The Stever Went Down to Georgia

Some of you already know this, but I got my reclass orders in last Monday afternoon. They said that I had to report to Fort Gordon by Friday the 22nd and my Platoon Sergeant said that the soonest I could leave was Wednesday morning (reminder: At the time I was at Fort Huachuca, Arizona).

Needless to say, I made it in one piece with my faithful steed (Ben's old purple Grand Am), which I have dubbed the Rockmobile. I loved the trip, and I got to see several states (including the entire length of Texas) and areas I hadn't seen before. I'm already missing the road and wish that trip wouldn't have ended, I loved it.

So, now I'm at Fort Gordon, Georgia and suffering through the awful jitters and other adverse feelings that always fall down on me whenever I go to a new place that isn't home. I'm hoping I can get into a regular routine soon and get into the daily grind. Feel free to call or e-mail as I can use some friendly/loving words.

No love from Oregon

Fellas, Oregon has turned us down for medical school. Doh! That's ok though. At this point we're debating between Texas Tech and Iowa. What are your thoughts? Where do you guys think we should go? The school in Iowa is right next to where they filmed Field of Dreams... added perk I guess.

Oh yeah, we're thinking about getting together at Zions maybe after the reunion. Anyone interested?

Updates from Katie and Clan

I gave the psychiatrist friend I have at work a desk construction-zone kit and he discovered this tragedy in the freezer at our office. He ruled it a suicide. I'm not fully convinced it wasn't a homicide. The investigation continues.

I did Natalie's hair for this pic, cool huh!
Happy Natalie sitting in her Bumbo chair and kicking her feet.

Natalie in such a happy sleeping pose! She fell asleep with me on the couch one night and when I put her back in her crib early in the morning, she was so happy, I got this great pic.

What a cutie!


Natalie likes to pull books off of the bookshelf. She has now picked the Martial Arts book on two occasions to flip through the pages...I'm so proud!

I took Katie to an organic fancy-pants restaurant for her birthday dinner. We ate outside, she ordered grilled chicken on mashed potatoes on a mushroom tart. We took a picture of it, Katie thought the green sauce made it look like a frog!

Katie blowing out her 30th candles!

Em's First Birthday

This sequence of pictures tells the story great.  First, first-time parents Ben and Marinda serve Em a cupcake with a burning flame and of course she sticks her finger directly into the fire.

Not too happy, Em vows to never forgive her parents
Next round, Ben (a fast learner) blows out the candle for her and Em checks out the cupcake
Mmmmm...

Not so bad after all...

The birthday celebration aftermath, Ben proudly displays the messy girl, Em isn't exactly excited, but what's new?

Save the Hooters!

A few weeks ago Ben and I did "Ride for the Cure" to help raise money for breast cancer research.  We blew our tax refund on a bike trailer for Miss Em.  She loves it!    

If you click on the above picture, you can see more clearly the crusty Em is giving to her father.  hehehe
Notice she's holding her toothbrush.  She loves her toothbrush!
Random pic of man yodeling
Dorky bike enthusiasts, except for the little one.  The helmets were mandatory!
Yes, that is a dorky orange flag on Em's trailer and yes, Ben is racing against a bunch of six year olds.   We're proud to say that we crushed them all and were first to cross the finish line. 

April

Hey everyone. Here is Wendy, Mom, Wendy's Mom, Wendy's sister Brita, and Wendy's grandma Sandy, and me at gradutation. It was the bomb. You should all graduate whenever you get the chance. If you need a robe and a ridiculous hat I can hook you up.

After graduation we went to the tulip festival. They were pretty and stuff. We also found a tulip in our front yard to the right. When I say "yard" I mean the one by 12 foot stretch of weed-infested dirt just in front of our door.

This is a mother duck and her ducklings on campus that Mom, Wendy's Grandma Sandy, Wendy, and I saw whilst taking a tour of campus. They were retreating from us due to unwanted attention. Still, I think they liked me. You can see the mother duck winking at me... It's because Wendy is from Oregon. You guys are awesome. We love you. Party on.