Boards, Boards, Boards Oh My

The last three months have been crazy for me. I have had four different boards that I have competed in AND one more board to be eligible for a promotion. To get promoted you have to have a certain amount of points. One of the areas that you get points is awards. There are a couple different things you can do to get awards. One of the ways is to go to the “Soldier of the Month, Quarter, and Year” boards. When you win each level you get different awards. This is the fastest way to raise your point total. So when we got back to the United States, I started to compete in the boards so that I can earn promotion points. The month and quarter board is an oral board where you are drilled with questions about different military subjects and regulations. The year board is a weeklong event. We took a written test, a physical test (push-ups sit-ups, and two mile run), an oral board and a range (weapons). I won each of those boards. So I was able to compete in the WRDC (Western Regional Dental Command) SOY (Soldier of the Year) board. I won that one by a pretty large margin. I did very well on the range and land navigation events. The other two soldiers that I competed against didn’t do so good in those events. So I had that one won by the third day. By winning that board, I was able to go to the DENCOM board. They take the top soldier and NCO (noncommissioned officer, Sergeant) from the different regions. There are seven regions through out the world. And we compete to see who will continue on to the MEDCOM Board. Which are all the different soldiers in the Medical fields.

This last week was the DENCOM board in Fort Hood, Texas. I flew down there on Sunday. We took a written test and picked a topic for an essay that we had to write. The second day we did the PT test. I ran my two miles in 13 mins and 14 secs. I was the fastest person by 30 seconds. Everybody was surprised that I was able to run so fast. They said that they would have never thought that I was a runner. I guess that is a compliment. We went back to the hotel and did our oral board. We wore our Class A uniform, which is our formal suit uniform. It was a stressful environment. They judge us on how we looked, talked, carried ourselves, and our answers. I did okay. No one really did outstanding on the board. On Tuesday we went to the range and qualified with an M-16 rifle. This is where we shot at targets at different distances. The targets pop up for a certain amount of time depending on their distance. The closer they are, the shorter time they are up. In the afternoon we did land navigation. We had to find three points in an area of about two square miles. And then find two at night. I did ok. It is really a hard course because of the terrain. The next day we did our warrior task. First aid, NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) put on a gas mask, calling a 9 line medical evacuation, directing movement under different types of fire. On Thursday we did urban orienteering. We had a map of Ft. Hood that every building and it number on it. We had three buildings that we had to run to and get some info from. In the afternoon we had our last event, Combatives. It is pretty much Mixed Martial Arts fighting. Except we can’t do any striking (hitting). Of course my first match was against the big guy who competes at the annual army wide combatives tournament each year. Needless to say I lost, I won the next fight and lost my next fight. So I was done. On Friday we had the awards ceremony. Combatives was the deciding event. I knew that I was not going to win or place in that event so I knew I was not going to win. It was a lot of fun though. I got to see a lot of people from Germany that are now stationed at Ft Hood, and a few that were in the competition with me. That was really the highlight for me.

So with all of the boards that I won it gave me enough points to go for my E-6 promotion board. I did that a couple of weeks ago. So I am now promotable. All I need to do is max my PT test in a couple of weeks and I will be promoted. I also reenlisted for two years. It only extended my contract by four months. But next fall I will go to school fulltime for six months. I won’t have to go to work, but I will still get a salary. So that will be nice to concentrate on that full time. So that has been my life for the last couple of months. I’m so glad that it is over and I can spend more time with my wonderful family. I just want to thank Kailey for all that she has done and continues to do. I love you.

Proud Moments!!

We've had some great "proud moments" in the past couple of weeks. Not proud as in being prideful, but the proud feeling you get when you've accomplished something that you've never done before. 

For me, it was my first time canning!! Yep!! I canned applesauce. We had a big box of apples, and I've made homemade applesauce before, but I had NEVER canned anything. I set my mind to it, and learned how to do it online, and I did it!! I was so proud of myself! I only canned 5 quarts, but all five sealed! And it's super yummy!! 

Second proud moment, Kedric. He "went" on the potty!! Yay!! This happened last week, and he told me he had to go, and I took him, and he did it!! He hasn't done it since, but we were proud of him. James came down and we had a little party and let him have ice cream and we called Grandpa and told him, and Grandpa was proud...I think. Good job Kedric!! Hopefully he decides to do it again sometime soon! 

Next up is Reilyn!! She learned how to ride her bike! It's been sunny for the past few days and we took her bike out so she could ride, and then I decided it's time for the training wheels to come off. She picked up on it pretty quick, and after a few times, she got it! Way to go Reilyn!!

I can't forget my sister, Melani and her husband Travis. They had twin boys. Landon Jack and Dresden Trent. They're super cute and doing really good. I get to go help her out tomorrow. I'm pretty excited to see those boys again. 

And finally, James!! He won the NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) Soldier of the Year competition for the Dentac Unit in Fort Lewis. He is competing in the Regional Soldier of the Year board this week. Today was his first day filled with a Physical Training Test, and the Range. I don't know all the technical terms, but he is doing a lot of hard things and has been studying and preparing for this week for a while. I was making him eat really healthy so that he could have a healthy weight for the PT test today, and he did really well. He came home and stuffed his face with cookie dough as a reward!! Too funny! I guess he had a Dr Pepper on the way home from work too. He's up against some tough competition and has three more tough days ahead of him!! I know he's going to do awesome! Way to go James!! Army Strong!! :)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!

Well, I guess it's time that I play catch up!! We had so much fun being home for Christmas this year. We went to my parents for Christmas Eve and slept there so that Santa could come to their house. We missed being so far away especially at Christmas time, so it was extra special this year. Here's a few pictures to remember the festivities!

Looking out the window and seeing the first snow of the season still gets me excited!! 

Of course we had to build a snowman. This one was a pretty funky one, but we still loved her!

Kedric loved the snow, and would call it, "snowman" anytime he saw snow. He loved eating it too and would beg for some before we went anywhere in the car. Then he realized that he could get it himself. We did catch him with brown snow a couple of times! MORE SNOW!! We had about 8 inches this day, and then about 1/2 inch of frozen snow on top of the powder. Reilyn has a sheet of the frozen snow. 

Reilyn was chosen to receive the Renaissance award at school. This is given to only 2 students in each class who show great qualities of leadership across the board! Nice work Reilyn!! 

My mom had all the grandkids come to her house to make ginger bread cookies for Santa. They had so much fun! What a fun tradition! My Grandma Facer used to do this with us and I remember always trying to decorate mine the most creative! 

Kedric LOVED Santa this year! Can you tell?

Christmas Eve is filled with TRADITIONS!! We start the program with fun songs and can't forget "My Suit is RED, I drive a funny SLED!" Dad always makes us laugh so hard, this year the grandkids realized how funny Grandpa really is! Then of course the Dollies (who were super cute this year), the Elves, and the Trees (Vogue style). 

  

My cute mom and her side kick, Reilyn. Thanks for keeping the traditions alive Mom!!

Cute little Mary and Joseph (and the donkey).

Pajamas!! We all got the same pajamas for ourselves. We bought them separately too and didn't even know that we all had the same ones until we unwrapped them. It brought back memories of growing up. I'm remembering the polka dot PJ's.... :)

Kedric is making sure his stocking is ready for Santa!

Christmas morning! Did Santa come? Waiting at the top of the stairs....

He sure did!! 

The grandkiddos with their favorite Aunt, Jadeyn!

I love the Magic of the Christmas season. I am sad that it's over. Like the Forgotten Carol, I  cry the day that I take the tree down!! Can't wait for next year!!