Welcome 2008!

The more the merrier!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas vacation! I don't know about you but ours was not a white Christmas. Although, I must say that I didn't mind not worrying about traveling through the snow. Our truck is not quite a one horse open sleigh! ;o)

Aaron and I went to Christmas at Ryan and Briana's house. The whole Pearsall clan made the trip to OH. We had a lot of fun talking, eating, playing the Wii, listening to the music and hanging out together.

Here are a few pictures from the visit:

We had a lot of fun with Delaney on her first Christmas.

Delaney and Uncle Aaron.

Here is the crew on Christmas Eve (Matt, Allison, Myles, Briana, Delaney, Ryan and Aaron). Steph, Clint and Trevor drove to Ohio Christmas morning.

Pretty candles on the table.

Grandpa and Delaney hanging out.

Delaney sleeping in Grandma's arms.

Me and my babe!

The day after Christmas Aaron and I headed to my sister's house to hang out with my side of the family in PA.

Here is Syd and I. She got a ton of presents from Santa and with the amount of art supplies she got from family she could be the next Picasso.

Here Syd is explaining to Aaron how her Nintendo DS works. The games she got for that thing were cool!
Here are Chris, Nickie, Billy and Audrina hanging out at my Aunt Pat's house. We had a great ham bbq dinner. Yum!

Dad and Barb after dinner.

Here is my Aunt Pat with her new puppy, Max.

Isn't he so cute!?!

And last but not least, here is my sister's dog, Gravey. She is the quickest Bassett Hound I have ever met. Not to mention she likes to cuddle.

Thanks to all the family for letting Aaron and I come and visit. We really did have a great time! I can't believe it is almost 2008. I hope everyone has a blessed new year.

Merry Christmas!

We head out in the morning to make our rounds to the family! I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Maine we go!

As most of you know by now, Aaron was given his next assignment. It looks like we are headed to Topsham, ME. Well, at least as of now. The Army can change their minds at any time about anything.

He will be in charge of recruiting for a few offices. Recruiting while not ideal, does guarantee that he won't deploy. YEAH! Heck, I will try to recruit people off the street if that means he gets to stay home.

We won't be leaving until March. Also, he will have to attend about a month of training to learn how recruiting works. But after that we will be settling into the cold winter up North.

We are looking forward to exploring a new area. And of course Aaron is loving the idea of water everywhere. You know how much he loves fly fishing! Not to mention we both love seafood. And the only 'real' seafood we have had lately has come from Red Lobster. I dare say that doesn't count!

Road trip anyone?

Here comes Santa Claus...

I don't think Boone likes playing dress up!

An easy cookie recipe!

I thought I might share an easy cookie recipe with you this holiday season. Last year, Frannie and I got together to make Christmas cookies to send to our husbands and friends in Afghanistan. She shared her Peanut Butter Blossom recipe that I have made many times since then. I actually made it a few weeks ago for Aaron to take to class. Men do like cookies!

I know the recipe probably sounds familiar. And I had made these cookies before Fran but she had a very quick and easy recipe that included Bisquick. I know right!? Bisquick? I don't know maybe that is how all of you have been making them but I had never heard of it. Trust me they are good!

So here is a recipe for Peanut Butter Blossoms:

Mix:

1 can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla

Add:

2 cups Bisquick

Make into small balls of dough. Then roll them in a little bowl of sugar, just enough to coat them. Once all the little cookie balls are on the cookie sheet, bake them for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Once baked, top the warm cookies with Hershey Kisses. I am going to try mini Reese's Cups this year so hopefully Sydney (my crazy 6 year old niece who doesn't like most chocolate) will eat them.

I hope this recipe helps give you at least one short cut for baking Christmas cookies this season. Enjoy!

Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree...

Sunday after church Aaron and I traveled about two miles up the road to the local Christmas tree farm, Creekside Christmas Trees. We knew from the beginning it would be an interesting day, considering it was 65 degrees and Aaron had on a short sleeve shirt. Now, I like the south but picking out a Christmas tree in such warm weather was bizarre!

This is the second Christmas that Aaron and I have gone out picked, out our own tree and cut it down. It seems to make it a little more special for us and more of a Christmas experience. When we pulled up the nice folks gave us a saw and a cart to wheel the tree back. Aaron was grateful especially because there was no snow on the ground to help the tree slide back to the truck.

After walking around for only about 15 minutes, (The rain started coming down!) we found the tree we wanted. Aaron worked hard cutting it down while I gave words of encouragement! Once he wheeled it back, they put the tree on a shaker to help get all the junk out and then wrapped it for us.

It was a fun, wet, warm and sappy (literally) day! Today we decorated the tree and it looks great!

The little building where the people take your money and hand out cider.

Aaron working the saw.

The fun little cart! Aaron wanted to give me a ride but my luck I would have broke something.

The finished product!

I didn't get a tree last year because it just didn't feel like Christmas. I am so glad Aaron (and the guys!) are home safe and sound. What a great reason to celebrate. This Christmas is going to be fantastic!

Are you ever too old for Santa?

Lauren and I were at the mall yesterday doing some last minute shopping, when we saw the sign for Santa. We thought what the heck and went to find the plump, jolly man. We found him all alone with no Christmas wishes being whispered into his ear, so we decided to get a picture!

Now, I know what some of you are thinking 'Aren't you too old to be sitting on Santa's lap?'. But are you ever too old for Santa? I hope not.

A $3.00 Fix

As some of you know my dog is crazy! One of the weird things he does is steal blankets. I know this sounds bizarre but trust me, it's true. When I sit on the couch I love to being covered up (no matter what time of year). And Boone always ends up sitting on the floor beside me slowly pulling the blanket down. By the time I realize what is going on I have about 2 inches of blanket left.

So Aaron suggested we get him a blanket. Yes, my husband the tough guy thought we should buy the DOG his very own blanket. ;o) So off I went to Wally World where I found a $3.00 fleece blanket. And Boone loves it! He pulls it around himself and sometimes when Aaron and I walk by we cover him up. He will sit there for a long time all snuggled in the thing.

Also, when going through the Christmas stuff I found this stuffed snowman and gave it to Boone. He snuggled it for about 30 seconds before he started ripping it apart. But at least I got a cute picture!

New Haircut

Don't you just love getting your haircut? For some reason I always feel better after a visit to the salon. Here is the new cut I got today. Nothing too drastic! You know me, I am not that daring to try anything crazy. Although, the low lights have a red tint to them. That is crazy enough for me!

P.S. Notice the stockings hung by the door way with care!? I can't wait for Christmas!

Wicked excited!

I am very excited to tell you that Fran and Melissa got us tickets to Wicked the Musical in Jan. Some time ago Fran recommended the book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Greogory Maguire. The story is told from the very beginning of the Wicked Witch of the West's life, all the way to when she meets Dorothy and beyond. It was a fantastic book!

I have since enjoyed many other books written by Maguire such as Confessions of an Ugly Step Sister and Mirror Mirror. Gregory Maguire takes old fairy tales and puts his own crazy spin on them.

Anyway, Fran noticed that Wicked was coming to Cincinnati and offered to go blind staring at her computer to get us tickets when they went on sale. She got a bunch of us seats for the showing on Jan.24th and I am wicked excited! ;o)


If anyone is curious the next book by Maguire I want to get lost in is What the Dickens? The Story of a Rouge Tooth Fairy.

Until we meet again...

Dear Ben,

I can't believe that a year has gone by already. Although, to be honest some days it feels like you have been gone for years. I think about you often and wonder how your life would be today. How would your trip to Europe have gone? Would you have come home engaged to Heather?

Aaron misses you too! I see it in his eyes when we talk about you, which is quite often. I know he misses his friend.

Things changed with the group when everyone got home. We didn't really ever have Friday night dinners. I think it forced all of us to realize that you were not coming back and well none of us liked it. Your parents came down and we all had a night with them. They are fantastic people! We had a lot of fun with them reminiscing about the fun times. And of course we got nachos in honor of you with no black olives!

Your mom sent me pictures from your sisters wedding. She looked beautiful! I never realized how much you two looked alike. Although, I am sure she looks better in a dress than you! Your whole family is so proud of you. I think you would have been a little embarrassed at all the great things people have said about you. But they were/are all true. We were all blessed to have had you in our lives.

I have asked Aaron some things since you have been gone. And he replies with 'We can ask him when we see him again someday.' I guess I wasn't really thinking that way. I was to busy being sad to realize that we will someday get to see you again. And that is definitely something to be happy about!

We miss you down here but I know God is using you for great things in heaven. I bet you have already asked him about the theories you and JR used to argue about. I can't wait to hear the answer.

Until we meet again can you watch over Aaron? We are going to be in the Army for awhile and he needs guardian angels.

With love and respect,
Jackie

CPT Benjamin D. Keating

KIA 26 NOV 06
Kamdesh, Afghanistan

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

16th CAV Regimental Ball

Last Thursday, Aaron and I attended the 16th Cavalry Regimental Ball at Caesars Indiana. The night was filled with toasts, speeches (Guest speaker: Major General Robert. M. Willams) , food (The steak and chicken were great!) marriage proposals and weird traditions. We had a good time but remarked that we missed our 3-71 friends. I guess things can't stay the same forever.

Here we are all dressed up. I know, I know my dress is red. I need to get a new color. But I really liked this dress!

Here you can see the dress from the back and my hair. My hair was falling out before I even left the house. But with the help of my neighbor, Christie, and Aaron a crisis was averted.

Paul, Isaac and Aaron.

This is Aaron's class. If you are wondering why some uniforms look different, it is because there are students from Switzerland, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Sylvania.

Oh, and if you are wondering about the proposal...the girl said yes!

Ribs...yummy!

Last weekend Aaron and I went up to Cincinnati to hang out with Matt and Fran. They were good friends from when we were at Fort Drum. They are living in a suburb of Cincinnati until they buy a house. I miss being able to hop in the car and drive 20 mins to Sackets Harbor to meet up the the crew. But I guess we are lucky that Fran and Matt are only 2.5 hours away!

On Sat. Matt and Aaron went off on their own to climb walls in a gym somewhere. (Aaron said he had a lot of fun!) While they were doing that Fran and I went shopping. I was able to find earrings to go with my dress for the 16th CAV Regimental Ball (pictures to come soon!). And Fran was able to find some great pants.

For dinner they took us to the Montgomery Inn At The Boathouse. Their world famous ribs help make the restaurant the most popular restaurant in the Greater Cincinnati Area. And let me tell you the food was great! I had bbq ribs and bbq chicken. And it was incredible!

Here we all are at the table with our bibs on. Trust me we needed them because like I said very yummy!

Here are Fran and Matt at the restaurant. Aren't they cute!?!

Fran and I sitting outside the restaurant with their mascot of sorts, Mr. Ribs. At least I think that was his name.

After dinner we went across the bridge into Newport, KY. There we had fun watching the crazies at the Hofbräuhaus. It is modeled after he original that is located in Munich, Germany. It is a place with a lot of different brewed beers, music and fun.

Aaron and Matt trying the Hofbräu Dunkel.

My handsome husband and me.

We had a lot of fun! I wish we could do it more often.

Never Forget...

Happy Veteran's Day!

'Making Strides Against Breast Cancer'

On October 28th, my friend Lauren and I walked in the 10th Annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Louisville, KY. (I am posting about it now because I just got the pictures from Lauren. Her e-mail has been going crazy!) It was a 3.2 mile walk starting in the Waterfront Park.

A few days before the walk we got together and made t-shirts to show our support. I was walking in Memory of Karen Benson (Briana's mom) and Lauren was walking in Honor of her Aunt Marie. We had lots of fun with iron-ons, puffy paints and glitter glue.

The day of the walk the sun was shining bright and we had on our walking shoes. We met up with some people from Lauren's job but decided they were walking to slow, so off we went. The walk went surprisingly fast. Probably because we were laughing and talking the whole way.

Here are some pictures from that day:

Here we are in our homemade t-shirts.

We are starting across the bridge while others are finishing the longest part of the walk.

Here is a good picture of the bridge we walked across to Indiana.

Proof! You can see the Welcome to Indiana sign.

People really got into it. We saw a lot of people with balloons, crazy shirts and fun hats. We liked this hat the best.

It was a great day! Not only was it for a great cause but we got some exercise too. Be watching the news to see when you can help make strides against breast cancer in your area!

French Onion Soup

Oh, how I long for a night at The Bees with the ladies. I miss you guys!

Home Already!

Delaney was able to come home much early than anticipated. So I went to Ohio to visit Briana and Delaney while Ryan was away on business this past week. I am pleased to report that both mother and daughter are doing great! Delaney is still tiny but is gaining weight everyday. I had a lot of fun hanging out with Briana and getting to hold Delaney was awesome.

Below are a few pictures from my stay:

Here she is sleeping, which she seems to do almost as much as eating.

Here is Rosie watching over her. She seems very interested in her new little sister.


I couldn't believe how small her preemie diapers were. I thought I would do a side-by-side comparison for you. See...I told you she was little!

Any need for bows?

I have just the site for you! Click here to visit Sew Special Online. Here you will find children's hair bows, headbands, baby bibs, etc... And you will be able to get them all personalized through monogramming.

I know there are a lot of sites to choose from these days but I have a personal connection to the people who run this site; Erin Silvestri and her Momma. Why would I write Momma? Well, Erin grew up in Savannah, GA and is about as southern as you can get.

I met Erin two years ago while her husband was serving in the same unit as Aaron at Fort Drum. I consider her a great friend. Erin and I, along with Fran, Karen and Briana spent most of our free time together for the 16 months are husbands were deployed. I also met her mom on several occasions when she and her husband came to visit Erin, Abby and Isabelle (her two little girls).

I have seen the great work they can produce. So check out the site! You may just find the perfect gift.

Happy (early) Halloween!