CUTE KIDDOS

These are pictures from Syndey's birthday party at the mall. I though you would like these picutres of your cute kiddos.


Max shouting

Sydney and all of her friends

Brooklyn being shy for the camera

JOE'S AIR FORCE GRADUATION

Joe entered Air Force Basic Training on October 21, 2008. He graduated on December 5, 2008. He was at Lackland AFB in Texas for 6 1/2 weeks. There he learned to be a member of the United States Air Force. He learned a lot and he became more focused and dedicated to the career he has chosen. Doesn't he look so handsome in his uniform!!


Joe lead his group during the graduation ceremony. His flight is behind him. He was there to keep the other airman in a straight line.

This is right before the men and women swore an oath. It was a very moving experience to see how dedicated they are.

After the ceremony we walked all the way back to the base with hot chocolate in hand. It was extremely cold that day. Here is Joe in front of a plane that looks like the one's he'll be working on.

Yeah Joe. I am so proud of you.

The afternoon after graduation was full of exploring. I got to see where he slept everyday. I met some of the men in his flight. Here is Joe showing me that he can fold a bed. And yes it looks great hunny!!!

This is Joe's training instructor. He had a lot of respect for him and talked about him all of the time. I'm a bad wife and can't remember his name for the life of me.

Joe, I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. You are doing so much to improve our family's life and I love you for that.

CANDY PARTY

Back in December, I had a candy making party. Basically, I bought all of the stuff to make cute gifts for Christmas and everyone came to create and assemble them. We made chocolate dipped pretzels, chocolate dipped oreos, suckers, chocolate bark, cookie wreaths and more. Everyone had a good time and I am so glad that it was a success!!! Here are a few pictures of some of the cool people that were there. I had about 13 to 15 people show up. I didn't get pictuers of everyone, but I liked these.

Me, Tami and Misty after the party

Lorilee and Misty packaging up their cute gifts

Wendy and Megan chatting away. Look at all the stuff Megan made!!!

Teresa works at D'Boni's and she had fun creating all of her goodies.

Here's Tamalama dipping her oreos. You got some awesome skills there!!!

CHRISTMAS 2008

We did the whole 2 family Christmas Day routine this year. First, we opened gifts at my parents' house. Then we headed over to Joe's parents house where we opened gifts and ate a yummy lunch. Then we went over to my cousin's house to visit a while because my entire family was over there. Unfortunately I didn't take many pictures that day. But it was very fun. I love being with family. I am so grateful to have such great people in my life!!!

PREGGO PICTURES

So, I've been quite a slacker when it comes to taking the weekly pregnancy photos of my every growing belly. But, my mother-in-law is way better at it than I am. Here are just a few. The big bloo is an inside joke between my husband and me. I guess match the car we own (it's blue and we call it big bloo). This is me at 27 weeks.

CALVIN

Joe and I went to Womb With A View on December 24, 2008 to find out what we were having. We could have found out many weeks sooner but Joe was at basic training for the Air Force. This was the best Christmas Present we could have given ourselves. As you can see...IT'S A BOY. At first I was a little bit nervous going to see our baby in 3D, but it was the best experience. I loved it. Calvin was moving around quite a bit, and because he was hiding in my belly, we are pretty lucky to get such good photos.

ITALY OR NOT ITALY......

Ok, so I was talking to my hubby yesterday afternoon. He was down trying to get all the passport information done for our move to Italy this summer. Well, they inquired about his dependents and he informed them that I was due to deliver our little boy in April. Well, apparantly that is not such a great thing because now our assignment might get changed. Because he will be so little, getting all of his information and passport and all that jazz might hold up the prosess and the Air Force just didn't like that too much. Joe said that we probably wouldn't find out if it gets changed or not until the end of the month. Man! Just when I was getting used to the idea of far away adventures and submersion in new and exciting cultures, my bubble gets popped! So, for now everone, I have NO IDEA what to expect. I guess that is a lesson to be learned. I know it will work out fine and I can't do much about it (little Calvin has such perfect timing). So, I'll keep everyone posted as to where we will end up.

CRAZY PREGNANCY DREAMS

I know that it's pretty common to have weird dreams while pregnant. I've always had quite imaginative dreams. But last night I had the funniest dream ever. I don't remember all of the details, but I was pregnant and I was at the beach for an event for church. Everyone was dressed pretty casually and I just remember not being so casual. There were these eating/running contests. Basically the men had to eat an entire large pizza and then run to D'boni's. (in my dream the run wasn't that long-it made sense at the time) While the women had to eat a huge (i mean huge) plate of spaghetti and then run to D'boni's. Okay, so I'm in this huge crowd of people and they were telling me I could never do it because i was preggo. Well, I started scarfing the spaghetti down. I decided I would kill two birds with one stone and started to run while I ate. I remember getting all the way to Bro and Sis Prater's house and telling them I needed them to come and finish the race with me (i don't know why). As I was crossing the street into the parking lot, I saw another lady almost there too. I ran so hard and I opened the door into the restaurant and I jumped on the table. It was seriously like I had won the gold medal in the Olympics!!!!! Then I woke up. Pretty awesome dream. I am totally the spaghetti eating champ!!!

OUR AIR FORCE DESTINATION!!!!

Okay everyone, it's official. We finally know where we are going to be located in the Air Force. Joe just received his assignment today. It's AVIANO AFB IN ITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm over the initial shock of it all. At first when he told me I thought he was joking because he kept laughing. But after asking him over and over, I am finally convinced that we really are moving there!! I was sooooo not expecting this. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited to go. But it really is such a shock. I've never left the country to vacation and now I'm going to live half way around the world. Pretty CRAZY!! All I know for now is that it is located about 1 1/2 hours north of Venice. So that is pretty exciting. I'll keep everyone posted when I find out more information.