Captain Ohlson is Baghdad Bound

November 1, 2008 he'll deploy. The thought makes me sick to my stomach! He'll be deployed for 179 days (that's six months if you're trying to do the math) to International Zone in Baghdad (more info: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/baghdad-green-zone.htm).
We found out a few weeks ago and were first told that he would leave July 27, 2008. With my due date of baby #3 just 2 1/2 weeks after that date Brock asked if it could be pushed back a little to at least be with me for the birth. Luckily, JAX was VERY accommodating and gave him a new date of November 1, 2008 (Brock's Birthday). Personally, I can't even talk about it I cry and feel like I need to puke. But, everyday it gets a little easier to stomach and the overwhelming feelings of pride and gratitude replace the sadness and pukey-ness I feel. Brock assures me he is going to be at the safest place he could be over there and will be doing some exciting law things with detainees that are terrorists or possible terrorists. It's perfect he's being deployed on his Birthday because this is what he's dreamed of. Why he joined the USAF. To feel like he's contributed in some small way to the war efforts. I am extremely proud of him and grateful for the example he sets to me and our children of hard work and determination. Just today his SJA read some letters that were written by fellow active duty and retired military persons about him sent to not only the SJA but THE General of Luke AFB talking about what great service Brock is providing. One (a retired Marine) said something to the effect of 'the world is a safer place with Captain Ohlson in the Air Force'. If that doesn't make a wife proud I don't know what does.

Summer Begins in HB

I love that my parents still live in HB it makes going back for summer fun so easy! Last week while Brock was still gone we headed out there for 5 days. It was fun to see friends and relax at the beach. As time goes on living away from HB it is interesting to see which friends Owen likes to play with, some things change and some don't. The boys and I enjoyed 2 days at the beach (where I successfully got rid of my shade t-shirt tan lines) thank goodness! I was also able to break away for a bit to enjoy Wahoo's and Pinkberry's with great friends and roommates. Clay was so afraid of the ocean waves. I don't think he could understand the concept that the water will stop at some point we'd be 50 feet away and he would start crying and running like it was going to gobble him up. Owen on the other hand couldn't get enough except when he got sand in his eyes, that blasted sand!
O and his buddy Asher

All the Mom's w/ their kids

Just the kiddos

Clay making a crazy face while enjoying a Beatles cover band (SO fun)

What does Clay do at O's swim class?

beg for his bite, dig in my purse, beg to look at pictures of himself but refuses to let me take a picture of him all while I am trying to be a cheering, supportive, motivating mom to Owen. It's great?

Wildlife World Zoo

With Brock still gone our friends from the East Valley came out to our side of town (over a week ago) and we hit up the Wildlife World Zoo. It was pretty cool, I mean really a zoo is a zoo come on! but we were able to walk with the Kangaroos (although they wanted nothing to do with us), and we got to feed the birds too. Owen desperately wanted to hold the birds just not hold the apple that got the birds wanting to have you hold them. It was a hard concept for him to understand but he finally listened and had a bird on his arm. Clay on the other hand didn't hesitate he grabbed an apple let the bird nibble on it and then thought to himself ummm that looks good, threw the apple on the ground, went to the bucket and grabbed an apple to enjoy himself. Silly Clay.

Peacock just hanging out

Owen and the Kangaroos that didn't want us around

Clay liking the bird

Clay not liking the bird

"Owen you must hold the apple if you want to hold the bird"

Owen and Carter climbing around

Mother's Day '08

Like father like Son. This is the card Owen had his teachers write me in Primary.

Hunting and babies, yep that sounds like Brock.

Brock had to head off to Alabama for some JAG training Mother's day early morning (for 2 weeks) so the Bates were kind enough to invite me to the East Valley for dinner so I wouldn't drown in my own tears ;) We had a great time. Dinner was delicious, conversation was at it's finest, and Owen, Clay and Carter had a blast playing together. It really made the day wonderful!


Brock had taken the boys out before he left to get me cards and Brock said them picking out cards was sooo sweet it made him get teary in the isle of the BX. Owen wanted me to have the card with the sticker in it saying I was the best mom (he loves stickers), while Clay got super excited when he saw the soft fuzzy sheep card. Why are my kids the sweetest? I am so proud to be their mom and just hope I don't screw them up too much.

We Are COMMITTED!

To Arizona that is and for at least 9 months out of the year (let's be honest HB is still our desired destination for June - August). But, we've continued our house search over the last 7 months as we have watched home prices decline by over 50%!!! Now finally one of our low ball offers stuck and we are the proud owners of this beauty of a foreclosure. Thanks Indymac!!. Needless to say a lot of paint, weeding (dude the tree is as big as the house), and elbow grease will be needed but we are excited to clean it up and make it our own, May 30th can't come fast enough! . . . OR maybe June 30th . . . MAYBE July 23rd, could buying a foreclosure be MORE frustrating.
Before Foreclosure . . . (hope we can find this behind that tree)

Father's and Son's

My baby is becoming a big boy! Owen and Brock are off to their first Father's and Son's camp out this weekend. They went an hour southwest of us to basically the middle of nowhere desert but supposedly their campsite is on the Mormon Battalion trail, so it's halfway exciting. Owen has been so looking forward to this all month. He is so excited to build a fire, climb a mountain, sleep in his fireman sleeping bag, and of course have some alone time with his Dad. Being the ditsy mother I can be at times I forgot to take pictures of them tonight so the above will have to suffice. I sure do love that little, becoming big, boy of mine. He is so full of love coming up to me all the time to give me a hug and kiss and say "I love you mommy". Oh it makes me want to cry every time, and he's so excited for this new baby always hugging and kissing my expanding belly and saying, "I'm so happy you're having me a baby mommy". It makes me melt! He's become so obsessed with his letters and numbers recently too, spelling everything he sees and singing his the "A goes ahhh . . . every letter makes a sound . . . ." song. Every parent thinks their child is special and great, but Owen you are the most special and absolute greatest son a mom and dad could hope for. Love you!

O's Swim Class

Owen has always been very uncomfortable around swimming pools. Not that HE really seems to mind. He's always content to sit on the step and splash around but now that he is getting a bit older and has friends who have swimming pools we thought this was the summer to get Owen loving the pool and hopefully learning to swim a bit. We found this lady who teaches out of her home and they are semi private classes typically him and another kid and we are having so much success and FUN! I was a bit skeptical at first. Owen cried the first 3 classes wouldn't even put his chin under water or look, talk, or listen to MaTreasa as he calls her (really it's Miss Theresa). Then one day they had a breakthrough as she had him floating on his back a plane flew overhead and he started telling her about his Daddy's work at the Air Force and how he gets people in trouble there and they have lots of jets. It was so cute and sweet to see my little boy bonding with and trusting someone other than a family member, cheesy but it brought tears to my eyes. Six classes later he is doing big boy dives, starting to swim without support, learning the butterfly and frog and most importantly is loving swim class and having a blast.
Just chillin' waiting for his turn

Froggie


Big boy diving



Butterfly




Here is some videos too (they are both a minute long). First is the big boy dive in action (he is starting to kick up by himself now). Second is when he grabs rings from the bottom of the pool. He obviously is in the very beginning stages of doing any of this but I am just thrilled that he is even putting his nose underwater!

COMING SOON!