Keepin' on

I'm not going to lie...I momentarily forgot that the blog existed, my bad.
The past two weeks have been very busy...a blur, really. The move went good, the pup is good- got comfortable with the place right away. Lyle (father in law), has dog-proofed most/all the yard in the past two weeks so Trooper is finally able to run around, and enjoy the backyard. He does less running, and more eating sticks/anything on the ground...but i'll pretend he runs around.
I am mostly unpacked, but still have some boxes that need a home. I've really enjoyed being here, and have managed living alone fairly well. Less than 3 months until Mark gets to see his new home! Some pictures below are not in order, thanks to my old-school computer...

Trooper in his chair. Half of the living room. My sister asked why I keep the kennel there, I figure he is most comfy in the living room when i'm home, so I thought he would like spending his days there too.

Dining room, which is more organized now. These pictures are from last week.

Closet that Lyle built me! The shoe rack is my favorite, and sadly, Trooper's favorite too. He just helps himself to a shoe and away he goes.

Other half of the living room- just representing with the flag...Mark would be proud :)

I have ones of my bedroom, but Id feel creeped out if everyone knew what it looked like, so use your imagination! I'll put up more of the office and upstairs/guest room, sometime later.

Mark is doing good. The temperature over yonder is heating up...last I heard it was about 80 degrees during the day. How it goes from 30 to 80 in a matter of weeks is beyond me, but at least they are enjoying it more!

They had to send two guys home due to medical reasons, so they are a bit short staffed, but keeping busy. It sounds like they are all pretty antsy to get home. Less than 3 months, which sounds short, and excruciatingly long at the same time. I'm grateful that my days go by so fast, it's one less that I have to wait.

I haven't written in so long, so i'm not sure if anything else is going on!

I'm loving the weather and spending most of my mornings/evenings outside with the pooch, but otherwise working. Keeping busy though!

thanks to everyone who helped with the move and/or contributed to our sparse home. It's nice to finally call it "our home."

H

Excitement of the house sort

I never entirely understood other peoples excitement of getting a first home, but I think I have enough excitement for ten people and finally get it.

We closed on the house today, and spent all day unpacking boxes, painting, doing dishes and...I guess that's it!
It doesn't look like we even touched the house, but lots of work was put in today- thanks to the parentals and Laura!

It is almost midnight, and the alarm will slap me in the face in 5 hours (gotta find time to run SOMETIME!), so I will leave you with a couple of pictures. Excuse the grungy get up- we were workin' hard!

Momma, myself (with keys and door opener in hand) and our Realtor, David.

Starting to unpack- we're about halfway done bringing boxes in.


Laura and the Madge hard at work!

Not sure what kind of painting skills I had, but I tried!

I can imagine the jealousy of that dining room table.



Oops, how did he sneak in there! He is extra adorable lately.

H

Ladies and Gents

Tomorrow is Marks big day, don't forget to send him a big, fat HAPPY BIRTHDAY!



He's already gotten a couple and been very surprised and thankful. He'll catch on soon that I was behind this.

The e-mail address is in the post before this one. He will love hearing from everyone!

H

Marks B-day- Read this!

Hello everyone,



I have a task for you. Since I know more than 3 people read this...I have a little to-do for everyone.



Mark's birthday is Feb 26th- he'll be the big 25, a whole quarter of a century...scary.



Anyways, shoot him an e-mail between now and his bday, or after too i'm sure he'll still appreciate it. His e-mail is,



mark.pound@us.army.mil



I know he will really appreciate hearing from everyone, and it only takes a couple of seconds to send one out. He is spending his day working...in the desert- not ideal, but hopefully we can send him some love via e-mail.



If you want to send him a bday card, his address is...

SGT Mark Pound
114th Trans. 5th Platoon
F.O.B. Leatherneck
FPO AP 09372

It takes ~10 days for mail to arrive, but even if it's late, he likes getting mail.

Even if you don't know him very well, but know me, his family or my family, you will make his day :)

thanks in advance guys!

-H

Straight to the point

• Mark said yesterday that during the past couple days it has been raining. As of yesterday they had bad downpours and all the ditches are flooded.

• I've gotten to talk to him via e-mail about 6 our of 7 days, which is very nice...and he calls when I ask nicely :). He has been calling from other peoples cell phones (they bought special phones that work over there), as they had their phone taken away and it's hard to get on the public phone (long lines and such)....or he calls from Skype.
  
• His e-mail today said, "It is super cold out right now, with windchill it is like 25 degrees out and walking a mile in that sucks. My ears are freezing and it is hard to type because my fingers are cold. " Poor guy! I highly doubt they have heated buildings, especially in a desert.
• They got all of the packages, as said before...and loved them...they said that it definitely boosts their spirits just to get something. Their favorite was all the food, as usual :)
• Trooper is.....a puppy. He is adorable....when he's sleeping. Naw, he's cute most of the time when he's not finding new things to chew on. He's recently learned how to fetch, he sits, shakes, and lays down when told. We're trying to get over the stick eating...last week he ate a bush worth of sticks and that was an unpleasant outcome.
  
• Today we went to the dog park and he had a ball. It was "small dog hours," and I thought Trooper was going to eat the little ones. I brought him in and it was the exact opposite. Those little dogs are used to defending themselves, so they put Trooper in his spot. He was being chased by the teeniest little doggies...so cute. I've been taking him on walks everyday so he can get a little energy out, as well as taking him to a friends during the week for puppy play dates- he loves it.
• The picture to the right is of Trooper sleeping and still standing. He wanted so badly to get on the recliner, but we wouldn't let him. He played hard that day and was pooped...so he wen't as far up as we would let him and took a nap. Haha.
  
• In other news....less than 4 months until he's back, and less than a month until we move! Woop Woop! (Trooper told me he is excited to run laps around a fenced backyard instead of a living room).

H

Videos of Marks unit

Hello hello....

I came across two videos of Marks unit. I have only watched a couple of seconds of these since I haven't had time, but i'll post them here for you guys!

http://www.startribune.com/local/83078447.html?elr=KArksUUUU

http://www.startribune.com/video/?vid=83054852&elr=KArks5PhDcU9PhDcU9PhD

Sorry for being bad with updating. I finally have things to update with, but no time. I'll be back in the next couple of days with a Mark and Trooper update!

H

Packages

Well, Mark received all of the packages. One day he got 7, the next day 47. He was very happy to get them and said all the other soldiers were too. I'm sure he'll send me pictures if he can and let me know what they liked!

I'll be back with more info as I get it. Just wanted to let everyone know that they got them and were very appreciative!

-Heather