Where does the time go?!?

Amazing! Frustrating! Unbelieveable! TIME, it seems like just yesterday it was the new year, 2008 that is.
It seems like an eternity since Jeff got the call he would be deployed this year, 2009 that is, but looking back it has been just shy of 1 full year. And now we are starting to countdown the days, and we just wish it would get here, so it can hurry up and be over!! His State orders start on March 3rd., just 2 months away, it still seems like a while to go, but I know I will blink and he will already be gone.

Here are our family pictures we took this past weekend while we were all in flagstaff. Going to the military briefings for the families. I think they turned out pretty good!!

Good Ole' Boys

We truly live in one of the greatest towns! There is a man that lives here in town, that recently was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The town has really rallied around and there was a HUGE benefit for him. I asked Kolby if he thought he would like to donate a load of wood and ask Cody and Bronson if they would like to help also? These great boys did not even have to think about it their answers were yes. So the night of the benefit we went to the great dinner that was provided and than we stayed around to see what the load of wood would go for. It was a load of Fir and went for $275. Can I say how proud I am of these "good ole' boys" that donated not only their time and $$ for another person!! This is the load that they took to the family that purchased the load from the auction. How thankful I am to call all three of them "my boys"

KAMDEN

Well, just as Kamden lives life here he is Larger than Life itself. Kamden is our baby, and our Dancer!! Kamden has been dancing for 10 years this year, and he has been privileged to be asked to teach dance this year. He is also on the Round Valley - Genuine Dance - Dance Team, he dances with 11 girls. We are so proud of him, he follows what he wants to do, even if it means being teased and ridiculed for being DIFFERENT. As this time we are home-internet schooling him. And I sure enjoy having him around almost 24 hours a day with me. He is such a help, weather it is helping here at our store, or helping with Presley, or helping clean up the house. What a handsome young man, how lucky we are to have him in our home!! Love ya bud!!

KOLBY

Here he is, our Kolby, not Cody or Koby as he gets called alot of the time. He is by far our most shy child. If he doesn't know you, he sure isn't going to talk to you, you might get a small smile or a nod of the head. But if you want to talk hunting, this is your go to guy!! If it can be hunted he has tried or dreams of it. If he has a free 20 min. he is in the woods, thank goodness we live so close. Kolby is lucky to have some great friends here in RV. Kolby also is very lucky to also have friends all over the U.S. He has friends in Ca., Alaska, Iowa, and Indiana. These of course are hunting buddies that he has met and been able to hunt with. Kolby and his dad leave for their Elk hunt tomorrow. Kolby sure enjoys having Presley around it is fun to see this big boy love the little one. The above pictures are of Presley and Kolby watching "The Bee Movie" it's very intense you know! Sweet boy, I love you!!

GO VOTE!!!

Today Kamden who is just 14, wrote an email to each of his teachers and the principal of his school. He asked me to read it to make sure it sounded correct. I was in tears, how proud I am that he finds this years elections as important as others and far more important than some people. Here is what he wrote:
"Hi, I am just ONE more kid in this world and I am not the age to be able to vote yet and change the world with my ONE little vote but ONE is not so little at least not to me, so please go tomorrow and VOTE think about it ONE little vote can change the whole world. so do it for me, do it for the ONE you love in your life, do it for all the other children out there in the U.S., do it for you and, most of all do it for this great country we live in.

It is YOU that can change our future

Thank you

Kamden Hough"

So I hope you will go out tomorrow if you have not already done "early voting" and VOTE!! I will be at the polls, letting my ONE vote count.

Jordan

Well here she is our sweet little Jordan. Jordan is our second daughter. She has been married to Grady for just over a year now, and has sweet Presley, she is such a good mom. We call her little cause she has always been so tiny compared to the rest of us. Jordan has recently taken up horse riding and seems to really enjoy that. And texting on her cell. Poor thing she is completely broken out right now in psorisis, they are covering her body head to toe, literally. Love you sweet girl!!

Jessica

I told Jessica I was going to get pictures of all the kids on the blog, so I told her I needed a picture. And this is what she sends me. Her and Amy were at the Halloween Store, just being silly.
As an introduction, this is our Jessica, she is 22 and VERY independent!! Jessica is very much the oldest child. She is a go getter. Work, College and friends are her life, and I don't know how she does it all, she amazes me!! She is always calling and telling me about her latest adventures, oh to be young and lively.
Jessica I am so glad you are living the life you want!! Enjoy your freedom!! And remember I LOVE you!!!

PRESLEY better known as Lil' Man

Here is our Presley, he was 5 months old yesterday and is such a big boy now, it makes me so sad. It is amazing how quick they grow up. Jordan had run to the store on Wed. and came back and he was sitting in the cart, with his arm thrown over the back like, "hey look at me". Sweet Presley, your grandma sure loves you!!!

My 2 obsessions

So I thought I would write about my 2 obsessions. My Hair and My Nails. Here is a picture of my nails I have the BEST Nail gal ever!!! Janet is so amazing you tell her what you are thinking and she does it. These nails are hand painted those are not decals!! And my hair lady, Carolyn, same way, I tried to get Kamden to take a picture of my hair put I didn't like them. Oh well next time.

Tough Morning Already

As I woke up this morning it hit me that there is only 4 months before Jeff leaves, I started thinking of all the things that he will miss. And all the hard things we need to sit down and discuss. Kolby will be just weeks from graduating high school when he gets home, Kamden will be a month or so from getting his license, Sweet baby Presley will be turning 2! What about if he doesn't make it what do I do? Sale the house, keep the house? Stay in RV or start over somewhere new? What does he want, to be buried, or cremated. And if cremated where does he want to be taken, I'm sure to all the hunting places he didn't make it to, but WHERE!?!
Than as I decided to go ahead and get out of bed and start my day, of course first stop is the restroom, and the first thing I see that wasn't there last night, are Jeff's dog tags with all the plastic over the metal, so as they will make no sound. To Surreal.
These are the times I think what the HELL where we thinking, when he got back in!?! And than I rmember thank goodness, for strong and willing men!!

My Hero

So on our way to the edge of the meadow, I swore I saw an animal hide hung over a branch. So on the way out I was showing Jeff, he told me no that it was just a log. Damn that man can never be wrong it seems. Sure enough he goes down and it is a log, and of course he drags it up the hill to show me I was wrong. Good thing I love him so much. You would think after 25 years of being with him, 23 married and 2 dating that I would learn!!

Well I'll sign off for now.

Anniversary Date

Jeff and I have been marrried 23 years as of yesterday. And we went into the mountains to listen to the elk bugle, it is gorgeous and so cool to hear. Here is a Cow Elk we saw, we did see some bulls also just did not get any photos. Also a photo of some turkeys and a mule deer doe. And the photo of the meadow is where we walked and sat on the edge and listened to the elk. How lucky I am my grandpa Brown came to this beautiful little place. I love coming into the mountains it always reminds me of Grandpa Brown.  

Jeff's Home!!

Jeff made it home around 11:30 last night, sure good to have him home. Our friend Doug and a friend of his, Josh came up from the valley yesterday to come and listen to the Elk bugling. If you have never heard it, it is amazing!!

Kamden danced at half-time last night at the Round Valley Vs. Williamsfield football game, they danced to Cowboy by Kid Rock. Kamden is an amazing dancer!! RV won the game 35-0. I was lucky to have lots of friends with me at the game last night, Cherylann such a great friend, and her husband John and a friend of theirs. Doug and Josh and my "offical" date Paul. And of course some of my very best friends my mom and dad.

It looks like it might rain today, we have a little wind and the mountains look kind of misty. I hope so, I love the rain.

This weekend I am hoping to get pictures of my family on here. That will be an adventure I am sure.
Well I'll sign off for now.

Well here it is!!

I've been thinking of doing a blog for some time and decided now or never!! The reason behind this blog is mainly to keep friends and family posted on Jeff while he will be gone to IRAQ for a 12 month deployment. The way I got the name of our blog is from a poem I found.

The Silent Ranks

Author: Unknown

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens

But I am in the Army in the ranks rarely seen

I have no rank upon my shoulders - salutes I do not give

But the military world is the place where I live

I'm not in the chain of command, orders I do not get

But my husband is the one who does, this I can not forget

I'm not the one who fires the weapon, who puts my life on the line

But my job is just as tough. I'm the one that's left behind

My husband is a patriot, a brave and prideful man

And the call to serve his country not all can understand

Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free

My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me

I love the man I married, Soldiering is his life

But I stand among the silent ranks known as the Army Wife

When I found this poem it just fit, even though Jeff is in the Army National Guard, Since he got the call in January telling him they were being deployed in 2009, it seems we live the Army life.

As I type this Jeff has been gone since Sunday, he is helping bring back 11 trucks that will be going with them. How proud I am that he is always willing to help get things ready, so that they will be prepared. Well I'll sign off for now.