OMG!!

I just spent an entire afternoon trying to get this header thing right. Obviously it still isn't right. GRRR!! So frustrating. We kind of hit the ground running since our fabulous trip to Europe. It was three weeks filled with adventure, culture, and family. We visited so many places and I can't even describe them all to you. But it was a blast I can tell you that, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Like I said before since we got back we have been busy, busy, busy. Jeff started his "real" job as platoon leader for 2nd platoon Charlie Company. His hours are usually from 5am to 10 or 11pm. At least that's how it has been the past few weeks. I got certified to teach Army Family Team Building classes. Starting this month I'll be volunteering with Army Community Services. I'm excited and nervous. This is something I've been wanting to do for awhile and now that it is here I'm a nervous wreck. Jeff has been doing an amazing job. His company commander thinks highly of him and awarded him a special coin with Jeff's call signal engraved on. This past week the Brigade commander requested the Operations Order Jeff made for a range he was in charge of. This is a rare thing so Jeff felt really honored to have this opportunity. I am sooooo proud of him!!! Despite not seeing him very often I know that he is happy with what he is doing and that he is good at it. What wife could ask for more!! I am looking forward to getting involved in the unit more. As well as getting to know our new Battalion commander...who just happens to be LTC and Mrs Kraft. Yep spelled the same and everything. It has been interesting and will probably cause some confusion. Jeff's a good sport about it though. I'm just happy I won't be left off any email lists. Having the same last name as the commander makes it easy to be spotted. Hayley was super sick last week so she is slowly recovering from that. She is such a perky puppy that when she is sick it is a complete difference.

With Love from Paris

Getting Closer!

I'm so unbelievably excited because we have 20 days left until our big Europe trip! I can barely focus on Thanksgiving I'm that anxious. Twenty days until we leave, 28 days until we get to Weisbaden to see my Mom, brother, and sister, and 29 days until my Dad comes home from Iraq. It is going to be an amazing trip. Not too sure what we are doing for Thanksgiving yet since Jeff may be serving at the Mess Hall. We will either leave that afternoon for Augusta or stay here and be thankful for our friends who have offered to share their dinners with us. Planning ahead for our 3 week trip has been a little overwhelming. Trying to plan out what we should send ahead of time, buying Christmas presents, how to pay bills, and our taking care of our pets all has to be decided a month in advance. Luckily we have two wonderful families who have willingly offered to watch Hayley and KitCat while we are gone. Ten days at one house, 12 days at another. The separation will be harder on Jeff and I then on them I suspect.
Other than our trip we have nothing new happening. Jeff continues to learn the ways of the Army in his Platoon Leader position. He has decided (after consulting with his commander) that going to Ranger School while a PL will only hurt his leadership experience. Therefore we hope he will continue with Ranger School after his PL time is over next November. I am looking forward to my first coffee group (a social group for spouses in the unit) in December. This will hopefully help me feel more connected to the wives in the unit and maybe make some new friends. Since we came here just as the soldiers of 1/15 were returning home from deployment everyone has been busy readjusting to their families so there hasn't been much going on to get involved with. Hoping that will change come January when we welcome a new Battalion commander. Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving week.

Happy Fall

We have had ourselves a very busy October. Jeff has been busy with welcome home stuff for the Unit and has just been made Platoon Leader this week. As for me I have traveled to Chicago and Orlando this month. One was a girls trip with Sarah Faulkner and the other was to take my cousin to her Disney World Character audition. Which she made it!!! Very exciting. We had a lovely Halloween weekend. First we had the Doughboy Bowl which was a football game between 3rd Brigade and Columbus State University. On Friday Hayley had a very important "Howloween" party to attend at the dog park. We had a blast and even though she didn't win anything we came away with a rockin door prize which she has destroyed already. Saturday was post wide trick-o-treating so we went to some friends house for dinner and to pass out candy. Sunday we went to church and had a nice lunch out at Olive Garden with my sister and Jeff's buddy JP. We have had gorgeous weather but now it is starting to get colder. Which I'm really ok with.

Hayley's Costume for the Howloween Party

Burt's Pumpkin Farm


My Sissy and I at Burt's

We've Moved!

We are unpacked and settled down at Fort Benning, GA. I will spare you the dirty details except to tell you that we moved ourselves. We found out officially we were moving on a Friday, Jeff graduated on a Tuesday, we were in Benning on a Thursday, unloaded the Uhaul by ourselves that night, and on Sunday Jeff left for Ranger School. Whew, are you tired?? Because this move has lovingly become known as the move from Hades. Unfortunately since Jeff was on a waiting list for Ranger school he was placed in the back 100 for the PT test. Since the class is usually overbooked they pretty much find any reason they can to release you. Since Jeff is stationed here at Benning they said he had plenty of opportunities to come back to Ranger. So he came home on Monday. Although he was severely disappointed it really was God's will for him to be home. Both of us felt very unsettled about him leaving on top and I didn't know what I was going to do in a new place, not knowing anyway, and in a new house. It worked out and he plans to attend a class in March 2011. The best news is we have our tickets for Europe in December. We will be spending one week with Jeff's mom where we will be traveling to Brussels, Paris, and Normandy. Then heading to Germany to welcome Dad home from Iraq and celebrate Christmas. Then a week of skiing in the Swiss Alps. YAY

Still Waiting...

Not much to report other than we are still waiting to found out exactly whats happening with Jeff's follow on school. Ranger School is set for August 22nd but no word yet on if that is actually the case. If it is...do we or don't we move?? One good thing is that Jeff completed his final phase of FTX (Gauntlet phase) with excellent marks and will continue on to graduate on the 17th. That being said we have 13 days before Jeff supposedly takes off for 62 days of the most intense training he will ever endure. There are some nervous butterflies floating between the 2 of us but we are certain that he will succeed. Be praying for his safety and peace of mind as, like I said, will be the most intense training he will ever have to endure. Physically, Emotionally, and Mentally. I am so proud of what he has accomplished and ready to support him in his next chapter of training. Us Military kids are always up for an adventure!!

Two Days Off!

Jeff returned from the field on Saturday, had a briefing on Sunday, and has had Monday and today off. My days are so thrown off. I kept thinking yesterday was Saturday. He leaves tomorrow for 10 days for his final phase of field operations. It is times like this that I am glad I am not working because the way his schedule is I would NEVER see him. But we are so, so close to graduation. We will be receiving orders within the next week or so. As of now Jeff's follow on school ( Ranger) has not been added, so until it does we expect to move to Benning in the next month or two. Basically, it could all change tomorrow so no planning yet! Jeff wants to move ourselves and that just seems so daunting of a task its overwhelming. My theory is if the Army wants to pay to pack and move our stuff...why not!! Other factors involved with both choices seem to make this an on going discussion in our house. So I'm off to enjoy my last day with Jeff for the next 2 weeks.

By they way...our big TV has finally run its course and we've moved our 19 inch TV into the living room. It is quite comical seeing this tiny TV sitting on this huge stand. Oh the joys of budgeting.

Off to Georgia

It is amazing to me how quickly our stay here in Kentucky has gone by. Jeff is already preparing for STX 2. This just means he is going into the field for the second time. He'll be doing tank missions which he is very excited about. I am taking the opportunity to go to Georgia and visit with my grandparents and cousins. After that he'll go out into the field two more times then graduation is just around the corner. Then the madness begins! Still no news on what will happen after that. More than likely Jeff will TDY leaving me here until October, unless we figure something else out. The unknown makes it so hard to plan! But God is in total control and like last time it will all work out for the best.

At the moment Jeff has barricaded himself in the office/nook to study for his big tank test he has before he leaves for the field. I am waiting for the laundry to get done so I can busy myself and fold it. Luckily there is a Harry Potter marathon on so I am one happy camper. LOVE IT!!