A new place!

We painted nearly everything in our home prior to the deployment, except for the downstairs open area....one large open kitchen - living room.

I had no clue how to connect the oak cabinets, oak floors, off-white carpet, white appliances, and black fireplace. I was intimidated by the space.

Rich and I had decided we would love to use the color orange - but being that orange is the undertone of the floor and cabinets, we didn't want to do overkill on it. But what shade to avoid being sherberty or crayony?? And we didn't want to paint everything the same color.

So, after much deliberation, I finally decided on paint colors. I found pillows I liked and went from there to create a color scheme.

I painted two of the walls in the kitchen a bright blue - Calm Sky. Looking at the color really does give the impression of a calm sky....the paint guys did a great job of naming that one!

The wall on the back of the house, which connects the living room and the kitchen, I painted a pale green....Dancing Light. It is a few shade lighter than the green countertops in the kitchen and the pillows I have on my couch. This color was also put on the hallway/entryway to calm your eyes when you look in from the front door.

The two remaining walls, in the living room were painted a deep orange - Georgian Leather. The color goes off the orange flowers in the remaining pillows. We both agree it needs another coat.

Over the course of a few weeks, I did the taping, edging, and rollering of the big space. It was a large project, but gave me the opportunity to catch up with friends who are timezones behind me. I stayed up pretty late most nights trying to get it all accomplished before Rich arrived!

He had to help me do a little bit, but was very impressed with how well I did and how much I accomplished!

The colors took a while to grow on me, but I really like how it turned out. Do you?

Party Time!

We hosted a party last Saturday (February 21st) for Lucas' 2nd Birthday celebration and for our friends and family to visit Richard.

We decided that the best time was during the early afternoon, due to dinner/bedtimes. I spent a large chunk of Friday prepping food for over 30 guests. I was so afraid I wasn't going to have enough food for everyone, so I kept adding things. We ended up making ham biscuits and chicken drummets in addition to the originally planned menu.

I cut veggies and fruit (yes, we are cheap, it is better to cut it yourself than buy it so) and prepared dips for chips and veggies.

I made spinach artichoke dip - omg, so delicious. I always love how I end up having to change a recipe I chose, so essentially it is my own creation.

I cooked a whole chicken to make these tortilla rolls with carrot and spinach - another creation that I changed a bit....I found this in a cookbook my friend Lindsay gave me. They did not turn out at all like I had planned or like the picture, they were not pretty or tightly rolled, and the tortillas were not very yummy. I guess that is what I get for buying corn instead of flour.....

We cooked and sliced a ham....I need to turn the leftovers into a soup today.

I also made oatmeal raisin cookies, rice krispie treats and a dino cake. Roar!

It is 2 round chocolate cakes that I cut into the shape of a dino and glued together with icing. We decorated with Hershey kisses, chocolate chips and some random movie candy I found.

Everyone had a great time. Or so they said! But not a single person wanted to eat any of my dino cake. We made cupcakes too (red velvet!), and I guess those were easier to grab and go. Perhaps they were afraid of screwing up my creation....Who knows.

I also learned that people do not eat cornbread with their chili. So strange, because we ALWAYS eat cornbread with our chili. I made enough for everyone to have one piece and I think only three muffins were eaten! I have spent all week trying to put it in our recipes somehow. I put it as a topper on mac and cheese yesterday. That was the best idea I'd had all week....

Anyways, I have included photos of the party. I wasn't really savvy with the camera because so much was going on, so most of these were stolen from my mother-in-law.

Lucas with his super cool bouncy ball.

Meredith!

Amanda, Anthony, Tavia and Brianna (Rich's sister and her family!)

Mere and all the presents.
Lucas opening his presents!

My brother, Travis and his girlfriend, Ali

Richard's college buddies, Bobby, Bryan and Kenny

My dad and Meredith

My mom and Meredith

Richard with his sister, Amanda and mom, Wendy


Lucas eating his dino cake!

Stairs!

A fan asked for me to give the camera to my husband, so I could post photos of myself. Well when Rich has the camera, he takes photos like this:

But he also captured Meredith climbing up the stairs for the first time!

#5 of 25 Things

I do not know how to swim, even with swimming lessons as a child - and an adult. I am terrified of being in the water and cannot relax enough to feel at ease. I was almost drowned twice as a kid. Oh, and I live at a lake.



As a child, I had several experiences with drowning.
Once, I was taking swimming lessons at the pool. The teacher swam to her boyfriend, and a girl decided to hold me under....it was a while before anyone noticed. I have never gotten over that.
A similar thing happened to me again with a neighbor in our backyard kiddie pool.
That can really screw you up.
I hate water.
Yes, I live at a lake. I can see it from my side door. But that doesn't mean I have to go swimming. I would never take my kids there without someone who can attend to them should need be.

A week - in pictures....

Okay, my apologies for ignoring my devoted fans. I am going to play catch up right now...

Lucas continued to express his love for shoes this past week, with Richard's nasty boots.

We helped Richard open his Christmas and Birthday gifts. Lucas wanted to try things on too!

Yes, the living room and vest are both Orange. We will discuss the paint in another post!

Lucas enjoying strawberries for breakfast!


Meredith and Daddy posing for a photo!

Meredith picking out a book for storytime!

Lucas and Daddy enjoying "How do Dinosaurs play with their friends"

Meredith taking a ride on Lucas' bike

Home at last!

One week ago, Richard arrived in Virginia! Meredith, Lucas and I drove to the Richmond airport - earlier than expected. I recieved a call from Rich saying that he would be flying in within two hours.

The drive is one and a half hours, and NO ONE was anywhere near ready to go. So I called one of my biggest support peeps (Thank you for everything!!) for a pep talk and put my butt in high gear. We were dressed and packed to go within the hour.

We arrived at the airport at the same minute the plane touched down. I was not worried, because I know Richard prefers to be the last one off the plane.

I threw Lucas and Meredith in the stroller and did some speed walking across the freezing parking lot. Lucas knew that we were going to get Daddy - and kept asking "Where'd Daddy go? Where'd Daddy go?"

We parked the stroller and waited....and waited. And I began to wonder if we did miss him. Then we saw him strolling along.

Lucas got this really confused look on his face - he had no clue what was going on!

Rich greeted me and then crouched down to the babies....This is the only photo I was able to snap.

Friday - The Thirteenth!

When I was younger, I was always so excited when my birthday fell on Friday.
Looking back, I don't know why I was so excited about it - if anything it only made it more convenient to party! Yet another year has come when my birthday fell on a Friday!

So, this year was the most unconvientional birthday ever. I was home with two babies who had no clue this day was any different. My husband bought me a super cool salad spinner that he saw advertised in his Runners World Magazine. He also "bought" me a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. Well, not really, but we can pretend. I found it on an amazing deal - which by the way, I thought was a clearance, but was just a lucky day for smart shopper Devon.

I feel like a child naming off my gifts - but they are exciting.
I received homemade pasta and sause from my friend, Lindsay. And Sarah-Anne made me a bracelet.

Anywho, Melanie took us out for ice cream. I managed to get Red Velvet Cake Ice Cream. How cool is that? My cake and ice cream in one. Yum!

In other news, Richard began his travels to come home today. Although very exciting, it is also a very anxious time. I won't bother explaining. My dear friends in the military understand though.

Oh and Meredith took three steps to me yesterday!
Thanks for all your phone calls and cards!

Windy Day

I've been busy lately.

One night a few weeks ago, I made a list of everything I needed to get done before Richard comes home. It seems, for every item I cross off the list, I have to add two more things. In the beginning, it had over 50 things on it.

Insane. So....

I freaking crossed off "Rake leaves" yesterday. Lucas helped. And I learned Meredith HATES how grass feels.

But today, the wind was blowing like crazy, and blew piles of leaves (from the neighbors) back into the place from which I had removed them. Figures.

"Update blog" is not on the list, so I had better leave you for now. :)

#4 of 25 Things

I am not a morning person, but my children tell me otherwise. They wake up with the sun.

Children do not understand the concept of sleeping late. I despise it.

Not only that, but I hate how when they open their eyes, they are up and ready to roll for the day.

Me? Oh no. I like to roll around and wake up before I jump out of bed. I am the one who sleeps through their alarm because they turn it off instead of hitting snooze.
I am very, very cranky in the mornings. I hate to be speak or be spoken to.

All this has changed -- my kids are now my "alarm clock." There is no turning them off, or even hitting snooze. Especially with Lucas being bigger, he comes and gets in my face - "Up, Momma! Shoes! Downstairs!"
I can't ignore my kids. I can't tell them not to speak to me.

I basically have to change my entire person!

The only way I can explain it is by my time of birth.

I have read a study that says your time of birth correlates with whether or not you are a morning person/afternoon person/night person.
I was born in the afternoon.

Frankly, I think there is a flaw in this study. I am ready for a nap every day around the time I joined the world. Perhaps because I wake up with the sun. And if this is true, Lucas was born after midnight. So why the hell does he get up so early??

Anyways, there is my ditty on that.

#3 of 25 Things

I have given birth without an ounce of medication - totally natural. And did not take pain medication afterwards either. Some say I have a high pain tolerance - others just think I am superwoman.

I was soooo ready to get Meredith into the world - everyday she stayed in, was one day less that Rich could spend with her and with us as a family before leaving for Iraq. I tried walking briskly with my neighbor, running up the stairs, drinking raspberry tea....I was hoping it would work.
Then I found out my friend, Lindsay had her daughter on April 10th. She and I had the same due date, and I was sooo jealous that Maddie came so early! I still had 10 more days to wait....
On April 14th, I started to have weird shooting pains in my back....nothing painful, but I assume it was a contraction. We called our stand-by babysitter for Lucas and waited. That night we went to the hospital to be on the save side since we are half an hour away.

The doctors and nurses basically laughed at us. I was dialated 3 cm (you have to be dialated 10 cm for the baby to begin to make an entrance) and I wasn't in any extreme pain. They sent us home and told us to return when when I was in so much pain I couldn't talk, or my water broke. Rich and I drove home and got a solid 8 hours of sleep.

That morning, we took Lucas to the park, and I was supposed to walk around the track to encourage Meredith to come. My mother-in-law was counting contractions. They were all over the place. I was still able to walk, but was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The pain was similar to menstral cramps I had in high school. I asked to go home.

I started to feel nauseaus. It hurt to sit. I wanted to curl up in a ball. I was having hot and cold spells. The contractions were still all over the place. The tightening was like my insides were being twisted. But I was still not in so much pain I couldn't talk and my water didn't break.

Around 4 pm, we were sent away again....this time with our fingers crossed that the end was near. Only, we didn't know how near it really was.

I was admitted immediately. The nurses though my symptoms (see above) were "wonderful." The doctor came in to let me know that the baby's head was there and ready and if I sat up, there was a chance my water would break and the baby would slide out. Which also translates into no epidural.

The nurses faught over who would be in charge of being with me. At that point, I was wheeled into the delivery room. Rich was in complete shock at what was about to happen, so if he wasn't putting lip gloss (yummy stuff that I actually lost in the hospital -- I am still waiting for SA to tell me what it was!) or giving me a washcloth, I wouldn't have known he was there.

The nurse that won the fight was amazing. She was telling me to focus on what I wanted to happen - i.e. Meredith sliding out - instead of the pain. I think I was in the delivery room for 30 minutes before we heard the baby cry.
Because there was no epidural, Meredith and I both were immediately responsive to one another. I had no memory of the pain she had put me through, the minute it was over. With Lucas, I was still in pain for days afterwards. Now, as for the answer of having a high pain tolerance - I am not so sure. I felt pain. But let's think about how I broke my wrist in Kindergarden and didn't tell my parents for three days.

Superwoman - I say that is a no. But my favorite people think otherwise. I guess that is why I keep you guys around! :) Everyone needs a little fantasy in their life.

#2 of 25 Things

I was proposed to at the Boston Marathon. My husband never verbally asked me to marry him, and passed out after I never said yes.

In April of 2004, I accompanied Richard and members of the Marathon Club at VMI to Boston. All members of the military, they were going to march in the Boston Marathon's 26.2 miles in BDU's with a 40 pound ruck sack (an army backpack).

The race is so massive that you wake up super early for a noon race. I spent hours alone waiting for the race to simply begin. Many of those hours were spent being lost in Boston and trying to find a place to park. I really hate cities and was proud of myself for figuring out what to do.

I obviously couldn't do sightseeing. The whole place was run over with people and I wore my favorite summer heels. (This is an important part of the story). I spent most of the day trying to get into a store where I could buy a new pair of shoes. You weren't allowed to cross the strip unless you walked all the way up around the finish line's massive medical and food tents. I already had blisters. I eventually scored some ugly lime green flip flops at the CVS.

If you have never gone to a marathon, I recommend you do it at least once. I am amazed at the different types of people who come through the finish line. I love to see their emotion, the determination, the accomplishment, the pain. It is very overwhelming and heartwarming. You see people walk across like it was a piece of cake and then pass out or puke. Seriously, it will make you want to be a runner (well, not the puking part).

So six hours and then some, after the race began, the guys crossed the finish line hand in hand.


I was so concerned with how terrible Richard looked....pale, lifeless. He came up to me, and dropped to one knee. Time was in slow motion. He never said anything, he just stared up to me with this giant ring in hand....gripping on for dear life.
I begged him to get up....to keep walking. I knew he was dehydrated for sure. He just kept staring at me with pleading eyes. He eventually did get up. And the ring was put on my finger. He was very concerned with whether or not the ring fit....it wasn't even close.

Once we started walking to the medical tent, he passed out. He was administered four IV's before we could leave.


The rest of the night was interesting! But that isn't included in the 25 things! I guess you will miss out!

News Article: Life with Kids

My dear friend, Morgan, sent me this today. I thought I would share this information with the rest of you curious readers who may wonder the same thing. (Please click on the article to enlarge and read!)

I can't express how true this information is. It is very hard to explain how I spend my days. Friends have asked me what I do all day. How great it must be to stay at home all the time. How it must be great that Lucas is in daycare so I have so much more time to myself.
Oh please, all that means is that I have to devote myself to one child instead of two. So I am less tired at the end of the day....sometimes.
Seriously, the minute that I realize they are playing happily without me, and I get up to do something like fold clothes or unload the dishwasher - it is "Oh mommy! We need you!"
Well, I won't bore you with the details - but I just wanted to share!

#1 of 25 Things

I was proposed to before my husband ever told me that he loved me. We had never spoken about marriage or gone shopping for rings, which seems to have become a tradition in couples. It was all a big surprise.


Surprise!? How can a marriage proposal be a surprise? I know you are wondering how - as most women "know" she is going to have the big question asked...she just doesn't know WHEN.

As for me, I never saw it coming, at all.

I think a back story is appropriate here....

Richard and I "met" my junior year of college through a mutal friend. We had a developing friendship over the internet and phone.

We actually met face to face many months later. I won't get into the details here, but my closest friends know how that went...Basically, I spent the rest of the school year trying to set him up with my single friends, while they tried to tell me that Richard and I belonged together....I thought they were nuts.

Obviously, those friends were right. But in conversing about life goals and what path we were following after college, the word MARRIAGE was never mentioned. We knew where we stood with one another without verbally saying "I think we should get married" or "I love you". People get too hung up on words.

And I have heard inquiries, "How long were you together before you said I love you?" or "How did you say yes to marrying him if he didn't tell you he loved you? How did you know that he did?" Seriously, if you have to hear "I love you" in order to believe it, then it probably isn't real.

And for those curious readers, we were engaged for three months before he spoke "I love you".

As for the ring, it too was a big surprise. We never discussed the kind of ring that I dreamed of seeing for the rest of my life. He stole (borrowed) a ring out of my jewlery box to get it sized without me knowing. He used two (round) diamonds that were passed down to him from his grandfather and had them set on either side of a larger (round) diamond, which he picked out himself.

I think I have covered everything!
Any questions?

I have included a few pre-engagement photos!

Our first Thanksgiving together - Lunch with his family, then we drove three hours to eat dinner with mine. Crazy!

VMI Mid-winter Formal

Some concert where women and civilian clothes were allowed inside at VMI. We both still have those clothes. haha!

Everyone else is doing it...

I typically hate to fall into the bandwagon and follow along....but I have been working on this for weeks now. On a networking website called facebook, people are listing random facts about themselves and I finally completed a list of 25 things about myself. Who thought it would take so freaking long??

I decided to start a series of explanations about each of the things - since Feburary is a short month I am going to explain one of the 25 things per day, until the end of the month. Many people do not know the back story of a lot of these things, so I guess you can get to know me without really ever communicating with me. HA!


Today, I will just list the items so you know what to look forward to in the coming days!
Well, I hope you learn something about me....
****************************************************************************
1 I was proposed to before my husband ever told me that he loved me. We had never spoken about marriage or gone shopping for rings, which seems to have become a tradition in couples. It was all a big surprise.

2 I was proposed to at the Boston Marathon. My husband never verbally asked me to marry him, and passed out after I never said yes.

3 I have given birth without an ounce of medication - totally natural. And did not take pain medication afterwards either. Some say I have a high pain tolerance - others just think I am superwoman

4 I am not a morning person, but my children tell me otherwise. They wake up with the sun.

5 I do not know how to swim, even with swimming lessons as a child - and an adult. I am terrified of being in the water and cannot relax enough to feel at ease. I was almost drowned twice as a kid. Oh, and I live at a lake.


6 The smell of oriental food makes me nauseous. I refuse to eat it....ever.

7 I believe that a meal is not complete without the proper kind of bread - i.e. garlic bread with spaghetti, cornbread with chili, etc. I will never give up carbs.

8 I went back to school for my Master's Degree because I was bored. I don't know if or when I will ever use the "extra education" - but at least I can never regret NOT going back to school.

9 I LOVE discount shopping. I will (almost) never pay full-price for an item. I enjoy a good sale. I believe this is smart - you get more bang for your buck this way.

10 I miss working at Victoria's Secret - for more reasons than the discount. I enjoyed helping others spend money, making people happy (yes a comfy bra will make people happy), and was able to open up a different part of myself.

11 A Victoria's Secret bra is one of the only things for which I will pay full-price. My husband calls me a lingerie snob. I think I just understand the importance of a good bra and panty.

12 I love to scrapbook, but I am completely obsessive compulsive about it, so I never do it. I take too much time to do a page, and I hate being interrupted.

13 I love to organize things, but never seem to complete this task successfully.

14 I talk to my mom everyday, AT LEAST once. She keeps me grounded and sane.

15 I wanted to be a writer growing up...until I began college. My freshman English professor crushed that dream with an F on my first paper. She made me a greater person and author. (I got a B in the class).

16 I find it incredibly important to be honest and genuine. My closest friends appreciate and hold those qualities. However, I can guarantee that only a few people know me in the most honest and genuine sense.

17 My favorite animal is a bunny. I have never had a pet rabbit, nor will I ever allow my children to have one. I think real bunnies are dirty and mean.

18 I was named after a soap opera character in the 80's. My mom spelled my name based on that spelling...even though you pronounce it Dev-IN.

19 I have been reading Better Homes and Gardens Magazine since I was 10. I have collected pages of any ideas that I liked and kept them in a binder. I subscribe to BHG now, and still collect ideas.

20 I have very liberal opinions on the world - although people judge me as being conservative...I can't figure out how they draw this conclusion.

21 I have a secret passion to be in event planning. I did it in college and would think it would be an awesome career. (However, it doesn't really fit into the Army lifestyle).

22 I prefer one-on-one interactions and relationships. I feel intimidated by large groups and new people. I warm up to people slowly unless I identify a healthy chi.

23 I believe the bedroom should be for sleeping and love making. There is no place for a TV in such a room.

24 I understand the phrase "It only takes once." Both of my children were conceived when reuniting with my husband, who had been away for Army training. Coincidence? I don't think so.

25 I believe that good food and good conversation with your favorite friends/family is the best way to spend time. My fondest memories are over parties and dinners.....and of yummy dishes.

The First Snow!

Last night, I couldn't sleep. I was like the child in elementary school, filled with excitement at the possibility of schools closing due to snow!

We woke up this morning, and I was disappointed. Although beautiful, the accumulation was sparse.

While Meredith napped, I managed to get Lucas outside with me while I dragged the trash to the end of the driveway.

Lucas is TWO!

I can't believe that my first born has turned TWO years old. I can still remember the day we trecked to the hospital to check on suspicious activity. I didn't even eat lunch before we went. I was convienced we would be in and out. I was so wrong. I didn't get to eat for another 12 hours. I get really cranky when I don't eat. I guess it was a good thing I was drugged up.

Anywho, here we are....Two years later. Lucas is a person with real thoughts and emotions. I am amazed everyday by him.

Today, we celebrated with cake.



He actually blew the candles out, after trying to touch them several times.

Then, he opened a birthday gift from Mommy and Meredith. He is so cute when he opens things! I love how he intently looks like he is reading and then insists that you open it that minute. We watched a little of Disney's CARS before bed.

I want to thank everyone for their cards! Lucas even got a $2 dollar bill from our Nemec friends! How fun is that?

We will celebrate again when Richard is home with cake and ice cream. Richard wanted to "be in his birthday photos." So who cares if it is 19 days after his real birthday?

In less than 2 weeks, Richard should leave his location outside of Baghdad to begin his travels home. If you thought it was hard to believe that Lucas is TWO, it is even harder to believe that this deployment is more than halfway over. We are all looking forward to spending time together as a family!

A Busy Week

Wow. A whole week has passed since I last wrote.
I bet you are disappointed in me.
Well, you will be happier when you see what fun we have been having....

Meredith trying to break into the cabinet. I caught her!
Meredith pestering Dixie Dog.
Lucas was hiding in the cabinet and jumped out with Kung Fu moves. High Ya! Lucas trying to figure out how to use my breast pump.