For My Babies

Rian would like a few more pics of the room, so I will do my best.

Take Care and Be Safe~

Matt

Merry Christmas

Hello All,
Merry Christmas. I hope you all have a great holiday!

I will try and post again today, but i need to say thanks for all the great gifts. I will surly enjoy the food and the new video game. Christine, thank you for the pictures and the voices of the kids.

Ok, here are some pictures of my room and the return of the mud.

Merry Christmas again!

Sleep In Day!

It is all about short term goals and each Sunday marks another day to sleep in a bit. I get to come in 2 hours on Sundays and relax a little. Today marks the completion of my 31st day. It seems a little better when I think about being 8% complete with this tour.
News of the day came with some heavy rain. This turned my trailer park into a colossal mud pit. I walked into the shower trailer this morning only to have mud splattered up my calves and covering my flip flops. Once inside, the mud only continued. The drains in each of the showers were filled with Iraqi mud and the situation didn’t get any better with shower running. After I got out, I wiped off the mud from my feet and legs just to walk back to my trailer and get muddy again. The rain has been somewhat constant today, so the trailer park will be a swamp again I am sure.
I went to a place called the Blackhawk Mall in the morning. What a wonderful place filled with all the bootleg movies and TV shows a guy could want. I didn’t buy anything today, but maybe next time. I found the complete box set of Sopranos for 25 dollars. I have a hard time believing that all six seasons are only 25 bucks. You have to take these deals with a grain of salt and an understanding that you will most likely get taken for your money. I bought movies last time I was in Iraq and had good and bad luck.

Happy holidays to you all,
Take Care and Be Safe –
Matt

Thanksgiving or "Turkey Day"

Before I get ahead of myself, I want to say thanks for a wonderful family and great friends. I hope you all have a great holiday and eat plenty of food!

My day in a nut shell was slightly different that the others so far. I slept in a bit (0645) and there was no water in the shower trailer. Fortunate for me, I showered last night. So I dry shaved and walked in to work. I was able to get to the bazaar on the FOB and picked up a new power inverter, with any luck I will not have a repeat of the last 220v experience.

Lunch was great, I had turkey, greens, mash potatoes, turkey gravy and pecan pie. I was stuffed. Then I fought off the food coma for a few hours before running to the gym and working out. I just returned from eating Thanksgiving supper. I am beyond full and need to get to bed.

I am not looking forward to the walk to my trailer, I did laundry today and have to carry all of it back. Maybe I can finagle a ride, but who knows..

Anyway, that was the day in a nutshell.
Again, Happy Thanksgiving, Take Care and Be Safe -
Matt

Closing Time

Where do I begin..

It seemed like we had a life time until it was time for me to go, however that time is now almost up. In a few days I will be living in a tent thinking of how my family and friends are doing. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your thoughts and prayers as I prepare to leave. Thank you for that and most importantly, thank you for keeping my family in your thoughts and prayers as well. Christine and the kids have a rough year ahead of them. Christine will have more than a full load of college as she continues her quest. I know that Chris will do fine, she is a strong woman with a great head on her shoulders. Also, if any of you are bored my house always needs attention! (just kidding... kinda)

I took some pictures while I was packing up all my junk and will post them when I get to Iraq. I have a cute picture of Rian trying to stand with my ACH (helmet) and IBA (vest with plates).

I still can't believe that when I get back Rian will be almost 7, Regan will be almost 5, and Cole will almost be a year and a half old. I know that I will miss so much with holidays, birthdays, dance, gymnastics, learning to walk, and the list goes on and on. We do however enjoy the life that Uncle Sam provides, so who would I be to complain?

I hope you all enjoy your holidays!
Take Care and Be Safe,
Matt

Blizzard?

So we had a bit of a snow storm here in Colorado this week. The snow was much worse in some parts, but Fountain only got a few inches and some heavy winds. Post had the "Essential Personnel Only", however my organization has never defined who that is. So I went in to work and had my PPD shot results read and stopped into the HQ. Rian got her first snow day which was nice and gave us the opportunity to go play in the snow and make a snowman before it melted yesterday.

Yesterday the Group celebrated it's one year birthday at Mr. Biggs Family Fun Center. Christine and I successfully ran the hell out of the kids. We played in Little Big Town, Inflatables, and played a round of miniature golf.

Today the big plan is to fix the stairs on the deck. I know, I know, I have been putting it off for the last two months. I just don't want to figure out the steps on homemade stringers. I guess my fear is that I am going to put more work into this project just to have the inspector find more things to fix. What a pain in the ass.

Well that's all for now,
Take care and be safe,
Matt

Training is Over

I know it has been awhile, but what can I say. I am finally finished with deployment training, all that remains is some new knowledge and a few remaining bruises from Modern Army Combatives. It was a lot of fun, but after Combatives I looked like Christine drug me behind the car.

I only have a few weeks now before we say our goodbyes. I still plan on selling the Blazer, but with my constant procrastination I am not sure it will get done. I am mostly packed with a few exceptions, but I am confident that it will be done after the weekend. I watched the Deployment Video with Elmo this weekend, I am not sure the kids understand, but it was worth a try. I have a feeling they won't understand until Daddy doesn't come home from work. This part of the job truly sucks.

I promise the posts will increase once I am gone.
Take care all and be safe,
Matt