2013 Catch Up

     Well a long overdue but much enthused "howdy folks" is my expression today! I have been longing for the day to get back to my blog and sharing what life has been for me and the hubbs the last few months! I can say one word to sum it up and another to really explain: CRAZY and APART.  The month of November (can I think back that far?!) Layne was gone on TDY's a lot.  (For those of you who don't know, the Air Force does nothing but speak in crazy code, lingo's and of course, the beloved acronyms!) So a TDY simply means Temporary DutY.  =) Simple as that! Anywho, he was gone a week, home a week, gone 2 weeks, home a few days, then gone almost 3 weeks! We were able to spend our first Thanksgiving together so that was nice.  We hosted, so I learned quickly the stress of trying to prepare for a house full of guests! (In a kitchen that's WAY TOO SMALL!) Mad mad props and respect went out that day to my mom and all the women in my family who make preparing 5 different dishes and cleaning a house by yourself look easy! However, all said and done it was a good day with our other friends who were not with families.

     Speaking of family, there is much to be said about this new life I dove into.  You meet new people in a brand new place from all over the country- and though you may have NOTHING in common with some of them, you have at least thing in common- military life. Layne went on his very first deployment this year and I learned even more how nice it is to call the other men and women in his squadron my family.  Though to most, a 4 month deployment seems like a piece of cake (and to some ladies it may be!) but it definitely goes without saying that I missed him- A LOT.  Being alone for the first time for more than 3 weeks was something to get used to....then add about 5 feet of snow and temperatures below zero for half the time.... yeah, this Southern Belle was in for it!  However, I buckled down and went out and found a training job to keep me busy while he was away (and because I needed to be in the gym badly!), and hung out with friends as much as I could.  My neighbors (both sides) were wonderful and helped in keeping my driveway clear of snow which I cannot express how thankful I was just for that. 

      I did make it home for 6 weeks- April and the first week or so of May and it was WONDERFUL.  To feel the warm sunshine, LAY OUT (I was looking like Casper), and just be with my family and see some friends was a definite boost to my spirit.  Day after day Layne and I fought with the internet to try and get a conversation in somehow (sometimes we went for days without speaking because the internet connection was so bad).  Though the connectivity was beyond frustrating, I am thankful that they at least had internet for us to almost talk everyday.  I definitely learned to appreciate the little things. =)  Another role I learned (and am still learning) is being a wife, then a military wife on top of that.  You see, military spouses have to go about it [LIFE] a lot differently I feel.  For days/weeks/months at a time we have to do it all- be the man and the woman of the house; the mom and the dad.  Then when our sweet husbands return, we must adapt back to being the submissive and respectful wives we are to be- letting them return to their leadership role.  It's a lot easier to say it than do it, once you've been trudging along in your own rhythm for so long alone.  But I know from watching others who have been in WAY longer than I, that it IS doable. We are still so very new in our marriage but it is something God is showing me day by day how to do better. Thank you Lord!

     Layne arrived back in Alaska on May 14 (after missing 7 flights, I barely made it home 12 hours before him!) and it was the best sight ever seeing him step off that bus.  (I'll post pictures later)  We spent quality time together just around the house, we hiked a glacier with friends, and then set off for our Hawaiian vacation at the end of May!  Eight days in paradise.... I was a giddy little school girl the whole time.  (I'm a beach bum, surfer chick at heart- yes, scary I know)  Our vacation was amazing to say the least and we explored as much of O'ahu as we could in those 6 full days we had. Returning home was very hard- but also fun knowing we had beautiful weather to look forward to there as well!

   Since we've been back, we both started work again and purchased a 27 foot camper!!! We have had a BEAUTIFUL (and hot!) summer so we have been out camping, fishing, hiking as much as possible!  We (well mostly just Layne) have caught a good bit of salmon, and when my parents came to visit we took a halibut charter and ended up with 70 pounds (yes SEVENTY POUNDS) of filleted halibut! YUM!! My parents were here for 2 weeks and it was so good to be able to show them around, take them camping, and sightseeing. (and even got my mother in waders fishing for salmon!!)

I cannot believe it's already August and the weather has changed dramatically already; rain, rain, rain, and fog.  We are losing daylight rather quickly now, and it's a lot cooler than the previous 2 months.  BOO. Trying to mentally prepare for the months ahead....1 winter down, 2 to go! I should run now, this post has been far too long (yet I've crammed 7 months worth of life into it). I promise not to take another 9 months to write a post!

Until next time,
Adios!

 

Tuxedo Pumpkin Cookies

Alright folks, here is the recipe! These cookies are UH-MAY-ZIINNNGGGG!!!!!!

I have listed the original recipes and the changes I made to "healthify" it! Hope ya'll enjoy them as much as my hubby and I (and friends did)!!

                                  Tuxedo Pumpkin Cookies (makes 3 dozen cookies)[Original recipe courtesy of familyfreshmeals.com]

Original Recipe:                               My Changes:
(for 3 dozen cookies)               (I halved the recipe and still made 2 dozen cookies!)

2 c all-purpose flour----->         3/4 c whole wheat flour and 1/4 c almond flour
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon----->   same (I love cinnamon!)
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice----->     1 tsp pps
1/2 tsp salt----->                      1/4 tsp low sodium salt
1 tsp baking soda----->              1/2 tsp baking soda
1 c sugar  ----->                        1/2 c splenda/organic cane sugar/stevia (your choice)
1 c brown sugar----->                 1/2 c splenda brown sugar
1 c unsalted butter----->             1/2 c MASHED BANANAS! (2 small bananas)
1 TB vanilla extract----->            1/2 Tb vanilla extract
1 c pumpkin puree----->             1/2 c pumpkin puree   
1 egg----->                      1 egg white
1 c chocolate chips------>           I c of chips all together- I used dark, white, and mini milk chips
1/2 c white chocolate chips-----> see above ^^
2 c rolled oats----->                   1 1/2 c oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 
In a large bowl whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.
Using a mixer (preferably- mixture gets very thick!) beat butter (bananas) and sugars until well blended.
Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.
Gradually add dry ingredients and mix well.
Stir in oats, mixing well.
Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop onto baking sheet and cook until lightly brown.  (14-15 mins) *

*Note- if using the new recipe, reduce cooking time by 2-3 mins.  I set my timer for 10 mins then checked them. 
They needed roughly 12 mins to cook in oven, then keep on pan for another minute or two.*

I may add various chopped nuts and raisins next time too!)
The cookies will be lumpy and very soft (if not overcooked)!!

ENJOY (without the guilt!)

the batter is thick so use a mixer if you have one!

the finished product! YUM!

My Amazing Days on Base

Howdy! So I gave a fun catch up with all the festivities we had been doing out and about this great (and now very cold) state of Alaska! Now to catch up on all the fun I've been having with the other wives in Layne's squadron on base...

wives who came to Blue Carpet Day

Last month we had a full day of fun.  The guys hosted a "Blue Carpet Spouse's Day" event in which we started early in the morning with breakfast and a tour of the squadron.  We were briefed for our day ahead and given some very valuable information on what exactly our husbands were doing every day ( and why they came home very late some days!).  It was very helpful information and I am very grateful for the leadership in this squadron.  The commander is wonderful and is fully focused on family involvement with all of the guys.  We were shown around other areas of the squadron like the infamous and (super secretive) vault!! After our vault tour and briefing, we hustled over to our cars and drove to the tower to watch some of the guys land the jets.  Unfortunately, the brief was a bit long and after the jets circled overhead a number of times they HAD to land for fuel reasons.  We still toured the tower and watched a C-17 and an F-15 land on the runway so that was neat.

view from the tip top of the tower outside! This is some of base and the buildings in the far distance are downtown Anchorage.

We then went to the egress trainer where I was able to gear up into a parachute and simulate opening and maneuvering my parachute to land, just as the pilots would! It also had a cockpit that looked like the F-22 we could sit in, as well as lower grade simulator of the jet to fly.  This particular sim is used to test the pilots oxygen intakes and their ability to function the jet with limited oxygen supply and other similar situations they could be faced with during flights.

in the parachute!

Later we came back to have lunch and take pictures not only with the jet but IN the jet! :D I was stoked!! All the wives were totally excited, as this is a rare (if ever) opportunity for us!

in the cockpit of the F-22! :D

After the pictures we went to another part of base where the guys participate in an even called Red Flag.  Red Flag, to my knowledge happens 2-3 times a year on base and involves many countries and many more pilots! They basically have a mock war to practice and analyze and learn in preparation of the real thing.  It's much more complicated than that, but it's all I know and all I should probably share. ;)  We got to see the red flag building and watch (without audio of course) a previous red air sortie- lemmetellya it's AS CONFUSING AS A WHITE PERSON SPEAKING VIETNAMESE IN SIGN LANGUAGE!!!!!! Every single one of the wives in the room where just overwhelmed at the screen... and that was without the audio!!!!! haha   My appreciation for Layne and all the amazing pilots in the USAF grew tenfold that moment!  We then went to the "hush house" to watch an actual F-22 engine be tested and put into full after burner.  The engine itself is placed into another contraption that is bolted many, many feet into the concrete slab in the ground! There was a safe room off to the side where everyone hung out and watched the engine- then in small groups we were able to go out by the engine! Holy moly it was so cool to be RIGHT NEXT TO THE ENGINE, HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE as it went into FULL AFTERBURNER!!

engine run! I'm in the teal shirt- we were holding on for life! It was unbelievably LOUD and WINDY!

To end that amazing day we had Moose's Tooth pizza and joined in on roll call with the boys! It was hilarious, confusing, and funny- a perfect way to end a perfect day on base in Alaska!

My next awesome event happened 2 weeks ago as the wives were given the opportunity to take a ride in a KC-135 "tanker" to watch some of the jets take an air refuel.  Even though I wouldn't get to see Layne refuel in the air, I jumped at the opportunity! It was a beautiful, crisp Wednesday afternoon that we met up and walked over as the tanker was getting prepared for takeoff.  We loaded up, got a brief run-down of the day, then took off!

Getting ready to take-off!

The "couch" where I was able to view the boom go into the jets! We laid down on either side and watched out of small windows.

Beautiful Alaskan view

What Layne flies over every day! Can you say JEALOUS?!!!

This is the boom going into the jet to refuel.

got to experience this day with my sweet man!

 After all of the jets refueled, it was time to head back to base.  I was given the opportunity to ride in the cockpit and for the first time ever saw and heard everything the pilots get to! I was, again, on cloud 9 as we finished up that day.  =)

in the cockpit ready to head home!

This is my one of my favorite pictures I was able to capture that day...

LET FREEDOM RING!!!! 

 We also had a few nights the Northern Lights came out- they were so bright we could see them from our living room! It was so cool to watch them dance and scatter and move all over! It was like God was waving a glow stick around!!

Layne and I with our neighbors Tricia and Dan!

Needless to say, in the past 2 months I've checked many things off of my Bucket List! ;) 

I am by far the luckiest girl in every way possible.  I am not sure why God is blessing me like he is, but I am ever thankful for it.  I miss my family and friends so very much, but would not trade this time of my life with my new husband for anything!


PS- PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!! LET YOU VOICE BE HEARD AND LETS STAND UP FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE/FIGHT/DIE FOR OUR COUNTRY!!! TAKE BACK AMERICA!




TTFN,
Jenni ;)

4 Months Down...

Denali

Wow! I cannot believe I haven't posted since August! I'm so sorry! I seriously think about my lil blog almost every day but I haven't dedicated any time to writing or getting ya'll caught up on things out/up here! Can you believe it's already OCTOBER?!!! For us, it most definitely feels like the fall...in fact we had a solid 2 weeks of seeing the gorgeous fall leaves before they fell off the trees (and are still falling!).  So I have a LOT of catching up to do and I feel the only way to do that is through pictures

Glacier Cruise from Whittier, AK

 So my last post our mom's were just about to arrive, and when they got here life was a whirlwind of activity! We had so much fun with them and the highlights were: the glacier cruise from Whittier, playing with the reindeer and Denali the moose in Palmer, the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, and of course eating at the beyond yummy Moose's Tooth in Anchorage! We bought stuff for our house, rearranged a bit, "hung pictures" (<-- meaning we directed Layne on where to hang pictures!) and enjoyed the outdoors. 

Mom, Taye, and I on a walk where I live

Eagle River- I pass this every single day! It's right by our house

log show at the fair

leaving after a LOONG day at the fair!

Rajah made it to Alaska!

After our mom's left, Layne and I headed out in a caravan of folks from both fighter squadrons up here to go on the annual trip to Valdez!  It was a long but pretty 5.5 hour drive...the rest of the weekend however was rain, rain, and more rain!  Saturday night all the ladies have a tradition of going off and having a "ladies only night" so we hopped from place to place in the tiny town of Valdez and danced and laughed.  I had a blast! The rain subsided on Sunday so we went fishing Layne caught his first silver salmon! I almost caught one but instead the silly fish snapped my line off! =/  

the caravan to Valdez!

 a beautiful waterfall we saw on our way to Valdez

some of the wives for ladies night

my stud and his fish!

a black bear at a FEAST with all the dead salmon on shore!

 <--- The top of Mt. Healy in Denali National Park

 

We made it to the top! Such an intense and awesome hike

us with Andrew and Lisa Webster

 We just recently went on a trip with our friends to Denali National Park!  Andrew "won the lottery" which is a BIG deal... I'll explain what that means in a moment. We drove up Thursday night and went on a hike up a local trail.  It was 2.25 miles up to the top and we increased in elevation over 2000 feet quite rapidly! It was a great workout and breathtaking at the top!  We came down and did another short hike of about 2 miles total.  Saturday was when we were able to use our lottery ticket to drive into the park.

<---We encountered our first grizzly about 30 miles into the park!

 Each year Alaskans pay $10 per person to enter a ticket into a raffle; if you are chosen then you and friends are able to drive the whole way into Denali Park (93 miles).  Usually, unless you have a special pass, you can only drive about 18 miles into the park.  It was a long day of searching and gazing at the beauty inside the mountain ranges.  The road we drove along was a narrow dirt road, so narrow in spots that I shut my eyes and held my breath as we rounded a bend along the mountain! We spotted several grizzly bears, a few black bears, a moose, a caribou, and a group of sheep! We had an encounter with one grizzly that I wish to never have again... -->  Cars were blocking the road and people were out taking pictures; some in their cars and some were outside of it.  We were a little ways down so naturally we got out and started walking towards the group, only to spot the grizzly 100 feet ahead on the left side of the road trying to cross. 

 We stayed back behind some cars and watched in amazement.  The grizzly then turned around and went away (so we thought)... we were looking for him assuming he ran off into the brush, only to turn our gaze to our left to see the grizzly was standing less than 20 feet away from us on the side of the road!!!! :O  So I started to run for the car yelling at the others to get to the vehicle asap! My heart was pounding.  I was NOT gonna be bear food!  Luckily for us and everyone else there, the grizzly ran to the other side and ran off! PHEW!

 We continued our slow winding journey farther into the park, saw animals here and there, stopped at the Eielson Visitor's Center to eat lunch and take in the glorious view as we got our very first glimpse at Mt. McKinely!! Our day started at 7am and we didn't get back to our campsite until after 7pm, so it was most definitely a long but amazing day!  Sunday morning before we left we saw the special sled dogs that Denali sponsors and takes care of for free.  They maintain the park over the winter the "old fashioned way" by fully utilizing these incredible dogs to cover the thousands of acres in Denali to fix things or maintain things.  The park does have snow mobiles (or snow machines is what they call them up here) and four wheelers, but they are machines that break down in the winter, the dogs don't.  =) We even got a mini presentation of the dogs hooked up to the sled and did a lap around the lot!  That was a fun weekend for sure.



We have been having a blast and the weather has gotten a lot more chilly, we even had a TINY bit of snow this past Saturday! The mountain peaks were covered and it was stunning. All of that has melted now, and the temps are averaging in the 30's at night and upper 40's to mid 50's during the day.  I'll be posting more soon, so stay with me! Gotta run to meet some ladies for lunch! Have a super duper weekend!

tah tah,
Jenni