Well...

Every time I go to post on here I get a bit distracted by how long it has been since I last posted! Well, that and it seems like Hunter has a radar for this blog. As soon as I get settled in to type he either wakes up or gets bored playing.
Anyway, since I last updated we have had a few exciting things. First, Ben graduated from his Military Police Captain Career Course (yippee!!!) and we are all glad to have that over with. Now he is working half days and taking three more classes at night in order to finish up his masters degree. I'm so proud of him, he has really been working hard. We keep joking that maybe someday he will get a break, but I'm beginning to think that break may only come when he retires!
Hunter is getting bigger by the minute. He has now learned his alphabet and he has something new going on every day.
This week I will finish up my second class toward my degree and I'll be glad for a break. I won't take another course for a little bit because the timing doesn't work with our move. Speaking of the move, we don't have a place yet, but we are looking. We really don't know any details about the move or about Ben's job so it will be an adventure as usual! :) It seems like Hunter and I may end up driving out there before our house here gets packed up and then Ben will follow the moving truck up. That should be sometime near the middle of February if nothing changes.
As far as Ben's job, well.... we will see when we get there! He is hoping to get a command fairly quickly, so please be praying for that. I'm just looking forward to having a mall and some civilization nearby :)
Not much else exciting to report... I will try to post some pictures soon.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a blessed new year!!!
Love, Em

So, my accomplishment of writing more didn't last long. I'll blame it on all of the papers and discussion boards that I have been writing for classes! Speaking of classes, I finished the first one with an A (praise God!) and am now on the the second (and more challenging...) one. I should clarify that, I think that the first class was actually more intellectual work, but this one is challenging me more personally, but I'll just take it for what it's worth and enjoy the ride!
Ben is still super busy with his classes, sometimes we feel like all we do is homework. Okay, it's not just that we feel like it, it really is all that we do :) I guess we are just gluttons for punishment. I'm so proud of him though, a complete master's degree in about 7 months is definitely an achievement.
Hunter is doing great. He is always full of silliness, and his new FAVORITE thing is the movie Cars. Luckily, I actually enjoy the movie as well, but I will admit that I am already getting sick of it. He is constantly learning new things and he is so much fun, I really wish he could just stay this age forever!
We were able to take a great trip to Branson this past weekend for a marriage retreat put on by the Army, and had a wonderful time except that Hunter and I both got sick :( Despite that, we managed to learn a lot and enjoyed seeing the Dixie Stampede, too!
That's about all of our excitement for now. I will try to post some pictures soon!
-Em

A new record!!!

I think that posting two days in a row will definately be a record for me! :) Hunter is watching Cars for the millionth time, but I'm pretty sure he's fighting off this nasty cold that Ben and I both had, so I figure resting probably isn't such a bad thing. Ben is off to try to pick up the mattress set that we bought today for our spare room, hopefully he can somehow secure it to the top of his 4runner, I guess we will see. He forgot his cell phone, so I'm actually a bit nervous about the whole ordeal, but I'm trying to remain calm and just trust that it's all going to be alright! Anyway, I thought some new pictures would be appreciated so here they are. Enjoy!

-em

Yeah, yeah... :)

So I think that I probably say this all the time, but I seriously must be the WORST blogger! I feel like we are just always so busy, and maybe it is actually a good thing, but this always gets put off to the end of the perpetual "to do" list. Anyway, we are doing great. Hunter is getting bigger all the time, he's a solid three feet tall now and at least 35 lbs, so he is definately growing strong, football - here we come! We had quite a bit of craziness with Ben's truck, but that has FINALLY gotten taken care of, and he is enjoying the new lifted 4runner with "big tires" as Hunter says :) I have finished my first grad class, woohoo!!! I think that I only have 12 or so left to go. I'll be done in no time! Okay, that's a lie, but Ben will actually have his first master's degree by the end of February and that is awesome. He is taking it super fast and will have only taken 6 or 7 months to earn the entire degree. Needless to say, we are pretty boring most nights and are usually both cramming at the computer, writing papers and fun stuff like that! We did finally take some time to go to St. Louis and had a great weekend with Hunter. We went to an amazing children's museum called the Magic House, visited Cabela's, had dinner at the tap room and stayed right downtown. The next day we went to "A Day Out with Thomas" and then to the zoo...so much fun! We have all been a little under the weather, but it just comes with the territory this time of year. Anyway, I will post new pics soon, my boys just got home from running a few errands and I think they brought ice cream for our apple pie, yummy!!! :)
Love, em

A few for the road...

Here are just a few more pics... enjoy! :)

pics, pics and more pics! :)

fingerpaint fun :) He's quite concentrated...

The most adorable raincoat and hat. Oh, and his "boots"

Yum!

Blowing...

Unwrapping...

Awesome cake! :)

His Tennessee friends. So sweet, we miss you guys!!!

I think that I just might be the worst blogger on the planet :) That said, we have been super busy since our last blog. Hunter turned two on August 18 and we had a great party at my parent's house on the 16th. Ben is crazy busy with classes, and my classes are well on their way too. It's fun being back in school, but boy is it a lot of work! We are finally starting to settle into life in Misery, it's still boring, but at least we have a nice home, a good job and two cars! God has definately blessed us. Ben has gotten orders to Fort Lewis, Washington for March 1, so we will be moving sometime in the second half of February. I'm actually really looking forward to the area, I think it will be fun to have somewhere completely new to explore. Anyway, enjoy the pics. Kel, these are for you, gal! :)

The new place in MO

The front...

The living room (which is a bit squished, hence the loveseat in front of the fireplace. Oh, well)

The other half of the living room, complete with the amazing train table. Best investment EVER!

The kitchen

The entry way

Hunter's room, it's nice and big, and has a huge closet too!