T8trt0t's Xanga Site

November 22, 2005

I'm changing sites/blogs...

PLEASE update your favorites with this new bookmark...

http://brandonandcarolynschroder.blogspot.com/

See you there!

November 16, 2005

Every year in early November, every U.S. Marine Corp unit around the world celebrates the Corp's birthday. The Commanding Officer of The Basic School invited us, and other TBS Marines, to celebrate the 230th anniversary of the USMC. Brandon and I had a great time. He looked stunning in his blues and I enjoyed watching him interact with his fellow Marines.

When we got home we found a disaster area where we had left our puppy. Our dearest Diesel had destroyed the bathroom and hallway where we had barricaded him and then somehow found himself stuck in the bathtub... it was priceless...

October 21, 2005

Diesel Tank Schroder, our 8 week old black lab, has entered our lives and our hearts... he was shipped in from Missouri on Monday and has adjusted quickly to life in the Schroder household. He is awesome... he is very mellow for a puppy which we love. However, I'm sure the more comfortable he gets the more hyper he will become but for now- he follows us around and just hangs out. I walk him without a leash because he'll stick to my left leg and sit when I stop. Pretty good without training him.

He has been spoiled thus far- sleeping in the bed with us at night. We've got to break ourselves of that habit... okay- I need to break myself of that habit... hahaha. He is such a cutie and he cuddles up with me when Brandon leaves early in the morning. He has to be touching someone at all times...I really like that. He's good in the car and he loves water... he jumped in the shower with Brandon the first night we had him--- he's going to make a great gun dog.

Diesel fits his name well... weighing in at 16lbs at 8 weeks... he's definitely a bruiser. Here are some pictures of our new babe...

Looking forward to the day when he poops outside,

Carolyn

October 3, 2005

Wow- it's been awhile since I've actually written something. Everything is going well here. The weather is cooling off which is really nice.

Brandon seems to be enjoying TBS so far. He is doing really well and has an average of around 96%. Wahoo. He has been in the Rifle range and will be in it for this week as well. So that means, early early mornings (3am) and late late nights (8-9pm)... what's weird is some nights he get home pretty early anywhere between 4 and 6 and other nights he's not home till 9:30pm. So I'm just going with the flow.

For those of you who want to follow his TBS adventure... his platoon has a website that they will be updating with pictures they take of their activities. The website is: http://frozenfox4thplt.blogspot.com/ . He is in Fox Company, 4th Platoon (there are 6 platoons)... Fox Company is so lovingly refered to as the "Frozen Fox Co." because they'll soon be head-to-toe in the snow. Brandon's been in a couple pictures thus far- so I look forward to seeing my handsome hubby in many more.

Also, for those of you who are curious what Brandon endured when he went through OCS (Officer Candidate School) they have finally come out with the documentary of his first time at OCS (Summer of 2004). It's called, "The Making of a Marine Officer." You can even spot him in the Liberty Video. http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/class186/videos.php I suggest going through all the videos in order (i.e. Watch pickup, Watch Platoon Sergeant, Watch the O-course, Watch Field Work, Watch the Quigley... etc. etc.) These videos are very interesting and, I think, well done. They show graduation and the true emotions of these kids that make it through. They even touch on TBS which is where we are now.

What else… oh yes- we bought a car! YAY! Having just one car was tough for a week and a half sooo we went shopping… We bought a 2006 brand new 325i BMW. Brandon looked into buying a truck but Virginia has weird laws about lifts and such so he went for his second choice. Bruno, our black BMW, has stolen Brandon’s heart and our savings but- He (Brandon) is well worth it. Babbett, the navigation system, is awesome! And I don’t know how I’ve lived without it for so long.

I have been keeping busy. From working out, to running errands, sewing on name-tapes for Brandon and his buddies, to getting dinner ready- my days have been flying by. I have met many TBS wives and have been hanging out with a 3 in particular since we got here... (from L to R....Margaret, Sommer, and Casey)

I met Margaret at the Spouse orientation and we get along just swimmingly. Her hubby (pictured on right) is also in Fox Co. however he is in the 1^st Platoon. Brandon and him get along great and we have quickly become fast friends. It’s nice to have someone to pal around with during the day. They just bought a Boston Terrier, Lexi, we've gotten to babysit a couple times and she is just the cutest. Brandon and I have been talking dogs lately and we’re thinking of getting one… it’d be nice to have something in the house when he’s not around.

(Sunday night is Family guy night...Marines Hanging out...)

Hope all is well with everyone.

love, Carolyn

September 9, 2005

Our Honeymoon at the Ritz Carlton in Halfmoon Bay....

August 23, 2005

First off--- let me send my deepest apologies for the mass e-mail (it's just so impersonal) but I wanted to tell you all at the same time and figured this would also be the quickest way to get all over the map!! Life is so hectic for us all, so I’m sure you understand…

So to the news….

Brandon and I were engaged SUNDAY, August 14^th. The ring he chose is just blindingly gorgeous. BLING BLING! He was so sweet... we had planned a fishing trip, which, I suppose, is where he had originally planned to propose- but he was just so excited about the ring that he proposed before we left... he started with "Carolyn Christine Whiteman..." and I started to cry (he never says my full name) Hahhaha- I’m such a blubbering goober.

Anyways- it was really wonderful. He said some of the nicest things I've ever heard... will spare you from the mushy stuff but just a tid bit ...you're my best friend, you're my soul mate, and I look forward to loving you for the rest of my life... aw!! I love him so. Unfortunately, no one was around so we didn't get any pictures of the actually proposal or him on his knee- but will be sure to scan in the one of me showing off my ring!

SOoOOoOO…. SURPRISE ANNOUNCMENT…

WE GOT MARRIED this past Friday- August 19^th 2005.

With Brandon being a Military man now (he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of the USMC on August 12^th, 2005) we decided that there is no time like the present to make our love official. We are moving to Virginia at the end of this month and timing seemed right. It’s been five years and eight months that we’ve been together and we were/are ready.

Our parents (Carrie & Jon and Cheryl & Jim) and siblings (Joe, Matt, and Kira) were in attendance. We went down to the local courthouse; me- in a simple cream dress and him- in his dress blues and were married in a 10 minute casual but touching ceremony. We exchanged rings, vows, tears, hugs, and kisses. It was incredible.

We decided (with our parents) before we took our vows this past Friday that we want to have a big wedding and reception for everyone to come and celebrate with us our love and friendship. The wedding is hoped to be on the same date next year, August 19^th, 2006 but due to Brandon’s Marine duties that is just a preliminary guesstimate. We hope that you all will be able to join us in what we’re calling our “real” wedding next year; whatever date that may be, because it just didn’t feel the same without each and everyone of you.

I love you all and wish we were closer for hugs and celebration! For those of you who are local- my apologies for not dropping by to share our good news personally… with Brandon graduating, coming home, and moving across country- time is just flying by. We will keep the details coming…

Cell phones and e-mails will stay the same…

Please feel free to share our happy news, we look forward to our celebration next year, and plan to invite all our beloved friends and family.

As Antoine De Saint-Exupery once said, “Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction” and as I told Brandon this past Friday, whatever, whenever, wherever FOREVER.

Love,

Carolyn