New Year's & New Addition

We have a new addition to our Family (as probably the 2-3 people that actually read our blog knows already!) our dog Durango! Jay and I have been wanting for a while to get a dog. We are both such dog people but wanted to wait until we got back here and got a house. We have done a lot of research and went back & forth between getting a dog from a breeder or rescuing one from a local shelter which is what we ended up doing. We went the week after Christmas and looked and read a couple books about how to choose the best one for our family. There were so many wonderful dogs there we really had trouble not coming home with all of them but Durango really stood out to both of us. He was really calm (for the most part) and could tell from the time we spent with him that he was really smart and trainable. So we were able to go through the application process and were approved to adopt him! We brought him home on New Year's Eve and he has been wonderful. We have had our issues we have had to work through (we still need to replace those blinds in the kitchen) but he really is such a sweet dog. He is getting MUCH better about being left alone, we are leaving him in his crate but he is so calm when we get home & not bending the bars in the crate anymore! He is also getting a lot better about playing with is toys and fetching the ball. He loves his walks that we take daily and also really enjoys going for car rides.

So here are some pictures that we have taken basically during the 1st week.

We actually took him over to the Campbell's on New Year's eve and he had a great time playing with Samson (their Golden Retriever) as well as did really well the kids. He was tired by the end of the night though! It was a big day for him.

Taking one of our many walks around the lake near our house.

We spent New Year's Eve with some good friends of ours here in Wichita Falls the Campbell's & the Segal's. We have been very blessed to be set up with these great people. We were actually in England with the Segal's although in different squadrons & the Campbell's are fellow F-15 C people so we have clicked with them and really enjoy being around them (although us girls are together a lot more than the boys) Anyway we had a great time with a fondue dinner and rang in the New Year at around 8:15! It has officially happened that the past 2 years we didn't make it to Midnight! but we still had a fabulous time and enjoyed celebrating all the wonderful things & changes that happened to us in 2009 as well as looking forward to everything God has in store for us in 2010!

Me, Kim, & Heather
Jay and the 2 Scotts

Happy New Year everyone! We have some great things coming up that I will be sure to post about soon.

Christmas

So we had a great Christmas. We hosted Jay's family here which was wonderful. It was a little different for me not being with my side but it was really great to be able to share this time with the Talbert side and see some traditions from their side. I always love getting together with his parents and really get to know them better each time. I had not had the opportunity yet to spend much time his sister and her family yet. They did come to England for a couple days when Leann had a conference in London and obviously at the wedding. Leann & Jim are both in the Air Force as well so our schedules never really matched up. Anyway, we found out they were all able to come we were really excited.

Wichita Falls ended up getting quite the snow storm (& I know snow storm is relative for Texas) but still we got about 1-2 feet but it definitely piled up with the snow drift. Because the city really doesn't have the capability to handle something like this we were housebound from Christmas Eve (Thursday) until Sunday. We had plenty to keep us busy but by Sunday I think we were all really ready to get out. Anyway, I did snap a few pictures but didn't get one of the whole family which I'm still kicking myself for. Next time definitely!

But I did get one with Jay's parents:

Janice & Leann
The aftermath & playing a little Beatles Rock Band. Jay loved the fact that his dad (& Janice too) got in there and played. It was a true family event.
Opening presents Christmas morning...
Jay & Erin making cookies (because we definitely needed more!)
Checking out the snow... it had piled up quite a bit by the front door.
The front of our house probably about mid way during the storm
Jay was getting some practice in with Daisy & Jen (Jim & Leann's dogs)

So that is it from Christmas. We had a truly blessed one and are all extremely Thankful for the time we had together.

DC Trip

Last week I was able to go out and visit one of my best friends who lives in DC. Kelley & I were college roommates and have stayed close ever since. I hadn't seen her in over a year and had her 2nd child in September, so it was great catching up and spending time with everyone. We never remember to take pictures, partly because most of the time we are just shopping & there really isn't much to take pictures of, but did manage to take a few this time.

The first day we did some Christmas shopping at the Tyson's corner mall. Up in the food court there was a train ride for kids. We tried to distract Landon but failed and he of course wanted to ride. So he & Kelley rode the train. Landon had a blast and was so excited!

Another college friend of ours lives in DC and we were able to meet up with her for dinner. Shannon is doing so well and it was great to see her and catch up on everything that is going on in her life. She was actually over in England for a couple weeks this summer & we met up there too. It was great to see her again in DC! Thanks Shannon for meeting up with us!
Kelley & I had to get a picture in before I left. We snapped a few pictures of her family but just not on my camera. Thanks Kelley for a great trip and great girl time!!

That is it for now, I think I'm all caught up. We are hosting Christmas her for Jay's family who all arrive next week! We are excite to spend some quality time with them as well as hosting our first Christmas in our new home so there will be more to post then!

Thanksgiving 2009

Jay and I were able to go to North Carolina for Thanksgiving with my family. We didn't think we were going to be able to but it ended up working out. The whole family was there which was great since we hadn't seen Eric since being back in the states. The boys did some hiking and the girls did what we do best: hitting the shops! It was a great trip, even if it was a little quick. We can't wait until we can get back, plus we have some good friends who are not too far away and it will be great to have some get gatherings there!!

Lauren and I swinging on the porch swing downstairs...

Some deer in the back yard. It was great to watch them, they are so peaceful and beautiful.
The whole family! It took a couple attempts but this is the best one despite mom's eyes being a closed slightly
Wrestling fun! I love Evan's legs just hanging out and that is all you can see...
The boys cleaning up after dinner.

New House!!

So after visiting all the family we finally made it back to Wichita Falls. We had been looking (online mostly) and saw a few houses the day we flew in from England. It didn't take too long for us to decide on our great house that we finally choose. We are so excited and have a few other projects to do but we are settled for the most part. We have plenty of room for visitors so please give us a call anytime!

The dining room. We have both commented on how much bigger the rooms are here compared to our England house. You could barely walk around the table in the England house it is so nice to actually have room here! All the fixtures are great too and really go well with all our stuff.

Entry Way w/ the hallway to the right of the front door that leads to 2 bedrooms.
That is it for now but will have more to come later...

Disney Sept 2009

After we left England we went to Disney with my family w/ the Military Discount that Disney was offering. It was a lot of fun... I have always loved Disney and it is even better through the eyes of kids. Evan & Lauren had a blast. Evan loved having Jay there and wanted to go on all the rides with him... the race cars & Buzz Light Year were his favorite. Eric wasn't able to get time off of work so we will definitely have to go back when he is able to go as well.

Dad & I going into Disney... we were all so excited!!!

Dad & Mom shooting aliens on Buzz Lightyear's ride! I love how focused Dad is...
Buzz was waiting for us when we got out... Evan was pumped!
Jay & Evan driving the race cars. Evan was so excited. Jay was a little sad that the car they got was a Right had drive car... he thought we had left those in England!
Sally, Lauren, & Evan riding the train.

Sally & Lauren driving the race cars.

Saying hello to Goofy... turns out that Goofy is a Gator fan too! I had on a Gator shirt that he noticed and started doing the Chomp with me. Sally got a picture of it... it was great!
Lauren and I eating mexican at Epcot waiting for the firework & laser show.
Jay & I at Magic Kingdom. I'm such a kid at heart because I really get so excited walking into Disney, it just makes me happy!
Jay & Evan flying on Dumbo! Evan & Lauren both love wearing sun glasses and it just cracks me up for some reason... they look so cute! Jay isn't too shabby
It was a great trip, a little hot but oh well could have been worse!

Leaving England

So I know it has been awhile and these past 2 1/2 months have been a bit crazy with lots of change. Jay and I (as most if not all of you know) have moved back to the states!! As amazing as being in England was it is really nice to be back in the states. So here are a few pictures from our last few weeks in England. These are from Jay's fini flight in the F-15 at Lakenheath as well as the Reaper Passing that was hosted by Spike & Stephanie as well as some going aways of other friends in the Squadron who were leaving around the same time we were.

Jay's Fini Flight:

Jay taxing in...

Handing his gear down before he gets some water sprayed at him (that is the tradition at a fini flight, the person gets sprayed down as they are getting out of the Jet) so they usually try to get rid of as much gear as possible.
Getting sprayed and trying to fight back
Greeting me... with his sparkling cider
All the guys who was in his flight with him.
This Reaper Passing was a Road Rally that started in Cambridge and ended up at a pup north of base. Everyone divided in teams of 4-6... our team: Ryan, Jay, me, & Chuck. We had a lot of fun and thought we did really well...
In the Bury Gardens during one of our tasks... with the ruins in the back ground
Jay getting fareweled from Spike. It was a great time and a great way to spend some time with the whole gang before we left.
More to come on our arrival in the states...