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Has it really been two months since my last blog!?

Well SORRY everyone. Especially those of you constantly hounding me to update-- there's no need to sign every email with "please update your stinking blog" :p

Let us see... is there any news? Yesterday was Valentine's Day. We decided to celebrate this commercialized holiday by doing nothing, except taking some pics of Claire in a very cute outfit Grandma Lisa sent her, and also baking brownies for Tom's class... and also receiving flowers AND a love poem, via voicemail! HAHAHAHA, WE'RE LAME... so shoot us. But not really.

We are planning a weekend getaway back to Texas to visit our long lost adopted family member, Lester. It's been about 6 weeks since we've seen her and Claire still constantly asks for her by baby signing a made-up "name" Leslie taught her. (Patting knee while smiling like a goof ball)! She'll probably never say "Leslie" because of it, even though she can now pronounce some pretty complex words like "dolphin" and "WAHHHHHHHHH".

Tom's classes are going great. Yesterday Claire and I got to visit Daddy in action doing some pretty neat stuff. Claire thought it was so fun because the teacher loved her and gave her some toy planes. Also, one of the guys let Claire have a package of fig newtons, which she stuffed in her mouth two a time. Um, girly, that was NOT attractive and it's not going to win you any dates in the future, fyi :) Ahhhhhh, we're having a good time down here, but I'm really excited to move... really excited!!!!

We found the golden ticket, we found the golden ticket!!!

http://www.emmyandally.com/babycontest.html

Well, who isn't proud when they win a contest? I just thought it was so neat, so yeah, I jumped up and down with Claire. That's when Tom told me "okay, it's not like you found the last golden ticket!".Don't burst my bubble! Yay, we found it!

Make these!

You won't regret it. This is by far the most delicious muffin I've ever made. Now, if you don't like them, don't judge me. Because, if you know me, you know I'm always trying to put wheat flour instead of white, less sugar, and applesauce instead of oil, which makes for healthy but not so delicious muffins. I didn't do such a thing with these, however... and they were quite tasty. So give 'em a try when you're in the mood -- I promise you will not be disappointed!

Banana Crumb Muffins

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

What IS this deliciousness?!?!

As a household rule, any time there is opportunity to dress Claire up and make her adorable... we do it. Halloween was no exception. She was a Gund Snuffles bear, and a darn cute one at that.

I dressed up like a haggardly mom (um, ok I actually DIDN'T dress up, just turned out that way) and my friend Leslie was a HOUSEWIFE, which was my idea. And yes, it is funny if you know her. And please don't be offended, because I'm not.. and that would be lame.

Now, let me just say this about on-base trick or treating: nightmare. Claire was afraid of the doorbell ringing and she cried every time. So we went to visit friends while Tom handed out candy. At first Claire wasn't too keen on trick or treating either, until she figured out when she walked up to someone, she got a yummy treat. She was having just as much fun as the other kids.. and probably ate way too much candy even though we only did ring 3 doorbells! After only 2 hours of a nightmare, thankfully we got rid of all 10 bags of our candy. I might have helped a little too... with the Snickers... and peanut M&Ms... but that's all... and the 3 Muskateers. THAT'S IT!

Why are you so CUTE?

I know these posts are rarely about Fle. But can you blame me when I've got this little thing around me all the time? Anyway, there are some pictures of Claire, but here are some of my thoughts. I don't really use this blog to post about my feelings, mainly because anyone could see this, and.. usually I keep my business to myself. But I don't feel like it tonight, I feel like being honest and sharing with whoever wants to read.

This week Tom requested to be dropped from pilot training. I don't expect everyone to understand what a huge deal that is, so just trust me, it's a huge deal. And I'm not disappointed in him or upset at the actual decision, at all. In the long run, this decision will probably impact me personally in a really positive way. But I do feel, I don't know, sort of discouraged. In general ya know. Like things aren't moving forward anymore. If I dig down deep, I know my ego was upset a little too... it's pretty cool to be called a "pilot's wife" I guess. Or is it? I think I've been brainwashed!

Also, I've hit a plateau with my weight-training and weight loss. I'm stuck at about 10 pounds heavier than I'd like to be, and that's annoying too.

Wah, boo-hoo, maaaaaaah. Now that you all know I'm discouraged, please send a card and or gifts to cheer me up. No food, that inteferes with complaint #2. Just kidding. You know I shouldn't complain at all, my life is wonderful, and I've got a ton to be thankful for. So disregard everything I said. Bye, for now.

SNUFFIES!

Okay, actually Snuffles, but who knows how to spell when they're one? So... I know it's been forever since I posted on here, but nowadays I'm a pretty busy girl. Both of us are very very busy. Just to list a few of our goings on... (the list by me, the mother): trip to visit Tom's little sister, Meg, one week long. Uh oh, that's all I've done. I swear there's more but I'm drawing a blank. Ok, Claire's list: 'nother haircut, 4 shots in the thighs, a cold, lots of talking, lots of threatening to walk, and a visit with her great grandma Helen.

Oh man, this post is going nowhere fast. I know I've done more.. I know it. When my mom was here I dug up and planted all of my garden beds. I'm proud to say that so far only every single mum has died. :) Ok, what else. Yep, that's it. I'M BUSY, I SWEAR!

Now, for a message from Claire. "About those snuffies. I don't have two doting grandmas for nothin'! This is by far the cutest stuffed animal I've ever seen and I keep trying to take them from mom's friend Kristi, but she NEVER will part with even one-- and she has like 10! Please, please, please can I have a snuffy of my own???"