Prayers Needed...

PRESS RELEASE: Two U.S. Army Rangers killed in combat

U.S. Army Special Operations Command Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, Aug. 31, 2009)—Two Army Rangers died earlier this week during combat operations in Paktika Province, Afghanistan while serving with Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.

Staff Sgt. Jason Sean Dahlke, 29, a native of Orlando, Fla., died during an attack by a Ranger task force on an enemy position, Aug. 29. He served in the Regiment for more than four years. He is survived by his wife Nikole M. Norvell Dahlke of Richmond Hill, Ga., father Roger Dahlke of Jacksonville, Fla., and mother Debra Evans.

Pfc. Eric William Hario, 19, was seriously wounded by small arms fire during the attack and was medically evacuated to a combat support hospital near the Paktika Province where he died Aug. 29. He was a native of Monroe, Mich., and served in the Regiment for less than a year. He is survived by his parents Rebecca and James Hario and a brother Mark of Monroe, Mich., and brother U.S. Army Spc. Robert Hario.

The Ranger task force attacked a vigorously defended enemy command and control node and logistics base in a rugged, remote, contested mountainous area, according to official reports. After fighting for nearly 20 hours, the Ranger task force killed more than 30 enemy fighters, several enemy leaders, destroyed the command and control node and logistics base while capturing numerous heavy weapons.

“Staff Sgt. Dahlke and Pfc. Hario are heroes to their nation, the U.S. Army and their Families,” said Col. Michael E. Kurilla, 75th Ranger Regiment commander. “They embodied the Ranger Creed and all that is good, noble and honored in our Rangers.”

Dahlke was on his sixth deployment in support of the War on Terror with three previous deployments to Iraq and two deployments to Afghanistan. This was Hario’s first deployment.


Staff Sgt. Jason Sean Dahlke. Click here for Dahlke’s bio.
Pfc. Eric William Hario. Click here for Hario’s bio.
--usasoc--

Waddle, Waddle

There is nothing more entertaining then watching your child learn to walk. It is SO PRECIOUS! Gavin puts his hands in the air and has this funny waddle. I NEVER want to forget these moments. Today we went to StrideRite and picked up a pair of walking shoes. They are awesome in that store! She measured him and brought out several different pairs to try out then had him walk all over the store in them so we could compare. I don't even get that type of treatment when I buy shoes! Tomorrow I'll try to get a video of him walking around in them. Gavin definitely has a wide foot. We ended up getting the 4 1/2 W. She said he'll probably always have a wide foot. Below is a video from last night after mexican. You will hear Gavin say "Yeah" and "Hi" - he's full of words these days! We're going to have to turn that "yeah" into a "Yes, Mam"/"Yes, Sir" eventually but he's working on it! haha

Starlight Pottery

Tonight we tri-hosted (is that the right terminology?) a coffee: Erica, Debbie, and I... We decided to do it at Starlight Pottery and had a great time. Above is a group picture after almost everyone had left... but some of us just stick around and can't stop talking! Pictured from left is: Erica holding Tyson, Meg holding Nico, Debbie, Dani, Melissa, Mary, and I. Are you wondering where Gavin is? Well, he stayed with his sitter again! She did such a great job that I opted to use her again to give me a few hours of me time tonight. Plus, it'd have been impossible to carry all the drinks, and 2 trays of food inside with Gavin on my hip! I didn't make anything tonight since I had just made a pottery piece in April, but I enjoyed playing with other peoples kids and watching other people be crafty!

All the food after round 1 of eating.

I helped Dani paint Mia's foot to put the print on a plate. It was tickling her little toes!

Mrs. Artistic herself!

I should have had her paint a piece for me... hint, hint! Those are my kitchen colors, Mary!

Melissa painted an Americana plate to match her home.

Nico enjoyed painting with water, though most of it somehow ended up down his outfit!

Some ladies just hung out and talked - it was a great night!

Thanks, Erica, for doing so much of the work! It wouldn't have been a success without you.

Hannah Montana makes an appearance at our Play Date!

Today Melissa and I met up at Tom Triplett Park and ran our butts off! I did 8 miles! Whew. I just about threw up when I was done. Melissa and I rewarded ourselves with a trip to Subway after. Thats our favorite post run lunch spot! Good thing they have the $5 meal deal there now! We ordered the Broccoli soup for the boys - they LOVED it! When Gavin and I got home we both rested for a little bit then got cleaned up and headed to Melissa's for a play date and dinner at MEXICAN! :) MY FAVORITE. (Eventually we will start cooking at home again, but for about a week after our hubbies leave its just easier to go out and much more enjoyable to eat with friends then home alone!)

Gavin showed off his walking skills
Play dates are awesome because the kids can try out new toys at other peoples homes! Nico and Gavin like Mackenzie's letters.

Nico prepares an appetizer for all of us before dinner :)

They have a blast together.

Then, HANNAH MONTANA (aka Mia) showed up at play group!

What can we say, she likes the best of both worlds!

Nico and Mia, so adorable

Mackenzie was so excited to hold Mia! Playgroup is full of so many boys, so Mackenzie was thrilled another girl joined. We wonder if we'll have another girl joining us in April?!? Our friend Erica just announced that she's pregnant with #2!!! CONGRATS Andy, Erica, and Tyson!

Colton Man wanted to try out the rock star life for a minute!

Thanks ladies for keeping me so busy and for always being so positive - what would I do without yall!?!?!

Great day at home

We did not leave our little neighborhood area at all today and it was great! Gavin got up early this morning (6:20am) so we had extra time to do lots of playing. We stacked blocks, tickled, sang "Wheels on the Bus" about 500+ times (it's his favorite because he can do the hand motions with me!), made artwork, etc. We took a morning walk, afternoon run, and an evening walk to attend the HOA meeting. Gavin took 2 naps, and even though they were short I was able to catch up on some laundry and the dishes.

Gavin somehow managed to climb onto his toy box while I was using the restroom. His jungle gym has taught him how to climb quite well!

Let the art project begin!

Isn't he so cute is his little crayola smock?

(Can you tell I used to be a teacher?!?!)

He's so smart, he was teaching me how to make purple. :)

He decided he's not so much a fan of the smock, being naked is better. I'm not so sure what we're going to do with this kid come winter. He hates sleeves with a passion.

I love his fat little hands.

He missed the memo that paint is for paper, NOT your face!

So proud of his work.

(It wiped off the high chair really easily!)

Gavin's 1st painting - ready to send to daddy!

(Erica, thanks for the great idea! I stole it off your blog!)

Monday

Monday we stayed so busy. When we got up we headed to Lake Mayor to run with Melissa and Dani - I did 4.5 miles! We brought bread to feed the ducks but they turned out to be psycho ducks so we didn't feed as planned. When we were about to leave I got a call that there was going to be something delivered at my house in an hour!!! I was so excited! I ran to pick something up for Jason and then went home, just in time. A van from Edible Arrangements pulled up with a special delivery! The fruit was awesome! It was from Jeff, Starla, and Lindsey just letting us know that they are always a phone call/plane ride away if we ever need anything - so sweet! Gavin and I devoured the fruit with our lunches.

Later that afternoon we had a play date at our house. We haven't had all the kids over since Gavin got his new stuff, so it was a good time watching the kids enjoy themselves. Colton was excited to see new things! He especially enjoyed this Melissa and Doug Puzzle. I think I see new puzzles in his future. He also really liked the tambourine.

Here is Gavin, completely in awe of Mackenzie. They played so well together on the jungle gym - she had him cracking up! They chased one another, played peek a boo, it was so cute - UNTIL Gavin pulled her hair because she was in his way on the slide. WHOOPS - he got a pretty big hand full, sorry Mackenzie!

Gavin had to show Colton man his new 4 wheeler!

Colton wasn't too sure what to think!?!

Dani, Nico, and Mia also joined us and we all headed to Fuddrucker's for dinner. Gotta love when good food is in walking distance - Melissa and I decided to walk to dinner to add another mile to our 175 walk sheets!! I have 12 down, 163 to go!

Finished!

Aww, Gavin's birthday shirt and hat are finished! :)

Walking Man!

Yes, we have a walking man!!! He still prefers to crawl, but its so exciting knowing he CAN walk! When we are home in his comfort zone or at soft play, he actually walks a lot! We are so proud of our little man. I have so many video clips of him so I'm sure a few more will be uploaded soon! Enjoy...

8/23/09

Soft Play

A Weekend to Remember

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a huge success... We lucked out with the Tennessee Exhibition football game being on last night - made it really feel like Thanksgiving. We ate ourselves sick which resulted in a food induced coma on the couch!

Off to the beach to enjoy a day in the sun (or clouds, rain?!) with my boys. Pictures to come, but for today - have more important things to do! :)

Date Night

We officially did it - we left our son with a sitter and had an "adults only" evening in downtown Savannah. It was a much needed and well deserved night out on the town. Our sitter came just before 6pm and I felt like I overloaded her with information, but she was great! Gavin didn't cry when we left, and instead sat with Sarah (our sitter) and played puzzles. We headed out surprisingly not stressed and we even had some adult conversation NOT about Gavin. I was proud of us! We parked and first went to 'The Bar Bar' (Weird name for a bar?) and had a drink. We were about the only people in there so it was quiet and we could just enjoy one anothers company. Next we walked downtown a bit reading a few different restaurants menus before we made our final decision. We agreed on "The Sapphire Grill" - it's probably the best restaurant we've ever been to. It was the perfect romantic setting and we had a phenomenal waiter. We both started with Caesar salads and the bread. TO DIE FOR! As the main course Jason had the tuna with some sort of black rice. He was positive it was the best tuna he'd ever had. I even tasted it and liked it! I had the fillet Mignon and the potatoes as a side. When you order steak there they bring out this dish of sauces to try with each bite. My favorites were the sweet soy and the avocado butter! We had no room for dessert :( Next we wanted to try out the newest place downtown. "The Bohemian Hotel" just opened with a rooftop bar. It was so classy! The views were breathtaking! We met our dear friends there and made great memories. After walking river street we took a cab home. We were thrilled that the dogs accidently barked and woke Gavin up so we could kiss him goodnight ourselves and rock him back to sleep! Good times!

Happy (early) Halloween!

After Gavin's haircut we came home and put him down for a nap and then got ready for Halloween! We started by looking back on pictures from our early celebration last year! (Jason deployed in October of last year, so he wasn't home for Gavin's 1st Halloween either). We can't believe how much he has grown in just under a year! On real Halloween last year he dressed up as a puppy and we trick-or-treated on post with some friends.
Next, we had dinner at the "Halloween" themed table. (Party City is an awesome place to shop for decorations year round - and they are cheap!!) I lit a fall scented candle, we pretended it was cold out, and enjoyed Jason's favorite soup - Taco Soup.

Gavin is also a fan of the soup - he loves beans, corn, and tomatoes!

Can you tell he had just gotten up from his nap? :)

Time to dress up!

(It's hard to find a costume on short notice in August, so we got what we could find...) It's a dinosaur/monster?!?! - he was cute anyway and made some funny "roar" sounds at us!

Happy early Halloween, Little Buddy!

1st Haircut!

When Jason got home from work we went to Walmart to get Gavin his first haircut! He was overdue for one! We can't believe how fantastic he did. He sat in Jasons lap and never even whined or moved! (I brought crackers for backup and they worked - he just sat there talking to Jason and eating his crackers!) The Walmart ladies couldn't believe it and were all talking about how cute and well-behaved of a boy he is! He looks so grown up without his curls coming over his ears and down his back!