Home is where the heart is!

After almost 5 months apart we are finally back together again!

Our family trip will be to Disneyland, I will be sure to post pictures or videos of the fun to be had there. Look for those in a couple weeks. I hope everyone is doing well.

 Love,

The Sharpe's of Utah

The whole reason for Cable

Ok, so when I got back from my last deployment I told Garrett we could get cable for him to watch the Chiefs games. Here are a couple of pictures from the first game we watched at the house.

Back in the Groove

Well, we finally made it through our three weeks of total confusion and chaos. Now that we are back into the swing of things I wanted to let everyone know what we have been up to for the last month.

Going back to the start of our month of craziness, 15 AUG 09, when Garrett left Bracken and I in Utah to travel to Cuba for the Air National Guard. Our last day together was 14 AUG 09 because Garrett left us early in the morning on the 15th. While in Cuba he had the privilege to work with other Air Force members (remember Garrett was previously enlisted in the Army Reserves out of Kansas) and was surprised when they were informed that they would get some free time if they kept working hard for that first week. They had enough of time on their hands in the evenings and on the weekends that they were able to hang out, go fishing, snorkeling, and have BBQ's. Garrett was in Cuba for 2 weeks and returned 29 AUG 09. When he returned he went back to work for 4 days and then would join us in Vegas to visit with our friends and relax some for the long weekend.

While Garrett was in Cuba, I was here in Utah getting things ready because my unit was going TDY to Nellis AFB, located near Las Vegas, from 22 AUG 09 to 4 SEP 09. That week I was busy cleaning the house and packing for the next two weeks to come. We visited some friends the thursday and friday before we left and left our new house the next morning around 7:00 am. While in Vegas Bracken stayed with Matt and Gayle Morrow, friends who lived in Utah and recently moved to Vegas, while I worked my 12 to 13 hour days. I went to visit as much as possible but I rarely had time to stay for long periods of time. These short stays made it harder for Bracken but he did realize that I had to go to work and by the time he did realize it was almost time to go home. My 2 week TDY was not as eventful has Garrett's was in Cuba; when I did have time to myself I either went to visit with Bracken or relaxed in my room. On the weekend all I did was hang out with Bracken at Matt and Gayles but going over there was the best times I had while I was there. Thanks Matt and Gayle for allowing Bracken to stay and me to visit.

Bracken had a good time Staying at Matt and Gayles and he got along pretty well with their two boys but mostly got along better with Cooper, their oldest boy. Bracken and Cowen, their youngest boy who was 3, got along for the most part but they are both at the bossy and I know everything stage, which did not go over well when one would tell the other no or to stop it. By that point the nasty look was in both of their eyes and you could tell that they were going to start fight, you would have to stop it quickly or they both would get mean. They eventually did get used to eachother being around and stopped fighting so much but by that time we were getting ready to take him with us and head out.

Garrett arrived in Las Vegas on 4 SEP 09 just after lunch and visited with Matt, Gayle and other friends they had staying at the house. I was not able to get off work real early so i met up with everyone later in the evening, after I had packed my stuff up and moved to the room that Garrett, Bracken and I were staying in for a few nights. That night we just hung out, had a couple drinks, and headed back to our room to rest for the night.

On Saturday we HAD to go to Buffalo Wild Wings (we dont have them in Utah and Garrett needed some because it was actually close) for lunch. Bracken enjoyed watching the races, Garrett enjoyed the environment, and I was just glad to have all of us back together again; It was awesome. After lunch Bracken needed a nap but when he woke we were on the move again.

We had been invited over to a friend (Poppe and Lyndi) of a friend's (Matt and Gayle) house for a BBQ. We watched the Oklahoma vs BYU college football game and celebrated Aden's, Poppe and Lyndi's son, birthday. Poppe is an AWESOME cook and had smoked some Tritip and Boston butt roast, so good! We had cake, he opened presents and then the guys had to try and figure out how to put a basketball hoop together (very interesting, I heard they put it together backwards at first). We headed home and slept for a while.

The next morning we headed back over to Matt and Gayles for their son's, Cooper, birthday party. It was cute, we had gotten him some Wii games and he didn't want to stop playing them the whole time we were there, he didn't even want to stop to cut the cake, eat pizza, or open presents. We didn't get to stick around for the whole party; we eat lunch and had cake with them but we had to head out so we wouldn't arrive back in Utah to late.

It was a 6 hour trip so nothing too terrible. Bracken did great, he didn't get much of a nap so he ended up sleeping the most of the way home. We eventually made it home and unpacked the blazer wanting to do nothing more. The next day, we sat around and watched movies; it was a nice feeling, not having somewhere we had or wanted to be.

OK, Well that is the run down of pretty much everything that was going on for those three weeks. Now it is back to the normal riff raft of work and finding time for everything else.

Jordin Sparks feat. Jonas Brothers - Stripped - Battlefield

Jordin Sparks feat. Jonas Brothers - Stripped - Battlefield

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F-16 Ride

So, I finally got a FAM ride in an F-16 and it was with a well trusted sole. I know it may sound really glamerous but it really wasn't. The ride in it's self was very cool ... How many people can say that they have ridden in the back seat of a fighter aircraft. Well here's how it went down:

It all starts very early, we have to go in a day ahead of the ride and make sure we are mentally/physically ready for the ride (plus some training).

The day of the ride seems like it goes by so fast, I didn't make it but normally I would like to attend the pre-flight briefings. The pilot of the jet I was in sat me down to let me know how it was going to feel and what to expect (pretty cool if you ask me).

About 1 hour before we took off we had to be out to the jet and the pilot had to do his thing to make sure stuff was ready to go. I sat in the back seat for a while till we finally taxied.

Once we took off it was pretty cool; it didn't feel wierd it was just pretty darn exciting.

While we were in the air I handled it pretty well BUT after a while the movement of the jet really got to me. Yes, it was cool to be in the jet and well I puked my guts out but all in all it was a good ride.

I was still in the middle of trying to puke when we landed but it was a pretty steady and safe landing so that made it a little better.

The one question I got from everyone when I got back was, "Did you have fun?" Well I don't know about you but I don't really enjoy puking my guts out but the one thing I had to say was, "It was a cool ride and I don't have fun puking my guts out." It was totally cool and I know that I will end up going back up but I guess we will see if I puke as much or at all the next time.

Welcome

I am kind of new to the whole blogging thing but here is what is going down here in Utah for the Sharpe family. We are crazy busy from now till next May/June when Garrett and I will return from our wonderful tours to the sandbox. This blog will be kind of a long one to catch everyone up for now, I will continue to post in the future.
Garrett has been gone for a day now and I have already put half a puzzle together and cleaned up parts of our messy living room. Bracken misses daddy and asks about him every day; This morning he had to tell me that "Daddy is at work".
Bracken and I are getting ready to head down to Vegas on saturday; I have to work but Bracken is going to stay with our friends Matt and Gayle. He has asking about Cowen and Cooper (Matt and Gayles two little boys); it should be fun for them.
Garrett, Bracken and myself will be in Kansas City from 5Dec to 12Dec; I broke down and told him that I would be willing to go to a KC Chiefs football game with him. I guess all of his friends are already planning a huge party, "in his honor for returning to KC for a game"; It must be a pretty big deal. If any would like we will be there for a week and everyone is welcome to come join us as we go do some fun stuff that week. I will have more details as the time gets closer.
Well that is all that has been going on for us; Garrett and myself have been working like crazy lately and trying to get healthy (we all got the flu and ended up home for a week). This past week I had to work long hours, not getting home till between 8 and 9, so it was just Dad and Bracken. Below is a schedule of what we have going on from now to Jan; We love to have visitors so if anyone wants to make it out here, before the sandbox tour, you are more than welcome to do so.

Garrett is gone to Cuba from now till the end of the month. I am leaving for Vegas on saturday and will get back the first weekend in September. I have another trip the middle of October to the end of October. Then we will all be in KC for that week in December and from there out Garrett and I will be waiting to see when we have to go.
It's a crazy Schedule I know but like I said ... We really like to have some familiar faces around us (those other than the people we work with).

Well that is all for now. Thanks for all of your love and support we miss you all and hope you all the best in the coming months. Thanks for visiting our page and feel free to come back anytime.

Love,
Garrett, Michelle, & Bracken Sharpe