Random remarks

Ok so here it is end of April already. As most of you know, John is deploying for 15 months. we are not sure of the exact date but we think it's like 1 June. I do have an address for him and will email it to anyone who would like to have it. I will also let people know in the email as to the location of his unit but don't feel it wise (OPSEC) to post it on here. Although everyone over there is a permanent station for unit and the enemy is aware of their whereabouts I still don't feel the need to disclose that information. We're not at all looking forward to another year and an extra 3 months away from each other but.. Tis the life of an Army wife I say. There is so much to do still around the house and now they will be out on hold for the next 455 days ( more or less who knows). I can however let you know that he will not starve over there nor be bored. They have plenty of facilities to visit and a PX to go to for anything he may need. The time difference there is I think as follows ( from Eastern Time that is).. from April to October its 7 hours ahead and from November to March its 8 hours. But don't mark me on the months.. they don't turn their clocks ahead or back. I do not know how well the internet or phone services over there are. But hopefully I can get some info about that at a later date.

On a happier note (and I know it is a few weeks late but) we welcomed (well not us personally) a new member to the family on April 7th... Miss Katelyn Victoria Tepker. Wish we could be there to hold her and visit her. I am sure her big brothers Collin and Owen are happy for her to finally be there. Miss Katelyn makes the 8th grandbaby for my mom and dad in law. I think on my dad's side alone there are like 15 of us and like 5 great grandkids... hehe big family

Rylie is getting smarter everyday and if I wanted to I could go on and on about her funny little words she knows. But I won't. She is learning her shapes and numbers very well. She knows her colors very well. Still loves to read books and not leave mommy's side. She likes to play outside with her golf ball and her birdie (a badmitton birdie). She is learning to use pedals for her bike and likes to use the little scooter that used to be Justin's. Day care is not her favorite thing but pretty soon it will be an everyday thing. Naps are slowly fading away but there is still always rest time.. HAHA!!! She is becoming a very good little dancer and singer. She likes to sing songs and then dance to them. She is big on throwing tantrums now (not the tantrums I am used to seeing but they are all different in some way) she will start fake crying and get louder until she is screaming and crying (for real). So time outs are becoming popular around here as well. If you ask her how old she is she ised to say "rylie's 2" and now she will tell you "rylie be 3 soon". So she is smart and funny and cute and squishy and well all that good gravey.

As for me.. I am hanging in there. I haven't been volunteering since beginning of March. OOPS!! I did however apply for a job, get an interview and then finally get the job. Its a clerk position at the CDC building. It doesn't pay much but at least it gets me out of the house and Rylie socializing with kids her own age. it's basically an on-call position. I most likely wont start until sometime in June since I have to complete background checks and stuff. The job isn't umm... it doesn't guarantee that I am going to work everyday or all day so with Rylie being in full day I may be able to continue volunteering at the hospital red cross office. But we'll have to wait and see.

Well I reckon that's about all I got for now. So when the time comes closer I will email the address for John and then I will keep people up to date either on here or in emails of how is doing over there. TTFN

Spring Break 2008

Justin taking pictures while we wait in the truck

another good action shot

Umm I think she went over the line.. penalty!!!

Rylie bowling for the 1st time

Nice action shot!!

Justin helping Rylie bowl

"do I have to eat my green beans?"

being silly with applesauce "You mean this green bean?"

"CHEESE"

learning to play "Elefun" game

helping move rocks in the driveway (above)

Posing for the camera (above)

Listening to Grandpa J play the ukele (dunno the spelling)

Wow I can't believe I haven't posted anything since March whatever it was. I guess I been busier than I thought. Anyway I had been wanting to post some of the pictures I took while the kids were here on their Spring break. It was great seeing them again and I sure miss them. Rylie talks about them a good bit still. She really enjoyed meeting her brother and sister (again). She was like Sarah's little shadow and then she wanted Justin a lot too. It was nice having all the kids here again. Anyway we didn't do much because the weather was so bad. And plus John working didn't help either. Umm so yea there are some pictures and some captions to go along with them. Enjoy...

Mammoth Cave National Park (20080318)

This month sure has been an exciting and wonderful month. We got company the 15th and then the 17th. My in-laws came and stayed a week and then Justin and Sarah came and stayed for a few weeks. Rylie enjoyed it. (well the kids are still here until Friday). We haven't done much but we will be here for the next 3 years anyway so there is plenty of time. Don't need to get all the site seeing done in one trip. Anyway.. on the 18th of March we took a drive to Mammoth cave National Park here in Kentucky. we started out by driving in the country. it was beautiful. We got to an area where there were several deer on the side of the road. I got 2 pics but the one isn't very good. We went on a small ferry in order to get to the park. That was pretty neat. It was Rylie did very well. We were afraid we would all have to take turns carrying her. But she walked all the way. Way to go. HEHE!! Anyway We took a probably 2 hour tour of parts of the cave. Got some pictures and ate at the little restaurant they had in their hotel. I think we went up and down 500 steps or more. I can't remember. Anyway a little history on Mammoth Cave:

Mammoth Cave is the world's largest cave system, with more than 365 miles explored. In fact it is so long that if the second and third longest caves in the world were joined together, Mammoth Cave would still be the planet's longest cave and have nearly 100 miles left over! The first human to enter the cave was over 4000 years ago. The cave gets its name because of its vast chambers and complex labyrinths.

Anyone interested in visitng the caves.. you can always stay with us. I think its interesting that such a massive cave system was built by water. Hmm... makes a person wonder about so much more in life.

Snow Snow everywhere snow

above Rylie is crying cuz there is to much snow for her liking

above is me knee deep

above is the shot I took of Rylie and the back door

above pic is of back porch area

Above is side of our house

This is right in front of our garage

Well yesterday we got some more snow. And it just kept on falling. YUCKIE!! I am sick of this wet, cold and all around yucky weather. We're expecting an accumulation of 10 to 14 inches. So today in order to try and lighten my mood I decided to take Rylie out and play in it. I brought the camera along thinking I would get some real good action photos but alas there were none. She cried as soon as we hit a deep spot. And didn't stop crying until I got her on the front porch. The snow is deep in some areas and hardly any in others. There was a time where I myself was knee deep in it so I guess I can't blame her for being not so happy. I got some good shots of the snow and a couple of how deep some spots were. It was coming up on my front and back door so when you open then all the snow falls in. I called John and told him he needed to come home and shovel the driveway. There is no way I can get the car out in that. I don't think he took me serious (he is unable to come home anyway he is training in Ft.Campbell).Anyway.. I sure hope the weather takes a turn for the better. Especially when the in-laws come and Sarah and Justin. You know we're going to want to get out and do stuff. That's about it. Enjoy the pics.