Shiny new Car

Well last night we did it-traded in Betsy (sorry-was great while it lasted) and got Lulu-a shiny red Sebring Convertible! I am loving it!
Thats all for now!

Aug 11, 2010

Wow! it has been a long time since I wrote on here-I have to clean out the cobwebs and try to remember everything.
Today we had our organizational day. I took Barrett and we had a good time-playing on the park, playing in the bouncey house and playing in water. Good BBQ-tired him out-now he is napping.
I am in my next to class college class=-yeah! Should be finished my degree by Oct hopefully.
Had a great visit this summer with the kids from end of Jun to end of Jul-they are great kids and get along well with Bar. Among the highlights we did-went to Sea World (free-thank the military), the pool, the movies, went school clothes shopping, and got our pics taken-they turned out great. Looking forward to seeing them around Christmas time.
Linds and I have booked our next vacation-to Florida-first week in Oct-can't wait-a week of the beach and relaxing-we both need it.
We are moving Bar to another school-this one is just not cutting it and we can't wait to get him out of there-start Aug 26!
Work has been very busy-never a dull moment in the S1 world-at least it makes the time and day go by fast-only 2 more years to go!
Been having lots of 3 and 4 day weekends the last couple of months, but now the party is over-getting ready to start training hard-we hit the field in Sep, and our a test bed battalion for a new SRP process in Nov. Then to JRTC (Louisiana) for the month of Jan and looks like deploying May-Jun timeframe. Linds and Bar won't stay here while I am gone-thank god! Got a lot of options-maybe back to SC to fix up the house-we will see.
Henri and Lala are doing great-don't know what they would do without each other. We take Henri once a week to get his once a week allergy shot.
Last weekend we went to a KOA in Waco-a cabin for the night. It was an experience checking in (only in Texas!) but we checked in and had a good time. Took the dogs with us too.
I love our lives that we have-Linds and Bar are great. Bar is growing like a weed and gets comments all the time about his blonde hair! Linds is doing great at work-super mom. After we put him to bed-we have our quality time of watching our shows for that night (bachelorette, hells kitchen, big brother, just to name a few.)
I'm sure there is more-but can't think of it for now. Anyway, until next time......

Update....

It has been months since this wall has been written on. We really used it when Michael wasn't here, but since that's going to happen again soon, I suppose we should get the wall warmed up again. Michael next deployment date was moved up by about 6 months recently. He will be in the field September, away at training all November, and shipped out by May. That combined with my at least once a month business trip, our time together is short and sweet. I love, though, how we find the time to show eachother 'quality' time over quanitity. We still have one of the healthiest marriages I've ever seen, and we are truly partners.
My job is going well. I'm continuing to learn and grow and even more like what I do. There are moments where I can't stand working at this post or for this agency, but the great news is that I can go down the road and do it for another agency. My skills are portable.
Spent last weekend at the AW2 (wounded warrior) conference in San Antonio. I had to work as an 'employer', but Bar and Michael had a great time hanging around downtown - they went to the zoo, museum, etc. It was great to meet all the people there and speak with the severely wounded soldiers. It gives me yet another take on life - just to be glad that I have my job, my health, and my family.
The other kids are here for the summer. Michael is having a great time rebonding with them, he is much happier. Mac has been watching Bar since she's been here - she's loving being big sister to a baby again. Her and Bar are SOOO close, closer than I ever remember her being to her other little brother. It's going to be hard when she leaves..... although I don't think she WANTS to leave. However, that's another story. We are going to the lake today, maybe we will go to the zoo or something tomorrow. We spoil Bar all year, so I guess all four get spoiled for the next few weeks :). Michael wants to take them to San Antonio to Sea World (LOVE them - military gets in free!!!), Great Wolf for a weekend (AMAZING indoor water park), Six Flags (we already have season passes), possibly the Dr Pepper factory/museum, lots of pool time, and we will see what else. I have to go on travel again in a couple of weeks, so I'm certain he will have his hands full!!!
I guess that is all for now!

-Lu

Just the Boys this week

Well, this week it is just the boys. We took mommy to the airport this morning about 9 so she could go to Arizona for a class she needs for work. After dropping her off, we went to the park for a little, then came home and played outside. We had some lunch and he just went down for a nap.

Yesterday, we went to the safari park. It is a drive through park where you can feed the animals-it was neat-I loved it. We got to feed deer, buffalo and camels just to name a few!

My eyes are doing great-I have 20/15 vision and loving it!

Mom and Dad arranged the kids visit for the summer! Can't wait. Thank you very much! They will be here Jun 22 to Jul 28-looking forward to lots of fun!

Last week was spring clean up week here at the post-the one week where everything will be perfect-lawns cut, no trash-but then the rest of the year-just as normal-oh well.

Last week was also a bunch of change of commands from Division to Brigade to Battalion-lots of changes coming.

Well, I have to do some homework. Talk to you later.

Easter...

Thanks to M for being the best husband in the world!
We have had a great weekend - planted some roses and other flowers out back yesterday. Also started a little garden with blueberries and watermelon. Then, we spent the afternoon at the lake - took burgers out there and grilled. It was beautiful, about 80 degrees. This morning Bar woke up at 430 - I got up with him until 730, we just watched cartoons and cleaned the house. He went back to sleep for a while, and I went back to bed until 10. I woke up to a nice little easter basket. I got some candy, a bunny, and some jewelry - it was really sweet. M and Bar opened their Easter baskets, then M hid eggs for Bar to find. He found all of them! I am proud of him. Everything else is same stuff. We finally rented the house out! No more having to pay mortgage on one house AND rent on another. Yah! We are planning another cruise vacation in the fall - taking little man along this time. I'm pretty excited about it. I will desperately need the vacation. In one week I will be leaving for TDY, then coming back to teach, then TDY a couple of weeks later, the kids are coming in June for the summer, I'm going TDY in late June, and possibly going TDY again in July. It's going to be a busy summer. One of M's friends just moved here, and I'm really glad. Although I am antisocial by nature, M is not - he is social and friendly. It's great that he has someone to hang out with on a Sat evening when I am sleeping or doing homework. :)

- Lu

Apr 1

Happy April Fools day!
Well I just had my Lasik surgery this morning and it is awesome! It took about 10 minutes to do and I can already tell the difference. And I get to wear sunglasses for the next 30 days! Have to put a ton of eyedrops in over the next couple of months-but it is worth it! Yeah. Thanks Linds for dropping me off and picking me up-appreciate it!
My back was really hurting again this week-combination of arthritis and spasm-tried to do everything-stretching, heat pad, hot tub and had to finally break down and go to sickcall-got some medicine. It is feeling a little bit better.
Have a 4 day weekend this weekend for Easter-we are trying to get out to do something.
Last night I went to the Battalion Commander's farewell. It was pretty awesome-we had a pig roast and had a good time-will miss him.
Linds took barrett to go see the Easter Bunny last night at Wazoo's-but apparently he didn't want to have anything to do with him :)
Spent this past weekend just cleaning up and trying to organize-we made a lot of progress. We even planted a nice little flower garden outside.
Linds is in week 5 of her school-pursuing her masters now! Awesome-3 more weeks to go. I just entered the second week of my class-organization negotiations. Making progress and can't wait to get that degree this year!
Betsy is paid off that is awesome! Really want to thank Linds on how financial savy she is-love it!
Well, that is all for now. Until next time......

Monday March 22

Had a great visit with the kids this weekend. Drove up to Dallas airport on Thursday. Had a 2 hour flight to Charlotte. Got a rental car-a Prius-kind of weird, but got used to it. Then a 3 hour drive to the kids house. Picked them up and went to hotel.Then we went to Walmart for snacks.
Friday morning, dropped Joey off at school and the other 2 and I went to the park. Then we picked up Joey at school at lunch and went to Pizza Inn for lunch. Went to the movies-Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Then back to hotel to swim-nice outside-8o degrees-but water was cold! Then back to park. Then to IHOP for dinner,then back to park.After that whirlwind day, back to hotel for showers and bed.On Saturday, we had breakfast and then headed to Columbia to the zoo-was awesome. After the zoo, went to Ft Jackson to play at the park and play mini golf.Then it was time for me to head back to Charlotte and get a hotel. Had an early morning flight on Sunday. Landed in Dallas and there was snow-took me a little bit longer to get home. It was great to be home. Missed Linds and Barrett. Hung out and even mowed the lawn.Then it was back to the rat race on Monday.
Got my Lasik surgery scheduled for Apr 1-can't wait!
Got a 90 on my last class-Yeah! Start my next class tomorrow.
Time for bed. Talk to you later......

Life.

Michael left this morning to go see his kids - I'm excited for him. I'm also excited to have a little Mommy/baby time with my son. I'm sure he will be spoiled rotten this weekend. :) Tonight I picked him up from school and went to Sonic to get a burger and apples. Then we pulled weeds and watered the grass (and played in the water), we took the dog for a walk, then he took a bath, and we read a book. It was pretty fun.
The guy who initially hired me for my current job (and works for another agency now) wrote me and told me that they were going to be hiring for two positions in Las Vegas, where he is now. He told me that he would hire me in a heartbeat, and it would be a big promotion for me. Oh, and I wouldn't have to work for the DoD any more (which I'm tired of .... you know, war all day every day). It's been frustrating b/c I can't choose where I live or what job I take (you know, the whole husband is Active Army) thing, but at least I have options I guess..... it's nice to have options. :)
The little man is GREAT and growing like a weed. I am going to take him to get some new pants this weekend. He can fit 3T clothing now - and he's not even 2!! I think he's skinny (but he's not by standard, I just like porky babies). He's so super smart, too. He knows every body part - I mean every, even elbow and knee, fingers and toes, teeth, lips, hair, butt - everything. He knows the shape of a star, he knows the moon. He will do anything you ask - throw something in recycling or the trash. He will even vacuum his own room!! Amazing...
Six Flags was super fun last weekend! It was SO nice to get away from this hell hole town. :) I have to go to AZ for TDY in April for a week, then I have to teach a class at the end of April and go TDY again at the beginning of May (thank you, Michael for watching the baby :) ). After that we are planning to go away for a long weekend to just get away and enjoy. I think we are alike in our love of traveling. :) Although we also enjoy our boring date nights at home. :)

-Lu

Long Time-Mar 17

Wow-amazing how quickly life goes. Happy St. Pattys Day.

Looking forward to going to see the kids this weekend-should be a good time-will take lots of pictures.

Went to Six Flags on Saturday. It was a great sunny day and got to go on two rides with Barrett-don't think he liked them too much.

On Sunday, we had the Buckman's and Lindsey's friend, Aimee, over for BBQ.

I finished my class on Monday-had a 91 up to the last week-waiting on my final week grades. I start my next class next Tuesday. Think I should have 4 more to go!

Not happy about my branch not releasing me and losing the IG assignment. Linds is trying hard another avenue to get out here-hopefully it works. Want to thank her for being so supportive and patient.

Wow.

It's been like 6 weeks since either of us posted on our blog. I think life has just gotten away from us. Well, let's see.... we're thinking of going on another cruise in Aug/Sept - and maybe even staying in a suite on the ship. We are taking the little man this time. I think it will be a blast. We work hard and deserve to play hard, too! I get my final promotion in April - yah for that! I feel really fortunate to have my job - I'm the youngest in the office by far. I know people who retire from the Army and wish they had my job. The baby is almost not a baby any more - he will be 2 in June! Wow. He's so big, and he's SO well behaved. He is good about doing what you ask and is very independent/determined. Wonder where he got that. :) We are planning on going to Six Flags this Saturday. It's only a couple of hours, and I think Bar will really enjoy it. We are trying really hard to get out of this area - we don't like it at all. Branch decided to pull a fast one on us and rip out Michael's special assignment. I called in a favor from an acquaintance - we will see if anything can be done. I even volunteered us to go overseas.... :)

Jan 20, 2010

A Happy New Year to you all! Sorry haven't written in a while. I have been enjoying being home finally. It is so great to be home.
Had a great time on the Cruise to Mexico. The weather wasn't what we had hoped for, but we still had a great time. The weather was really rough the first night. We stopped at Progresso and Cozumel. Linds was a real trooper
I go back to work next Monday-ughh!
I start my next college class on Feb 9-ready to go.
Looking forward to going to visit the kids soon-can't wait
Time for house husband duties :)