Fabulous Army Life

The door decorating contest is a fun part of working at WTC. Our group won 1st place last year so the pressure is on to find another creative and witty door this year. We ended up going with another contractor theme, utilizing a play on words regarding the pink badges that contractors wear.  I love how the door turned out ... but think door #5 by Advocate Branch is likely to take first place this year. I love how they created the AMEDD crest out of Christmas tinsel and lights. Lots of ornate details, personalization of the photos of all the advocates, and leadership photos jumping from a gift box were all great details they included. Nice work! Door #4 is interactive and personalized, which I love, and Door #3 cracks me up with all the crazy sequestration and budget talks we've endured.  Door #1 is highly detailed, personalized to that group, and hilarious to read and Door #2 is beautiful as well.  Fun times at WTC! Santa Says: Come hang out with the pink badg...

The Cook Family Thanksgiving We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving on Fort Hood.  The Dining Facilities compete for honors in food service, decorations, and more so it's always a great meal and a fun atmosphere.  One of the amazing cakes on display Trey enjoyed the many options available at this Thanksgiving dinner!  Joshua was slightly more selective than Trey but just as happy!  We loved having Gram and Granddad with us this year!  After dinner, Nate helped serve Soldiers and Families.  

I joke that decorating for holidays is a genetic disorder that I inherited from my mother.  She's always been fabulous about making holidays feel special and decorating the entire house to fit the season.  My sons now enjoy our own holiday themes and love to help get everything set for a new holiday. Halloween is one of our favorite holidays just because it's purely fun ... and you get lots of candy, of course.  This year's decorations were fun to assemble ... and digging out the 'after-Halloween sale' items from last year is always so much fun!  At the Front Door  Welcome to Spooky Hollow! Hanging Jack-o-Lanterns are much cuter lit up at night! Even the Study's shelves get a few decorations.  Dining Room  My favorite spooky scene!  Love the skeletons drinking from our champagne flutes! More silly skeletons These guys look like they've had a loooong night. Family Room Breakfast Table The Boys' Books...

PHOTO: 1st Cavalry Division Memorial on Fort Hood, Texas. On this celebration of our great country’s independence, my thoughts are drawn to the Soldiers’ Families who will not have their Soldier with them this year. Words cannot express the humble gratitude I feel for Families who have sacrificed all to preserve the way of life we are honored to have in these great United States. Realizing these printed words could never fully portray the debt of appreciation owed to these heroes, I still must say THANK YOU. Thank you to each Family who has lost a Soldier in the fight for our country … you will always be in our hearts and minds. Our brigade recently honored five brave heroes who were killed in action during our just-completed deployment. As I prepare to celebrate the 4th of July with my own family, I can’t help but remember the events of that memorial service and the Soldiers we honored there. Attending a Soldier’s memorial service is one of the most heart-wrenching events one mi...