NOT squat proof. Organized desk. And Prayers. How’s that for a Monday?

Happy Monday. Do you see these leggings? They are really cute; I have worn them before, and loved them. But today. Today was leg day. And I have never worn them on leg day. And these leggings are NOT squat proof. Really. I thought that it was just the white underneath the leggings showing through. And that might be the case, but it looked really close to skin color. So every time I went to do a squat, I was very aware of anyone behind me. I’m just saying. Today was all about the squats, deadlifts and you guys. I thought I was going to die. No one wants to see that. No one wants to be the one wearing the see-through leggings. 

So that’s how my Monday started. It did get significantly better than that. Don’t worry. 

Do you see this? I am so proud of this. I have worked on clearing off my desk, and creating a place that I actually want to spend time. I’m still working on what I am going to put on the walls, but if you saw my desk a few months ago, you’d be impressed. Also, see those drawers? I put it together by myself. Sometimes after Ben has been home awhile, and he takes care of a lot of the manual labor around the house, I forget that I can do it. I forget that I am quite capable of putting IKEA furniture together, or cleaning the kitchen. Or pretty much anything. Although, he did switch out an electrical outlet the other day, I think I would have had to YouTube it. But you know I could probably figure it out. 

Happy Monday everyone. I hope that everyone is having a good day.

Also, in case anyone is wondering, Ben is safe. Still gone, but doing well. Let’s just pray that it stays that way. Seriously. Whether you pray or send out good vibes, or whatever let’s hope for the best in the world. 

Oh and one more thing, can we talk fires in Australia? We need prayers there too!

Anyone else?We can start a prayer roll, and we can add you to our prayers. I’m certainly willing to offer a prayer for you. 

What’s a Sunday without a Selfie?

Today’s #emilyselfieatchurch 

The view from a bus.

Today Ben and I had the chance to ride in a bus for church. Everything seemed a little different from this view, so I took some pictures along our way.

I give you--Sri Lanka from a bus window.

 

Oh and one fun story. Today is Labor Day, and there were a lot of rally's around town, so we had to put a white flag on the bus so that everyone would know that we were not affiliated with any political party, and thus should be allowed to pass in peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It's CHRISTMAS!!!

Ben and I greatly underestimated our two wonderful children.

There wasn't any crying or complaining about any Christmas presents or lack thereof. 

It was a Christmas miracle. 

 Our day was filled with legos and movies and chocolate.  It was a fabulous day.

Jack, smiling and getting excited over underwear in his stocking. 

The boys.

Christmas dinner, spent with our friends from church. 

This year for Christmas, our big present was a relaxing vacation at the beach.

We went to a resort in the town of Mirissa. A vacation where you never have to put shoes on, and a pool and an ocean are the sources of entertainment. Perfection.

A room with a view.

Thomas.  What can I say, but that this picture captures him well.

Jack. 

The boys having a make believe picnic.

Merry Christmas!

Love you,

Ben, Emily, Jack and Thomas

Marine Ball.

The Marine Corps Ball.  One of my favorite nights of the year.  And this year, it almost didn't happen.

I woke up Saturday morning feeling horrible.  I had aches and pains and gastrointestinal issues, and I was just miserable.  I decided I wouldn't be able to go.  I was too miserable. 

An hour before the taxi was coming to pick up Ben, I decided to go. 

I have to admit there were only two reasons I went:

1. I love my dress.  I LOVE my dress.

2. There was a flash mob dance at the ball, and I was in charge of the cowbell, so I HAD to go. 

Because what is a flashmob dance without a cowbell, right? 

So, here are a few pictures from our night.

Scenes from the dance. We even had the Marines join in for a bit of it. 

Seriously so fun! I am so grateful for my crazy friends!

And the best part.  I felt mostly okay for most of the ball, but the moment I got home the entire 10 bites of dinner that I ate came up with massive fury.  Then I slept ALL day on Sunday. Today, I am feeling a little better, and hopefully I will be all better soon.  

Oktoberfest.

Last weekend, we celebrated Oktoberfest with a few friends. The highlight was definitely the mechanical bull that Jack rode twice. Because in my mind, nothing says Oktoberfest like a mechanical bull.  

Life is pretty good around these parts.  

Jack is loving school, particularly math- he absolutely loves working with numbers. He is also preparing for his school production, which is at the end of the month, and is going to be epic.  He also has a singing solo in the Primary Program, (one Sunday a year in church where all of the children sing and have speaking parts).  

Thomas is constantly surprising us with his bouts of attitude. He is  developing his sense of self, and unlike Jack, I have no idea what to expect from him.  It is a lot of fun watching him.

Ben is excited because he has found some people to play basketball with...now they just need to find a place to do it.

I am busy with school, and am halfway through the semester. The next most exciting thing happening to me is that I am recovering from the most hideous and terrible boil on the back of my neck.  I wanted to put pictures of the horrid thing (which now resembles a volcano) on the blog, but Ben said ABSOLUTELY. DO. NOT. DO. THAT.  Therefore, for everyone's sake, including my own, I will refrain from publicly displaying the development of the growth on my neck- I photo documented the growth from the beginning.  I'm sorry and you're welcome. 

On a less grotesque note, we are in the midst of bidding, and hopefully in the next few weeks- maybe months- we will know where we will going next. We are coming back to the States next, so basically no matter where we go, we will be closer to family, and a lot of our friends. 

There you have it.  The basic summary of all of our goings on.  

Going to the Maldives.

The Maldives.

About 11 years ago, I bought a calendar with pictures of tropical paradises from all over the world.  There it was on several months- Maldives.  I dreamed about staying in a hut over the water; warm and perfect. 

So it was put on my bucket list.  Staying on a hut over the water.  In the Maldives. 

Here and now. Ben had the opportunity to travel to the Maldives for work, and I was able to tag along.  We couldn't afford a hut on the water, but this was a dream come true.  AND I still count it as crossing an item off my bucket list.   (Sometimes bucket lists change, but the dream isn't any less fulfilled.)

Ben had to work everyday, and when his Blackberry chimed, he had to answer it.  Even though he was working, he had a few hours after work to enjoy paradise.  When he was working, I was reading, lounging, and taking an occasional nap.  It was the perfect vacation.  

It was an awesome trip, and I am so grateful that we were able to go.  

I am also grateful for all of our friends here that helped out with the boys.  We knew they were having a good time when they only wanted to spend 30 seconds on FaceTime so they could keep playing.

Where we stayed:

We were copying the couples that took pictures before us.  It seemed as if most of the people staying there were models, or at least they liked to pose like they were.  

Here we are trying to fit in:

I don't think modeling is in my future.  

This was awesome! When we walked on the beach at night, these would show up in our footsteps and along the shore.  It was like lightning bugs on the beach.  

Awkward timer picture, that turned out to be my favorite.

Gorgeous.  Totes gorgeous.

Swanky furniture at the bar.