Graduation-July 10, 2008

Clint graduated today. The ceremony was at 2. We got really good seats. This first picture is Morgan in her super cute outfit that grandma Webb bought her while she was here. She's 7 months old and finally fits in size 6 months. Yay! She was being goofy and covering her face like she was camera shy.

The excitement is killing him...can you tell?

Me pinning on Clint's wings. I couldn't get them on and we both just looked at each other and kind of laughed. Its not as easy as it looks.

I FINALLY got the wings pinned on him. Of course Morgan is looking at the other pins on his jacket thinking...hmmm, how can I get those in my mouth?

After the ceremony

Missy and Jimmy came to watch Clint graduate. We are so blessed to have such wonderful supportive friends who have become our family away from family.

Mindy and Nate also came. Thanks you guys! We're so glad you could all make it.

We didn't know my brother was coming from Fort Benning, GA with his family, I was SO excited when I turned around in my seat and saw them standing in the back. Thanks for coming guys! We are really going to miss you!

Ambria sits up! I love it! She is such a beautiful girl and was lucky enough to get her eyelashes from the her daddy. Long and full!

We ate dinner at Trifecta in Daleville and then we had to go to DQ to try the new Thin Mint Blizzards! Braydon eating his ice cream at Dairy Queen. If you notice in the background...Jason is very serious about eating his!

As much as I hate close ups of me...I just love my nephew. He's so fun! He was having a good time taking goofy pictures with my camera.

Don't even ask because I have no idea what Jason is doing to this ice cream cone.

Graduation Ball-July 9, 2008

Last night was the graduation ball. We got to dress up all fancy so it was fun. My friend Jennie did my hair for me (THANK YOU SO MUCH!). Our friend, Nate, took this picture when we dropped Morgan off. Nate babysat most the night until Mindy got home from work. Thanks guys!! We owe you one!

Just a picture of the tables. Whoever sat at this table closest to the camera got a HUGE piece of cheesecake! Mine was half that size :(
A handsome picture of my husband

Another one of us

This table was in the center of the room. It was a POW/MIA/KIA memorial. They had a ceremony that honored men and women from the 4 branches of the military. Everthing on the table had a meaning, from the salt to the rose to the turned up chairs. I'm pretty sure I cried during the ceremony. The soldiers who participated did an amazing job.

The only drinks onthe table were wine, iced tea, and water. Clint thought the wine was grape juice. Just kidding, but he looks a little on the tipsy side here.

Nikki...I took this picture for you...I didn't know if you had seen the center pieces that they told you about. They actually looked really nice, except they could have used prettier floating candles.

Us at dinner

They did a tribute to the family members who have supported the soldiers through flight school. They gave us a 'diploma' and called us 'gradumates'. I thought it was cute. Then they gave us necklaces that are miniature charms of the wings that will be pinned on them tomorrow. Clint actually bought me the necklace for my birthday 2 years ago not knowing that this was the tradition.

One last picture of us in front of the flags after the ball

The guest speaker did a pretty good job. He actually made me want Clint to retire from the military. He had been in for 39 years of active duty and had experienced so much. I kept looking at all of the high ranking officials there and thinking how honorable those men are. You can see the experience in their faces, and I can't imagine all they've seen and done. And their wives have been there with them every step of the way, supporting them and keeping their families in order, sometimes by themselves. What honorable women they are. The speaker talked about how the families that support their soldiers are usually the deciding factor in career changes, change of station opportunities, promotion opportunities, etc, so it was appropriate for them to recieve their 'wings' before the soldiers do tomorrow (hence the necklace thing). One thing I've loved about the military is their appreciation and respect for families.

Update on Korea-June 25, 2008

We still haven't found out exactly where in Korea we're going. But what we do know is that Morgan and I can move over there regardless of whether or not Clint gets Command Sponsored. Once there, he has the option to extend his time by 12 months or 24 months. If he choses to extend, he will get paid a little more each month. This is what we are planning on doing as of right now: We will move our stuff back to Utah sometime in July after graduation on the 10th, and will put it in storage. I will stay with my mom (mom, can I stay with you?) until Clint is settled in and finds us a place to live. Morgan and I will then join him in Korea for a 2-3 year tour (2-3 years because we want to extend to maximize our experience). The military will pay for 1600 lbs of our stuff to be shipped over there, they will give us housing & utility allowance, and all 3 of us will have health insurance as well as access to health care while we're there (yes, the rumors about this stuff are false). We know a lot can change in the next few weeks. So, like I said, this is what we're planning as of right now.

Okay, now that you know whats going on...we've started packing and going through all of our junk and our house is now starting to echo. The housing company is coming over today to do a pre-move out inspection. The reality of all that needs to be done is starting to kick in and make me very anxious. Clint cleaned out his closet last night. I never knew that a guy could get rid of so many clothes and still have an entire wardrobe to wear. Anyone's husband need new clothes?

K-K-Korea-June 15, 2008

On Friday morning Clint cam home from his morning formation and found me in the bathroom getting ready for Morgan's 6 month check up. He just stared at me in the mirror with no readable expression.

Katie: "What?"
Clint: "We got orders."
Katie: "WE DID?! Where?"
Clint: "Korea."
Katie: "Whatever, you're joking."
Clint: "No I'm not."
Katie: "Are you serious? You better not be lying!"
Clint: "I'm not lying, we got Korea."

And then came the flood of tears. Yes, I cried. The lonliness of having Clint gone is still fresh in my mind from him being away for 3 weeks. Of course we can TRY to get permission for Morgan and me to go with him, but we just don't know how likely it is. So we'll see. People have gone through harder things than being seperated for a year, so I'm sure we can handle it. We feel like God wanted us to join the military for a reason and we know He wouldn't send us (or Clint) anywhere without a reason. The initial shock was hard, but we're excited for the next phase of our lives and for what the future holds. We truly believe what the Lord told Joseph Smith while a prisoner in the Liberty jail...

"...if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." Doctrine & Covenants 122:7

Some might compare moving to Korea as the jaws of hell gaping open, but we see it as an opportunity to experience a small piece of this world. Regardless of whether or not we go as a family or part ways for a year it will be a learning experience for us and will only make us stronger as individuals and as a family.

PS We will continue to update everyone as we get more information. We don't know when Clint has to be in Korea, we don't know exactly what Camp he's going to in Korea, we don't know what the chances are of Morgan and me going, we don't know if we'll be stopping in Utah before he/we go, we don't know where I'll live if I don't go with him, we don't know how long we'll be there if I do go with him. We do know that he graduates from Flight School on July 10th, so we won't be going anywhere before July 11th :)

This Ones For You Sharon!-May 14, 2008

Clint has been packing for his next phase of school the last couple of days and thought he'd try on a few things in his box of Army gear. These glasses are the ones they issued to him in Basic Training. WOW! So cute!

Dream Come True-October 19, 2007

Clint FINALLY had selection today and will be flying Blackhawks. Exaclty what he wanted. We were so happy to find out. He doesn't know when he'll start class, but he can't wait. They are estimating sometime in January, which means for now he gets to study and hang out with his awesome wife! Also means I won't have to worry about him being in the air when I go into labor. Thank heavens! He ended up being 6th in his class (out of 28ish). I must say, I'm proud of the guy. He works really hard and misses out on a lot of fun stuff so that he can get good grades. I'm lucky to be married to a man that knows what he wants and how to get it, and then goes out and fights for it. We've been blessed with so much and recognize God's hand in everything we have.