Hi There!

Well... at last we are done with the house! Everything went well as far as I was told, and we closed on the house on May 23. It's a relief to have that finished, although I do miss knowing that we have a place of our own. Oh well, such is life!

Things are busy here as usual. Hunter is always on the go, and usually tumbling all around. He has discovered that he can climb the stairs and open cabinets. He even stood up by himself last night and a couple times today. Not for long, of course, but it's a start! He had his 9 month check up on May 21 and he was 24 lbs, 11 oz! What a monster! He is 28.5 inches tall. I can't believe how quick he is growing up.
We are starting to get excited about Ben being home in October, though it still sounds like a long time from now. Time has been passing quickly though, I can't believe that it is already the end of May.
I guess that is all that I have to report for now. I just wanted to let everyone know that we are so thankful for all of your support!

-Em and Hunter

Updates...

Afghan National Police truck
Me, dressed all silly
Me, dressed sorta silly
the entrance to Chicken Street - rather disappointing!

Hey ya'll! I know it's been a long time since I posted, but things are really pretty boring over here. I just attend meetings and pass along information. I have had the opportunity to take a few more pictures, but it's nothing exciting. I will try to upload them after I write this blog. Who knows, maybe it will even work for me this time.
Like I said before, things here are really busy. I've been working with all kinds of folks trying to figure out how to best teach the local people how to run a government without all the bad guys. We are really working on trying to teach the police how to be police. For so long this country has been without a real police force that even simple things are sometimes very difficult. For example, the literacy rate is well below 50%. It is very hard to teach someone how to be a cop and write a report if he can't read.
We have also been working within our unit trying to figure out our "mid tour" leave. Down where I'm at we are so small that we can only have one person gone at a time; and we have to work all of that around critical mission issues and personal schedules. It has been crazy and I wasn't really sure when to come home. I have two weddings and a new nephew/niece being born, along with all of the holidays I'll be missing. I was so torn I just kinda let the Army decide. It worked out that with everything going on that it looks 99% sure that I will be home the last half of October. I say 99% because it is the Army and they have a bad habit of making things difficult and inconvenient for individuals. So Jonathan, it looks like I'll make it to that wedding. Andrew, when that little girl......or maybe it'll be a boy (just not as good looking as Hunter, of course) arrives give her a hug and I wish I could be there. Clara and Chad, I'm sorry things didn't work out. I wish I could be there with you, but I just want to wish you two the best of luck. I know you will be happy.
Well, I suppose this is getting long enough for now. I will try to post a few pictures and hopefully my "amish" internet will work tonight.
-Ben

Hello Again!

Hi everyone! Sorry it has been a while, I guess I just have lost track of time. Things have been going well for Hunter and I. He has lots of new teeth coming in (two on top and one or two on the bottom) so we had a few grumpy days there, but we are over that now (thank goodness!) He is also crawling ALL over the place and pulling himself up on anything and everything. We have had a few bumps and scrapes and I know that there are lots more coming. I can't believe that Hunter is 9 months old today! He sure is growing up quickly.
Let's see... my sister had surgery on her ankle about a week ago, so Hunter and I have been helping to keep her company and I have been working at the shop for her while she is on crutches. That is helping pass the time, but I'm sure that she would say otherwise. It's been nice to get out of the house and work at the bridal shop for a while. Hunter has had a couple babysitters and so far things have gone great. Hopefully we can keep that up.
Can you believe that it's been two months since Ben has left? Time has been passing pretty quick, but I hate to think that we still have 13 months to go before he is back home for good. Oh well, that's Army life! I have been sending lots of pictures so that he can see our little Hunter as he grows.
We are all set to close on our house on May 26 and the buyers have already moved in. They are temporarily occupying the house before the closing, which actually works out perfect for everyone. They pay us a little bit in rent which helps with the mortgage, and they have a place to stay and don't have to move multiple times. Hopefully everything will go smoothly with the closing. So far everything has gone great. All of our inspections went well and everything should be ready to go. I have already signed and had all of the papers notarized, so now we are just waiting for the actual closing. I will be very relieved to have that done!
Well, Hunter is getting restless so I should finish this post. Hope everyone is doing great, we love to hear from all of you!
Love, Em and Hunter

Trips around Kabul

Burqua
Market
Gas Station

Hey Ya'll, sorry it's been so long since I posted a new blog. Things here are either really boring or I'm really busy. Over the last week I've been out and about in Kabul. I forgot my camera on a couple of the trips, but I do have a few photos to post. One of the highlights was going to the US Embassy. It was really nice inside with a manicured lawn and all the accomidations of home. Funny how they don't do that kind of stuff for regular Soldiers... Anyway, we tried to take some pictures in there but the guards got all upset so we backed down and walked out. We had guns and they didn't have any visible, but you know how Marines are, they get all upset when someone is tougher and more HOOAH then they are. I did sneak a picture as we were driving out but the window on the truck was really dusty and it caught a bad glare from the sun.
I also got a few pictures of the apartment complex mentioned in "Bookseller of Kabul." They are still pretty ghetto and from what I understand they still don't have running water. But for this country they are not bad accomodations. I also have pictures of some ladies wearing burqas now as well. It is funny how some still choose (or are helped to choose by their husband) to wear the awful looking things. I really dont' know how they can breathe in them during the summer time. It's bad enough here with all the stuff we wear, but that covers their whole body. I keep trying to remember to take some pics of me while I'm out, but I keep forgetting.
Well I shouldn't let this entry get too long. I will post again when I have more stuff to show. Thank you all for your prayers and support.
-Ben