I Need Change.

I've really come to the conclusion, over the last couple of weeks, that I am a change/adventure seeker. I get so bored doing to same thing, in the same place for years. I jump at the chance to seize any opportunity. I need a sense of adventure in my life.

For example, Jesse told me about a job opportunity for him in Hungary back in February. It involved us moving to a place where there is no housing on base. We would live in the town, see the local doctors,shop at the local markets, etc. I told him immediately that he didn't have to tell me anymore, he should volunteer to go if he wanted. I was all for it! Didn't happen... I was slightly bummed.

Jesse went down to New Zealand/Antarctica when Hunter was six weeks old for a month long trip for the Air Force. I decided on the day he left, a Thursday, that I wanted to take Hunter and go, too. We left that Sunday. (Talk about a stressful 2 days trying to get an infant a passport asap!)

I am leaving tomorrow to go visit Jesse while he's deployed in Turkey. I am so excited to see my husband, I can hardly contain myself. I am also really looking forward to experiencing a Muslim country and such a difference in culture. I cannot wait!!!

Jesse's enlistment is up the beginning of February. He could get out of the Air Force at that time. My vote is for him to stay in. There are so many different factors that go into that opinion, but one of them is my desire to live a life of adventure. I want to move around, experience new places, meet new people, and not know what the future holds. The idea of that excites me.

What I'm Loving Wednesday

So, I am going to start linking up with Jamie for What I’m Loving Wednesday. I love this idea of sharing the things that are currently making our lives easier, more fun, or just plain more enjoyable with the others around us!




To share all of these things, I thought I would link up with Oh, So Pinteresting Wednesday over at The Vintage Apple. That means I am going to share what I love right now THROUGH the things I have pinned on Pinterest this week. Haven’t heard of it? Well, go check it out! I just registered this week and I am really liking it.








For the last couple weeks, I have been totally into the black bean and corn combo. I think it started at Chipotle, where I got a steak burrito bowl which had rice, black beans, steak, hot sauce, corn salsa, cheese, and sour cream. It was so so so yummy. I just bought some corn salsa at Trader Joe’s so that I can recreate this at home.



So the last couple weeks, has been all about black beans, corn….. and S’MORES! If you follow me on twitter, then you know that I have been eating S’more ice cream sandwiches from Trader Joe’s. So good. Anyone want to make me these s’more cookies?!




Tom wedges. I got these a few weeks ago and they are super cute and comfortable. Need I say more? J



I have been crazy busy at work all of July. These shirt pretty much sums it up… Gotta love being a number cruncher for a living.

And last, but definitely not least…



I am really liking the idea of being in Adana, Turkey in just a few short days!!!

McFatty Moans

It’s another Monday, which means that I am linking up with both Blair’s McFatty Monday and Kristine’s Monday Moanings posts. Check out their blogs… like right now…GO!




Blair brought up a topic that I have talked about a couple times before. At what point are we happy with our bodies? It just seems like no matter what goal weight we set, it’s not quite good enough. For me, I think I compare my body to what it would have been like at this weigh, before going through a pregnancy. Not the same, at all! At some point, I have to accept the saggy tummy and floppy boobs, right? I’ve lost another pound or two and am consistently weighing 155lbs. I am very content with my body, with clothes on. Get me trying on swim suits, not so much.

On to some moanings…

1. I really do not rude drivers. I have gotten flipped off a few times in the last couple of months for merging with PLENTY of room! Actually, let’s split this up into two complaints…

a. People who flip other people off in general. Really?! I just think it is so ridiculously crude and inappropriate for any person to flip another person off for any reason.

b. Why do people get such road rage?

I’ve been trying to make a genuine effort to pray for those people immediately instead of getting upset. It makes me really sad that some people are so full of anger and hate that they must show such hostility to another person.

2. Chipped nail polish. Why the heck does nail polish have to chip and look horrible within a day or two? It irritates me horribly.

3. Lack of sleep. I get up at 4:45am on workdays. When Jesse is home, I am usually in bed by about 8:30 and asleep by around 9pm. When he’s gone… in bed by about 8:30, but almost never asleep before 11:30 or midnight. Talk about not enough sleep! I just can’t seem to turn my brain off before then. It makes me a crabby person by the end of the work week. Not good.

With all this negative talk, I feel like I should add some positive thoughts. I am beyond excited to be leaving for Turkey to visit my hubby at the end of this week! Hunter will be staying with my parents, which means that it will be the first time I will be away from him for longer than one night. I have mixed feelings about this. I know I will miss him so much, but it will be good for me to have some alone time on the flights and then a week of quality time with just Jesse.

Some of the Best Times of My Life

... were spent with this group of amazing women!

**Disclaimer, all of these photos were stolen from Heather's facebook page, and were taken by her! Thanks, Heather!



About a month ago, a bunch of us PLU volleyball alumni met up for a bbq with our families and our coaches. (I am so ridiculously late posting this!) Every single one of these women mean soooo much to me. Two of them are Hunter's godmothers and also two of my dearest friends. The rest of the ladies I hardly ever see, but they have such a special place in my heart and I truly love them all dearly.

This group all played volleyball together my freshman and sophomore year in college. Those were probably the two best volleyball seasons of my life. They were full of fun, adventure, endless laughing, bible studies, goofy activities, oh yeah, and some fierce volleyball matches!

This is the group with the coaches and all of our kiddos:

More Warrior Dash Pictures

So, the Warrior Dash website just put up the pictures from the event this last weekend. Since I wasn't able to get any pictures during the event myself, I splurged and purchchased three of the photos they had available. Check 'em out! :)

My Strong Man.

Okay, let me have one post to brag about Jesse. My husband is strong. Like the strongest man. Like he won the strongest man competition on base in Turkey. He called me and told me that he won it. I said something along the lines of “Oh, cool.” Then I felt bad, I should have been more excited for him. He is very dedicated to fitness and his overall health and I am very thankful for that.

So here is my post to make up for my lack of previous enthusiasm. I mean it when I say my husband is awesome, and wonderful, and amazingly strong!!

Hip Hip Horray!

I can't believe that Doyle's Days has over 100 followers as of yesterday!!! I know that doesn't seem like a lot for some, but it's a lot for me. I remember when I started this blog, I created it just to keep family and friends updated on Hunter. But, soon, I found it as my spot to let out my feelings, faith, interests. This blog has become 100% me! So, sometimes that means this is a mom, faith, fitness, military spouse, etc. blog. That is because those are all the things that make up me.

I feel so incredibly blessed to have a big handful of followers, you guys rock! I love it when I get an e-mail saying that someone has commented on my blog, because I love your input and encouragement. I love it even more when I get an e-mail from a follower who has a question, has a prayer need, or anything. LOVE IT! I love connected with others.

So thank you for reading and please, please, please keep commenting and e-mailing. It makes my day!

A Dash and Some Moans

So, I’m killing two birds with one stone today by combining my fitness Monday post with a link up to Kristine's Monday Moanings.

I have been talking about the Warrior Dash for a few months and had been actually dreading it a bit. Well, the big day was yesterday… and…. It was great! I had so much fun and actually ran about 90% of the course. The 10% that I walked was mostly a stretch that was so ridiculously muddy that I literally could not run in it. The obstacles were a lot of fun and were not at all too difficult to do. There was one obstacle that you had to walk up a beam up to maybe 6-8 feet high, then walk across three more beams, and then down another one. I was terrified that I would fall and break my arm because my shoes were so dang muddy and slippery. I was praying to Jesus the entire obstacle to not let me fall! (Later, I found out that a girl fell and broke her arm!!)

I think I finished about half way through my group. Not too bad. I got ridiculously muddy and then was hosed off by a fire hose with ice cold water. Pretty sure the cold water put me in shock and it took me a good minute to catch my breath!
I only got a before picture and then an after picture eating a “warrior” turkey leg. Those things were huge! It was really hard to get many pictures because I was just too darn muddy to touch a camera or my phone. Boo!






And now moving on to Monday Moanings. My co-worker started this link up a couple weeks ago as a place to vent and moan about things that irritate us. I’m hoping that I can partake without being a negative Nancy, but sometimes there are just some things in life that are just plain annoying. .

1. I have to copy Kristine’s first moaning. Seattle weather. Do I need to explain more? This summer is a joke. Rain, overcast, and 60 degree weather all of July?! Boo!!

2. Deployment. I miss my hubby. L It’s already been almost 3 months though, only 39 days left!


3. Spiritual Warfare. It is real, my friends. The devil tries to attack anything that is from God, including marriages, obedience, a person’s thoughts, etc. I truly believe that the anxiety I have while Jesse is gone is caused by this. It’s a product of trying to use my own reasoning in earthly matters that cause worry and anxiousness. The devil loves to plant these things in the heart of Christians. As lovers of Christ, we need to be aware and prepared, so that we can identify it and pray against it.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

Nordy's Sale

It's one of my favorite times of the year... the Nordstrom Anniversary sale! :) Hunter and I were at the Tacoma store by about 10am on Friday ready to do some damage. I love that it's all their brand new stuff that is on sale! The sale is a bit of a guilty pleasure of mine.

Thought I would share with you all, some of my great finds!





And then of course, I had to get Hunter a couple of things! ;)







And these are the things I wanted, but left behind (for now)....

Not Motivated.

I don't know what it is, but I haven't had the motivation to take pictures, write blog posts, fold laundry, or cook. I'm just not feeling it lately. Maybe it's due to having some busy weeks at work or hanging out with friends and family during any free time. I'm not feeling down or unhappy. I just want to spend my time having fun and enjoying Hunter.

I've had a few jam packed weekends and it's been wonderful! Yesterday Hunter and I left the house at 9am and didn't return until after 9pm. We started the morning at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale (more on this later). Then picked up a package at our rental house. Spent the afternoon with some wonderful friends. I love love love having friends that have little boys around the same age as Hunter. It's so fun to watch them play together! Then I dropped Hunter off at a friends house to share her babysitter. And then headed to dinner with a few of the wives from Jesse's squadron. It was great to sit and chat with other women who are going through the same thing!

Though it was a wonderful day yesterday, today Hunter and I are taking it easy. Maybe, just maybe I'll get around to doing laundry before we go to church tonight. :)

Non-Scale Victories

I am a huge fan of measuring goals that aren’t on the scale. It’s really hard to measure small successes on the scale. When I run more, I usually gain a pound or two, but loose inches. I’m not using the scale as much as I was a few months back. I’m fairly satisfied with my weight, but would love to lose a few inches and tone up a bit. Still staying pretty steady at 156-157lbs.

I did a little shopping this weekend. I knew that I could mostly wear a size 8, but this weekend, every single size 8 at three different stores fit with some room, too! Woo-hoo! I don’t think I have consistently worn a size 8 since the end of high school. All through college, I’m pretty sure I was wearing a 10.

It felt so good to grab shorts and Capri pants at American Eagle and not have to dig to the bottom for the big girl sizes. Anyone know what I’m talking about?! When you gotta find the sizes on the very bottom of the pile because it’s all size 0’s and 2’s on the very top?!

What about going to the dressing room and finding that you have to have the salesperson grab you a smaller size?? In the past it was always the opposite. I always was hopeful and grabbed the smaller size, often even not asking for the larger size, just giving up in sadness.

So yes, one trip to the mall, but several feel good moments over the course of a couple hours!

3 Weeks From Today

I will be on a plane headed to Turkey to visit Jesse while he's stationed there during his deployment! Hunter will be staying with my parents for the 8 days that I'll be gone. I'm super excited to see Jesse, get away for a week, visit a country that I've always wanted to go to, and enjoy some hot weather!

This will be the first time that I've left Hunter for more than one night. Jesse seems to think that I have some sort of issue leaving him and says that he thinks I'll have a breakdown when I'm gone. Go ahead and think I'm a bad mom, but I am actually looking forward to getting away. It's probably because for the last two and half months I have been the only parent around. This momma has got to relax a little! :) I'll tell you if I still feel that way after it's been more than one day.

I'm hoping to be able to just really enjoy spending some alone time with Jesse for the first time in almost two years. I think it will be really good for us. I'm also thinking it'll make the transition easier when he gets back home in September.

When in Turkey these are a couple things I hope to see:

Alaska Trip Part 2

So, I only shared the pictures from the zip line trip earlier this week. So, hold on tight, you're gonna get to see the rest of the pictures from our Alaska trip.

We left last Wednesday night, right after I got off work. Hunter was so excited to see the airplanes while we waited to board the plane.





The airplane ride turned out just alright. We got lucky and had an open seat between us and an older lady. Turns the lady was very sweet and has several grandchildren and great grandchildren. That turned out to be nice because Hunter decided he loved her and kept trying to lay down his head on her lap and cuddle with her. She loved that he loved her! Thank goodness!

On Thursday, we hung around the house, and then walked around downtown with Marlene. We did some shopping and enjoyed being on the waterfront. Marlene took this photo of Hunter and I with a moose in one of the shopping areas.



Marlene and Jim, who we stayed with, have a BEAUTIFUL house right on the ocean. Check out these views from their deck.








On Friday, Hunter and I spent the day together walking around the town. We walked through Creek Street.



Then we did a little more shopping. I found him the cutest Alaska Airlines airplane in the toy shop downtown. It lights up and moves across the floor. He loves it!

Later in the day, we went on a little drive out south and admired the beautiful eagles that flew overhead.