Hair Bows!

Riley is finally allowing me to put hair-bows in her hair. Aunt Andi makes these wonderful hair bows and Riley was lucky enough to receive a few. Riley would not wear them for a long time because they were for something special like taking her picture. She had know decided that this is the only hairbow she will wear. We have wore it for about a week now. She does look cute and she has enough pick clothes that it usually matches her outfit for the day too.

Thank you Aunt Andi!

The "Balls" Ball

A military Ball may look a lot like prom from high school. But the only thing that would be the same is the fact the ladies spend too much money on hair-dos, dresses, and nails. Other then that its very different. The ceremony begins with dinner and drinks. Then we have a "Punch Bowl Ceremony" the reminds me of the drink the "Nerds" make to welcome new members. Yes 7 different NCO's mixed in 7 different liquors and then there were a few other not so nice things added from what they remember from each deployment. Once this "punch" was completed each new member of Saint Barbara drinks a cup on the Master Gunners command, Ready!, Set!, FIRE! This drink is to go down in one single gulp. Saint Barbara was a beautiful woman who was sentenced to death for her believe in Christ. Just as she was beheaded a bolt of lighting flashed from the skies killing and consuming her persecutor. This lighting bolt caused her to be regarded as the parton saint in times of danger from thunderstorms, fires, explosions, and sudden death. She was invoked for protection against accidents resulting from explosions. Since earlier artillery pieces often exploded instead of firing their projectile, Saint Barbara became the patroness of field artillerymen. Once this ceremony is completed we listen to several men talk. They thank the spouses for their support and the strength to help their soldiers through deployments. Then the music and dancing begins.

Last tonight we went to our battalion ball. It's a good time where the soldiers and their spouses get together and enjoy themselves outside of work. This ball was extra special for the simple fact that many of these men and women will be travel to new units with in the next few months. We have all made it through three deployments and now its time to say good-bye as we all take that new fork in the road and learn something along the way.

Ben loved this hair-do. It was all curled and then the front was pinned back. It was nice and looked great all night.

We dropped our kiddos off at a friends house and here is our first picture of the two of us. Ben and his usual serious face.

Our picture once we arrived at the ball.

The Gill's

Jess and Frank

SSG Cummins, Dustin and Veronica.

Notice that Ben and Dustin are wearing two different uniforms. Ben is wearing Class "A's" and Dustin is wearing Dress Blues.

The guys before dinner.

Ben and JohnSSG Ringman and SSG Davis

SSG Ringman, Ben and Master Gunner Cazeres

Cazeres was Ben's first chief in OIF 1. He helped Ben become the NCO that he is today.

1st SGT Howard, SSG Ringman, Master Gunner Cazeres.

Both these men have deployed all three times with Ben. They have all moved up the ranks ladder through each deployment.

Telling stories and remembering when...

SSG Ringman and Lt. Col. Dunleavy

Dunleavy deployed with Ben in OIF 1 as Major and then again in OIF 3 as Lt. Col. He remembered Ben from the first deployment I did not know if that was a good thing or a bad thing at first but we both know now that it was a good thing.

SSG Ringman and SSG Grigsby talking as Ben gets ready for a picture. SSG Ringman and SSG Grigsby

Jess and I after a few drinks. Laughing at my husband I am sure. When we are all together and drunk its a non-stop of jokes and smiles. Self photos when we returned home.
A good night kiss.

2009 in Michigan!!

We made it to Michigan for the New Year. We had a wonderful visit. For New Years we joined Bill and Ang (my in-laws) at the Eagles. There were several other couples/people that we met up with when we arrived. Lots of pictures were taken throughout the night. These are just a few of them that made the cut.

Bill and Ang enjoying a dance.

Bill with his two Angies.
The boys. Bill loving his son. After a few drinks/shots.

Ben and I enjoying a dance.
Ben and his mom enjoying a dance.
Happy New Year Kiss.

Happy 2009!!!
Happy 2009 kiss while dancing the night away!

Bill, myself, Ben and Ang enjoying the New Year out on the dance floor.

We had a wonderful time. We danced the night away and few us were drunk early into the night and drinking water to make sure that we did not get sick before mid-night. Others did not know their limit and were sick before dinner was served. Thanks Mom (Ang) for driving us and helping us enjoy the night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!

Merry Christmas!!

Riley was very excited to bake cookies for Santa last night. We made sugar cookies with rainbow sprinkles. They tasted great. We all ate a cookie before we headed to bed.

Santa must have thought our kiddos were EXTRA good this year because there were lots of presents under our tree this morning.

Brenden received a train play mat and a new train. This was the only thing he could focus on right a first. It took opening up his stocking and a few other presents before he stopped playing with the train.

Riley opening up her stocking stuffers. She loved all of her stocking stuff.

"It's what I have always wanted!"

Brenden cheesing with his Curious George.

Daddy was very excited to receive a NIKE jumpsuit. Along with a pair of slippers, a Austin Peay T-Shirt, Michigan Football Jersey, a book (he likes to read all of a sudden), and many stocking stuffers.

Mommy was VERY happy to receive a Michigan hoodie. She also received two Willow Tree figures (from both Riley and Brenden), a sweater, canisters, slippers, a pink screw driver, and many fun stocking stuffers.

The one and only thing that Riley wanted for Christmas this year was her Dora Roller Skates. Well Santa remembered his toy bag last night and left Riley her skates. She was so excited to have them that she had to open them right away and wear them. I don't think she has taken them off all morning/day long. I was impressed with her ability to skate. She has fallen a couple of times but has gotten right back up and tried again. The longer she wears them the better she does.

Brenden opening up his gift from Daddy. I think this was one of his favorite gifts. Once it was opened and daddy had it put together and Brenden woke up from his morning nap, he put everything one it. His trains went down the car ramp along with is cars and trucks he received.

Riley with her baby that pees on the potty. Just with in the last two weeks Riley has asked her daddy for this doll. So when he went shopping he had to find it. Well this came as a challenge since daddy waited to do his shopping until the week before Christmas. He originally picked up the wrong baby and had to return it. We then came home and tried to order the doll online and found that it was out of stock or only a store purchase. The PX had lots of them but the price difference was like 20.00 but it was the last chance. I went to pick her up and found that they only had Spanish speaking babies, until I began to look behind each and everyone to find the little blond. Success! We have the baby for Christmas. Well we continued to shop and found the same baby at Wal-Mart for 20.00 cheaper and the baby came with a bounce outfit (PJ's and slippers). Yes we bought that baby and returned the baby back to the PX. Now this happened all with in two days. Once she opened the baby, Missy, she was worth the challenge. Riley loves her. She has played with her all morning long. Missy is a fun baby to play with as she talks and says over 50 phrases. Missy likes to brush her teeth, drink water, and wash her hands. As a mom it's fun to watch and listen to Riley and Missy play.

Riley and Brenden enjoyed Christmas morning. They were very excited. Riley received another baby this morning that looks like Molly but can go in the bath tub with her. She named her Mallory. Thanks to The Ringman's all of Riley's babies will have extra clothes to wear.
Baby Mallory in one of her new outfits.

Brenden holding up his new football that he received from The Ringmans. He loves football. This is his favorite sport at this point. Brenden and Daddy has to take a time-out from opening presents this morning to play ball.

X-mas Paper Swords

We have all waited until the last of the wrapping paper was gone so we could have the empty cardboard roll underneath. Well my two kiddos and husband are no different. We went through several rolls of paper this year. I believe it's because the items that were wrapped were bigger and used more paper not that we bought more. Either way we had lots of empty rolls to use has swords.

Brenden was able to escape from daddy with his sword.

Watch out, Daddy! I know how to use this thing.

Capture again for a cheesy picture.
Riley to the rescue. Daddy is not use to double team. When you mess with one sibling you mess with them both. Daddy getting it from both kids.

Holiday Pictures with Daddy

We were taking pictures of the kids with daddy in front of the tree. Once again we wanted a photo with both kids and daddy but one of the two kids did not want her picture taken so we had to do two separate pictures once again.

Riley was not paying attention and daddy sat next to her and smiled and I took the picture. The picture turned out great. I guess this is how we will have to do pictures in the future. The surprise attack.

Brenden is a ham. He loves to pose for pictures and is starting to say "CHEEEEESE!!" when I pull out the camera. It's very cute.
Brenden saying "Cheese".

The kids together. Brenden is trying to get away from his sister who seems to pull him around.

Trying to get another picture of the kids in front of the tree. This task was harder then I thought it would be. They are both ready for Santa in three days.