Shillig 4 Family

 When we first arrived they were able to pick Jake out in his platoon and we got front row seats, SCORE!  Good thing they line up tallest to shortest in their platoons, Jake is easily visible on the front row (him waving before it started helped too).  When the ceremony was over Malachi took off running to the group.  He stopped, looked around completely confused, and a fellow soldier said, "They all look the same, they all look the same" almost to read Malachi's mind at the moment.  It caused lots of "aw" and laughter.  It was sweet.  Then Jake was released and they had no trouble finding him.  I am so glad we were able to be here for this and even though Jake still has 2 weeks of training, he's officially graduated from BOLC (basic officer leadership course).  I love when a picture captures a moment perfectly, without being posed.  This picture does just that, it makes me smile. Good job, 2LT Shillig, We are so proud of yo...

 This weekend Fort Sam held a carnival on base advertised as a family Oktoberfest.  We went and had a great time just walking distance from our hotel.   Funnel cake, Ferris wheels, yummy food, and games made for a great night.   This picture of our precious boy was so memorable, I think Jake captured it perfectly. He loves his boots and lately must have his "soldier hat" because the sun he says, "burn my eyes."

 We took a little trip to Austin, TX and saw the bats emerge from underneath the Congress Avenue bridge at dusk.  It was darker than dusk so it made it a little harder to see but we were still SUPER impressed.  We watched from the ground and then up on the bridge.  They emerge for about 10 minutes in a continual stream.  After the bats we drove down and toured the capital at almost 9PM.  It's open til 10PM.  Talk about nice weather, free parking after 6PM and pretty much zero crowds.  I think doing Austin at night was PERFECT.  The kids slept on the way home and Jake and I were able to talk, it was almost like a little date. *I was very proud of myself for not being unkind to a lady next to us on the bridge looking at the bats.  She first said, "Well, what a beautiful family!"  I smiled and said, "Thank-you."  Then Malachi's head pops out from looking at the bats and she says, "OH!  There's ANOTHER ONE!" pret...

It was finally long enough to donate. We're very happy with our handsome little boy's haircut.

The kids had donuts for breakfast from the hotel continental Breakfast. We took some things to Jake.  Today he turns in his gear. Solomon fell asleep in his car seat so I parked and sat with Solomon while the children played in the grass in front of me. 73 degrees with a breeze. Malachi kept getting upset over stickers in his feet and not being able to keep up with his sisters.  Mali su sat him down on those pallets so sweetly. The girls picked handfuls of flowers while he watched. He's now playing with sticks and knocking on my van door. Oh wait,  he's giving the grass another chance...

I pop the girls' air mattress as I'm putting them to bed, I stepped off the end right at the inflating mechanism tearing it. I awaken to the sound of Aimi Lark sick and throwing up all over the flat on the ground deflated air mattress they slept on. I wake up several more times with Aimi Lark sick. Solomon wakes for his early morning feeding but can't nurse because he's all stuffed up and snotty.  It's those teeth on the bottom coming in that has him all yucky. I just said to someone that my kids haven't been sick in a year+ guess that streak is gone.  Time to re-set the ticker at the front of our establishment to say, "been sickness free for 00 days."  Malachi's repeatedly yelling at the TV,  "I wanna go you house Mickey Mouse!!!"  I feel your pain son, I feel your pain, I'd like to stretch my legs a little in say, a two bedroom. I have easily applied for HUNDREDS of jobs for Jake in Florida.  Yesterday I took al...

Those who read my blog are aware that I am a Mormon.  I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress stole the Friday news cycle with his comments that Mitt Romney, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was a “non-Christian” in a “cult”– shortly after having introduced Rick Perry as speaker at the Values Voter Summit. Jeffress elaborated on his comments last night to Anderson Cooper in an interview where he argued Catholicism defied the New Testament and suggested President Obama’s “purported” Christianity was not enough to sway his vote. In response to media calls regarding comments made by a Baptist minister at a political event stating that Mormons are not Christians, the Church issued the following statement today: We really don’t want to comment on a statement made at a political event, but those who want to understand the centrality of Christ to our faith ca...