Data Dump

Quick check in here. Our house is now empty, and we are working hard to clean it. We pull out tomorrow some time and then kick around for the week. We are planning a few small adventures since we are homeless for now and have no specific obligations until July 4.

On the homeless front, we finally found a home and will be closing at the end of July. We will be moving to yet another state. This time, it is Maryland. We are really excited to be homeowners. Hopefully that will stay exciting and not become awful. :)

On the 6th, Trent is back to work at his new job, and the kids and I are flying out to Utah to see family. We haven't been "home" in 2 years, so we are really looking forward to this. It will be busy with everything Tiffany has to do between keeping up on closing on the house and transferring her state citizenship back to Utah (that is right. No more skipping around from state to state), but we plan on having a great time. It will sure beat living in a hotel for a month.

We have a really great opportunity on the 4th. Trent received an invitation for him and family (that means us) to attend 4th of July celebrations at the White House. We were really torn about it given timing and our move etc., but the way everything worked out, we have decided to go for it. I hope to be able to post pictures but if not I will post anything worth posting.

Off again for now. So much to do in the next 24 hours. Ugh.

The Biggest Gainer

I am sure most of you have at least heard of the popular television show, The Biggest Loser. When it comes to weight, we are generally focused on weight loss. I went on quite a fitness regimen late last summer and into the fall and early winter. I was extremely frustrated to not loose any weight the first 3 weeks. I nearly gave up out of the frustration of not losing weight. Now, I have gotten really bad about getting my exercise in, and I am feeling it. One thing I am looking forward to after the craziness of moving is over is reestablishing an exercise routine.


While in Iraq, Trent gained weight. However, it is not the typical way we think of weight gain. He is heavier than he was, but he came home very fit and toned up. His pants don't fit the same anymore. In fact, some of his belts won't work properly anymore. He has to tighten them up. Trent is not the biggest loser, but the biggest gainer. He did not just gain weight, he gained increased fitness and muscle tone. I really wanted to post a picture of him doing pull-ups, but he won't allow it, so you will have to take my word for it. He hasn't been able to work out nearly as often as he wants to lately, but he is determined to keep it up as much as he can and to build it into his work schedule when he starts his next assignment in July. He has been a big inspiration to me to get back to business and get fit. He has also been a reminder to me to worry less about what the scale says and concentrate on taking good care of my body. He is a good example to our kids as well, who love to sneak into our room even if it is bed time and exercise with their dad. Thanks for the inspiration Trent.

Note: Jon put his gardening gloves on to exercise because he wanted to match his dad as much as possible. So cute.

Beautiful Surprise

On Jon's birthday, we received a package in the mail from Trent's aunt Shawna and uncle Mark. The Coast Guard Missions Law ice breaker was that afternoon/evening, so I left the box unopened and raced off to school to deliver birthday cupcakes, pick up my kids, and race to the JAG School to set up for the ice breaker. Trent didn't get to open the box until he got home that night. In retrospect, it is too bad. It would have been wonderful to have put the gift inside in the middle of the buffet table. Sigh. Oh well I guess.


What was in there was a beautiful box that Trent's uncle Mark made as well as this plaque:



Mark carved this replica of the Coast Guard seal. We are fairly sure he burned the letters in. It really is pretty, and the detail is so impressive particularly the stars in the crest and the detail in the anchors. What a delightful surprise that is now and will be on Trent's desk for years and years to come.