Military Wife: Week 6

          Wow. 6 weeks already! We FINALLY got to hear from Austyn this past weekend. He was only aloud 5 minutes, but it was the best 5 minute phone call I've ever had. :) Only 7 weeks until Christmas everyone! I'm praying the month of November is gone within the blink of an eye. October sure went by quicker than I ever imagined. We had so much fun over the weekend "trick-or-treating" with grandparents and uncle Ben. ;) It was a successful week in Vernal I'd say! It's still hard traveling without Austyn, but the girls have done amazing every time we've made that nice long 5 hour drive.

Roasted Kale from last weeks post.

          Over the past month, I have become like a little school girl with the biggest crush you have ever seen every time I check the mail; each week, I anticipate a letter from Austyn. At least 1 or 2... If I'm really lucky, I'll get 4! At least that's what I came home to over the weekend. I have been very diligent in writing him everyday. Yes, that's right; EVERY - SINGLE - DAY! No, it is not a burden at all. If anything, it gives me something to look forward to each night after I get the girls in bed. I tell him about the day, Maci and Molli's latest accomplishments, and, of course, how much I love him and miss him.. He seems to appreciate receiving a handful of letters each week. ;)

(From a Family) Tip #11: Letters Letters Letters

         

          They can make such an impact on your soldier. Whether it's your dad, or your husband, he will appreciate anything from home. I have sent Austyn a few pictures that Maci has drawn and he absolutely loves them. Sure they're just your average scribbles from a 2 year old, but it represents moments spent thinking of him. I cannot stress enough how much letters mean; on both ends for that matter. It's seriously like Christmas morning every time I receive a letter from Austyn! I am certain he feels the same way on days he gets mail. He informed me this weekend that he has to do 10 push ups for each letter he gets.. So that's 6 weeks, 7 letters a week, 10 push ups per letter.. You do the math. ;) 

          Now, I am not saying you have to be writing your husband every single day. For many, that can be down right impossible (especially if you have kids). Just do your best to write at least once or twice a week so that he knows you are thinking of him and everything is alright at home. Keep in mind that depending on the situation and where he has been deployed to or spending his BCT and AIT at, mail can be slow. I have received letters from Austyn that were dated 2 weeks prior, so some of our questions and conversations are a bit behind. But it is still nice to hear from each other.

(From a Wife) Tip#12: Stock Up On Those Stamps

          This just coincides with letters. If you're going to be writing letters (especially as often as I am) you are going to want to order your stamps ahead of time. Of course it really isn't that difficult to run down to the post office and pick up a book of stamps when you're out each month, but if you have kids... Need I say more? Some things are just better done before hand and all at once without the hassle of dragging a couple of your precious (possibly screaming and whining and maybe even making a scene if your lucky) children into a public place. There is also the ever favorable way of ordering them online...

          So back in the day, when my dad was on submarines, my mom would make a batch of her homemade chocolate chip cookies and have my dad take them to work with him. Needless to say, they were devoured pretty quickly with all those Navy men around. Anyway, this is a recipe that my mom was given back before I was born. Everyone in my family absolutely LOVES them! Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins.. They are the one thing everyone looks forward to having when they go to my parents house, so I thought I'd be gracious and share it with you! Yes, yes I know. You're welcome.

This batch did not have enough flour in them,
so they baked a bit flatter than normal.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Jena's Version)

Ingredients:

3/4 C Sugar

1 C Brown Sugar

1 C Butter (the REAL DEAL)

2 Eggs

3 C Flour (more or less depending on your elevation)

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Vanilla

1 C Chocolate Chips

Directions

• Mix sugars and butter together. You may use margarine but I am much more fond of real butter.
• Add eggs, vanilla, and soda. Mix well.
• Add flour (about 1/2 a cup at a time so you don't put in too much).
• When flour has been mixed in, add chocolate chips - you may add more chocolate chips than 1 cup if you would like. My mom likes to put in an entire bag!
• Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8-10 minutes

Note: This isn't the exact recipe that my mom has.

I have halved her recipe and altered some measurements

upon my taste and what I prefer.

Bon Appetit! :)