On The Road Again.

Hi everyone! Few things: 1) we are in the middle of a move. All our stuff is packed up and now we are trying to get the house ready for someone to rent or buy. Anyone wanna buy a house in Lawton, OK?! You let me know kay?!
2) I don't have a picture to go along with this but I am proud to say I am now a green belt in Ju Jutsu. My teachers pushed me to my limits and did not break me :-) I will miss my dojo mates, soke, and Sensei greatly!!
3) I will be trying to update this blog with news as the kids and I travel across part of the states. No pictures will join the stories. I am sure to overwhelm you with images come mid-August when the kids and I are due to Fort Polk, Louisiana. If it seems I am prolonging the move to LA for as long as possible you have guessed right. If you are in the South, the North east, or the Midwest consider contacting me please to see if we can hook up! No I have not planned out my summer. The kids and I are going to hit the road and see where the Garmin takes us. I will probably never have this opportunity again so I am taking it while I have it! Call me crazy... you are right. Bye for now!

A star is born!

 Sanjiv treated the kids to a ride in his very cool convertible. Nicholas loved the fact that it looked like a transformer when the top converted... and pushed every button while Sanjiv kindly held his breath (LOL!). Tori? Well Tori enjoyed her Hollywood Star training!

At Work

I was very fortunate to work with some awesome people.  Pat (not pictured here) taught me so much.  Right up to my last day.  

OK so I didn't really work THIS hard but it was a fun picture to take/add!  I am going to miss this view from my work space on 4W!

Goodbye too soon

Coworkers kindly joined me for dinner to say goodbye. Pictured: Crystal, Tamara, Pat, Susan, Anita, Susan, and Dr. Kaul.  

Nicholas' Yo Ho Ho '09

Nicholas performed this piece at his Spring Concert as well as at Oklahoma State Achievement Audition Solo Division where he earned a gold medal and an "outstanding" rating!

Arts For All Festival

This is just a quick clip of Tori Performing at the Arts For All Festival in Lawton OK with Saint Mary's Choir.  It was hard to pick out just one section of her performance!  As you can imagine there were many adorable moments.  Did you catch the kiss she blew to the camera? One of many.  

Tori: Arts For All Festival

 I could not help but add a couple of sections from Tori's performance. 

crawfish boil

We attended a clinic at Eric's Dojo in Louisiana.  Eric has taken up Ju Jujutsu so we can take it together! Sensei Hughes (who occasionally comes to work out with Soke at my Dojo) happened to come down from TX and threw me around for his demo.  This clinic brought dojo's together from a number of states to learn from each other.  We had a great time sweating and learning as a family :-) 

For lunch we got to hang out at the May Fest right outside of the dojo doors.  We enjoyed great food, awesome music, and wonderful artists.  That night Shihan Joe had everyone over for a crawfish boil at his place.

I am still a vegetarian people.  But Eric and the kids seemed to enjoy learning how to eat these poor little creatures.  I had a liquid diet that night. Regardless, it was nice to be welcomed by good people whom we will be getting to know very well over the next couple of years!

Assumption of Command

Aunt Eileen recommended we put Tori in the twirly-girl dress and it was a hit. Very cute. Buff was a huge help... watched the kids while we worked the receiving line.  Turned out to be a long line actually. Which is a good thing. 

The reception went well and we are off to a great start! We got to enjoy Buff's company for dinner and after a tearful goodbye (as only Tori can do so well), we had to say goodbye to Buff way too soon. 

Assumption of Command

Eric assumed command of 5th Battalion- 353rd Regiment, 162d Infantry Brigade (FST-TT) Fort Polk, LA. The Activation Ceremony went very well.  All the more special because Buff made the trip down for this event!