Ben don't forget the tax info...

Recently a newly wed friend of mine confided in me some frustrations she had with her new husband. I couldn't help but smile as I listened, and reflected back on similar frustrations.

I re-conveyed the frustrations with my husband who was quick to defend my friend's husband. "Give the guy a break! He is being a husband the best way he knows how!" and of course it was followed by his famous "Women!" line. He said it with so much passion it was like he was defending himself! It was cute. I was thinking how I'd like to reach through the phone and give my exasperated soldier a big ol' kiss. I love seeing him frustrated...*confession--sometimes I leave the blowdryer out on purpose just cuz he's so cute when he's flustered.

A lot of our communication during this deployment takes place over email...which can be very frustrating! Especially when you want/need your spouse to respond to important information...in our case tax information. *Ben, I swear if you forget the tax info I need in your next email...I am going to join the army just so I can hunt you down in Iraq to get it.

I love this movie.

It reminds me of us.

Wack-a-doodle!

Wack-a-doodle:

-Noun

1. The act of being Wackadoodle.
2. The condition of being wack or clearly doodle.

It's a word I hear Maren say quite a lot, so I decided to look of up the definition. I like it! She's right it does describe the dogs perfectly.

Melissa the Agressor

First let me start by telling you Maren's latest notable quotable line said to me while I was driving: "The last time I told you to look, you ran a stop sign and almost killed a lady!" ...hey parking at Winco is always a night mare when you see a spot up front you gotta be fast.

OK time to fess up about something...so I wear this new running suit everywhere! It's so comfortable I bought a second one. I tell myself it's ok to wear it so often, because I am in training to be a 30 year old later this year. I draw the line at velour though. I just won't go there. Maybe when I'm closer 40.

Preparing for the Readjustment

I have been trying to make the readjustment period a little less stressful by preparing Ben for any annoying habits I've picked up since he's been gone.

For example, I know that Ben hates it when I leave the blow dryer out on the counter, so I made sure to let him know that it's been out on the bathroom counter since he left.

Well Ben decided he better prepare me as well. So he sent me the following package.


I would like to draw your attention to the sock.

When Ben is home I find that man's socks everywhere!!! He sent it as a reminder for our readjustment preparations. Thanks hon...appreciate the sock! I'll be sure to put it away in it's usual spot...you know...in between the couch cushions.

The sad thing is....I really miss those darn socks!!

My Famous Catch a Husband Cookie Recipe!

Here it is! The famous cookie that helped me snag my handsome husband! I sent these to a soldier serving in Iraq and three months after he got home we were hitched! They work like a charm ;)
Everything you will need to snag a husband!...er I mean make the cookies :)


My Saturday Date Night with Myself...I'm a lot of fun!






Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

2 cups of brown sugar, 3/4 cup white sugar, & 3 cubes of butter:


Cream together:


Add 1/2 cup milk, 4 eggs, & 2 tsp vanilla (if your lucky you have an Aunt Julie to send you real vanilla from Mexico...thanks Aunt Julie!!)

Mix it all together:


Next add 2 tsp salt & 2 tsp baking soda. I like to mix these before adding the flour.

Next we will add 6 cups of flour, I add them 2 cups at a time. So let's start with 2 cups of flour:

Mix:

And add 2 more cups of flour:

Mix & repeat with the 2 remaining cups of flour:

Add 2 12oz bags chocolate chips:

Pretty!

Mix:

Voila! The most wonderful cookie dough ever:

Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet:

Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375 degrees:


Package them into disposable tupperware and ship them to the cutest soldier you can find! Ship with caution~you may wind up with a husband!

Ben & the 2 Star

Ben met with a 2 Star General in Iraq recently. When the General asked Ben how he was doing, Ben told him: "If I were doing any better, I'd be you".

Only someone as smooth as Ben Brubaker could pull that off. I guess the General thought that was pretty funny, and Ben said he enjoyed talking with him for a while.

Ben Brubaker, ever the smooth talker! I will never forget his phone call minutes after our first date. He knew I was with my friend Alyssa still and he called to ask "So, uh, what are you girls saying about me?" Makes me smile every time I think about it.

Ben's reaction to his "new wardrobe"

Ben: I don't have a wardrobe, and are you really buying me all new clothes??! (*panic stricken voice)

Melissa: Yes, I got you some new outfits.

Ben: I am a man, I do not wear outfits. Exactly how many new things have you bought??

Melissa: Well, since you wear camouflage 5 days a week when you're home, that leaves two days that you can wear civilian clothes. And because we go to church on Sunday you wear a suit, so after doing the math, I went with two new outfits.... er sorry two new sets of clothing. You know to rotate Saturdays with.

Ben: So you mean like 2 shirts and 2 pants (insert sigh of relief), ok that's fine. I can live with that.

I love being married to this guy! He sure makes life fun!