Calvin at Colors

After a Morale BBQ on base I got to take Calvin to watch Q do Colors on the boat at sunset. I think it was kinda special(for both of us) to share this part of Qs new CG routine with Calvin. Every time I watch it I feel a huge sense of pride and Im sure Calvin felt it too.

You know your husband loves you when...

...he trades in his dream vehicle for a Pruis(the least masculine car ever made) so you can commute to school and live out a dream♥

{Q saying goodbye to his dear Murano at the dealership}

Im feeling so thankful for the significant things in my life right now and an incredibly supportive and loving husband is at the top of the list.

Beach time.

Earlier this week we took Calvin to the beach by our house and for his first frozen custard at Ritas on the boardwalk:

I think its safe to say everyone had a really good time!

Calvins first stop

When Calvin and I arrived in Philadelphia earlier this week we both decided a stop for cheesesteaks before heading home was definitely in order. We decided to take Calvin into Pats which was featured on Food Wars.

The steaks were delicious as usual and we had fun watching Calvin start to absorb the idea that he was finally "a long way from home"(his words) as we drove around Philadelphia a bit. Pretty good way to kick off his adventure.

Trip to CA:

My 10 day trip to CA was busy, emotional, successful, and genuinely fun.

I got to camp and visit with lots of family:

I went to a Graduation:

Ate at some of my favorite CA spots:

Enjoyed a bit of reading and relaxing:

And helped pull off our 5th Annual Fishing Derby successfully.

It was bittersweet saying goodbye but I did get to bring my cousin back for a visit on the East Coast. It was nice making the trip with someone to keep me company and I know we will have a blast showing him around our new place. We'll be back in the next couple of days with some posts on Calvin's visit. Happy Sunday!

Finally! A place that reminds us of CA:

{The sign I almost missed!}

{Handwritten Menu}

{Tacos de Lengua & Al Pastor}

{Torta Cubana}

{Tamales de Pollo}

{Fanta and Coke in the glass bottles}

Theres also always a telenovela playing somewhere in the corner, a woman with the biggest smile behind the counter who speaks NO english, and an entire row or failed parking meters out front. I dont think I can explain the kind of happiness and comfort we get every time we visit this place and eat the delicious food. Its my favorite cg-housing-area discovery to date.

My First Louisiana Boil... in Jersey?

This weekend everyone from Quincy's cutter got together for a morale party and they made it a Crawfish Boil. I've never been to a boil or eaten crawfish this way but it was spicy and delicious!

If you have never been to a boil its just a party where they boil a HUGE pot of seafood. In our case the boil had crawfish, crab, shrimp, scallops, sausages, potatoes, and corn on the cob. Since everything is boiled together in the Cajun spice mix the spicy flavor really gets into every piece in the pot. Oh, and of course there was plenty of beer to accompany the boil! I know we love to catch crawfish on our annual trips to Little Grass Valley Reservoir so I think I will have to track down some of the special seasoning for our next batch.

Its funny all the mini cultures that you find within one CG base but since everyone here moves every two years its really a little melting pot of all the states and their specialties. A few of the guys on Quincy's boat spent time on cutters in Louisiana before being sent to the Finback so they were able to show us all the authentic way to pull off this boil. The whole thing kinda got me wondering what it is we will bring to the table(or base) from CA? So far I think its been the words recycling and organic! When we say these words people say:"Careful! Your California is showing!" :)