Update #2

Hello again, sorry it has taken me a while to blog.  I would like to say I am busy, but it is probably more just laziness.  Wanted to share some pictures and let everyone know how our holidays are going.

First let me tell you 2 big PRAISES in my life:
#1 - We have found a church!  Sunday after Sunday since getting here to Fort Bliss, we tried out a new church, and I thought we had exhausted our chances of my goal to find our home church by the first of the year.  Well after being curious in a church here with the same name as our beloved church in Alabama, Hillcrest Baptist Church, we thought what the heck and decided to try it out.  We walk in and as Jason said, it was so calm. We felt like we belonged there after 10 min.  Everyone was SO helpful in walking us around and helping us find where all the boys classes were, especially the pastor's wife, and the preaching was such a blessing.  Next thing you know the pastor and his wife came to our home and we got to sit and chat with them for a couple of hours.  Jason was so glad to hear they were part of a competitive church softball league -  A big selling point for him.  It was also nice they are the exact same age as us and are expecting their fourth child!  I wanted one that had something to offer the kids and myself - and sure enough they have woman's bible study as an outlet for me to find some friends and plenty of children's activities.  I can't wait to get more involved and start finding where I can help inside the church's ministries!

#2 Speaking of friends, a couple months ago Jason had asked me if he could invite another pilot he deployed with over for dinner with his family.  With 2 sweet boys and an even sweeter little girl, this new family came over our house for a simple dinner- and I am happy to say we have spent three special occasions with them now!  After just being around them once, they invited us over for a birthday party, Halloween night and Thanksgiving!  Sarah (not to be confused with my other Sara) has become a quick friend who's qualities I knew I needed in one.  She has been such a blessing to me already!  We also have our common bond of being a mom to several kids and a wife to a blackhawk pilot in the same company.

Now Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, basically eating and enjoying each other and a simple day that holds a lot of meaning.  But I was a tad nervous not to be having it with family.  Boy was I wrong to be apprehensive.

It was the PERFECT day.

That morning I finished making Jason's favorites - my grandmothers famous dressing and a few pies as the parade was on the television.  We headed over to their home and spend the day talking, laughing, getting to know others, and simply enjoying every minute.  The food was awesome, the company even better.  Another pilot and his wife came and Sarah's mother.   I could not of asked for a more blessed feeling when we headed home that night.

Here are a few pictures from the day:

West and Clark watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Banner and Parker too.

The kids table.

The adults that shared Thanksgiving together.

I was pretty proud of my apple, chocolate, and cherry pies! And yeah that's right, I did the braiding and lattice work on the apple pie myself!

My new friend Sarah

Our families together

Just the Allmans

 On a different note, I wanted to share some pictures of the big boys who have started playing basketball.  Now I loved baseball season, but this is becoming just as fun.  It is a little faster paced and I'm not pre-treating grass stains every game day!  They are doing so well and enjoying it immensely!

As Christmas approaches I have been  trying to find something to do with myself as Jason has had to go up to Washington a couple times for work and I am left here in the quiet.  So I went on pinterest and found me a craft to do, and I am pretty satisfied at my completed work.  I am NOT a crafty/artsy  person...NOTHING like my sister in law Kari, my mother in law, or my friend Beth that amazes me with every one of her blog posts.  But I thought what the heck - I can use a hot glue gun (which in turn gave me some burns) and so I made this to match our blue, white, and silver Christmas tree.

Other than that, that is about it going on around here.  I really am loving all this family time and the fact I am feeling more adjusted here.  I try to make everywhere we go a home for us and I think I have finally accomplished that here 4 months in. 

Now that we have found a church, I have a couple friends, kids are doing great in school and sports, the only thing negative I can say is...

I so dislike living in a desert.  

It is dirty and sandy.  The dust storms are frequent and leave you with dirt in your mouth and eyes and on the windowsills daily. (Until I eventually got some heavy duty tape and literally taped up  the windows edges!)  For this reason, this OCD cleaner dusts and vacuums every.single.day. The car NEVER needs washing (the two times it has gotten washed- it looks worse because I learned sand sticks to a wet car).  For this reason I have re-thought my dream to ever live near the beach!

Anyways, we are excited to go into Christmas as a COMPLETE FAMILY -  Santa, Mrs. Clause and the elves are all together in the same country for the 2011 holiday season!  We are having both sides of the family come visit and we are even going snow skiing in New Mexico for the first time!  Lets hope we all come home in one piece and have a blast!

Here's to all the things I have to be thankful for this season:  family, health, friends, all the men/boys in my life.

 I am so so blessed.

Hope you are enjoying your holidays!