Private Edward

I just got Edward's address. He wants you guys to know that he's "well, tired, but optimistic." I am beyond excited to finally be in contact with him. I know that he would love to hear from all of you, so here's his address...

PVT Gimbel, Edward R.
E Company, 2-60th INF REGT, 193rd BCT BDE USATC and FJ
Bldg. 11000 Dixie Road
Fort Jackson, SC 29207-6100

(Put a circled 4 on the back of the envelope.)

I know he'll really appreciate your support. My Dad told me that it was more important for him to get letters while he was in Basic Training for only 2 months than while he was on his mission for two years. I'm sure it's because they are more isolated and there's less emotional and moral support.

Anyway, thanks guys!

~Meridth

A Little Help Here!

I have on my calendar that today is Justin Marquardt's birthday! Am I right? Last time (with Jack's b-day) I was wrong! So I wanted to get some verification.

If I am right...A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!

Utah + Gimbels = Happy Family Time

So my phone crapped out on me, the battery shut down, just as I got a text from one of the coolest people in the world. I am so incredibly excited about this weekend. It is going to be so great to see everyone. I heart the Gimbels big time. In answer to your question Casey I arrive at the SLC airport this Friday at 4PM and hooray. I know Claudia that you and I will be at the airport at the same time. (Right?) I don't know when Margie or the Hawkinses are going to be in Utah...

But yeah, I am beyond excited to see you all. I love you all so much.

Love,

Meridth

Missive from Edward

Dad and I got a letter from Edward Russell today.  What a surprise!  I had just talked to Meridth, and she also had heard from him, but didn't  have an address yet.  Well, guess what?  There wasn't a return address on this letter either.  So we still can't write to him, although we can hope he is feeling the strength of our prayers.

So,  I hope he doesn't mind me sharing his thoughts.  Here's what he had to say.  February 17.

"Hey you guys!  Greetings and shalom from Initial Entry Training.  Lots of cursing.  Lots of shoving.  Lots of 'getting smoked'.    One 'gets smoked' when one messes up.  There will be push-ups, shouting and possible embarrassment.  All in all, the last three days have been stressful.  But, you know, it's good.  I'm confident that things will work out well, and I'll grow and gain from this experience.  Ironically, I haven't even started yet.  Because of the three-day weekend, and the four-day processing period, I won't officially start in Echo Company util Thursday.

The men here are quite dissimilar to me, but I'm certain that the esprit de corps will make us fast friends, or at least battle buddies.  As you might expect, aggression is the name of the game and I feel myself compelled to step  up and sound off.  I know that right now Mom is tearing up, and thinking about her special boy and how gentle and sweet he was.  Attention Mom:  I WILL NOT CHANGE!  It's just a job--something I'll do and peel off when I'm done.

So yeah, I'm taking it one day at a time.  Tunnel vision, just focus on the task at hand.  Surprisingly, mental fortitude is really important.  Warning:  head games ahead.

Love you guys,   Edward R. Gimbel

P.S. No address yet.  Sorry Ma!  I'll send it when I can."

IT'S OSCAR NIGHT! WHAT DO YOU THINK FOR PICTURE OF THE YEAR?

ATONEMENT IS MY GUESS!

Saturday... is it still february?... I don't even know. (V2)

I went through and erased all the drafts in the post section so I don't think we have 300 posts anymore... sorry Betsey, but I made a liar out of you.

So I was thinking I should just buy an airstream trailer and live in that for a while. It's good enough for Matthew McConaughey and that's good enough for me!!!

Saturday... is it still february?... I don't even know.

So I must admit I wasn't all that interested in the six-word memoirs at first, but mom and dad got me the book and I read it. It's fun. Here are my efforts.

supposed to be tommy, karl instead

simple, but in a good way

dreams free, lives safe, gap sucks

everything been sat in my lap

good at everything, good at nothing

jealous of interesting, creative six-word memoirs

Friday I'm in Love

We are winding down this month of posts, and I can tell that you all are getting a little bored of this. I mean, no comments on the last post of the old T.V.?!?! Only one comment on those adorable pictures of Nora?!?! Please people, those were some money shots of the baby! She was in a bath! She had an adorable face coupled with cute fat rolls! Let's get to it!

I thought I should ask a question, maybe inspire some responses. What web resources do you enjoy? We recently signed up for this paid site called mvelopes. It is a online budgeting resource that links your credit cards, bank accounts, etc together. It allows you to create envelopes (get it? the name of the website) that divide your income into spending categories. Then as each transaction comes in on your credit card (or as a paid check or withdrawal), you assign the transaction to the spending envelope and the amount is deducted. This is probably the same as Quicken, but it's a lot easier to use. We love it and are using a real budget now! Yeah!

So, what web resources do you use and love?

P.S. Where does the title of this blog post come from?

Karl was here last night

Karl came over to the house last evening to pick up his license plate (in Indiana, we only have a rear plate).  Ed had to pick it up for him since  he works full time now and can never get to the BMV.  Of course, you know how Ed is.  He had to put it on Karl's car as soon as Karl got here.

Than he and Karl took the ginormous television out of the attic.  It died about a month ago, and is the biggest behemoth to move.  Karl said that at one point it got away from him and almost crushed Dad.  Here is a picture of Karl celebrating another end of an era.

Remember all the friends over to watch TV.  Remember all the video games played.  What a fun room that attic was when everyone was visiting.  I will have to send that picture later.  This stupid machine isn't working correctly

Bath Time Nora

Who can resist a bath time Baby?

Nora really loves her baths

Look at those cute eyebrows! She gets those from Richard!

I love the double chin!
Look at her cute big tummy! We love our rolly polly Nora!

She is just such a joyful girl! We feel so blessed!

Wednesday

Any predictions about who will win Project Runway? 

300 Posts!

Hey Gimbel people! This is our 300th Post! Isn't that exciting!

A little Nora update for you all...she is smiling a lot more now. She is very smiley in the mornings when we go and get her. She just smiles up at me and Richard like crazy. It is the best feeling in the world.

She is grabbing things more as well. She likes to grab and hold onto our fingers, clothes, and rattles. She also pushes with her feet a lot. She can even scoot a little bit when she is laying on her back!

Nora weighs about 15 lbs now and is completely outgrown all her 0-3 months clothes. She is in the 95% percentile in her height and weight. Babies typically double their birth weight in the first 6 months. She is right on track to do that!

I'll post pictures tomorrow, but it is late and I am tired! (Fingers crossed that Nora sleeps all night tonight!)

Karl's 2008 Chevy Malibu

Look! It's Karl's new car! and a picture of Karl's first meal in his car... He wasn't too happy about eating in there... Oh well, it had to happen sometime!

Lazy Sunday (okay...not really)

Another Hawkins Family Recap....

Morning: Betsey had church meetings, The 'Chard watched the baby. Breakfast: Oatmeal with fruit

Afternoon: Church. We meet from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Richard walked to church with the baby. Lunch: soup, carrots and pudding

Evening: Baptism. Got home around 7:00p.m. Richard worked on family history. I finished a school assignment and fed the baby. Dinner: stir fry, banana and applesauce

We'll probably have some popcorn later.

Just keeping the dream of posting everyday alive

S-a-t-u-r-d-a-y Night!

Another low key Saturday night at the Hawkins' house. Here is a recap of our activities.

1. I made sugar cookies for a baptism tomorrow

2. Richard went to the gym and ran four miles. It kind of disgusts me how quickly he can get back into shape.

3. I read to Nora. I just started doing this. I was feeling badly that when I watched T.V. while nursing, she would turn her head to the T.V. I figured that I should do something else while nursing. I don't want a little T.V. mush head (like myself) on my hands :)

4. Richard did some homework and church stuff (he just got another calling organizing temple visits and family history assignments for the ward.)

5. I blogged

What did you do this Saturday night?