Tis The Season....

Well, Long time no blog?! First and foremost.....Pvt. Chandler D. Cook will be home on the 18th of December! YAY He has been gone for a total of 159 days (as of today) with only 12 more days to go! I am inviting everyone to the airport WITH the stipulation that I get to hug him first! lol
Chandler is getting a medical discharge from the Army Reserves because of problems with his knee. A discharge can take up to 3 months to complete and Chandler's discharge started at the end of October, so he will have to go back for a couple weeks in January. It has been crazy back and forth on weather or not he would even be able to come home for the Christmas exodus. Then last week he called me on Monday and asked me if I had bought his airplane ticket yet, I hadn't so he told me not to because they were going to try to finish all his paperwork before exodus, so then he would be able to just come home for good AND the Army would pay for that airplane ticket! THEN the next day he called me in the morning and said "I need you to buy my plane ticket now, I have to have my itinerary in like an hour or I don't get to come home for Christmas" OH man. It's crazyness. But I got it and he will be home soon! I'm excited.Other than counting down the days till Chandler gets home, Aubri and I have been enjoying the short-lived fall weather. We have tons of leaves in out back yard so we finally went out and played in them. I raked up a couple piles and Aubri thought that was just the coolest thing ever. She would stand at the edge of the pile and then just fall forward! lol I thought you had to be shown that jumping in leaves was fun, but I guess not, she just knew!

Oh man, Halloween was fun this year. Trish the amazing woman that she is made this adorable Rainbow Bright costume for Aubri and I LOVE IT! I went with my two friends to the mall for trick or treating but all the stores were out of candy! Lame! So instead we went to a trunk or treat at my mom's ward. that was fun, but got cold fast. Aubri got the hang of picking out her treat and putting it in her bag, it was so cute!

Of course we have been enjoying the football games this year as well. Aubri loves going and she does really well! She gets freaked out when the stadium erupts in cheering and she would run and scramble to my lap, but after a second she would join in. it was so stinkin' cute.

Finally! Christmas is coming and Fast! I'm excited except I haven't bought many presents yet, so I have a lot of shopping to do. I need to be like Trish and start early, I just never think of it....

Oh, the cutest thing ever! While I was putting the lights on the Christmas Tree Aubri was checking it all out and all of the sudden she points to a light and says "hot" and blows on it, then goes to another, "hot" blow, she did it for about 10 minutes hahahaha it was so funny. I don't know what made her decide they were hot, but she took care of it and blew on them all. She is so funny and you can totally tell she has a personality of her own.

Aubri is getting so big. She knows just about everything on the face (eyes, nose, ears, hair, cheeks, chin, and we are working on forehead) She LOVES her cousins and can say all their names (Jayci, Kay-Ki for KK, Keija, Babee for Gabe, Lexi) she says Grandpa and Mama for grandma, chandler's parents she calls Lola and Papa. She says Up and Down and knows what they mean, her please is the cutest thing I have ever heard, she scrunches up her shoulders and says (in a really high voice) peeeeeeeaaaas! I'm going to have to get it on camera soon. She LOVES to dance! During conference she even danced to the tabernacle choir. hahaha I did get that on my phone camera. She said her first sentence (which I missed) she was at Michael's house and was in a high chair and I guess she wanted out so she said "let me out!" she only said it like 3 times and hasn't said it since. she does say things like "thas cute", "whats dat". Oh, and she is the biggest teaser I have ever met. and I thought I was bad. she thinks she is soooo funny and I agree with her. All I can think is "Chandler is going to have so much fun with her" she has changed soo much since he left, it's amazing.

It's been a while...

Yes, I realize that I have not posted in a while, just sooo much going on.

Update on my soldier. His ACL in not torn! Yay!!! BUT his meniscus is torn and he has bone brusing....so, now we wait until he talks to the surgeon on the 18th-ish. I don't think he will need surgery but it is always a possibility I guess. So, we basically don't have a clue when he will be home...yet. The other day Chandler and I got to talk on the phone for 30 minutes!! Waa Hoo, I couldn't believe it! Usually our conversations are only 2 1/2 minutes, that's hardly enough time to say Hello, how are you, I love you, goodbye. Last wednesday we talked and he said he was excited for the weekend because he was going to have a 4-day weekend and the drill sargent said they all were going to the movies ("an actual movie theater") and they would get pizza too, lol the things that get you excited when you don't get to do ANYTHING! However, yesterday we got to talk for a minute and he said that the drill sargent had changed his mind and only a couple guys got to go to the movies and Chandler had to help with the pizza so by the time he got to eat it was cold and not that great. It was sad. The rise of hopes and the smashing of them happens a lot at BCT. I have not talked to him yet today, but I am still hoping I will be able to. Today the missionaries on the base took a picture of Chandler and some other soldiers and emailed it to me. I am sorry but I laughed, he warned me about his glasses (they call them birth control glasses LOL) I couldnt imagine him without hair and now I know why, He looks totally different!

If you can't recognize him, he is the one on the far right. I told him to take a poicture without the glasses too, he looks so different with them on, it kills me! I don't know the names of the guys with him, but I know they have become friends. When Chandler first got to the base he was the only one going to church out of his platoon, since then he has gotten several guys to go to church with him and one of them is thinking about getting baptized. I am so proud of him.

As for Aubri and I, we have just been doing the same ol' same ol'. I work and she grows. I just bought her forward facing car seat and she LOVES it!! I knew she would. She loves to look out the windows and when she sees me in the rear-view mirror she laughs and laughs. I am so happy I got it. I have been scrapbooking my brains out! I love it so much! I just feel so good when a page is done and it looks sooooo cute! lol, is that weird? I also have been working on stuff for the 65th, and am having a blast. My mom is soooooooooo excited to be going to Hawaii on the 11th (yes, she is flying on 9-11) She will be there for a week and I am totally jealous! If Chandler were here we would be going....

I better go clean my house!

Knees...

It all comes down to the knees, Chandler's knees that is....

A few weeks ago the drill sargents thought Chandler had torn his ACL, after bone scans, x-rays, etc, we found out that luckily his ACL is not torn, BUT he does have stress fractures in both legs. blah. So he was put on light duty, which basically meant that he did everything normal except when the rest of the guys went running Chandler went to Physical Therapy. On Saturday I talked to Chandler and found out that his stress fractures are not doing well AND his meniscus is torn up. SO, he will continue with the physical therapy until around the 24th of this month and then they will decide what to do with him. Maybe keep him there till he is better, or send him home with a medical discharge. Who knows where life will take us from there, so until the 24th I'll try to keep up a good attitude, and think positive.

On a happier note, Aubri is getting big, Fast!! It feels like overnight she grew several inches! It was weird! Her new things include; climbing on EVERYTHING, she really has climbing down! She likes to yell, not scream, really yell, she covers her eyes until you say "where's Aubri" and then she wants to cover your eyes, she points to your eye and says "eye" then points to your nose, ear, mouth, cheek, and says "eye" for each one. lol, she is getting a molar on the right side so now her tooth count is up to seven, 5 on top and 2 on bottom, she picks up my cell phone and says " hiiiii, daaaaadddd", she laughs at herself when she thinks nobody is looking, she laughs at herself when she knows people are looking, she goes to bed without me having to rock her to sleep first (I still do sometimes) She she only has a bottle in the morning when I am too tired to get out of bed, AND my favorite thing of all she gives the biggest hugs! Oh it's heart melting! both arms wrapped around my neck with an extra-hard, extra-long squeez! it's the BEST.

Reminder...

Ok, just a reminder to all my cousins, that you need to get your scrapbook pages done asap! This goes for ALL my cousins and if you don't know what I'm talking about you can email me at ngriffee@hotmail.com and I'll explain in more detail. If you cannot scrapbook then I am willing to do your pages for you IF you send me your pictures soon. I had to post a blog because I don't have all your emails lol so if you can email me just so I can have your email, I would appreciate it!

Love you all!!

Update...

Well, lets see here...

It has been 2 (going on 3) weeks since I have seen the face of my love. Life at my house is still stange, but mostly at night. Other than that I do pretty well. Aubri misses her daddy. Everyday she points to Chandler's picture and says "Dad? Daddda daddy??" and I say "yes, that's dad, he will be home semi-soon." and then I smile. I honestly do not know how single mothers do it all. I especially wonder how did my mom do it?? She had two {very well behaved} little boys and ME! Woah, crazy.

As for Private Cook, he is doing better and better everyday. At first he was having a really hard time, but each letter i get from him he sounds more and more optimistic. Thank goodness. I was worried for a little while. Yesterday I got a letter from him and he said that he had gone to chruch this last sunday, he really enjoyed it. At church they gave all the soldiers these little scriptures that fit just perfectly in one of their pockets so he can take it with him anywhere. Chandler is the only Latter Day Saint in his entire batallion, something he has never experienced before.

So, that is my little update for now.

Celebrating ME!....

Yeah, that's right, I turned 23 on the 3rd of July! Some days I still feel like I'm 13, then I realize I am married, have a 1 year old, and own a house. :) I had a great day. My dear mother came over to my house at 7:30am and brought me Breakfast in bed and decorated my living room with streamers just like when I was a child. It was so cute!! after that She gave me some birthday money to go shopping and I got a new purse, sunglasses, a cute headband with a diamond flower on it, and a new necklace. I went to this new Boutique place in Provo and I LOVE IT!! It's called Cherry Lane Keepsakes, you can go to their website at www.cherrylanekeepsakes.com. Later that day my dad had a BBQ for me, it was fun and lots of family I have not seen in quite a while came. I loved it.

The day before my birthday my friends, Tashina and Sophia took me out for sushi. I love sushi, it was yummy!!

On the 4th of July, Independence Day, we went to park city and watched Michael play rugby, it was fun, then we ate in Park City and went home. Man what I wouldn't give to live in Park City. That would be soooo cool. Maybe not live there, but at least have a cabin there, on one of the ski resorts that I could ski out of the front door....I could go on, but won't right now. :)
Isn't she so cute?! She LOVES sunglasses and will leave them on for quite a while. It's funny.

My new Sunglasses, I love them

Grandparents surely are Grand!

The only way I got this picture was because of mom screaming "Michael! Michael!" and you cannot ignore that scream! haha


Later that night mom and I took the jeep (yes, without the top on) and went up by the 'Y' hicking trailhead to watch the fireworks. It was amazing up there, we could see fireworks all over the valley, even up by Eagle Mountain. I am definately going to go back there next year. Aubri was so cute, she watched the fireworks but fell asleep right before the finale. She was soooo tired.

Life without Chandler has been ok so far. I miss him like crazy, but I know it's for the best. I still have not heard from him, but I write him letters every night. I'm going to call his recruiter to see if he has an address for Chandler or at least the base...I have 5 letters already to send. I have been hoping he would be able to call by now, but no luck there, I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for that one.

well I'm tired! Goodnight!

Mixed Emotions...

Yes, I have lots of emotions running through me. I am a big mix of Happy, Ecstatic, Lonely, Sad, Joyful, Grateful, Relieved, Stressed, etc. You see, my Soldier went to Basic Training yesterday. We dropped him off at the Airport at 1:00pm. Fortunately he and I were able to text while he waited for the plane to take off and then again during his layover, and then again during his bus ride to the base. Our last text was a quick "Hey, we just arrived at Ft. Knox, I gotta go, I love you." at 8:45pm last night. I have not heard from him since and am pretty sure I won't get to hear from him for quite a while, with the exception of letters. Wow, I miss him already...
At least I get to see him at his graduation in approximately 9 weeks, and again at his second graduation when he is done with AIT (Job Training).

This week Chandler is doing all his paperwork (insurance, etc), getting his head shaved (I can't wait to see that lol), and getting his shots. Then the real boot camp stuff will begin. I think he will do great, he said his only worries about the whole thing are leaving me and Aubri, and going into the gas chamber. That would suck.

As for me, I am doing ok. I have not cried as much as I thought I would, I just am constantly on the verge of tears, but that will go away, it has to. Last night was hard at first when I finally went to bed, but I must admit that being able to sprawl out over the whole bed was a little nice. I woke up with my feet hanging off Chandler's side of the bed and my head almost off my side of the bed. The realization of being an only parent for the next 4 months has not quite set in yet, but I know it will soon. Thank goodness I live near lots of family!!


On to a happier note, My Birthday is in 2 days!! I will be 23 on the 3rd! I feel strange because I have not even had time to think about my birthday. Usually I start blabbing about and planning my birthday no later than the middle of June, but with all this ARMY stuff going on I have not had a moment to think about birthday stuff, I don't even know what I want this year. Crazy. I am excited though, because my friends are taking me out to Sushi tomorrow....I love sushi!

Afternoon Tea...

I beieve I will let the Pictures explaine this one.....(backwards). Can I just say that I love my Shoes!?!

So Audrey....and best hat in my opinion!

I must say Rachael is the Cutest Tea Drinker Ever!!!!

I had a lovely time today. The French Vernier Tea was new and delicious, the finger foods were filling and the deserts were amazing. I must add that the company (and the hats) were the best parts. This will definately become a tradition!!!

An Oath....

"I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God." -Those are the words my husband spoke at 12:30pm yesterday, June 19, 2009. He is a soldier.

What a time it has been for our family the last couple of days. On June 17th Chandler decided that being in the Army Reserves is what he definately wants to do, so he went to the recruiters office and took their tests. On the 18th we went to the recruiters office to pick a MOS (Job) and were told that Chandler would be shipped out to Basic Training on June 30th (13 days later). On the 19th Chandler went and took his physical and was sworn into the Army Reserves. It all has happened so fast, yet I have a good feeling about it all. Chandler will be gone from the 30th of June until just before Thanksgiving, and Yes I will miss him, but it all will be worth it in the end. I Love, Respect, and Admire him for making this decision.

Decisions, Decisions...

I feel compelled to write today...

My Chandler and I have been discussing the ARMY Reserves, and him joining it. It seems so out-of-nowhere, but Chandler has been trying to decide what he wants to do with his life, he has started in real estate and is just about to get his license (only one test left) but that just doesn't seem like a career he would love to persue for the rest of his life. He has always had an interest in the military and/or being a police officer and the other day out of nowhere Chandler says to me, "maybe I would like to go back to school to become a police officer." and I said back to him, "I would rather you be in the army reserves than be a police man." and he said, "Really?" and that is how it all began...You see, I have always been against him going into the army, but I never really gave thought to the reserves...so the next day we went to the recruiting office and talked with a recruiter to get more information. We have thought about it and talked about it and thought about it and asked almost everyone we know their thoughts and feelings, we talked to the recruiter again and thought about it some more. I have told Chandler that if he truly wants to be in the ARMY reserve then I will support him every way I know how. Chandler will set up an appointment for Monday to go back to the recruiter to basically enlist, so he will be thinking about it long and hard this week and unless he changes his mind he may just be in the Army Reserves by mid next week. Wow.

Deciding Factors:
The Army will pay 100% of schooling for Chandler.
If Chandler takes ROTC while in school, he will be guaranteed not to be deployed for a minimum of 4 years.
The medical benefits are pretty amazing.
He will receive about $850.00/month + ROTC pay on top of the tuition being covered
there are many more factors, but those are the good ones I could think of right now.

All in all, I have a good feeling about this.

[ O N E ]...

My baby girl is 1 years old!!! On May 13th Aubri Jean Cook had her first birthday, she was so cute, she woke up and was just so happy! She usually is pretty happy in the mornings, but that morning she was extra happy. She played with the dog (more like she kicked him and pulled his fur) and thought she was so funny. I made her a birthday pancake and tried to put a one in the center, but that didn't quite work out, it looked more like a blob. We relaxed the rest of the day, it was nice.

On the Monday before her birthday (my wedding anniversary) Trish took the CUTEST pictures of Aubri and some pics of our family...Enjoy...

Aren't these pics so stinkin' cute!?! I had so much fun taking these pics, and Aubri did really well until the end, she got hugry and tired. We then went to the park and took our family pics, again Enjoy...I am so happy to finally have some good family pics we are so cute huh? hee hee I think so :)

Yesterday we had Aubri's first Birthday party. It was sooo fun! All the kids jumped on the trampoline and/or played in the swing, we had hawiian chicken, sweet n' sour meatballs, and all the fixings..so yummy, then we broke open the pinata, presents, and had icecream cake. Aubri was so cute about it all.


Thank you to all who could join the fun, I hope everyone had as much fun as we did.

2 Years...

2 Years ago we said, "I do" and Kissed...

2 Years ago we danced our first dance... 2 Years ago my brothers squished me, {again}...

2 Years ago we started our lives together... I can't believe we have been married for 2 years already! I have loved being married to Chandler. He is a wonderful husband and I love him to death! Marriage is not easy, but it is definately worth every minute.

Canyon{Lands}...

We went camping for a whole week and it was so amazing!!! This is the longest we have gone camping with Aubri so far and she LOVED it!! She was such a trooper.
Yes, we took Aubri on the 4-wheeler, but only once and we went VERY slow. She loved it! Yet another use for the Moby!! LOL she was laughing for most of the ride and then fell asleep. I sat behind Chandler so Aubri was inbetween us. She kept holding Chandler's neclace like horse reigns it was funny. My child loved to walk around holding my hand. The rocks were throwing her balance off. But overall she did well.

Grandma Peggy, KK, and Aubri having fun in the trailor.

The next couple shots are of my injuries I sustaned after rolling the 4-wheeler I was riding. We went for a long ride one day and there were six of us on 4-wheelers and Trish and Kari were in the Hemi with the babies and I was the last one in the line of 4-wheelers and Trish and Kari were behind me in the hemi. I went over a bump and lost control and then hit a huge rock that made me flip, I don't know exactly what happened, but my leg was stuck under the wheel and I got scraped up pretty bad and thorns were all over my arm and lower back (chandler found a random thorn by my shoulder blade), I think I knocked my jaw out of line but it was better by the next day. I am okay, just a little sore now. Luckily nothing serious.

Aubri and Chandler, SOOOO Cute.

We went on this new trail, it was soooo beautiful!! We need to go back and do the whole trail, when I'm not all banged up.

Jayci and Aubri were kissing, but by the time I got the camera out Aubri wasn't cooperating very well, but it was still cute.

Jonathan was making Aubri laugh so hard, it was so cute. They were like best buds.

Aubri and Grandpa Dan had lots of fun on the 4-wheeler. Can I just say my dad is hilarious on his 4-wheeler!! He just goes and goes, it's funny.

Again, Aubri and Jayci had lots of fun toether. Aubri kept picking up rocks like they were the coolest thing ever and then she would put them in her mouth and throw them down. It was making me laugh.

Okay, I don't remember this because I was sleeping after my crash, but I found the pics on my camera today and thought it was so cute. Jayci loves it when Adam and Michael throw her.

A big thanks to my dad for this wonderful trip!! We had a great time. I'm going to put an ice pack on my back.. Later!