FRG Fundraisers

The last few weeks we have been trying to get some fundraising ideas going to pay for our Battery Organizational Day in April. Last week we had our first big fundraising event.

We figured a great way to make money and get soldiers to have a good time was have a Modern Warfare 3 tournament. It was a $20 buy in and we did a tournament style bracket on a Saturday morning. The FRG sold donuts, muffins, coffee and orange juice in the morning and hotdogs, chips and sodas in the afternoon. We were surprised at the turnout and for not a lot of effort we made almost $500! 

We then decided to have a pie in the face fundraiser today. This event far exceeded our expectations! We held it after final formation this afternoon, we had senior NCO's and Officers volunteer to get pied in the face. Soldiers were able to bid on the person they wanted to pie in the face. My awesome hubby was one of them:

Haha, he was a good sport!

After it was all said and done we raised over $2,000 for the FRG! We were floored and thankful to our soldiers for participating. Our organizational day is going to be awesome!!

We have a few more planned: silent auction of gift baskets and crockpot chili sales at the range. As the time goes by I am starting to realize that we only have 2 1/2 months left here at Bragg. Our move will be here before we know it! Crazy!!

I hope you all have a great weekend!!! 

weight loss adventure

A few weeks ago as I was getting dressed I realized that I was just not happy with my current weight. It was time to do something about it. I started going to one of the gyms on post and instantly felt better. After reading reviews on a few different tracker apps for my phone I chose this one:

MyFitnessPal

I absolutely love this app!!!!! I can track all of my workouts and the foods I am eating. It has helped me so much and it keeps me accountable everyday. 

Going to the gym has never been hard for me but now I have a friend to go with me and that is even better! We go 2-3 days a week and do an hour on the elliptical and 30 minutes on the stationary bike. One the days we don't go to the gym I also use the Wii Fit at home. 

I weighed myself today and was so happy to see that I have lost 5lbs!!!! I know it doesn't seem like a lot but for me it's a huge deal. I just need to lost 10 more and I will be happy.

I hope everyone is having a great day!!!

Marriage Retreat and Other Fun Trips

This past weekend, Kyle and I went up to Great Wolf Lodge for a marriage retreat. We went to one back in 2010 and had a great time. We were hoping for the same this time and it definitely did not disappoint. The main focus was communication, effective ways to communicate and how to communicate without getting angry. We were able to talk about so much and do it in a way that we both felt accomplished afterwards. 

We went out Saturday night (our free night) and had dinner at Quaker Steak and Lube (for those who have never been it's delicious, look it up) and had some drinks. It was a great night and we ended the night playing cards with some good friends at the hotel. 

It feels like the next few months are going to be very busy, my calendar keeps filling up and I am ok with that. Two big trip we have planned in April are:

Myrtle Beach, Easter Weekend!!!! We are leaving on Friday morning and will stay until Monday. We are so looking forward to this. We just want to relax on the beach and soak up the sun. This will be our view of the weekend:

Yay!!

The following weekend we will be watching this at Zmax Dragway:

Our brother-in-law, Chris, works on one of the teams so it is always great to hang out with him and the guys. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE racing! Can't wait!!! It will be a blast. 

I am just amazed that it is February 29th. At the end of March we can already apply for housing in Fort Huachuca and that is roughly 3 months we will be on the road headed out of Bragg. I am excited for new changes and new adventures. 

I hope everyone is having a great day!

volunteering

Since I quit working a year and a half ago I have tried to find things to fill my days. Of course I became heavily involved with my FRG and I have loved it. I recently decided that it was time to expand my volunteering to outside the FRG (I am still a key caller and treasurer, and that won't change until we move).   Around Thanksgiving I was given information for an organization called Operation Homefront. They do many events for military families. I first volunteered with them during their "Thanks for Giving" event. I was instantly impressed and wanted to work more with them. Check them out and see if there are any volunteer opportunities in your area!

Thankfully, I am signed up with them for 2 upcoming events. A family readiness fair for another brigade and also the Vietnam Veterans Homecoming celebration at Charlotte Motor Speedway. I can't wait to continue my work with them and maybe it will turn into something more permanent. I also have signed to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in March. I have never been the type of person who can sit at home and do nothing, so volunteering truly fulfills me. 

We have so much coming in the next few months within our FRG. We have a ton of fundraisers we will be doing: pie in the face (haha this will involved all of our senior leadership), MW3 tournament, Silent Auction, camo hand towels, and selling chili (it is amazing how well this does when the guys are at the range all day). We are also planning an organizational day (basically a family fun day) for soldiers and families. The event I am looking forward to the most is our battalion formal in May. This will be our last formal in division and it is bittersweet for us. 

I have already found an amazing dress and shoes for this formal:

Love!!!!

Ahhh! I can't wait to wear them!!

Well enough blogging for today, I have some housework to get finished. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

This year Kyle and I decided to not do anything big for Valentine's Day. Saturday we had a quiet evening at home trying out our new grill and cuddling up on the couch to watch a movie. That is a perfect date to me!! He did however surprise me with these:

This picture does not do them justice and they smell amazing!!!

I am blessed to have such an amazing husband. He works so hard and does so much for our little family (yes we consider Emma and Fishy our kids, :) ). I could not imagine my life without him. We were definitely made for each other!!

I hope everyone has a beautiful day with the ones they love! Don't forget that today shouldn't be the only day to appreciate and show the special people in your life that you love them.

Eye Surgery!!

Yesterday was the day I had been waiting for since I was 14 years old! Lasik eye surgery! Kyle drove me up to Raleigh for my appointment which was at 11:40am. I was starting to get really nervous but he was amazing at keeping me calm (since he had been through eye surgery almost 4 years ago). It was finally time, I took my valium and was taken to the back. Dr. Travers was amazing!!! She talked to me through the whole thing and it was over in less than 10 minutes. When I sat up I was in awe, I could finally see! I walked out to the waiting room looked at Kyle and said "I can see you!!!" it was amazing!

I got home and slept until about 7:30pm and then started my eye drops. I was able to get some good sleep night and be rested for my follow up appointment. The best part of the whole process was that I could see perfect enough this morning to drive myself to my follow up. When I got there they tested my eyes and told me I had 20/15 eyesight!! Holy Cow!!! I really wish I had done this sooner, I am beyond happy.

Overall it was an amazing experience and I would recommend Dr. Travers to anyone!!! I am excited that in a few weeks I can go to our marriage retreat at Great Wolf Lodge and not have to wear contacts or glasses.

I hope everyone has had a great week!!! 

unexpected trip

Last Saturday, Kyle got a phone call from his mom that his grandpa in PA wasn't doing so well. We knew unfortunately that it was only a matter of time before we got the dreaded phone call. Well it came on Wednesday. His grandpa had passed overnight, so we hopped in the car on thursday and headed up to PA for the funeral. As hard as the weekend was it was good to see his family together. Kyle hadn't seen most of the family in 10 years so it was wonderful for him. I had the privilege of seeing his grandpa in August and spending some time with him. He was a sweet man and will be sorely missed.

Kyle's adorable Grandpa, Tom Ward. RIP

We got home last night and I have been non-stop ever since. So much to get done around the house. I had to postpone my eye surgery and will have it done this coming thursday. I am beyond ready!!! I probably won't blog again until after my surgery so I hope you all have a great week!