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Birthday Boy

We had a super fun day today. First of all Tyler turned four years old today. I just can't believe it has been four years since he was born. The time has just flown by and he is becoming such a big kid. We woke up to a blanket of snow, not too much, but just enough that Papa and Kyle were able to go out and shovel the sidewalk. I think Kyle shoveled more

snow on himself than off the sidewalk, but he was having fun doing it and felt like such a big boy. It was sweet watching him and Papa working together. Later in the afternoon we had Tyler's party and Grammy, Papa, Aunt Shannon and Brett were all able to be there to wish him a happy birthday. Tyler was more interested in his batman cake than his presents and it took a little coaxing to get him to open all of them. After cake and ice-cream we headed to the Princess and the Frog, Tyler's choice. The boys loved it. All in all we had a very full day but lots and lots of fun. Hope this finds you all doing well and enjoying the holidays. Merry Christmas!

Snowy days in Idaho. What a treat for my kids. They love the snow but have not had much experience with it since they have lived most of their lives in places that get little if any snow. They love to watch the big snowflakes fall to the ground but what they love even more is making snow angels in it and having snowball fights. Ryan even loves to get down and crawl in it and the boys loved giving him his first taste of snow. Along with the first snowfall, we also put up our Christmas tree. I was kind of dreading this task without Kelly, but it worked out wonderfully. Marge and Les (Kelly's parents) came down and helped decorate my whole house. Les even went as far as arranging bushy limbs (I don't know what the plant is called) into a hurricane vase that I didn't know what to do with. Les and Marge were up and down the ladder and in and out the door more times than I can count. What a true blessing they are to my family! I hope this finds all of our friends and family doing well and enjoying the holidays. Merry Christmas!

Ryan's first steps

I have been trying to post this for a while, but I have been having a few issues. Ryan started walking right before Thanksgiving and just keeps getting steadier and steadier everyday. It is amazing how quickly it happens. This video is from right before Thanksgiving and he is having so much fun playing with Kyle. I think he might grow up to be a little tease, like his brother Tyler :-) Sorry about the music playing over their voices, but I am still working with the camcorder. Hopefully it will be better next time. Hope you enjoy the video.

25-26 NOV: Iraq

Hello all!! Just thought I would update everyone on what I've been up to. We (LTC Reid and myself) have been spending the last couple of weeks meeting with the Iraqi Army sBG (Staff Brigadier General) BDE Commander that we will be advising (sBG Rasheed). We've also met his G2 (LTC Jamir) and the 1st Battalion Commander (sLTC Mohammad). The first Battalion is known as the Falcon Battalion, so we got a picture with their namesake. We travel to and from COP Nimir (where the IA BDE is located just outside of Synjar, Iraq) to FOB Sykes (South of Tal Afar). I got a picture of the MRAP that I travel in, and took a self portrait of me in the TC (troop commander) seat where I ride. We had a really good Thanksgiving, as I hope you all did, and of course I made a pig of myself eating a Thanksgiving Lunch and Dinner (had to take a nap in between). Well, hope all is going well for all of you. Take care and God bless.

Kelly

Out of The Mouths of Babes

No pictures this time, sorry. Just wanted to pass on something that Kyle said that just makes me smile everytime I think of it, so I thought I would spread some joy your way. Last night after Awana, Kyle says "Mom, you know what, GOD is kind of like the Flash! Because he made everything in 7 days, now that is one quick guy." Makes me smile everytime. He is so much like Kelly, referencing everything back to super heroes :-)

I was able to chat with Kelly last night. He is doing well and seems in good spirits, nothing really new to report from him. I think he is glad to be at his destination and is ready to get their mission started. He is just taking it a day at a time, as we are here. I hope this finds you all doing well! Until next time..

Newest Update from Iraq

Hello everyone. Just wanted to pass on that I'm still doing well. I've moved from Mosul to FOB Sykes and COP Nimur. We'll be passing our time between the two locations, with the majority of the time being spent at COP Nimur where the 11th BDE/ 3 rd Iraqi Army is located. I do have an address, and it is as follows:

Kelly Boian
STT/HHC/2nd BCT/3 ID
Fob Sykes, Iraq
APO AE 09351

No pictures yet, but I'll post more as they become available (or I take some). Take care and God bless.

Kelly

Ryan learned how to use his push toy. It has been sitting around for probably a month and a few days ago he decided he would take it for a walk. He is all over the house and we don't go anywhere with out it. He is really trying to walk, so I am sure that is coming soon too. It is just a different world when they start walking.

Hello from Iraq

Hi everyone!! I'm temporarily located in Mosul, Iraq, waiting to push West to Synjar. Synjar is about 100 miles West of Mosul, and 30 miles East of the Syrian border. I'm not sure yet what my living conditions are going to be like or my mailing address for that matter, but it will give me something else to post once I find out all of that information. Here are some photos of training that we conducted in Kuwait prior to moving to Iraq (Foreign weapons training - shooting AK 47s and RPKs; Crew served weapons training - disassemble/assemble of the M240B machine gun and 50 caliber heavy machine gun/load/reduce stoppage, and firing; also conducted evacuation/roll over training on the MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Proof) vehicle - this consisted of being put into a mock up of the vehicle, strapped in, then rolled (couldn't find a better ride in Disneyland - couldn't stop laughing)). I've been really busy in Mosul - eating, sleeping, and reading mostly (Laurie gave me an Ebook reader for Christmas (early present) and I've gone through 23 books already), but I doubt these "busy" days will last much longer. Well, that's all for now. I'll post again when I have some more information for you all. Take care and God bless.

Kelly

Iraq

Most of you all know that Kelly has been preparing for a year long deployment to Iraq. He officially made it to Kuwait about two weeks ago and he has now made it safely up to Mosul, which is in the northern part of Iraq. He was not sure if he was going to be staying in Mosul or if his job was going to take him elsewhere. He should have a mailing address in a week or so and I will make sure to post it. We thank all of you for your prayers and support. We wouldn't be able to make it through this year without you.

Ryan's First Haircut

Ryan's First Haircut

Like Kyle and Tyler, Ryan has been blessed with a full head of hair from birth. Just like the other two boys, at 10 months he was definitely in need of a haircut. Kelly usually does the honor of giving the boys their haircuts, mainly because he has been cutting his own hair for years and I am a super big chicken. Since Kelly is deployed, Aunt Shannon had the honor. I consider her an expert because she has been cutting her 3 boys hair for at least 20 years. She did a terrific job and Ryan was a super good baby. First haircuts are always a little sad for me because it seems as if my little baby is turning into a little boy right before my eyes. They just grow up way to quickly! Here are some photos of Aunt Shannon and Ryan. Enjoy!

We had a wonderful Halloween. We started the day by going to Kyle's last soccer game of the season. He had a great game and a wonderful time. After the game the team had a party with pizza and goodies galore. They had a great time. Later in the afternoon we had the Blackstocks over for chili and began our halloween celebration. I don't know what I would do without my sister and her family. They are wonderful! They handed out candy and watched Ryan while I took Kyle and Tyler out trick or treating. Kyle was so excited... he was always 5-10 steps in front of Tyler and I, always looking for the next house. I think he would still be trick or treating if he could. Now for the costumes. I had a house filled with Star Wars guys. Kyle was commander Cody, Tyler was Commander Fox and sweet Ryan was Darth Vader. They had a great time.

Welcome to the Boian Family Blog. I have been wanting to do this for a while and now that Kelly is due to deploy I thought it would be a perfect spot for everyone to catch up on what is going on with the Boian Family and Kelly might even be able to keep us updated from Iraq. Things are very busy around here and I don't see them slowing down anytime soon. Kyle is still playing soccer, they will finish at the end of the month. Both, Kyle and Tyler, are participating in AWANA. It doesn't sound like much, but it definitely adds up and then there is Ryan who is now into absolutely everything. I will try and post pictures next time, but I just wanted to get this out there so I could officially say that I have started our family blog! Until next time!