The scores are in .... here is Captain Gazes!



A few years ago Will was walking across the stage at Quantico becoming a USMC 2nt LT. Today in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial and tons of family and friends he became a Captain! It was bitter sweet for the both of us. We were so happy and excited this moment had finally come but at the same time we knew it would be Wills last promotion in the Corps. Will had decided awhile ago that he was ready to move on. It wasn't an easy decision. We both love the Marine Corps and the home we have made with them. We know no matter were our life leads us we will always have the corps in our hearts. It is apart of who we are. Will will carry our memories, the corps values... honor , courage, commitment, and the friends we have made always in our hearts! Today my husband accepted the rank of Captain. He will continue to lead his marines, work hard to represent the Corps and his family, and truly enjoy his last year ,and there is no better way to do that than to be a Captain! So congrats Will. We are so proud of all that you have done for us. You sacrificed your time with your family to helped protect our country, you continue to make a difference now with you work in the Environmental section. We love you and are forever grateful for all of your hard work. We love you always!

The Major calling Will on deck.


Lt. Gazes

Priceless picture...

Poppa and I pinning Wills Catain bars on.

Saying his oath.

Will telling everyone why he choice the Iwo Jima for his place of promotion

Richard and Uncle John congratulating Captain Gazes

The Gazes

Angie and I

Deb, Branden, and I

Will and Eric... go Team Goose!

Party time at the Quarterdeck!

Karen and Jo,,, dont kill eachother!

Work Friends

The rest of the gang!

Alleluia!!

I dont know what else to say but Alleluia Pumkin graduated! Yes I speak the truth the untrainable dog is trainable! Pumking finshed up her doggy classes and passed! Amen! You can see improvement but we still have a ways to go. Will said she listend to everything he said during class time. But once he got home it wasnt that easy. You can see that she has calmed a little bit. I even let her stay out of her cage the passed four days while I went out on my errands. But last night wasnt a good night for our Pumking. I thought man I will buy her a sweet doggy bed. She seemed to love it and layed it in. But when I had left her for a few hours to go out I came back to only pieces of doggy bed everywere. I was so sad! Then this morning Willie took Pumkin for her for her morning walk and when I woke up, 2 hours later, she had eaten a hole in our carpet . UHHHHHH. I tell you I was finally loving on this little dog and she goes and eats my bed I bought her and then my carpet... on my stairs by the way so everyone will see it. UHHHHHHH. What can you do. Lets just say Will is going to be signing her up for part TWO of doggy classes!

Look at her,,, isnt she so cute!

You don't have to be a Winner to have fun!

The Habib's and the Gazes' all piled up in their cars and headed off to Atlantic City! Everyone was so excited, but I think Junior and Jackie Rose were the most excited about the trip. See Junior hasn't stopped talking to Jackie about the last time he went to AC! He told her all about "The Man" you call and then he brings you all the food you want. Yes , little man is talking about room service. He just thought that was the most amazing thing ever! So Jackie Rose couldn't wait to get on that phone and make her food order! So the first thing she said when we got out of the car was, " Mommy, were in Atlantic City...... we call "The Man" now. It was very funny. Pen, me and our kids hung out at the pool and shopped while the men played poker and other fun gambling games. They had some highs and some lows. By the end of our short weekend everyone lost their shirts! But they had fun. Of course its always nice to have extra money to go home with. But I hope the Habibs feel the same as the Gazes,,,you don't always have to be a winner to have fun. So thanks to the Habibs for being high rollers and getting us our free room! It was so much fun!

Our room and the kiddies!

Our view that Jackie Rose just loved!

The statue that baby Willie wouldn't stop staring at... I tell you he is a boobie man!

The kids in front of a knock off Bellagio fountain.

The Gazes

The Habibs

The broke hubbies!

Work in progress.....





Lets just say putting Willie in his crib is still a work in progress. I am not as insane as I was that last time I posted but we still have some work to do. I still have to feed him before I put him down , which normally makes him fall asleep. Will has yet to get Willie to take a bottle, so its been hard on me having to put him down with out him wanting Mommy's boobies! he he did I just say boobies. I have classical music playing in his room all the time. My Little man sure loves that kind of music! His Aunt Sarah would be so proud. So thank you all for your prayers, and please continue to pray for us! Willie is almost there, just a few more days and I think we have a winner. A little man in his crib and a mommy and daddy in there OWN bed! Alleluia!

This blanky isnt mommy,,, but it will do!

Could my heart ache anymore???

You think I would have learned a few tricks from my first kid. Ha,, ya right. My little Willie is just as spoiled as Jackie Rose was and still is! Jackie Rose slept in my bed for the first 10 months of her life! I was breast feeding and her daddy was away at war. So I thought why not. It was getting me some sleep and I felt safer having her so close to me. I had decided to stop breast feeding when she got teeth,,, lets just say OUCH! (by the way Willie first tooth is already out and growing ) Then I read all these books on how to get your baby in their crib and how its so much better for them and for the parent. I picked a week and started the hardest 7 days of my life! Jackie was sitting up by then so when I put her in her crib she didn't know how to lay down. She would scream her head off for a good 3 hours at a time. I would peak in and make sure she was still ok only to see her bobbing back and forth fighting laying down and being so tired! But on the 7th day, my baby girl slept in her bed for 7 hours straight and did so from that day forth. I swore to my self I wouldn't go through this with my second child. Man I am a big fat lair! My son started out sleeping in his bassinet for the first 2 months of his life. But I was getting NO sleep. Between him and Jackie Rose I was pulling 3 hours of sleep.. and that wasn't straight through. I was going out of my mind and one night I just broke and put him in my bed and that is were he has been ON MY BOOB and IN MY BED. So the other day I decided this is it. I need to grow some balls and just go for it. My son needs better sleep, I need better sleep, and I am sure my husband would like to hold his wife once again! So tonight as I write my blog, I hear my sweet sweet son crying out for his mommy. My heart aches for him. I know that I need to do this, but any of you , especially you mothers out there, know how heart breaking it is to her your baby scream and scream and scream. Tears fill my eyes, and the pain I felt for my baby girl is now back in full force for my sweet little boy. Last night was our first night of this. It didn't go so well. I gave Will 4 ounces of milk to feed him so that he could go to bed on a full tummy but it didn't work out as planed. Turns out Willie hates the bottle. So on top of all of this , I have to some how get his little boy to take a bottle. ( you all know he has never taken a pacifier) So I pray now, God please give me the strength that I need to get through this week. Help my little man learn to fall asleep on his own, let him still feel the deep love I have for him! Let me feel your presence as I will need to have you to lean on!

Zeta truly is FOREVER......



After a year of planning my good ol' Zeta sisters finally ALL got together for a dinner. The sad part about it was , Kelly is moving to St. Louis. I hate that it took so long for me to get my act together and now she is moving away. But I have to look at it as a new place for me to visit! Ladies I had the best time. I needed some girl time. Leaving Willie wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. He didn't do so well for daddy. But he was a good man and didn't call and bother me during our wonderful dinner! I can not wait for our next dinner out on the town!

The Hot ladies, me , Sherry, Kelly , Christy!

These gals are always ready for their pictures!

I miss you already Kelly!

Four month shots just SUCK!!!!

My sweet little boy had his four month check up today! He will be 5 months on the Thursday, but you know the military. That's when we were able to get an appointment. So I brought my mom and dad along with me to the doctors. I figured I could use some help grocery shopping afterwards. Willie is 26.5 inches long, his head is 16.5, and he weighed in at 13.10. He is only in the 25th percentile for weight. The doctor said he was just fine. He is just a super tall petite baby. She said he should be about 17 pounds at his 6 month apt. I have started him on solids so I am hoping that helps to fill his little tummy. Hope you enjoy the pictures. My poor little man was a trooper!

I can drink this,, shots by the mouth. What a great idea!
Mommy, why am I on this table, and why are you taking a picture?

Mommy, why is Mamie holding my arms?

Hey man that hurts! You just try to get my legs again!

Can I just have a moment to breath, Please!

You people are killing me! Come on!

I am ready to leave already!

This is what happens when you let your grandparents sit next to you!

I couldnt get Elizabeth to sit still for one second!


The girls playing and having a blast.

Say cheese please...

The old 1/6 guys...

Is this Pams kid or mine, HMMMM.

We are still sooo HOT!

My main food group in NC!

Gotta love the waves!

Building their sand castles!

Willie's first time in the sand!

That baby Bumbo has been everywhere with us!

The guys just chillin'!

What a good looking family!My boys!

My Home away from Home...

This past week the Gazes and my parents headed off to Jacksonville North Carolina! That's right I headed back to my good ol' stoppin' grounds. What a wonderful week it was. Will had an Environmental conference to go to and asked if I would like to tag along. Of course I jumped at that opportunity. We brought mom and dad to help us out with the kids, and to just have a great time! I really love that dad is retired and can just up and go anywhere he wants at a drop of the hat! How fun is that.

The trip was wonderful. It was baby Willies first time in North Carolina. He did great on the 6 hour car drive too! He also loved putting his little toes into the sand for the first time. Man oh man I think he is going to be a fish in the water just like his big sis is! All of us just wanted to relax and hit the beach as much as we could. The weather was pretty nice and allowed us to go to the beach everyday. If time allowed we ended the day in the pool, which was right behind were we were staying. The good ol' BOQ... for you non military people that's the Bachelor Officers Quarters. It was pretty nice. Cant complain.. the price and location was perfect! I had a few goals I had to accomplish while I was in town.

1. Hit the beach
2. Eat at Tokyo Japanese Express

3. Shop at my old store Fanci Friends

4. Meet up with my 1/6 ladies and catch up on old times!

5. Hit Alicia's house and Elizabeth's birthday party

I was able to accomplish every last one of my goals! Thank goodness. The beach was great. The kids loved it and so did my parents. Eating at my good old Tokyo was amazing, just as good as I remembered! I sure did SHOP SHOP SHOP at Fanci Friends. After a year the owner still remembered me... man I can shop in that store! I was able to meet up with two of my lady friends and their families for dinner one night. It was wonderful to see them. Jenn will be moving to VA at the end of the summer... and little Miss. Pam will still be in NC. But don't you worry lady, I already know I will be back for a visit before the summer is over! Of course I cant forget Alicia, she too is a 1/6er. She couldn't meet up for dinner but I was able to go over to her place, hang out for her daughters 2nd birthday, and see Josh for the first time since being home from Iraq! It was so much fun. I also don't want to forget about seeing her 2, almost 3 month old son Jace. Man the boy has grown so much from the last time I had seen him! He is twice the size of baby Willie. That little man is going to be a line backer for sure!

All in all is was an amazing trip. I miss North Carolina and the home we made there. Life seemed so laid back and much more relaxed there. I could definitely see us going back there one day! Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying being in VA, I love being around family and old friends. But you have to admit VA and NC ...... they are night and day! You have major city life and traffic,,, and then you have j-ville. Need I say more. Hope you enjoy the pictures..

Going to the Synagogue and she's gonna get married!!

Well maybe not the Synagogue but close enough. This past Tuesday my dearest friend got engaged to the love of her life, Alan. ( Tuesday just happened to be my 8 year wedding anniversary!) Rachel and I have been talking about the moment she would get married since we were in college. What colors she would like, what kind of dress she would wear, and were she would have the big day. All we needed was her prince charming. He finally came and now they are going full force ahead! With only four months to plan, October 7th to be exact, Rach and her mom looked at a venue and wedding dress all in one day! We think she may have found what she was looking for in both places!!! I was lucky enough to meet up with her when she was trying on dresses. I walked in the bridal shop and she had a dress on. I looked at her and just started to cry. I even made her cry,,, good job Robin! She was breathtaking. I swear that dress was hand made just for her! I wont give any details on it just in case its the one... but man oh man she looked like a bride! I am so grateful to be able to be here to help her celebrate this joyous moment in her life! I am looking forward to all the special memories we will make in the months ahead. Congratulations Rachel and Alan!!!


Hey, I cant see that thing is blinding me!!

They all look so pretty!!!

Ok, I will buy them all!!

8 wonderful years .....

Tuesday was my 8 year wedding anniversary. I can not believe how time flies. Two states, two deployments and two kids later we are still going strong. I am in awe of how much my love continues to grow for my husband. Everyday I feel I love him so much that I could not possibly fall deeper in love with him. Then the next day hits and well I love him even more. I know sappy stuff but its true. Even with an argument here and there, I am so deeply in love with that man.

We were able to get my mom and dad to watch Jackie Rose and baby Willie. It was his first official time to be left alone for more than 30 mins with out us. WOW. I had two bottles ready for mom and dad. Will and I ate at Carabbas. It was great. We sat up right were you can watch them cook. It was fun and our chef was from Boston so he had a great accent! We then went to get some ice cream. I called to check in and mom was just giving Willie his first bottle. So I went and got my toes done. What a great husband to sit there and wait for me! By the time we got home mom was sitting on the stairs with Willie. Apparently he just calmed down. He drank 2 of the 4 ounce bottle before realizing it wasn't mommy! Will and I had only feed him once before from a bottle. He just isn't used to it yet. But man he better learn fast. I really enjoy my freedom there. So thanks to mom and dad for letting us go out on our first official date in months! We really needed it. And thank you to my wonderful husband for putting up with me for so many years, for giving me two wonderful children, for helping me keep my relationship with God solid, and for loving me so deeply. I am the luckiest women in the world to have such a great husband! I love you always and forever babe!

My Special Sunday!

This Sunday was not an ordinary Sunday for the Gazes family. It was the day our son was baptised. We were blessed to have Willie's godparents fly in from Texas for his big day. We couldn't have asked for sweeter moment. I was so proud of my son. What a special day it was to show our family and friends the love we all share for Christ. He was so patient, that is until he received his holy water... it was a bit hot. Ok very hot! Poor Willie's head was so red!



To my dearest godparents,

I want to thank you so much for becoming my God parents. I know that my parents chose wisely the minute I met the two of you! I am blessed to see the love that you share for each other and for your faith. I am looking forward to learning so much about our Lord and how to walk these roads that lay before me as a man of Christ. My mommy and daddy will help to guide me and show me the love of Christ. I am humbled to know that you both will help me in this journey and help to strengthen my faith. Mommy always said that God has a plan for everyone. I am so grateful that Gods plan was to have you both be teachers of his word. I love you. I can not wait to grow closer to you and to my savior. Thank you for loving me and for promising to show me the way of the Lord.

Your sweet godson, Willie


What..are you going to pour on my head?

My wonderful godparents, Sarah and Ryan.

Hello,, its hot hot hot... anyone... hello...

I can handle some oil...

Ryan lighting my candle.

My favorite family!!!