5 Years

We have officially loved and laughed for 5 years! My life with Dave has been exciting and scary at the same time. There have been so many changes, but I am grateful for all of them even if I wasn't at the time. I remember one day as I drove down the West side Hill of Lethbridge I was listening to a country radio song. It was called "I wanna do it all" by Terri Clark. After that song I knew I wouldn't stay in Lethbridge my whole life, I knew things were going to change. It wasn't long after that insightful day that I first talked to Dave Miller. A little history lesson on how we got together starts with www.LDSmingle.com. Dave thought I was gorgeous and started talking to me instant message style. I teased him and said he should call me on the phone. The phone rang about 3 minutes later and I freaked when I saw a Utah cell number. That first phone call cost a lot! 5 months after that first call we met in person and spent 24 wonderful hours together. That was it, we knew we wanted to put in the effort and long distance date. 5 more months and we were engaged. Then after 1o months of paper work, medical tests, tax returns, criminal checks and 2 love sick hearts we were married in the St George Temple. These are a few pictures I put together that not many people have seen. I tried to put them in chronological order from oldest to most recent. I think we are so cute in everyone.

This first picture was literally taken seconds after our first meeting in the Las Vegas airport. It was a strange moment. I had talked to Dave for so long that it felt like I knew everything about him, but I had never even held his hand.

This was taken during our first 24 hours together

Back to the airport the very next day

This is probably my favorite picture of the 2 of us,

It hangs proudly in my bathroom where I can see it every day.

Our first moments after becoming Husband and Wife!

Honeymoon in Hawaii

This is at the German Neuschweinstein Castle on our first anniversary.

I don't NEED you anymore

Staying overseas and being able to speak English has been an exciting change. I get the European/British life style, travel opportunities and overseas pay and I don’t have to worry about miscommunication with the local baker, shop keeper or landlord. There is however one issue that I am having trouble accepting; it’s being so close to Germany without being in Germany! I have most of the life components that I did in Germany but now I live in England. I still do most of my shopping at the base BX, I still buy my groceries at the commissary, I still have a PCM (Primary Care Manager) at a base hospital, and I still have access to AFN (American Forces Network.)

I said access because we were lucky enough to let a home that came with 2 satellite dishes, one for British TV and the other for AFN. I have the choice to switch between them whenever I want. Dave almost always watches British satellite but I like to watch my good old AFN, not for the strange and boring commercials but for the classic American TV shows and news. It’s the only thing I had for 4 years; I have so many memories attached to it. It feels almost comfortable. This might be gibberish to a person who hasn’t lived overseas military style but when I don’t tune in to AFN for a while I almost feel like I am neglecting it. Like I don’t NEED it anymore, that is serves no purpose for me and my family like it did in Germany. Childish I know. There were so many firsts made in Germany and it’s hard not to compare this new base and life to our old one, and watching AFN doesn't make it any easier when "REPORTING FROM RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, GERMNAY" is said after every military news report. I only have 3 years here and the time will go by fast, I don’t want to waste away these precious moments so AFN I’m sorry to say I don’t NEED you anymore but I still want you.

Pilot David Miller

RC Airplane Redemption! Dave was hooked after he crashed the airplane in Canada and quickly bought a slightly smaller, foam, battery charged one in England. This is his 2nd time flying it and he is extremely proud of himself, and he should be! I took the video with our old camera since I tried to upload a Easter video taken with my new camera and after 5 hours is still wasn't finished. The video is a little sketchy and blurry but it shows how Dave can take off, loop-d-loop and land his NEW airplane.

Sunshine

The weather has been so nice lately, the sun is shining and spring has sprung. It's been fun to get outside and let Ava play in her house, have Jessie run free in the fenced backyard, and plant some flowers. Having a good fence and strong gate is a nice treat compared to our German home.

I decided to buy this flag and had originally put it in the front yard by our door, but Dave said it was too in your face and that it made us targets for vandalism. It's now found a new home in the backyard with the Frog Prince.

Ava and I went flower shopping the other day and when she saw this frog on the shelf she started saying "Princess and the froggy" over and over again until we finally went to see it. As soon as I handed it to her she kissed it! I had to buy it after I saw her do that. One day her prince will come.

We took a walk outside and Ava had to bring here stroller complete with baby Klara (Lakey) and Easter chicken.

She pushed that stroller for almost an hour (we walk pretty slow, making sure we touch and look at everything.)

I love it when she plays "Big Mama!"

Hop Hop Hop

We went on base for Dave's squadron family egg hunt. It was much more fun then Vogelweghs' where there were too many people and not enough eggs. Last year Ava vaguely knew what to do and collected a whopping 6 eggs. This year every family had to supply 12 plastic eggs filled with wrapped candy. Ava was pumped and ready to collect them before it was even time. Her bucket was over flowing! When she figured out there was chocolate inside she sat down and began opening all her eggs. After the hunt was over we stayed for a while and had goodies and drinks, the spouses club did a great job. Now when Ava wants to eat some of her chocolate she says "Easters Bunny please."

On Easter Sunday we re-hid all of the eggs she found at the squadron hunt around our house. Looserish or Thrifty? Anyway she thought life was just great and once again took a time out to eat a few. The Easter Bunny left a big surprise on the dinning room table, a bucket for Ava and chocolate bunnies for mama and papa.