Aaron Baillio’s Blog

Well, I know I have left some cryptic hints about a new addition to the family.  Well, let me introduce you to Misty!  A full blooded chow-chow.  She is a beautiful dog and very sweet.  We had to drive 2 1/2 hours to a remote army base near Ansbach, Germany to pick her up but it was worth it.  We got home really late on Saturday night (10pm) and we didn’t know what to do with her!  But, we have started to get accustomed to her and she to us.  Of course, we have been learning by fire…she is having her period right now so there is a little bit of blood occaisionally and she is loosing her undercoat so she is really shedding.  So, that has been interesting but I love her and the boys love her and Kristin likes her so far.   I have had to work on her for 7 years to get this dog and she is really super.  She is good with the boys too and since she is already 3 she is house trained and out of that “puppy” stage.  So, good times for everyone!

That’s about it for now.  Things have been super busy around here and it just doesn’t seem to ever slow down.  Plus, we aren’t planning a long vacation until October!  Oh well…what can you do.  At least we can’t claim to be bored!

In case you didn’t know anything about socket heads screws, I have just received the low down from a resident expert.  Please check out http://justsockets.com for all your sockets heads, screws and any other hardware needs you may have. 

On a side note…we are going to pick up a new member of the family tomorrow.  Wish us luck!

Hey everyone!  What’ shakin’?  I’m back from my 4th TDY to turkey in 2 1/2 years.  That’s a lot…at least in my book.  I’ve been there more than  any other AF base in Europe.  I guess it’s cool in a way cause I get to bring home a lot of cool gifts for super cheap.  But, the place is a 2nd world country.  Ankara isn’t so bad since it is the capital and I am always in a 5 star hotel and around excellent living conditions.  But most of Turkey is poor.  I’ve never been afraid about walking around town although it’s obvious I’m not from around those parts, but it is a little unsettling.  It is just a good reminder to be thankful for what we do have.  Anyway, I was able to accomplish what I set out to do and I think it went well so that’s always good.

Things around home are going pretty well too.  The new mall just opened up the food court and all of the boutiques so we are anxious to check those out.  Its amazing how psyched we are getting about a mall…it’s just that we don’t have anything close to it around here.  Plus, it’s the biggest BX/PX in the world so we feel a little special about that.  Once we go, we’ll fill you in on the awesomeness.  We’ll be teenagers again…wanting to hang out at the mall!  I know, its sad since we live in Europe and we could go to so many cool places…but who wants to do that right?

Will is startng to really dig learning.  Kristin has been working on his letters and he has ‘A’ down pat and is now working in ‘B’.  It’s exciting watching him be so anxious to learn new things.  Asher is moving into part love and part distructo personality split.  But he is a great kid and he is learning so much from his brother (good and bad)!  He speaks so well and so clearly we are really impressed.  Ellie-Jayne is just our little porcelain doll.  Her hair is finally laying down so she doesn’t have the perma-hawk going on but she still has a little bit of rooster tail going on in the back.  She has a favorite toy already which I think is funny.  The boys were not really into toys until much later.  She’s just the sweetest little thing!

Kristin and I are well.  We just submitted our extension paperwork so if it goes through (of which there is a 99% chance it will) then we will be here through June or July of 2011.  Basically just under 2 more years.  It is somewhat daunting, but we’ve got a good thing going and I don’t think it’s time to stop just yet.  Well, I’ll leave you of this funny picture of Asher with a super man cape, an iron man chest sticker and spiderman shoes.

From July

Hey everyone!  I know it has been ages and ages, a long, long time since I updated my blog.  And really, this ain’t gonna be that spectacular of an update either.  I posted a ton of new videos so go check them out on my videos page (link on the right). 

Otherwise, things are good.  I had a fun trip back to Turkey recently.  We actually haven’t done much travelling this summer.  The weather has been terrible.  Recently is has been raining nearly every day with high’s in the 60’s.  BBBRRRR!!!  Maybe soon we’ll be able to get out and about.  The most exciting thing besides Will turning 4 was the new mall opened up on base.  Only a few shops right now, but one of them was a Macaronni Grill!  Finally!  Something besides Chilli’s!   So, that has been fun and it will be exciting to see what else opens up in there.

Ellie-Jayne also got some shots last week.  The poor thing takes it like an attack.  She gets so sad!  More sad than our boys ever did.  But, she has recovered and manages to love us still.  Hopefully, I get on the ball and post a little more often.  Anyway, check out the vids!

Hey all!  Well, I had a pretty good Father’s day too.  Although it got started pretty early…5:15am early!  If you haven’t heard yet, I’ve been asked to serve in the bishopric!  2nd counselor.  It’s kind of scary and kind of cool.  I’m looking forward to it but I am really intimidated by the call as well.  I want to be able to serve others the best I can and I don’t know if I’ll have all that it takes, much less the spirit to uplift others and discern how they are feeling.  So, cool but scary.

Anyway, so I had early meetings and church was good.  I had to stay and do tithing as well but it wasn’t bad.  When I got home we had the gift opening.  Kristin got me a book called Men of Influence.  Its pretty good.  I haven’t gotten to far into it but its about using he priesthood.  You know, stuff that we should all be doing but either don’t recognize we don’t or don’t understand.  So, it should be a good read.  I also got two really nice cards.  Then Kristin made one of my more favorite meals, chili!  I know, it’s simple but I like it.  It must be one of my comfort foods.  The rest of the day was relaxing.  I didn’t have to do anything else or go anywhere else so that was nice.

Last Saturday I went up to the temple with the youth to do baptisms!  That was really fun!  I hadn’t been to the temple in a while so it was fun to be able to go up there and be with the youth. 
It made me want to recommit to taking Kristin back up.  Now that Ellie-Jayne is a little older and doesn’t need constant attention I think we can venture it now.  Especially with some looming life decisions ahead it will be nice to get some clarity and some direction.

That night I came back and we went to an adults only party and played some guitar hero into the late night hours!   It was fun.  I LOVE that game.  I could play for hours.  I sang, did the drums and played some guitar.  All around rock star!  We played the new Smash Hits one which is really cool.  They have some great songs that haven’t been previously accessible to us Wii owners.

Anyway, that’s about it.  Well, there is a lot going on and life just got even busier with this new calling but I’ll try to update later.  I have a fun date planned for Kristin.  She doesn’t know much about it yet so I hope it goes over ok.

Hey everyone! Sorry for the late posting. No excuse except that I’m just lazy.

Anyway, we went camping last weekend…just me and the boys. It was really fun. We went to the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold France. It is the largest American cemetery outside of the US. Plus it’s really close to home. Anyway, we got out there around 7 or so which was plenty of time for us to set up our tents in the daylight. We then walked around the grounds a little bit getting some adventuring in. We went up to the grave markers in one area and the spirit was so strong. It was just me and the boys and I could sense the reverence of the area. So, we went to a grave stone and I showed the boys the name and why this person died here. I felt impressed to say a prayer and give thanks for these people who sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. So, we kneeled down there and said a short prayer. I don’t know if any of it sunk in with the boys, but they were having a good time so it didn’t matter.

Then we went back to the tent and made some frito chili pie. The boys had about 5 or 6 bites worth and then wanted to play in the tent some more. So, I ate all the food! Then we went over to the single camp fire they had for some smores. The thing with Europe is that they don’t really allow camp fires. Here we were able to have 1 since we were on an American site. So, there was this huge fire with a gazillion kids from about 6-12 throwing whatever they could get their hands on in the fire. Then they would take sticks out and run around with them. It was chaos. I tried to ignore it, but it was bad. I hate that when parents let their kids go wild…especially around something so dangerous. So, we had some smores. The fire was too big and so hot that even with the long sticks we had for the marshmallows, the boys couldn’t really get close to the fire. So, I had to do that. Then they wanted to have a fireside (stake organized campout). Well, that’s all fine and good but we led off with a 45 minute stick pull competition that was so boring and the boys were bored to tears. Then the fireside started! By this time is was nearly 10pm! Finally got through that and hopped in bed.

Well, sleeping wasn’t great. We had an air mattress but it had a hole so by morning both boys were snuggled right up next to me since I was in the middle. That was actually okay since it was freezing cold! I didn’t think it was going to be so cold. I had to have my head under the sleeping bag! But, Asher didn’t like it over his head so that was kind of a fight. Anyway, we did some more adventuring after breakfast. We went to the memorial on site and looked around. Again, very awe inspiring and humbling.

Since then we’ve just been doing little things here and there. Nothing major I guess. Been a nice easy summer so far. Although, the last few days it has been in the 40’s! It summer for goodness sake! We had to turn the heat on! Oh well, what can you do.

Well, I know that was a short update. I’ll try harder to post more often!

Well, we went to Metz again.  One of our favorite places.  This time we took some friends.  I wont go into details…just be jealous that we get to go to France whenever we want and have some awesome pastries.

This is us in front of one of our favorite hang outs, Le Temple Neuf. 

This is us at one of our favorite hangouts, Le Pont Neuf.

This is Will being Will!

Back at Le Temple Neuf with our friends.

One of our favorite pit stops...doner kebabs! Yummm!

Metz Cathedral

What a stupidly addicting website.  I can’t stop myself!  There used to be all these people I didn’t hear from or care about, and now all of a sudden I care that they just took a quiz about what Star Wars character they were.  Or what they did 15 seconds ago, then 10 seconds ago, then 5 seconds ago…and will they post again?  Certainly.  It drives me bonkers.  I used to be shackle free…and now I must know what random people I once knew in my life are doing all day every day.

My biggest addiction on the site is Mafia Wars.  I am a Skilled Street Thug “Don Baillio” level 12 fearless.  I’m well on my way toward mafia domination.  I can’t sit down at the computer now and not check my mafia wars page.  How addicted am I?  I think about the stuff I can buy!  And why won’t more people join my mafia?  Surely I have invited everyone capable of playing!  Maybe they know something I don’t.  Like, this stupid thing is a waste of time and I don’t want to waste my life on it.  Well, I have yet to clue in.

Anyway, all else is good.  I had my job interview on Monday.  It was unique to say the least but I think I did well.  They sent me 4 questions 20 minutes before the interview so I could prepare.  Then they called and we had a short introduction.  They said I have 15 minutes to answer the questions (Oh, the questions were weighted and I didn’t know the weights so I couldn’t tell which question was more important).  So, they sat back and listened as I spouted off  on my accomplishments for 15 minutes.  They never said a word.  No interaction at all.  Just answer the questions.  So, that was interesting.  Plus, I have no idea what the timeline is for their hiring process or anything.  I am having my boss call and put in a good word for me.  That’s how you get jobs these days…by using your connections.

I also have the pics of Asher’s birthday.  They are posted below.  Hopefully soon I will get around to the video.  But in the mean time, enjoy the pics!

May

Well, you guessed it!  Today was Asher’s second birthday!  We actually celebrated yesterday.  We had our best friends the Mears come over and we played some Rockband.  Then we went out to Lichtenburg castle over Kusel.  Seen on the right.  It was pretty cool, especially since you didn’t have to pay to get in and you could run around on the grounds and up on the walls and stuff.  The boys loved it.  There is a tower in the center with over 150 steps and Will climbed up all by himself.  It was amazing.  Although, you get to the top and the windows don’t have bars on them so you could plummet to your death if you were so inclined…or a child who didn’t know any better.  Scary!  Anyway, we had a great time and got a lot of good shots.  Then we came home and had brinner.  For those of you who don’t know what that is, its breakfast for dinner.  We had cinnamon roles, quiche, hashbrownes and sausage.  It was great.  After watching Over the Hedge, we had cake and presents.  Asher got a soccer ball which he loves.  He also got a leap frog farm for the fridge and he got some turtle powers (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles).  So, all in all it was a lot of fun.  They had to go to bed early, but it was a fun day.

Hey everyone!  Thanks for all the well wishes on my birthday.  It was a pretty good birthday for a 31st birthday.  Kristin made me a really yummy and cool breakfast.  She made baked french toast with raspberries.  It was really good.  But, I had to go to work.  We are in the middle of an “exercise” so technically I am not allowed to go on leave until its over.  But, I did come home for lunch which I normally don’t do.  That was fun too.  Then, that night we went to Chilli’s and Kristin and I split the fajita platter.  The boys were pretty good, at least at the restaurant.  When we came home Kristin had a flan cake waiting for me!   YUMMY!  It was also very good.  So, that was it in a nutshell.  Kristin did get me a suit.  It is a light-grey pin stripe.  I’ve been needing a new suit for a while now and this is a really nice one.  I can’t wear it yet because it is getting tailored, but next week!  Plus I got some new ties which I have been wanting for a while as well.  So, they were good presents.  I also got some Wii points and downloaded Super Mario 3 and a bunch of songs for Rockband. 

Everything else is going pretty well I guess.  Will is finally pooping in the potty by himself!!!   YEAH!!!!!  Even in diapers, he takes them off and goes in the potty.  We are super stoked about that.  Asher is doing well also.  He finally learned how to open doors on his own so we have to lock doors to rooms we don’t want him in.  He is getting bigger and taller and talking more and more.  He is a fun little guy.  Ellie-Jayne is also getting a lot bigger.  She actually fits into her 0-3 month clothes now which opened up a whole new wardrobe for her.   She also slept 8 hours last night!  Consecutively!  WoW!  I was really excited about that!  Let’s hope the trend continues!  Kristin is also doing well.  She is keeping the status-quo.  She has this hot new blond bombshell look going on which I dig.  I’m not sure she likes the bl0nd hair a lot, but she’s stuck with it for now.

Well, that’s about it!  I’ll post some video of the birthday when I get a chance so keep a look out!