go out in the snow. He wanted to eat the snowman's parts. So now the poor snowman only has one eye left, and 2 buttons!
I wish we would get snow more often! It's kind of nice to have a break from reality! Although after two days, I am starting to get cabin fever!

Here I am with the little boy I watch. He is the sweetest thing ever! Everywhere we go, people always tell me that 'my son and I look so much alike.' Hehe!

USMC Ball 2009

Luckily the Ball still happened. They were very close to cancelling it due to the severe weather we've been having. We had a blast!

Halloween 2009

My mom's visit

My mom just came out to stay with us for a little over a week. We had so much fun. We hit up the Outer Banks in North Carolina, the local peanut festival, the Marine Corp Museum, and Mt. Vernon! It was great having her here. She really spoiled us.
One day I had to work really late, and when I walked through the front door, I was greeted with a homemade meal and homemade biscuits. Mmmmm......... We are DEFINITELY going to miss her cooking. John gets stuck with leftovers too often because I've been working soo much lately. Poor guy!

Extending in VA

Well...it finally happened! John has FINALLY been transferred down to training company. This means NO MORE deployments while we are in VA. John was supposed to transfer down there, and become a Close Quarters Battle Instructor. But, there's been a little bump in the road. To become a CQB instructor, you have to be able to do it for two years. Considering John's orders with Security Forces is up next August, that doesn't make it possible.
So, John went and talked to his 1st Sgt, and monitor, and BOTH of them signed off on him extending here for a year so that he can be a CQB instructor. WOOHOOO!!!!! Nothing is 100 percent yet. His extension papers have to be signed first. But we will know for sure in the next few weeks. As of now, we will be extending here!
I'm soooo happy! I love Virginia. I love that we have our own home. I love my friends/jobs out here. I love the weather (minus the big bugs in the summer). I love the people. I love our ward! Yes, I just love Virginia.
So hopefully we will be here until August 2011!!!!!!!!!!! Keep your fingers crossed!

Welcome to Military Life

Well, it's that time of the year. The time of year where a LOT of military members get new orders. Which also means a time of goodbyes. This is all new for me. So I'm NOT excited at all. John says you get used to it. I DOUBT IT! I HATE, HATE saying goodbye to people.
One of my dear friends that I've had out here is moving to Japan. I'm so sad, and a bit jealous. After all, the two of us spent Christmas in Japan with our husbands.
So here are some pics from our last evening together. Hopefully we will meet up someday at another base. At least the Marine Corp is a lot smaller than the other branches. We will miss the Wests!

Lindsey's trip to see us

My sister came out from California to visit us for a week. She just graduated from BYU (WooHoo!), and is in between figuring out what she is going to do with her life. So we figured it would be a good time for her to come out.
While she was here, we went to Williamsburg, which she found to be 'a total letdown.' Apparently it was not exciting enough for her.
We also went to the Outer Banks in North Carolina. While we were down there, we rented a Jeep, and drove onto the private beaches to go looking at the wild mustangs. It was really neat, and really beautiful out there. The wild Mustangs are direct descendants to the ones that were brought over by the Spanish hundreds of years ago. So it was really cool.
We also went up to DC and spent time in the city, and with my cousin and his family. We had a lot of fun there, although it was record temps the days we were there. It was so humid and nasty. It was pretty miserable. My sister loved it there! I'm trying to convince her to move up there!
Here's some pics from her trip! Hope you enjoy!

John's new orders/Sgts course

Wedding

It must be springtime............we just attended another wedding. One of John's buddies from work got married. It was a lot of fun!

DC Temple

This past weekend, we had the opportunity of attending a wedding up in DC. One of my best friends from when I was little, got married in the DC temple. It was such a great experience, and it was so much fun to see some friends from back home.

Weekend in DC

John is currently in Quantico doing a course, so this last weekend I drove up there. We had so much fun. We went to the Marine Corp Museum, and went to Fredericksburg, and spent a day in DC. It was an amazing trip. What makes it better is that I get to go back up to DC this weekend to see one of my childhood friends get married in the DC temple. Now I can finally put a check mark next to my 'go to DC' box, on my long list of things I want to do.