Full Battle Rattle

Allan's latest picture sent from Ft. Sill. He is in his full "Battle Rattle". And of course it would not be complete without the M-16 in his hands!!(SHE is named Jessica) He has four weeks left as of today! I cannot believe that in just a few short weeks I will be boarding a plane to go see him graduate, what an amazing feeling that is! After he is off to OCS (Officer Candidate School) a 12-week program that will be in Ft. Benning, Georgia. We will all make the trek out for that graduation..as he will have a commisioning ceremony as well. The time is moving, somedays it goes at a snails pace..and I have to remember that it isn't forever. It is that fact that keeps me going. We will make it through and endure to the end... :0)

Family Pictures

The week before Allan left to go back out to BCT, we headed to Guajome Park and took family pictures. They really turned out great. It was a nice day, and cooperative kiddos!! Ilove our family picture, it turned out beautiful. It is a nice memory to have while Allan is away!

Off to Basic Combat Training: Red Phase

The week of reception is officially over. Allan crosses the tracks tomarrow and heads over to Basic Combat Training, or BCT. What does this mean? No more daily phone calls, and a drill Sergeant in his face 24/7. I talked to him tonight, and he was getting everything ready to go. He says he just wants to start..the waiting was driving him insane (reception lasts a week). I am happy we are finally on to Red phase (the 9 weeks are seperated by 3-3week phases, red, white and blue.) but I know this is the hardest of the phases..and where they break you down. Praying for my sweet husband that he stays strong and knows we lovehim. Letters of support would be great, I will have his address soon and will get it to whoever would like to write!!

Becoming ARMY STRONG!!

This is what saying goodbye to a soldier feels like. I didn't think the day would ever come as we prepared for Allan to leave for basic training. Now, it is here. Watching him leave left me with so many emotions. I was proud, I wear my title of "ARMY Wife" with great pride! I was sad. The emptiness of not having him here is magnified when I see how much my little ones miss him. There are so many little things I realized I took for granted. Bathing the kids, taking turns getting up with a nightmare, holding the baby while I break up a fight, they all seem so much more amplified doing them on my own.

Yet, what it really breaks down to is I am so very happy with the decision we have made. He is doing something honorable, not only for his country...but for his family. We will be so much better off for it. The seperation is just minimal in the grand scheme of things. This too shall pass, and one day we will look back at all this crazines and think, "I worried over THAT!". For now, I cherish every phone call I receive from him and I pray for his strength and safety.

We are not just ARMY strong, we are FAMILY strong!

Kindergarten Colby

It amazes me just how much they seem to change overnight when they start school. It has happened again. Colby has become such a big boy, in what seems like overnight. I love seeing him embrace life and loves asking questions...about EVERYTHING!

My Girls!!

Caits and Calleya..my two beautiful, silly, wonderful girls! They are growing up before my eyes. Calleya LOVES Caits, and the feeling is definately mutual. What a cute pair they are. Caitlyn is becoming such the big sister, she is a great helper..and I truly am gonna need it in the coming months. I am such a lucky Mom to get to have two very awesome girls in my life!!

Baby Mine..3 months old!

I cannot believe that he is already three months old. Time is not suppose to fly this fast, especially when he is my last baby. I love this stage. Cwynn is so alert, he'll even turn his head to track where you are. His little smiles warm my heart. He has truly completed our family. I love waking up and hearing his "conversations". He will just start cooing like crazy, trying to let us know his opinion. We are so very blessed by you Cwynn, you make my heart smile! He loves to hear people talk, and calms when you sing to him. Especially Calleya's singing, he loves it. "Baby Mine" from Dumbo is one of his very favorites. ..."rest your head, close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine".