It is about that time when life updates are called for...

It has been a while since I have really opened the window on my life so here goes,

I turned 25 last june and holy cow I am starting to feel it (although i know it will keep getting worse). All the fun I had when I was a kid are coming back to haunt me. I am doing good though.

I got promoted to Sergeant last Feb, in the reserves that is a pretty big promotion status wise. It is pretty neat because I get put in charge more and I get more responsibility. I also re-enlisted in June for three years. I am hoping that the next time I will be able to get a bonus (working as a civilian for the reserves makes me inelligable for any kind of bonus but some people are pushing to have that changed).

I am still a Unit Administrator for my reserve unit. It gets a little boring doing paperwork at times but I can still say that I like it.

Me and Lindsay are working on buying a house in Brigham. It is a condo type place. we are doing alot of the work from hanging the drywall all the way to finish by ourselves to bring the cost down. I have learned alot about drywall that I never wanted to know. It is a good skill to have but I would not want to do it for a job. The mudding is the worst part. In the next few days I will be completly done mudding so I am looking forward to that. Lindsay has been doing most of the painting as I have been finishing the mudding so that is almost done too thanks to alot of help from hers and my family.

Overall things are going pretty good for me, Still working, Lindsay and I are doing well together, I still love my video games, still "enjoy" exercise, still hang out with Ashton alot, (if any of you know him, he just got married a few weeks ago), Lindsay and Michelle (Ashtons wife) love to hang out together too so it works out good.

I can not think of anything else to say so I guess I am done for now.

You're Invited. . .

Hey guys, we know that you guys probably can't make it but we still wanted to extend the invitation for you to join us for Lalee's baptism this Saturday. She's pretty excited about it:)

Is this what it was like Brandi?

Christina....

is there a story behind your profile picture?

Baby Grace's Epic (well, it doesn't rhyme)

I decided to keep a baby journal. This is only the first entry, if you would like to read more I will send you the rest, or you can find me on facebook.


July 1st 2008

Today you will be one day old. You gave us all a scare when you decided you were ready to come on the 22nd of June (Aunt Sheila’s birthday)instead of the 1st of September. Around 7:00am that Sunday we rushed to the Logan hospital, bringing your poor Uncle Mitch (who was half asleep and had just come to stay with us the day before), and Grandma (Karen) Mayne with us. After the doctor checked me and gave me some medicine, we got to leave (six hours later). It was a very hot summer, mid to high 90s every day. We only had air conditioner in one room, so we had to use a fan to keep cool. Needless to say, you got very hot an wanted to get out. Our second anniversary came on the 24th, and we almost forgot about it. That night you got ready, and we rushed to the hospital again, this time at 5:30am. The doctor said you were anxious to get out and sent us to Mckay Dee Hospital in Ogden (three hours later). We got to ride in an ambulance, while dad took Uncle Mitch home to Brigham and got Grandma and Grandpa (Phil)Mayne. Grandma picked us some really pretty roses from their yard, which Great Grandma (Glenda) Mayne had planted four years earlier. Dad was getting impatient, but they made it in good time. By that time everyone in the whole family and neighborhood were worried about you, because I had dilated to 3cm. You and I were stuck in the hospital until one of two things happened 1: you were born or 2: you waited until you were 34 weeks along and they‘d send us to Logan hospital(you were only 31 when we got there). We did pretty good. Dad had to leave us on Thursday, but my good friend Laura Sheffield helped make things more comfortable for me. She brought me movies, food, and a Game Cube. What a life saver! It’s boring in the hospital. She put up your ultra sound pictures, and the nurses all said you were the cutest baby there. We didn’t have a lot of visitors, but Grandpa Mayne came to see us almost everyday, he liked the break from home and work. He brought us lots of snacks. My good friend Emily Schumann came to visit us too. She bought us some bear claw ice cream. A lot of people wanted to visit, but there wasn’t much time. Julie and Sam Kidd came to see us, and the brought their niece Andee (she sure grew up fast!) By Sunday night you were ready to try again. At 5:30 in the morning (on June 30th, Julie‘s birthday), I notified the nurse. They hooked me up to a machine (again, for the third day) to make sure your heart was beating and to see how hard my stomach was trying to push you out. For some reason they couldn’t see how hard it was pushing. They got the doctor, and he said I had dilated to 8cm. They gave me an IV in my wrist, and an epidural in my back. Dad called Grandma and Grandpa Mayne at 7:00 am, and they came as soon as they could. They called everyone they knew while we waited. By noon it was about time to go, but someone else was in the delivery room so we had to wait. Dad said once we got in there, it only took half an hour for you to come out. They took you away as soon as you came, and put you in a room to be checked out. On the APGAR test you got a 6 at one minute and 8 at five. The doctors were impressed. You weighed roughly 4lbs 7oz, and were 17.5 inches long, a lot bigger that anyone expected. While we waited to see you, dad and your grandparents called everyone again to tell them how good you did. I was tired, and my legs were asleep, but I was happy that I could eat again and that you were safe. Dad was a nervous wreck. He couldn’t stop crying, he was so happy to be a dad and overwhelmed with the thought of taking care of you. I was not, because Sunday night he and grandpa gave us a blessing that everything would be good and told us that our Heavenly father loves us. We finally got to see you again for a minute, just dad and I. You looked so sad. You had wires coming out of you, and a big tube in your throat to help you breathe. You cried when they stuck a big needle in your leg, but no sound came out because of the tube. I cried a little too. Then they sent us away again. We ate breakfast and watched a little TV while we waited for them to tell us it was ok to see you again (around 5:00 pm). It seemed like you were on the other side of the hospital (so far away), we went through a maze of hallways just to find you. We finally found you, and dad started crying a little. Such a beautiful baby girl! You looked much better than you did before, you were sleeping peacefully. You were a little annoyed with us at first for waking you up, but then you were happy to have us there. I talked to you while dad wiped away his tears of joy. The doctors were really nice and answered all the questions dad had for them. After we got a couple of pictures with dad’s cell phone and sent them out, Grandma and Grandpa came back to the hospital to see you. Grandpa took a lot of pictures, you didn’t seem to mind the flash too much. Then the doctor said I could hold you. That was the happiest moment of my life. You are so precious to me. I wanted to hold you so much. You were very happy to have me hold you. You even opened your eyes to see me for the first time. You were so tired, and went right to sleep. I got to hold you for a long time, while dad and Grandpa took more pictures. Grandma just looked at you with admiration and didn’t say much, you are our little princess. Grandma Kulick wanted to be there with us so badly, but was in Long Island, New York. She bought you lots of clothes (I am sure are just adorable). After a while they told us we had to go, so that you wouldn’t get too stressed out. It was a long agonizing night. I wanted to hold you, but I couldn’t. We got to see you from 10:00am to noon, dad changed your diaper and got to hold you for the first time. The doctors were very impressed with you, you didn’t need the oxygen tubes anymore and they took out the annoying tube from your belly. You were your old self again, kicking an squirming non stop. The doctor said you tried to take out your IV today, so they wrapped your hand up in tape with a big cotton ball (which you liked to stick in your mouth). You looked like a little frog stretching your legs out and snapping them back in. Everyone agrees that you are the prettiest baby they have every seen. Grandpa came to see us again. He said you are “amazing“. Grandma is coming to visit you too, and to help me get through this hard time. They say I have to leave tomorrow. I am very sad, haven‘t stopped crying since they told me. I won’t get to see you so much. But Grandpa said I could go with him before he goes to work (or after)so I can at least see you everyday. I will be staying just down the road, but it feels so far away. Now I know how your dad feels, you are so hard to stay away from, we miss you too much. We are so lucky to have you, and you are lucky to be so healthy. The nurse put a little red bow on your head, because she thought such a beautiful princess needed a bow. You didn't like it when I changed your diaper, but you fell asleep so quickly in my arms. You got your first taste of breast milk today. It was a from a donor, and it went in through a tube in your nose. You didn't like the tube, but I think you liked the milk. That's all the excitement I have for today, but I am sure there will be more to report tomorrow. I am very tired, I didn’t get to sleep yet, and it’s 9:30pm. I didn’t get to eat much either, but Grandma went to find something for dinner. She is very good to us.

Happy 4th of July All!

Hey guys. July fourth is one of my favorite holidays. For some reason or another I've become fairly patriotic over the past decade and I am so thankful for our freedom. It's definitely worth celebrating! For the fourth we had a BBQ and invited some neighbors. We had 76 people show up and almost got in big trouble when the MPs insisted that they saw fireworks... fireworks? What fireworks? Did anyone see any fireworks? "No sir, that must have been a car backfiring." All in all, it was a good week. I came down with a nasty case of pneumonia in the middle of June and was finally feeling better last week so it was nice to be able to be around a bunch of people after being house bond for a while. How was your fourth? Did you do anything fun? Hope to hear from you all soon.

Hey my Good FRIENDS!

Holy Cow! I am so excited that I was able to meet up with you guys. You guys seem to be doing so well, and so happy I am glad for all of you.

Well I am sure you are all intrested where life has led me.lol Well we are now living back in Brigham City, (I know its odd) lol Well my husband was in the Army for the past 5 years, he was in the Infantry. We were stationed in Alaska, at Fort Wainwright (Fairbanks) We love ALASKA! Yes it would get down to -50 to -67 every winter, its crazy! But we miss it, and would do anything to go back. Kurtis went to Iraq, and was there for 17 1/2 months. I know crazy right. Well he was on his way back home, 2 days from my doorstep, and thats when Donald Rumsfelt EXTENDED them for adittional 120 more days. They started the Surge into Baghdad. That is when our life changed forever. Kurtis' company was ambushed, and kurtis plus 12 others from his squad were seriously injured, and 2 were KIA. Now he is home, and doing better than he was, but then he got Severe PTSD, and was medically retired from the army due to all of his complications. I told him well there are not many 28 year olds that have a Military Retirement.lol So we are back here putting our life back together. Kurtis is going back to school, in audiology. I finished my Bachelors in Respitory Therapy.
But despite our trials, we loved the military, and glad we served. We have 3 children. Kayla is almost 7, and Turner is 3 and Allie is almost 2. So you can guess I am busy! I stay home with them, and are doing more classes online, ( who knows where I am going with it. lol) Just to stay busy. Anyways, I am so glad that I was able to meet up with this blog! Cannot wait to hear from you all! Remembering the Good ol' Days!

Love ya all,
Amber Edelman (Hall)

Must be true love

Holy crap this took me an hour! Anyway, I think I figured out how to post a picture. If so, this is a recent picture of Doug and I. His mom and sister came to visit and we did some sightseeing. This is a typical example of Doug showing his affection.

Alaska Pics

Exciting Summer Plans Anyone?

Hey guys- it's been pretty quiet on this blog lately. Any new adventures going on in anyone's life? Pete and I have some pretty big plans this summer. We are planning on taking the kids to see the statue of Liberty next week. In July we will be seeing the fireworks from a port right before sailing down to Cancun, August we are planning on backpacking across Europe and we'll end the summer by climbing Mt. Everest in September.

OKAY, okay- not really. With the price of gas we're planning on going on a whole lot of bike rides (to the grocery store, to the swimming pool and of course- the park) and then we plan on camping at Bear Lake for a week in August- that's about the extent of our wonderful vacation plans. Lalee has decided that she wants to get baptised (Pete and I leave the decisions to our kids as we don't think anyone should be expected to be baptised and it means more when they make the decision). That will happen on August 2nd. We'd love to have any of you that are in the area come if you'd like. I'll post more information as I have it.

This past week was Lalee's 8th birthday and Alex's 6th birthday. So between their birthday's, birthday parties (unwisely not on their actual birthday) and father's day it has been one REALLY LONG party. In fact I really need to be taking down balloons and streamers and cleaning up but this seemed much more appealing ;)

School is still going. It's kind of hard to believe that this is the last summer that both Pete and I will be going to school for a while, or at least until I start my Ph.D as we're both on track to graduate this spring, Pete with his bachelors in Business management and me with my Masters in School Counseling. I'm not sure if I'll know how to have summer without school (or life for that matter) it will be interesting.

I thought I'd post a couple of pictures of this past week. My favorite is the one with Pete and Lalee- I'm fairly confident that he won't be overly pleased when he realizes I posted it online:)

K- everyone, it's your turn. Write something so we know you're all still alive;)

this is mom

blen showed me the comments and set me up to type you a letter, so I will.your dogs look really cute. i am not having much luck with the computer....................call you later.

Pete and James....

What do ya'll think- much changed in the past 10 years?
(This picture was taken May 2008).

PS. Sorry James, I couldn't resist. Plus, you did pose :)

Our California Summer Thus Far....

Meet G.I. Jezebel and her side-kick the Great Goldent Goliath.






Here is Goliath trying to catch a rubber duck out of the wading pool (the ducks are all now missing beaks). Jezebel won't get in the pool, unless I put her in it after one of our walk/runs, in which she gets home panting loud enough to let the whole house know we are coming.










I bought a tricycle from a man whose health will no longer allow him to ride it. We have been having a good time with it. My roommate was shocked at the pugs reactions to the bike. We wheeled it into the backyard, and the dogs started doing excited little circles and making excited snorting noises. Then Goliath tried to jump right into the basket. Neither one of us could figure out how they knew the basket was to be their spot. I put a cardboard on the bottom of the basket underneath a dog bed, and put pipe insulator and a pool noodle around the edges of the basket to keep them from hurting themselves. Then I attached a Y-leash to the bike to keep them from jumping/falling out. They love it. And I have to admit, I prefer the trike to the Kiddie bike trailer we had in Logan. I can reach back and pat their little heads. But I admit that riding a trike is a bit more challenging than riding a bike. It will take some getting used to.

Watch this all the way to the end, it is way funny.

DaNette's family and updates...

I just got back from spending the week in Indiana with DaNette and her family. They moved there two years ago as DaNette's husband is working on a doctorate degree in psychology. He has another 2 years of course work and then a year of interning. They seem to really like it there. They have three children 5, 3, 1.





They do a lot of bike riding and geo-caching. I'm not sure if you have heard of it. If not go to geocaching.com and check it out. It's a game where you use GPS systems to find 'treasures' or caches that other people have hidden across the nation...

A recent picture of Nette and I (DaNette's in the White, I'm in the Navy- well black in this picture). People still say we look a lot alike.... not sure. What do you all think?

Anyway, not a lot happening in our life right now. The kids only have one week of school until summer break. It's so odd how quickly time flies. It doesn't seem like that long ago that this school year started and yet Brandi was here on the first day of school and so much life has happened since then- wow. Anyway. We don't have any major plans for this summer as we are not sure when, or even if, we will be moving so we're trying to keep things open. Pete and I do have tickets to go to the Dave Matthews concert at the Gorge in Washington in August so that will be fun. We'd love to hear what everyone else has been up to. TTYS, Nae

Hey

Hey, I am assuming you are talking to me :) The job is alright. I have to study through a whole bunch of material and then take a test to get a license before I can actually start the work part of it. Getting through all the material is taking FOREVER! Not to mention, I am working on the MBA thing right now, too. I am kind of entertaining the idea of getting a part-time job just to get out of the house until I get the license I need. I don't have the kind of personality to spend this much time between the same four walls :P I think I would get through the material faster if I had a chance to get out and do something to burn off my restlessness.

My roommates said I can paint a mural or two in their house. I am pretty excited about that. I will have to let you guys know how that is going.

The other day, Cameron (the little boy I live with) came out of the bathroom and exclaimed with excitement "MOM! I just peed standing up!" Well, of course I had to open my mouth and ask, "was it very difficult?" Next thing I knew, the boy had whipped his pants down and patiently demonstrated to me how you hold it, aim, and then let the pee come out. I thanked him for telling me how, but I don't have a "pee-pee hose" (my term, not his), so I will just have to continuing sitting or squatting when I pee. Of course, then I had to explain squatting. Luckily for me, we have two female dogs here who are not shy to demonstrate their squatting talents ;) I've been told I don't have the filter on my speech that everyone else has- imagine me living with a three-year-old.

The trip to Chinatown with Lorena was pretty fun. We found this little fortune-cookie factory with the yummiest fortune cookies I've ever eaten :D They were still warm and everything. And my fortune said "suburban husband is a gardener with sexual privileges". I am thinking that fortune is probably inaccurate, since I am not married- unless it's talking about my roommate's husband. I hope not. He's a mailman, but he helps his his mom, grandma, and uncle do their yard work. Hmm, that's a disturbing thought-

I don't know when I am coming back to Utah. Money is a little tight, so I don't really want to pay for the gas right now. Not too mention driving through the desert after the weather has gotten warm. I think hot feels hotter when you are bored and driving through a landscape full of a whole bunch of nothing. I think you guys should take a road trip and come out here. You can see the glow-in-the-dark stars I sewed to the ceiling of my Jeep and the sheet I painted with my whole body after completely smearing finger-paint all over me. Fun times in sunny California :)

Hi

I was just wondering when you will be coming to town next? How is your new job going? I liked the pictures that Lorena posted from your trip to china town. It looked like fun.

Here are some of my pictures from Honduras, I took over 200 pictures so I will post some more later after I have sorted thru them. We were there to support the Marines in building a school house for the local town (4th pic). We supported them by keeping all their equipment running and we also did alot of transportation missions. It was a pretty fun trip overall besides the weather. It was hot and humid all the time. It was near impossible to stop sweating.

My New California Man...

This is Cameron. He is my California man. Look at that muscle!

He has promised to go on a date (or 'vate', as he called it once) with me to Santa Cruz for his fourth birthday.

We have lots of fun together. We finger-painted this morning. And grew some Magic Rocks. Last Friday, we used a paint-spinner to make groovy art work. And we made a collage for his parents. I watch him on Friday mornings, and we do all the messy, fun stuff his mom (who likes things super-clean) doesn't do with him- like draw tattoos on his arm with eye-liner.

For Geneva

Geneva wanted me to post these, she will comment on them in a little while explaining them.

Joke: Sorry it is so long but it is pretty funny

UPS Airlines

Just in case you need a laugh: Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high School diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those of us who fly Routinely in our jobs.

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet, which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics
correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute
descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks causing throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!)
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

And the best one for last

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Safety First!!!

Spring update 2008

Hey Guys,

We took a walk last Sunday and took some pictures. I thought I'd post a couple :) This is our Alex, Lalee and Becca. It's hard to believe that they are growing up so fast. Lalee will be 8 this June and says that she wants to get baptized. We'll let you all know the date, time and place when it gets closer so you can join us if you'd like. Alex will be 6 in June and Becca will be 4 in August.

Yesturday Peter was sharing a candybar with Becca and Becca said, "Daddy, look behind you." Pete, thinking she was trying to show him something, looked back while BEcca proceeded to grab candy while he wasn't looking! It's kind of funny how quickly they pick up on devious things!

We are starting to think about getting ready to move. I have been procrastinating it as moving means de-junking and going through boxes and stuff that you usually don't mess with. If I were smart I'd just toss all of it out! School's going okay although I am really excited that the semester is almost over. We would love to hear about graduation plans for those of you who will be done this year. Hope you all are doing great. Love, Nae and Pete

Music

Hey all, Thought it would be kind of cool to see what kind of music everyone listens to now a days... but of course it can't be as simple as listing songs. Nope. Here's how it goes. I'll start by listing a song and the next person replies with a song that they like that starts with the last letter of the song. So I'll start with the one that is on right now:

"Crazy Bitch"

~Buck Cherry~

So someone will share a song that they like that starts with 'h' and the next will respond with a song that they like which starts with the first letter of the last song listed. Hopefully you get it! I think it'll be an interesting way to see what kind of music everyone has been listenin' to lately :)

Survey

That is a funny survey question. i think i would find a corner

new layout

I kinda like the new layout. Kudos to whomever is in charge. Brandi is that you again?

Question (this is for everybody here)

If you had a choice of falling into a bottomless pit with one person and falling for eternity or having to soak alone for eternity in a huge pool of Pepsi that never looses its carbonation where you have to watch TV or movies nonstop, which would you choose and why?

ok, never mind. It is apparently working today...

I'm not sure why, but this program thing is not letting me comment on people's posts. It says that I am not a member or something?? Any ideas?