Out With The Old, In With The New

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HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! It is in Japan anyway. It's hard to believe 2008 is over. Now to remember to write 09 instead of 08 on everything. =) Anyway, it's been a year of changes, that's for sure. Some good, some a bit harder. I am looking forward to this year though. Even if it is just for the mere fact that I know we only have 8 more months of deployment. The end feels like it's a little more in sight. It's no longer next year. It is this year! And R&R is just that much closer, as is our big trip back to the states. Granted they are the same time, but still. I'm going to continue/get back on track with my weight loss. Now that the holidays are over all the holiday goodies won't be such a temptation. =) So I am excited for this year. I hope you all are too. I hope it is overflowing with fun, laughter, good times, and blessings for all of you! Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

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I hope everyone has/had a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We love and miss you all tons! Thank you for all the gifts, cards, emails, etc. It has been a rough holiday season for both Ben and I, and I will honestly admit that I'm glad it's over. With our anniversary, Thanksgiving and Christmas all within the past month or so, it hasn't been easy. I knew this would probably be the hardest part of the deployment, and I wasn't looking forward to it. But I some how made it through. I have been very blessed with some wonderful friends which made it all a little more bearable. I spent Christmas Eve at the branch president's home with some friends, and had Christmas dinner at my visiting teacher's home with some others from the branch and the missionaries. So I was taken care of. It's still not the same as being home with family or even here with my husband, but at least I wasn't alone. I came to a realization, I guess you could say, this year. Each year we talk about the Nativity Story, but we often don't talk about what happened in the Book of Mormon at the same time. Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of Christ's birth, and then the Nephites saw the signs. So it wasn't just in the Bible lands that people knew of Christ's birth, and I think we often overlook that. Or at least I do. So that has been a great reminder for me. Anyway, I hope everyone is doing well. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

If We Were Elves...

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Harlem Globetrotters

One of the great things about living overseas with the military is all the people that come to perform for us for free. Tonight it was the Harlem Globetrotters. It was so much fun. And it was even better being a deployed spouse. They had seats reserved for us right behind the team and afterwards we had a group photo taken with the guys (as soon as I get a copy I'll post it). Plus I got a mini basketball which I was able to get the team to sign. It was pretty sweet. The pics aren't the best, as the lighting wasn't that great in the gym, but I did a little photo editing so you'll get the idea. =)

Busy, Busy, Busy

I have been crazy busy lately. It's nice because it helps time to pass quickly, but at the same time I kinda miss not having to do anything all day. I FINALLY started working at the elementary school. That helps to pass a lot of time and it's fun. So far the only classes I've worked with are Sure Start (Pre-K) and the class below that (I'm not sure what it's called). Wednesday I'll get to work with the kindergardeners though. My first day was on the 21st. I worked a half day that day (Friday), worked full days Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, no school Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, and then a half day today and I'll work a half day this coming Wednesday. So that alone keeps me busy which is good. The dogs don't like it much as I make them get up early and lock them outside, but oh well. Then I have Young Womens activities on Tuesday nights. I had a Mary Kay class last week, and another one this week. Go me! We've had vet appts for the dogs. 4 appts in the past month --> pre op, operation (they got their dew claws removed finally!), got the stitches out, and then vaccines today. I think it's fair to say I'm tired of the vet now. We should be done for a while now though. Yay! It's a hassle to take them both up there when I'm alone. It's not as bad when Ben's here to help me, but they are getting awfully big and strong for me to take them on my own. I'm so glad the ladies that work there are so great and help me out. Anyway, after writing it all down it doesn't look that busy. It's not a lot of different things, just lots of the same. Whatever helps the time pass though, right?!

Thanksgiving at Disneyland

My friend Sherri and I decided to go to Disneyland for Thanksgiving instead of cooking a big meal for 2 people. Her husband is deployed with Ben, and they don't have kids either, so we decided to go play. It was so much fun! Even though it was cold and rained off and on all day, we had a blast! I only wish Ben had been there with me. He said we can go when he get's back though. =) Anyway, here are some of the pics. I've got more on MySpace and Facebook if you want to see all of them. Sherri took most of them. I was the smart one that remembered my camera, but left the memory stick in my computer. Duh on me! So she took all the day ones, and then her battery died so I took the ones of the Nighttime Electrical Parade with the camera on my phone. Since it was still midweek and not a Japanese holiday, it really wasn't very crowded which was really nice. We got pretty lucky when it came to waiting in line for the rides. We had some great timing and were able to ride just about all of them. A couple were closed and it was too cold to ride Splash Mountain, but I think we did just about everything else. I even went on the roller coasters, and I'm not a big roller coaster fan. I will admit I had my eyes closed part of the time on Space Mountain. But it was dark so no one could tell. I kept waiting for that big drop but it never came (thank goodness). It was fun though. Then Thunder Mountain was cold. Rain + Roller Coasters = Cold. It started raining while we were waiting in line, but didn't know that until we were already going. Oh well. It was fun. I totally understand why it's "The Happiest Place on Earth"! =)

Happy 3rd Anniversary to Us!

One of my friends posted this "survey" on myspace, and I thought it would be kind of fun to fill it out seeing how it's our anniversary and all. And you all thought you knew the hulse family.... ;)

*1-What are your middle names?Michele & Vern *2- How long have you been together?Married 3 years today, known each other about 4 *3-How long did you know each other before you started dating?Can't say we really "dated". But we met the Fall semester of '04 and were engaged June of '05. *4-Who asked who out?First date I asked him. *5-How old are each of you?Both 23 *6-What are your astrological signs?Aries & Cancer *7-How tall are each of you?5'8" & 6'0" -ish *8-Who's mother do/did you see the most?My mommy *9-Who's siblings do/did you see the most?Mine, but talk to his regularly too *10-Do you have any children together? Just our puppies! *11-Do you have any pets?Yup, the big babies *12-If so, what kind?2 dogs *13-What's the hardest on you as a couple?Being so far apart- Deployment stinks! *14-What do you both do for a living?He is a brave Soldier for the US Army; I sell Mary Kay and Substitute Teach at the Elementary School *15-Is that what you went to school for?Ummm, no. But we are both going back to school for Business. *16-Did you go to the same school?Same college- GO BRONCOS! *17-Are you from the same hometown?Same state, but not hometown *18-Do you live in the same town now?Technically, no. *19-Who is the smartest?I say he is. There's nothing he can't do. *20-Who is the most sensitive?We are both pretty sensitive, but probably more so me. *21-Where do/did you eat out most as a couple?Lots of places... one of our favorites is Johnny Carino's though. *22-Where do/did you shop the most as a couple?Right now, the PX. Back in the states, Walmart. *23-Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?Japan *24-Who has the best group of friends?We have a lot of the same friends *25-Who has the craziest exes?Considering I don't have any exes... *26-Who has the worst temper?He does. *27-Who does/did the cooking?Depends on what we're having. He is an amazing cook though. *28-Who is more social?Depends on where we are... Overall, probably me *29-Who is the neat-freak?Me. He can handle the mess a little longer than I can. *30-Who is the most stubborn?That's a hard one. We can both be pretty stubborn. *31-Who hogs/hogged the bed?Let's just say he likes to take his half out of the middle. *32-Who wakes/woke up earlier?Usually him. I'm not a morning person. *33-Where was your first date?The Marching Band Banquet/Award Night *34-Who said I Love You first?I honestly don't remember. I think it might have been me, in more of a jokeing way though... *35-Who has the bigger family?My side. *36-Do/Did you give/get flowers often?He does like sending me flowers, and I like getting them. =) And he gave me permission to buy myself some for our anniversary since he's not here to get them for me. *37-How do/did you spend the holidays?Usually with family. This year is going to be different though due to deployment and living overseas. =( *38-Who is/was more jealous?I am. That's probably not a good thing.. *39-Do/Did you have little pet names for each other?Not really. *40-How long did it take to get serious?That's a funny story... remind me to tell ya sometime... *41-Who eats more?Usually him. *42-Who sings better?I do. He doesn't like to sing. *43-Who's older?I am, by a couple months. *44-Who does/did the laundry?Usually me. *45-Who does/did the dishes?Again, usually me. *46-Who sleeps/slept on the right side of the bed?That would be me again. *47-Who snores?I think we both do, but not as bad as the dogs. *48-Who's better with the computer?Definatly him. I am technologically illiterate. *49-Who drives/drove when you are/were together?Back in the states, he usually drives. In Japan, I drive. *50-Who picks/picked where you go to dinner?He usually makes me decide. *51-Who is the first one to admit when they're wrong?Depends on what we're disagreeing on. *52-Who named your pet?Ben named Smokey, I named Misty *53-Who kissed who first?Our first kiss was when we got engaged, and it was kind of a mutual thing... *54-Who's taller?He is, except maybe when I wear my heels... *55-Who wears/ wore the pants in the relationship?Ummm, never really thought about it. And I'm not gonna put what Ben said. *56-Who has more tattoos?He does. *57-Who eats more sweets?He does- that boy loves his candy! *58-Who cries more?Me, by far! *59-Who has the older car?It's both of ours. *60-Who has bigger dreams?We both have pretty big dreams, heading in the same direction. *61-Are you two still a couple?Seeing how we're celebrating our anniversary today, I'll let you answer that one. ;)