Mrs. Fix-it

It all started in January when Kyle was training in Florida. The temperature were well blow zero for several days in a row and our pipes froze. What do I do now? I researched on the www and began the process. Purchased a few space heaters, cranked up the furnace and in an effort to speed up the process, sat with hairdryers pointed directly at the pipes. This "speed up" tactic blew a fuse. Yes, I know this is something I should have known how to fix being an adult well in her 20s but didn't. Perhaps its a product of being in a family of all boys. But these fix it things were never my domain. Now, as home owners, and with Mr. Fix-it oceans away, I have become Mrs. Fix-it. I have even found some pretty nifty website to aid in my projects.
However, I will be the first to admit that they haven't all gone well. In fact my brother, James, complains that its like have two wives. I ask a lot of him but am grateful for all his help:) (I bet Tim had no idea he was going to be put to work when he stayed here in March. And with Brian coming in Sept. I will have lots for him to help with!)
Kyle and I were chatting about one of my recent handy feats when he said, "Looks like my jobs around the house might be obsolete?" I assured him this was not the case. I STILL can't fix the dog gate, even my handy brother couldn't. It must be broken! AND the ceiling fan in our bedroom continues to be smarter than I am. So don't worry Kyle, there will always be lots on your "honey dew list" for you to do! But I have to say I feel a sense of accomplishment every time I am able to cross a "honey dew" item off his list.
I am constantly looking for the positives in having Kyle in Iraq this year. These fix it items have given me a new sense of independence. It has also pushed my brother to teach his daughter everything he is showing me, so she doesn't become an adult with no home fixing skills. And although its been great learning new things, I am happy to pass the Fix-it baton back to Kyle ASAP!

Kyle is HOT!

Chicago has had a pretty mild summer. In fact, we are on track to having the first July on record to not have any 90 degree days. Baghdad, however, has reached and surpassed 90 degrees almost everyday Kyle has been there! Kyle sent this picture to show how sometimes the thermostat doesn't read high enough for the temperatures there...ick! Thank goodness for air conditioning!

National Training Academy

Here is one of several missions Kyle's battalion is a part of:

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=video/video_show.php&id=64235

This aired on the Pentagon Channel program "Down Range" and the radio version will air on Freedom Radio. The print version will be released soon too.

Bolder Boulder

Kyle and I are not only competitive with one another but with ourselves. We are constantly looking for new challenges. Be them physical or mental, life is all about trying new things and learning through experience. And even in Iraq, Kyle continues to challenge himself physically (and mentally too). He has participated in 2 half marathons and the Bolder Boulder run.

A picture of Kyle from the Bolder Boulder satillite run in Balad, Iraq on May 23rd. He even sent me a t-shirt from the run in one of my "reverse care packages" :)

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. This is what makes me seek out new challenges. They're what make the instrument that is you stretch-what makes you go beyond the norm. And learning that you are capable of these things makes it all worth it. This time in our lives might be one of our biggest challenges yet. Good thing we both like facing challenges head on, fist pumping!


Finishing our first marathon together in 2005.

Where Kyle does what he does...

Bears vs. Packers

Although its hard for Kyle to love Bear's fans, there are a few of us in his life. Kyle and Rob were roommates (Their 3rd roommate, Brad, was a Vikings fan!) in college and are both currently in Iraq, but at different camps/FOBs/bases. However, due to the communications between their ladies (that's Petra and Me) we discovered they were temporarily at the same location. The two were able to meet up in the Baghdad airport. Only for about 15 mins before Rob's helicopter took off but some time is better than no time! Because despite standing in different cheering sections when the Bears beat, I mean play, the Packers, these two don't get to hang out nearly enough.

If you look hard enough...

You can find beauty in some of the most dreary of places and situations. Here are a few photos Kyle took in Baghdad.

Scrabble Ruling

When Kyle questioned one of my scrabble scoring rules I was forced to pull out the rule book. This is when I came across the "10 Rules to becoming a Scrabble Expert". Uh oh, Kyle. Now your in BIG BIG trouble! You might have beat me this last round but next game I've got a few new tricks up my sleeve.

And for the record, my scoring rule was correct and verified by the scrabble rule book. Can you just hear the competitiveness between us?

Wisconsin

Good Old Wisconsin. I love Wisconsin, I really do. Going to College there was eye opening at times. For example, I never knew the dislike Wisconsinites felt for Illinoisans nor had I ever heard all the affectionate nicknames they had for us. And I still remember my first deer hunting season in the great state.

I was driving in the car with a Wisconsin native (Stacer) and a New Yorker (Liz) when we saw a deer that had gone to deer heaven on top of moving vehicle. Being the sheltered 18 year old that I was, I figured the driver must have hit Bambi with his car, picked her up off the road and was taking her somewhere to bury it. The New Yorker hung her head out the window with a camera taking pictures, she also had never seen anything like it. While the Wisconsinite looked at me, laughed, and said, 'you can't be serious?!" It was the start of something new to me, deer hunting season.

And then I met my favorite Wisconsin boy, Kyle and he taught me much more about being from the northwoods, like Packer days, cheese heads and what a FIB really was (Friendly, Illinois Babe).

Kyle bleeds Wisconsin pride. Whenever and where ever he has the opportunity to share his Wisconsin roots, his love for the green and gold, he does. And above are photographs Kyle sent me of the Wisconsin pride shared by other soldiers in Iraq. He was driving through Baghdad when he saw the Wisconsin flag flying high.

And although Kyle has now lived in Illinois for over two years, I know he will always be a Wisconsin boy at heart.

He's Very Patriot

THE FOURTH OF JULY!! it is a day of celebration to commemorate the courage and faith of our founding fathers in their pursuit of liberty. AND...It's my FAVORITE holiday. What's not to love about the 4th of July? It's a stress free day filled with grilling, warm weather, and to top it off, fireworks! I think I may have even swayed Kyle over to making this his favorite holiday too:) And as you can see, Simba is also a big fan of the day:)

How ever you may celebrate your country's Independence Day this weekend, I hope its filled with fun and great fireworks!