R&BKing

Easter weekend began Friday night.  Ben & Jen made a great potato soup and I made this wedge salad (below). Doesn't it look delicious? I got to hang out with the youngest Malczyk. Saturday was our busy day.  We made Grandma Helen's homemade braided bread and homemade pierogi. We finished our Polish Easter by decorating pysanky eggs. Great weekend!

We've made it 1 month! I sure hope this year literally "flies by". Ryan is doing pretty good.  They are now at their COP and working on making it more comfortable. I sure hope they're building showers because for the last 3 weeks they've been using baby wipes and water bottles. I don't even want to try to imagine how they all smell...gross!  Ryan shared something neat with me yesterday.  Here's what he said, "The guys (Josh,Jones,and Goodrich) want me to bless the food whenever we all get to eat together,which is usually for dinner. They like it for some reason. Jones says it makes him feel better after we pray. Pretty cool." I know that he'll have lots of opportunities to be a great example.  Here's some information from his Commander: After a long trip halfway around the world, the Battle Ready Soldiers of Chosin are finally settling into their home away from home. As we all arrived in Afghanistan, Soldiers were given several days of...

It's now been a little over 2 weeks that Ryan left and I think we're both surviving.  I've received 2 phone calls and 2 emails so far.  He's over in Afghanistan now and the fighting has already begun (he said they've had a solid week of fighting so far). He misses everyone and thanks you all for the prayers and support.  I am trying to keep myself busy and taking my "candy pills" (my mom put this together for me).  I had a great visit with the family in Oregon, Utah and Idaho. I also just completed my first sewing project, a pillowcase for Ryan.  I had to watch a video tutorial several times but in the end I think it came out pretty good.  I hope he likes it.

Wednesday night Ryan announced a Change of Command.  That's right, Woo Woo is now the man of the house!  He's a bit more quiet but at least he cuddles. He has a big responsibility, me. He also has a small army to direct, toy soldiers, Lego men, GI Joe and even a Captain Moroni figure. Woo Woo buttered me up by having this necklace for me.  You can't see it really good but it's a dove.  When we first got married Ryan asked me what I liked to me called, "baby, babe, honey, dear, etc."  I wasn't a big fan of any of them. Then one day he said "my dove" and that kind of stuck.  I'll miss hearing him call (when he can't find something) "oh my lovely dove dove, where's my....!)  Today we woke up at 3am.  We got dressed. Ryan got to put on his new uniform (called multi cam). We headed over to Battle company.  I helped Ryan finish packing up his bags. I had to sit on top one of them so he could zip it shut. We then waited in h...

Last night we had an awesome dinner with my parents. We met them up in Syracuse and went to a place called Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.  It's a fun place with a variety of people. You've got the bikers, the men in suits and then the families. What a crowd! Take a look at that plate of food...yum!

Do you like our gifts?  The sewing machine is mine (I needed some help changing the needle).  I have lots to learn about sewing. It only took me 45 minutes to thread the machine!  Ryan got a new GI Joe. I'm not sure if you can tell but it's a 10th Mountain Division one. Pretty cool!

Last week I had the chance to attend the deployment ceremony. Interesting fact...Ryan did NOT attend. He had to work?  My dad's work adopted a mortar platoon so they got to attend as well.  They also had the chance to spend the day around the mortar's.  The sergeant was nice enough to let me tag along.  We used the gun simultor. I asked who killed the most people, they wouldn't tell me!  We got a tour of the HHC buildling. We held a mortar round (quite heavy).  We went out to eat with a bunch of soldiers. And we toured the Fort Drum Musuem. My dad tried on some of the gear. I think he has a new appreciation for soldiers and the weight they carry!