hey! hampton inn is awesome. much more our speed. we continue to have minor roadblocks to complete sanity but we are keeping a sense of humor about it. I just hope we didn't get any roaches join us in our suitcases to our new digs. GROSS!!!! MY SKIN CRAWLS just thinkin' about that place!!!!!
so what if ihop got me sick all afternoon and pizza hut didn't deliver our pizza or the high priced restaurant next door put meat on my pasta. AND the worst... the hampton inn did not have the penguins game on. ok so eric did NOT have a sense of humor about that one but we packed it in and walked over to the bar down the street and watched the game despite the fact they lost. :-( !!!
this am we went to the church affiliated with the kids new school where mass was partly in spanish. something new for us. kids loved it. a nice, diverse congregation. hit the commisary on the way back to the hotel (never a good idea on payday!) so we don't have to eat out so often. tomorrow we tackle all those things to do we were wrapped in red taped about on friday. it's all good. nick has asked to start his next journal "of (his) life" and is teaching tori how to do the same. nick says he can see his journals all stacked up in front of him when he is older.
on my way down to the gym while eric and the kids r at the pool. life is good. all our love! m

so! we r at our new post. drive down was pretty easy. but when eric called to confirm our reservation at on-post lodging they did not have our updated 1st night. stayed at the marriott. nice. then packed up and tried to get stuff done on post. hit an obscene amount of red tape. got nothing done... wait... we got the cars washed :-)
moved all our stuff in to on post lodging and quickly realized the roaches and their droppings won. so here I sit in the hot car outside of onpost lodging where eric is chewing out staff. should end on a happy note... got to see the outside of the house eric just bought us. he did a great job! neighborhood is wonderful. good friend right down the street. other good news: happy birthday Uncle Frank and Theresa Sherwood!!! Funny: Nicholas' 1st impression of our new digs... "WoW!!!! They have REAL Army men here!!!!" gonna go find something to eat. fun fun!

Fort Leavenworth, Adieu.

Getting ready for Daddy's Promotion to LTC at BCTP OPs Group Alpha conference center.

A proud moment.

The Kiss!!!

The speech, well done!

The receiving line. Look at these kids... they are old pros!

COL Nelson did such a wonderful job leading the event.

The party!

The party after was a success because of wonderful friends like the Savages and the Sherwoods! Rana and Theresa took care of details so we could work the crowd. Storm, David Dee, and John helped clean up so we could relax. We are so blessed to have you all in our lives!

Celebrating Eric and long-time friends. The Sherwoods and Chip Potter.

Hangin' out at the Rob's. Eydie and Sam Rob kindly and generously opened their home to us while we were clearing Fort Leavenworth. We spent a wonderful 5 days at the "Rob Bed and Breakfast". We were so comfortable and grateful!!

Tori's first ballet recital. She loves this adorable costume!! Our good friend Amy Bajus joined us in sitting through the 24 numbers. I guess there are recitals out there that are longer but my goodness! Tori did well. A tiny bit nervous on stage. Hit all her steps and cues as far as I could tell! Oh to keep her this age!!!

Acrobatics

Tori really enjoyed Acrobatics! They called this class Superballs since they all where binging off the walls every chance the got. Ms. Deena may just retire.

Marmie and Grandpa encouraged me to have the kids play hooky. Can you believe it!!! They took us to the KC Zoo and a good time was had by all. Can you believe they have awesome veggie burgers! Who knew!

These birds were a riot!! I should be more specific.... Tori with these birds was a riot!!

No fear that girl. This is a new exibit they are testing out at the zoo. You get to go in and feed these things. And they have claws. But Tori could not get enough. Nicholas on the other hand.... well at least he did not step on any of them when clearly he wanted to get out of the enclosure.

Do we look calm?

AHHHH! From where does Nicholas get his nervous disposition?

Kare Bear (AKA Karen Bogdan!) sends me a happy cookie to put a smile on my face. And ya know what!! It Work Kare!!! You are the best

Nicholas' First Communion

Look at this young man! He took his first communion with a joyful heart. We were blessed to have Marmie and Grandpa Campbell, Eileen, Conor, and Campbell Greenawalt, Theresa Sherwood, and Amy Bajus join us for the mass. The Savages were able to catch the reception after the liturgical celebration too. AND!! Add to that the Rob's, John Sherwood, Theresa Cogswell-Morales, and Mrs. Fehlauer joining us at our home for a party to celebrate Nicholas. Nicholas wow'ed us all with his ability to count up the money from the envelopes that poured in from family and friends. :-)

Nicholas, Maggie, and Grant Carrying the gifts up to the alter during the first communion mass.

Father Phil did such a beautiful job. He has a special place in his heart for these kids.

Eileen treated us to breakfast the morning of Nicholas' first communion. Melissa, Eric, and Campbell

Ei and Tori

Conor and Nicholas

Grandpa, Marmie, and Nicholas

Marmie and Grandpa treated us to a show at the Coterie theatre and dinner at Garazzo's Italian Restaurant. Eric and my Favorite!!

Bookends: Tori and Campbell