4th of July in Iraq (on the 6th of July)

A few pictures of the 4th of July (taken on the 6th of July)


Primary & Special Staff - I am third from end (at the tail end of the Chinook)



Primary & Special Staff with Brigade Commander - I am second from end on the Blackhawk side (if you can tell the difference between a Blackhawk and an Apache)

My legal office - I am in the center wearing the Stetson

My trial counsel on my right and my NCOIC on my left with my paralegals forming the wings

Ok July's update to this point(:

Here we go again. I know Josh left some pictures and they are great(: Go Josh(: Her are some more from the home front here in Texas. We went to a freinds house for the Fourth of July and had some fun, ate food, of course and saw some fireworks. It was truely a day to be grateful for our Freedom as we know it dosent come Free.

For a fun day we all went to a place called Wazoo. It is an indoor jumping place for the kids. There is also a little kids area with other cool toys to play with. They had a blast.

(Matthew-motorcycle, Michael-trees)
The kids and I are having a busy summer. For those who dont know I have gone back to school part time. I have my first finals this upcoming week...eeeeekkkkk. Breath, breath, it's not like labour(: Ok I am a little nervous. But it has been another growth experience that is for sure. Not like I am not busy enough holding down the fort with the five wild child(s).

Speaking of school. I will have three in school this August. Wow how the time flies. Adam will be going into grade 2, Emma grade 1, and Seth-man into Pre-K. I will keep you all posted(:

Did I ever mention how badly Emma wants a sister? Here is why I ask(:

But as for now it is time I must get going. Till next time I leave the feast after the famine(:

It has been a while

Ok I will be playing catch up here so please bare with me(:

So now time warping to June lets see some of the fun the Smith's had(: Oh fun kite flying(: all the kids had their own little kite and it was a perfect day to fly them as well...as long as they weren't caught in a tree, like Emmas, or tangled around the playground(: it was a lot of fun that day.

Seth Matthew Emma, Seth, Adam

Later in the month the kiddos recieved comfort quilts from the Armed Forces YMCA. Our unit is the first ones to start that here at Fort Hood and I volunteer there when I can. Here are a few pictures from there too(: I call these quilts "daddy quilts" (: The kids love them.

Adam, Seth Emma Michael(bottom) Matthew(top)

I also have some pictures of Michael and Matthew going potty for the first time(: No this does not mean they are potty training even though it would be great it just means they got it in the right spot and not on the floor(:

We have been trying to keep pretty busy here in Texas, or as much as you can when it is so hot your pool feels like a bathtub.

The kids are growing so fast and time is going by. Some days not so fast but still going by(:

Gonna close there but Continue July in just a minute....I hope you enjoy the updates(:

Letter to My Family

I write from Iraq to my dear wife and our wonderful children. As I scroll down the BLOG and smile and yearn to be with my wife and children. My boys Seth, Michael and Matthew standing in the hall acting pregnant and just being boys, my sweet Emma resting her head against her mother before final farewells and giving of her strength freely and warmly, and my oldest - the current man of the house - Adam standing tall ready to assume that responsibility for a year at an early age. With this I look back to those that preceed me in this great calling as a Soldier, no matter what flag flew in front of them and directed their course.

War has its physical, emotional, and mental hazards in and of itself, but that is something we all volunteered for and welcome. Some people are made for these responsibilities and risks and enjoy and excel at overcoming the challenges natural in our line of work. Our tasking is to enforce political will with the sword without public question. We are trained and disciplined to use various and appropriate levels of force to accomplish those ends as we are ordered to do so. We proudly wear our flag, from whatever nation, and serve our country with honor and dignity. Our blood, our sweat, our tears, our hearts, and our minds go into every tasking we are given because we know for whom our service is rendered.

We serve those little ones we leave behind. We served those whom we love. My wife and children can enjoy freedoms paid for by those who proceeded us and our future will continue to enjoy those freedoms by our current sacrifices. Sacrifices, which above anything what any insurgent or enemy combatant can dream of doing, include the temporary separation from loved ones.

My wife and kids can hold their heads high and say that they have served their country. They will go a year or more during this deployment and will continue to face many more months and years without their dad physically present in the course of military service. They must bear the true brunt of warfare as they are forming their impressions on the world and their character on how they will engaged that world. They are called to grow and mature more quickly then some and some much more quickly than others. Our future depends on sacrifices at both ends but more importantly the future depends on how our children glean the appropriate lessons from their sacrifices and incorporate into their character to make them leaders for good when they are at the helm.

I love each and every one of my children and the wonderful wife and mother who is taking each day with stride as the strippling mothers of old had to with their sons and daughters.

Signed

A Soldier

Patch Ceremony

A few pictures from the patch ceremony for our Brigade where we officially put the combat patch of the 1st Cav on the right shoulder.

Boys Being Boys....Or are they?

I will let the pictures speak for themselves. What would their father say??? Hehehehehe

Enjoy(:

Michael, Seth, Matthew like this is every picture

Playing serious catch up

I know it has been forever since I have added to the blog. No time would be an understatement....really. So here I am for a few minutes aslong as the kids stay into bed and I dont fall asleep.

We are midway through June and I am gonna timewarp back to May for a minute. You ready?*********Sorry no sound effects(:

May 15 was Micheal and Matthew's 2nd Birthday and on the 18th was Seth's 4th Birthday. So we had one big birthday together(: They didnt mind. SO here are a few pics from all the fun we had together(: It was also my friends hubby's Birthday so we added one candle on the cake for him, just incase you were wondering.

Happy Memorial Day(:

I just wanted to wish you all a happy Memorial day. We have our freedom cause others sacrificed with theirs. I am truly grateful for all that the Lord has blessed me with and what He will bless me with. That includes my family(: Never take what you have for granted(: Life is too short.

Just thinking of Josh and those that have gone before him and those that will go after him. Freedom is not free.

God Bless The USA

Farewell Picture

In the wee hours of the morning ... the clan lines up for one last picture at the West Fort Hood Gym prior to my departure.

Happy Mothers Day(:

Happy Mothers Day. The question is do you want to be this mother? I only have just a few pictures but a lifetime of stories which I wont take the time to share. For those of you who have a small idea of what I go through on a daily basis enjoy these pics. If isnt flooding floors, counters, toilets (backflash) The week before Josh left our downstairs toilet didnt work. It kept flooding all over the place. Low and behold a week later and a plumber in toe after 30 minutes snaking our toilet and then having to remove the toilet, ta da, two duplo legos and a bouncy ball(: yup. SO where did I leave off? Right toilets. If it can be destroyed it will. If it cant believe me our wonderfully creative kids will find a way(:

Well with the help of Seth, Michael, and Matthew we went through our kids books and got rid of a diaper box full (yes Sarah I use those for packing and getting rid of stuff too-smile). I am sure you would have done it differently then me but I really didnt have much of a choice. See for yourself(: Granny called just in time and had a good laugh as I went to calm down in my room and find my camera so I wouldnt kill my dear boys.(: Enjoy.

Yeah I know "I/we didnt do it"

Josh is now Deployed

Just a quick update.

As you can tell I have not been keeping up very well with our Blog. We have been spending all the time we can together as a family as Josh's deployment was coming at us fast. Well it is here. Early this morning we all went and said our family goodbyes, hugs and kisses till we see Josh/Daddy again. I will keep you posted from time to time as Josh emails me and hopefully sends picture of Kuwiat and then Iraq, where he will be for a year. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. God bless you and yours.

Love you(:

Easter

I know this is way behind so I will be playing catch up with this and the next few Blogs(:

We didnt do the traditional egg hunt this year but a more simpler Easter with a little basket instead. The kids all loved them just teh same....even the big kid in the family(: We decided not to give the kids their baskets before church as we meet at 1pm. This way the kids would not be wired for church. Next year I will plan better still so we dont give them after church with church so late because the kids were wired all night instead(: Oh well, we had fun and were together, that is what is important.

OK, Not for the squeemish(:

During Mama Smith, Dad, and Hyrums stay Mar 6-16, they got to see whatt it was like to have double trouble(: All the kids for sure but to see how the twins kept everyting so busy and happening. I have talked before about their getting into things, dumping out laundry in their attemps to help me fold and put away(: but I have also talked about the diaper situation. Well low and behold just cause they were here visiting was not going to mean they were gonna miss out on this one...or should I say two(: Gross and sad but true here are just a couple of pictures to prove it(: From one end of the room to the other.

Oh the joys of being a mother sometimes(:

Then the two stinkers got to have a bath.(: (:

That mess will be another time as washing down the bathroom is made easier when they splash from one end to the other aswell(:

Matthew & Michael AKA Stinkers

Here are some pictures from when Granny, Papa, and Hyrum visited Mar6-16/09

ENJOY(: