Thanksgiving - Travel, Food and Fun

We had a good drive to Vegas even though it took an hour to get over the Dam (damn that dam). The boys were good and played with their toys. Davis of course was an absolute dream never making a noise except of sheer delight. We started our new Thanksgiving Tradition in honor of Brock sausage gravy and bisquits for breakfast. A little Macy's parade that Clay loved! Some park time with Jack, a race with the best Uncle ever (thanks Nick!), then the feast.....a great big turkey leg. Oh and suits optional jucuizzi time with Grandpa.

Family Home Evening

We had a Thanksgiving themed FHE tonight. I sang Count Your Blessings. I offered the prayer, I gave the lesson, I organized the activity, I made the treat. I am noticing a trend here . . . Another reason why we miss Brock. It was a sad attempt at teaching the kids about Thanksgiving, Blessings/Gratitude. I thought it was sweet how Owen started listing the things he was grateful for and started naming every person in his family. So i suggested we just write "family" but then he demanded I write "#1 Dad" because lumping him in with the Family catagory just wasn't good enough. It was a fun and successful evening.

Letters From Dad

The boys loved their letters from dad which had a picture of a Jet on it. They were so excited to open them up, show them to Davis, and Owen read his on his own . . . . . we'll kinda.

What is Brock doing?

It's a question I get a lot. I wish I had a good answer. Maybe this article will help a little. The Gen Quantock that is quoted in the article will be Brock's new boss in about 10 days when he moves over to headquarters.  Right now, he's at TF 134 - Legal Headquarters.  In a week or so, he will be at TF 134 - Headquarters. Anyway . . .

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq_detainee_dilemma_1

Life Carries On

but we miss you like crazy!!

Pa and Ma In Town

Clay has started to call Grandpa and Grandma Ohlson "Pa" and "Ma" it's cute he sounds like he should be on Little House on the Prarie. We have had a good time so far and look forward to more adventures. Today we did some urban fishing in Surprise. They planted some trout on Thursday. We were not very hopeful but Pa pulled out his poles and low and behold he got one. He was so descreat in his Earl way and just called Owen over to reel in the line. When 'Owen caught a fish' he squealed with delight. The fish and Owen became fast friends we thought we were going to dine on trout tonight but he wants to take it to Preschool for show and tell...... on Thursday!!

The Boys New Jammies

The boys got some new jammies from Costco they wanted to show them off. Front AND back. Clay keeps singing "Horsie Horsie . . . way . . .Horsie Horsie . . . .day" when he wears them its funny. He's funny. Look at that cute silly face.

Field Trip to Cabelas

Owen had a field trip to Cabelas. We have been on a field trip to a Puppet Theater in downtown Phoenix earlier this school year. I love seeing him interact with his preschool buddies and be so obedient to his teacher. Mrs. Sterr is awesome!

Some Good Family Photos

Internet in Baghdad is as slow as molasses . . . it takes as long to download a photo as it does to mail it through USPS. So maybe the Blog is the best way to share some new shots I have of the boys and some of Brock and I . . . Hope you like them Brock.

Cutest baby EVER!!

Seriously, that smile never stops. Love him. He is my sanity right now.

Noteworthy News

Brock made it in the Luke AFB Paper page 12 at the bottom (he's the one with the 64 oz.-er). This is how we fell in love during our first meeting over 6 years ago.

http://assets.mediaspanonline.com/prod/1522301/tbt_11072008A24.pdf

Baghdad - Cut Off

I walk the half or so mile between my hooch (15 x 15 living quarters that I share with a Navy JAG) and my office both coming and going. Today was long, and I was moving at a deliberate pace to get out of the office and in to a shower (very dusty here). As I was approaching the last road I cross before hitting the home stretch, I was cut off by 6 MRAPs (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected...google it) and 2 Humvees. All had 50 cals mounted on the roof along with various other weapon systems. They were all lit up. The diesel motors were whining, as they were anxiously rolling to a staging area where their commander will be giving the final briefing on what will be the night's mission. No one, anywhere, has seen a more intimidating, formidable, urban assault team. What got me all choked up, filled me with PROUD patriotism, and humbled me all at the same time, was that behind all of the armor, in each of the vehicles, were a half a dozen YOUNG soldiers. "Kids" that have left their homes in the greatest country in the world...to come here! They are true heroes. They should be honored and appreciated by ALL! They are the ones out there in the middle of the night leveling whatever and wherever the insurgents think they can hide, ultimately detaining those that I will be processing through the system. Without them, I wouldn't be here. I am proud to be serving with them. - Brock

Hate Crime

I just fell victim to a hate crime (ok maybe that's too extreme). It sucks. It doesn't feel good. It makes me mad. I am going to find those 4 girls and their black rihno that smashed my YES ON PROP 102 sign and crushed my flagstone wall and make you pay! (thank goodness for good neighbors). Cops are out looking for you already and tomorrow I'll be out there too. My husband is in Bagdad what else do I have going on!!! And by the way I put my sign back up. I double dog dare you to come back!

. . . .i think that bird dying WAS a bad omen.

UPDATE
so 3 days later and we found the culprits. Luckily the mom was real nice and has already dropped off money to have it fixed. This has been such a neat experience. We have met so many neighbors and really feel united with them now. And what a great learning experience for my boys . . . . to learn that we all have free agency to make a good choice or a bad choice and more times than not bad choices come back to bite you. Owen is already expressing in his sweet 4 year old way that he wants to "choose the right" not like those naughty people in the rhino.