Jessica's Concert

First of all I must say that I am not so good at videography, so please excuse the unprofessional video. Last night's concert was fantastic. It is really fun as a parent to see what the kids have been working on. The Band and orchestra was amazing too. Jessica had 2 solos on the program. The song she sings on the video is from Les Miserable called "on My Own". I am really proud of her! She is awesome and I couldn't tell she was nervous. The boys were mischievous during the concert except when Jessica was singing. Go figure! So unlike the boys too because they are usually so well behaved for me. Oh well. It was past their bedtime anyway. The last picture is of Jess with Mr. Church, her music teacher, he is an Opera singer!

Jessica's concert

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

President Bush at Fort Bragg

We had the opportunity to go to the 82ND Airborne Division Review so I kept the kids out of school and Thursday morning we got up at 4:30 to get to Fort Bragg by 6 a.m. We got the closest seating to the podium. In this picture you can see all the troops lined up, they filled the huge field from one end to the other. Amazing and inspiring!

Awesome flyby's from the Army's Air Support including Apache, Black hawks, Chinooks, and Fighter jets.Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel, President Bush and Commanding Major General David Rodrigeuz returning from walking the entire field reviewing all the troops.
Garrett and Gavin got a boost up from these nice soldiers onto their Apache helicopter.
Garrett thinking he would like to fly this Black hawk someday.

President Bush arriving to the ceremonies, check out all the secret service and security.
We were pretty close and it was pretty surreal actually seeing our President in person.
Super cool paratroopers dropped out from a Blackhawk and all landed perfectly on the mark! I love the American flag this one had attached to his chute.
Massing of colors, can't tell you how many times I got the chills!
President Bush passing in front of us to go and walk the field and inspect all the troops.

Rich in Iraq

Here is my honey bear, He tells me that the guy who painted this mural also painted all of Saddam's murals for him. I thought it was awesome. What a great tribute to the guys there. Rich is doing good and ready to come home, it can't come soon enough for us all. I really look forward to hearing from him each day and feel lucky that he is able to contact us in emails and web cam most every day. We are already planning what we would like to do when he comes home. Mainly BBQ off the back porch and follow each other around like shadows. I don't see us giving Rich too much space when he gets back, but he says that is just fine with him. This has been the hardest but most rewarding thing I think that I will have ever done in my life. I am so proud of Rich and his accomplishments he has made since enlisting 2 years ago. Just can't wait to go to Green Ramp and watch his plane land!! I can't think of any better birthday gift!

Jumping beans

The neighbors put up their trampoline recently. It is fun for the boys to get to jump with Jordan when there isn't a lot of kids around, which seems to have attracted kids we didn't know before. I will be putting up a fence soon to keep Chip in and the kids out!

School work

This has to be one of my favorite books! Gavin can read it pretty good.
The orange circle is the sun coming up, he worked hard on the dirt with his scissors he tells me.
Not perfect but he has really come a long way, plus, what boy has good handwriting?

OK, Garrett has good cursive handwriting. He works hard to make it just right.

Chip

I love it when Chip looks at me like "Do you have any food for me?" I spent 2 1/2 hours yesterday out on the patio clipping him with the little soft tip scissors. He tries to bite me if I use anything else. What a little bugger! He got 2 baths yesterday because I found a tick on him! Of course he thought I was trying to hurt him by getting it off so while the tick was biting him he was trying to bite me! But I won!
Here's his look of "I know, you hate to love me". Notice my flip flops upside down. Shih-Tzu's like to lick everything! So imagine sliding your foot in a nice gooey wet flip flop after Chip has enjoyed it. I have had to retrain Chip since moving here. I put a gate at the stairs because he is not allowed up there anymore. It's pretty funny because if I go up there and call for him , he has figured out that it is bath time. He finds a corner and hides! Maybe I should punish him with baths. Ha ha! if you know Chip he is the dog you hate to love and love to hate.
So, I finally bought a mini water cooler for Chip. It is super cute and only holds a gallon. This is the best thing I have bought for him in a long time. I was so tired of finding his water bowl dry, or he would bring it to me. Chip is the best alarm clock. He doesn't let me sleep in past 7 no matter what day it is. He sleeps in his kennel downstairs and just happens to be below my bedroom. It is super annoying on a Saturday morning when he starts barking at 6:40. I can't say that I get to sleep in much!

Rich's New Baby

Just bought this for Rich to come home to. I can't wait to see him in it!