The wait is over!!

At long last we have some answers. First off, Brad has worked so hard for us and we are so grateful for him. He has tried numerous times to have the dates of his trainings etc. to cater to us and our children's needs. It's been wonderful having him working so close and being home for dinner every night, no homework or papers to run to, coming home for lunch and just having more time as a family. I can't get to comfortable with this.

It's looking like the first of his training is May 10th, five days before our baby's due. We've talked about inducing and are a little on the fence. He may be able to come home for a day, he may not. Regardless I have a wonderful, supportive family that is willing to come down and help out. It sucks to maybe have him gone, but if it needs to be done, what can we do?

The second of his training starts June 1st. This is in Kentucky and will be about five months. We just learned today that we will not be going with him. I will go home for a bit, and he'll have weekends off so we can go and visit. It will be hard however I will have a newborn that will take all my attention. This is the part of an Army wife I am not looking forward to. Needless to say, no more kids!!

The best news is where we will be living. I'm anxious to get settled and get our girls happy in their new life. And we will be doing that by the end of November at Fort Hood Texas. This is exciting for me because my sister lives near Dallas so it's only 4 hours away. I have not lived close to my family for nine years and am thrilled to be close to her. Hannah has never lived near cousins and I am excited to have her close to Madeline. Although I will ensure she is not brainwashed with High School Musical!!! JK

It's a relief to have answers, however one thing that is the same with the Army is it's always changing. So lets keep our fingers crossed that it will all work out.

Thanks for your support, we love you all, and we'll keep you posted.

Love,

The Herkimers

Waiting Game

Those of you who read this, all three of you, know what we're still waiting for. We were told that we would know our post three months ago. We still know nothing, and I've made peace not knowing. At first we tried to stand back and not really get involved with a lot because I thought we'd be gone sooner. Well it's hard in our neighborhood. The four months we've been here I've been given two callings in our ward, joined a book club, was walking with a friend, and gone to several Enrichment activities. That's more involvement since Draper which was three years ago. So my plan backfired, but I couldn't be more grateful. The friends I have made in this short time will always be remembered. In fact, me and my friend Kathryn did so much we ended up with the same due date!!

With this in mind it got me thinking of everyone I've dealt with since I've moved here. This year is my ninth year here. I can't believe it. When you first move away you think it will never be the same. You'll always miss home, you think everyone's lost without you and you're counting down to every visit. I have been lucky enough to go home a lot, and I do love going home. There is a point where you are just content visiting those closest to you. I have come and gone without telling any of my old friends I've been, and do feel terrible, but there is only so much one can expect. With the kids, schedules, plus everyone still does there own thing without you, you just can't visit everyone.

So my life will consist of moving and I'll have to deal with making friends and leaving friends. I think that's why I enjoy Facebook more than my husband. I enjoy friendships but he can take it or leave it. He always says "why do I need friends when I have you, my best friend." Barf!! Sorry honey. I need friends.

Thank you friends, for being my friends. Understanding the chaos of my life, seeing me when I visit, understanding when I can't. Here's to all of you, and the friends in my future. I wouldn't be who I am without you!!

Love Bethany xoxo

Holiday Bliss

Well they've been and gone. As quick as a flash. The Holidays. As I get older the season goes faster, so this year I'd thought I'd make it last and my decorations up early. It didn't work. It still went just as fast. And I was ready to take them down on the 1st.

I was really excited to wake up Christmas morning in our own place this year. One of the little things you take for granted when you live with others and travel for Christmas. This year we had alot of Christmas festivities planned thanks to Crazy Granny. Some cities re-enact The Polar Express on some old trains. The city Heber does that here. However Heber is just south of Park City, and the night we had tickets a blizzard blew into town. They had closed down the canyon and we were unable to go. We were disapointed. We were able to go last year so we knew what we were missing. Hopefully we will be able to make that a Christmas tradition where ever we end up.

The next on our list was The Nutcracker. We got tickets to the local theater and it was kid friendly, the important part. It was put on by a local dance company so the dancers ranged from 3 to about 60! It was really well done and would make that a tradition for sure. I made the mistake by recording Nutcracker on Ice that was on TV so Hannah could see it seeing she really enjoyed the play. Well she watches/ dances to it about 5 times a day and begging anybody to dance with her!! Bittersweet.

Another highlight this season was finding out what we are having. I was so excited but Brad was not. I felt that because of our uncertainty it was best for me to be better prepared. Brad likes the surprise, as do I, but I've done that twice. This time I can know without the hours of excrutiating pain!! So pull out the pink, it's another girl!!!

New Years for us consists of the TV, remote, and couch as it does every night, but this time we tried to stay awake to see the ball drop. I know. We're lame.

We are always reminded this time of year about our loved ones near, far and gone ahead. You all were missed dearly and are constantly in our hearts. We love you all and hope to see you soon.

All our love, Pots and Pans, etc.

B&B

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.