Life as of Late.

1. I've been spending way too much time on Pinterest.

2. I'm currently in the middle of a 4-day workshop, known as GSAS (Growing Spouses Army Strong).  Yes, we are learning more than which fork to use first, and what to wear to certain events.  It really has been great, and, as it's currently only offered at Ft. Sill, I feel very fortunate to be a part of it. 

3. Lawton's International Day was yesterday...

 It was a blast.

Complete with gyros,

and belly-dancing.

I know you want to come visit.  

4. Our spirits lifted when we found an excellent restaurant in a neighboring town.  Sharing the meal with our sweet friends made it even better.  

5. I've been busy organizing my treasures.  

It's okay. 

Be jealous.

FSU vs OU: Part 2

Let me just begin by saying, it could have been worse.

This is my new friend, Rachel.  We were in the same unit at Benning, and we knew of each other, but we were both busy.  We were busy enjoying our time with our redeployed husbands.  And both of us were close to family, so we were busy driving home on the weekends to visit them.  

But now, we're in Lawton.  And we're realizing how much we have in common.  

So what if Rachel went to OU and I went to FSU?  We both have Converse shoes in our school colors. 

We both enjoy food.  All kinds of food.

Game Night Menu:

Artichoke & Spinach Dip 

Picadillo with Tortilla Chips

Veggies & Dip

Wing Street Wings

Oreo Football Cookie Balls

Garnet and Gold Cupcakes

If you would like the Oreo Football Cookie Balls recipe, you can simply click the link.  If you would like the Artichoke & Spinach Dip recipe, you'll have to chant "Florida State is still really great" at least five times...in public.  The Picadillo recipe was, by the way, the most requested recipe of the evening.  It's one of my favorite appetizers, and the recipe is from my Uncle Chris.  We miss you, Uncle Chris!  Thank you for sharing your yummy recipe.

Give me one minute, and I'll be back on track. 

We have some more new friends,  Dave and Alyssa.  They are such a sweet couple.  And they aren't really fans of OU or FSU, so they agreed to come over and be our peacemakers...just in case things got out of hand.

Jamie and I were pretty good sports, as OU had a slight lead for most of the game.  The OU fans, well...what could they say?  They were expecting to have the lead.

So there was much shock, screaming, and excitement when FSU tied the game in the 4th quarter.

We had to send a picture-text to my friend Gina, the other second-grade teacher at my school.  She's a mega OU fan.

I'm glad that I'm a pretty fast texter, as our moment of glory didn't last long.

 Yes, OU scored.

And they won.

And that was it.  FSU played well.  OU played a bit better.  But both teams look good.  And we had a great time.  :)  

FSU vs OU: Part 1

Well, the build-up to this game has been fun...

Now, it's game day. 

 

*enter scary music*

School Days

Jamie tells me, at least twice a week, that I need to upload some of our pictures from Amsterdam.

I tell him, at least twice a week, that my teaching job is jeopardizing my blogging career. 

I still haven't uploaded the pictures.

He still doesn't acknowledge my statement of concern.  I'm not sure he's heard me.

Speaking of my teaching job...

"Mrs. Bertolino, it looks like you didn't get a good night's sleep last night."

"Well, my sweet student, what makes you say that?"

"It has something to do with your eyes..."

Enter chorus of "Yes, Mrs. Bertolino, your eyes look tired today," along with 18 stories about nights when my students' third cousins and their great aunts have not gotten a good night's sleep.

Crisp Air

We traveled to Baltimore, Maryland over the holiday weekend for Molly's wedding.  When we left Lawton, on Friday, the high was 110 degrees.  When we returned to Lawton, on Monday evening, it was 80 degrees.  And it was wonderful.

I love this time of year.  I love wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.  I love taking walks in the crisp, cool air.  I love making chili.  I love the excitement of college football.  I love Pumpkin Spice Lattes.  And I love knowing that Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner.

Feeling the crisp air, as we walked out of the airport, caused my mind flood with all of the things above.  And as I thought of all of those things, I watered up a little and squeezed Jamie's hand a bit tighter.

Two year ago, just as the air was turning crisp, he left for Iraq.  And he left me in Tallahassee, where I began classes at Florida State.  Thankfully, Will and Taylor (and so many other dear people) kept me company.  I'm so thankful for the times that we shared together.    

This year, the crisp air makes me miss Tallahassee...and Will and Taylor...and my classes at Florida State.  But that year, I missed Jamie.

And after Christmas (Floridians have the privilege of referring to winter as Christmas), and spring, and one brutal summer, the air started to turn crisp again.  And just when it was time to pull out the jeans and sweatshirts, it was time to drive to Georgia and welcome Jamie home.  Did I mention that I <3 the crisp air?       

Who knew that a change in weather could instantly ignite so many emotions?  (Jamie is learning, and at the speed of light.)  Happy cooler weather. :)  I hope that this weather is here to stay.  I hope that this season floods you with many wonderful memories; and I hope that it provides you with opportunities to make many more.