A merry Christmas to all...

Our first Christmas back in America. It was wonderful and it was Bunkers first Christmas. We opened presents before the sun even came up. I got Curious by Britney Spears perfume (one of my favorites), a Nexus 7 tablet (that I got to open early and love), a pink tablet case, comfy pink pajamas from my Mom (wearing them now, love them), and money. Steve got his Emergency food bucket, a Hickory Farms package with meats, cheese, crackers and this really good mustard spread (good find, Crystal, good find), a few gift cards as well as money from family also. The fur kids already have so many toys and play houses as it is that we didn't buy them anymore. Its taking over the apartment. So we just got them some of their favorite treats and wet foods.

My two wonderful gifts from my amazing husband. I remember standing by it at Staples and sighing, I wanted my tablet so bad. I am one lucky lady.

Playing in the wrapping

We had a great Christmas dinner as well as the kids but after pawing it around the floor first, of course. We watched A Christmas Story while eating. It had been such as long time since watching it. I remember watching it every Christmas as a kid and we just had to watch it because Steve had never seen it. The second one has just been made as well so I can see that in our near future.

One of the fur-kids plate.

Don't have a fireplace at home? Netflix has got you covered. No really, they do!

After that we were pretty full and tired. We called family and went to bed early. It was a great Christmas. The Lord had really blessed us and spending it together made it perfect.

Resolutions for 2013

Here we go again. I failed myself in a couple of my 2012 resolutions and a new year always wipes a slate clean for me so I am going to set another five because its a good solid number of things you want to accomplish in a year. But I did have accomplishments in 2012, as well. My marriage is striving and I do feel I am more independent instead of just someones wife, daughter, and sister. I have goals of my own and I find myself doing things for myself instead of trying to make everyone else happy first. My marriage is happier for it.

1.) Lose 60 pounds!
     Reason- This was one of my 2012 resolutions and I did lose 15lbs but gained it back from poor eating habits and quitting my daily exercise regimen. This year is the year. I can feel it.

2.) Get better at money management.
     Reason- We have been living paycheck to paycheck like we are still kids. We need to get serious about getting a savings and be more responsible. This will have to have Steve's effort in it as well.

3.) Work hard and excel in my new career as a contractor.
     Reason- As I type this, today is my first day of my new job and life. I wanted so badly to work from home and be a business owner. I am finally here and this is my chance. I am so nervous and afraid to fail. I pray the Lord creates a path to my success and have a wonderful monthly income by 2014. I know it wont be overnight so I know I will have to work hard and do my very best every day.

4.) Learn to sew correctly.
     Reason- People always say I make the cutest things but I don't know how to do a lot of things. I have a real hard time cutting fabric right and some things that I see, I have no idea how they made it. I want to learn to make curtains, clothes, and others things. This year I am going to start attending sewing classes, read more sewing how to books and just do everything I can to learn and be on the path to one day opening a sewing business. I will be working from home so this can't be too difficult to do in my free time. I love to sew and excited to learn more. Some people just go sew up some amazing great quality projects. I want to be able to do that.  Expect a lot more sewing projects on my blog in the near future.

5.) Live by the Bible.
     Reason- I want to the be person, wife, friend, and family member that God wants me to be. Reading the Bible has changed my life and my Husband has already seen a change in me. God has changed my life. I want to maybe start attending Church even if its just on occasion. I just want to live by his words.

Homemade Cat Treats

I have a whole fun day of free time before I start my new job. So I am going to spend it getting some housework and laundry done, and make some treats. This is the first time I have ever made any so it will be fun. I am excited for them to try it. I got my Dunkin Donuts coffee and about to head to Path Mark for my ingredients. Oh, and I just wanted to mention something I noticed. In Washington and Idaho, where we grew up, there are Starbucks on every corner. Here, you have to go out of your way for Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts is on every corner. We noticed that and thought it was funny.

 Tuna Tidbits

6 ounce can of tuna

1/4 cup water drained from tuna

3 T cooked egg white, chopped

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine tuna, egg white and water. Add cornmeal and flour and blend to form a dough. Knead into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into one-inch sized pieces. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes.

Bunker could not get enough of them but Tubbles wasn't too much of a fan of Mommas home cookin'. Next time I will add some Chicken Broth. I like to think Bunker eats them because he likes them but there is also the possibility that he eats them because he is a bottomless pit. He eats everything, french fries, cream cheese, coffee, soda, bread, etc. Of course I don't give him these things, he steals from my plate and cup when I am not looking.

 Steve also had a sample and said they were sort of bland so I am for sure going to add some other stuff in there in the next batch.

Christmas time fun

The kids are starting to get along so well now, FINALLY! I was having such a hard time with Tubbles not adjusting well to Bunker. But now they are playing and cuddling all day long. Its great to see. Sorry for the overload of photos.

Notice there is no snow? So nice, we are having beautiful warm sunny cloudless days here in Delaware! Stay in Germany, Snow! We are liking this.

Exploring the balcony for the first time.

Bunker loved the balcony so much he tried everything to get back out there.



Our tree and stockings

Christmas cards in colorful envelops. We sent one to Faithful Friends (the shelter) so Bunker could say thanks for taking care of him and also one to our Vet so Tubbles could also say thanks for helping her mouth.



The cool cat!




Helping Momma put dishes in the dishwasher



Tubbles relaxing her bed with her blanket I made her

Sweet Boy!

He loves carrying stuff around in his mouth just like his new big sister.

Steve woke me up at 4 in the morning to show me this photo. They were cuddling for the first time! Melted my heart.

I think he is really enjoying his forever home. No more cages or tons of stranger animals. He has a family, finally. We love him and Tubbles is enjoying her new little brother.

Christmas Cards

I am a bit late on getting the Christmas cards done. But since we are in America, I have the luxury of being late since I can order online at Walgreens and pick them up an hour later instead of waiting six weeks for them to be mailed to Germany. Ahh. Yes! I love being back in America. Its the little things I appreciate most. Every year I take our Christmas photos, edit them, and get them printed myself. Saves us quite a bit of green this way and it also turns out exactly how I envisioned it so its a win-win.

Our 2012 Christmas Cards! Coming soon to a mailbox near you!

Paw Christmas Stockings

I finally made homemade Christmas stockings for the kids and this is Bunkers first stocking.. and first CHRISTMAS! I wanted them to be perfect so it took me two days to make these stockings. I am pretty proud of myself. I would say that my sewing is improving. Steve saw them and he was completely impressed. He loves them. I was going to make them really colorful and cute, but making them to the color of their fur is so much more personalized.

Inside. Green with cute little candy canes.

While I was sewing the stockings up, Bunker decided it would be fun to jump on to my shoulders. He is so little and sweet as a button.

We Adopted!

Meet Bunker. He is a four month old feline we rescued from Faithful Friends Animal Society. Tubbles has been moping around and we thought she needed a companion. After two years of deciding when the perfect time for us to adopt, we decided there is no perfect time and this is as good as any since I will be working from home.
It all started then we saw a cat we liked at Petco (the shelter had an adoption event going on there). She was really sweet so we filled out the adoption application they had there set up at the store and mailed it in. We had a first choice cat and second choice just in case one of them got adopted. About three days later we went to the shelter to get an update and they said they were just about to call us to tell us that they have both been adopted. So we went and looked at the cats they had in the shelter and decided on another then they informed us she had an application and pending adoption so we decided on her sister (they told us it was her sister).
They called our apartment complex and vet for references and once we were approved, I went and picked her up only to be notified that my she is a HE! We had the name picked out (Harmony) and everything.
The sex didn't matter to us, we just weren't expecting that. The kennel attendant thought we were talking about the sister then I was pointing to her brother.

We decided on the name Bunker for the Military significance. A Bunker is a place to stay safe from harm and we are giving this new being a place to live and be safe. So that is how my mind sort of came to that name.

When we got home from the shelter, I didn't think it would be a problem to let him out of the kennel and have him roam. I didn't even think to research the best way to introduce cats for the first time. He met Tubbles while she was in her play house and there was a lot of growling and hissing. After two days, there was no change and Tubbles growls and swats at us now too. She is not handling the change well. I decided to do my research finally on what to do and now Bunker is in the bedroom with his litter box, food and water while Tubbles adjusts to his smell. I did it completely wrong. I feel so bad for Tubbles. I hope this doesn't make lasting resentment for the new kitten.

This is definitely an experience and I had no idea what to expect. The last time I had a kitten was when Tubbles was a kitten. Bunker is so rambunctious and full of energy. I can be sewing and all of a sudden, he is on my shoulders and my head. He loves to pounce. He tried so hard to get Tubbles to play with him but maybe in a week, after we try it this way, he can come out and they can have a better meeting.

Look at that little milk mustache!

Here he is (on the right) when he first got dumped at the shelter. I took a snapshot from my Tablet so thats why there is all the other stuff in the photo.

The Dream Job

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  "  Matthew 7:7-8 (NKJV)

Thank you, Lord! I prayed and prayed and asked for this job and lifestyle. It is my dream to work from home so I can help my little family out financially while still being a home maker. It has come true. My credit and background check came back and I have been approved to work as an independent contractor. I almost started crying when I got that email confirming it. I pretty much danced in to the bedroom to show my husband the email on my iphone since he was still in bed. We are both just so happy and I can not wait to start. I am going to finish deep cleaning the house and so I can get started on my new job right with no distractions as I learn the ropes.
No commuting to work, no wearing uncomfortable suits, lunch meetings will involve lunch with my family, no bosses looking over my shoulder, will be considered a business owner, making my own hours and yet, I will work in the business world and put my Business Technology (Office Admin) Cert to use. Thank you, God. This truly is a dream come true.

via

Horrible gifters

As bad as this sounds, this is the first year my husband has actually done my Christmas gift shopping himself. He has never had a gift for me under the tree until now. He realized this and really sat down and thought about it. He said he couldn't believe he had done that. I always have to buy myself the gifts that are "from him". Well, I may not have been talking about it all that much or at all but we have been on a journey to strengthen our marriage and be happier. It has been amazing. Its through Christ that we are learning what love truly means and as I am giving my life to the Lord, my eyes are opening for the first time.

But yes, he went and shopped for my gift and its just amazing how much thought he put in to it. He was so excited. He put them in boxes and those boxes in more boxes and wrapped them. I actually had no clue. Now, How did I know he did all this? Because we are horrible gifters and we opened them! Its only December 2nd and we opened them. Okay okay, just one each and even Tubbles got to open one too to make it fair. We are not going to break tradition completely and we are saving most gifts for Christmas morning.

He is a big survivalist and so I got him a emergency food bucket with a water purifier. He acted like a small kid when he opened that, just so happy. When it was my turn, He handed me two gift and said they go together. The first was a really cute pink kindle Fire holder of some sort. I thought for sure my next gift was going to be a kindle. I opened the next and it was a Nexus 7; an Android tablet. It was what I was hoping for. When ever we go to Staples or Best Buy, I am always by the tablets. I love love love it. So much better then a Kindle. Last but not least, Tubbles opened hers and she got her much loved cat grass.

My tablet. Already addicted to it. (via)