Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Another Bean family update!

We have officially applied for base of preference orders but don't get your hopes up just yet folks. We were given a 4-16 week window for an official approval or denial. If we are approved we will probably not report to our next station for another 4-6 months which means another winter in North Dakota so lets pray for a mild winter like last year! On a side note if we are denied base of preference orders we will be headed home to Virginia for good in August 2013 as Bryan will not be reinlisting to stay in North Dakota, we have served our time.

Coleman and I have been in Virginia since September 7th and are going to be headed back on October 4th to the tundra where his Daddy is missing him something terrible. Our visit has been a very good one, we got to see alot of friends and family and were able to be here when my Grandaddy passed and to lay him to rest after a long struggle and much suffering :( We welcomed my cousin Aimee's second baby Brody Lee yesterday and can't wait to meet the little guy. So glad Coleman will have so many cousins so close to his age just as I did growing up!

Anywho off to another busy day, enjoy the update. Its kinda good news! lol! Stepping in the right direction at least.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Way to long again...

Hey there folks! Again long time no talk! So many things have changed and gone down the toilet since my last post! lol!

First off, Coleman is officially 1 and has been walking like a crazy man since the day before Father's Day! What a gift for Daddy right?? His first birthday party was a huge success and his 1 year pictures by My Lil Britches Photography are absolutely darling. Will share at the end of this post!

Coleman's 1st Birthday Party:








My friend Amanda who I used to watch daycare kids for 2 times a week just welcomed her 4th little one on August 1st! Her name is Sophie and she is super cute, we look forward to meeting her tomorrow :)

The Thirty One business is going great! I enjoy the products so much and have made many friends and reconnected with old friends through my business! I am terribly excited about the new catalog launch on September 1st, this may be the best catalog yet!

Our trip to VA in June was cancelled due to some unforeseen circumstances. We postponed our trip because we thought we were going to be able to apply for order in July which meant we could have been leaving North Dakota in just a few short months so we didn't want to spend money unnecessarily. Well July came and went and we found out that we were unable to apply for orders until September but it was just too late with Coleman's birthday right around the corner to plan a trip to Virginia and be home to celebrate his birthday with Daddy. So with that said we will apply for orders in September and hope to have orders to a new base by the end of the year. On a side note we may potentially be getting out of the Air Force altogether within the next couple of months though, depending on a situation I am not able to talk about at the current juncture! Another possibility includes putting our house on the market at the end of September early October and Coleman, our 5 animals, and I move back to Virginia for a few months in anticipation of moving to a new base while Bryan stays here and finishes up his time in Minot before reporting to our new duty station. Basically everything is up in the air at the moment though and it will be an interesting year end, we will keep you posted as we know more and make the big decisions that are currently presenting themselves. Things change daily with the military so we have to keep rolling with the punches!

A few of Coleman's most recent Million Dollar Smiles (as we call them):




Coleman, Lucy, and I will be pulling out on September 5th with Brittani and Katelyn Smith for a short trip to Virginia for a much needed visit with our family that we haven't seen in almost 6 months now with the exception of Dad Bean who was just out to visit us for Coleman's 1st Birthday!! My Grandaddy is in this hospital after having his leg amputated a few weeks ago, we still haven't seen Baby Lucas since he was born the end of May, and honestly its just been far too long! We plan to arrive in Virginia on September 7 and will be leaving to head back on the 17th, so with that said there will be minimal time for friends this visit so I will plan a dinner so that we see everyone at least once while we are home instead of running around like crazy trying to see everyone. Family first for this visit :)

I am also very happy to report that Coleman's God Brother Landon Lund is home from the hospital after almost 5 months in the NICU at UVA and is doing great! Settling into a normal life at home with Mommy and Daddy. After a final dollar total from the hospital he is officially the Million Dollar Baby, Thank God for insurance!! We look forward to seeing him for the first time outside of the hospital when we come home in September!

Coleman's 1 Year Pictures by My Lil Britches Photography:






As much as I wish I had the opportunity to update everyone more often on everything that is going on here at home; chasing Coleman around just keeps me way too busy for that! Talk to you all again soon! Well wishes and God Bless!

-Jess

Saturday, June 2, 2012

I have seriously been slacking!! Bean Family Update

So what's new in the Bean house??

Coleman will be 1 far too soon and this momma is just not ready!! I have been planning his Mickey Mouse themed birthday party and it often leaves me in disbelief, what happened to my baby?? He took three steps the other day and stands unsupported but he hasn't attempted to take anymore steps while I am looking!! Hoping to start trying for Coleman's brother or sister when he is 3, I'm a sucker for babies and I miss mine!!

I am no longer watching daycare kids twice a week for my friend Amanda and am now selling Thirty One Gifts and I just love it! So far I have held 5 parties and will be holding my 6th party today!!

I am attempting to come home to VA in June so that we can go to the beach with the Bean family from Tennessee! Hoping to save up and pull out on the 22nd of June accompanied by our old neighbor and her daughter that will be riding with us to meet up with a school trip in DC! Hoping some of my family decides to make the trip back with me and can be here for Coleman's fist birthday!! We will be in VA until July 16th!

Recently I started using an indonesian post pregnancy wrap provided to me by my good friend Cindy from back home in VA, sure hoping to loose this baby weight and I can already tell a difference in my eating habits just 5 days in! I'll keep you posted as I get skinny!!

This month has been a hard one, as I have lost two family members :(, my Aunt Mary and my cousin Kevin. Both were far too young and will be truly missed!

On a happy note we welcomed baby Lucas Michael Bowen into the family on May 25th! Coleman's first boy 1st cousin, they look very much alike and I'm sure will grow up to be great friends as well!

One more month and we can put in for orders out of Minot ND!!! This is what we have been waiting on for so long!! As we will always miss our Minot friends, we are ready for a change of scenery!! We are hoping to be stationed at Moody AFB in Georgia, close enough to home to visit more regularly!! I will keep you all posted, just two more months and our prayers may be answered!!

I also ask that you keep Landon Lund, Jenny Pearson, and Aaron Lund in your prayers and thoughts. Landon has been in the NICU for 90 days since he was born 8 weeks and 3 days premature on March 3rd, he was not due until May 6th. This little family has been through so much and Landon is such a little fighter, beating the odds medically at every corner,  he is a true miracle baby! Sadly God's plan is not always our plan and one day this little family will be rewarded for their faith and strength during this time. For those of you who do not know, Jenny is Coleman's God Mother and she holds a very special place in our hearts and in our family bc if it wasnt for her their would have never been a Bean family started in 2009 and their would be no beautiful baby Coleman to speak of! Landon is Coleman's God brother and we keep him in prayer and thoughts every day and ask that you do the very same. Donations to support Landon and his family can be made at www.littlelandonlund.com, please feel free to take a look and get more details on Landon's story!
Well toodles for now, I have a little boy in desperate need of a nap!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Odd but true!!

So on Thursday of this week I will get braces for the second time in my life! Oddly enough I am so psyched to get this process going, it's gonna be a long road but the result will be a beautiful smile!! I also have to say thank the lord for payment plans because otherwise this would not be happening right now :) So wish me luck readers bc my last braces experience was very painful!

Saturday, April 7, 2012

I want my little cuddly baby back....but there is no chance of that!

Well my little man is always on the move now and I wouldn't be surprised to see him walking before he is 9 months old. Seems like just yesterday he was a tiny little baby that I brought home from the hospital!! I am sure that we don't want anymore right now or until Coleman is at least 3-4 but man I would love for him to just sit with me and cuddle which at this rate is not gonna happen. Coleman is the most independent self sufficient 8 month old that I have ever seen, he just doesn't need us for anything other than to eat and otherwise he uses us as objects to the pull himself up when there is no furniture to fit the bill! lol! Got a questionnaire in the mail today for his 9 month appointment and there is all but 3 tasks that he hasn't mastered yet which I am sure he will be able to do before he is 9 months old!! Any who just a reflection from 8 months ago and now.


8 months is a really long time come to find out!


Where has the time gone??

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Read something today, lol, my response!

Stating the truth or the obvious isn't being mean, maybe it's a cue that you need a reality check on the way you are living your life and treating the people who you love!! I hate when people are too oblivious to realize that they have caused the things that have been said about them. If you are a dead beat dad at least own up to it, if your priorities are out of order then complete a reorganization bc something isn't working, if you are a drug addict get some help such as a treatment plan, if you are depressed go see your doctor and address the issue and do something about it! Blaming others and telling people to keep their comments to themselves isn't going to help you it's just gonna allow you to pretend there isn't a problem! I am the type of person who is gonna tell you how it is so if you don't like it please remove me from your life bc I will not condone your behavior or have sympathy for you not taking the first step by helping yourself!! Thank you!! To those whom this offends my apologies but it was not intended to offend but to open some people's eyes!

My life has not been perfect, I am not perfect, my marriage isn't perfect, and my kid isn't perfect but I can take criticism and am a work in progress!!

Monday, April 2, 2012

Gotta get my butt in gear!

So this mama was up at 7 and out the door at 10 and was working out at the gym at 1030 with my friend Elise, Coleman didn't seem to mind the family exercise room too much! Today starts me exercising and trying to straighten out the parts of my body that I am unhappy with since having Coleman!! I plan to go to the gym or take a run around base when it gets nice on Monday Wednesday and Friday of every week! I am also gonna have hubby be my personal trainer of sorts on Tuesday's and Thursday's for some at home exercises along with some wii fit action :) Gotta get my booty in shape bc I feel gross!! Better look into a jogging stroller!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Might just miss Minot after all :(

As I sat in my friend Sam's car today I thought to myself that it's very likely that we are leaving Minot in the near future. With that said I am starting to think I am gonna miss living here, not bc I love north Dakota but bc we have finally settled in, know our way around, and I adore my friends here and love the fact that they have known Coleman on a daily basis since he was born! I never thought anywhere but Virginia would ever be home for me but oddly this is our home! That saying home is where the air force sends us is coming true. So I may actually miss my life here in Minot even if we go to a climate and location that I find much more acceptable and I'm sure there will be crocodile tears streaming down my face the day we leave....

Friday, March 30, 2012

A rough night followed by a calm morning!

So hubby worked midnights last night and arrived home at 6am this morning, I had only gone to bed shortly before since something got into Coleman last night and he was a ball of fun :( Before going to bed he was being evil kneivel thinking that he could walk when he is still very wobbly while standing, he finally fell asleep around 1130 after smacking his head on the floor quite a few times and he is so independent he doesn't want you to help him hold on :( so we were up and down 3-4 times last night which this mama is not used to anymore! Now this morning is a different story all together, he is calm cool and collected and right on schedule just like yesterday so I'm hoping we don't have a repeat of last night!! He did wake up 30 minutes later than usual but I guess that's to be expected when he was awake so many times last night! His schedule is quite odd lately though so I guess we are still adjusting from our trip. He wakes up at 9:30, naps from 11:30-1:30 and then again from 4-6, and then bed usually at 9:30 which has not been happening the past two nights....sure hopes he gets straightened out soon bc this mommy can't take much more of this!!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Military members are rich lol

I so often here people comment on how the military is so well off and must have money considering the benefits!! To be honest it annoys the shit out of me!! Yes we get a housing allowance but did I mention that my husband only makes like 25000 dollars a year?? Yes my mortgage payment is only 550 dollars a month but that's not our only bill that we pay! Did I also mention some other things that come along with being a military family....oh yea we don't get to choose where we live and we get to live 1600 miles away from all of our family and we also could potentially move every 2-4 years depending which doesn't allow us to get too settled before we are uprooted again! If you are a military member, spouse, parent of a military family or a child of a military member I'm sure you can completely relate to this but for others I ask you to think before you make this accusation again....it's not the cup of tea you think it is :)

Monday, March 26, 2012

Been away for too long!!

So as excited as we were to go home to VA I think we are just as excited to be back home here in North Dakota, funny how this is our life now! While in Virginia we mended relationships, celebrated an amazing man that went to meet his heavenly father, brought comfort to Mimi and Momma Bean as best we could (mostly having Coleman around kept them distracted), and saw friends and family that we haven't seen in far too long! Coleman was a hit as always, babies really do manage to bring the best out in all of us :) So back to coming back to North Dakota, We arrived home on Thursday night late and there was no snow to be found which was an amazing feat!! Upon arriving to our house we were greeted by our 5 excited four legged children who went on a crash diet before we left and boy oh boy do they look great!! Upon waking up the next morning I felt like I was in someone else's house since we had been gone for so long!! But after a weekend back at home we are settling back in and trying to get Coleman back on his schedule!! Missed blogging as regularly but we were so busy it was just impossible!! See y'all tomorrow :)

Saturday, March 17, 2012

I have been slacking!!! SOOOO Busy!!!

So with it being our last week in VA things are super busy and I am sure that I won't be posting much this week at all. SOOOOO I figured I would share some great pictures that I have taken the past couple of days!! Back to my normally scheduled posts soon :)












Wednesday, March 14, 2012

The thing about advice....


I found a few interesting quotes online today that arI wanted to share that really made me think and maybe some of you will enjoy them :)

I am glad that I paid so little attention to good advice; had I followed it I might have been saved from some of my most valuable mistakes. - Edna St. Vincent Millay

We should be careful and discriminating in all the advice we give. We should be especially careful in  giving advice that we would not think of following ourselves. Most of all, we ought to avoid giving counsel which we don't follow when it damages those who take us at our word. - Adlai Stevenson

In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: it goes on. - Robert Frost

He only profits from praise who values criticism. - Heinrich Heine

I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. - G. K. Chesterton

Advice is one of those things it is far more blessed to give than to receive. - Carolyn Wells

I have truly come to feel that there is often a double standard, even when advise is being given. I recommend always finding a neutral person who has nothing to loose or gain. Should the advice vary from person to person in the same situation?? In my opinion I just don't think it should.

Monday, March 12, 2012

There are a few things that I love about my past.......

So last night hubby went out with his friends and this momma took baby boy and went and spent the night with my BFF!

We have been friends since 4th grade and we both have children now so this was the perfect opportunity to hang out and chat for hours and hours with one of the people in this world that over the years still knows me best.

This morning we had a conversation with her daughter Mackenzie about how we became friends so many years ago and decided that Mackenzie should have been my child since she is so much like me just a little less vocal lol! Mackenzie found it hard to understand how I knew so much about her momma but have been around so little during her life, our explanation sometimes friends just know and it is so true.

We haven't seen each other since April of 2011 and just saw each other for the first time yesterday evening, hard to believe its almost been a year! I am so thankful for a friend who understands that I don't have time to talk on the phone everyday or even weekly for that matter. Some friendships are just meant to be and last night put a smile on my face despite the bad day that I had before arriving because it reminded me just how much I value our friendship and don't know what I would do without my Tammy Irene!!

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Posting for Friday, Im just a day late and I needed to rant!!!

So I visited my mother's cemetery today and was very disappointed by its appearance :( I live 1600 miles away and sadly I am unable to maintain it but I doubt the cemetery would allow it anyways. Upon arriving the first thing I noticed was that every tree was completely dead and needs to be replanted. There was a cemetery maintenance truck driving around spinning tires and carrying on while I attempted to visit my mother :( this did not impress me either!

So upon arriving to her plot I noticed that her marble bench at the foot of her grave was sunken into the ground probably 2 inches which should not be the case and the bench was also covered in lime and could use a good cleaning! I remind you that the cemetery is responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the grave and it apparently has slipped their mind!

So as I sat warily and cautiously on the bench with my son introducing him to his Grandma which seemed a little odd but all I could do is shake my head and ask myself over and over again why in the world we buried her in this terrible place, where it appears nobody really goes to visit her and the staff could care less how it looks :( I am not making excuses for myself but I do live quite a ways away, maybe I'll rethink how I want to be dealt with when I pass away! On a side note I want my mother out of that place, it's terrible!!!!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Yay for my new iPad!

So my hubby got me an iPad for my birthday and gave it to me a week early bc he is just that awesome!! So i am absolutely tickled with him as you can imagine, best birthday gift ever! This thing does everything and I am actually blogging on it right now!!!!

It's seriously like having a laptop without the bulk, I can access all of my social networking sites with ease, and it syncs every picture I upload to my laptop!!! The whole world should have one!!! Anyhow this thing takes some pretty neat pictures with the application so I want to share and then I'm off to bed!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Only 1030pm lol, better late than never!

Thoughts and some pictures over the course of my day today.....Well the highlights I guess!

Yay for laundry baskets!

Jailed :( lol

So here are the thoughts.....

1) Better safe than sorry (When the Dr told me that my son is just fine despite the fact that he sounds terrible!)

2) Life is so busy but there is always tomorrow (Gotta catch up with that bestie of mine before the end of the week!)

3) Its a beautiful day outside! (Headed out the door with camera in hand, no worries I will share a few pictures!)

4) Nothing like a good nap! (Love watching my little man sleep and smile :))

5) Recipe calls for 1-2 tbs of crushed red pepper, wow (Used 1/2 tbs and I should have used much less! Hot hot hot!)

6) I should be more organized too! (After reading my friend Alysa's blog post today!)

7) My blogs appearance bores me now :( (Complete face lift and hours later I am finally happy with it!)

8) My eyes are so tired! - (That means it is time to go to bed!)


Enjoy some more pictures and my ramblings from today.....Gnite followers!







Tuesday, March 6, 2012

French Rummy!


So today I played french rummy for the first time and I was actually quite good at it, but it has been said by a very wise woman that you are only as good as the hand you are dealt! So who all has played french rummy?? If you haven't you should give it a try and here is a little tutorial for your viewing pleasure!

here is a basic rummy tutorial on YouTube. video

but to play french rummy there are some specific requirements you need to meet during the course of the game and each round, so here is how it goes......

cards dealt/what you need to end the round
7 - two groups of 3
8 - 1 group and 1 straight of 4
9 - 2 straights
10 - 3 groups of 3
11 - 2 groups and 1 straight
12 - 2 straights and 1 group
12 - 3 straights and no discard

Maybe not every one's cup of tea but it tickled my fancy today and I wanted to share!

Gnite!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Feeling crafty!!


Today my sister in law and I crafted to our little hearts content after an inspired trip to walmart yesterday for supplies!!! I have all these creative ideas but no talent to make such ideas, its a complete tragedy! So today she made my son 4 new binky straps, then she made me a shamrock makeup bag and a purse for my birthday (pics to follow), and she patched a pair of pants for me that were getting a little too holy even for church!! lol!!! So tickled!

On a side note we got some snow this morning in Virginia but it is all melted now, funny how every time I come here it snows!!! Unfortunately I was also reminded this morning how nasty and petty some people can get when they don't get their way, but I am just gonna keep looking forward because nobody is going to get me down!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Generations and Depth of Field attempt take 1

There is nothing quite like family.....

Despite our recent loss we were able to take a picture that I will cherish forever. My son also got to meet his Great Grandfather for the first time. Generational pictures always touch my heart. I was able to take a picture of my son, husband, father in law, and grandfather in law, 4 generations of Bean men. Something very unique is that not only are they 4 generations but they each share the same name. Robert Hayes Bean, David Robert Bean, Bryan Robert Bean, and Coleman Joshua Robert Bean, which I feel makes it extra special.


On another note I have been playing around with my camera and working on depth of field. Not that I am a professional photographer but I got a couple of good shots that I wanted to share :)



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Skipping Day 15 to speak from the heart.....


Somehow I knew that Pawpaw would somehow bring this family back together......

The past two days have brought alot of emotion to the family I have come to love as my own over the past 3 years since I married their son, grandson, brother, nephew and cousin. As we laid Pawpaw to rest today I felt our family that has distanced over the past 3 years grow back together as we mourned our loss and comforted each other. My only regret is that it didnt happen sooner so that Pawpaw could have a few more memories of his family as a whole. In our moments of sadness and grief we banned together to be the family that we have always been, a family that Herbert Wood taught us all how to be. We may not be back to normal but we have certainly established a new normal that has great posibilities as we move forward to the future and strive to live more like Pawpaw did while he was on this earth. My biggest fear in the past few years was that my child would never know this family for the wonderful people that they can be, my fears are now put to rest. In the coming months we will welcome baby Lucas Michael Bowen to the Wood/Bean/White/Bowen family and that is a sign from God that everything will be ok and that life must go on.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

A NON fiction book, ok! Day 14



Sorry I missed you guys yesterday, I was on a plane all day with my family coming to Virginia for a month long visit! I am sure you guys will see lots of pictures and posts from our visit here! Sadly today we are attending the viewing of my husbands grandfather. It was his time and we will miss him but are so glad that he is no longer suffering here on earth and has gone to be with his maker.

Now for today's part of the challenge.......






Im going to take today as an opportunity to share with you a non fiction book that is on my reading list but I havent got to read yet. I am very excited to read is Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo. It is the story of a young boy who went under for a life saving surgery and wakes up with stories of his visit to heaven. Some might say this story is completely fabricated because the boy who tells these stories is the son of a pastor but I believe. I'll write you a review when I get to it on my reading list and come to my conclusion.

here is a link to the book on amazon.

Monday, February 27, 2012

A Fictional Book Day 13 and some snow!


A good fictional book that I enjoyed is Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. Great story and an easy read. They also turned this book into a movie that I think turned out awesome and didn't leave much out from the book except for some of the character detail.



I also wanted to share some picture of all the snow we got here in North Dakota yesterday. Enjoy because I am hoping that spring is in the air when I get back since I am flying out to Virginia tomorrow with my family for a month to visit with the rest of our family and unfortunately to attend a funeral.