What is fog?

That is the question that was asked this morning on our way to school. As we are walking my two little munchkins were having another deep conversation about the fog. Here's what fog is according to Chrsitian.

Ashlee: "boy there sure is a lot of fog this morning"

Christian: "yeah, and you know what fog is Ashlee?"

Ashlee: "what?"

Christian: "it's clouds that died".

Well, there you have it!

Where to live?

Rande and I had decided months ago that we would live on post at Ft. Benning. But the other night we were dreaming (over the phone mind you) and started to look at houses. The Nicole house caught my eye. It's so practical for our family. Not too big, but big enough for the kids, Rande and I with a spare room/bathroom for guest. Something I've always wanted. The housing area reminds me of what's offered on post; Community Center, basketball court, playground, swimming pool, etc. Isn't she a beauty?

Then the dreaming was interrupted with a responsibility check the next day. Realizing that we will only be at Ft. Benning for 3 years, and then move again, what would we do with the house? Yes we could try and sell it, and if that doesn't work rent it out. But what if we can't get a renter, how will we make the mortgage payment when our BAH is going towards our other home? How will we keep up on the house when we're thousands of miles away and have no family in Alabama to help us? These are the questions that filled my head, I'm definitely not a risk taker.

Granted we could stay at Ft. Benning for another 3 yrs. or so, Rande will have the freedom to choose where we go after this rotation (just a perk for being an RI). We would like to live somewhere else though. Joining the Army a little later in his career, we missed out on a few rotations to live in other places. This is one of the reason why we decided to fore go the National Guard and go active duty. We wanted to see and experience the US and/or World, and all the different cultures.

I have to say it was fun to look at the houses and see all our options. However, we have decided on post is best for us this time around. If the options on post weren't so lovely I think we would definitely look at renting off post, and perhaps take a risk in buying. Below are some of the types of houses we could possibly live in on post.

Click here, scroll down to the bottom of the page to Patton Village. You will see a link for "virtual tour - stand alone". There you can see another style, and what the inside is like. I really like this one. It has a breakfast area!

Michelle Jordan

She's pretty, she's sweet, but no one can stop that 3 point shot!

This year was Ashlee's first year playing basketball, and best part for her was daddy being the assistant coach. They were both fun to watch this year. I don't think I have the patience for 5 and 6 yr. olds, but my wonderful, loving hubby sure does.

Ashlee was A-DOR-ABLE! I was able to get some video of her last game (posted below). Before she would pass the ball, she had to turn the ball so the stripes were facing Left/Right...too cute! I'm looking forward to many more years of watching her grow and become better at the game. She is just too sweet to throw elbows yet, but I'm sure it will change.

The Blue Hawks. Look at the handsome Assistant coach

turning the ball around, I was dying laughing

post game party at the bowling alley

Solution for World Peace and Global Warming (by Christian)

We are on our way home from swimming lessons the other night, and here is the conversation that took place:

Christian: "mom, you know the bomb that ended World War II?"

Me: "yes"

Christian: "well, when I'm president, I'm going to make another one and end this war in Afghanistan, if it's still going on."

Me: "oh really? and what else are you going to do?"

Christian: "I'm going to make money, and so everyone will always GET money but not have to pay for anything."

Me: "So everything is free?"

Christian: "yes, and then I'm going to make houses that don't need electricity, but we use those panels that get energy from the sun. ________________(pause)_________ but our back up energy for those cloudy days will be our own pee and poop."

Ashlee: "I thought you were going to be a helicopter pilot?"

Christian: "I'm going to be a helicopter pilot and president Ashlee, I can do both."

Ashlee: (sigh) "Well I'm just going to be an artist."

Our bucket list - Washington

A few weeks ago, we talked to the kids about moving, hoping to make this a smooth transition for them. We discussed what Georgia is like; such as the weather, people, culture, etc. So far they seem pretty excited, but I'm sure they will miss it here. Washington is all Ashlee really knows. She was 2 when we moved here and doesn't remember much from Montana except through stories we've told her. To help make the next few months fun and exciting, we each chose one thing that we wanted to do before we left. Here is what everyone chose:

RANDE : Mt. Rainier (this will be our second visit) We had such a fun day when we visited back in May of 2007

ME: Olympic National Park - this will be a first. They have a rain forest. We'll be able to go to the beach one last time while there as well. (and for all you Twilight fans, it's near Forks, WA.)

ASHLEE: Great Wolf Lodge. When Rande was home on R&R in February we spent a couple days here. It has an indoor water park. Pretty fun for those rainy/gloomy days. I'm thinking this will be a Spring Break get-a-way

CHRISTIAN: A day in Seattle. Specifically riding the Ducks which we have never done and, the space needle (be there many times) But he LOVES it! This may be part of his birthday weekend.

We may even catch a Mariners game while in Seattle and ride the ferry one last time too.

Washington is such a fun and beautiful state. There is soooooo much to do, it's unreal! When we first moved here, we were out every weekend experiencing Washington (Mt. Rainier, the beach, Mount St. Helens, etc. ) I feel like it really made it feel more like home, and the transition from Montana a little bit easier. Leaving Ft. Lewis will be a sad day, it has been our home for 4 1/2 years (in June).

2011

Can you believe we are already a week into the new year? There are a few things this year that I can already look forward to. Our 10 YEAR anniversary, Christian turning 9 yrs old, Ashlee will be 7, I am going to have a niece this year. Already sounds exciting, right?

I have a 'Type A' personality, and love to plan things ahead of time so I'm prepared. Over the past few months though I'm really liking this "who knows what's going to happen, and let's just go with the flow" mentality.

I promised myself that I wouldn't start thinking about moving until the new year. I really just wanted to enjoy the holidays. Now that they are over with, I'm already making my lists and working on my projects. I found a PCS (permanent change of station) checklist on military.com that is so helpful. The checklist starts about 3 months away from your moving date, which for us would be March, crazy huh!? Rande is at a school right now in Ft. Benning and won't be home until February 18th. That means when he comes home, time to start the process.

While he's gone, I'm working on a few things that I meant to do while he was deployed and never got around to it. Ok, so I'm lying. These are things that I've been meaning to do for about 5 years. I'm really excited though about completing these tasks/projects - so I want to share them with you. Plus it will hold me accountable to actually get them done.

1. The kids' quilts
I saved several baby clothes that were my favorites from when the kids were babies. I also saved their favorite outfits from the past few years. Instead of keeping a bin full of clothes that just sits there, I'm going to cut a 4"x4" (or so) square from each outfit and make a blanket. I plan on taking a photo and writing a little something about the outfit and why I saved it and make a scrapbook too. There are a few outfits I'll save like the one they came home from the hospital in. I may even copy my friend Tiffany's idea and make a shadow box with their hospital momentos in.( ..hmmm.)

2. Kids' scrapbooks
Do you see a common theme here, "kids". I'm just tierd of looking at these bins. They take up space and no one can see all the precious things that are inside.
I'm taking my sister-in-laws sister's idea and putting the kids keepsakes in a 3 ring binder. Thanks for the idea Faith.

Those two projects will keep me busy until Rande comes home, along with going through the Mountain of papers I need to shred, and file....then prepare our taxes.

I had no resolution this year, but I guess you can say completing all my procrastinations from the past few years would be close to a resolution.

I hope 2011 is a great year for you as well. No matter the ups or downs it brings, just remember that God is by your side.

Christmas Part 2 (Helena)

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Rande's parents (Nana and Papa) house. We had a lot of fun in Helena, but forgot the camera every time we went and did something or saw someone. We were blessed to see some dear friends of our whom we haven't seen in 7 years. It was so great catching up with them. We plan on stopping by their place on our way down to Georgia this summer.

Been a little too good this year
The kids with their stockings from Nana and Papa on Christmas Eve. I remember as a kid wanting to open just ONE gift on Christmas Eve, and my parents were always against it. So since I'M the adult now (he he) my kids get to open one present - and being at nana and papa's their stockings as well. They were pretty excited.

Putting a puzzle together...ahhhh

Nana not quite awake yet on Christmas morning.

Pretty excited about his new game, which I just realized he hasn't played yet

waiting his turn patiently

a little excited, so was I. Can't wait to have a fashing show with the barbie dolls

decorating cookies the night before Christmas (a little out of order, sorry)

Visiting Great Grandpa before we left town