A night out!

So I'm going to back track a bit here before I start to post all about our Christmas and New Year....and of course Scott's birthday. I forgot my camera cable back in AZ, so don't have my pics yet (thank goodness for that 1G memory chip I got before Ohio last year!) Anyways, I have been wanting to post about this, but just didn't have the pics to do it.
Several weeks ago, in fact about a week before Thanksgiving, I got a call one Saturday afternoon, asking what I was up to that night. Well since Tim lives in CO not much! It was a friend of his from when he worked here in AZ. He had tickets to go and see Deana Carter who was opening for Mark Wills. Well I jumped on the chance to go, as I do really like Mark Wills music, and he happens to be a friend of our friend, Tom (the one who called). So out to the casino's we went. It worked out well, because Tom was nice enough to be willing to give one of the extra tickets to Scott, but since Scott isn't a huge fan of music (one of the many points that I ponder) he made arrangements to go over a friends house for the night. I rode out with Tom and Evagiline, not knowing the show was going to be outside. Lucky it is AZ, and while the nights do get chilly, this one wasn't too bad, espically once the music got going. After the concert was over the reservation had a huge firework show, and when I say huge I do mean HUGE. This show had to of lasted for about 30-45 minutes at least! When we finally got into the tent that Mark was in, it almost reminded me of being out on the granade range in Basic, either that or a live fire range, on rapid. It really was amazing! I almost didn't want to go into the tent. However I did get the chance to meet with Mark Wills. This guy has a great sence of humor! He is of average height, but as soon as he saw me, he squated down for the pictures. I was so embarrassed about it! I kept trying to get him to stand up, but he refused. Attached are a few of the pics that someone in our group took and sent over (I didn't take my camera...duh). The one pic is of his guitar. It is in DCU print and covered in different unit patches that he has played for in Iraq. Here I have to take a moment to talk about country music. Don't get me wrong, because I love all kinds of music, some you would expect, some you wouldn't, but above all I love country music artist. They support our troops like no one else out there. They write and sing songs about war and love of country, they put themselves at risk to go over to Iraq and play for our troops. I just got an email from a friend of mine in Iraq a few weeks ago, who got to see Carrie Underwood in concert at the gym by the field hospital that he works in. He described her presents there as pure magic, as it took his mind off the horrors that he has been dealing with there for the several hours that she was on stage, and then after preforming for several hours, stayed in the gym to sign an autograph, and pose for pics with every single one of the soldiers that were there! So while it might not be your music of choice, please make sure to give them their props, as they love this country and are not ashamed to show it!

And so this is Christmas

Here I sit on Christmas Eve. Scott is tucked in bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in his head. Lincoln is at my feet, and if I were to take a guess, Teddy is up on our bed sleeping away. Tim on the other hand is finishing up those last minute things that parents need to do to get the house ready for Chistmas. Before getting too carried away with the festivities I wanted to take a moment to reflect. First this is an awsome Christmas this year. Not only do we have a white Christmas, but there is about 3 feet of snow on the ground right now. To top that off, it started to snow again today. How pretty is snow on Christmas Eve or Day? There truly is nothing at all like that (so Rod, as nice as the 70's might be, I would never trade a white Christmas for it!). As the year draws to a close I know that I have a lot to be thankfull for. First I am thankfull that even though I am seperated by more then 800 miles from my husband, I am able to talk to him every day on the phone, and I am able to hop in my car to drive and see him for the holidays. I know that not everyone can do that right now, so as tough as it is, I am lucky. As I drove to church tonight (in the snow) I was thankfull that I have that freedom to pick the one I want to go to. Also that I have a car that can get me there and back safe. I am thankfull that even though I am half a country away from my parents, family and friends we are able to stay in touch. In todays world I am able to make a local call, even from CO or AZ to OH. I am able to email and post blogs to keep them all up to date. I am blessed to have 4 healthy kids in my life. We may not always see eye to eye on things, but what parent does with a teenager? I am also lucky that someone took a chance with me and gave me a job. They were severly short staffed, and trusted me enough to give me the chance. I am thankfull for my husband. You are such a wonder in my life. I truly count the days till this nightmear is over. My friends. For all the years and miles that are between us, you are always there for me. Leeann I wouldn't say how many years it has now been, but LYLAS always. My family, I may not always show it (espically with my "baby" sisters) but I do love you all!
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!


PS...stay tuned for pics of snow, and Christmas morning, and Scotts birthday...that's right 9 this year!

A posting from Tim

Today I got this email from Tim asking me to post it to the blog. I think he ment for me to translate the story, but he wrote it so well that I have just copied it right from my email...so here you go!

Well here are the pictures from Breckenridge. Some notes to help you post. It may have POSSIBLY made it up to 20 degrees. It is right close to 10K feet at the top and the winds were a howlin’. It was nice actually skiing behind the girls while they were on their snowboards. They are actually pretty good at the whole thing. I’ll have to try a snowboard sometime just to help the guys there with smoothing everything a bit. Because all the time that I will end up on my butt or back that is what I’ll be doing, smoothing the slopes. And now the importance of all my layers today. Let’s see…Two pair of socks, long johns, black IPFU pants and a pair of ski pants on the bottom. On the top a t-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweat shirt, the new black Army jacket for wearing with the ACU and also a ski jacket. Of coarse gloves, scarf and cap are very important. (Note to self…get a thicker hat next time.) The cold air cut right through it. Also my face is a bit sensitive from mostly the cold but I’m sure a bit from the sun and that altitude.

All in all Breckenridge is a very nice place to ski. Everything from beginner slopes up to slopes I certainly didn’t see today. The views were AWESOME. From door step to parking lot is 120 miles and the traffic out of there on a Sunday afternoon is TERRIBLE. About 2 hours to get there and 3 hours to get back.