It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Every year we would talk about decorating the outside of the house with lights...and the snowman...this year... I have at least a beginning...

Our new Christmas tree...a slim Oregon 7.5 pre-lit..only come in 3 pieces...yippee a tree that doesn't take an hour to assemble before decorating! And it's skinny so it doesn't take up as much room ...leaving more room for gifts...that's the part the kids like...:)

Birthday celebrations

I can't believe they are both teenagers...how did they get this old? And where did the time go?!

Conner Got His Braces Today!

Conner has been waiting about a year to get his braces on...and Today was the big day! And agreed I could take a few photos...since we had the office to ourselves...

Photos of Tom from Iraq

I sent a disposable camera and some Halloween decorations...and the office folks decorated and then sent the camera back to me for processing! Here the ones of Tom! With his MAJ rank on!

The President's Visit...I saw him!

So This pictures is the photo of the limos and motorcade as they return the President to Air Force One.
This is Air Force One as it came around to pull up by the stairs! Which is where we watched the president deboard the plane!
There were snipers on top of hte buildings..you can see the very large weapon the one fellow is holding!
Air Force One is here! In the"backyard" of my office!
And this is the President! He is the one on the left with the red tie on!

So very many stories to tell from this one day! We just happened to find a space between buildings that allowed us to see directly where they were landing and were the steps were set up for him to deboard. It was several hours outside...lots do you see anything? And lots of fun..and when you have the biggest camera..they all make sure your up front so you can get the pictures!
It was a great experience! I have a ton more pictures..the blog only lets me upload 5 so I will do a few more tomorrow and the next day...so that you can see more!

President Obama comes to Madison

The police that are to lead the motorcade posed for photos with the president's car.


Today as I was leaving work...I watched 9 motorcycles, 2 SUV's, 2 limos, and a truck going down the road to a local base..
My co-worker and I went along...to find out that President Obama was coming to our airbase! We had the opportunity to see the vehicles, meet the limo drivers and learn some history about the cars and drivers. The President never spends more the 30 minutes in the car. They fly if the drive is to be longer. The car is like a tank..the doors are massively thick! The drivers are all big guys because they have door detail and they have to be strong to open the doors! The limo drivers also gave us some prints of the limo outside the White House. All the stuff and all 5 cars are brought in by cargo plane. It was a great experience! And with a lot of luck and and maybe some quiet blending in...I might get photo of the president! Cross your fingers for me!

Some photos of Iraq...

The first one is a full service laundry where they're laundry is done for them...just drop it and and pick it up..
The next one is a row of outhouses...bathroom alley..

The next is home sweet home..or what is otherwise called the "CHU" this stands for Containerized Housing Unit. Sometimes called the "hootch".

The one with the line soldiers is a dining hall...it's not the most defined photo but...
and the last one is a joke...The Camp Adder Swimming Pool.

Fall Puppy Pictures!

My hubby's CHU (containerized housing unit) overseas

Great New Pictures of Gabriel

Bathroom projects and sleeping kids...

So back in December of last year the bathtub faucet begins to leak...as the months go on the leaking becomes more and more pronounced..the water bill increases..Tom says...when are you going to call the repairman...I'm no dummy...I put it off until it practically runs all the time and the water bill is really getting higher......cuz as soon as I call the repairman...he says..."wow, that's the original faucet. We can't get parts for that." I say okay well then let's replace it. He goes into Conner's room..to the access panel...and well I'll be damned but it doesn't allow access..."so do you want me to cut a hole in your son's wall or break out the tile?" Wow what great choices...

They say when your soldier is gone..don't make major changes to the house..it's upsetting when they come home...after 3 sick cats...we have replaced all the upstairs carpet with wood floors, then tiled the downstairs bathroom...now a complete overhaul on the bathroom..which included the removal of a window that was in the shower....poor guy won't recognize the house at all! sorry honey! But here is the new shower..and just for fun...a new shower curtain...hoping that's not the straw dear...! I promise after I finish painting the hall of horrors...I will do a video walk through and send it to you!

Oh and the cute kid passed out on our dog's bed..that's Mr. Fab! Worn out from a day of video games with the big kids and swimming at the YMCA!

part 2

Eating Mimi's dust on the 10 mile gravel road...

CARS, FERRIES, and TRAINS...

This Labor Day weekend my mother and grandmother came for a visit...so we decided to take a drive ...down to Merrimac for a ferry ride...across the river, which made it half way across then came back for an emergency vehicle that never arrived!...a drive down long dirt road under construction...on to the New Freedom train....where the boys...played and had a great time..:)

Making Dad proud...

Operation Love Reunited...with Teens at Tenny Park

Sisterly love!

















A boy and his dog...



































These teens had a great time with this session!

Thanks guys!