Veteran's Day

This last Friday, Laura had a program at school for Veterans Day. She had invited Paul a while ago to come to it. She has been really excited for the program and excited to have her uncle come who has served multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also had her Grandpa come who worked on the planes for the Air Force. She was one excited girl. Paul was a part of the Army, 1st Calvary (One of the most deployed units in our country). He doesn't really talk about his experiences there a whole lot. He doesn't like a big deal to be made out of his service. He just is not big on any recognition. When he would be home on leave, I couldn't throw him a BBQ/Party, so I would have my own BBQ which all his friends were invited to and other family friends who wanted to see him. I just couldn't say it was for him.

He had to drive down from Logan and we were running a little late...I'm hollering at him to hurry up as we are heading into the school. His response??? "Jill. Incase you didn't know, it's Veterans Day. I've been to war. It's my holiday. This Veteran takes his time." HA!! We got to the program and stood in the back. There came a part where he was supposed to stand up so he could recieve some recognition. I had to kind of shove him out so that he could get a card. I knew he didn't really want the recognition, he was there for Laura. He has really taken to my cute new family.

I tease Paul that he never smiles. But he smiled for this. He smiled for Laura. And even though he likes to tease her, I will forever remember that moment of seeing him watch her sing and of remembering what it was like to have my brother fight in a war. I only know a handful of his experiences, and it is such a surreal feeling to know that while he was doing that, I was here. Irritated that the line at the drive thru was taking to long to get a coke while he was living out of a tank or a bombed out building.

He and I hung out for the rest of the day. During our drive, he made the comment that it is hard to be thanked for what he has done. There is nothing glorious about what he has seen and done. People say all the time that freedom isn't free. But really, it isn't and I wonder how many of us truly understand that?? Paul has experienced that first hand. So many of us truly will never grasp what it means to have freedom nor what the men and women who have fought for our freedom have gone through and done for us.

Well, Sgt. Paul Tingey, I know there is nothing glorious in it. But I am grateful that I have a brother who is a man (anyone ever wonder what a real man is like, check out my brothers). Who is not afraid to fight for the things we have and who recognizes it isn't glorious. You have been such an amazing brother and from the middle of a war, you have called me multiple times when you knew I was going through the hardest time of my life. You have moved mountains to make sure I am ok. Thank you for what you do for me!! I love you!!!

SURPRISE!!!

Lilly and Laura got bedroom makeovers. Brandon and I had been talking about it for quite sometime now and we finally were able to do it. We spent almost an entire day looking for what would be perfect and then one night we put it all together, we stayed up until 3:00 a.m. rocking out to music. Brandon worked so hard to make the space their own. The basement in our house is unfinished, except for one bedroom. We were originally planning on putting Lilly and Laura in the downstairs bedroom together. Before we moved in, Lilly asked if she could "create" her own room out of a section of the downstairs. Of course, Brandon and I didn't care. We told her to knock herself out. She worked hard to divide off the section and create her own room. Lincoln and Jamie (Brandon's brother and his wife) bought Lilly a carpet remnant so that her room would have carpet. All four kids had shared one room at our home in Kaysville, so Lilly and Laura have been beyond happy to have some space!!! It was fun to make it more of a bedroom for Lilly and to personalize Laura's for her.

We like to joke around about our "Downtown O-Town" basement, but really, it is. The basement of our house is unfinished but fairly big. We decided to create a sort of family room down there where the kids could be. Again, this turned into a neat experience for us. We found some couches on KSL and bought them from a family in Ogden. The mom and dad only spoke Spanish and Brandon didn't really have a chance to let them know he spoke Spanish. Apparently our buying the couches couldn't have come at a better time for this family, the Dad had just come home from the hospital. It makes my heart smile to know that this cute little family was able to help ours by selling us their couches and we were able to help them. We bought a large rug from a man in the Air Force. I just get excited about that. I'd rather buy something from a serviceman then buy it at a Walmart. So we have this funky little basement. We love it.

We didn't tell the kids about it. When they came over that next Thursday, we still didn't say anything. One of the girls went downstairs and came running up (I believe it was Laura). Brandon and I followed Lilly and Laura back downstairs to watch as they figured it out. Lilly was so excited about her room. Her smile and laughter is something we will forever remember. Laura just giggled over her room as well. It was so hard to keep it a surprise but so worth it. All four kids love the little family room. Luke loves that he can eat on those couches. Ha! It's funny how some small and simple things can make all the difference in a home.

Charles Emerson Winchester IV

Right before moving, I saw some black lab puppies. Thankfully, it didn't work out to get one. I had decided to wait til Spring, when it would be easier to train a puppy. The other night, I was with the kids at Pepper Belly's to have dinner with my mom for her birthday. Laura saw an add for puppies. The price was very, very low and so I didn't think it would be worth calling. I wrote down the number at the kids urging. The next day I called, we stopped by and well....

The mom got pregnant on "accident" and so the family just wanted to find the puppies good homes. The mom is a Golden Retriever and the dad, a Black Lab. When we first picked up Charlie, I was going to name him Radar. I was pretty set on the name. However, it didn't really seem to fit. The next morning, as Brandon was kissing my on the forehead to leave, in a half sleep I asked him if he had checked on Charlie. And so it stuck. But for fun and to keep with my M*A*S*H theme, Brandon came up with Charles Emerson Winchester IV, Charlie for short.

He is a great little puppy. Little for now. He is very mellow. I used to always say that my dog Buzz was a once in a lifetime dog. That I would never have another dog like him. Charlie may be close. I love having a dog again. I have missed Buzz ever since I had to put him down. The kids love having a dog and a cat. Charlie loves Brandon and Jerry loves me. The dog loves the cat lover and the cat loves the dog lover. Go figure! Charlie and Jerry took about 24 hours to become fast friends. They play non-stop. Just the other week, I was thinking I had way too much going on....then we got a dog. Ha!

September, November....

I'm not really sure what happened to October!! What a crazy month! Moving, school, unpacking, organizing, etc. has made last month a blur!! We are really loving our new home in Plain City. I still go into culture shock at times, but mostly I miss being so close to all my friends, but am blessed to be closer to others.

The weekend before Halloween, the kids were with us. We went to our community Trunk-or-Treat. The kids threw together random costumes and we headed over to the church. That Saturday, the kids and I went up to Logan to the American West Heritage Center. We rode the train, a pony, went through a corn maze, down a huge slide and got to chuck pumpkins!! I busted out the stuff to make Halloween suckers...I'm a tad nervous to post pictures as I don't like my "domestic side" to show. However, it's proof for Pookie that I'm "where I belong", in the kitchen! I guess the month being so busy is just a sign of how good it was. We hope everyone had a good October and Halloween!! Here are a few pics from last month!

We still have the cat. Jerry. He's growing and sort of growing on me....I wish you could teach cats to not get on couches though. Grrrrr