Arizona

We made it to Arizona! It is so good to be with our friends Kelli, Matt, Cody and Tori. I was so exhausted last night I woke up and had no idea where I was, but I knew Ben was right next to me and I heard Sierra making her little sounds so I went back to bed without trying to figure it out. We are on our way to our favorite park and are going going down some much needed slides after our loooong day of driving yesterday. My mom leaves out of Tucson friday morning and I'm not sure how long we'll be staying here. It depends on what happens with Ben's tubes and tests.

Jim had his ceremony of being pinned as an E-7 today on a HELICOPTER. Doesn't that sound just like him? I can't wait to talk to him to find out how it went. They were going to take lots of pictures.

Address Update 5/18/09

Name of Soldier (no rank)
CJTF - 82
CJ2
APO AE 09354

Here we go, there's the newest address.

A day in the life of Ben and Sierra

It has been SO hot and humid here in Oklahoma. Uncle David put together a swing set in the back yard and of course the kids love it. Tristan turned 2 years old yesterday so there's a whole wave of new toys. Sierra is getting better with a fork so I don't have the messy cake pictures this time. Behind Anna's house is a somewhat busy street and is full of trucks, motorcycles, big rigs and fire trucks. On the other side of that street are 4 horses and 2 colts. Yesterday they had a bobcat moving rocks and my shoulder is sore from holding up the kids so they could all take turns watching. Yesterday was day one of working out with David. We'll see if today is day two or not :) Anna is playing piano for one of the bands in a Christian concert today-but it rained last night and still looks pretty nasty outside.

Jim just called. He said there's a lot of stuff going on and this past week went quick. He is the Non-commissioned officer in charge of his section.

Yesterday Ben said "Mommy, daddy be back soon". Sierra plays with my old cell phone and talks to dada, gives kisses, says "looooooooove dada" and "miiiiiiiiiiss dada". She finally holds the phone on her ear instead of the back of her head. Love you dada.

PT with Ben

Ready or Not....

So here's some catch up stuff: We said goodbye to Jim on Sunday, May 3rd. That first night he was on the plane and went from Pope Airforce base to Maine, to Germany, to a holding area outside Afghanistan. Within the next few days he'll be in Bagram. He will be getting into his room, and work area so he probably won't be able to call or email for a few days.

The kids and I cleared housing on Monday, and left NC. We stayed in Knoxville, TN the first night. We thought we would take three days to get to OK, but the kids were really good so we kept on going. Ben and Sierra are having a great time with their cousins. Right now all 4 kids are napping- enough said.

May

The house phone is forwarded to my cell phone and Jim's cell phone is shut off for now. So you should use: 1-520-226-5698 to get ahold of us through this year. Or Kcook1023@hotmail.com and sweetride82@hotmail.com.

SSG James Cook

G2 CJTF82

FOB Bagram
APO AE 09354

Kaleena Cook

804 NW Hampton Ct.

Lawton, OK 73505