Warning:MIA

Block Leave has started. We survived the 900 mile drive from TX to GA and are gearing up for a fun week in Atlanta followed by another rockin' time up at the lake (near Scranton PA). So just picture us, having a great time and we'll be back in a few weeks with pictures and stories to share~

Party On Dudes

Grant had a wonderful party full of laughs and sugar highs! We're thankful to have a small group here at Hood that we actually call friends and I'm gonna be sad to leave them come August (luckily almost everyone is moving on around the same time) Here are some pictures from the bash, I didn't take too many during the actual things so its a lot of detail shots: http://picasaweb.google.com/laurabchilds/GrantS2nd#

Happy Birthday Little Man!

hip-hip-Hooray, GRANT TURNS 2 TODAY!

Heres a little preview of the Monkey Madness that will be going on at our place today in honor of Grant's big day. I mean seriously, the monkey shirt, with his name and #2 on the back, I {LOVE} kids birthdays! More pictures to come tomorrow~ Happy Friday, Happy Happy June 19th!

Celebrating 3 Years

In the midst of everything that happened at the end of June I realized today that our anniversary had not been celebrated here on the blog. We decided shortly before our first anniversary that we wanted to use the traditional anniversary gift lists as a guide for our presents to each other thinking it would be fun and a chance to get creative with gifts (or as Geoff put it, save the really good ideas for Birthdays and Christmas) So first year's paper and second year's cotton are behind us and I got to thinking of how to give a gift of crystal/glass in a way that Geoff would enjoy (i.e. not adding to the Waterford stash)and something that would be for both of us since he would be in route to come home and not really be able to go "shopping". Earlier in the year Geoff had done some research on the Childs Crest and it got me inspired and thanks to a friend of Rory's, we put in an order for a custom stained glass window featuring the Childs Coat of Arms:

I tell you what, these 3 have made Mom and Dad's near 35 that much more meaningful!

Belles of the Ball

One of the few perks of the Military are the numbers of Balls that you get to go to. I mean who doesn't like to get all dolled up, eat a fancy-ish mean and go see what everyone else is wearing, right?! I admit that our Homecoming/Redeployment Ball Friday night was not one of the best we've been to but I had fun and dragged Geoff along. (I think he secretly enjoyed being able to show off his dress Blues again, this time with a few added ribbons and everyone certainly enjoyed having access to alcohol for the first time in a year!)

I didn't take my camera in so I don't have a lot of pictures to post but here's one that JP and Jamie took as we were leaving, they were Grant's babysitters for the evening, and though I think they might have had more fun than we did, it was a fun change of pace and now we're just enjoying a lazy weekend!

Just To See You Smile

So Eric had this picture of my Dad and it just makes me smile and laugh out loud everytime I pull it up on my computer. It makes me think of his goofy grin, his hot-red hair before it started fading (i.e. going grey), and how his eyes always disappeard in pictures so he would over compensate by doing the "deer-in-headlights" which made me think of his last driver's license picture. Talk about some good memories!

More HOOAHings

This morning Geoff received his Combat Spurs. Theres a good article about the history of Spurs for Cavalry units here: http://www.cavhooah.com/spurs.htm but basically Geoff had earned his Silver Spurs last spring and now after being in combat was upgraded to Gold Spurs. I'm kind of sad that the days of Geoff wearing his Stetson and Spurs are almost at an end, what girl doesn't like to have her own personal cowboy?!?

Can You Say "Ka-UTE"

...Grant just wanted to share a smile with you...

This Is How You Know

You know you're a mom to a toddler if you cut your finger slicing up a hot dog and after searching high and low, resign yourself to the truth that the only band-aid in the house is SpiderMan!

CONGRATULATIONS CPT CHILDS!

After the Bronze Star was awarded, he was officially promoted to Captain! Way to go babe!

(pictures of me pinning rank on his baret, the chest punch that made it all official, Grant checking out the award and a family shot)

CONGRATULATIONS 1LT. CHILDS!

As of this morning, Geoff is officially a Bronze Star recipient...


http://picasaweb.google.com/laurabchilds/AwardCeremony#
P.S click on the picture of the award to read exactly why he's such a hot-shot! :o)

Geoff's Homecoming!

Geoff got home safely from Iraq last Friday, Thank God! It was bittersweet but I am so happy to have the love of my life back at my side to help weather whatever comes!

All of the pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/laurabchilds/GettingReadyForHomecoming#