HAVING FUN WITH CATHY

cathy came back to rexburg with me to meet some of the fam and to hang out with me a bit.  she had never been shooting so we decided that we would take her out and show her how.  holly let us take her truck and we went to badger point.  i took the ar's and the .40 s&w and we shot some rounds off.  we had to take some time between mags because it was so stinking cold.  it was still fun and i got some great pictures of her and a very funny couple of videos.  she is such a sweet heart and makes me laugh.  no wonder i am so crazy about her.  her trip to rexburg was short but very sweet.  mom made a great sunday dinner with lots of neighbors and friends that came over.  it was tom's birthday and so we had cake that kim made.  the are such good friends, or should i say family.  cathy had a blast with the kids as jaxon and i wrestled and mikael made her laugh.  we had a chance saturday to goto dinner with some of the mumm clan and saw tom and kim there celebrating their 23rd anniversary i think it was.  the mumms were fun and very fun to talk with again.  cathy also cut my hair.  i don't look so shaggy now.  she takes such good care of me.  i still try to figure out how i got so lucky.  she is my angel and i am very lucky to have such a sweetheart.  enjoy the pics and sorry i can't load the videos.  don't know why.

MERY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU.  I ALWAYS LOVE THIS TIME OF YEAR.  THERE IS SO MUCH PEACE AND CARING AND ATTENTION TO THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN OURSELVES.  I LOVE THE IDEA OF GIVING AND SHARING, AND PROBABLY MOST OF ALL, THE CHANCE TO SPEND TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  I FEEL SO BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY LOVED ONES.  I HOPE THAT IN THIS SPIRIT OF GIVING AND REMEMBERING, THAT WE WILL REMEMBER THE REASON WE ARE CELEBRATING THIS SEASON.  ITS BEEN SAD TO SEE THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF CHRISTMAS TO TAKE THE FOCUS OFF THE REASON AND THE SPIRIT OF ITS TRUE ORIGIN.  I HOPE THAT AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES CELEBRATED AND ENJOYED THE DAY AND THE SEASON ITSELF, THAT YOUR WERE REMINDED ONCE AGAIN OF OUR GREATEST GIFT.  THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOR IS THE ONE EVENT IN HISTORY THAT HAS BROUGHT SO MANY OF US SO MUCH JOY.  DESPITE THE NON BELIEVERS FORCING US TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT OUR FAITH, THIS IS STILL THE HOLIDAY IN WHICH WE CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH.  MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL.  I HOPE THIS SEASON FOUND YOU ALL IN PEACE AND HAPPINESS.  I LOVE YOU ALL.  MERRY CHRISTMAS.

TIME FLIES....

when you have this much fun...  so i guess i need to update in a big way.  i have had some crazy adventures in getting to this holiday season.  first the flight out of iraq which was the only way i was going to make it home on time.  the flight was a go.  then we got to the tarmac and they pulled my friend and i off the flight.  then at the last minute they told us to get out there and try to get on.  as they were closing the ramp... we threw our bags on and jumped on... they just kinda looked at us like, "you guys just made it".  so with that much behind us the journey commenced.  we weren't sure if we would have to get off in al taquedem when we got there so we crossed our fingers and made it into kuwait.  we got there just after two... by three we needed to have our passports in to get the visa stamps back later that day.  we made that leg happen.  my friend was able to get his flight out and go home that same day.  i upgraded to business class which ended up being first class.  that is the only way to fly.  only three of us up there and it almost got annoying to have the flight attendants wanting to serve us... lol.  yeah right it was annoying.  all the juice i could want and the reclining chairs that allowed me to almost completely lay down... oh yeah... loved it.  so i at least have something to look forward to on the flight back.  never use my sky miles so i traded some in.  i got to kuwait and got into a hotel with a hot shower and a very very comfortable bed.  had to splurge and do the hotel where i was feeling very beat up.  it did the job.  the next day i met up with cathy cruse who is working in kuwait now and she took me to go get sushi.  how cool is that.  i loved it and it was so good.  makes me wish i had sushi all the time.  the architecture in kuwait is amazing.  things just kinda stand there in such strange shapes and they are hotels or restaurants or other places people would actually go in.  hopefully the pics will show what is going on.  i made it back to utah where i was greeted by some of the most precious people in the world.  first cathy picked me up at the airport and took care of getting me to joe's, well very much later.  so much to catch up on and all.  at joe's i woke up the same time rachel did and we greeted each other on the stairs.  there is no better feeling than knowing you are loved.  she gave me the biggest hug and came and watched cartoons with me for a bit.  jared woke later and as he crossed the kitchen he stopped, backed up and looked down at me and came running to give me another big hug.  and last but not least, our little brock came down.  he just stood there with the biggest smile ever... that totally made my day.  yep, snuggle time and a pirate shirt and a fun time playing with him before he headed off to play with mickey.  that my friends, is what its all about.  those kids are what i live for... them and uh... well you know who else.  what do ya think about that cathy?  so now i'm almost a day away from christmas and still not ready.  how does that happen to me every year???  so i will put some more up about cathy's trip up to idaho to meet the fam.  what a fun time and what a sweet heart.  happy holidays everyone!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOLLY!!!

happy birthday sis... i love ya a ton.  i can't wait to get home and celebrate the best season of all with you all.  i have a great gift on its way for you.  hope you don't mind the delay but its worth it.  vacation and christmas together... that is a first since i have been doing the contracting stuff.  wish i could celebrate with you holly.  have fun and save me a piece of cake.  see ya soon.

OUR HUMBLE ABODE...

well, after a couple of weekends and some sweat and blood and even a tear or two... dad and i have our new home away from home.  its a little different than any of the other guys rooms.  but, its our only piece of comfort outside the thoughts and dreams we have of home.  we have built a bunk bed and i am on top once again.  it started out really close to the ceiling.  every time i rolled over i hit my knees and kept kicking the air conditioning unit.  it was a bit of a nerve racking couple of nights.  i woke up and had to find my chair to sleep in the last night with it that close to the ceiling.  i think dad was enjoying his new comfort.  he inherited my other mattress.  so he must like the extra cushion.  i however have not been enjoying the hard lumpy springy mattress that has been my latest comfort.  it will all work out when i come back from my vacation.  we have put a lot of work in on our place and we both love the way it opened up our room.  we built an entertainment center that puts both of our computers, each on an end and the tv right in the middle.  it works for us as we have been able to put all of our stuff away now.  dad is very excited.  i am too and we are doing great now.  love you all.  peace!