Signing out for Christmas

This is the line Andrew had to stand through to be able to sign out for Christmas....I wish the line was this long to get deployed. Unfortunately the line for deployment is quite a bit shorter thanks to Obama!!! I'll stop myself there since my kids read our blog too.

Nice dress dude!!!

They have spent the last 8 days or so playing more opposition force for other classes to train so they were issued manditory "terriost man-dresses". See daddy, isn't dress up fun???
A few days into the training the heater in the tents went out so everyone was freezing. Luckily Gladiator Beast came to the rescue and made fire! A few nights ago he called home at 11pm and said he missed us and wanted to talk but the only warm place was by the fire next to the porta potty so you can only imagine, poor guy, putting up with the stink so he can talk to his girls for a few minutes! Awwwww.....

This is probably him on the other end leaving me an annoyed message since I never have time or always forget to take my phone with me or return his calls.

Young Women in Excellence

Tonight the twins had their last and final Young Women in Excellence dinner and they did great!!! The theme was "The three White dresses" you will wear in your life. First being when you are blessed, second-baptism, and third-temple marriage. Christine did her project on Hmong dancing and PK did her's on learning how to sew Hmong clothes. Both talked about how they were thankful that in a time where most teenagers forget their roots and where they come from because it's uncool, family and the gospel has helped them to stay grounded and focused. It was very bitter sweet as this will be the twins last year in young womens. We are so proud of our girls and only wish them the best. I know someday they will make beautiful brides and great mothers! With all my love, your big "little" sister.

Hmong Girls

Grandma Her has spent the last couple weeks sewing these beautiful outfits and coin belts for the girls so they wore them and jingled around the house for a few hours. Thanks Grandma!

Sack Lunches

***My girlfriend, Kristy Erickson, posted this story on her blog and it hit home so I wanted to post it on our blog for family to read and enjoy. After Andrew finshed basic training he had to return home in full uniform. While walking from one terminal to the next he had one guy spit on him, then 10 minutes later as he was standing in line for a quick bite the man behind him said, "Thank you for all you are doing." and paid for his meal. I am very proud of my husband and the sacrifice he makes to keep his family,home and country safe. Thank you soilder of mine.***

SACK LUNCHES....

I put my carry-on in the luggage compartment and sat down in my assigned seat. It was going to be a long flight.. 'I'm glad I have a good book to read; perhaps I will get a short nap,' I thought.

Just before take-off, a line of soldiers came down the aisle and filled all the vacant seats, totally surrounding me. I decided to start a conversation.

'Where are you headed?' I asked the soldier seated nearest to me. 'Petawawa. We'll be there for two weeks for special training, and then we're being deployed to Afghanistan.

After flying for about an hour, an announcement was made that sack lunches were available for five dollars. It would be several hours before we reached the east, and I quickly decided a lunch would help pass the time..

As I reached for my wallet, I overheard a soldier ask his buddy if he planned to buy lunch. 'No, that seems like a lot of money for just a sack lunch. Probably wouldn't be worth five bucks. I'll wait till we get to base. His friend agreed.

I looked around at the other soldiers. None were buying lunch. I walked to the back of the plane and handed the flight attendant a fifty dollar bill. 'Take a lunch to all those soldiers.

'She grabbed my arms and squeezed tightly. Her eyes wet with tears, she thanked me. 'My son was a soldier in Iraq, it's almost like you are doing it for him..

'Picking up ten sacks, she headed up the aisle to where the soldiers were seated. She stopped at my seat and asked, 'Which do you like best - beef or chicken?' 'Chicken,' I replied, wondering why she asked.

She turned and went to the front of the plane, returning a minute later with a dinner plate from first class. This is your thanks.

After we finished eating, I went again to the back of the plane, heading for the rest room. A man stopped me. 'I saw what you did. I want to be part of it. Here, take this.' He handed me twenty-five dollars.

Soon after I returned to my seat, I saw the Flight Captain coming down the aisle, looking at the aisle numbers as he walked, I hoped he was not looking for me, but noticed he was looking at the numbers only on my side of the plane. When he got to my row he stopped, smiled, held out his hand, and said, 'I want to shake your hand.' Quickly unfastening my seat-belt I stood and took the Captain's hand. With a booming voice he said, 'I was a soldier and I was a military pilot. Once, someone bought me a lunch. It was an act of kindness I never forgot.

'I was embarrassed when applause was heard from all of the passengers. Later I walked to the front of the plane so I could stretch my legs. A man who looked 20 was seated about six rows in front of me reached out his hand, wanting to shake mine. He left another twenty-five dollars in my palm.

When we landed I gathered my belongings and started to depart. Waiting just inside the airplane door was a man who stopped me, put something in my shirt pocket, turned, and walked away without saying a word. Another twenty-five dollars!

Upon entering the terminal, I saw the soldiers gathering for their trip to the base. I walked over to them and handed them seventy-five dollars. 'It will take you some time to reach the base. It will be about time for a sandwich. God Bless You.

'Ten young men left that flight feeling the love and respect of their fellow travelers. As I walked briskly to my car, I whispered a prayer for their safe return. These soldiers were giving their all for our country. I could only give them a couple of meals. It seemed so little...

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of up to and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.'

Something fishy

The guys decided to go fishin' but I guess success depends on your definition. If catching "anything" at all means success then...yes, it was. If catching something bigger than the worm you used means success then, no it was not. After they decided to call it a day and proceeded to get out by the river bank they noticed a huge head and tale imerge out of the water. It was an alligator!!! Luckily they decided against noodling and came out with all limbs. After a little research I found out that in Georgia there is actually an Alligator hunting season from August to September. How crazy is that!

Introducing Lt. Wheeler!!

It's official, Andrew has gradutated OCS and is now a Lietenant. Our Bishop, Andy Anderson, from Hawaii drove 8 hours to be there and pin him. That was so kind of him and we trully appreciate the Anderson's friendship and support. I feel bad that we couldn't be there but we are very proud of our soilder and miss him very much.
He's got the ID card to prove it too!!! Looking very dashing with a few other gradutates at the formal. I feel really bad that I couldn't be there, I already suck as an officier's wife. I will do better once we are able to be in at least the same state.

What's new with Drew...

This picture was actually from a week ago. Even after having every soilder empty their pockets while in the field to make sure no one was stealing blanks they still were treated like little children and had their rooms torn apart and raided. Such is the retarded-ness of the Army.
This was from Monday. Andrew and EJ wanted to document how lame their FHE/"Man-date" was and so took a picture to prove that not only were they on a homo date but they were the ONLY ONES in the theatre too because they were at a kids movie. Just in case you are wondering...they watched "Christmas Carol." They succumbbed to full gayness and even wore the 3-D glasses!!!

Hence forth to be known as"Gladiator Beast"

The rules of combatives are you have to start out on your knees and no punching for obvious safety reasons but Andrew turned out to be the winner!!! There was a Ranger guy that thought he was pretty hot stuff but Andrew beat him with an arm bar. Look at that face...I'd hate to be staring into those eyes...wait I have, AND I just laughed. Just kidding, excellent job babe!!! Very proud wife of "Gladiator Beast".

More soilder fun...

This is Andrew's description of the picture:
"Playing the opposition force today. I'm hiding in my semi-fortified position. We're pretending to defend a downed aircraft that we shot down so that we can brag about it on al jazeer tv. "
Field food:( Yuck!!! The over processed orange slim looks gross. You couldn't get me to touch that with a ten foot pole. Trinity killed me when she said it might taste better with ketchup.

Happy Halloween!!!

Unfortunately I had to work at Walgreens Halloween night but at least I was able to help get my girls dressed and snapped a few pictures before heading off. Christine was a hippie, I was some sort of pixie fairy, (I swiped the costume from PK-she wore it last year in Hawaii), PK was a PCC dancer from New Zealand, Trinity was a fairy/Cher??? maybe, Anaiya was a princess, and Cyri obviously is a cute little bay-bee.
Striking a cheesy pose.

I hope they grow back

I thought I had made myself clear when I told my girls to never cut their hair with scissors, apparently I wasn't clear enough and Anaiya thought eyelashes were the exception. I find her Sunday morning with 3/4 of her right eyelashes gone! The pictures don't even do the damage any justice. She must have closed her eyes when doing it cause most of the top and bottom lashes are gone and cut the same. After half an hour of crying and getting the stink eye from me she asked me if I was still mad at her. Of course I tell her I am, then she goes on to say, "Mommy, to-maw-woe you will love me again cause that's what mommies do." and MY HEART MELTS and I can't follow through on all my threats of locking her in time out forever! Then I call Andrew thinking, for some reason, that I might get some consouling and he just goes, "well, you gonna cut off the other side so it matches?" UH, NO! Such a guy response. I don't even know if eyelashes grow back!

Message from Daddy

Trinity,

Hi punkin. How are you doing? I finally got the package you sent me. I love it. I'm so proud of you and how well you're doing in school. Thanks for sending it to me. It makes me feel like I am there with you and makes me want to see you even more. You're such a good artist. I really like the picture of our family so I hung it on my desk door. I can't wait to see you at Christmas. Keep doing well in school and helping mommy with Anaiya and Cyri.

I love you.
Daddy

Trinity's box of gifts to daddy

Trinity drew this picture of our family and sent it to daddy. I almost cried when she showed it to me, America's family, OUR family hand in hand with daddy saluting...this drawing says it all. She is so proud of her dad.
Andrew is technically only allowed to put up one picture but he didn't care, he put up both of these. He said "there will seriously be something wrong with them if they punish me for having this up."
Trinity wanted to show daddy how well she was doing in school so she sent him her water cycle projects and all her spelling tests she has ACE-ed.

More illegal pics from OCS

Apparently Andrew has had to be out in the "field" or otherwise known as nasty Georgia swamp land for the last two weeks so I haven't been able to talk to him very much. They are out there 5 days a week then back for the weekend then out again. I can only imagine the stench of 50 guys...Andrew puts it so eloquently as smelling like "camel's butt" and I don't think that is too far from the truth either. They were instructed to bring their cell phones along incase anyone got lost so his friend took these few illegal pics. Unfortunately the rifle in hand didn't help put any of my mother-in-laws fears to rest...

Someone would have failed a locker inspection...

Chinese Sunday Attire

When Andrew was in China earlier this year he bought the girls some really pretty dresses but they haven't gotten a chance to model them until now. My only question is...why are the slits on these dresses always so high??? I hate that cause then it makes it so immodest unless they wear ugly shorts underneath! Arrgg.

We did not have a happy Cyri. Even when she is being brat-ie she's so cute! My sweet mother in law and good friends have said I'm not in enough pictures so here is me, #2. I always feel like I ruin the picture and hardly am ever happy with the way I look but my mother in law had a good point...she devoted herself to the kids 24/7 but since she was never in any of the pictures it seems like she wasn't even there! So, here's my official beginning to being "here". Thank you friends and family who have loved me enough to complain about not seeing my chubby cheeks! Love and miss you all.

Da' Guys

This is a picture of all the LDS Candidates with Andrew at OCS. They are not allowed off post on Sundays to join the family wards so they hold their own little service and each is assigned to teach a lesson every week. Looks like a bunch of good guys.
This is Andrew and EJ out golfing. Finally after two weeks in "time-out" they were released and given a free weekend to relax. The boys took full advantage, aside from a good game of golf they also kayaked, biked, watched football and a movie, and of course hit the gym!!! EJ is a new convert to the church but his testimony is "rock solid" as Andrew puts it. They seem to have become good buddies and good support system for each other.

Just cause...

...she so DARN CUTE!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Wheeler are in town!!!

Anaiya and Trinity had so much fun spending some good quality time with Grandpa and Grandma. After general conference on Saturday Grandma took the girls to Dollar tree and let them go nuts and bought some puzzles and games. When Grandpa got back from Priesthood session Anaiya took full monopoly of him and made him read many girly books to her. Grandpa was very animated and Anaiya loved every minute. Trinity made sure her and Grandma dressed up every doll with the millions of pieces of clothing and accessories. The next day Grandpa and Grandma picked up Trinity and Anaiya (Thank you!!!) and took them up to play with their cousins at the Gyllenskogs. The girls talked about it for days and had so much fun. What a blessing it is to have loving parents and family around us while Andrew is away.

Andrew and his roommate

Here's the latest picture Andrew sent me from his Iphone. He doesn't think too "highly" (no pun intended) of the guy cause I guess he acts pretty spoiled. Apparently he's been bumming rides from Andrew to run errands for himself alot and so when Andrew told him he couldn't go cause it wasn't convinent the guy's like, "Oh, what you don't like me anymore!" and he was serious. He's also quite the butt-kisser of the company and is always running to command and telling on people. Everyone has had their share of telling this guy off except for Andrew, which is impressive, I guess cause he has to room with the guy and doesn't want to make things more awkward. Even with 2 jobs and 3 kids I can't say I'd rather be him. It sounds like H-E-double hockey sticks to me! Sorry babe!

All smiles

Very rare to get all the ladies smiling at the same time but after a million tries we got this precious one.

Cyri's 1 year portraits

Finally done! I have become such a slacker....such the stereotype. You know how they say with every child you become less vigilant about taking pics and so the last kids end up with none. That would be me. I made sure with Trinity rain or shine we would get her 6 month pictures taken and we did! Being the naive mom that I was, I vowed to myself that I would make sure to get every child's portraits on time. Well, Anaiya didn't get hers till she was 11 months and then I finally took Cyri in last week and she is almost 15 months! It's not like my kids care, it's just me feeling guilty for dropping the ball....again. She only smiled for the first picture then the rest were caught right before or after she was crying. The photographer was good. I scanned them so the quality is not great, sorry.
the constipated look...

hmmm...to cry or not to cry...

what's this??? can I eat it???

ooooh...something bright and shiny.

Sweet...

These are some of the pictures the girls love and remember spending with daddy and wanted on their pillows. We miss you daddy!!!

Aniaya, clung to Andrew like this for hours after he returned from 3 months of training. She didn't even want to let go of him to go into her car seat. I love this sweet, tender picture. It reminds me what this life should be about.

MUAH!!!!