Boot Camp Graduation

Last Wednesday night Robert and I flew out of DIA @ 7pm to travel to Atlanta, Georgia for Matt, my brother's, Boot Camp Graduation. We landed in Atlanta at 11:51pm and then drove to Columbus, two hours a way. By the time we got out of the airport, got our rental car, and arrived at our hotel it was 3:30am. We were supposed to be on the Ft Benning Army Base at 7am. It was certainly a rough night and slept through our 6am alarm and missed the Turning Blue Ceremony where Matt received his cords and honors for his physical fitness merits and weapons marksmanship. I was so mad! We instead got up at 7am but I don't think we would have made it anyway because the Army Base was so big and there were so many people that we were lost from the second we entered. We got there just as it got over :( After that we got to have Matt until 8pm that night to do whatever we wanted because it was Family Day. My Dad and his wife drove out there and my mom and sister also flew out there. Matt took us to this army museum that was amazing. It had different world war exhibits and displays. It was huge. We were there for three hours and still didn't see everything. Matt also showed us around base. This base was so big that it crossed state lines into Alabama. Matt was very excited to show us where he trained and where he had been the last four months. We met some of his friends and his drill Sergeant.



Matt had certainly changed since we last saw him at Christmas. He carried himself with pride and respect. He has discipline. He addressed everyone as "Mame" or "Sir". I am so incredibly proud of him. It brought tears to my eyes to see him in his uniform and the way that he carried himself. You can tell by the look in his eyes that he is different. Yes, I wish with all my heart that he had gone on a mission but I can honestly say that this was and is the next best thing for him.

Friday was the actual graduation. In the three companies that graduated there were 560 graduates. Matt will be serving in the Airborne Infantry. This means he is a foot soldier but will also be repelling out of helicopters. After graduation we ate lunch as a family and then he had to leave to Kentucky to Ft. Campbell. There he will continue his training and await deployment to Afghanistan, possibly as soon as May. Even though I fear for his safety, after this week I have a new respect and understanding of the Army and sacrifices of the men and women who give up so much so that I can enjoy my freedom.


It was hard to see him leave but it was so good to see him doing so well! The rest of the day we just hung out. I really struggled with the time change and jet lag and was really tired the whole time while we were out there. On Saturday we got up early so we could drive back to Atlanta and go to the Atlanta Aquarium, which is the largest is the world. It was awesome! We even got to touch sting rays and baby sharks!


Even though we are extremely tired from our whirlwind trip I wouldn't have missed it for anything. It meant a lot to Matt that we were there to support him and I am so glad that I got to see him and how he has changed. Matt I love you and am so proud of you!

Update

Boy, time has really gotten away from me...I cannot believe that it is already December and another year has almost come and gone. We are keeping busy with work and also working on our house. Here are some pictures of the last few months that I have been meaning to add (what a slacker!). Enjoy!

Here is our partially finished wood stove and tile job that Rob is currently working on. Now all he has to do is lay tile and put rock on the wall. I can't wait to have a roaring open fire to keep us nice and toasty.

Rob framing in our new wood stove after he took out our gas one.

My brother Matt joined the Miliary and left to go to Boot Camp on November 16. Here he is at his farewell party.

Me and my little sister Heather. She came to visit from BYU before Matt left.

Just horsing around

Dang we are a good looking family!

Dad's surprise birthday party at our house

Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother

Price Charming and Cinderella-Isn't he a good sport(Look at the expression on his face)!? Did I ever owe him big time!



There you have it. This is what we have been up to for the last few months. Life is crazy and hectic but we wouldn't trade it for anything. We have been truly blessed and I think that I am the luckiest woman in the world. Lots of love!

Gone Fishin'

Last Saturday afternoon we took a much needed break from work and everything else and went fishing. We went with Robert's dad, Uncle Larry, Larry's granddaughter Paige, and his brother-in-law Lorenzo. Bill took his boat and we went to Shaw lake. It was a beautiful drive and we were very excited to do some fishing. Well...the fishing wasn't exactly what we had hoped for. We were there for nearly four hours and between all six of us only caught THREE fish. Lorenzo caught two and Robert caught one. Good thing there was good company and good weather. Robert even took a 30 minute nap at one point (In his defense he had been chopping wood and was exhausted). Even though the fishing wasn't great we had fun with the family and spending time in the mountains.

Larry and Paige

Just cruising in the boat

The newest fishing tactic??? I don't know how he expects to catch a fish like THIS!

Robert finally catches one!

House pictures...finally

We are finally settled in for the most part (after 6 weeks!) and I decided that it was time to post pictures of our new home. The walls hardly have any pictures or decorations but I guess that will just have to wait until we have time.

Living Room

Living Room 2nd view

Dinning Room-We have a table but no chairs! We lost them in one of the three moves we made. We are currently looking for a new one. For now, we just eat at the counter and sit on bar stools.

Rob's awesome Laundry Room-This was the only color he HAD to have in the whole house, a yellow laundry room. I think it turned out great.

Kitchen

Kitchen 2nd view- It is so nice to have room to actually move around and cook.

Upstairs Bathroom

Guest Bedroom

Office

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Master Bedroom 2nd view-This is my sanctuary and favorite room in the whole house.


We repainted the whole house ourselves with some help from Rusty, Rob's boss. I thinks the colors really turned out well. I am sure lucky to have a husband who builds houses for a living. He did a lot of work on the house before we moved in. After four years of college housing this is heaven to us...

Monday night our fabulous RH Construction softball team battled it out to become the 2009 Co-Ed Minor Leauge Champs. The team had to play four grueling back-to-back games beginning at 6:30pm and ending around 10:45pm (waaaay past my bedtime). Needless to say, everyone was exhaused by the Championship game. It was well worth it though. It was awesome to see how well the team played together and stayed focused. We had a great season and were proud to end on such a high note. It is such a pleasure to play with the members of our team. We have so much fun as a team and also as husband and wife. For our efforts we got a certifcate and hoodies. I am sad to see the season end but am also glad to have our evenings back. Great job everyone! Until next season!