OCS

Don't get me wrong, I love the Army. But a few things about the Army are a little annoying. Like acronyms. Seriously they have an acronym for everything. And it takes forever to learn all the acronyms and I still have to ask Dallas all the time what things mean. For example, Dallas spent the last few months (Sept-Jan) at Fort Benning, Georgia for OCS (Officer Candidate School) where he was a BOC (Basic Officer Candidate), IOC (Intermediate Officer Candidate) and SOC (Senior Officer Candidate). Currently he is stationed TDY (Temporary Duty Assignment) at Fort Lee, Virginia for BOLC (Basic Officer Leadership Course). Unfortunately it is not a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) so the Army wouldn't move us. We opted for a DITY move (Do It Yourself) on our dime. See what I mean? Acronyms are annoying, right? Anyway, we are living in Virginia for the next 5 months or so and hanging out while Dallas finishes up his training. I need to catch up on my blog and write about Christmas, etc. but I want to update about Dallas' OCS before things get too busy and I forget.

For some reason when I uploaded these the pictures got all jumbled up. So this is just a little taste of what Dallas has been up to the last few months.

Grad Social

Intermediate Candidate Ceremony.

Senior Officer Candidate Ceremony.

Branching Ceremony. Dallas got his first choice at branching--Transportation. We head to Fort Campbell, Kentucky this summer for Dallas to start his job!

Graduation

In the classroom.

PT (another acronym! Physical Training)

Graduation

Can you spot Dallas?

Dallas and his roommate.

Swearing In

More pictures of graduation coming soon!

Gymnastics

For the past few months Amaya has taken gymnastics from Madison Gymnastics Center. She has loved every minute of it! It's been amazing to see how much more confident she is and how much coordination she has gained. I get some one-on-one time with Oaklie each week, which is good as well.
Today was Amaya's last day because after Christmas we are moving to VIRGINIA!!! I am hoping to find a good gym there because I think it would be good for her to get back into it. So far, the only places I have found are super expensive. So if you have any recommendations for gymnastics is in the Prince George/Chesterfield area let me know :)

Oaklie is a good cheerleader.

Waving at Amaya

I love my little gymnast! 

Oaklie and I watching gymnastics.

How to Put Up a Christmas Tree in 6 Easy Steps

This post is especially for Dad!

Step 1: Get in your pajamas and turn on some Christmas music. Find a good spot. Remove any kitchen sets, miscellaneous toys, and cheerios. 

Step 2:  Set up the tree stand. Spend 20 minutes sorting the branches with some very unhelpful helpers. Realize that thanks to chemo brain you can't remember how to put the branches in and you threw away the instructions because it was so easy to put together. Fluff branches and insert them into the stand. 

Step 3: Finish putting the branches in and place the top segment on the tree. Smash your fingers three times. Put the kids to bed.

Step 4: Weave the lights through the tree branches. Bob and weave! Plug them in and wait for Oaklie to say, "Oh, wow!"

Step 5: Add the ornaments in a simple pattern, trying to balance the different colors and shapes so the tree looks fancy. Try not to think about the reality that in 2 days everything will be clumped in one spot. Grin like you won the lottery because you are so excited about the tree!

Step 6: Place Baby Lisa on top of the tree to be the angel.

Grin maniacally because it is just hilarious to have a baby on top of the tree.

Merry Christmas!

November Gratitude

We got more snow! I love this picture because you can see all the little footprints. Oaklie ran around and around in circles because she thought it was so neat.

Amaya is eating snow again.

Holding hands.

They built this princess castle together and were SO PROUD!

One morning Oaklie climbed in my bed, stole my iPad, and hit under the covers.

Busted.

Amaya's turkey she made at preschool.

Oaklie discovered that her baby doll pees when you feed it juice. They were very proud of her for going potty.  Oaklie said, "Yay Baby!" and gave her kisses.

I went to Georgia for Thanksgiving and John and Emily went to Utah, so we had an early Thanksgiving at my parents house Monday.

I stole the idea from Amaya's preschool to make apple turkeys. 

Oaklie was very into making her turkey. She was a little jealous when Amaya brought hers home from preschool.

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Hailey announced some exciting news--Paxton is going to be a big brother!

I am so happy I got to spend Thanksgiving with Dallas in Georgia! I spent two long days traveling, but it was worth the 3 days we got to spend together. I sure missed him! Even though we've been apart a lot--I calculated the other day roughly 1/3 of our marriage Dallas has been gone--it never really gets easier. I get used to him being gone, but I still miss him like crazy! I wish I had been able to take the girls with me, but they had fun at their grandparents and are very excited to see their dad for Christmas.

Georgia was so beautiful! Especially considering that when I left Idaho everything was dead and brown.

They do things a little different in the South...

This is in front of part of the Chattahoochee River. It was pretty, but compared to the Snake River--especially the Green Belt in Idaho Falls--it looked a little sluggish and brown :)

This is Dallas' roommate Dave and his cute wife Hannah. We spent a lot of time with them over Thanksgiving. They're lots of fun!

Isn't it beautiful there? So many trees.

An old cotton factory.

I am so proud of Dallas. He has worked so hard and was able to get is first choice of branches (his job in the Army). After his graduation in January we will be heading to Fort Lee, Virginia for his transportation BOLC training. In July we will be moving to FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY for Dallas to start his job. Fort Campbell straddles the Tennessee border and is about an hour from Nashville. We are excited for things to settle down and for life to get to a (somewhat) normal pace. Knowing us, as soon as things slow down they will find some way of picking back up again. We are going to miss the friends we have made in Rexburg and our family back in Idaho so much but we are excited for our next adventure!

I don't feel like I can complain because just a few months ago I was bald, but I am going to be very happy when my hair grows a little longer!

I wish I had taken more pictures, but I spent like 14 hours a day sleeping while I was there. I'm planning on taking lots of pictures when we all go out there for Dallas' graduation in January.

Amaya showing me her picture she drew and the soldier bear her dad gave her after I got home.

My cute little gymnasts! Oaklie is going to be so excited when she is old enough to take lessons.

I sure love my sweet girls!