ooooOAK-klahoma

where the wind comes sweepin' down the plains
OK, it looks like we're Oklahoma bound!
I'm not ruling out the possibility that it will change again but its looking like Geoff will be heading to the Captain's Course at Fort Sill, OK in September. So, I'm packing up NC now, we'll move to TX next week, we'll set up shop for Geoff to get back in June, have block leave towards the end of June/beginning of July, live in our little TX apartment for 2 months then pack it all up for a drive north. Spend 6 months there, then head to Ft Bragg, NC pphhewwwwI get worn out just thinking about it, YAY for Army movers!

Monkey Business*

Geoff got a chance to see Grant's monkey video and he even got to hear it "live" over the phone one day. Yesterday he shared this Philosophy that one of his soldiers had shared with him. He though this was appropriate given Grant's new skill and the current situation we find ourselves in with waiting to hear where we are going next...

"So the Army is like a tree full of monkeys... if you're the top monkey the view is great and everyone below you looks happy, if you're at the bottom looking up all you see are a bunch of butts* and everybody is pooping* on you..." *words changed to suit a more family friendly audience

Picture Perfect

Grant was just too cute for words so I had to post these 2 pictures...

He's SO GOOD about going to sleep at night and for naps that I've started putting a toy or 2 in his crib because when he wakes up he'll play by himself for a good 30 minutes before he gets antsy for me to come in and get him. So today I heard him playing as he went down for a nap and when I went in to check on him, this is what I found, pen in hand and everything!

He wasn't feeling the sprinkler yesterday, I don't blame him too much though because the water was COLD but he just look too darn cute. I can't believe that there is hardly any "baby" left at all in our "baby", time sure does fly!

Monkey See, Monkey Do

So far Grant's animal vocabulary consists of Pig, Dog, Cow, Sheep, Elephant and now Monkey~

TV Zombie

I wanted to show Geoff Grant's fun new Summer PJs (they have sharks on them and are super duper soft) but in order to get him to be still you all get a fun documentary of his "I'm actually getting to watch TV so my eyes are not leaving the screen, not even for a second" look!

Bring On the Choo-Choos

A couple in my parent's church Supper Club have turned their whole backyard into a train model village and invited Grant to come check it out. Man, this thing is impressive! Its all Swiss/German feeling so it a way it transported me back and I loved it, Grant got to show off to everybody that he has mastered "train" and "choo-choo" so he loved it too~

As Official As It Gets!

**Unclassified**
4th Brigade Combat Team,
1st Cavalry Division
Media Release

COB Adder, Iraq
APO AE 09331
RELEASE 20090415-01
15 April 2009

Long Knife Brigade to begin return to Fort Hood
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division finishing Iraq deployment
By Maj. Chad Carroll, 4 BCT Public Affairs COB Adder, Iraq

– The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division will begin returning to Fort Hood next month after their year-long tour in Iraq.The brigade was originally scheduled to return in September, but improved security conditions in the brigade’s area of operations allowed Army leaders to redeploy the brigade at the one-year mark.“Our Soldiers have performed exceptionally well this year,” said Col. Philip Battaglia, 4 BCT commander. “While they are excited to return back to the ‘Great Place,’ we remain focused and professional on our various operations.”The brigade’s main body flights are scheduled to arrive at Fort Hood during the final weeks of May. The entire unit is scheduled to return by mid-June.Battaglia noted the unit’s comprehensive safety and reintegration program in place for the Soldiers once they return. “We have key training sessions each Soldier will attend which will actually start here in Iraq and continue once everyone is back at Fort Hood,” he said. The sessions will address stressful topics that returning Soldiers have historically encountered upon returning from a combat tour.“All of us leaders are committed to ensuring we properly prepare our Soldiers to adjust to life back at home,” he said.The brigade will host a ceremony to uncase its colors at the end of the Soldiers’ block leave in late July.The 4 BCT has been operating in southern Iraq in three provinces: Dhi Qar, Muthanna and Maysan. They have partnered with Iraqi Security Forces to improve security and support development in the region.For queries, contact the 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs.

Bulimic Boy

...just to prove that he is not always super cute and doesn't always wear a halo, here's the latest adventure of the Grant Monster. Tonight, after not eating much of his dinner, Grant decided to play a game of "how far can I stick my hand down my throat". I mean seriously, he'd get it in to his wrist and I'd reach over and pull it away saying "no" and he'd just laugh. Well I certainly didn't want him to think it was a game so I stopped pulling it away figuring he'd stop sooner or later. I mean the kid gagged and gagged himself but thought it was the funniest thing in the world... until he made himself throw up. Yep. Not so funny now is it boy?!? He just sat there with this look on his face that said "i don't know what just happened but I don't think I like it" with his hands hovering mid-air above the high chair tray so he wouldn't touch anything. as Dad put it "atleast he figured out a way to make banging his head against the floor repeatedly look smart"! oh boy Geoff, see what you have to look forward to?!?
(P.S. I hope no one minds that there is no picture attached to this post. I know it usually pissed people off but I figured in this instance you wouldn't be too upset)

10% LOVE

Mom, Grant and I headed to Fayetteville today to check out some neighborhoods and get a sense of how Fayetteville really is verses the rumors that I always hear. We found some cute neighborhoods and I'm excited to get there (when that will be is the MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, Geoff is still getting the run around with that)

After checking things out we drove even further into Middle-of-Nowhere NC to the Brooks Brothers discount center. Think where unsold outlet clothes go as their final resting place, or as today turned out to be...heaven!

There wasn't a whole lot of selection, you could tell that the majority of the mens stuff had been picked over at Easter but I found these 3 gems, a silk/cashmere sweater, a fun silk skirt and striped slacks. But I'm not just writing this to make you drool over my finds... nope, here's what you can drool about:


Can you see it? huh? huh?!? CAN YOU? yep, that would be the skirt tag, retailed for $328.00, marked down to $249.99 and then I got it for $19.90. YEP! When you add up the original prices it comes out to $650, my total was $63 and change... 10% of the original prices. WAAHHOOOOO! I am one happy and finely dressed woman. and I believe Geoff gets the pleasure of taking me out to dinner soon! :o)
(P.S. Carissa, I know you are drooling right now. Did I make you proud?)

What A Year!

Easter at Duke Gardens 2008 verses Easter at Duke Gardens 2009... growing up fast!

"What NOT To Do" by Grant

What NOT to do with your Easter basket:

What NOT to do with Baking Soda:


and finally, what NOT to do when you're at the park!

HaPpY eAsTeR!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYBODY!

Especially you know who in Iraq, we missed you at Duke Gardens today Geoff~ its hard to believe that you've never spent Easter with Grant but I know that next year is the year!!!

Heres the link to all of our pictures, Grant is "over" sitting pretty for pictures, he is a mover and a shaker and expects you to keep up with it whether you like it or not!
http://tinyurl.com/dukegardens

...and because everyone loves a feel good story, especially at Easter here is a link to the news article that ran today about our new pastor and his son who just had a heart transplant: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1482323.html