Thursday Random Facts Fun

Reading

        Not currently reading anything:( Does it count if I have a ton on my list, in my Audible queue and sitting by my side table? I am taking Sounds of Gravel with me because a TON of people have been discussing it and I am a sucker for memoirs!

        My audible list is huge! I currently have Big Little Lies next up. I just need time to listen to it. I think that when I drive to Atlanta next week to pick up the kids from the airport- I will get a few chapters listened to.

      I am reading a book on my Kindle app, which hasn't happened in years! I now enjoy an actual book and listening to Audible. It is God, Country, Golf: Reflections of an Army Widow by Wesley Hobbs Bauguess.  This book is amazing. I am an Army wife- so it is a special topic to me. It is even more so cause I have been able to love on her daughters. Our husbands were deployed together when her husband passed away. They did not know each other but my husband was flying the helicopter that lifted her husband out after he was shot. I didn't know this at the time cause my husband spares me details like these. However, I have volunteered for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) over the years. The first time I volunteered was not long after her husband passed. Her and her two daughters attended and I spent the day in Ellie's group. I loved on her amazing daughter all day and heard about her daddy. I have thought about her off and on for the last 10 years. She just released this book and I feel blessed to hear their story in full and catch up on their family!

Watching

      It is baseball season. The majority of my time watching tv has been spent in the evenings watching my SF Giants playing. They have been struggling! It has been SO hard to watch but I am a true fan and still love them!

     I have been waiting for OITNB to come out tomorrow! I see wasting most of my Saturday binge watching that!

    Other than that, it is a lot of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and PJ Masks (thanks toddlers).

Cooking

     I have bought two new kitchen items this week that have been getting lots of love. The first was the air fryer. Amazing! I also bough an Instant Pot finally. I made baked potatoes yesterday in there in 10 minutes! It is craziness!

    These tots are one of my loves right now and 8 minutes in the Air Fryer made them crispy deliciousness!!

   Also- I splurged yesterday and bought lamb chops. Never had them but figured for $22, this is the time to try them when my oldest are at their grandparents, lol! Anyone have any tried and true recipes they want to share for them??

Drinking

     I have been loving the BAI Watermelon drinks. I avoid sugar and carb heavy drinks- so I am pretty limited! I will have a light lemonade or a diet Snapple once in awhile. These BAI drinks are perfect. Refreshing as all on humid Alabama days! I recommend Watermelon and Mango flavors!

Five on Friday

Another linkup today...

Five things on Friday...

-1-

Let's talk tattoos. I have 2. I have the "tramp stamp" that seemed like a good idea when I was 18. It was actually before the title "tramp stamp" was placed. My second is a tattoo on the top of my right foot, that matches one my dad and sister have.

I haven't been super tempted to get anymore but lately one jumped out at me and I cant get it out of my mind.

I am thinking this placement but not SO big. I like that I can hide it...

Find here

This saying is me. After cancer- I literally feel like this is for me!

 I haven't decided completely and want to be sure 100%.

-2-

Lets talk t-shirt presses. I am thinking about getting one. I spend a ton on personalized shirts. I always have shirts made for the twins- mainly to help people tell them apart...lol. I also had several shirts made for baseball season for my 7 year old. I think it would save me money long term to just buy the press and use my Cricut and make them myself!! I have asked advice from several people but haven't gotten clear guidance. Anyone know things I should make sure I have in the one I buy??

Find here

Had this one made this season

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 Seriously, my favorite one I had made this season...

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One of the ones I am drooling over!

-3-

I have not run in over a week and a half. This makes me sad. I am thinking about doing the Fallen Heroes 5K on post tomorrow morning. Hubby has to work and it will be rough pushing the twins in the stroller for the run- but I think I NEED to get out there. I have missed running so much. My goal is to run a half marathon in October back home in Tahoe...

Find here

If I am going to run 13.1 miles... why not in one of the most beautiful locations I know? Hubby and I are thinking about it... been waiting for #4 to be finalized before making decisions

-4-

20 year reunion. I know. I know. I hardly look a day over 25. Yep- this last month marked 20 years since I graduated from Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs California.

The reunion is happening in October. They finalized date and location today. So now it is time to start looking at plane tickets, babysitters here in Bama for my kids, and signing up for the half so we can start training.

-5-

Spent an amazing 5 days in Panama City Beach last week with my parents and sister.

 My girl LOVES raw oysters

 View from our deck

 Mom, Hais, Delaney and Landon

 Carter and Brody

 Brody loved these goggles! You can see the house we rented right behind him...

 Landon loved this

 Papa running with the boys

Carter let me bury him...

It was a great week. My sis lives in Boston and parents are in California. So to have everyone here at once was perfection!

Confessions

Decided to join up with some Thursday Confessions... a day late-:)

-I bought a new Surface Pro computer. I really don't love it... instead of using it- I usually choose my trusty (and comfy to use) HP laptop.

-I am putting off potty training the twins. They are starting in August at the YMCA's preschool. In order to go there- they HAVE to be potty trained. Ugh. They aren't  quite 2 1/2. There. Are. Two. Of. Them. And one of me!
I know they are most likely ready. They are letting me know when they need their diapers changed. They are taking their diapers off. Having diapers officially kicked out of my house would be amazing. However- I already feel like I need a stiff drink to accomplish this task...

-My two olders are with grandpa and grandma in California. While I am missing the crud out of them... it has been nice to only have 2 kids at home!

-Three weeks til I am California bound with just my daughter. A flight without babies! Three days in San Fran. Hugging my best friend. Life will be good.

-I haven't been running as much as I should be.  We were going to the gym every night at 8- after the twins were in bed and Hais could watch them. Without her here- we cant go together and it makes me lose all motivation to go. I should just run outside but the humidity has been AWFUL!!

-I am thinking I really want to redo my blog. I need a new design and layout. Anyone have any suggestions on where to start?

Military Spouse Linkup

Linking up with Amanda and Jen for a military spouse link up!

My name is Brenna. I am married to Lee (Army Blackhawk Pilot) for last 18 years. We have 4 awesome kiddos- Hais is 14, Carter is 7, and Brody & Landon are 2. Yes, we could not have possibly stretched out the ages anymore- lol! I started this blog somewhere around my husbands first deployment I believe in 2006...? It has been all over the place. At times I have been a lifestyle blogger. A parenting blogger. A milso blogger. A rambling hot mess blogger.  I have been away from blogging for awhile. Life got crazy and it got sacrificed. I miss it. I randomly came on today and saw this link up and thought- game on.

I enjoy a ton of things about the military lifestyle. I always say it is a love hate relationship but my loves FAR outweigh my hates. I love the adventure- the friendships- the security of a paycheck. Watching friends get out the last few years has scared me enough to tell my hubby he will have to be forced out eventually when he gets too old and senile to safely fly:)

Advice. Jump in. Get involved. FRG's are amazing sources of not just information but friendships. Find your tribe. The tribe will change every duty station but they are there! The friendships you make are priceless!

We have been to Fort Bragg (twice), Fort Lewis, Fort Sam Houston, Fort Carson, Fort Rucker (twice) and Ansbach Germany (best duty station ever!)

I haven't worked in years. I have my Masters in Elementary Education. I used to spend a ton of time in my daughters classrooms, in Spouses Clubs and FRG's. Now I wrangle two year old twin boys. That takes all my energy most days (and my sanity!). I also spend lots of time rooting on my daughter on the softball field/tennis court or my middle son playing baseball!

*Side note- I have been away from blogging for awhile and linking to all the military wives who participated sort of lit my fire for jumping back in! Thanks ladies! I do have to say though- so much has changed... will have to learn about BlogLovin now- ha!