Florida and Adjustments

We've already made new friends! Megan, Mike and their 2-month old son, Kellen. They graciously invited us to join them on their Memorial Day weekend trip to Florida and Mitch and I were really excited to accept. We hadn't really made any plans to leave, even though almost everyone else in his flight was going to New Orleans, Birmingham or Florida for the three-day weekend.

We stayed in a condo in Panama City within walking distance of the beach. We got there around 5 on Saturday and immediately high-tailed it to the beach with the babies. Mitch and Mike got in the water and Megan and I sat in the surf letting the babies feel the waves for the first time. Derek loved it! He stamped his feet as the water lapped around his little legs and was a little confused when the water moved away. Mitch and Mike started yelling at us and gesturing out at the waves. Stingray were jumping clean out of the water! Big ones, little ones... tons of them. The guys came in from chest high water when they saw two stingray swim between them and offered to let Megan and I head out, which we did only for a few minutes before the sight of jumping stingray drove us back in. Then Mitch and Mike tried to corral a large crab and attempt to pick it up. They pursued it all the way back out to chest-deep water and lost it.

The next couple days, we just hung around the condo, the beach and the heated pool. Derek also loved that. Mitch held him under the arms and pulled him around the pool like a little motorboat while Derek kicked and kicked. Super cute. Mitch hadn't woken up and I had to pack up Derek's pack N play to put back in the car, so I just plopped him on the pullout bed that we slept on and snapped these pics really quick.


Megan and Mike are great friends! They weren't kidding when they called themselves professional relaxers. I think we've been almost completely converted into professional relaxers ourselves. Going and doing on a vacations is a great idea, but when you come back needing to recover from a vacation, it kind of defeats the purpose, don't you think?

As far as the "Adjustment" part of this post...

I've definitely come to realize just how sheltered life was in Provo. In one of his first briefings, Mitch's squadron commander told his squadron to leave the area around the base if they were going off-base because it's a bad area of town. No joke. When we first came into our new "6-week home," we found a little note from our housekeeper, Gwen. She cleaned our room mostly while we were out, so we didn't meet her for a few days. However, one day a lady came in to clean our room.

"Oh, you must be Gwen," I said.

"No, actually she just passed," was the response.

Hang on. Passed....as in died?

"Yes. Domestic violence is a real problem around here."

Speechless silence.

Welcome to the real world.

I heard the national anthem playing last night for the first time since moving here. It's played every night at 5 when the flag is lowered on BYU campus and I think it's played here at the same time to mark the end of the business day. Hearing that familiar sound put me quite a bit more at ease. Makes me much happier that we're staying on-base.

I'm looking forward to starting a garden when we get to Laughlin. I've been doing some research on different kinds of plants that would thrive in the deserts of south Texas and was really surprised to see tulips listed. Really? So, that's my main pick along with a couple ground cover plants that haven't been decided yet. :) Strawberries would be fun to grow too, but you don't harvest them the first time. You pluck the little flowers off and then harvest next year. But I'm not sure where we'll be in two years, so I'm not too sure about that one.

In brighter news, Derek is doing well and growing quickly. He's probably 15 lbs now and I'm really starting to notice, lol. He's trying to roll over onto his back from his belly but only has intermittent success. He never does it when I bring out the video camera, haha!

K, so no pictures. Bummer

Well, the reason we don't have pictures is pretty dumb: the movers packed the camera. After seeing the camera prices at Walmart and Target, I think I'm becoming slightly more resigned to Mitch's firm "NO" to my request for another, especially since we had to get a new laptop for me to be able to do my online lessons while we're here. That was unexpected.

Mitchell will be leaving for a 5-day excursion to the field in a few minutes. Derek is asleep in his pack N play and will probably be waking up soon and needing to be fed. I, however, have decided to update my blog. If I don't do it now, I'll fall out of the habit.

The trip from Utah to Alabama was pretty much uneventful except for a hotel reservation mixup. Mitchell booked one hotel room through a third-person booking party (here's where I went "uh-oh") and forgot to change the hotel on our driving instructions we were putting together. Luckily, we were only a mile or two from where our reservations were. Lots of rain during the trip from Wyoming to Lincoln. That was fun, though.

We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Wade in Tennessee for a couple days. We were able to attend the Nashville, TN temple while we were there and kept Grandpa Wade up late watching movies with us a couple nights. We found that he shares a love for NCIS with us. :) They also introduced us to Australia with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman (great movie!) and Avatar with Sigourney Weaver (also great!). We moved into our tiny hotel room (with our own kitchenette and our own bathroom - no sharing with other couples, thank heaven) and it's been working really well for us.

I'm excited to see how I fare on my own without Mitch. I've already learned to change the bucket in the dehumidifier (came with the room, awesome!), which is really heavy when full. I've also learned my way around the base to the BX, commissary and the gas station. I've made some friends and have a spouses' meeting tomorrow evening to discuss the spouse program here for ASBC students' spouses.

Wanna know a secret? I am SO not motivated to finish my psychology classes. I'm getting distracted by all the other super shiny things I want to do. Like getting my dog training certification. This is a minor certification but it opens the door for me to be able to get a higher certification that will let me put letters after my name. Cool, huh? It will also let me be able to administer the "Good Citizen" test to dogs.

Why is that important? Well.... personally, I think it's totally stupid that the bases limit dog owners to certain breeds. Pitbulls, dobermans, and rottweilers are prohibited because of "breed aggression." K, for one, that's stupid. Just because a high percentage of these kinds of dogs are used for aggressive activities or purposes does not mean the entire breed is automatically aggressive. Other breeds can have aggressive individuals, too. Enter the Good Citizen test, sponsored by the AKC. Basically, it's a piece of paper that says your dog has manners (basic obedience and lack of aggression) that are good enough to pass a 10-part test that evaluates how well they interact with people and other dogs. I'm going to try to petition the Air Force to only approve dogs to live on base based on whether or not they have a Good Citizen certificate rather than on their breed. We'll see how it goes.

Before I start that certification, though, I have to finish my psych classes. I'm aiming for August, but we'll see if I make it. December is the absolute latest I can graduate, but I will not wait that long.

That said, I'd better go do a lesson or two.

Visit to Tennessee

We had so much fun on our trip to Tennessee! We saw the house that Mitchell grew up in, stayed with Grandpa and Grandma Wade and went to Dollywood! We also had a great time going to a magic show and The Comedy Barn (cameras weren't allowed). Check these out!

David and Grandma Wade's Maltese, Chrissy relaxing on the back porch

Grandpa and Grandma Wade took us on a boat ride down the river that runs through Nashville. It was so neat to see all the massive houses that lined the banks. Lots of celebrities' houses, too.

Grandpa and Grandma Wade

Uncle Jared entertained Derek for us. Thanks Jared!

What a lovely couple!

David and Lanae

I thought this was a beautiful boat

Let's go duck hunting in this hunting blind!

BANG!!! Got one!!

Reba McIntire's mansion/ranch/home

Crazy Colton

Jeff and Tammy took us to Dollywood - a theme park founded by Dolly Parton. There were roller coasters, a HUGE bald eagle enclosure (Dollywood rescues and rehabilitates bald eagles) with at least twenty birds, a recreation of Dolly Parton's tiny cabin where she grew up, and lots and lots of trees! I loved it! So much cooler than Six Flags. 

Derek and Isaac pretended to be little owlets in a nest

What handsome boys!

Derek says, "Say what?!"

I sure do love my little man!

Smiling and a little sleepy

Not sure where he picked this up but his fat little fingers look so cute in his mouth!

Apparently, someone decided to recreate the Parthenon and park it near Nashville. Lest you think this trip was all about fun, we actually got some cultural education... while having fun! The accurate replica of the statue of Athena was amazing in person. One of the original seven wonders of the world, I'd only read about this statue. To see it in real life was so cool!!

Grandma Wade and Tammy in front of Athena and Nike (winged figure in Athena's hand)

Replica from the front pediment of the original Parthenon

Who knew Jeff could photo bomb?! HAHA!!

I wish I could have two of these griffins guarding my front door. It would have to be a big front door...

Look!  A walking Greek statue! ;)

Close-up of the recreation of the pediment

We attended Mitchell's old ward while we were in Morristown. The Heaths caused quite a stir when we all walked into the chapel. I was afraid the bishop was going to stop opening exercises just so we could introduce all the spouses and kids. It was great to finally meet some of the facebook friends who added me just because I married Mitchell. The ward was very welcoming. :)

David, one of Mitchell's best friends growing up

Picnic with Family

My in-laws suggested we meet up at a park and have dinner last Saturday. It was so fun! We had roast chicken and this AMAZING sunflower seed bread and fruit trays and all kinds of snacks. Liz's family came and brought even more food! Unfortunately, Mitch had to work a HUGE 12 hour shift that day from noon to midnight. Poor guy, we missed him. We had a great time chatting and enjoying each others' company; I sure am going to miss the family up here when we move next month. :( Here are some pictures and a cute video of Issac laughing... enjoy!

Derek doing his best ninja impression

Mom Heath

Liz feeding Issac

We put the kids to bed wrapped in blankets. The little train-patterned blanket blob is Derek.

Liz's adopted brother, Samuel.

Lanae and David

Liz and Issac

Samuel is so good at making Issac smile!

I guess Issac likes Aunt Kadi. :)

Commissioning

So, my amazing dad called me one day towards the end of March and said he wanted to get a gift for Mitch's commissioning but didn't know if his idea was "stupid." He wouldn't tell me what it was at first, but I weaseled it out of him: an official Air Force saber. Stupid is not even on the map... TOTALLY WICKED COOL! So my dad ordered it and it arrived around April 3rd I think. I had to keep that a secret for almost a MONTH!! Anyone who knows me knows I have a super hard time keeping secrets but I did it! I put the box in the storage closet and Mitch was really good about staying out. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera when we went to the big commissioning ceremony (please don't be mad, Dad!), but we did take these pictures with the sabre when we got home.

Loves it... Love, not like

It reads, "2LT Mitchell S. Heath" and it's going on the wall of his office

Mitch had scheduled a smaller ceremony for the following day so his parents could attend and I remembered to bring the camera that time. Our Det 855 commander, Col. Johnson, commissioned Mitch. Here are the videos from that ceremony:

Pinning on his "butter bars" comes first in the ceremony

Then he takes the Oath of Office

Here he receives his first salute as a newly commissioned 2nd LT. Master Sergeant Davenport has been at Det 855 at least since 2006 when Kadi started ROTC. He's super cool.

Col. Johnson gave the new commissionees a chance to say a few words...

Playing with Daddy

Funtimes with daddy...

He is SO strong!

Talking

Exersaucer!!

Derek got a new toy (Thanks Aunt Cathy!!) and, while he's still too young to really use it, he likes it anyway.

Yes, he's standing by himself. He locks his legs when he gets really excited

Looking at the whale

Cross-eyed! HAHA!

Video of Derek in the saucer

What happens when I have stuff to post and I don't post it...

Hang on to your wooden ponies everyone, there's a ton of stuff in this rodeo of a post...

So sad that we don't have ANY pictures from Dining Out! GAH! I even had my hair done. :( Oh well. Dining Out was a blast! Mitch and our Wing Commander, Erik Hulme, had people gasping in horror and gasping for breath in stitches with their witty dialog. Dinner was great with 5 spice chicken and roast beef. Our speaker was retired Marine LT COL Gary Elliot and he was amazing! He made Mitch drink the grog because he hadn't been very nice to the other cadets that got grogged. Boot nominations were hilarious - I think the best one was a GMC cadet who put his physical training shorts on backwards, had it pointed out by a POC who told him to switch them around, and immediately dropped his shorts to fix the problem. HAHA! *wipes a tear* I think I'm going to miss ROTC. I hope the "real" Air Force is just as tight knit as we were.

So, I ran across these pics when I was performing a camera dump yesterday. Not-quite-naked-baby, but close enough.

Snuggle with Daddy

Growing bigger by the day

LOOONG!!!

More bumbo chair pics - He loves to be in the chair while I work in the kitchen. After a few minutes he leans over and looks at his toes. HAHA!

Such fat little feet

We hung out with Lanae and David after the ROTC Closing Social. Derek loves his Aunts and Uncles!!

New Family Photos

Hope you enjoy! Sorry they're a bit fuzzy: picture of a picture you know.

I know that my Redeemer lives

General Conference this past weekend was absolutely amazing. I truly felt like I came to better know my Savior through the testimony of his chosen prophet and apostles. I am so grateful for the love of my Father in Heaven and for His endless patience with me. No matter how often I stumble or fall short, He still is there to whisper encouragement to me, wrap His loving arms around me to reassure me and help me succeed. I will always be grateful that He helped me find my beloved husband and blessed me with such a wonderful child. We have food to eat, a roof over our heads and still have the occasional opportunity to beautify our home.

I know that Jesus Christ paid the price for us to be able to repent and become clean again so that we may live with our Heavenly Father again. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is called of God to serve as His prophet in these latter days. The Book of Mormon is a book of truth. It contains the record of the Nephites and Lamanites - ancient peoples, some of the Lord's "other sheep" that he visited. It contains the word of the Lord. The Lord loves each of us and blesses us immeasurably. I hope we can each feel that love and apply the counsel we received for these next six months to be able to draw closer to the Lord and be happy.