2nd Quarter Update

At some point I plan to make this a habit. Until then, I apologize for the lag between posts for any of you who hold your breath in between. :) 

Ryan has been in Twentynine Palms, Ca for MOS since the beginning of May. He came home over Memorial weekend and we had a birthday party for Dominic. A big thank you to Great-Grandma Stites, Great-Grandma Turpin, Grandpa and Grandma Turpin, Aunt Nicole, Uncle Joe, Maddy, Aidan, and Kathryn, Godfather (Christopher) and anyone else I may have missed for the lovely cards and wonderful gifts you sent for the BIG TWO celebration! And of course thank you to Mother, Pop, Miko, Shanjuan, Davey Baby, Steph, Bosty, Hudsy, and DADDY who were able to make it in person.

Dominic loved his new Birthday Thomas train stuff, rocket ship, books, giant monkey, 4-wheeler, and baseball stuff! He loved his Detroit Tigers cake so much that he couldn't even wait until the song was over to stick his face in it! We had the most AMAZING gourmet cheeseburgers cooked by DADDY, and Mommy made some decent pasta salad to go with it. And I musn't forget the delicious and refreshing Budlight Limes. Mother and Shannon also contributed fresh fruit and chips. The baker screwed up on the cake a bit, but everyone seemed to enjoy it anyway.

While Ryan was home we were able to enjoy a nice dinner date at the Wild Grape Bistro (gift certificate I won through work - thank you very much) and then we came home to play outside until dark with the little guy. We watched the Imaginarium of Dr. Parnasis (Heath Ledger's last flick) with a 32 oz sports bottle of Australian wine, and finished with a Midnight roasting of marshmallows and s'mores on the grill!

OTHER NEWS:
Ryan is the GUIDE of his class and gets to carry around the Guidon (the big stick with the company flag on it) through his training. The goal is to maintain this leadership position through graduation. I'm not entirely sure what all that will mean, but I think it's something really good and I'm SO PROUD of him for earning it.

I recently earned my ZUMBA (Latin dance aerobics) Instructor certification and will hopefully start substituting classes at my local gym soon. I've had to take some time off recently with D being sick from another ear infection and other stuff. Yeah, we thought we were done with those after the $2000.00 surgery. I guess not. At least he seemed to bounce back much quicker this time aside from a minor set back with a spiking fever and dehydration for a day.

The weather had finally started getting better here in the last week so D and I try and get to the park every night for a jog and playground time. I say "had" because yesterday was the beginning of a week of thunderstorms. We end our evening most days "talking to Daddy on PUTER" (in D's words). We read him three stories of his choosing every night before bed after tubby time. He's such a champ with his understanding that "Daddy is working" and we get to see him soon.

We were hoping to drive out to Palm Springs tomorrow but a minor, temporary setback in Ryan's schooling makes it impossible for us to see each other for a while. We had just started getting Dominic excited to see Daddy in THREE DAYS and then TWO DAYS, and I didn't have the heart to tell him today that we don't get to see Daddy any time soon. I just stressed that we still get to see Daddy on the "puter" tomorrow. Thank God for Skype.

We hope all the family is doing well. We love and miss you all. Feel free to check in any time via email or phone. Again, I'll really make an effort to get on here more. Believe it or not, my hands find ways to stay pretty full these days!

Click Here to see the latest Turpin Family Photos!

P.S. A friend of mine was in a severe longboarding accident last Saturday and is in a coma at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, Ut. He has an egg-fractured skull which they have had to remove two pieces of due to swelling. At this point they don't know if he is going to live, and if so, how much damage has been done. If you would please keep Kyle Johnson in your prayers, and ask your prayer chains at church if you have access to those, I would most appreciate it. Thank you and God Bless!

"To Trying Forever Again"

As if to just pick up where we left off just over a year ago... well, rewind a little more. Let's pick up where we left off early October of 2008. Perfect.

Thanks to my fabulous friends, Cat and Sav, I was able to see Ryan while he was in San Diego two weeks after he went back. And a HUGE THANK YOU to my AMAZING GODFATHER, because of whom I was able to go see Ryan AGAIN right before his second graduation. And because of the time we've been allowed together...

We are one little happy family again and things are just as peachy as ever. :) Well, as peachy as they can be with us still being apart.

Ryan finished boot camp and Marine Combat Training, and is now picking up his MOS classes tomorrow. His MOS is 0651 which is Data Systems. It seemed kind of funny at first, but the more we learn about it, the more we realize this was an AWESOME career choice for life in and after the military. There is a lot of potential in his field, and we think he'll do very well. One of his buddies picked up classes for the same MOS a couple weeks ago and has offered to keep Ryan informed on what to study to succeed. Thanks Lucas!

We were able to have some family time when Ryan came home for Recruiter's Assistance last week, but as always, "some time" is never "enough time" even though it's better than "no time." While he was home we did some packing, had a wedding, enjoyed our first trip on base to get my official Marine wife ID card, and watched Alice and Wonderland for our "honeymoon." One day we'll have a real honeymoon. One day. I get quite bitter when I think about that...

Dominic is starting with a new sitter tomorrow whom Ryan and I interviewed while he was home. I'm eager to see how he does with Beth. He will be with three other children very close in age. I hope it goes well. It will save me about $200 a month if it works out. She's experienced, state licensed, and seems like a great person, so I'm pretty confident it will.

Update on the other Utah Marine wives for Pat: Kat is moving to Florida with Zack (happy for them, sad for me) and Savanah is heading to Hawaii with Riley. I'm jealous for a second, but really, I couldn't live in Hawaii by myself with D when Ryan goes on vacation. I'm just glad they get to be with their husbands. We still have almost four more months of this....UGH.

Congratulations to Pat for getting her business in the works on line. I can't wait to see it all running and hear the great news! Ryan's buddy, Snyder is now officially engaged (Congrat's Cody and Faith!) so we'll be coming back to Mi for the wedding. We'll keep you posted!

David and Steph are getting married September 18th. I'm a bridesmaid, so I'll be here in Utah at least until after the wedding.

Our house is almost sold. The bank said we should have docs in one to two weeks (which was two weeks ago), and from that point I'll have 30 days to get out. Although we accomplished a lot while Ryan was home, there is still a long way to go getting everything stored.

ZUMBA LOVE!!! I'm getting certified May 29th to become a Zumba instructor and will hopefully find a part time job teaching some classes over the summer. I want to get enough experience to possibly pick up a full time position when we get to our duty station. The goal is to get certified in Zumba, Zumba Tone, Pilates, Yoga, Spin, general group fitness, nutrition and possibly personal training by the end of next year. It's something I can "take with me" wherever we go and I'm excited to get started.

Everyone has been asking me how "married life" is treating me. I tell them it's pretty much exactly the same as it was two weeks ago when we were not married. And without the benefits even. ;) But I can buy alcohol on base now, and will be able to take my pop golfing when it finally stops snowing! I was excited about the commissary, but I tried that yesterday and don't know if I'll be going back. It was a damn CIRCUS! Not to mention the jerks strategically placed the line (which was about 40 carts deep with only three open registers and took about 35 minutes to check out) in the middle of the ice cream isle, chocolate, cookies, candy, etc. and it ALL just HAPPENED to be ON SALE! The one at Camp Pendleton was so much more efficient and less painful. Let's just keep praying we end up there so I can grocery shop without needing a Xanax!

OORAH!

This morning at 0900 hrs Ryan was initiated in to what one of my newest friends/sisters calls, "one of the largest fraternities in the world," the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS. He completed the 54 hour Crucible of mind, body, and spirit. He was rewarded with a Warrior's Breakfast and the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor. Ryan is a Marine. WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, BABE!
It's been a long three months, don't get me wrong, but I can't believe what a short period of time can do to a person - people - a couple - a family. For fear of redundancy of my escaped journal entry below, I am so excited to see the changes in real life! I can't wait to meet my long lost best friend again next week. Unfortunately, my work has suffered from my lack of focus the last few days. I've had only one thing on my mind. :)
We found out he didn't get Recruiter's Assistance which would have been extremely helpful for our courtship, but we'll make the most of the few days we have before he heads back for Marine Combat Training and then on to his MOS school. Recruiter's Assistance would have given him another few weeks at home selling kids on the Marine Corps before moving to the next step. Ryan will apply again when he gets home on Sunday, 2/28. Really? ONE WEEK!?
I received my final letter today which he wrote last Sunday before heading up to Camp Pendleton for the Crucible. It was very scattered but heartfelt. He sent me a list of everything he wants to accomplish the week he's home. My goal is to have everything done before then so he can relax. Boy, do I have a busy weekend ahead of me! I'm flying to San Diego Wednesday with Dominic and meeting Joe, Pat, Nicole and Kat there. We have a Meet and Greet that night with all of the amazing Delta Company families we've become very close with over the last three months. Thursday is Family Day where we watch them make the "moto run" before we spend the afternoon with our new Marines. We have to leave base WITHOUT our Marines that evening :( and then the graduation ceremony is Friday. We get to keep him after that! My parents will attend the graduation and the graduation luncheon Pat has so kindly planned for us. Saturday is a trip to the San Diego Zoo (I think), and Sunday we come home... our cute little family.
I have a photo shoot set up for Ryan and Dominic for part of his Christmas present, but now I'm wanting family photos... just in case. ;) We'll celebrate Christmas, Valentines, New Years, St. Patrick's Day, and probably Easter in a week. Busy week. Ryan has requested a night out with me in Salt Lake with a fabulous dinner and hotel room, and a trip to Gateway to the Discovery Museum with our little man. He wanted to see a Grizz game, but I didn't have the heart to tell him I had already checked the schedule and they have ZERO home games that week. :( I'm going to write them a letter!
I think I finally picked out my graduation outfit. It's the best RED I could do. Red is a virtually impossible color to shop for in the spring. What are those Marines thinking? When I told Ryan I wasn't going to wear red he was devastated. He sent me another letter with a doodled paper that said "WEAR RED TO GRADUATION!" all over it. I got the hint. Here's my red...



Dress: Victoria Secret (outside and inside)
Shoes: Endless.com (can't remember the designer and I'm too lazy to go look)
Scarf: Target (love Target!)
Wristlet: Courtesy of my wonderful Mother In-Law, Pat, for Christmas a couple years ago
Now just take off 9 inches minimum and add about 20 lbs. I'm tan, but not that dark, and cut about 5-6 inches off the hair. Okay, okay, and pretend the model isn't that gorgeous. THAT'S ME on graduation day!
It's 0100 hrs now on Friday and I should be sleeping. Good night all!

SIX DAYS!!!

Fresh Start

Last family photo. Taken October 2008.

You may or may not have noticed that the last post on this blog was in October of 2008, the day I left to Conshohocken, Pa for three weeks to start my new job at AT&T Interactive. A lot transpired immediately following that picture update, and I thought this blog would become obsolete - forever.

I'm back. We're back.


Dominic is now 20 months old. Ryan is in Phase III of bootcamp with the Marine Corps. And I am a stronger but smaller, more mature but lighter spirited, weathered but optimistic version of myself. What was once an impossible mountain to climb has become a championed peak from which we see our future. From the pinnacle I do not glance onward to simple streams and grassy pastures; I see the multitude of rocky ledges to scale. I've always wanted to be a rock climber.


Ryan and I went our separate ways for a while. The divorce was official at the start of the year 2009. It was devastating to say the least. We both "moved on" and attempted to live as "friends" and "coparents." We hated each other. We were passionate about it. But for a reason that only God knows, here we are again. That idea of the traditional family just keeps me coming back for more. And what more perfect timing than now. Upon joining the Corps, Ryan has become a man more desirable than the kid I married 3 years ago. If you could only see him now.


In preparation for boot camp he became more dedicated to his health than I've ever seen. He became more passionate about his career than I ever thought possible. He finally started to take control of his life. Most importantly, he did it all for himself. After he left to boot and the letters started to arrive, I could see and feel the change in his words. The transition from boyhood to manhood had begun. Whether it is the overload of testosterone he is surrounded by, or a true reflection of soul, he misses and needs his wife more than ever. He wants his family back. He's not kidding this time. He has even, I think, developed a romantic bone somewhere in his body that I'm eager to experience in real life!


Dominic and I are so proud of Ryan for his decision to serve our country and his awakening to this "new" concept of family. The most incredible thing Ryan has shown us in the last 10 weeks since he left is his newfound relationship with the Big Man Upstairs. Where my faith had grown weak, his was strengthened. I stopped attending Mass and he encouraged me to pick up my cross and carry on. I blamed God, and Ryan took the blame from Him. Ryan is the Ryan I thought that Ryan was before. I love that.


Seeing each other on family day, Thursday 2/25, is going to be like meeting a pen pal for the very first time. I'm sure we will both be overwhelmed with a myriad of emotions, and none of them will be rational. What of this is rational? Given the conduct rules and regulations of Marines in uniform, the physical aspect of a loving relationship will not exist. So at least that awkwardness can wait until we get done with Friday. :)


As for building our relationship from the ground up again, I know it will take time. I know we have to lay each brick with care or the whole structure will come tumbling down again. Being a military family will have it's own challenges aside from relationship problems in general, and most certainly aside from our past. So there is no past. A clean slate must be recognized. I must love like I've never been hurt. We must begin again.


Our new beginning: 2/25/2010.


"So, you're a Marine. I'm Kristy. This is my son, Dominic. He looks a lot like you..."


Please keep us in your prayers. We're going to need all the help we can get!

A few pics to get by