Ok, so I haven't updated in a while and I think I should probably update this. Plus some people have told me I'm totally failing at this blog thing, so here we go.
So, after AIT, Brandon received his first PCS assignment to Fort Lewis, WA. He came straight here and put our names on a housing waitlist. Soon after, my mom and I drove up with Kale and supplies for a couple months while we waited for housing. The wait was only suppose to be a couple months, so we figured we could wait it out in an extended stay hotel. But, of course, we ended up with a room on the fourth floor, and with a dog needing to go outside all the time, the arrangement was not ideal, to say the least. So, after getting a call from housing saying the wait would be a lot longer, we decided to find an apartment. We only had a few days because our things were being shipped here, and we didn't want them going into storage, so the hunt was on, yet again, for some housing.
We ended up finding a place, that isnt ideal, but with kale it's hard to find a good apartment that will take him. But, we got a ground floor apartment, so we no longer have to bribe each other to take him outside hahaha. We got into the apartment a couple days before our stuff got here. Now, we have most of everything put in its place, and are trying to figure out how we have a bigger apartment but cant seem to find room for everything. Honestly, I dont know how or why we have so much stuff. But I think a lot of the boxes are full of books that we dont have a bookcase for, so i tell myself we dont have enough room for all of our intellect. Which I know is totally untrue, but it helps me sleep better at night. ;)
Washington is nice so far, but food-wise it is seeming to be a poor man's phoenix. The red robin has been disappointing, and their version of paradise Bakery is definitely not as delicious, but it definitely is beautiful. Kale is enthralled with all the vegetation and wildlife. He chased a squirrel up a tree the other day, and is always sniffing grass or leaves. It's like he is discovering the world for the first time. It's pretty funny. We cant wait till it finally warms up and we can take him camping. speaking of the weather, it's so darn cold! We have spent a lot of money gathering gloves, scarves, beanies and coats in order to survive the outside world hahaha and yeah the rain is not too fun either, but luckily it is usually not very hard. But you know what, overall I'm glad we are here. Our ward is really nice and welcoming, and even though the closest Chipotle is 15 miles away, I think we can survive ;) and hopefully we will get housing on base soon.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
2.5 weeks from AIT graduation!
Ok, man I'm failing at this whole keeping up on my blog thing. So since I last wrote I actually went to visit Brandon on the 12th of August and stayed for the weekend. We had such a good time just walking around San Antonio, especially the river walk which is really neat. Unfortunately we didn't take any pictures all weekend, which kind of makes me sad now that i think about it. But hey we will always have the memories...that is until i forget them hahaha But seriously, it was such a good trip, and so nice to see my Brandon again.
In other news, Brandon has volunteered to go to Airborne training. He did get my permission first like a good husband, and as much as I don't like the idea of him jumping from planes, I know its what he really wants to do, so I'm going to be the supportive wife from my position on the ground as I will constantly be on my knees praying for his safety. To be in an Airborne unit Brandon will have to go back to Fort Benning for a 3 week training course. What does this mean for his plans to take his leave after graduation and help get us ready to move to el paso? It means for right now we are no longer going to El Paso, and we are now back in limbo not knowing if he will get to come home, or if he will have to stay in san antonio for a little while, or if he will go straight back to Benning for airborne training. Another wonderful piece to this puzzle that is our life, Brandon is currently at Camp Bullis until the 23rd, so he has no access to his phone or computer. This means that if he gets his orders soon, he probably wont get them till he gets back to Fort Sam, so that gives us a week to figure out what our plan will be. The whole situation is kind of ridiculous, but I suppose it is just giving me a small taste of what our life in the army will be like.
Let's see what else - Kale decided to eat one of his toys a couple weeks ago, and had to go in for surgery the have it removed from his stomach. Pretty much the most expensive and horrible weekends I have had in a very long time. But it is sooooo nice to see him more like himself now. We are back in his training classes, and I have decided to teach him to shake hands on my own. No major progress yet, he did lift his paw once without me doing it for him, but it didn't happen again, so it may have been a fluke. Oh well, he will get it eventually, for a dumb dog he is pretty smart - or is it the other way around? hahaha
In other news, Brandon has volunteered to go to Airborne training. He did get my permission first like a good husband, and as much as I don't like the idea of him jumping from planes, I know its what he really wants to do, so I'm going to be the supportive wife from my position on the ground as I will constantly be on my knees praying for his safety. To be in an Airborne unit Brandon will have to go back to Fort Benning for a 3 week training course. What does this mean for his plans to take his leave after graduation and help get us ready to move to el paso? It means for right now we are no longer going to El Paso, and we are now back in limbo not knowing if he will get to come home, or if he will have to stay in san antonio for a little while, or if he will go straight back to Benning for airborne training. Another wonderful piece to this puzzle that is our life, Brandon is currently at Camp Bullis until the 23rd, so he has no access to his phone or computer. This means that if he gets his orders soon, he probably wont get them till he gets back to Fort Sam, so that gives us a week to figure out what our plan will be. The whole situation is kind of ridiculous, but I suppose it is just giving me a small taste of what our life in the army will be like.
Let's see what else - Kale decided to eat one of his toys a couple weeks ago, and had to go in for surgery the have it removed from his stomach. Pretty much the most expensive and horrible weekends I have had in a very long time. But it is sooooo nice to see him more like himself now. We are back in his training classes, and I have decided to teach him to shake hands on my own. No major progress yet, he did lift his paw once without me doing it for him, but it didn't happen again, so it may have been a fluke. Oh well, he will get it eventually, for a dumb dog he is pretty smart - or is it the other way around? hahaha
Friday, July 29, 2011
Halfway done with AIT!
so yeah i still need to post pictures from graduation, and keri's baby shower - man im so far behind! But, I did just want to write to give an update on Brandon :) He is doing soooooo well! This past week he had some major tests to take, and he passed them all with flying colors! He is now a certified EMT-B (which stands for Basic I am told). Plus, he had another PT test on thursday and did his personal best in sit-ups, which have so far been his toughest challenge. So, all his hard work in the gym paid off :) I'm so proud of him. Plus, he thinks he may not have to take another PT test before he graduates from there, but I'm not going to bet on it, it seems they always say things like that, then make them test again regardless, so he may still have to do it again, but I'm sure he will keep working out and it will be no problem. So, this means everything is set and he will be able to hang out off-base with me when I go visit in two weeks from today! I'm so excited! Oh, and on Wednesday of this week Brandon surprised me at work by having some chocolate covered strawberries, a teddy bear and a ballon sent to me from edible arrangements! He is so sweet :)
So, now Brandon is entering Whiskey phase which is probably not going to be as fun as the name would imply ;) but it is where they get to act out senarios on the 'battlefield' and learn how to apply their skills to a more military setting. Brandon said it is going to be tough because they will be running around with all of their gear on the whole time - bullet proof vests included - craziness! but yeah he is officially a little more than halfway done, so this has been a really great week :) Thanks to everyone for your continued love, support, and prayers
oh - and we may be finding out where we will be stationed any day now! Brandon said a lot of people in his company are starting to find out their 1st duty station, so keep your fingers crossed for someplace cool to visit so everyone will want to come out and stay with us ;)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
12-ish Weeks Left!
Ok so I have had several requests to update my blog because I have been totally remiss and haven't updated in a long time. I'm a horrible person! So, I am going to do my best to catchup on the latest happenings here, and then when i can find my camera cord I'll post pictures from Brandon's graduation! Just to warn you they aren't as cool as I'd like them to be, but at least they are something.
Graduation - ok so the trip to Georgia was the best worst trip ever! Seeing Brandon was soooo great I can't even describe it! I didn't think it was possible for them to shave off more of his hair, but the army found a way. So, this was the first time I have had to travel and rent a car and hotel by myself, and it was quite the experience. The hotel was great, but gave crappy directions when I had to find a walgreens to get some items I forgot to pack. So, as I was driving around aimlessly looking for something I decided to get some dinner, and while waiting in the longest drive-thru I have ever been in, my tire pressure light came on. So, while sitting in a parking spot waiting for KFC to make more mash potatoes - yes you read that right, the KFC ran out of mash potatoes so after wasting half my young life in the line i had to relocate to a parking spot to wait some more - anyway, I decided to check on my tires, well what did I find? Yes, you are right one of my tires was completely flate, in the middle of a KFC parking lot at 10:30 at night in Columbus Georgia!
so I had to sit in my car, eat my dinner and wait for someone to come change my tire - yay for USAA roadside assistance. then I had to spend precious time with brandon the next day getting the flat repaired, then had to pay the car rental place for a new tire anyway - so dumb!
The next day, after getting a little lost on the base, after 10 weeks i finally got to put my arms around my husband! He thinks I'm silly, but I think he looks awesome in his uniform. What I wasn't expecting were all the rules that go along with wearing his uniform in public. He can't show any kind of PDA, so no hand-holding, hugging, andything like that. He also couldn't drive, or walk while talking or texting on his phone. I understand the reasoning for it, no distractions while in your uniform or what not, but not being able to hold his hand while walking around was hard for me to do.
I think I gained 4 lbs that trip going to the restaurants brandon hasn't been able to go to, and hanging out eating pizza while watching a movie in the hotel. But, I think it was worth it :) It was nice just spending time together, even if we were doing nothing. The graduation ceremony the next day was pretty cool. they had some awards to give out, and we got to see them march around and stand at attention, they even incorporated smoke and gun fire in part of it.
The next day we both had to be at the airport (me going home, him heading to San Antonio for his AIT training where he will learn to be a medic) so we got to have lunch together at the airport.
Since then we have gotten to talk a lot more, which makes the seperation a lot easier. Plus, we are broke from my trip out to Georgia, so we dont really have a choice but to deal with it and wait till we can save up for me to go out there for his graduation from AIT. We are looking into me driving there, then driving him back with me, and maybe hitting up six flags or soemthing since he has two weeks in between his AIT and we would have to report at whatever base we are assigned to for the next 3 years. So, we will see how that pans out. For now, he is doing relaly well. They spend most of their time in classrooms and doing hw - its weird hearing him talk about spending free time studying, sometimes I wonder what alien abducted my husband's body hahaha - he is still having trouble doing situps on the concrete, he tore up his tailbone when he first got there, so he can only do about 10-15 before he is in a lot of pain. I blame the Judd genes for his lack of butt hahaha Other than that things are looking really good for now.
His new mailing address is:
Judd, Brandon
232nd Med BN
E. Com #12-11, 1 Cav
Ste 1350
3250 Koehler Rd
FT Sam Houston, TX 78234
he can get packages and things now, aside from the obvious things that are still considered contriban (weapons, etc.) but if you send food, try to send a lot cuz apparently they are suppose to share or something.
In the area of little bundles of joy - and I put emphasis on LITTLE - Brynlee Abel was born the day after Fathers day June 20, 2011! She looks just like her dad, and is soo tiny and precious as only new borns can be! Both mom and baby are doing so well. What a blessing! Congrats Michelle and Ben :)
Ok well that is it for now, hopefully I will post pictures soon.
Disneyland vacation in T-2 days! yay
Graduation - ok so the trip to Georgia was the best worst trip ever! Seeing Brandon was soooo great I can't even describe it! I didn't think it was possible for them to shave off more of his hair, but the army found a way. So, this was the first time I have had to travel and rent a car and hotel by myself, and it was quite the experience. The hotel was great, but gave crappy directions when I had to find a walgreens to get some items I forgot to pack. So, as I was driving around aimlessly looking for something I decided to get some dinner, and while waiting in the longest drive-thru I have ever been in, my tire pressure light came on. So, while sitting in a parking spot waiting for KFC to make more mash potatoes - yes you read that right, the KFC ran out of mash potatoes so after wasting half my young life in the line i had to relocate to a parking spot to wait some more - anyway, I decided to check on my tires, well what did I find? Yes, you are right one of my tires was completely flate, in the middle of a KFC parking lot at 10:30 at night in Columbus Georgia!
so I had to sit in my car, eat my dinner and wait for someone to come change my tire - yay for USAA roadside assistance. then I had to spend precious time with brandon the next day getting the flat repaired, then had to pay the car rental place for a new tire anyway - so dumb!
The next day, after getting a little lost on the base, after 10 weeks i finally got to put my arms around my husband! He thinks I'm silly, but I think he looks awesome in his uniform. What I wasn't expecting were all the rules that go along with wearing his uniform in public. He can't show any kind of PDA, so no hand-holding, hugging, andything like that. He also couldn't drive, or walk while talking or texting on his phone. I understand the reasoning for it, no distractions while in your uniform or what not, but not being able to hold his hand while walking around was hard for me to do.
I think I gained 4 lbs that trip going to the restaurants brandon hasn't been able to go to, and hanging out eating pizza while watching a movie in the hotel. But, I think it was worth it :) It was nice just spending time together, even if we were doing nothing. The graduation ceremony the next day was pretty cool. they had some awards to give out, and we got to see them march around and stand at attention, they even incorporated smoke and gun fire in part of it.
The next day we both had to be at the airport (me going home, him heading to San Antonio for his AIT training where he will learn to be a medic) so we got to have lunch together at the airport.
Since then we have gotten to talk a lot more, which makes the seperation a lot easier. Plus, we are broke from my trip out to Georgia, so we dont really have a choice but to deal with it and wait till we can save up for me to go out there for his graduation from AIT. We are looking into me driving there, then driving him back with me, and maybe hitting up six flags or soemthing since he has two weeks in between his AIT and we would have to report at whatever base we are assigned to for the next 3 years. So, we will see how that pans out. For now, he is doing relaly well. They spend most of their time in classrooms and doing hw - its weird hearing him talk about spending free time studying, sometimes I wonder what alien abducted my husband's body hahaha - he is still having trouble doing situps on the concrete, he tore up his tailbone when he first got there, so he can only do about 10-15 before he is in a lot of pain. I blame the Judd genes for his lack of butt hahaha Other than that things are looking really good for now.
His new mailing address is:
Judd, Brandon
232nd Med BN
E. Com #12-11, 1 Cav
Ste 1350
3250 Koehler Rd
FT Sam Houston, TX 78234
he can get packages and things now, aside from the obvious things that are still considered contriban (weapons, etc.) but if you send food, try to send a lot cuz apparently they are suppose to share or something.
In the area of little bundles of joy - and I put emphasis on LITTLE - Brynlee Abel was born the day after Fathers day June 20, 2011! She looks just like her dad, and is soo tiny and precious as only new borns can be! Both mom and baby are doing so well. What a blessing! Congrats Michelle and Ben :)
Ok well that is it for now, hopefully I will post pictures soon.
Disneyland vacation in T-2 days! yay
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Week 10 - One week till Graduation!!
Well I am beside myself with excitement! This time next week I will be with Brandon! I can't wait! which probably means this week is going to go by horribly slow, but i can't help it! hahaha and if you dont believe me, i think the amount of exclaimation points i have used so far is a small indication of my feelings! hahaha anywho - I got a letter yesterday, after a week without anything because of his 5 day camping trip the letter was a very welcome sight :) It turns out he passed his last physical test, and should have gotten a phone call, but was sent on some sort of cleaning assignment and everyone got to make their calls while he was gone! That was so upsetting to hear. With his luck, im not sure how he has survived basic at all hahaha
other than that things went well during the trip, no ticks :) but he does still keep rolling his ankle. It seems to happen almost everyday, or multiple times during certain activities. I'm trying not to worry too much but I cant really help it. I want to get him some kind of graduation present, of course he says my attendence will be enough, but i dont want to show up empty handed. hmmmm.... ill have to think about it.
other than that things went well during the trip, no ticks :) but he does still keep rolling his ankle. It seems to happen almost everyday, or multiple times during certain activities. I'm trying not to worry too much but I cant really help it. I want to get him some kind of graduation present, of course he says my attendence will be enough, but i dont want to show up empty handed. hmmmm.... ill have to think about it.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Week 9 - 16 days till Graduation!
Well, Brandons last couple of letters have been wonderful to read! It seems nothing has changed much on the 'getting in trouble for stupid things and people' front, but everything is going well and Brandon is staying out of trouble :) They went on another overnight camping trip thing the other night, and apparently there were ticks and bugs everywhere. Brandon was happy to report he only found one tick the next day while showering - so gross!!
In other news, it was my little sister jessica's highschool graduation on thursday. It was so weird to see her enter adulthood! It makes me feel old! I dont know what I'm going to do when my youngest sibling graduates! That's so crazy to think about, and its only a few years away! I never really think about our family all grown up with families of our own, for some reason my younger siblings are always still much younger in my visions of the future. hahaha I hope I dont turn into one of those moms that cries and can't bare the thought of her babies being all grown up. Things aren't looking good if I can't even handle my little sister graduating hahaha
In other news, it was my little sister jessica's highschool graduation on thursday. It was so weird to see her enter adulthood! It makes me feel old! I dont know what I'm going to do when my youngest sibling graduates! That's so crazy to think about, and its only a few years away! I never really think about our family all grown up with families of our own, for some reason my younger siblings are always still much younger in my visions of the future. hahaha I hope I dont turn into one of those moms that cries and can't bare the thought of her babies being all grown up. Things aren't looking good if I can't even handle my little sister graduating hahaha
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Week 8 :)
Soooooo - lots and lots of good things to report! Brandon is doing sooo much better. His spirits are much better than the last time I updated. So thank you for the thoughts, prayers and letters. Apparently he got 4 of my letters at once, so im thinking they hold mail and what not so that is probably why he didn't get any that one mail call. Anyway, his PT test was last monday, and he did so awesome! He did 43 situps and only needed 36! He said he didn't know why he was so worried hahaha So, unless he hurts himself (knock on wood) there is no reason why he should not graduate on time. I think they may have to do the test one more time, but I think now that he has done so well he will have no problem cuz he knows he can do it :)
He is giving a talk in the branch over there on the 29th about obedience. I know he is going to do really well, he is such a good speaker, and of course he has been talking about obedience a lot in his letters to me so there really isn't a better topic they could have chosen - funny how inspiration works out that way hahaha
On another note Michelle's baby shower was on saturday. She got such cute things, and had so many people there supporting her! i thought it went really well. Allison throws a great party, and I'm totally trying out those tissue paper pom poms the next chance I get ;) Anyway, I want to wish Michelle the best - can't wait to meet Brynlee! and of course thank her and Allison for letting me help out :)
He is giving a talk in the branch over there on the 29th about obedience. I know he is going to do really well, he is such a good speaker, and of course he has been talking about obedience a lot in his letters to me so there really isn't a better topic they could have chosen - funny how inspiration works out that way hahaha
On another note Michelle's baby shower was on saturday. She got such cute things, and had so many people there supporting her! i thought it went really well. Allison throws a great party, and I'm totally trying out those tissue paper pom poms the next chance I get ;) Anyway, I want to wish Michelle the best - can't wait to meet Brynlee! and of course thank her and Allison for letting me help out :)
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