Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

Congratulation Tyler! Yesterday Tyler received the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. This medal is awarded to members in the Armed Forces for performing volunteer community service. I am so proud of Tyler, ever since I have known him he has always done volunteer work, he is always willing to help those around him and genuinely loves people and lending a helping hand. Tyler received this award for his work coaching little league football, being a scoutmaster, teaching Sunday school and also doing pro bono legal work. Keep in mind that Tyler did all things things, among many others, while working and going to law school. Tyler is the best and no one deserves this award more. Again, I am beaming with pride, I love you so much!

Below are the requirements:
1) be to the civilian community, to include the military family community
2) be significant in nature and produce tangible results
3) reflect favorably on the Military Service and the Department of Defense
4) be of a sustained and direct nature.

How Old Is Your Brain?

I saw this on Katy's blog and thought it was fun. The first time I was 33, the second time I was 27. Not sure if higher/lower is better, but it is fun.


Procedure of Flash Fabrica Game:(here's instructions since it's in Japanese...the smart ones!)
1. Wait for the screen to come up, then Touch 'start'
2. Wait for countdown 3, 2, 1, and then some numbers will appear on the screen.
3. Memorize the number's position on the screen, then click the circle from the smallest number to the biggest number when they disappear.
4. At the end of game, computer will tell you how old your brain is.

Good luck !!

http://flashfabrica.com/f_learning/brain/brain.html

Tyler's Florida Trip

This past week Tyler had the opportunity to go to Florida to attend a Effective Courtroom Communication course, pretty much a class to help teach him better courtroom behavior. He had a civilian teacher who was actually an actor. Tyler will have to write more about that, apparently he was quite the character. Below are a few pictures from his trip.

Jacksonville Beach

Downtown Jacksonville

St. Augustine
Tyler, Dan, Alex and Stephen

Which Cullen Are You?

Okay, so I saw this on Ashleigh's site and thought it would be fun. I'm not sure what I think of the results, but here they are...


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

The Secret Life of Bees

I went with some friends to see The Secret Life Of Bees last night, it was so good! I read the book a long time ago, when it first came out. I always remembered really liking the book, its a sweet story and well written. Recently our book club re-read the book and it brought back all the memories from when I first read it. Anyway, I was excited to see the movie, even though it seems like most times the book always tends to be better than the movie. Its really hard to say on this one. I thought the movie was very well done, the casting was perfect and the acting and sets, everything was great. When I first read the book I always thought Dakota Fanning would be perfect for the role, and she was. The movie really shows a different side to her dad. There is no excuse for how he treated her, but I think deep down he really did love her and was just messed up himself. Even though Ty said he wouldn't go with me to the movie I actually think it is a movie he would like. So, I would recommend it to everyone, its very touching and endearing.

Tag! You're It

Thanks Jill for the tag, I always think these are kind of fun. Here are the rules: Answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then pass it on to seven others.

Here are the questions:

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk

2. Where is your significant other? Court

3. Your hair color? Brown

4. Your mother? N Carolina

5. Your father? Same

6. Your favorite thing? Tyler

7. Your dream last night? Interesting

8. Your dream/goal? Baby

9. The room you're in? Bedroom

10. Your hobby? Quilting

11. Your fear? Infertility

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Home

13. Where were you last night? Park

14. What you're not? Mean

15. One of your wish-list items? Couch

16. Where you grew up? Sandy

17. The last thing you did? Slept

18. What are you wearing? Jammies

19. Your TV? Amazing

20. Your pet? Charlie

21. Your computer? Entertaining

22. Your mood? Happy

23. Missing someone? Mom

24. Your car? Honda

25. Something you're not wearing? Guess

26. Favorite store? Amazon

27. Your summer? Fun

28. Love someone? Enormously

29. Your favorite color? All

30. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday

31. Last time you cried? Awhile

TAG: Anyone who reads this...

Funny Half-time Show

Wow, this is crazy! And I thought I had too much time on my hands...

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2008/2/HalfTime-Basketball-Creighton-University-Omaha-Neb-457715.html

Help! I Need Book Club Suggestions

My book club will be meeting next week (we'll be discussing Secret Life of Bees and Pride & Prejudice). While there we will also be discussing which books we want to read in 2009. I would love to have some suggestions on which books you've read and loved or ones that you want to read. Please leave a comment with any book ideas that you have. Thanks!

The Power of Three

Three names you go by:
Kathy, Kath, Sassy

Three things you are wearing right now:
Wedding ring, flip-flops, and sun earrings

Three of your favorite things to do:
Travel, be with Charlie and Ty, read

Three things you want very badly at the moment:
To see my parents, have a baby, go home for a visit

Three favorite pets you have had:
Archie (kitty), Cheeks (bird), and Charlie (dog)

Three things you did last night:
Made a new dinner (minestrone), took Charlie to the dog park, watched a movie with Ty

Three things you ate today:
Hot pocket, beef jerky, m&ms

Three people you last talked to:
Tyler, Doug, and Mom

Three longest car rides:
North Dakota to Utah, Utah to Virginia, Rhode Island to San Diego

Three favorite holidays:
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween

Three favorite beverages:
Leomonaide, water with lemon, Black Cherry Shasta

Three people I tag:
Stephanie, Jessica, Natalie
(and everyone else)

Tyler's Olympic Dive

As promised, here is the video of Tyler's amazing dive at Lake Powell. To refresh your memories, while in Powell all the men participated in different "man sports", one of which was diving off the back of the houseboat. Sounds easy, right?

Miramar Air Show

Yesterday Kathy and I had such a fun day. Every year MCAS Miramar hosts a gigantic air show and invites the public to come and see what exactly the military does. The air show is the biggest in the country and maybe even the world. All the branches of the Armed Forces fly in all of their coolest "toys" and let the public come and tour the aircraft and ask the pilots questions about them. They also put on an incredible air show with all sorts of stunts and acrobatic maneuvers. The coolest demonstration was of course the one the Marines put on. They call it the MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force) demonstration and it basically highlights how Marines are able to fight from the air and secure a landing zone, then put boots on the ground and seize an objective. There were then some M-1 Abrams tanks that rolled up along with some Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs), who joined a couple of squads of Marines who fast-roped down some helos. The crowd loved the Marines and they were the coolest past of the entire day. But then, were you really expecting the Marines to let the Air Force or Army steal the show?

Here are some Air Force Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), along with a Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey and the brand new AH-1Z "Zulu" attack helicopter.

Here's Kathy in front of an Air Force C-5 Galaxy cargo jet. Me behind the new Zulu Cobra and the old Whiskey Cobra. A Marine Corps KC-130J refueling plane, giving some "juice" to a couple of USMC CH-53 cargo helicopters.

Again the KC-130J filling up 2 Harrier jets and 2 F/A-18D jets.

A USMC CH-53 carrying a Humvee as part of the MAGTF Demo.

A USMC KC-130J refueling/cargo plane.

Grooming Day

BEFORE

AFTER
I left home with one dog and return with another. Which do you prefer?

Friend of the Month...October

My friend of the month for October is my dear friend Joy D. I have known Joy since I think the 5th grade. I have too many memories of Joy that it is hard to narrow them all down. I remember my mom telling me about this girl named Joy that lived around the corner from us. She was telling me what a nice girl she is and that we should be friends. I actually remember the first time we hung out. We were in her bedroom, and I loved all her cute white furniture, she had the cutest little girl’s room. On her cute desk was a bunch of yellow books. As I got closer I saw that they were the Nancy Drew mystery series, ever since that day I was hooked on Nancy Drew (My dad would ask every time I was reading one “What did she draw?” ha ha very funny Pop). On her wall was hung a spoon rack which had some cool spoons from all over the world, and I loved them, so I began collecting spoons as well. Another time we were standing in the rain before school started, and there were these butterflies attempted to fly around in the rain and we were sad that the cute butterflies were getting all wet so we decided to catch some and let them dry off in our desks. Not such a bright idea. After they got all dry they flew out our tote trays and around the classroom. Our 5th grade teacher Mr. Cooper was NOT happy about that. Another time, we were in my backyard playing in the snow and Joy brought with her a candy bar (a Whatchamacallit) to share with me. It was probably the best candy bar ever and is still my favorite to this day!

It was a sad day for me when Joy told me her family was moving. It was right before our 7th grade year and I was heartbroken! We tried to stay in touch, and I do remember going out to her new house and playing ping-pong in her unfinished basement and some other sleepovers that we had. But, as time went on and we got busy in our lives we didn’t see each other as much as we use to. Over the years we have always stayed in touch. We would exchange letters while we were in college, and thankfully e-mail was invented so that has helped as well. Joy now lives in Ireland with her husband and darling little girls. I’m so glad she has a blog so I can see all the fun things that she is up to.

Joy is by far one of the nicest people I have ever met; she has always been such a loving person. She would be friendly and try to include those around her and never gossiped. She is athletic and adventurous. She has a beautiful smile and makes you feel like a better person just being around her. She has a beautiful testimony and isn’t afraid to share it with people. I look up to her in so many ways and am so blessed to have her in my life.

Joy, I just want to thank you for always being there and for making the effort to stay in touch. I also want to thank you for introducing me to three of my favorite things: collecting spoons, Nancy Drew and Whatchamacallits! You’re the best!