It's About Time

It's about time to add another entry to our blog. With Bryan being gone, and me having to do literally everything, it's hard to find time to do the little things like updating the blog. And now that school is out and I'm officially a BYU-I graduate, I have a little bit of time to update this thing. 

Back in November, Bryan graduated from BMT which was a great accomplishment for the both of us. His parents and I were able to go down to San Antonio, Texas to see him graduate. We had a wonderful time and it was so good to see my husband. Our communication was limited to snail mail which I got about once a week sometimes going two without hearing from him. It was very hard for the both of us. So graduation was pretty exciting!

When Bryan was permitted to leave base, he had to wear his uniform which they call their "blues." Although he looked nice in them, I absolutely hated him wearing it because we were not allowed to show any kind of affection-we couldn't even hold hands. All we could do was look at each other.

While we were there, we did the river walk and it was absolutely beautiful. Here is a picture of us on a bridge over the river (which isn't shown). There were trees everywhere-we were under a tunnel of them.  

Here we are standing close to each other because

that's all we could do. 

Here's a view of where we walked from the 

boat ride that we took. 

The little platform behind us (that's in the sun)

is where a scene from Miss Congeniality was filmed.  

Here is a picture of us together.

Bryan's New Look!

Bryan has been out for about a week now and I have not heard from him personally since he called me to give me his address. Although, on Sunday Elder and Sister Reynolds (military relations missionaries) emailed me and my in-laws pictures of him when he and others were at church. They also sent a little note that said that their graduation day is November 7 and that they may not be able to write or call home for the first couple of weeks until their flight earns the privilege, and that they/he will write as soon as permission is granted by their Military Training Instructors (MTI's). I think it's kinda crazy that they have to have permission to write home! 

Here is a picture of Bryan. A little side note story: I always thought that Bryan would get his head shaved but he insisted that it would just be a buzz cut-he told me that more than once. I get a picture of him and his head is shaved! I think he looks pretty dang good for not having any hair :) He looks just like himself and what a smile! I'm glad to see that he looks happy and well. Hopefully his other pictures (if there are any) will look just as good!

Bryan's "title" is Airman Basic (AB)

I'm assuming these are other members of the 

church within his flight. (There's a girl!)

An Unexpected and Happy Phone Call

Bryan called me today to tell me that he made it safely and to give me his address. I wasn't expecting to hear from him until Sunday so I was pretty happy to hear from him-it made my day. It sounded like he is doing well-I didn't hear any half deadness in his voice so he is still alive! His phone call was limited because I couldn't really talk to him-it was just to give me information so what I write here is all I know. Here is Bryan's address for any of you who would like to write him. He would love to hear from you but remember he won't have much time to write everybody back so I will keep posts up on how he is doing. 

AB Winston, Bryan M.

331 TRS Flt 687 Dorm A-4 PSC 3

1320 Truemter St. Unit 369521

Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5570

He can receive only letters and cards. He cannot receive gum, candy, or packages. (Don't ask me why because I have no idea). 

It's a boy!

Well we appreciate all of your comments and now we can say that we are having a little baby boy! We are very excited. We hope (especially Rachel) that he will be like his dad in that he will be a little momma's boy! He kicks a lot and I guess you could say he is active (although I don't have anything to compare it to)-which means that he is like Bryan already! 

On a different note, Bryan is now on his way to Butte Montana where he will swear in and where our insurance and everything will start. It was sad to say goodbye and it was really helpful to have my grandma there with me to talk to on the way home. Although after his bus left he called me (from someone else's phone) to tell me that they were going to be stopping in Rexburg for an hour (we were in Idaho Falls) and that I could see him again! There's nothing like saying goodbye when there's a hello a half an hour later! The second goodbye was more "permanent" and he is going to try and call me tonight when he gets to the hotel to tell me that he made it safely. I'm trying to think of it more as a "c-ya later" than a goodbye but we'll see how long that will last. Bryan did want to say his "c-ya laters" and thanks to all of you who care about us and keep us in your prayers-he and I both appreciate it a lot!    

BOY OR GIRL?

So we went in for the 20 week appointment today. First off, yesterday when Bryan was shaving (getting ready for boot camp) he said, "Rachel if you want to find out what we're having, we can find out. Just don't ask me about it again or I might change my mind." So we found out what we're having and we want all of you to guess so leave a comment to say what you think we are having and once we get a few comments we will let you know!

The Secret is Out!!

Well we finally decided to break the news. We're Pregnant! and have been for awhile now. We are 5 months and we don't know what we're having yet. We can find out at our next appointment which is this weekend but one of us (Bryan) doesn't want to find out so we probably won't. 

I can feel the baby moving all the time. I was actually able to start feeling it when I was 16 weeks. I think that has been one of the most exciting things so far (hearing the heart beat was pretty cool as well as being able to see the profile of the face at 12 weeks). Sometimes in the mornings, the baby "surfaces" and we can feel a little ball or bubble that is somewhat hard which definitely feels like the baby. We call it the bubble baby. Bryan absolutely loves being able to feel the bubble baby. 

Last Sunday, we were sitting on the couch and the baby was moving. Of course every time I have Bryan put his hand on my belly it stops moving for a little bit. We were actually able to see it moving as well and that was pretty cool. Well it hadn't moved for Bryan so he started poking my stomach and the baby kicked back! Bryan and I were laughing because it was cool and so funny! I wonder what kind of personality he/she will have. Now that there is not as much morning sickness, being pregnant is more enjoyable!

School starts!

Well here it is another week with another blog with the feel of a new semester in the air. As a reminder Bryan graduated and is continuing to work full time while Rachel finishes up her last semester. Bryan is in the Air Force and has basic training/boot camp and leaves on the 22nd which is just right around the corner. We are trying to enjoy the time left we have with each other. There is a lot left to do with little time but that's life. Bryan is getting ready for training as he does timed sit ups and push ups every night. He is supposed to be able to do 50 sit ups and push ups in 2 minutes and he can do them in one! He is doing great! Rachel on the other hand is having a hard time dealing with the upcoming event and he hasn't even left yet! So please after Bryan leaves keep her company! She will need every minute of it she can get!

On a more positive note the sun is shining and the birds are still singing! Fall is on it's way however which is one of the best seasons of the year! Lots of fun festivities!

 

Heise Camp out!

Here we are with another camp out. This time we went to Heise Hot Springs. Over the past 2 years that Bryan has been working at Shilo Fire Sprinklers with Juan and Tom, they all have become really good friends and Juan invited us all again to go camping with them.

On Saturday we went and played real golf. We had a big group so we had to split it into two and we (Bryan, Kim, Karri, and I) were the second group with Juan, Diego, Jr., and Antonio ahead of us. The only time that was available for us to do it was at 12:00 noon-the hottest part of the day! Everyone was doing a pretty good job but I was having a really hard time with it but I still had fun. Towards the end though, I was getting really hot and tired and was starting to not feel well but it was a lot of fun and I actually got a little bit of color on my snow colored arms!  

Bryan hit a couple of really high-I 

mean really high balls. He almost 

hit our friends that were way ahead

of us! In an attempt to show me how

to do it, he hit Karri in the leg who 

now has a welt from it!

Because we were a little unorganized 

with taking turns, there were a few of

us who almost got killed! Karri hit one

that went whizzing inches away from my

face. Kim was putting her ball on the

ground when Bryan's ball went soaring over 

her head. I hit one that went in between Kim's 

legs. I think Bryan might have been the only 

one who didn't have a near death experience 

because he was waiting for us most of the time!

Since I had to hit my ball every 20 feet (literally)

I got really tired and had to take a lot of breaks

under the cool shade.

Marshmallows are always a big hit when camping

and someone was always roasting mallows-even

at breakfast time. 

Juan and his family have a 4 wheeler and a 

little motorcycle. We took them for a spin. 

I don't remember seeing this but here is Bryan

with at least one wheel off the ground. 

  

Here is Karri 4 wheeling for the first time!

I was getting hot in the sun so I went and sat

on some rocks in the shade. Bryan was coming 

back from a little drive and came and picked

me up and let me drive. Well at one point he 

was holding down the gas and we were going

really fast-it was a little scary but still fun.  

Antonio, me, Karri, Jr., and Diego

The boys went fishing early this morning and 

caught some fish. Karri jokingly said she would

clean them and even though she tried to put up 

a fight everyone held her to her word so here she 

is gutting her first fish! She was so brave. It was 

one of the nastiest things I have ever seen. 

(Kim in the background covering her eyes...)

(Tom's daughter Caitlyn gutted one too)

Thank goodness all the kids wanted to gut one

so none of the adults had to do it except for Tom

(Bryan's co-worker) who showed them all how 

to do it-what a great teacher!

The two boys (Jr. and Antonio) roasting their

fish over the fire. It actually tasted pretty good. 

Bryan and Juan and the boys loved it. I thought

it tasted alright but it left a fishy taste in my mouth

that was kinda nasty. 

Camping in Yellowstone

Here we are with another camping trip but this time we have photos! Bryan's boss Juan invited us to go on a camping trip with their family in Yellowstone. Trevor and Karri (Rachel's brother and sister) came with us as well. Juan's family consists of him, his wife Kim, Jr. (11), and Antonio (9). Antonio and Karri became good pals!

Out of all the years Rachel has been to Yellowstone, she has always wanted to see a moose and never got to see one. But on this trip, Juan's eagle eyes spotted one! We looked through our binoculars and it was just a little bit bigger than the speck we saw without them. The people behind us stopped to look too and they had a spotter scope. Since we spotted the moose, they let us see it through their scope and it was so close up that we could see it chewing and we could even see its eye! It was so cool. Rachel was especially excited since she finally got to see her moose-and close up at that!

Here we are setting up camp before hitting the park. 

Jr. and Bryan are trying to start the fire for lunch!

When it was dark at our campsite, we could hear

the wolves howling! The second night we were there

they were really close and could hear them well. As

it turned out, they walked around the edges of the 

campgrounds!

Trevor, Karri, Rachel, Bryan, Antonio, and Jr. in 

front of Old Faithful!

The three siblings with Old Faithful blowing.

We took the trails around Old Faithful and

saw some pretty cool turquoise and orange

bubbling geyser pits that smelled like rotten

eggs. 

Even though this elk looks crazy it wasn't- although

it was just strolling the streets (in Mammoth) like

there was no tomorrow. There were a couple of 

them doing that and on the grounds of one of the

buildings we went in, they had some kind of chicken

wire around the flowers so the elk wouldn't eat them!

Here is the Flores family on the boat we rented.

We are on Yellowstone Lake. 

Here is this beautiful waterfall (Upper Falls?)

From here, the waterfall looks hundreds of feet 

high from the top to the bottom. But when we 

went to the top of it, it didn't look that high or 

very far down at all!

We got to see lots and lots of buffalo. Here is 

a close up of one. Since we saw so many of them, 

we got to see them doing various activities like

running, rolling in dirt, and even taking care of 

the grounds (if you know what I mean). 

Graduation

Time for another blog entry of an event that happened a long time ago!

Bryan's Graduation! July 18, 2008

~Bryan's parents and two sisters drove down to celebrate graduation and to help us move out of our apartment. They helped us out a great deal and it was a blast having them here. Since our apartment was so small, we had another apartment (our new one) where his family could stay. We were high rollers and had 2 apartments! 

Since I wasn't graduating until December and since Bryan was going to be away from me and probably wouldn't be able to come to my graduation, I walked with him. I wanted us to walk together anyways so it worked out well.

Here we are at the banquet 

Here we are smiling for the camera. We were 

running late due to some last minute tenant 

check outs and since parking is really non-existent

we had to run all the way to the MC. I was so 

exhausted and sweaty by the time we got there

and I'm pretty sure my make up melted off my face 

so just look at how good Bryan looks!

  

Here we are at Commencement. (Sorry the 

picture is a little blurry). It was so hot in there 

I felt like I was going to die. (We're in the middle

just in case it was hard to tell).

 

I think the heat took a toll on Bryan's dad! 

(Do we know that guy (that's looking at us)

in the background?)

Another blurry picture of us on our way to move

up closer to the stage. 

Here's a cute picture of mom and dad Winston!

Bryan and I waiting to receive our diplomas

After Graduation-we did it! 

Well Bryan did anyways. 

Congratulations!!

Happy Day!

WE'RE BACK! Since we have been out of town for a couple of weekends and since we had graduation and moving apartments, we haven't been able to update our blog. Then once we got settled in our new apartment (which is still in progress) our internet stopped working so it has been a fun summer! Well we will start with the 4th of July!

We went and visited Grandma and Grandpa Winston in Boise and had a little BBQ with Grandpa Winston's siblings!















Here we are in the backyard enjoying the shade
away from the hot sun!
















Grandma Winston and Aunt Linda
















Don't ask what happened to this cat because we have no idea but we HAD to get pictures!
(I think it's supposed to be a lion but...)
















Here are the Lame-o fire works we saw
















Here we all are eating Chinese food! Grandma and Grandpa are so cute!

CAMPING

A new week and new post. This one I'm afraid is going to be rather lame, at least if you check it tomorrow. It seems like we are making a habit of posting something on Sunday and then updating it during the week to make it more interesting. So check out our past blog posting to be sure to you haven't missed anything. Don't have super high expectations though, the changes aren't usually that big, normally we add a picture or two or if it is like last week we added some more text. Anyway...
This weeks blog is going to be about our camping trip. Finally the weather has been decent enough and we were able to muster up some free time. We went with our dear friends Dustin and Cassie. They are the best! Props to them for being able to put up with us so much. This outing was a much anticipated adventure. We had talked about camping long before the snow had melted off the ground. However, this was probably one of the shortest camping trips I (Bryan) have ever been on. We didn't leave till about 7:30 and I had to be at work by 8:30 the next morning. Never-the-less it was fun. We left so late because Rachel and I had been invited to a Luau the Business and Communication department was putting on. It was fun but I was expecting more festivities and not so much food. I guess it didn't help that we left a early. They fed us first and then the entertainment came latter. From where we were sitting we couldn't really see and besides, we were eager to go camping so we left. We went home grabbed our stuff and met Cassie and Dustin and we were off. The plan was originally to camp at Beaver Dick Park. That plan was changed about two minutes after arriving. I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my life! It was ridiculous. Everyone but me, I believe, got at least one mosquito bite. I managed to go unbitten partially with luck and partially cause I was slapping my skin like a raving mad man. I hate mosquito bites. Anyway, we decided to go camping somewhere farther less appealing to those annoying bloodsuckers. We ended up camping near a place known as the crack. It was a pleasant enough place. It was fun to chat around the fire. I tried to sneak up on Rachel to scare her after I went off to take care of some business but she knows me too well and figured when I didn't show up for a while that I was trying to sneak up on her. Bummer, she was right and I failed, despite the help Dustin was giving me by trying to keep the girls distracted from the cracking sticks behind them. Well, after filling our tummies with hotdogs and s'mores we called it a night. It got a little chilly and the ground was not exactly a mattress but it was still a pretty good nights sleep at least for me, Rachel said she could of had a better night though. We woke up around 6:30 and about 7:00 I started making breakfast. We had scrambled eggs and sausage. I made it on Dustin and Cassie's handy camping stove and platter. Its an investment I think Rachel and I will make in the near future hopefully. Moving on, breakfast was good and by 7:50 we were all on the road back home and then it was off to work for me. Work was kind of a pain. I was tired and I didn't get much done. Granted I was doing some stuff I don't do real often on my own but I still should of gotten more done. I was relieved when it was time to go home. At home, I had a couple of hours before Iron Man. That was our plan for the evening. We went and saw it with Dustin, Cassie, Amanda, and one of Amanda's roommates. It was a pretty good movie. I am definitely looking forward to its sequel. Well that about sums up our weekend of fun. I'll try and get some pictures posted before the end of the week.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Story

This story is one of my favorites. I know it as the Chocolate Chip Cookie Story, My Mom told it to my family for FHE one night when I was a kid. I found a copy at this website: http://www.sugardoodle.net/Sin/Tragedy%20at%20Rayad.shtml

I thought I would post it here on our blog so that others can benefit from it. You can also find this story in Ardeth Kapps book, I Walk by Faith.

Tragedy at Rayad

(R.A.Y.A.D.) is an acronymn for: Righteous Active Youth Aren't Deceived -
This excellent teaching story and parable was shared by Ardeth G. Kapp,
former president of the General Young Women's Organization)



Handout idea: Give this story along with some chocolate chip cookies

---

Once upon a time there was a little kingdom called Rayad. The tiny people who inhabited this kingdom were call Rayadites. They lived happily, sharing and caring about each other. Life was good to them. There were only a few things they needed to watch out for; for instance, chocolate cake or wearing the color red. If any Rayadite ever ate chocolate cake or wore red, his spirit would become weakened, and he would care less and less about himself and the rules of the kingdom.

Also living in this tiny kingdom was Zynock, an evil person who wanted to destroy the kingdom and all of the people in it. He hated for them to be happy and loving, for that made it harder for him to influence them. He knew what weakened their spirits and made them easier to capture. But Zynock also knew that he could not just offer the Rayadites chocolate cake and have them devour it - they were not that foolish! Nor could he make the most wonderful garment in bright red and expect them to wear it immediately. The Rayadites wanted to be good and strong. They had promised each other that they would help and strengthen each other in time of need. So how could Zynock weaken this people? How could he get them to succumb to him so that he could destroy them and thus the whole kingdom?

"Let's see," he said, "I can't get them to eat chocolate cake right off, but maybe I can get them to develop a taste for chocolate."

That's when chocolate chip cookies were introduced to the kingdom of Rayad. At first the cookies were ignored and scoffed at. Then some commercials and billboards were produced that showed handsome, wonderful-looking Rayadites eating chocolate chip cookies. And nothing happened to them, except they became more popular and sophisticated - at least that's what the message conveyed on the screens and billboards.

It wasn't long before a few Rayadites could be seen eating a chocolate chip cookies every now and then, and they seemed to be doing fine. They were still loving and caring and hadn't changed at all - so it seemed. So more and more Rayadites began eating the cookies. What they didn't realize was that the portion of chocolate chips in each cookie had been doubled. They were getting a double dose of chocolate, disguised in the cookie. You'd hear phrases like these: "That cookie is really good except for a couple of places where it tastes pretty chocolatey. But don't miss the cookie just for those two places. It's too good a cookie, and you can overlook the taste." "I heard that one of our friends has eaten a chocolate chip cookie, and she says it's nothing to be afraid of. It won't ruin your life if you eat it."

That was true: lives didn't seem to be ruined by chocolate chip cookies. Things were pretty much the same as usual. However, some of the teachers and leaders and parents in Rayad suggested avoiding the cookies because tastes for chocolate were being developed.

"Avoid the cookies?" came the cries of surprise. "What for? What's wrong with them? They're not chocolate cake! How stuffy can you get?"

Some who refused to eat the cookies were even laughed at and made fun of. Zynock himself started chuckling. He had no idea his plan would work so well. And Zynock was patient. He didn't care how long it took to destroy Rayad, just so it was destroyed.

Chocolate chip cookies seemed to be moving pretty well. Zynock didn't worry about the words of caution and counsel from the leaders, because his commercials and billboards were so exciting and enticing. He had to make them that way, or the truth of the leaders would have swayed the Rayadites away from the cookies.

Now it came time to introduce a new product of destruction. No, not chocolate cake, not quite yet. Rather, Zynock began advertising spice cake, white cake, yellow cake, carrot cake, any kind of cake but chocolate - but all with chocolate frosting, rich chocolate frosting. More commercials, more billboards, a few songs to hum and sing all day about how wonderful chocolate cake would be, although they're not eating it - yet! Get them thinking about it before they will actually succumb. Then in the kingdom of Rayad, you could hear:

"Have you tried that yellow cake with chocolate frosting?"

"Well, no. Is it good?"

"Oh, yes! Granted, it is chocolatey, but it's not chocolate cake. And it really doesn't have much more chocolate than those cookies we've been eating!"

"But the cake doesn't seem right. I mean, cookies are one thing, but cake?"

"Ah, come on! The important thing is the chocolate, and this is no more than you've already been eating. Everybody's eating it. You can't pass it up and be the only one left out."

In the meantime, the songs were subtly strumming away in the background, singing the praises of chocolate cake. Right, the words were not good, but the beat and the rhythm were so cool that many Rayad's listened just for the music. After all, what can music do?

Zynock began thinking again: "One thing that strengthens those Rayadites is when they are together talking to each other. What can I do about that?" Then he reasoned, "Well, it's all right for them to be together. In fact, maybe there is some way I could use their gatherings and parties for my purposes. Aha! I've got it!"

So parties in Rayad began changing. Instead of the Rayadites talking to each other and playing games so they could get to know one another and share their strengths and talents, a new trend began. Everyone who was anyone had the new kinds of parties.

"Have you been to a party over at our Rayad friend's place yet?"

"No, I haven't."

"You should go. It's really cool!"

"Oh? What do you do?"

"Well, it isn't like any other party you've been to. It's pretty cool. All you do is go and sit down and watch stuff on the screen."

"Stuff on the screen? Like what?"

"Oh, exciting, scary stuff that's pretty good. There are a few scenes showing people eating chocolate cake, but no 'biggy.'"

"People eating chocolate cake? But..."

"Oh, it's not bad, and besides, there's nothing anymore without a little bit of that. It's just fun to get together with your friends."

So Zynock stood back and watched his plot unfold. "Let's see now. They're eating chocolate and they're eating cake. They're listening to songs and watching movies about chocolate cake. They're becoming weaker and weaker, although they're not even aware of it yet because they haven't actually eaten it - yet! They are falling into my trap! They think their leaders and parents are square and stuffy. It's very helpful when their friends tell them what I want them to hear. Friends are my greatest asset!"

"Hey!" says a friend Rayadite, "have you seen the latest movie?"

"No," comes the response. "I thought it was C-rated, for chocolate."

"No, it isn't. It's R-rated for Red. There's no chocolate in it."

And so Zynock continues his plotting - this time a gorgeous garment, but not in red...yet. It's a luscious pink color.

This story....

Rigby Lake

I am so excited, and all y'all should be too. We are in for a special treat this week. Rachel is going to be the author of this weeks blog! Yippee!

It was a hot Saturday and I had spent the day doing trying to finish my homework but to no avail. Bryan had spent the day at work. We were ready for a break so when Dustin and Cassie called and suggested we have a barbecue at Rigby Lake, we dived at the chance. We grilled hamburgers on the Arbogasts sweet little grill (well Dustin did the work) but not without problems. No one had a lighter and so it looked like we were going to eat raw hamburgers or nothing at all. GROSS! Dustin asked the people next to us if they had a lighter and the lady said, "we're trying to be healthy" (do I look like a smoker?!) the husband laughed and got him one. Awkward! Then we started our grilling and enjoyed our delectable burgers. After that we made our way to the water. We never really got in other than getting our feet wet. We were on the rocky beach so we just sat down like little kids and skipped rocks! There was a bunch of skumish stuff where the water met the "sand" aka rocks and so when Bryan threw in a big rock and splashed some of us Dustin yelled, "I think I just got AIDS!" It was pretty funny. Even though we didn't get in the water, we had fun sitting on the rocks and skipping them into the water! We felt young again! ("Not that any of us feel old especially Bryan who is the most wise of them all" -Bryan)

Bryan dying to run and jump in the
cool water on a hot day


Dustin and Cassie eating their "home made"
hamburgers!



Me eating our "fake"-store bought- hamburgers



The men scoping out the perimeter