I'm not fully versed in the way the reserves work. We all know that reservists are supposed to work 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks per year and that they are to stand ready should our full time active duty troops need some help. It turns out that some reservists work "part time", some just do "drill weekend", and some work "full time". It looks like Todd will be working on drill weekends as well as some hours part time when the Major needs his help with things around the squadron. The squadron is 178 people strong and is a maintenance unit that works on F-16s. As most of you know, Todd worked on A-10s when he was an enlisted troop and already has a maintenance patch. However, his officer training was in logistics so he'll need to go to Texas and Shepard AFB some time in the near future for four weeks of maintenance officer training so that he has all the right credentials. Other than that, he is (and I quote) "exactly what [Major Paladino] needs." We are very excited. Not only will this be of financial support (major tithing blessing here) but it will also be good for Todd's psyche and his soul. If you know Todd well at all, you know that he loved serving in the military and has been feeling it's absence since he separated in mid-2006. We are all very excited about this. He should be fully processed into the reserves by December 15th. He will be meeting with the other officers and the group commander on December 6th for drill weekend so that everyone can become acquainted. Between that and his duck hunting escapades the past few days, he is in heaven.
Jeffrey and Jackson are excited that there are only two school days this week and that one of them is a "short" day, meaning that they only attend for part of the day. From what I can tell, they are partying for most of their time at school. I am Jackson's room mother and I know he is in for a great time because we have scads of "indian" food for his party. Of course it's not Indian food as in food from India. They will be eating popcorn, craisins, corn nuts, raisins, beef jerky, and other foods the Native American tribes would have enjoyed. He is quite excited, especially about the popcorn. Jeff said that his class was having a potluck but I have no idea what they are doing because we didn't send anything as a contribution (we weren't asked). We'll see what he has to say after school today.
They are still wrestling and had a really good meet last Friday at Weber High School. They are both getting better and better with every week. I am so impressed with how strong, coordinated, and intense they are. Neither of them likes to lose and so they rarely do. As I've said before, it discomforts me how much emotion goes into this whole thing and I rarely see a bout go without crying or extreme upset, either on the part of my boy or the one he is wrestling.
I know Jeffrey is incredibly frustrating for many of the boys he wrestles because he can't be pinned and they are 2 and 3 years into this whole thing and are used to being able to pin their opponent.
Jeffrey wrestled three of the toughest kids he has faced yet and ended up in a three-way tie for first place. We are very proud of his accomplishment!
Jackson got pretty frustrated this last time around because the boy he was wrestling couldn't pin him and nearly refused to finish the bout. His opponent started crying and wailing and his frustration just confused and upset Jackson so much that he didn't want to go on.
Todd and I spent some time with him and he bucked up and finished the bout but didn't want to continue to wrestle. He kept telling me that his Dad "Didn't know what he was talking about with wrestling." and that "None of the stuff he told him to do would work." and that "He wasn't good enough to keep going." I was quite surprised because the whole problem with the previous bout was that he was SO good that the boy he was wrestling wasn't able to beat him. I am starting to think he's like his mom a little bit. He was feeling and projecting the other boy's feelings and it was really getting him down. We talked and I explained that if he didn't keep going and keep practicing that he wouldn't ever be good. I told him that lots of times we aren't good at things right away, we have to work to be good. After a few minutes of "thumb therapy" in my arms, Jackson decided to finish the meet. He did a great job and ended up finishing second in the bracket. I was so proud of him!
That's two places he's jumped in one week! What a stalwart little guy!
Jeff is also very into choir these days. He's finally old enough to sing in the choir (3rd grade is the youngest grade that can sing in the choir) and he and his elementary school choir sang at the Christmas lighting ceremonies for Roy City last night. He was such an animated singer and had so much fun. That, of course, made him lots of fun to watch and I just couldn't get enough of him! Too bad that they only sang 3 songs and then were finished. I am looking forward to watching him sing at the Joseph Smith Memorial, Hogle Zoo, and the Newgate Mall this season. It will be so much fun to see him growing himself in this way and I am so glad he likes it so much!
Logan is going to prove me wrong. Isn't that what kids are good for anyway? It looks like he may crawl after all. He's been doing that thing where he gets up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth. "Motor revving" I like to call it. Once he figures out how to move his hands forward, and then his legs, he'll be off and then I'll be frenzied! I'm looking forward to it, just because I think he'll be a much happier baby when he can move himself around. He's a pretty jovial guy anyway, but never underestimate the power of mobility. He has figured out how to clap since last week and he's been waving for about a month and a half now. I'm thinking that as his coordination in hand gestures improves, his communication will improve. I hope Jeff doesn't teach him how to swear with his hands. We did some family pictures with my parents and Denise's family last weekend and he was so funny the whole time. He was irritated when we had him pose sitting but when we stood him up, he was a total camera ham. I took him to get some pictures done at a studio the day before and he was a ham the whole entire time. So maybe he wasn't frustrated by the sitting. Maybe he just didn't enjoy sharing the spotlight. Who knows? Either way, I should have some dang cute pictures to post next time. He is a photogenic baby and loves to perform, so we shall see how they go over...
Utah won this past week. Need I say more? I probably should state that they won 48-24 and that is pretty dang awesome. I love the Utes. It looks like they are up for a BCS bowl now and we are just (impatiently) waiting until December 7th to find out who and where we play. We may go to the game if it is the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix but any other bowl is too far away for us to be able to justify going. We are super excited and are proud of our team. You'll be able to tell when you get our Christmas cards and I'm not letting any more out of the bag.
We are headed to Alamo for Thanksgiving with the Hardys this week. We will be leaving Wednesday and coming home Sunday. I'm excited to spend time with all of them and to let our kids play together. I'm hoping that we spend lots of time telling stories, playing cards, and enjoying one another. That is what the holidays are about for me and I am sure hoping we can do lots of it this week. I will be sure to take lots of pictures so I can post them next time.
The most recent installment of "The Chicken Letters" is jam-packed with drama. I don't have much story to tell, just some incidents to relay. Our adventure chicken "Kung Pow" was at it again this week. Unfortunately, she has met her demise. I am sad. I love Kung Pow. Such spirit, in a creature that epitomizes fear (i.e. the term "chicken"), is rare. Due to her ranging and her "adventure chicken" ways, Kung Pow is pecking and scratching and laying her green eggs in haystacks on high. She always did push the envelope and I'm afraid that she pushed it into my neighbors garage where she may have sampled mouse bait. I don't know this for sure but I found her dead, after she acted strangely for two days, in her coop. No wounds, no feather loss. I am pretty sure that the mouse bait got her because my neighbor (who is sweet and bears NO chicken malice) told me she was afraid that it may have happened. Then to find a seemingly healthy Kung Pow dead two days later is too much coincidence. RIP Kung Pow Adventure Chicken. You are missed. That is not all my chicken drama this week. It seems we have a double dose. Yesterday Todd was out "chicken herding" because the little rangers found themselves at the neighbors again. Not wanting them to meet the same fate as Kung Pow and, wanting to respect our neighbors' landscaping, we are trying to keep them in the yard. As he was chicken herding, her heard a loud "pop!" and saw General Tso fly up in the air and cackle as if she had been shot. He shouted out reflexively and then ran around the building he was in front of but didn't see anyone around. Thinking he must have mis-heard, he drove the chickens home and came inside. Later that day I couldn't find the General anywhere. I was concerned, considering the story Todd had told me, so I started looking in all of the chicken "hiding places" we have. I found her under the horse trailer looking miserable. I chased her out only to chase her under the coop. After getting her to come out of there I caught her and found a small spot of blood on her leg where it joins her body. She is limping badly as well and it does seem that General Tso deserves a purple heart. She has been shot. We are thinking a high powered BB Gun or Pellet gun probably got her. Due to this recent string of events, we have decided that it does not serve our chickens (or, obviously our neighbors) to "free range". It seems that they are more trouble for everyone than anyone had thought they would be. Todd and I are building a completely enclosed yard for them and will have it done before we head south for the holiday. I am hoping that it will end the sadder chicken drama and that, after this, we will only have flock drama that is more like a soap opera than a war on chickens. I'm tired of losing chickens. While the General is okay and I think she'll make it after a few days' convalescence, I don't want to lose anymore. I love the General and Kung Pow was very close to my heart. I would rather we keep them penned and keep them period than that we continue to let them range and lose them. I don't know how I'll ever get up the gumption to kill and eat them in a few year. Todd says that as long as they are producing eggs, they are safe so I will pray that their production goes on forever...or until I am tired of them. Here is a picture of General Tso...send good thoughts her way, she needs them!
Well, that's it! We are off to Nevada to bulk up our waistlines! I am so grateful for so much this season. As Thanksgiving is about what we are grateful for, I will list here something from each of us that represents what we are grateful for this year. Todd is grateful for family and for new opportunities. Layla is grateful for healthy family and tithing blessings. Jeffrey is grateful for his friends and family. Jackson is grateful for "Indian Day" at school. Logan is grateful for the Johnny Jump Up and for the fact that his Mommy will still nurse him.
May you consider all that you are grateful for this season and enjoy the friends, family, and rest that comes upon you. Remember, we are so grateful for each of you and wish a very Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Cheers!
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