The time has come, yet again

The time has come again for Kevin to spend an unlimited amount of time in the field. Field training started almost two weeks ago, with Kevin and some of the Platoon spending the first eight days in New Mexico. Now, they are just pulling from the rear, while rotating guys that go out for five days at a time. Over the summer Kevin became a squad leader, at this point leaving him busy from the time he wakes up (between 3-430am) until far after he gets home (which he normally walks in between 5-9pm). Our lives definitely revolve around the Army more now than ever! He will be gone pretty much all of November with the rest of the Brigade and some in December. During this, he is supposed to be home for the Holidays. January-February they all have to go back to NTC....time to start preparing for yet again, another deployment. We are not sure at this point when that will be.

During all of this Brittney is having to have a hysterectomy, which will be similar to the c-sections she has had. The surgery will take place on October 15, first thing in the morning. She will have her cell phone on her in the hospital, as will Kevin.

The kids are all great! Nicholas is slowly beginning to talk and into everything! He is such a great toddler! Breanna and Caitlin are enjoying school. Breanna brought home her grades, three 100's, two 97's, and a 95 as her overall grades in her subjects. Caitlin is learning a lot this year and her writing has really improved.

Breanna has us already planning her birthday party. This year Kevin will be home and it will be on her birthday, October 25. She insists on having a Hannah Montana party and is very excited about it. Hard to believe she is going to be seven this year. Where does the time go? She is going through the stage now of whining when she does not get her way and has become really good at talking back!

Hope everyone's October has started of well!

Summer 2008

What a summer we all had! We kicked off the summer by taking a trip to Georgia. We spent a little over a week visiting with family and celebrating Mike and Maria's wedding with them. We all had a blast being able to see everyone! For Kevin, it had been well over a year since he had seen everyone. It was probably the last time he will be able to visit with anyone for possibly another two years. We are yet again planning for another deployment! At this point we do not know a whole lot on it.

We decided to let the girls stay in GA for six weeks after we left. Russell and Mom brought them back to us. Russell, Mom, and Ashton ended up spending about a week with us in El Paso. Of course, this visit was a lot easier than the last. Last year when they visited, Britt spent a couple days in the hospital from having Nicholas. The girls had a great summer being able to visit with all the Grandparents! We are still hearing stories on their adventures!

While they were away, we bought two new dogs. Spike, a tiny toy Chiuahua, and Dopey, a Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff). Both have turned out to be great dogs! Over the summer we have taught Dopey to sit and stay. He is very gentle with the kids, though at times, I think he forgets his size. Oddly enough, Dopey and Spike have become inseperable! They play and sleep together! The girls were so surprised to have two new dogs when they returned. All Caitlin could say is that she has wanted a big dog for so long now! (Dopey was about 15 pounds then. He will get to be about 150lbs).

Nicholas enjoyed the summer being an only child! He ended up getting so much attention while the girls were gone! It was nice being able to spend more one on one time with him. He is of course walking, and now into everything! He is getting so big. It seems once again, time has just flown by!

The girls returned home about three weeks before the first day of school. School started for them on August 25. Breanna began First Grade this year and Caitlin is in Kindergarden. This is Caitlin's first year with a full day of classes! She is adjusting well, but it has been difficult for her at times. Breanna, as always, is loving school! We spoke with her teacher last week. She is ahead of the majority of students in her class and will more than likely be tested for the Gifted Program this year. She is reading very well now and always wanting to learn something new!

Kevin is still waiting on either points to drop or to gain more points for promotion. He is promotable now, but with the Army working with a point system, it can tend to take more time than needed.

Our Mini Kevin

Nicholas has found his side of fighting for something he wants. Cassidy and Nic were fighting over the phone.

Such a "Kevin look"
No denying this kid! He is a little Kevin!

He's Caught!

I happened to walk by Nic's room, only to find him doing something he knows not to do! He has discovered the world of climbing...

Nicholas looking out his window...probably at the dogs. He has no idea he is even being watched.

"Oh, no. She caught me!" I have never seen him move so quickly!

Nic is all over the house now and has learned to pull all of his toys out, leaving a huge mess in his room! He is getting so big and amazes us with every passing day with the new things he is learning!

"Oh great...Mom has the camera out again"

Enjoying the ball popper

"Okay, I have had enough. Maybe she will leave"
"Nope, so I will just turn my back to her. Yes, I made this mess!"

First Day of School

The girls started school this year on August 25. Kevin was able to take the girls in with me this year, which was nice since last year he was in Iraq. It is so hard to believe Breanna is now a first grader and Caitlin is in Kindergarten. Hopefully this turns into another amazing year for Breanna and a great one for Caitlin. Caitlin is a little upset because she is no longer in Mrs. Baldwin's class, but after explaning to her that her teachers change every school year she became a little more accepting of a new teacher. She has Ms. Rivera, which I remember from last year. Great teacher! I think Caitlin will do just fine with her. Breanna has a teacher that we have never heard of until now, Mrs. Belmonte. We have all faith that Breanna will have a good year. She is more comfortable with the school scene at this point than Caitlin is. Another school year has begun! Where does the time go?

Sound Asleep

We started looking for Spike, our Toy Chih, and found him and Bre asleep in her bed! Of course, as soon as Spike saw the flash he woke up. Breanna managed to sleep through it all!