This week has been another busy one. Adam's hours continue to be long and daunting. We haven't exactly found a balance yet - but we are managing. Carving out time for family is a challenge, but something we continually work on perfecting. By far, the happiest moment in my day is seeing Adam walk through the door. Well, actually - it's when I get the text that he's on his way and then about 40 minutes later I hear the garage door opening - THEN he walks through the door. :-)

It sounds like his schedule will not free up at all for the next year and a half. Between monthly training, work-ups in the fall, and then deployment next year - he is booked solid.

At home the kids and I are pushing for the school year to finish up. Only 20 some days remaining and Bryna will be a free (young) woman! Hah! 

Now that we've finished up 3 months of hosting, it seems as though our summer schedule has filled over night. We are looking forward to the 9th Comm Battalion picnic, beach bonfires, swimming, and the culminating event - a trip home to the midwest! 

I can't believe how quickly the time goes. So much has happened in 2008/09 that it's a little crazy to take it all in. Anyway, I'm beginning to realized that things don't slow down. There is no "finish line." Instead, I'm learning to enjoy the ride!! 

Apparently, this poor old blog needs some much needed attention! It's been (*gasp*) eleven months since I've updated. Let me tell you, a lot can happen in a year.

Here's an abbreviated run down of the past, eh-hem, year:

08 June: Adam graduates The Basic School

08 July: Fantastic 4th of July visit from Grandma Kathy, Adam starts COMM School

08 August: Bryna starts the 2nd grade at Anne E. Moncure

08 September: Bryna turns 8 on the 21st, Simon Nathanael Disney enters the world 23Sept

08 October: Visits from both sets of Grandparents and Auntie Jamie and Uncle Clay! Livia turns 4.

08 November: Gena and the kids bid farewell to Virginia and fly to MN/IL for the Holidays.

08 December: Adam graduates COMM school in the top 10% of his class, drives to IL only to be hit by a deer in Ohio. We are delayed for 2 weeks in Illinois at the Disney homestead. (one of those blessings in disguise) Drive 4 days to CA and land at our new home on 23Dec. Spend Christmas in a hotel.

09 January: Adam is working as a Platoon Commander aboard Camp Pendleton. Bryna starts at her new school: Helen Hunt Jackson Elem.

09 February: Finally settling into the routine in Temecula. Lots of walks outside and getting totally settled into the new house.

09 March: Visit from my Dad and nephew Sage from MN! Sea World and swimming in the Pacific!

09 April: Visit from our friends Amanda and Brenna from MN! More Sea World and ocean swimming.

That's our nut shell at this point. I will try to regain the habit of updating. Many things have gone by the way-side since the addition of our little guy!

Here are few photos from our recent adventures.

Big truck, little girl.

Mother's Day 2008

Last day of school.

Last night in Mankato at the school carnival.

Goofy sisters

Bryna, Livi, and cousin Alex starting the Mt Vernon tour.

Mount Vernon

Kids in front of the Bowling Green

Awesome, huge tree.

Livia checking out the peonies.

Bryna in the garden.

In the gardens

Mount Vernon overlooking the Potomac

Viewing the storehouse

Bryna and Alex listening intently during the Nat'l Treasure 2 tour.

Livia viewing the Potomac

Livi and Uncle Jim looking for fish.

Livia and the Washingtons

George and Martha

George, Martha, and Patsy

The girls and daddy goofing around.

In remembrance - Capt. Nathanael Doring

It is difficult to describe all of the training that goes on here at The Basic School so I am posting these videos that someone else made to show what we do every day.

This week as I was trying to ignore my throbbing feet and my aching back on our 2.5 mile hump that we did in 28 minutes with 70lbs of gear on our back, I was thinking of how odd this all would be to us if we were still in the civilian world. But now that we are Marines, it is just another day in the Corps.

Monday of this past week was the most miserable day of my life. As we stood in formation at 0430 the rain poured on us, soaking all of our clothes and gear. The next 14 hours were spend in the rain and mud as we humped out to the rifle range and sat in various uncomfortable firing positions sending close to 100 rounds down range at targets from 200 to 500 yards. It was about 32 degrees outside; just warm enough for the rain not to be snow. I do not know what was worse, the pain of frozen fingers and toes or the mud seeping down our pants. But this is the life that all of us have chosen.

As the week progressed, the weather got warmer and dryer and we had little to complain about except for the fact that a water pipe in the barracks had burst leaving us without water which made everyone smell all the more.
Friday was qualification day for both the M16A2 service rifle and the M9 Beretta 9mm pistol. I was delighted that I shot well on both earning a double expert award.

On to more important things...

I have been approved for an out-of-bounds liberty pass for the upcoming 72 liberty which means that I am flying home to Minnesota on Saturday the 16th and staying there for 3 entire days. I am so excited to see Gena, Bryna, Livia and of course Charlie. I also hope to be able to spend some time with our friends.

Semper Fi

Hello bloggers, this is my first blog entry since the creation of this blog. My beautiful wife has maintained the blog for a year and a half and has now encouraged me to participate. So here we go.

I have been at TBS for a grand total of 17 days and it feels allot longer. The first week here is called "in-processing" and is a very long and boring ordeal. We are in a classroom from 0600 until 2100 (9:00 pm). During this time we sit in our seats and listen to briefs back-to-back all day long. There is no eating or drinking in the classroom and the time schedule usually does not leave time for chow. The picture of me on this post was taken during in-processing week and is put in my training folder so that my SPC (Staff Platoon Commander) can identify names to faces as the POI (Period of Instruction) begins.

The academics here are intense. The class load given to us in six months is equivalent to two and a half years of college credit hours. We are expected to master the information and implement it in the field during three week long FEXs (Field Exercises) and a final amphibious assault that is orchestrated and executed by the student lieutenants. Overall it is going to be a pretty intense six months.

The good thing about training in VA is that it does not get to -5 degrees here. I feel for all of you in the great frozen north that are enduring through the MN winter. Ooo-Rah to all of you. We had about one inch of snow here on Thursday night and the base almost shut down for all day on Friday. We had a late start on Friday instead and the base opened at 0900 instead of 0400. People are complaining about the cold here and it has yet to get below 20 degrees.

My weekends consist of talking to Gena and the girls, my parents, and my brother, watching movies (right now it is the Band of Brother series), and working out. Most of the other lieutenants here go off base for the weekend and explore the social scene of the east coast. This weekend we have a 72, or in civilian terms a three day weekend, because of Martin Luther King Day.

I would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers and thoughts. Thank you to everyone who is helping Gena and the girls during our time apart. I am very grateful to have family and friends who are so loyal and giving.

I will be periodically writing posts for the blog as my training schedule allows.

Semper Fi and God Bless
Lt. Disney