graduation

May 21, 2009, was Jacob's graduation from MP OSUT. After almost 20 weeks of training, he was ready to graduate and we were ready too!!

Waiting for graduation to begin.

Marching up on to the stage to a cadence.

787th MP Battalion, C Company, 3rd Platoon

Everybody announced their name and duty station.

Ben was so tired that after the ceremony he just sat outside while Christopher and Nicholas ran around.

Family Photo :)

Uncle Jeff, Auntie Melissa, and Lexie

Lexie had fun with Uncle Jeff

Grandpa and Nick

After the ceremony we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. The highlight of the afternoon was playing on the big rocking chairs and with the checker boards out on the front porch.

Grandma rocking with Lexie and Ben.

Auntie Melissa and Lexie

Daddy and his girl!

After lunch we went back to Fort Leonard Wood for some shopping. We hit Starbucks and then headed to the PX (Jacob needed socks!). Melissa and Jeff had to leave in the late afternoon. After saying all of our goodbyes, we headed back to the hotel and then to dinner.

Jacob was able to stay with us for a couple of days before reporting back to FLW. There's not a whole lot to do in the area around the base so we went to Walmart a few times and hung out at the hotel and relaxed. We dropped him back off at FLW on Saturday afternoon and then drove to St Louis.

Right now he's still at FLW in Airborne hold. He *should* be leaving on Thursday and starting Airborne school the following Monday. But, as we've all learned, things are always subject to change!

family day

Today was Family Day at Fort Leonard Wood.  After almost five months of training, we were able to see Jacob for the first time.  The kids and I (and Grandma and Grandpa!) were VERY excited!!!  We went on base for the Family Day briefing and a slideshow of the training.

Grandma walked down to where the Soldiers were to get a picture while they were sitting at attention!  :)

After the briefing Jacob was released for the rest of the day.  We went outside to get some quick family pictures!

Family Photo

Jennifer, Lexie, Jacob, Ben, Chris, and Nick

I missed you Daddy!!

Daddy and his princess!!

After taking a bunch of pictures, Grandma and Grandpa headed to Lake of the Ozarks for the afternoon while the rest of us went to lunch and back to the hotel.  We met up for dinner at Ruby Tuesday and then Christopher, Nicholas, and I took Jacob back to FLW for the night.  Ben and Lexie stayed with Grandma and Grandpa and took a bath!  :)

The water baby!

I can pour water on you!  :)

fun with grandma

Grandma has been in town for the past couple of weeks and it seems that everything is more fun with Grandma!!!  :)  And she apparently does everything better than I do.

Cereal is better when Grandma makes it!

Trips to Target are even MORE fun with Grandma because she buys lots of toys!  Other than one cloth doll, Lexie doesn't have any.  Grandma thought that this was a travesty so she bought her one as soon as she could.  Unfortunately, I was not in the least bit surprised that she didn't really get a chance to play with it.

Nick likes playing with Lexie's new doll!

Christopher and Ben like playing with Lexie's new doll!

Oh look, Lexie finally got a turn!!

Even a mundane dinner is better with Grandma around.  Maybe it's because Grandma always brings out the camera!!  :)

Such a sweet girl!!

They love their sister!!

Everyone even goes to sleep better when Grandma is here.  Usually, it's even where they're supposed to go to sleep!!  On slumber party night Nick fell asleep on the couch.  He was hanging off of it when I ran upstairs, and when I came back down this is how I found him.  He must have fallen off the couch and then fell asleep leaning up against it.

What a sleepy boy!

happy 2nd birthday ben!!

Look at me, I'm 2!!

This is my crazy brother, Christopher.

And my other crazy brother, Nicholas.

And this is my sister, Lexie.  She's a princess!

I had fun opening presents.  I really like Elmo right now and Grandma and Grandpa found Elmo paper, an Elmo card, and a new Elmo doll!!

Mommy and Daddy got me a great new Elmo cell phone!!

My crazy brothers helped blow out the candles on my cheesecake (it's my favorite!!)!!

I'm such a sweetheart!!  :)