Siblings!!

Riley and Brenden are the best of friends. We could have asked for two better children. I believe when this picture was taken Brenden was just finishing his "time-out" and Riley wanted to talk to him about his choices. They amaze me every day.

Snuggling

Riley is getting settled down for the evening and not so pleased that I wanted to take pictures. Look at that face.

Brenden getting ready for bed. Snuggling up with puppy-dog and watching a little TV.

Daddy helping Brenden fall asleep. Daddy must have been sleepy too.

Popsicle Fun!!

Riley and Brenden love their Popsicles. The only rule is that they have to eat them in the kitchen. Rule change after finding a melted Popsicle in a bag. Brenden will join Riley while they both have a Popsicle but as soon as Riley is finished Brenden will be finished too (usually throwing away half a Popscile).

Enjoying a ice cold treat in the middle of winter.

Birthday Wishes!!!

HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY,

PAPA and DAD!

Hope you have a wonderful today.

Love ya-

Angie, Ben, Riley and Brenden

Party Time

Riley had her 4th birthday yesterday. We were unable to find DORA party stuff so Riley find the Backyardigans. Along with Princess wrapping paper that yes she found and picked out along with the matching card.

Riley waiting impatiently for her friends to arrive.

Brenden cheesing for the camera.

Daddy wearing his birthday hat too. Since he missed out on his big day in August he joined in on Riley's big day. I think he looks very cute with his party hat and ACU's.

Birthday Girl and her Daddy.

Playing Riley's game. Stick the bow-tie on Pablo.

Looking to see how well she did. I believe that Bubba was helping her decide.

Trista playing too. She did not want to keep her eyes covered so I helped a little.

Reese and Brenden did not want to cover their eyes to play so they did it their way.

The final results to Pablo's bow-tie game.

There were only four little people at the party but notice all the bow-ties. Riley played this game about 5 times before she decided to open presents.

Singing "Happy Birthday" song.

Opening her presents. Everything she has always wanted.

Barbie was a popular choice this year.
Trista wanting to open her presents too.
The Gill family enjoying themselves as we finished up the gifts.
Riley wants to say "Thank You" to all her friends and family who wished her a wonderful day. She had a blast playing with her new toys. Thank you again for all your support this month.

Birthday Wishes!!

HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY RILEY!!!

Hamming it up for the camera.

Riley is so excited for today. She can't wait to have her DORA birthday party like Brenden's Diego party at the park. She is growing up way too fast. Riley has been such a wonderful daughter and a BIG help to me. More pictures to come after her DORA party.

Wonderful Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend in Michigan as we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. Ben and I renewed our wedding vows on Friday the 13 day of February at St. Marys Catholic Church. Then we headed to "Where Friends Meet" to party the night away. I am sorry that I do not have any pictures at this point. I did not have my camera out. But thanks to a good friend I will more then enough to share in a few days. Until then you can go to the other blogs I look at to see a few good pictures. The Schutte Family, Brock and Jackson, and Austin and Abigail. They were all there taking lots and lots of pictures. Can't wait to see all the pictures. What a way to remember our special day. Thank to everyone who was able to help celebrate.

Snow Storm with Company

Here is what our tree looked like last week when received our HUGE ice storm that still has many families/homes in Kentucky without power. We were lucky that we did not get hit as hard as some our neighbors did just down the block from us. I found that it was a pretty picture I guess I miss the winter snow since I don't see them often.

Here is the snow that fell the night morning after all the ice. I was not much but enough to cause some issues with the roads and schools being closed. Through all this mess my sister-in-law and nephew managed to make their way down here for a short visit.

The kids had a great time playing together. It has been awhile since they have seen each other. Here they are playing animal catchers. Riley uses the flashlight to help find the animal that usual hid under the table.

Jackson and Riley locking up the animal they found under the table.

Back to the animal chart to find out what other animals they need to find. They really enjoyed catching the monkeys. I think it's because they are monkeys themselves.

Cheesing for the camera after looking for animals.

Riley, Jackson, Brenden on an animal mission. I guess they were playing Go, Diego, Go!! They had a great visit and enjoyed the company. In fact the adults had some fun too. The guys went out on Thursday night and Friday was ladies night. Both nights left the adult hurting the night day with hang overs. But we all had a great time.

Mommy 101 ........

You would think after your first child you would know better then to allow your child(ren) to eat in the livingroom without an adult. I have yet to learn this lesson and this is what happens. While I was cooking dinner and talking on the phone with my mom I realized that Brenden was a little too quiet. Now we know why he was quiet.

Popcorn and goldfish crackers all over the floor.

I am sure that I will still have to work on learning this lesson. Maybe some day I will learn.

Pictures

Sorry for the long delay between post. Our computer was very sick but since has returned home safely and ready to post lots for the lost time. Here are a few pictures of what happens in the evenings after dinner.

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Brenden sleeping in our bed watching basketball. Ben takes Brenden into the bedroom every night to watch basketball and this is the end result each night. Brenden is then transferred to his bed to sleep through the night. Hopefully!!!

While Daddy and Brenden are bonding, Riley and I are bonding. After her bath she likes to put her hair up in a towel to dry just like mommy. She has her own towel that she uses. Not very happy that I am taking her picture before she is ready.

STOP, NO MORE PICTURES!!!!!

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.