WE'RE MOVING!!!

So a few weeks ago, Troy was pulled into a meeting with 20 other guys. They were told to be prepared for orders to be an MTI Instructors at Lackland AFB in San Antonio because they met the qualifications. Qualifications=Great Airmen with the clean record and the right rank. This is when being a hard working employee works against you in the Military. It is non-voluntary. They didn't have a choice. If you get called to do it you either do it, or get out. It was a rumor that had gone around for a little bit, and was finally here. The schedule for MTI's is horrible, and we were scared he was going to get the slot. He has been on-station here for a long time which puts him on top of the list.

Troy called from work and told me what was going on. He said was putting in for all non-conus slots that were open. He wanted to see if he could get selected somewhere else before the list to San Antonio came out. Troy said our only options were; Germany, Japan, Italy, and Alaska. OR he gets selected for the job in San Antonio. OR we get out and go home.

This was hard. We have come to love Vegas. We love our house, our friends, being able to go home anytime we needed. Vegas has been good to us. It was so scary to think we would have to pick up and move again... But that's the military... After a few deployments I should be ready for anything... But I was still shocked by the news...

A few days later, Troy left to NCO Academy in Texas. We still had no idea what was going to happen. Where we were going... what we were going to do.... And we weren't supposed to know for a little while... like 2 months... well... that 2 months pretty much turned into 2 weeks... While Troy was at NCO Academy, he logged into his work email... and right there staring back at him was the words PROJECTED ASSIGNMENT, followed by a base code... Nervous, he searched up the code to see where we were going....

Weeks before, we talked about the places we'd go. We both voted that Alaska was the best from the list. I wanted Alaska because my dearest friend lives there. He wanted it because they spoke English. Italy was second. I wanted it for the pasta. He wanted it because it sounded better than Germany and Japan. We both agreed that Germany and Japan were only on the list because they would be better than the MTI job. Period.

Well... That projected assignment, the unknown base code, turned out to be to Aviano.... as in Italy. Yep! You heard me right. We are moving to Italy! The more and more I think about it, the more excited I am. Aviano is only 30 minutes from a ski resort in the ALPS... Um, yes please. And an hour and a half from Venice. Plus we get to travel with the kids! We have already located the closest Disneyland. Disneyland Paris. I am sure we will be visiting that a few times. Not to mention... Rome! We will be able to go through the new temple's open house.... which is sooooooo exciting!!! Plus Santorini, London, Nice, Bern, Amsterdam... Just to name a few... The more the days pass, the more excited I am for our new adventure! And I'm double excited that Italy beat San Antonio to the punch! Take that Texas!!

Hawaiian {Wannabies}

It has been over a year since I have updated.... Well I love facebook better.

Troy came back from Afghanistan in April....
So we decided we needed some fun.
 We went to Hawaii again. 

We love it there. 

We never want to leave. Ever.

If it was up to B and Jack, we'd live there.

Sounds good to me....

Jack turned 2 while we were there.

He is amazing. 

We love him! 

To pieces.

Sometimes he makes it hard to work from home.

But his ultra cuteness gets him out of trouble. 

Sometimes this awesome 5 year old comes to work with me.

He is an amazing assistant.

Working hard, and playing hard... 

Well I suppose it can make one thirsty, and tired. 

Eating peanut butter and jelly can be tiring, too.

This happened. Seriously.

I cried. Lets not talk about it.
I have become one of those parents that says:
"It just goes by so fast"
Well it does.

This hot guy, with the guns, caught an Ono.
It was amusing, and fun, and I screamed and cheered like a geek.

 One of Brayden's crocks made the trip, the other one didn't.

Day 1 at the beach: "Mommy, walking on sand is hard work"

Don't worry, I agreed, and he got a new set of beach shoes shortly after.

This moment happened.

And this...

This did to.... My tree was half naked this year. Whatever.

It was still cute.  :)

All I want... I already have....

I have the most adorable boys ever.

The best honey.

I am blessed.
Very, blessed.
I am just going to ask God for one thing for Christmas....
To bring my husband home safely.
It's ok if we have to wait until April.
We miss him.
We love him.
Brayden told me tonight that he wanted to be a soldier, just like his Daddy and Captain America.
I just smiled.
I love my little boys....
Here, take a look.

Merry Christmas!

Us!

Summer 2011

A Glipse Into My Photography

Enjoy!!

You can also click HERE to go to my photography facebook page.

B is 4!!

He is a wonderful big brother

He can always make us laugh

He has a great imagination

He can be mischievous

and silly

extremely loveable

and carefree

and tender hearted

We love you B! You are such a blessing to us!

Preschool Graduation!

Rosie and Brayden

Today was Brayden's graduation from preschool, and I need to pay tribute to someone very special!

Ever wanted to know what a Saint looked like? Well just look in the picture. The cute lady with B is his most precious teacher Rosie. He and I both love her to pieces. Rosie is as sweet as her name, she has the energy of a two year old, and what would seem to be unlimited patience! Rosie is a special needs teacher and she truly has been a Godsend to us!

I went to her the first week of preschool. Brayden was enrolled in another class at a different CDC, and since he couldn’t communicate well… well, it was bad. A very dear friend of mine told me about Rosie. She said that Rosie was the "Child Whisperer" and she could fix anything. So later that afternoon I went to meet with her. I remember meeting her for the first time and finding my self with most sweetest spirited person ever! I told Rosie about Brayden’s behavior and my concerns about his speech and that he didn’t communicate well. She gave me a lot of information, and she told me that even if I couldn’t get him changed to that class right away, to just come anyway and “visit” because she’d make room for us. (And this is after she knew me a whole 5 seconds). Sweet huh!!

It was nothing short of a blessing that the class had an opening, and I was able to switch him within the week. I remember that first day picking him up, and Rosie was holding his hand and walking out with all the other kids to the bus. I guess he just didn’t want to let go. After all was said and done, and the other kids were on the bus, Rosie walked him to the car and helped him get in his car seat. She spent time talking to him, and I just kept thinking “Wow… she is so wonderful!! And she’s actually getting him in his car seat!” And you know what, that wasn’t the last time either.

When ever I would need help, thought I needed help, didn’t know I needed help… its like she magically knew how to help. Anytime I asked for advice, she always knew what to say and had some kind of resolution to a problem…. As you can see, it’s not hard to understand why Brayden and I think she hung on the moon!

Brayden has come a long way, from talking to communicating, from super crazy to calm and crazy ;) I can't help but be so very very proud of him! But when I stop and look at it, I am so very grateful to have had someone helping me along the way. I am truly indebted to her. I don’t know how I will ever repay her for everything she has done. I don’t know how I could ever thank her enough. We love our Rosie, and it’ll be a very long summer without her!!!!

Alecia, Brayden, and Rosie

Receiving his certificate!

For the last day they had water play!!

Brayden and Rosie

And he loved it!!

May she didn't quite so much. ;)

Brayden, Seth, and Rosie

Teachers got involved too!

Seth and Rosie

And paybacks were more than welcome!

Jackson

Even baby brothers enjoyed the fun!

Daddy and Jack

Temples!

My new photo project is a Temple series. My first Temple that I'm working on is none other than the beautiful Las Vegas Temple {and it doesn't hurt that it is within walking distance of my house} I have fallen in love with this temple and I will be doing a secret process with the pictures, so it'll be extra fun!

Airshow!

Nellis AFB is home to the Thunderbirds, there for we get to witness their finale every year. And yes, we love it. It is soooooo much fun!!

A Touch of Heaven

Many times we have tender moments. Moments that make you cry in an instant. My moment was on Thanksgiving morning. Brayden and I were just having another day sitting at our nook and eating breakfast. As we ate, Brayden shouted "Look Mommy, it's Ethan!" It caught me off guard, and I simply said "Where? Where is Ethan?" He replied while peeking out our sliding glass doors "There, by my car.... Hi Ethan!!" He continued eating. A few moments later I asked if he could still see Ethan. Brayden instantly looked up from his food and glanced again out our door and said "Nope, he went home." I calmly asked, "Where is his home?" ...For the first time ever, he replied "In the sky." -----

I have talked to him so many times about his friend who went to Heaven.... and he didn't really understand. I still don't think he entirely gets it. But maybe after this we might be getting somewhere with our teachings. He randomly talks about Ethan. Time will go by when I won't hear about Ethan for a few weeks and then suddenly I'll hear Brayden in his room saying things like "Here, Ethan." "Take this, Ethan" etc... It's very touching. I try to sit outside his room and listen when these special moments happen. And when they do, my tears aren't very far behind.

After breakfast, nothing else was spoken about Ethan until a few hours later when it was time for us to go to our Thanksgiving dinner. As we were walking out to our driveway to jump in our truck, our neighbors' family members (2 men) were standing outside between our two driveways. Brayden, the social butterfly he is, ran right up to them and said "HI!!" The men had big grins on their faces and were saying hello back. He then proceeded to say, "Look!" As he pointed to the sky and said "Its my guy Ethan!! He live in sky." The two men mistaken him for saying its an airplane in the sky, and so the young man pointed the other direction and said, "There, that's the jet stream." Brayden pointed again and said, "No, he's over there!" They then looked confused and just smiled and told him to have a Happy Thanksgiving. (Very very nicely by the way, they were really sweet to him)......

The rest of that day I kept thinking of Ethan, and our last Thanksgiving. Last year Ethan, his mom and dad and his little brother (and Brayden's best friend) Evan, attended Thanksgiving at our house. I couldn't help but think about them today, and how much we love and miss them.... After Ethan's sudden passing at the tender age of 7, his family moved. They had orders to another base and left about 6 weeks later. It's hard to think of them being so far away... :(

....But the weird thing is, while Brayden loves and misses his friend Evan, he never mentions that he "sees" him, or is "playing" with him like he does Ethan. He knows he can call Evan on the phone.... Which brings me to this: children are so close to our Father in Heaven.... They came directly from Him not very long ago.... So.... Maybe they can still see it? Maybe he already knows... and I just need to help him remember? Whatever the case maybe, I am thankful for these little moments he can have with his friend. Ethan is missed terribly, but I'm glad to feel him around every once and a while. And for that, I am truly thankful.

My favorite picture of Ethan, I remember the moment I took it. I had been babysitting them for the day. I had given him lots of brownies, juice, chocolate, and macaroni and cheese. I didn't cover my tracks too well, the evidence is still left behind.

At Spring Mountain Ranch, a few weeks before he passed away.

I love this. All boy. Running. Tongue. Stick. Hehe!

Ethan was a wonderful friend to Brayden. Brayden loves to wrestle (a trait he learned from his dad) and Ethan would let Brayden hang on him, tug on him, pull him to the ground, and just play around. He never would say an unkind word or get upset. He was always caring, carefree, fun, and loving.

They will always be great friends!

Photography....

I have a photography website up on Facebook. Click on the link if you would like to see it. Also, if you add me, and suggest to your friends.... you will be entered in my drawings for free photo shoots and CD's! Click here.

Jackson's 2 week old photos.