Goodbye Student Life!!

Some of you already know the story, but about two years ago Brad came home from work one day and stated that he was quitting his job, going back to school and joining the Army. He had worked his way up in the Hotel industry and we were simply working to gain experience to manage a hotel. You can imagine my shock, anger, frustration, confusion and every other feeling imaginable. I had just had Ainnsley, and we were changing everything?? But as anyone who's married knows they need to have a happy husband in the home. And honestly I was very side-tracked by being a new mommy of two. I trust my husband and I said I would support him.

Well in those two years it has been full of ups and downs. The biggest down was having to move in with his family for a year. It was necessary and we were very fortunate to have a family that was willing to help us. I went home about every three months it seemed, which was great, and did what I could tho keep myself sane. I am so lucky to be close to my husband and knew that when I needed to vent, which was very often, he would listen with understanding. The year was tough on both of us, and it was important to remain close to each other. Now looking back, we're even closer.

Now the biggest up just happened this weekend. On Friday Brad graduated Summa Cum Laude from Weber State University with a Bachelor of Science. That means a 3.9 GPA for the four year degree. (I had to look that up.) Then we rushed over to see Brad commission as an Officer in the US Army. He commissioned with DMG, Distinguished Military Graduate, that's in the tenth percentile of all commissioning Officers in the US. Needless to say he worked extemely hard.

We couldn't have accomplished all this without the love and support of our family. To make the day even better we were blessed to have Mom and Dad and Auntie Meg and Uncle Wayne come all that way to celebrate with us. With them here it made the day perfect. Well it would have been perfect if all our family could come, but we understand of course.

Now Brad started his "real " job today with the Army. "Real" health insurance, "real" income, now we're "real" grown-ups. It's nice to be at the end of student loans, final exams and term papers. I'm sure it's nicer for Brad.

It's been a wonderful journey. Would I do it again??? I'll have to "real"ly think about it!!!

We miss all your faces, and we hope to see everyone soon.

Pots and Pans, All our love,

Bethany

Trying.

This is really not my thing. Blogging. But I'm trying. For those who know me, I prefer the phone. I can talk for hours! Ask my mom and sis. As much as I wish I could talk to all of you for hours at a time, the 3 people who read this, I can't.

Last I posted a lot had changed. Since then, nothing. I was hoping to know where we'll be posted, and I don't. I was hoping to know what dates we can look at, and I don't. I was hoping to have Ainnsley potty trained, and I don't. So what can I tell you?? I'm not sure.

Anyways, we celebrated our birthdays these past weeks. Brad and I's birthdays are only a week apart so we generally celebrate them together. Usually with his acual birthday being forgotten. Sorry Brad! I'm sure he cares.

So with birthdays of course we ponder. I think I've lost my youth somewhere between the summer and now. I read and loved the Twilight series last year. This summer with the final book coming out I listened to the series again, seeing I had an hour commute each way, and got slightly irritated the characters. Then the final book came out. It was pulling teeth to get me to finish it. And I wasn't reading it. I was listening to it!! I found myself groaning and rolling my eyes. I couldn't wait to get it over with!! Weird.

Another thing is High School Musical. 1&2 came out last year or so and I kept them on my Tivo to watch over and over. We watched them on our movie night. Knew all the words. HSM3.... I fell asleep! And couldn't force myself to stay awake! I thought it was lame and ridiculous. Troy drove me nuts. I can't explain this. I'm slowly turning into my mother. I sing ABBA while I'm doing dishes, I count to 3 in a threatening tone some days, all day. Can this be happening? I think I need an intervention.

Well I'll stop loathing. Hopefully soon I'll have all that good news I wished to tell you this week. If not all of it, at least where we're going. That's the one I'm anxious for.

Love you all. Pots and Pans. Etc, Etc.

ps. I think my spell check took a night off so I apologize for all the mistakes. Another old thing!!

What to say?

So it's Bethany. I'm so lame at this, however I was surprised at the requests I had to update this in my point of view. I've avoided it for too long and now I have too much to say.

We were so lucky to spend three wonderful months with my family in Calgary this summer. As you all know Brad has Army camps to do, so I go home. However this spring we decided to jump ship from Brad's parents house and relocate for a few months. Family is family, but sometimes you just can't share a roof. That's all I'm going to say about that. That's a whole other blog.

While we were in Calgary I mooched a job off of my sister in law and worked for her. What a wonderful experience. She works with Adults with disabilities and opened my eyes to the true love in the world. I met so many amazing people that I will never forget. People who have touched my life and encourages me to live better and be more grateful for what I have. It was a job I will never forget and will hold dear to my heart.

During the summer Hannah turned five and Ainnsley turned two. It was fun to have birthdays with all our family however I fear with both being summer babies they will always be short changed with the parties. So one thing about my girls is as long as there's gifts, they don't care. With them turning older, their actions are older. I didn't think a two year old knew how to upper cut without being coached. At the end of the day the do love each other and are each other's best friends. We'll see how long that lasts.

After the fun summer we packed up and went back to Utah. Adam and Stacey were so thoughtful to bring us back as Brad had to leave to start school. We thought it would be smart if we drove through the night so the kids could sleep mostly. That worked until three am we were visited again by the "Baconater". Thank you Ethan. Thank goodness it wasn't in our car.

Brad and I had an apartment lined up, but we had about three days before we could take possession. We have a wonderful friend in our old Draper ward who was so kind to let us crash there. I love Julie. I could stay with her forever!!

We finally got into our apartment and got settled rather quickly. Hannah started Kindergarten at Grandview Elementary. She's in Mrs Crane's PM class and takes the bus everyday. I can't believe she's as big as she is.

With Hannah starting school and me not working it is just me and Ainnslers in the afternoon. I thought I would be lost with things to do but we were lucky enough to receive a big screen HD TV, thanks to hubby. So not much gets done, but allot gets watched!!

As we are approaching the end of Brad schooling it means our future is becoming more real. He has worked so hard and is graduating first of his class. DMG is Distinguished Military Graduate and will be on his Military Resume his whole career. So with that said he received his first choice for his branch which will be Armor. (tanks etc.) We don't know yet the base we will be stationed, but I've been assured it will be soon. It's exciting and scary at the same time.

Allot of changes ahead of us, but the biggest will be a new addition to our family this spring. The timing will be difficult, but all the mothers out there knows how wonderful having a baby is.

I'm all typed out. I can't say that this may happen again, but I certainly will try. Thank you all for your love and support. We miss you all dearly, and I will let you know where we're headed!!

Love
The Herkimers♦

King for a day...Actually, more like a week.

I have successfully returned from LDACISTAN and served a tour in Polomas. Actually I got home on August 11, which was little Ainnslers birthday. I promptly hopped in my rockin Ford Focus and drove 13 hours up to Canada to see my wife and kids. Now you may be thinking, "they were seperated from each other for over 5 weeks and they couldn't make the trip down to pick him up from the airport?!?!?!" No, no, this totally looks like one of those relationships where the guy is totally enamered with the girl and she could give two craps about him. I mean, she had a very good reason for not being home after I arrived in Calgary at Midnight after driving all day on 4 hours sleep. I also totally understand the headache that she had from helping these guys out at the local clubs. Come on, you would have one too if you worked as hard as she does.

Actually, my family treated me like a returning hero after months of seperation. My kids actually adored me and I know what it feels like to be a King. Everything I said was funny, and my girls hung on every word that proceeded from my droll mouth. Ainnsley actually wanted me to pick her up when she fell down or was sad. Hannah wanted to spend every minute with me and we went to Calaway Park together last Friday. It finally got to the point where I felt like all the unsubsiding attention was getting a bit creepy like an old twlight zone episode where the family is just fattening up their father/husband to make him the main course at a banquet in his honor.

Ok, there is no episode of the twlight zone where the family eats their father after a week of prolonged attention, but I'm sure you catch my meaning, by things being a bit out of place. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm sure my kids love me and want to spend time with me, but 24/7 rock-star status is not normal.

Actually towards the end of the trip Ainnslers started wanting mommy (smart choice, as I still don't know how to lay her down in her crib) over myself, and Hannah, stopped saying "Yes daddy" like a robot, and started saying, "but, but...PLEEEEASE."

Unfortunatley, I had to return to Utah today as I have drill this week-end and school starts on Monday. One more semester and we are threw for awhile. Then our real adventure begins with far off places and exotic locations. My wife will get to see Hawaii, Italy, and Germany, while I will visit such destination locals like Afghanistan and Iraq. Soon, it looks like I might get to go to lush Russia or even visit the forrests of Georgia.

My last blog until I return.

Well, I leave Canada and my family on Monday July 7th, which is the anniversary of my marriage to my wonderful wife. I will travel back to Utah and tie up some loose ends and get my things together and leave for LDAC on July 10th. As mentioned before LDAC is 32 days and I will return home on August 11.

It is hard to describe some of the feelings about leaving. On one hand I'm happy I'm going to LDAC because it is the capstone of a cadets ROTC experience. After this I will soon know where I rank out of all the cadets, what I will be doing in the Army, and where I will be stationed first. On the other hand, not being able to see or speak to my family for a month almost makes me physically ill. I think I have grown closer to my wife and kids as Bethany's and I roles have been reversed some what since we've been in Cananda. She is the bread winner and I am the stay-at-home Mr. Mom. Taking care of my children's basic needs every day for the last couple months has been such a wonderful experience that has given me more patience and instilled in me a greater appreciation for what Bethany deals with and will deal with on daily basis. In addition, my love for my children and spouse has grown and I already am homesick for them.

So on Monday the 7th I will leave my wife and kids in symbolic gesutre of celebrating our 8th year of marriage. Pagans would probably say that is a bad omen, but it cannot be helped. I will also miss my dear Hannah's 5th birthday as she turns 5 on July 15th. I will also physically miss sweat Ainnsly's birthday as she turns two the day I fly back to Utah.

So, how do you deal with being seperated? I at least try to focus on the present and the tasks at hand. The worst part about being seperated is going to bed at night where you are alone with your thoughts until you fall asleep. During the day you are so busy that it is not difficult to forget your troubles for the time being. I also try to think of how great it will be when we are reunited (images of slow motion running towards each other arms extended and jumping up and down cannot be helped).

Well, I'm off. I'm going to miss my family more than they know, but I will also not let them down by being a baby. I will complete my mission and kick some ass at LDAC.

How can someone as ugly as me produce kids like this?

Well, that is my wife... Mrs. Nice. Someone in our relationship has to be. She always tells me it's "nice to be nice". I always ask, nice for whom? I'm glad she is nice, particularly to me, but her best feature is her uncompromising charity for others. If someone has a chance at salvation it is her. She wants people to feel good about themselves. I want people to know the truth. The truth is that they're idiots and their kids are ugly.

Speaking of which...while your kids are ugly and untalented, my kids are beautiful geniuses. I'm kidding....but your kids are not as cute as mine and I will come to blows with anyone who fights me on this point. We're still working on brain wash...erm, behavior modification on some days, but overall they are great kids who have a great future ahead of them as long as they listen to ME. I just dont understand how someone as ugly as myself helped to produce beautiful kids. It's all Bethany. There is no other explanation... well there is another one, but Bethany assures me...

LDAC is fast approaching, and while I'm getting a bit nervous I usually use that energy towards studying land navigation or going over squad tactics in my brain. For those of you who don't know what LDAC is you can google it. No, I'm not giving you a fricking link! Are you that lazy? Would you like a piece of cake as well? Kidding, kidding....kind of. No, LDAC is the final testing ground for our official Army ROTC education. If your going active duty and want a highly requested branch in the Army then you must do well at LDAC. LDAC is 32 days of leadership evaluation and training. Most of the time, your just a "joe", but there are specifically four times where you will be a leader in some capacity and you will be graded on several different dimensions.

Anyways, I digress, I should be concentrating on making you bloggers feel pathetic...which you all are. I realize that your dad and mom never really gave you the one on one time that you always felt you deserved, and you have channeled that feeling of neglect into a blog that gives you an overinflated sense of self worth. AHAHAHA. I'm kidding of course, I hang on every word you post. ;)

Our family...

My husband

Well yes folks that's him in all his glory. The anti- people guy. He really is a great guy. A great husband and a great father. He's in his last semester of school and he will graduate as an officer with his degree in Criminal Justice. Then he will commision and we will take the world by storm. Who knows where we'll be stationed but it will be exciting none the less. Right now we are in Calgary for the summer. I'm working for my brother and his wife seeing we're here for so long. Brad has an Army camp this summer for a month so I always come home to get support from my family. I always have fun when I come home, but I'm not sure about Brad.

We have two girls. Hannah,5. Ainnsley, 2. We are Republicans and I'm a Vegan. Those two points right there are the reasons why some people love us and some people hate us. Take your pick. We have amo for both.

Enjoy our blog. We don't get offended easily, so have fun with us!!

Love,
B&B

First blog....EVER

I know about blogs, I've read blogs, and for the most part I hate blogs. So why did I decide to create a blog for my family and I? I really don't know. I guess I'm tired of bloggers putting their stupid thoughts out there like anybody really gives two craps. Which is kind of ironic since I'm essentially doing the same thing. So, I really don't expect you, the interested reader, to be logging on everyday to see what I in all my wisdom have to say about anything. This I do know: This will be somewhat of an anti-blog, a blog for people who hate bloggers and want to make fun of them. In addition this can be a quick stop to see what our family is up to.

Ugh....I think I need to take a shower now. Oh and by the way... No body cares about your stupid life or what you think about so stop blogging you idiots.

-Brad