Monday, December 31, 2007

The New year

As I sit here and wait for it to change to the year 2008 I am looking back on this year & feel blessed for all that has happened to me.
*I have the best family in the world, extended & our little growing family. My husband is so amazing & he works so hard to provide for us. We are so blessed to have the time & the money to be able to hang out together. I am also so amazed as I look at out life when we started this family 2 years ago... I never could have imagined the joy that I would find in Brok's little laughs or how much more I have fallen in love with Kevin since he was born. He is the greatest dad & he loves him so much. The look on Brok's face when he sees us makes everything I went through so worth it!!! He is a blessing! I am also grateful that I have some of the best parents ever. They taught me how to be the wife & mother that I am today. Mom, you are one of my heros. I don't know how you ever did it with all of us at once!!! You are a great support to me & I am grateful for that. I also have the greatest siblings! I never knew that my brothers & I would ever get along so well! & Tash, well who knew that we would be so close? Brooke, you are always there to help with Brok & you are such a great aunt even though you didn't want a nephew!!! :)
*I have some of the greatest friends in the world. I never see half of them anymore as I live so far away but I know that when I need to, I generally can call anyone up and talk to them! Thanks you guys for supporting me & allowing me to be the person that I am! Camille, you have been such a good friend from the day that I met you! I know that we will always be friends! You are all such great examples to me!!!
*I am blessed to have found the perfect job for me right now. My boys are the cutest kids & are so much fun! I love working with them. They make me smile! Brok loves them too & I am grateful that She found me! We are blessed that we get to go to work together! Also that Kevin gets to come hang out with us!!!
*Pets... who knew that they could be the greatest companions!!! Actually, I love my dogs, they are so cute & loving.
I am so looking forward to the joys that this year will bring our family!!! Brok's 1st birthday & all the milestones he will accomplish (hopefully) & all the fun we will have. We are also going to be purchasing our first home, doing the landscaping in our backyard & actually staying in one place long enough to make friends that we won't have to leave!!!
This year has definately been one of new experiences & adventures (moving across the country with 2 dogs & a 3 month old in only my Ford Focus!!!) and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Those of you that have touched my life this year, wether briefly or for greater amounts of time, I thank you!!!
I hope next year can keep up with this year! Happy new YEar!!!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Christmas with the family

Since neither Kevin nor I really cared too much, we just took Brok to see Santa (he's really not an attached Child) so that when he was older, he would have pictures. The little girl in front of us was probably close to his age & she was screaming her head off, Brok got up there and started laughing. We got some really good pictures of him & the professional ones they took he is staring right at us all cool and chill with a giant smirk on his face. We're waiting for the day when he decides strangers aren't good.
We have a tradition in our little family of driving a lot during Christmas. Actually, since Kevin's brithday is on Christmas eve and his family all has their own families, we celebrate with his family on Christmas eve & late that night, we drive to my parents home in Las Vegas to spend Christmas morning with them since it's fun to be around everyone who still believes in Santa. This year we had even more excitement because Kevin's nephew (he's 2 years older than Kevin) and his wife/kids were there. Everyone of Kevin's family was there minus one nephew who couldn't make it. We never got a family picture but it was fun for me to meet & hang out with everyone. Here are some pictures of everyone. Of course Brok got spoiled but the look on his face was so much fun! While walking down the stairs to see the tree for the first time, his face just lit up and it was almost as if he knew that was what he was supposed to do!!! he is a character! We got to talk to my brother who is on a mission in honduras as well, he comes home in June!!!
We had so much fun with all our family & can't wait til next year when he understands what is going on rather than us having to open his presents for him!!! I hope everyone had as good of a holiday as we did!

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Home & Tired!

We got home Christmas night around midnight from a crazy go go go weekend with family. It was so good to see everyone! After getting home so late we had to open gifts to each other still (we had opened some earlier in the week before leaving) and guess what? I got an mp3 player which is what i wanted this year & kevin got a playstation 2 which is what he wanted. Brok got so many gifts we could hardly fit them in the car on the way home & since getting home I have had to rearrange his play room! but what can you do!!! he's baby one & everytime we see something we like, we get it! But needless to say, our house was a disaster & is just barely being cleaned up! I spent a good part of the day yesterday getting everything taken care of around the house including moving around furniture in our spare room, cleaning both brok & his play rooms, organizing our living room & all kinds of other stuff. But ...
TODAY WE FINALLY GOT INTERNET @ HOME!!!!

we have been using our phones, the internet at the base & every time we go home everyone else's internet. plus we figured out that we get like 20 channels through our tv including all the local channels so now we are not disconnected from the world!!! yeah!!!

I hope you all had a great Christmas & are looking forward to a great new year!!! We love you all!

Ashley, Kevin & Brok

Saturday, December 22, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BEALS!!!

Hello Family & Friends!!!
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from the Beal Family!!! Hopefully this year has been as good to you as it has to us! And that the next year will bring even more happiness & joy!
We started this year with a move to a new house in St George, UT and that was the beginning of a year of changes!
In February we made possibly the biggest decision of our married life by deciding to join the United States Air Force. I say we when actually Kevin joined however everyone knows the hardest job in the Air Force is being a wife. He flew to Salt Lake City, UT around the end of February and was first sworn in then as well as receiving his job of aircraft maintenance. From that decision, our life has never been the same.
We were thrilled last year to find out we were having a baby & on Friday, March 23, 2007 a beautiful, and healthy baby boy Brok Grant Beal was born at 3:23am at a hefty 8lbs 10oz. After a short stint in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) for low blood sugar and jaundice, he was brought home three days later. Since that little bump in the road, he has never stopped progressing. Currently he is long and skinny being almost 32in long. He has a great personality and we learn something new about him everyday! He cut his first tooth & learned to sit up the same week and is now ready to take off walking!
Kevin has had a busy year this year but didn’t leave for Basic Training until May 8th so he was here for 6 weeks of Brok’s life before leaving. He endured 6 weeks of harsh training in San Antonio Texas (the longest away from home he’d ever been) and was then sent to Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX for the first part of his technical training as an F-16 crew chief. Basically he has to know everything about the aircraft including all the systems & how they work because he has to know when something malfunctions. He is responsible for inspecting the aircraft before & after flight & if something happens that is a malfunction he needs to know it. Talk about stress! Actually he loves it. Brok & I joined him there in TX but he was only allowed to stay with us on weekends though we did get to see him during the week too. He did well while he was there receiving Top Dawg (student of the month), Fit to Fight (excellence in physical fitness), and an award for having a 97%average the whole time he was there. From TX we made the drive & move to our new home in a little town outside of Phoenix, AZ called Buckeye (we do not live on base). He is stationed at Luke AFB. He recently completed the rest of his training and is now working basically a full time job. He will tell you that it is not what he imagined he’d do but it is nice that he will have a the same job for at least the next 6 years with the possibility to re-enlist if desired (not to mention that it’s every little boys dream to be around these fighter jets).
As for me… well aside from the fact that I had a baby, spent 6 weeks of the year with only 4 calls & 2 letters from my husband, moved away from all friends & family for 6 months & am now finally settling down, my life is pretty boring… Actually, I have made some great Air Force wife friends who are now all over the country and have enjoyed enhancing my relationship with Kevin & Brok. I enjoyed staying at home with Brok while in UT & TX but since moving here decided to get out & do something so I currently nanny for a wonderful family of 3 rambunctious boys aged from 5years-18months. Brok gets to come with me & he absolutely loves it & they love him. I am doing well & love our life.
I can’t forget to add something about the dogs; they would feel left out J Patches is her same crazy self (for those of you who don’t know she is a small lab mix about 4 years old) enjoying the fact that she now has a yard & room to run. (We can stand at the back door & throw a Frisbee to the front door & she can run full speed & catch it.) Zumi (an almost 2yr old mini pincher) is also enjoying his new home; he is very calm & seems to know that we are here for a while.
Have a great new year & enjoy your holidays!
Love, Kevin, Ashley & Brok +Patches & Zumi

oh my life is so crazy!!!

Well it has been two weeks since I posted last which is an indication of my life!!! We are back home for christmas & are excited. for those of you who i don't have an address for I will post our christmas letter & a picture... Not a cute photo card like some others but hopefully our picture will turn out good!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Friday, December 7, 2007

ok so we were really bored

We had so much fun this weekend staying with our friends the Rexes & we were all hanging out last night and we found this site that we can make our selves an elf so MERRY CHRISTMAS.... click on the link it is so funny!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1234376315

Monday, December 3, 2007

I got a new coffee table!!

So we went to the RC Willey clearance center tonight to look for a nicer couch for our huge living room only to spend 2 hours putting together pieces to make a cool couch we ended up not being able to afford!!! but my wonderful husband did find us the coolest coffee table. it's pie piece shaped but the best part is that the top lifts to perfect height for eating or writng or whatever!!! and the best part was that we had found a newer one that was super expensive but ours was better quality & 70% off!!! Yeah


We get to go home tomorrow!!! (ok so really st george is our home even though i only really lived there for 4 years, hey it was longer than i lived in vegas!)

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Things you may or may not know about me (us)

1. We only dated for 2 weeks before we decided to get married & then it was only 3 or 4 months til we actually got married. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way

2. We love going out & riding 4-wheelers or motorcycles. We actually owned a 4-wheeler but due to some unfortunate events last year, (a little 1 yr old smashed it into the house) it got totalled & taken :( but we do have a bullet bike that we love to ride!

3. I go to bed early & have a really hard time staying up late but also can't get up early!!!!

4. I love hot wings!!! I could eat them all the time!!! I wish I could make them becasue I would probably save a lot of money!

5. I am pretty much blind in my left eye, I can't see more than outlines & colors with my right eye closed. but my right eye is 20/20.

6. Kevin is an avid mountain biker, or used to be before he joined the USAF. Downhill, crazy crashes & all.



I don't have anyone to tag except camille.

Home At Last

We are finally graduated & in Las Vegas visiting my family for a few days before heading home to St George. It has been a very busy time for us & each day holds something new so it is nice to just be able to sit down & relax & not have anything to do!!!

For all you up in St George!!! Can't wait to see you!!!

Monday, November 26, 2007

Life is so CRAZY!

This past week or so has been so incredibly crazy! I feel like all we do is run, run run!!! But it has been so fun & keeping us preoccupied & makeing time fly! Brok finally learned to sit up alone! He is a little slow as far as that kind of stuff but I know he can do it just he doesn't. but he finally learned. And then to top that off, on Thanksgiving he cut his first tooth. So he's getting there. He is so fun!

As far as the rest of life... I have been working like crazy, really I have worked so much! But that's ok I guess. Kevin graduates on Wed (YAY!!!) and then he does in processing but we get to go home this weekend!!! yay!!! He is really good at his job & he really likes it. Besides sitting up & getting a tooth, Brok has just been chilling... He really is such an easy baby (until he gets a tooth) and is pretty content to just hang out!

We had a good thanksgiving with some friends of Kevin's from school. I made a huge turkey cause we expected a bigger crowd so now we have tons of left overs! Not to mention that there are pies, chips, etc that didn't get eaten! But it was fun for having been our first without family.

We also had a bbq with some friends we made here that he has the same job as Kevin & they have a little one who is only 3weeks older than Brok. We love getting the boys together even though they really don't know why there is another thing there. this is the tops of the boys heads, they were concentrated on the toy!!!

Hope everyone had a great holiday & GUESS WHAT? We will be home this weekend!!!!

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Who looks like who?




I guess he looks like both of us!!!

crazy week

So I started working this week it was just the 8-230 wed & fri but she called & wanted to use me on thursday so i worked those two days... Then she got a job & now i work 1230-730 (generally earlier) & get paid a set amount. It's been really fun but also really crazy!!! Kevin gets to live with me finally which is really sweet except for the fact that we have to double duty gas since I work later & he works at seven or so each day...
we found a dog this weekend... I know sounds wierd... So the story goes like this... we were out yard saleing this weekend on saturday morning & we saw this little dog running around & since my dog got hit by a car I freak out at that so we tried to get it but it ran away... then sunday afternoon we were out for a drive and just as we left, we saw it again headed for this really busy street. so I jumped out & grabbed him, he is a really cute little white dog, not sure the type, someone said long hair chihuahua but he doesn;t look like it... he is a really mellow dog that is house trained & he gets along well with our two dogs...
well that about sums up our week other than I just have to say its so HOT!!! Last week it was in the 90s!!! come on its the middle of nov!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2007

Happy Weekend!!!

This was one of the best weekends ever...
First... We celebrated our 2 year anniversary today... & even though we didn't do anything... I love my husband so much... He made me breakfast& changed the diapers & helped a lot with the baby! And I still get a present!!! He is really an amazing man... I love his so much! He is an example to me & he deals with all my inperfections as if they are nothing and the best part is that he tends to let me know that he loves me & that i am beautiful when i feel the ugliest & worst about myself. It's like he knows... I am so grateful that we are able to be together forever, we get to celebrate that anniversary next week (for those of you that don't know, we were sealed last year on the eleventh of november).
Second... I got a new phone... my old one just wouldn't hold charge & well pretty much it was falling apart. We couldn't get a brand new one but one of kevin's friends had a used (barely) razor phone & he gave it to me & kevin bought me a lime green cover for it!!!
Third... We finally got a new car!!! We have been really cramped in our little ford focus & thought we would never get out of it cause we owed double what it was worth but alas we found a good vehicle for us!!! Its a 2003 hyundai sante fe & not only do our payments barely increase, we have gap coverage & a warranty on everything for 100,000 miles plus it took almost four grand off our negative equity!!! so now we are only upside down about three grand... and its way nice, very lightly driven for how old it is... we love it...
Fourth... I made a decision!!! none of those options worked out really... I just couldn't justify anything so I was starting to feel really bummed but then I got this call on Friday afternoon that a lady had seen my ad on one of the many places i had put it & wanted me... so we go to meet them today, they have the cutest little boys, 5, 3.5 & 18months all very self entertained, they will take care of themselves & they pay me a lot... well i mean reasonable, 10/hr for at least 13 hours to start (two days a week, 8-230) then increasing to more as she finds a job.

So basically I lucked out with everything. This weekend solved a lot of my problems!!! Yeah!!!

Thursday, November 1, 2007

I can't decide!

I am having a hard time with finding a job & now I am trying to find a job as a substitute teacher since I have the education background. I don't know!!!!!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Happy Halloween!!!

We took Brok out trick or treating tonight & had a blast. He is so much fun! Pictures are coming, He was a purple dragon. Hope you all had fun & were safe!
It was so cute today & its something that made me want to cry... Kevin & I always are texting back & forth about stuff & when he left for school today, he said I love you (which is normal) but he said make sure Brok knows I love him too. He is such a good daddy & I love him so much. Brok gets so excited to see him whenever we go get him, he smiles the biggest toothless grin & his face just lights up to hear his daddy's voice. I love you babe!

So do you ever wonder about how life works itself out in the strangest ways? This week has been really crazy getting things done her e& what not... But you will never guess... those of you who know what has been going on... The lady that I turned down to nanny for was still looking & we are having a really hard time scheduling with the job I took, she wants really odd hours & with Kevin living with me it just wasn't working out right & well needless to say, I will not be working for her but Kristen, the other job, would like me... I met with her today & apparently with the contract thing, well its going to be on my terms... the funny thing is that she lives about 100 yards from my house. So I can walk there and Kevin can take the car & yeah... but isn't it crazy how life can just spit out something for you that is perfect & with a stubborn attitude we just deny it, no matter how many times we get it thrown at us? I wonder what Heavenly Father is thinking... He's probably saying "Hello I gave you this great opportunity & this is what happens, get it through your fat head!!!!"
Anyway... That's my thought for the day... It's almost the weekend! YEA!!!!
Oh & Shelly, put this base on your wish list, it rocks & if you live out in the area I do, it's pretty much like home...

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Camille tagged me so now I tag...

Lacey, Shelly, Fiona & Heidi
Camille got tagged to put up two of her favorite recipes so here are mine since she tagged me, it is simple & easy & doesn't take much time! I am a very busy person & I really don't cook so I use these simple recipes & it makes enough for extras if I want it for lunches.

Campbells Cheesy Chicken & Rice Casserole (I don't cook so this is as good as it gets)

From: Campbell's Kitchen
Serves: 6
Ingredients:
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 cups frozen mixed vegetables (I use canned veggies cooks better & faster)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts halves
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
Stir the soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper and vegetables in an 11 x 8-inch (2-quart) shallow baking dish.
Top with the chicken. Season the chicken as desired. Cover.
Bake at 375°F. for 50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Top with cheese. Let casserole stand for 10 minutes. Stir rice before serving.
Try It Alfredo: Use 1/4 cup grated Parmesan for Cheddar cheese. Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese with soup. Use broccoli flowerets for vegetables. Top chicken with remaining Parmesan cheese.
Trim It Down: Use Campbell's® 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup instead of regular soup and use low fat cheese instead of regular cheese.
Mexican: In place of onion powder and pepper use 1 teaspoon chili powder. Substitute Mexican cheese blend for Cheddar.
Italian: In place of onion powder and pepper use 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, crushed. Substitute 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan for Cheddar.
Nutrition Information
Calories 410, Total Fat 13g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 94mg, Sodium 699mg, Total Carbohydrate 36g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Protein 36g, Vitamin A 28%DV, Vitamin C 28%DV, Calcium 14%DV, Iron 16%DV using Campbell's® Condensed 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup Calories 379, Total Fat 10g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 94mg, Sodium 650mg, Total Carbohydrate 36g, Dietary Fiber 2g, Protein 35g, Vitamin A 29%DV, Vitamin C 28%DV, Calcium 14%DV, Iron 16%DV
*very good with the mexican flavor & the alfredo

Creamy pesto chicken & Bow ties

From: Campbell's Kitchen
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
3 cups uncooked bow tie pasta
2 tbsp. butter OR margarine
1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup OR Campbell's® Condensed 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup pesto sauce
1/2 cup milk
Directions:
COOK pasta according to pkg. directions. Drain.
MEANWHILE , heat butter in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.
ADD soup, pesto sauce and milk. Bring to a boil. Cook over low heat 5 min. or until done. Stir in drained pasta and heat through.
Nutrition Information
Campbell's Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup Calories 602, Total Fat 25g, Saturated Fat 8g, Cholesterol 94mg, Sodium 843mg, Total Carbohydrate 56g, Dietary Fiber 4g, Protein 37g, Vitamin A 17%DV, Vitamin C 3%DV, Calcium 13%DV, Iron 18%DV Campbell's Condensed 98% Fat Free Cream of Chicken Soup Calories 572, Total Fat 22g, Saturated Fat 7g, Cholesterol 94mg, Sodium 671mg, Total Carbohydrate 56g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Protein 37g, Vitamin A 18%DV, Vitamin C 3%DV, Calcium 13%DV, Iron 18%DV

What a Trip!!

Well, the time has come! We are finally settled & living life... I have to say it has been a surreal experience... We have had so much happen... For starters, its two hours behind here from Texas so we are always exhausted at 8!!!! Which really sucks... & our church is at 3pm, the most fussy time for Brok. So needless to say, this week, we didn't make it... however, our house rocks, its huge & totally empty right now. We have a bed (king size!!) and sofa & love seat, just picked up our coffee & end table & Brok's crib... that's about all that we have!!
Brok spent his first night out of our room last nightn... I am hoping he starts to sleep better now we have a crib for him... We met some of our friends last night that have a little boy the same age as Brok who is crawling & holding his own bottle & stuff. I hope being around him it motivates Brok to start doing some stuff.
We don't have too much else going on except that Kevin will probable get to live with me while he is in training... so hopefully tomorrow or at least within the week he will get to move out of the dorms into my house.
as for me... WEll I am just glad to be normal and to be able to get settled!!! WE will be here a minimum of 3 years. We actually signed a year lease which we have never done since being married!
Good night all!

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

From Wichita Falls, TX to Tecumcari, NM

Well, I write tonight from desolate Tecumcari, NM. We are about 1/3rd of the way to our destination but rules & regulations prevent us from going any farther. We had to stop her because we are only allowed to drive 7hours a day or 500 miles & the way it all worked out, this is where we had to stop... It is such a tiny dinky little town in the desert... we ate at this podunk little restaurant & the waitress accused me of lying about getting mashed potatoes with my food & was really rude... but it was food & about the only food there was!!!
It has been a crazy week... and it's only wednesday! Monday I took Brok to the doctor & ended up having to just feed him pedialyte for 24 hours & very diluted formula for a week... So that was a fun stress to add to the mix.
And don't even get me started on loading up the car & stuff... we ended up getting lucky and one of the guys in Kevin's class had lots of room in his car for a lot of our stuff... Our car is totally full to the rim & roof!!!
Oh & we now have a crack in our windshield because of having to hit our brakes too hard... isn't that dandy?
Well, from tucumcari i say good night & that only 2days from now, I will be in my home on my nice big bed!!!!

Sunday, October 21, 2007

what a weekend

Wow... when things happen to us, they happen to us big!!! This weekend was good and bad for us...
Good: Well, I got a call late on Thursday night that the nanny job I had been wanting wanted me so I was stuck... I prayed so hard that I would make the right decision... Luckily, the lady wanted all kinds of strange things for me to do so I declined & was offered another part time job working on my days I don't for my real job so I will be able to come visit!
And then we got a lot packed up and ready to ship to Arizona
Bad: Friday all day Brok was sick, fever & all and the docs wouldn't get him in or refer me off base so I got to deal with a sick baby all weekend! which luckily for me, he isn't too bad of a sick kid... Then Friday, I got food poisoning & it was coming out both ends! horrible cramps & it threw me off! so I wake up on saturday, not feeling like I slep really but luckily, Kevin had sort of taken over with brok but he wakes up and what do you know, he is super sick too! funny thing is, the only thing we ate the same of was three days sooner & as far as I know, it should have hit sooner if it was that! so he had to be at the air show at the air force base at 10 for accountability & he couldn't hardly stand... here I am still sick & I have to make sure he is ok & brok too. So we get some meds for us all (no infant tylenol but luckily I planned ahead) and we did well. We watched some really cool planes & got a lot of fresh air. But unfortunately around 130 or so, Kevin got hit real bad with a head ache & had to rest. So I pushed brok in his stroller another 3 miles to the car & came to get him. however, I was facing into the sun & didn't thin about it but I got a good ole sunburn... Now my nose is bright red & my face hurts & my scalp itches from peeling already & my chest area where my shirt didn't cover looks like a crab! & since kevin was in his blues (the nice uniform with out a bill on the hat) he has a great looking burn on his face... Brok somehow escaped with not any sun (not sure how...)
Good: we woke up today & feel much better... got a lot of packing done & only have 2 days til we leave!!!
Brok however, still has bad diarhea so we have to make a trip to the doc tomorrow on top of having to get more boxes so we can ship things, go to two different banks to pay different things, finish packing my house, load my car, get the oil changed & tires rotated & take stuff to the air man's attic which for you non-military is where you can go get items for your house for free if you're a certain rank & below. mostly its where people who are movign take things they don't want to take with or couldn't sell. I have some really nice things to take like a microwave & baby stuff. also tomorrow I have to clean out my car, get kevin at 5 & clean my house. !!!! Wow... I hate moving! luckily, i won't be doing much next time & it won't be for a while!
We get to come to st george to visit soon so friends, I hope to see you!

Thursday, October 18, 2007

having one of those days again

Okay so another day... yeah, today all my hopes were totally crushed... actually, not really, I just feel like everything is about to crash down on me!!!!
To start out my day, I woke up feeling as if I hadn't slept a wink! Brok was screaming in his pak n play next to the bed & he had pooed out his diaper, all over! And once again, he felt warm! So after cleaning him up, I go to eat breakfast & what do you know, I have nothing! Somehow I had let myself run out of cream chees & all I had to eat was my lunch stuff... So I didn't eat... Then I realized that it was the 18th & Brok was supposed to get his 6 mo shots on the 10th (the military is very strict in adhereing exactly to the day of when the shots were given) so I had to take him in to get them before it got too late. So we go & wait (they give them separate from at the doctor) and when they finally get to him half hour later, he's fussy & tired. Poor guy. So they poked him twice & he didn't cry but he sure bled. So then I come get online to find out that I in fact didn't get the nanny job right around the corner that I was hoping for as her sitter had bailed on her. So that made my day just even worse. And then, Brok pooed all over again!!! and he was screaming at the top of his lungs. So we go home & when I get there, the dogs have strewn my magazines all over the floor so it was a huge mess. I was not having a great day. Then I decided once Brok was down for his nap (he fought & fought so hard) that I would call to find out why I still hadn't heard back from the apartment complex about the deposit I had sent that was supposed to be refundable. Well apparently, they just didn't want to call me back & tell me that somewhere in the fifteen page application I signed it said that I would only get the deposit back if it was in 48hrs after I was approved. So there went our money right down the drain... Funny thing is that no one could call me & tell me so here I have been banking on that money & now we don't get it... Needless to say that just about topped off my wonderful day... Luckily it did get better... I found a better nanny job, only two days a week & a date night for them which Kevin does get to come with on & it's only ten bucks less a week than the one I really wanted. It is a bit further away but there are somethings that you just gotta give... And she really wants me, she said... so that was the highlight of my day. luckily, only 5days left til we are out!!!!!

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

some pictures, more recent

This is the same outfit we brought him home in!!!















This is him & his teddy bear. We had a scare the other day, we lost it! Luckily, it was just on the ground but it had been run over!!! I guess it just gives it character, he was mad though, he kept getting mad about it when he would look at the back of the bear. He has to have it to sleep though!




I love this picture of him. We had this shirt that said 9-12 months
but when i put it on, it wouldn't go over his head, so Kevin decided
to try. Needless to say, it was stuck. He just played it up though!









This is while we were riding the trolley in Dallas, He wasn't really sure what to think & he's learned that when the camera is on, he doesn't smile!







This is the most recent family picture we have & its a really far away one. But it'll do for now!











I have new pictures!!!

Ok so a lot of my family hasn't seen Brok since we moved, ok everyone but Becky & Eric & Gary & JoAnne so here are some more recent pictures of him. He will be seven months old in six days! I can't believe it's been that long!!!! Each day is an adventure with us!


On the 5th of October we drove to Dallas to stay with my mom's brother Gary & his wife JoAnne and visit for a while. We had so much fun, swimming with Brok & patches & going out on the boat, Brok wasn't so sure at first, too much wind in his face but then we figured out if we hide him he liked it. Sooo... He would cry when we stopped but loved when we went fast! I will get a picture of him in his life jacket up ASAP.


Also, there are a few pictures of us riding the trolley through some place in downtown Dallas, and though its not close up, this is our family more recently! hope you like the pictures!

Ok my computer won't let me add the new pictures so i need to go back & do some reconfig. I promise new pics soon!!!

Only 6 days left!!!!

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Isn't my hubby so hot?


Kevin got his class pictures back today & his individual ones & this is it. I love it, I think he looks gorgeous in uniform! (and I helped him iron it sort of... I just watched actually!!!!) That's his plane in the background, the F-16. He loves the plane. I tell you, he is only in school for 5months total & he learns everything about the plane (so do I as i help him study) and there is a lot to learn!!!! So far since he's been in school, he's gotten the "Fit to Fight" & "Top Dawg" awards, the first for meeting certain physical fitnes standards (like running a mile & a half in 11:13 or something like that) and the second for acing all his tests & his instructor nominated him for it. He won out of 5 for the day shift. I'm very proud!

I am packing our house up, but really, there's not a lot to pack because in order to fit it in the car, it can't be packed! So basically, I'm going through and deciding what we can ship & can live without if it doesn't get there on time! I tell ya it's a lot easier going through a two bed apartment than a four bed house like I did moving to here!

I am slowly finding out that people in Phoenix are stuck up and rude... that does not make me want to move there. You have to dig deep to find those that don't care about what your email address is or what you put as a title to an ad! Today I posted on craigslist advertising myself as a nanny & I happened to pick the title pick me pick me & some lady wrote me a nasty email saying that I was unoriginal & that I stole her title that she had posted like a month ago. And then I had a lady rip on me that my email was a turn off to her (its honeylover122 and I've had it for so long that it would be difficult to change!) and that I needed to present myself more professionally. The thing is that these two had to take time out of their busy lives to dog on me when I am doing the same thing they are, looking for a job! Seriously what is wrong with people!

Anyway, I woke up today to fog so thick that I couldn't see the freeway that is like across the street from me! And it was cold! It's finally starting to cool off. Yeah!

I know it's up everyday but only a week left!!!!

Monday, October 15, 2007

another day in the life of us


So today was full of ups and downs... Brok is feeling better but Kevin isn't... We got paid & it was bigger than expected but now it has to pay bills... I got the job I was hoping for but she wants to meet me first before she can be fully sure... it's been really crazy...

But... Only 8 days til we move... and get into our house... that's what's the most exciting for us.

Brok has found that he likes phones now. He grabbed my phone from me today and called some random number without me realizing & then proceeded to hit himslef in the face with it while trying to get it to his ear &/or mouth! he is growing so fast. Still not sitting up without assistance but he is really good at sitting on our laps & learned today that he can hold onto the handle in the shopping cart and he won't fall over. We can't wait til he can be mobile & then i know we'll wish he wasn't!

Good news just came from kevin, we get up front money to travel (we thought we were going to have to pay our way with credit cards & be reimbursed becasue his orders came really late) so that will help! yeah!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

About us>

1. Who is your man? Kevin Grant (& Brok Grant of course)
2. How long have you been together? married almost 2 years, known each other little past that
3. How long did you date? 4 months from time dating to marriage date
4. How old is your man? 23 almost!
5. Who eats more? He snacks a lot but I can eat more in one sitting since i don't snack as much

6. Who said "I love you" first? He did... He said guess what & then said it.
7. Who is taller? He is, by a lot of inches.
8. Who sings better? That would have to be him...
9. Who is smarter? We balance each other, he is street & other smart, i'm very book smart
10. Who's temper is worse? I don't think either of us have a temper!
11. Who does the laundry? We both do.
12. Who does the dishes? I do cause he is staying at the dorms due to dumb rules
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? looking at it, he does but laying on it me..
14. Who pays the bills? I do
15. Who is better with the computer? I probably am
16. Who mows the lawn? Neither, we don't have one...
17. Who cooks dinner? Me. I actually like to.
18. Who drives when you are together? He drives most of the time. He doesn't like me to!
19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever has their card out first, but mostly Kevin
20. Who is most stubborn? Probably me. Even though we're not very stubborn.
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me.
22. Whose parents do you see the most? we used to see his but now, we don't see either!!!
23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me
24. Who asked who out? Well... not sure!
25. Who proposed? He did, of course.
26. Who is more sensitive? Oh wow, me... but when it comes to Brok, he is
27. Who has more friends? I'd say about the same
28. Who has more siblings?me
29. Who wears the pants in the family? sometimes me, sometimes him

family picture



This is the most recent family picture that I have! It is from when we went to see Kevin graduate from Basic Training & is really bad because I am holding the camera out & Brok is staring at me!!!! But here is a good picture of Kevin!!!

What an adventure!

Well, today was quite the day in that Brok slept from about 6pm last night til approximately 6pm tonight only waking a few times and at the longest was awake only 45min. He also had a fever of at least 100.5 or lower until about 6pm when it spiked to 101 (we know, nothing to worry right?) So we decide after calling the after hours nurses line and being told they will call back in an hour (what if he was dying!!) and the er at the hospital I was told to go to for my kidney stone telling us that we should come in, we decided to take him in because he was not acting at all normal. So we get there & are waiting when I got a phone call from the nurses line & after asking some strange questions (are all his body parts moving correctly>) they told us we were at the wrong er for "his disposition" since he wasn't grumpy all the time. So we decided to go see if we can't get him so ib profen to help with the fever & tylenol only to realize that every store has taken it off the shelves!!! Yeah , not the way we wanted to spend our evening...
so anyway, he's feeling better, fever has gone down & he's slepping again. This is going to be a busy week for us, Kevin has to go to all his outprocessing appointments & we have to decide exactly what we are shipping to arizona & what we can take with us in the car. We are also trying to schedule getting everything done and wishing that my dad was here to help us pack the car! He is really good at getting the most in the tiny space we have. Luckily for us, we now have a little more room since selling the stroller.
overall, it's been a busy weekend & it's gong to be a full week! We have an air show this weekend that is definately going to cut into our packing time but hey, only nine days left right> then life can settle down & we can get into a routine that will hopefully be good!

Saturday, October 13, 2007



Brok loves his RainForest Jumperoo, this is right after we moved out here to texas, about the 3rd of July, his feet can't touch yet but alas, three months later, we have had to raise it because he is so tall! At his 6mo check up, he weighed 16lbs, 10oz (only gaining 8lbs in 6mo) and was 27in. he is overall in the 25th % for his gender & age. Like i said, he's tall & skinny!

We Know What's Going On!


Well, we finally got our orders on thursday & we leave good old Texas in ten or eleven days & we could not be happier!!!! We have found us a cute little house in Buckeye Arizona that will fit us so good! I got a job as a nanny which I am so excited about because Brok gets to come, in fact, she wanted someone with at least one kid!!! It will help with finances too and keep me busy and not getting fat!!!
We also got rid of Brok's infant seat, he was way too long for it so that everytime i would get him in and out, he would have to pull his feet up or they would get stuck!!! He now has a converitble car seat that can be forward or rear facing. I was a little sad to see him grow up but he loves it, he has more room to move & he can see better, it sits up better. Dad is happy cause he also got a new stroller, a nice Jeep umbrella stroller & it "has cool wheels & a pillow" for Brok. He's growing like a weed! You would not know he was my baby though, he looks just like kevin!!
I am excited to get back out west, i have to admit, i have gotten majorly homesick the past few weeks, i mean who can blame me, i just sit at home all day! I miss everything about st. george including the weather, it's been low 90's this past week& it's almost november!
Well, not much else for today except that I miss everyone & can't wait to get home!!!!

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

still no orders!


Well we are still waiting... so far we have no orders and without orders, we can't go anywhere! the good thing, if kevin graduates before they get here, he gets to spend the days with us.

So today I bought Brok this monkey toy that rolls around and he loves it. I also started this new eating and exercising bit, I only eat the suggested serving size of anything and then I have these mom & baby exercises... so far, I am not sore and I am feeling good, I didn't even eat a lot today!

That's all for today, the computer is going dead yet again!

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Only 2 Weeks Left


Well we only have 2 weeks left here in good old Wichita Falls, TX. Kevin graduates from his first technical training school working as a crew chief for the F-16 fighter planes. He loves is. Ashley is learning a lot too! It's been an interesting experience here in Texas, Ashley living alone is a strange place only knowing two people (both of which are now life long friends!) and Kevin living a normal weekend life but being under the strict thumb of the air force during the week! It sure has taught us to become more reliant on each other! Brok is growing like a weed, today we practiced sitting alone, he sort of has it, he will place his hands on the floor to balance but as soon as they are gone he topples to the left side! He also did something new today, he pushed up on his hands and scooted his knees up under his chest, the first signs of crawling!!!! I can't wait til he is mobile. I know, I will wish he wasn't but it would be so much fun!!!
Well that is all I have for tonight as my battery is dying on the laptop. I will post new picutes and more blogs tomorrow!