Leaving for Afghanistan

After months of training the day for Matt to deploy to Afghanistan has finally arrived. We drove up to Camp Pendleton and we had to be there at 5am it was very cold in the morning in San Diego and we were tired cause we had gotten up at 2:00am and for the first few hours it was a lot of waiting around for everyone to gather up equipment and drop off bags I was in the car a lot staying warm.

About 8am they decided to do a formation to make sure everyone was there so they start the formation and then they gathered up for a message from the commander. After that they were called up alphabetically to get on the bus. There were 3 buses and about 130 people they had to load and each person had to check in not only themselves but their gear with serial numbers so needless to say this was not a quick process.

After the names were called out for the first bus Matt was still waiting we knew he would be at the beginning of the second bus but since we had time to wait we got to spend some more time with each other while they checked off the first bus lucky for us. Then they called out the names and sure enough Matt was up so then we head over to stand by the second bus to wait his turn to check off his gear and load up. Matt was one of the first few people on the bus so he got to sit on the very last seat right next to a window so I was able to stand outside next to his window and we got to talk while everyone else loaded up.

This took a awhile to do this process for all 3 buses but eventually they were all loaded up and it was time to leave. This is the worst part because it's so hard to actually say goodbye so of course we are crying and hopefully the time will go by fast and Matt will return safe and sound.

Me and Matt driving up there

Me and Matt waiting
Waiting around for formation
In formation

Matt is in the second row

Gathering around the commander for his speech

Back to formation

Waiting to be called

Matt is left in charge till it's his turn

Checking off his gear before he gets on the bus

On the bus on the last seat

The buses leaving

Matt and Jonah check out Cars

Miki and I wanted to ride Soarin over California and since Jonah is to young Matt watched him while we went on the ride. Across from the ride is a display of Lightning McQueen and Mater and kids can go play on the cars and take pictures in front of them so Matt asked Jonah if he wanted to go look at them. So Jonah gets out of his stroller holds on to Matt's hand and they walk over and get in line. He was so excited when it was his turn he ran up to the cars and then Matt got some pictures with him. After that Jonah made Matt get back in line so he could go up again. He is such a sucker when it comes to Jonah.

Another side story, when Matt and I went back to Utah in July to hang out with family before his deployment we stayed at my moms house and at the time Miki and Jonah was living there. Now I had been babysitting for Jonah every week before I left and when he would come to my house I would watch tv shows with him or movies so he is pretty good at watching a show.

Matt and I were in our room one day and Miki and Jonah came back to talk and see what was going on. Jonah saw the movie Cars back there so I told him to get up on the bed and I would start it for him. Miki decided she would go make lunch while he was watching the show so me, Matt and Jonah are all on the bed watching Cars. I needed to do my hair so I got up and went into the bathroom that's connected to our room and started doing my hair. Well after about 5 minutes I look out the bathroom door and there was Matt and Jonah sitting up both of them enthralled in the movie it was the cutest thing ever.

They watched the movie like this together for the next 30 minutes and then Miki starts yelling for Jonah to come eat lunch and he ignores her he is to busy with Matt and Cars to go eat so Miki comes back there to try and get him he still didn't want to leave but eventually he went out for some food. Matt and I definitely need to have a baby so that Matt can have some fun with his own baby but that won't ever change how much he likes Jonah and how he is a big old softy when it comes to him and of course Jonah loves Matt too every time he sees a picture of Matt he sits there staring at it saying his name. The two of them are quite a pair.

Matt seeing if Jonah is ready

Matt and Jonah

California Entrance

This is when you first walk into California Adventures they have the Golden Gate Bridge that you go under to get to all the rides and for Halloween they had added the candy corn all over it so cute.

Me and Miki

Miki and Jonah

Flower Mickey

Out in front of Disneyland we took a picture in front of the Mickey Mouse face made out of flowers and again they added some Halloween touches to that too.

Me and Matt

Pumpkin Mickey Mouse

The other great thing about Disneyland at October is all the Halloween decorations like this cute pumpkin carved out to look like Mickey Mouse. I just thought it made going to Disneyland fun because it had some different stuff that you don't get to see all the time.

Me and Matt

Miki and Jonah

Splash Mountain

One of my favorite rides at Disneyland is Splash Mountain and in October it's only 5-10 minutes before you get to ride on it. Matt and I rode it a few times and we love it as long as we don't wind up getting soaked so here are some pictures of us going down the big drop.

Starting at the top

We are in the middle

California Screamin

On Tuesday I had been a little sick well Wednesday morning I woke up and had completely lost my voice and wasn't feeling the greatest my stomach was still upset but it wasn't anything to serious so we headed back to Disneyland to have some more fun.

So the day before Matt had gone on California Screamin, which is a roller coaster, with Miki I hadn't wanted to go because the ride has a loop and usually loops tend to make me sick. Well Matt pesters me to go swears up and down it's not that bad pretty gentle and you don't even feel the loop now mind you I am already sick and feeling a little nauseous but I figure he won't lie to me plus he knows that I tend to not do well on rides that are crazy so ok I will go on it with him.

We get on and when you get in the car it pulls around and then sits there for a few seconds before it suddenly jets off at like 60 miles an hour no build up to this roller coaster so as we are pulling up to get ready this is when Matt tells me just kidding it's really this crazy roller coaster that does all kinds of things and it's going to be hell and I am like what how am I going to make it through but no way to get off now so here we go.

We take the journey and Matt was lying about it being a bad ride he figured it would be funny to say that to me right before we take off and if I hadn't been sick I would have been fine because the ride was ok and I probably would have enjoyed it but because I wasn't feeling good oh yeah it did me in. So we get back to the end and I feel like throwing up all over him and now I have this huge headache that I wonder if it will stay or go away and all because Matt had promised me I would be fine even being sick. Needless to say he felt like an ass about making me go on the ride and lying to me trying to freak me out because at the end of the ride I was not doing well so he was all attentive and sweet trying to make up for it and fortunately after a couple of hours my stomach was a lot better and no more headache.

Now a side story about rides and people being jerks and telling you they are great goes back to January 2004 when Miki was living in Florida. Me, Shelby, Morgan, Brady, Anna, and Darrin went down to visit with her and go to Disneyworld while we were there.

One day we were at Epcot and Miki convinces me and Shelby we need to go on Mission Space and that it's this great ride and she will watch Morgan since she is to little to ride so we go ahead and get in line and everyone in line is talking about how great this ride is. Mission Space is a motion simulator giving you the experience of being an astronaut blasting off to Mars so no crazy roller coasters so Shelby and I are getting excited about it.

Well when you stand in line and walk through the area to get to the ride there is this recording that tells about your mission that you are going on and then tells you if you need to opt out to do it now before you get on the ride. Well we keep hearing this opt out if you need to and seeing signs for it and we start thinking maybe we shouldn't be on this ride but everyone in line says not to worry about it that's just part of the ride ambiance

So we get on the ride and it's 4 people that sit in a row next to each other and in front of each seat is a control panel and a screen so you can watch the transformation from earth to space and it's all enclosed so it winds up being this very tight area you sit in.

Once we are seated we are thinking this might be fun and the ride starts off and let me tell you it really feels like you have just blasted off into space. Well after the feeling of blasting off into space I am feeling sick and so is Shelby but that's not the end of the ride you have this whole simulated mission you are supposed to do well I am trying not to throw up and think ok just try messing with these buttons to see if I can get my mind off how horrible this ride is and how I don't know if I am going to make it. Shelby is on my left saying she is going to be sick too and all I can think is why didn't we opt out.

After about 5 minutes of trying to do everything I can to feel better I am about to turn to my right which is where the door is and start pounding and screaming to get me off this ride I can't take it anymore when I hear we are coming back to earth for our landing finally the ride is over.

The door opens and I stumble out so glad it's over and I didn't throw up on the ride and Shelby is thinking the same thing. We head outside to get some fresh air to help us feel better and we see Miki and she starts laughing when she sees how sick we are she tells us she knew we would hate it and get sick and that's why she told us to go on it man I wanted to kill her at the time but now I can laugh my ass off about it. However next time I go on a ride and hear the words opt out I am getting the hell out of there.

Miki and Jonah watching us get ready to take off

Our car coming up to the waiting point
Matt deciding to tell me how horrible it will be
Here we get ready to go

Posing at the Studio

Over in California Adventures as you walk down this street they have this background that's designed to make it look like the road keeps going down with buildings all around looks pretty real even if it is just a painting on a wall. So we took a picture in front of it and since Matt and I are Jonah's favorite aunt and uncle he posed with us.

Matt, Jonah, and Natasha

Minnie Mouse

The last character we took a picture with was Minnie Mouse. I think they turned out cute and we only did the ones at California Adventures but the next time I want to take pictures with the ones at Disneyland too so I can get them in the other costumes they wear.

Me, Matt, and Minnie Mouse

Minnie Mouse, Miki, and Jonah

Mickey Mouse

After Goofy we headed over to hit Mickey Mouse luckily for us they arrived when we were standing in line for Goofy so the lines were so short and I will probably never get Matt to do this again so I have to take advantage of it now.

Me, Matt and Mickey Mouse

Miki, Jonah and Mickey Mouse
Joe, Shelby, Morgan, Carter, Karson, and Mickey Mouse

Meeting Goofy

We started off in California Adventures and when we first got in there were some characters lined up so we headed over for a photo. We started off with Goofy they are in costumes since it's Halloween they do different ones for California Adventures and Disneyland so it's quite fun.

Me, Matt and Goofy

Miki, Jonah, and Goofy
Joe, Shelby, Morgan, Cater, Karson, and Goofy

Disneyland at Halloween TIme

I have always wanted to go to Disneyland during Halloween to see all the decorations and changes they make for it. My sisters Miki and Shelby also wanted to come down so we planned a small trip there for a few days. Luckily for me I have the best husband in the world and although he hates going to Disneyland he agreed to come so he could be with me. Plus it gives us something fun to do since Matt is leaving for Afghanistan next week. So it was me and Matt, Miki and Jonah, Shelby, Joe, Morgan, Carter and Karson for the next few days. We picked everyone up at the Long Beach Airport and headed over to Disneyland to start the day off.

Me and Matt

Mustache Mayhem

For his deployment to Afghanistan Matt had to go out to the field for 6 weeks for training purposes so while he was out there he decided to grow this mustache so I could see what he looked like. The weekend they got back I was able to go up to Camp Pendleton and be with him and this was the surprise I got and I absolutely hate it. Matt is very hot however the mustache is not. I tell him he looks like a 70's porn star and that it had to go. The guys in his unit all thought it was a great mustache and they loved it however since he cares more about what I think plus he had only done it to see the look on my face he got rid of it as soon as we got to the hotel and then yay my hot husband was back again.

Matt with his mustache

Getting ready for the shave
Applying shaving cream

Making sure it's all covered

Here we go

Coming off pretty quickly

Almost gone

Yay he looks hot again