Brian Graduated

Brian graduated from ALS (Airmen Leadership School) last Thursday night. It was an event worth celebrating. This class proved to be a huge challenge for our family, with Brian deploying soon and all the regular holiday rush. However at the award ceremony/dinner I figured that I had probably taken the wrong attitude toward his class. I was frustrated and very bugged about the timing of everything, and I finally realized had I supported my husband during his class he would have done better academically. Brian got 90's on all his tests, speeches, and assignments, but that was not good enough to get any extra awards or recognition. Not really a big deal other than it was Brian's goal to do well enough for an extra award, and this is the first class/school that he has not been given extra recognition. Poor Brian is always effected by me learning little life lessons. I guess that is just part of being married.

Attending Brian's graduation was of course me, his mother Kathy, my mom Tami, and my brother Rustin, Ashley watched the twins. His dad was unable to make it to his graduation due to church meetings. At his graduation we sat at a table with three of his supervisors and I met his first shirt and commander. All of these men were there just to support Brian in completing this class and making Staff Sergeant. Now we are looking forward to when Brian actually sews on Staff... it's not the extra responsibilities we are looking forward to, it's the money!! Anytime Brian can trade a good test score for a raise is a good thing!

Noel

This is Noel, she is a Guinea Pig and the newest member to our family.

I got her from the pet store over a week ago... its been a long time since I've posted, we've had computer problems along with all the holiday madness. I went to the pet store with my mom and husband to look at getting a small animal for my sister (Ashley) for Christmas, and while I was shopping for her I came across Noel. I asked the pet store employee if I could hold her, and as soon as I held her in my arms my bottom lip got big and my eyes went glossy, I just couldn't let her go. Of course as I was doing this my poor husbands eyes were rolling in the back of his head. He couldn't believe we were actually getting, for lack of better words, a rodent.

You see my husband didn't have family pets while he was growing up. He said he had a ferret for about a week, and a dog for about a year, give or take a few months. So he didn't understand how this sweet little animal could melt my heart. While I was a child we had numerous animals that varied in type, and I loved them all. However, the animal that was always my very own was a Guinea Pig. I think I got my first Guinea Pig when I was 8 years old her name was Scarlet. My second Guinea Pig I got for Christmas when I was 10 years old, I named her Holly Berry because she was a Christmas present.

So Noel was my early and only Christmas gift from my mom this year. We named her Noel for the obvious reason that she was a Christmas gift and its a Christmas name. However, it fits her in so many ways, one being its a sweet name and shes a sweet pig. Once we got her home from the pet store and the boys in bed Brian took some time to bond with her, and it didn't take long before his heart too was melted. Everyone at our home is very smitten with this little pibby, as the boys call her. It has been a real blessing to have something so small to nurture and love. She had helped us all remember to relax and be gentle, as our nerves were at breaking point with Brian leaving so soon. We are grateful and happy that she is a part of our family.

Just to explain some of the pictures... Of course the boys love her and are learning to be soft with her. They are very excited to hold her and feed her. Just so you know Heith didn't really eat that carrot I told him yucky before he got a bite, but it made for a cute picture. Also Heith didn't get bit by Noel she is so sweet she hasn't bit or pooped on us. When we hold her she falls asleep. Shes the nicest piggy I've every had.

A New Tradition

This is a countdown candle that we found, and we light it everyday to burn while we read a Christmas story or scripture to the boys.

These are some of our favorite books.

This is Brian reading to the boys from The First Christmas Story Book.

Brian had a hard time keeping the boys interested in the story, so he had to use gestures to keep them looking at the book. They were very intrigued by the light.

The boys had a fun time listening to the story of Christmas, and they're happy to listen to a story each night while the candle is lit. It really calms them down at night to get ready for bed.

After we read them their story, we held them for a little while and started singing "Silent Night." Just like dogs howling at sirens, they howled as they tried to sing along to the song. It was pretty funny, and we could barely finish the song because we were laughing.

Our Sledding Slideshow

It all started Saturday morning when we awoke to big fluffy snowflakes falling. This was the first big snow storm for Utah this season, so I put on the kids snow suits, hats, and boots to see how everything fit. Heith and Haiden were very anxious to get outside to play in the snow. On the way down the steps of our front porch Haiden grabbed the hand rail that was covered in snow and said, "owwee, owwee." I tried to explain to him that the snow was not owwee it was cold (they know what the word hot means, but evidently not cold). Haiden didn't seem to care what the right word he should be using was, he only knew he didn't like the cold snow on his hands.

Later that same day we took the kiddos sledding. It was really cold from snowing all day long, so we only stayed out for 45 minutes, but boy did we have a great time. After a few runs down with the kids Brian decided he wanted to test the sled out for speed, so he left the boys at the bottom of the hill with me, so we could watch better. Heith of course was not content waiting at the bottom of the hill, he wanted to be apart of the action. So up the hill he headed, and then down the hill he came rolling like a giant snowball in those cartoon shows. This happened twice before he decided it would be best to stay with me.