My Second 1st Birthday Party - Nov. 24, 2007

Since Daddy wasn't able to be at my very first birthday, we got to have ANOTHER birthday party when we were in Kansas! It was a great party the first time, but this time it was extra special! There weren't very many people there - just a few, so Mommy & Daddy let me get naked down to my diaper and have my very own cupcake. I got my own piece of cake at my first party, but this time felt different because I had just taken a big long nap and Daddy was by my side to keep me focused on the task in front of me.

Well, maybe I'll just have a little...

Oh My! Did I Eat That Entire Cupcake!?!

I Can't Believe I Ate That Whole Cupcake! Are There Any More?

My First Birthday - November 17, 2007

This was my FIRST BIRTHDAY! It was a great day - I got to see a whole bunch of my family and play with my cousins, I wore a pretty hat, and I got to stick my fingers in the cake! It was good cake, but I was too tired and a bit distracted by all of the activity to really enjoy it. ~Sami
**P.S. My mommy would have had my birthday pictures up sooner, but she wanted to try make them extra special (she is learning about pictures and how to make them sparkle). She finally decided that she'd better put the pictures up unedited or it might be time for my 2nd birthday!

Block 14 Test is Tuesday

Joe passed his Block 13 test. I am sure you have all figured that out, since otherwise Joe would be home right now! He wasn't very pleased with his test score, but at least he passed. Now he is on Block 14, which is as easy as Sunday morning. The test will be on Tuesday morning. Then Block 15 starts, which is 95% "out in the field."
On Tuesday, December 18th some of the - I don't remember what Joe calls them, but it's the guys that are cross-training (not the new recruits) - they'll give their final speeches (which are part of Block 17-the final block), to get that overwith so they don't need to worry about working on them over Christmas break. Then Joe will leave early on Wednesday, December 19th to come back to Fargo (weather permitting).
After Joe gets back to Fargo, we are going to be staying at his mom's house until we finally have a house of our own again. Typically, I wouldn't want to move again, considering we moved three months ago and will be moving in another month or so. But Joe is going to be off the majority of the time that he is here (and I will be working more to make up for all of the time that I have lost), and he would be more comfortable at his mom's place - which makes sense to me. We'll keep our mailing address at my mom's until we have a permanent address.

BLOCK 13

Joe is in the middle of the dreaded Block 13, the test is on Wednesday. This is proving to be the toughest block so far, as he expected. Keep your fingers crossed for him!

...Block 12 Test on Tuesday

Block 11 was quick and fairly painless; only about a day long. Joe is on Block 12 right now and will test out on Tuesday morning. Then he starts Block 13, which is going to be a stressful one. I think that he tests out of that block on the following Monday, so he'll get the weekend to study. Only 3 1/2 weeks until he gets to come home for Christmas! We can't wait! I wish we could take him home with us now.

I Missed My Daddy!!

Joe made it to see us in Kansas by 11pm on Wednesday night. Samantha woke up just before he got to the hotel and stayed up with her Daddy until 2am! She didn't make strange at all, wouldn't take her eyes off him. If looks could talk, hers would have said "How dare you leave me for that long?!"
It is cold here, 37 degrees when we were at the park today. We had a great Thanksgiving and are soaking up every last second that we can together. Right now, Joe and Samantha are snuggling in the lazy boy having a nap together. One more full day left together; we'll both head back to our 'stations' on Sunday morning and it's back to work on Monday.

Block 10 of 17

Joe passed Block 9 test on Friday and moved on to Block 10. Block 9 was one of the more difficult ones, so it was nice to get that out of the way. The next test is on Friday, Nov. 17th.

WooHoo!!

I just talked to Joe and he passed the Block 8 test this morning. Not only that, but he was the only one in his class to get 100% - that's twice now (if not more)! Now he is in Block 9, which is one of the more difficult blocks, and he tests out on Friday. 8 down, 9 to go!

Almost done with Block 8 of 17

Joe tests out of Block 8 on Tuesday morning and then starts Block 9 (which has been rumored to be one of the more difficult blocks). I don't know for sure when the test for Block 9 is, but Joe thinks that it is going to be on Friday. After he finishes Block 9, we'll only have 1 1/2 weeks until we meet in Kansas for Thanksgiving; then after that just another 3 weeks until Christmas break (which Joe will be "home" for)!

Trick or Treat!

October 31, 2007

Sami the skunk!