Called to Serve

So, Andrew received his mission call tonight. AJ and I had institute, but we skipped out of class long enough to be on speaker phone while he opened and read his letter. He's been anxiously waiting all week for it to come and then he got held up at work and got home later than he usually does. There were three girls stationed in various positions with cameras waiting anxiously for him to get home (aka: Mom, Kimme and Kaiti). Andrew called us and we slipped into the hall for the 'grand opening'. AJ and I weren't the only ones on speaker phone. I think there was probably 2 or 3 other people as well: both grandmas, grandpa and dana that I know of. Well, here it is, the moment you've all been waiting for:

Elder Andrew P. McCurdy
Called to the Texas, San Antonio Mission
Spanish Speaking
October 30, 2008
Reports to MTC Provo, Utah
January 14, 2009




The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas


Interesting Facts about the Texas, San Antonio Mission:

• Organized: June 20, 1974

• Current Mission President: Charles L. Cutler

Interesting Facts about San Antonio, Texas:

• More than 26 million people visit San Antonio every year. It is centrally located between the east and west coasts.
• It is the 3rd fastest growning city in America & the 7th largest city in the US.
  
• San Antonio typically experiences 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 70 degrees.
• San Antonio is one of the USA's oldest cities, established in 1731.
  

San Antonio, Texas Temple

fortunately, from awful to great

Oh man, it was quite the day. I set my alarm for 830 this morning... I didn't actually get out of bed until 930, but I did wake up at 830. Sometimes I just need a little time to regain functionality in the morning. And it was pretty cold, but nice and toasty in my bed so I stayed there. Well, when I finally did get out of bed I checked a few things on the computer and then decided I was really in need of a shower. It was a good shower, excluding the part where my razor took a nice little nick out of my leg (which hurt like crazy!). Guess that should have been my cue to get back in bed.

I got out of the shower and proceeded with my hair care routine: towel dry, anti-frizz serum and a touch of hair gel or mousse to hold the style. Then I let it air dry while I put on my make up. Nothing different than normal. Well, I got my face put on and then blow-dryed my hair the rest of the way and started curling it. All was good until the last chunk of hair on my bottom layer... it curled just like the other pieces had... but my curling iron kinda smoked a little when I pulled it away. I figured I may have just held it in there a little too long. Until I was combing out the curls. A ginormous chunk (the whole piece I curled last) fell to the floor! My eyes bugged out to the size of basketballs! My first thought was "oh my gosh! Am I sick or something?" and then "where's my bald spot?!? Can it be covered up?!" Well, once I got over the shock of losing my hair I realized that what happened is that it was scorched and that made it so brittle it literally just broke off. It is on the bottom layer, so as long as I don't wear my hair all up it can be hidden, but it was not a good moment in my life. Well, after the curling iron exacted it's revenge for some horrible life I'd given to it (or something) it decided to give up the ghost. It's been a tragic day for my poor tresses.

And then, the shirt I was gonna wear (which I've only worn once or twice) had a few little holes in it. Nothing major but with all the trauma I'd just experienced it was just one more straw to the camel's back. I sewed those up. Trimmed up my honey's haircut he gave himself. and then settled in for some much needed cuddle time - AJ got off at noon today. After we ate lunch, AJ went to run some errands and I went to find another curling iron because it also had my straightener attached to it and i definitely need one of those in this dry, cooler weather.

Well, I came home and found that my shoes I have been waiting for finally came! I was planning to wear them to the Military Ball this weekend and was a little worried they wouldn't get here in time. Phew! It's all good.

We had a fun Family Home Evening with some of the families in our ward tonight. We met at the church and went on a scavenger hunt, ending back at one of the family's houses in our ward. It's not sure who planned the whole thing out, but there was enough speculation on the culprits. It was a lot of fun, and we got to know the families in our ward a little better.

And, to top it off, I got a phone call on our way to FHE and I have a job interview tomorrow. I really hope it will work out. We could definitely use a little extra money to pay off some of our bills. Wish us luck...

So, my day went from alright to absolutely awful to better and then to great. What a busy day.

Mr & Mrs Jack O'lantern

It was my turn to plan date night last night and I had been doing so for about two weeks. Back at home we always did the ward Trunk-or-Treat and called it good as far as Halloween. Actual Halloween night was a family night that we spent watching movies or playing games in the back of the house. We turned off the lights and it was just us. Well, AJ and I talked about it and decided that we didn't need any big Halloween plans and that spending the night together hidden away in our secret lair was just fine. However, it's been quite important to me to start establishing traditions in our little family and I want us to have Halloween traditions too.

So... on top of us starting a "BOO" chain I planned a Halloween date night. I made creepy crawly spiderweb nachos for dinner. They actually turned out really good. I made 'monster munchies'... a mix of popcorn, gummy worms, Reese's pieces, and candy corn. I saw something on the internet and had to try it: witches hats... made out of fudge stripped shortbread cookies and Hersey kisses. They were slightly cuter on the internet than in real life, but they still were cute.




After dinner, we carved jack-o-lanterns. AJ planned his all out, drew out a pattern, cut it out, tacked it on the pumpkin, traced it and then carved it. It turned out really good. I tried a few patterns and then just started carving... I didn't really know what it was gonna look like until it was done. Hahaha. I've only carved a pumpkin maybe a handful of times, so I guess it didn't turn out terribly, but AJ's was definitely better. Afterward, I made a caramel apple and AJ and I shared it. It was delicious!

After that, we just cuddled together and watched some tv, just chilling out. It was a fantastic night! And we started a few traditions that we can carry on through the years. And that made for a successful night.






Mr and Mrs Jack O'lantern








We also had an incredible sunset last night. We didn't know it was so amazing until it was nearly set, but the colors were absolutely amazing.

Gorgeous!

Where was Miss Kaiti?

So, yesterday we went to the Costco open house. We have been anxiously waiting for this ever since we heard rumors Costco was looking to open here. FINALLY!!! Well, like I said, we went to the open house and just walked around and checked it all out. It was a crazy zoo with people everywhere. We showed up about an hour and a half into the thing, and within the half hour we were there AJ was stuffed so full that he couldn't eat the dinner I had made... I made the same thing a few days ago and he really, really, really liked it. Kaiti would have been super jealous. Lol. She went with us to pick up her baptism cake when we were in Reno last month and loved "sample hunting" with AJ. And that was all you could do last night! Sample Hunt. You couldn't even buy anything! Kaiti, wish you could have been there! You'd have been in heaven.

=]

Suzie sews-a-lot

Amazing news: I finished AJ's pants! And they fit!!! And they are within regulation... all I can say is: YAY!

What a day... Made cupcakes, washed the dishes, did laundry, sewed up those Class A's and shortened my dress. And killed the infestation of bugs in our house... yikes! Ok, it was just a cricket and a jumping spider... a dismembered cricket and I was half naked when I saw the spider. And even though it was only a spider, I felt super exposed... all that unprotected flesh it could chomp on! It was kinda funny... especially when I couldn't stop myself from taking pictures of the spider and naming him spot before I crushed his guts all over the floor.


Spot, the creepy jumping spider i found on our back door. Yeah, that little black spot... i was kinda scared to get too close... i wasn't wearing much when i found him. =O

Spot... after i smashed his guts out with AJ's shoe... it was longer than my shoes.

Not a whole lot of exciting news... but had to share about the pants. Celebrate with me!!! YAY!

Playing Five

Our Family... 18 years ago.

Our Family. July 2006. Muir Woods, CAFamilies are Forever. Feb 2008. Krista & AJ's Wedding.

So last night I was laying in bed and, although it was way late, I couldn't sleep. I'm not sure how I got on the topic, but I was thinking about being a kid and my childhood, specifically. I don't know if you can truly appreciate childhood while you're there and living it. There isn't anything to really compare it to. However; now, looking back, I wish I'd taken a little more time to play and be silly instead of trying to hurry, grow up and be a cool big girl.

Now don't get me wrong, AJ and I still play and laugh and have fun. In fact, one of our common phrases is "come play five with me" or some equivalent. This is used when swinging on the swings at the playground or climbing on rocks or sliding on a swing set slide and the like.

Why play five when I'm finally a grown-up, like I always wanted to be? The pros to playing five:

1. The world is your playground. You can cross all the streets by yourself and rent cars and drive to fun, new places. Your only limits are on the credit cards. (Don't jump all over me yet, I'll come back to that.)
2. It's an amazing stress-reliever. Some people use bubble baths or exercise (i wish that was my method... my thighs would thank me. =]) but, for me, nothing works as well as escaping. Sometimes I need to pretend I don't have responsibilities.
3. Some of my favorite times in my many relationships have been when we've been doing silly, childish things. It's good to know that no matter how dorky and dumb I may be, I have family and friends that aren't afraid to be dorky and dumb with me.

The cons to playing five:
1. Like I mentioned above, the limits are on the credit cards... but the credit cards have to be paid. Sometimes you have to decided if playing five now will be worth paying the bills for it later. Sooner or later you have to return to reality and step up to those forgotten responsibilities.
--That's right, there's only one con to playing five. And, in reality, if you're truly 'playing five' you don't need a credit card.


So, here's to my childhood, some of my favorite memories:

1. Climbing in the triplet trees at our old house in Logan, UT. We had two maple trees and another tree with green leaves (i don't remember what kind it was) that were perfect for climbing. That and the apple tree in the backyard... and the added bonus there: climb the tree, eat the apples.

2. We were dorky little kids and used to pretend we were the people in the TV shows we were watching... I was always the pink Power Ranger and Cat Woman. And the tall, blond girl on Barney and Friends. I had such a huge crush on Michael in that show... Hahaha.

3. We were probably the reason they have to put those notices on dryers that say "DANGER: don't climb inside of this machine" 'cause, well, we did. Andrew and I used to climb in the dryer, we'd leave the door open, but we would walk around in it and it would turn like a hampster wheel. I'm sure my mom is thinking 'how on earth did that dryer last so long?' or 'that's probably where all the brain damage occured.' =]

4. When we first moved to Nevada, we lived in a two bedroom apartment. All three of us kids shared a room. I remember that room was almost always a disaster. It literally looked like a tornado had landed right in the middle of it. There was just not enough space for three kids and all their stuff. Regardless, there was one day we were in there on our beds, talking. Somehow Pocahontas came up and from there we transformed the word into 'Pocahonkus'. I don't know why, but we thought it was the funniest thing ever. And, to this day, Pocahonkus still makes me chuckle.

5. After we would get sent to bed and Mom and Dad would be in the kitchen or watching TV in the living room we used to sneak out of bed and into Mom and Dad's room. We'd hide on the side of the bed furthest from the door and poke out the end of the bed just enough for the light from the hall to hit us and we'd color in coloring books and talk. We got caught a couple times and sent back to bed, but that didn't stop us from doing it again.

6. When we moved into our house in Sparks we finally had a yard again. It was long and not very wide... a perfect soccer field or racetrack. And the tree on our deck... ah, we loved to lay underneath that thing on a hot summer day and play with the fuzzy flower blossoms and the feather leaves.

7. We used to go up to Crystal Peak with some friends. We only when a few times, but i remember those times well. It was a lot of fun looking for the crystals but what kid wouldn't love somewhere that climbing on rocks is not only encouraged, but obligatory?

8. My siblings and I have always been pretty close, but I really enjoyed all those late nights we spent in my room (that seemed to be the gathering place and still was when we were there visiting last month) talking about life. We talked about everything! School, our parents, boys/girls, clothes, makeup (not so much that one with Andrew... hehe), games, church, everything. That's one of the things I miss most about not living at home.

9. I love spending time with my mom. She really is one of my best friends and I'm glad that I can go to her with anything and she's there in a heartbeat. I truly was blessed with 'goodly parents'. One of my favorite memories with my mom was our trip to Phoenix last November for my cousin's wedding. It was just me and her (my grandma and aunt were there too once we actually got to Phoenix) but it was fun just to be together, even if we weren't doing anything but sitting in the airport.

10. I have had the opportunity to go on several trips with my dad over the years. The most recent, and quite possibly last, one was in January. I flew to LA and met my dad. From there we took the ferry out to Catalina Island and spent a week doing stuff for his work. I wouldn't call it a vacation, per se, but it was great quality time, just me and my dad.

So, here's to life: past, present and future. Live the present so that you have great memories of the past. And always hope for more great times in the future. Smile, laugh, talk and take time to play like you're five.

Our Fam[ily].

Am I ready to be an Army Wife?

So, we have now been married eight months, as of Wednesday. Only four more months til the temple! Anyways, there have been a few times in the past eight months where I have actually felt 'all grown-up' and married. One of these times was shortly after we got married AJ took me to brunch at IHOP. It was really the first time I actually felt "married". I know that sounds funny, but after we got married it just kinda felt like I never went home; because, in reality, I was home.

After we got married, we had to go through all the typical paperwork of legally making me AJ's wife: to the church, the federal government, and to the army. But, that didn't really make me feel like I was 'a married woman'.

Well, AJ came home last week and asked me if I wanted to go to the Military Ball... I hesitated a bit, 'cause I wasn't terribly crazy about the idea... and AJ was like 'yeah, me neither.' So that was that. Or so I thought.

He came home Tuesday for lunch and informed me that the Colonel said we were going. So, now we are going. Heather went with me Tuesday night and we found a dress that will hopefully not look incredibly awful. Ok, it's a really cute dress... I'm just nervous I guess. Not only did I have to find a dress... there's shoes, hair, make-up and all that jazz. And it's not because I want to... And then there's AJ. We've both admittedly gained some weight since tying the knot and his Class A's are a bit tight. I offered to try and let his pants out a little... guess I shoulda fessed up that I've never actually done it before. But sitting on the couch, unstitching those army greens, I felt like a wife. However, they are now just sitting on the kitchen table with straight pins being the only thing holding them together at the moment. I couldn't handle any more stress from this deal. Hopefully, let's all cross our fingers, that they turn out in regulation... or at least not noticably out of regulation. It's gone ok so far, but I guess we'll see if the top-notch Brass agree.

It's been a stressful week. I guess I'm not totally acclimated to this whole wife thing. And to top it off, this will be the first time I've ever been in a formal social situation as a soldier's wife. It's one thing to be an army wife in the civilian world, and quite another to be an army wife in the army world. Especially when I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing or what to expect. I just don't know if I'm ready to officially be an army wife to the army.

Wish me luck... I know I could use it.

Our Vacation, Part Four: Kaiti's Baptism.

Ok, I'm almost done with the play by play of our trip last week. I promise. Thank goodness! It was a fun week, but boy was it busy.

On Friday, we decided we needed a more lax and laid back day. We slept in (well, I did. AJ was up at like 8!) and then cleaned up. I'm sure we were quite a smelly couple, what with the sweat, ocean spray, sand and marine life fragrance we were wearing. I doubt Estee Lauder would have approved... hehe. We decided to check out the Fleischmann Planetarium on the UNR campus. We had a fun time wandering around the exhibits. There were quite a few brain teasers that would explain afterward how your brain interprets different pictures, patterns and other things. It was kinda fun and we enjoyed trying to one-up each other. AJ can't understand how I could ever claim that I'm not competative... or how he ever believed me when I said that. Hehehe. I guess it depends what I'm competing for or against...? Anyway.

We decided to watch one of the movies in the SkyDome. The cashier was even nice enough to give us the student discount... even though we aren't students at the moment. But, shhh... that's a secret. Haha. It was an interesting movie. I don't remeber what the narraration was all about, but there were lots of pretty stars to look at. I suppose I'm a simple creature that is easily entertained. As far as I know, AJ enjoyed it. After the planetarium, we headed back to my parent's house... after a brief detour for another cranberry slushy and some onion rings. After we disposed of the evidence, we went inside and got ready for dinner: delicious pulled pork! Yummy. We just spent the rest of the night hanging out with family and getting some of the preparation done for the next day.

One Saturday, AJ, Kaiti and I went out to the mall. We were looking for one of the games we'd played the weekend before with Seth and Tavia, and Chris and Jewelia. No such luck, but I did get to see a couple of the girls I worked with at Macy's. It was good to see them again and do a brief catch-up session, although I'm sure AJ and Kaiti were bored out of their minds. Gabby girls, ugh... right?

We left the mall and went to Sam's Club to pick up Kaiti's cake for after her baptism. AJ and Kaiti went "sample hunting", as AJ called it and Kaiti quickly picked up the term. She loved it. It was fun to watch AJ and Kaiti. He grew up so differently than she is and, although he sometimes thinks she spoiled rotten, they have quite a unique relationship. Some of the things we went through while we were dating made me incredibly grateful and awe-filled at the unconditional love of a child, and the amazing trust they put in those they love. It was a learning experience I don't think I could have experienced anywhere else... at least not until I have my own children.

When we got back, we ate a quick lunch and then it was time to get ready for the baptism. Grandma McElprang and Ruth, and Grandma and Grandpa McCurdy, and Uncle Dana all came and so it was quite crowded, and talk about fighting for a mirror! Hahaha. I was good to see them all again though. Even though Grandma and Grandpa McCurdy and Dana only live an hour away. We should be better at keeping in touch.

AJ and I had been told, more than once I might add, that the baptism was at 4:30pm. So, we're just kinda lazily getting ready, milling around. Not really in much of a hurry at all. We get to the Stake Center and walking five minutes before 4 and were thinking "wow, there's kinda a lot of people here half an hour early." Come to find out, it started at 4pm. Oops. Good thing we didn't dawdle for another 5 minutes, we'd have missed it!

It was a Child of Record Baptism and there were about seven kids getting baptized. They had an opening song and my dad actually spoke to everyone about baptism. We then split and each child took their turn in the font. Luckily my parents are in the Sparks 1st Ward and so we got to go first. After Kaiti was baptized we all went into the Relief Society Room and, after a talk on the Holy Ghost by one of the counselors in the Bishopric, Kaiti was confirmed. There was such a sweet spirit in that room. It was one of those moments when you just know it's all true and that everything will work out the way it's supposed to if you but live the best you can. I also had the thought that in less than a decade that could be my baby in the font and with all those worthy hands on his/her head. There have been a few times where I actually felt 'grown-up'. This was one of those times. I can't wait to be a mom, not just yet, but soon enough. What an adventure that will be.

After we left the church, we all went to Sizzler for dinner, courtesy of Mom and Dad McCurdy. Thanks for dinner guys! It was delicious! We enjoyed time with the family and later went back to the house for cake. We played a game or two and just hung out. It was relaxed and fun. That must be what Heaven is like. Family close-by, laughing, and just having a good time. It was great. It was also a late night... but sometimes that happens.

We went to my old homeward for church the next day. We only stayed for Sacrament Meeting because our plane left at 3:30 and we weren't completely packed yet. So, we did that and then headed off to the airport. We returned our rental car (which we weren't the slightest bit sad to see go), checked our bags and went through security. We weren't hardly at the gate 20 mins before they started boarding the plane... like half an hour early. So, we ended up sitting on the plane for that half-hour before it took off. We landed in Vegas and got ready to endure our 2 hour layover. We wandered through McCarran International Airport looking for something to eat... $20, a soft pretzel, a pretzel-wrapped hotdog, and a smoothie later we headed back to the gate to wait. Our plane finally took off and we spent another hour in the sky before we landed in Salt Lake. Our journey was almost over...

Until I went into the bathroom and somehow left my cell phone there. I still have no idea how that happened. I was absolutely positive I'd put it in my bag before I got off the plane. Maybe it fell out I don't know. Unfortunately, I didn't realize I no longer had it until we'd gotten our baggage, taken the shuttle back to our car, and were ready to head back to Pocatello. AJ, my ever-gallant hero, spent the next hour on his phone trying to track mine down. We had finally given up and started back north, hoping we'd hear something over the next few days. About 25 miles from the airport we got a phone call... from my missing phone... and eventually AJ got the attention of someone on the other end. She confirmed it was still in Salt Lake (instead of flying back to Vegas as we feared) and we turned around to go claim it.

By the time it was back in my tightly-clentched fist, it was after midnight. We stopped and got some snacks to help keep me awake and started our three hour drive back home. I drove so AJ could sleep. He had to go to work the next morning... and I felt bad it was my fault we were leaving so late. A long, long three hours later I have never been so grateful to see that Pocatello exit and, even more so, our house! I was pretty excited to turn off the car... at least that way I wasn't staring at the clock and thinking 'I can so make it another half hour' because I was pretty much at my limit when I pulled into the parking lot. I'd been up for nearly 19 hours! We parked the car, hauled the bags inside and dropped them in the front room and carried our tired, weary bodies off to our memory-foam soft bed.



p.s. I slept til noon the next day. And AJ slept an extra hour instead of running. He deserved so much more, but he will always be my hero. And he continues to prove that.