We are moving

We don't have our official orders yet but we found out last week that we will indeed be moving.

We are so excited. Though very nervous at the same time. We are moving overseas. We have a report date of July 31st. For those of you doing the math that means not only did I just have a baby by myself but that I will be preparing and moving the household by myself. Joe will get back and turn around to out process. He is trying to of course leave early but no such luck yet. Though the way luck should have it he will probably get back and we will be in New Mexico visiting family.

We werent expecting to move until next year. So far North Carolina is the longest we have lived anywhere. In July we will have lived here 2 years and 7 months. Before that was in Phoenix, Arizona for a total of 2 years 2 months. I am thankful we are moving as I was already dreading the next year. Not because I don't like it here, I love it here and I love the friends I have. Its just I get antsy and ready to explore more of the world. That is why I just can't wait until July. I know the time will go by fast as there are so many things I have to do: Passports, three different furniture moves, medical and other clearances, we also have to sell all three of our cars as you can't take ours over there. Like I said I know the time is going to fly by.

The boys were sad that we had to cancel our beach trip but once I told them we were going to be living at the beach they quickly perked up. Though they are still sad that we had to cancel our Disney world trip in December. They love spending Christmas at Disney world and were so looking forward to it again, but we will just have to do something special this year at our new base.

So the question is....Where are we going?

Are you ready for it??

We are moving to Kadena Air Base in Japan. Kadena is on the main Okinawa Island. The boys can't believe all the beaches. The island is 67 miles long and between 2-17 miles wide.

I will finally have my beach baby, actually I might have two surfer boys also. At least I know Bryson will be loving his boggie board.

Chief Warrant Officer Christian P. Humphreys

Christian P. Humphreys
June 4, 1980 - November 15, 2008


Chief Warrant Officer Christian P. Humphreys, 28, of Alamogordo, died Saturday, November 15, 2008, while serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq.

Mr. Humphreys was born June 4, 1980 in Bittburg Air Force Base, Germany. After graduating from Alamogordo High School in 1998, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served until 2006 when he joined the U.S. Army to fly helicopters. He was attached to Alpha Troop, 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, Task Force 49, U.S. Army Alaska, deployed to Iraq.

Survivors include his proud wife Christina, former U.S. Air Force, of the family home; his parents, Daniel, U.S. Air Force retired, and Sylvia Humphreys of Alamogordo; a brother Tobias Humphreys and his wife Jamie of Albuquerque; a sister, Alyxandra Bryars and her husband Justin of Alamogordo; nephews, Gavin and Brodee Humphreys of Albuquerque; a niece Madison Humphreys of Albuquerque; his mother and father-in-law, John, U.S. Coast Guard retired, and Renee Williams of Alamogordo; a brother-in-law, John Williams, an F-15 Crew Chief with the U.S. Air Force in Afghanistan; and his grandparents, Rosemarie Opiela of Germany, and Patricia Williams and Irene Goodson of Alamogordo.

Mr. Humphreys was preceded in death by his grandparents, Leonard, U.S. Air Force retired, and Arlene Humphreys, and Stanislaus Opiela; and his wife’s grandfathers, Walter Williams, U.S. Air Force retired, and Ted Goodson, U.S. Air Force retired.

Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 16th St. and Cuba Ave., with the Rev. Dr. Steve Trout officiating.

Interment will follow in Ft. Stanton Cemetery with military honors by the New Mexico National Guard.

An honor guard and escort will be provided by the Patriot Guard.

Services are under the direction of Hamilton-O’Dell Funeral Home.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Operation Wounded Warrior, New Mexico Legion Riders, 34 Stonewood Dr., Alamogordo, NM 88310.

Some Bad News about Christian Humphreys

I was going to write today about the baby shower I attended yesterday. It was the World's Largest Military Baby Shower, but I woke up this morning to some bad news.

My very good friend Christina received the worst possible news a military wife could ever expect. She found out that her husband, Christian Humphreys died yesterday in a helicopter crash. It happened in a northern Iraqi city of Mosul.

I can't even imagine what she is going through to lose a husband, a lover, a best friend all at once. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I know she will need them.

and he is gone....

No pictures to share but he got off alright. He said that when he was buying his lunch at the Atlanta airport an older gentleman asked if he could pay for his lunch and Joe said he had already paid so the man handed him a 10 and told him thanks for everything he does. Joe had to fly in his uniform so I think that's why he was given so much attention.

When we got back home the boys played outside for awhile and then my friend Sarah asked me to take some photos of her and her family by the lake. So, I packed the kids in the car and took them to the shoppette to pick out a drink and some candy. I then put a movie on in the car and they were set for quite awhile, then they played at the park while I finished up the photo shoot.

The photos didn't turn out as great as I would have liked, but for my first photo shoot outside of my family I think they turned out great. I have already thought of a few new poses for next time.

Tonight starts the hard part. Joe usually gave the kids their baths, put their pjs on, and read them their books. It was usually a whole hour that was just their time, and my relaxing time.

Nights are what I will miss most.

9-11 (Patriot Day)

I am sure many of us will never forget exactly what we were doing when we found out what was happening. I happen to be in Tennessee packing up my car. I was moving that day from Tennessee to New Mexico. As I was going in and out to the car my neighbor came outside and screamed "They are bombing us!" I was a bit confused and asked him what he meant and he told me to turn on the news. I walked inside and turned on the T.V. There was nothing on, I turned the channel and there it was, I turned the channel again and once again there was the first tower smoking. I sat back in shock trying to find out what was going on. Then I saw the second tower being hit by the airplane. I can't remember after that how long I watched the TV, or even if I called anyone after that.

I still left that day for my long journey across the country. I listened to the radio for 10 hours that day until I stopped half way through my journey. The next day I flipped on the radio and listened to it again for another 10 hours.

A lot has changed since then, we are now in the military and because of that event security every where has become more strict. Yes, its good because we never want that to happen again, but sad in the fact that our world will never be the same.

I found this:

Patriot Day, 2008
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America September 11, 2001, was etched into America's memory when 19 terrorists attacked us with barbarity unequaled in our history. On Patriot Day, we cherish the memory of the thousands of innocent victims lost, extend our thoughts and prayers to their families, and honor the heroic men and women who risked and sacrificed their lives so others might survive.

Since 9/11, we have recognized the threat posed by terrorists to the safety of the American people and worked to protect our homeland by fighting terrorists abroad. We are confronting terrorism by advancing freedom, liberty, and prosperity as an alternative to the ideologies of hatred and repression. Our Nation pays tribute to our courageous men and women in uniform serving around the world and the devoted members of our law enforcement, public safety, and intelligence communities at home who work night and day to protect us from harm and preserve the freedom of this great Nation.

Seven years ago, ordinary citizens rose to the challenge, united in prayer, and responded with extraordinary acts of courage, with some giving their lives for the country they loved. On Patriot Day, we remember all those who were taken from us in an instant and seek their lasting memorial in a safer and more hopeful world. We must not allow our resolve to be weakened by the passage of time. We will meet the test that history has given us and continue to fight to rid the world of terrorism and promote liberty around the globe.

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as "Patriot Day."

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2008, as Patriot Day. I call upon the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Patriot Day. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half-staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.

GEORGE W. BUSH

We knew the time was coming....

Joe will be leaving next month for a deployment to Afghanistan. Not much else to say other than keep him in your prayers.

Another family visits and neighbors moving in!

The Jenkins, Staci, Kirk, Kate and Luke came to see us; we haven't seen them since June. Carter has been going through serious Kate withdraws. Actually they were driving from Charleston back up to D.C. and we were the lucky ones they chose to stay with. We had a few families come over last night for dinner so that everyone could visit the Jenkins family. Boy are they a popular crew. I swear everyone was lining up to see them pull into the driveway.

We all had a great Mexican dinner. There were awesome nachos with meat, beans, tomatoes, cilantro, cheese and sour cream. We also had chicken enchiladas and Mexican rice and for dessert we had freshly baked cookies and ice cream. It was awesome.

Sarah and Tim

Jess, Zoey, Isaac, Luke Kate and Staci

This was the morning they left.







Julie is the little girl in pink and Audric is the little boy with pretty blue eyes.

This is how they were the whole night. Kirk, Kate's dad calls them the old married couple.

One last squeeze!

Till next time.....

Last night my love/hate relationship with Blinky grew. I woke up around 2:30 and heard him in our room. I jumped out of bed and told Joe I saw Blinky. He asked if I was sure and I said I was pretty sure. He came out into the living room and sure enough the delux apartment in the sky was empty. I continued to look for Blinky but with all the lights on he darted back under the bed behind a laundry basket and then behind our long dresser. We were moving furniture all the while trying to be quite because the Jenkins were sleeping in the next room. I finally captured him and brought him back to his apartment and back to bed we go. We toss and turn until 4am when Joe finally gets up and says since I can't sleep I might as well go off to work and that is exactly what he did. Thanks Blinky!

This morning I told the kids about Blinky and they ran into the living room to see him. Well, Blinky wasn't there. That's right he had escaped again. I guess in my tired 2:30 stupor I didn't check all the compartment doors and he was gone. I told the boys that we would probably have to wait until tonight to find him because he sleeps during the day.

Fast Forward a few hours...the boys were in Carter's room watching TV when they yell to me that they think they hear Blinky. I go in there and pull the T.V. dresser back and sure enough there he is. He was very prepared for this journey as there was a stash of his food that he must have brought along. He had also found a dollar bill that he was trying to make a bed out of.

Fast Forward a few more hours...check out our new neighbors I found today. Tonight they sleep in peace but tomorrow its war!!

Military kid VS Civillian kid

While shopping for shoes yesterday Bryson said something that the normal everyday kid probably doesn't say.

Mom: Bryson lets try these shoes on.
Bryson: Okay, I like those shoes.
Mom: Alright now walk up that isle and walk back.
Bryson: Okay
Mom: Now run up the isle and run back.
Bryson: This is fun!
Mom: Now come over here and stand up straight.
Bryson: Like a Solider!

I thought it was cute.

OUR BOYS ARE HOME SAFE

We are a military family living on a military base with military neighbors. Everything in our lives is military. Reveille plays at 6 in the morning followed by retreat at 5 and then taps at 9 at night. This plays on the speakers so that all of the military housing can hear. You really don't hear it inside your home unless you turn down the tv promptly at the times it plays and really listen for it, but if you are lucky enough to be outside when it plays the sound is loud and clear. At 5 in the afternoon when the national anthem plays you are to stop, place your hand over your heart and pay your respects. You do this in honor of everything the military stands for, for those that have fought for us and those that still are.


Today we were lucky to be invited to welcome home our neighbors. Carson and Terra's husbands arrived today from a four month deployment. We went out to Green Ramp to welcome them in. I took a few pics that i would like to share with you.

Once again, if the picture is to small you can click on it to make it larger.
Mike and his kids are on the right, and Carson and Derek are below.

October 6th and 7th Air Show

I want to start off by saying that if you click on the photo it makes it bigger.

This past weekend was the last air show for Pope Air Force base. Pope may have others but it will be known as Pope Army Air Field. Being that it was the last show they really went all out. I would list the names of the planes but some of you might not know what these planes looked like so i added the website to the air show if you would like to check it out. Here are a few pictures that i took that day. http://popebraggopenhouse.com/performers.html

The boys standing in front of an A-10

Bryson inside a C-130

This is a C-5

Carter inside the cockpit of a T-1

The wing walker

The Russian Jet

The Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds upside down

All 6 Thunderbirds

This was the closest shot i had both days. Saturday is the day we actually went down to the airfield and watched the show. On Sunday we would come outside when we heard the big jets. They were the F-18s the F-15s and the the F-16 Thunderbirds. This picture was taken outside our house and they flew by so fast that i almost didn't get the shot.
I didn't realize how many pictures i had added but i hope you have enjoyed them.