Date a Tanner

Trevor's poor date...
You get fooled to come in for 'just a moment'

Then you get cornered!

Do you see Trev's face?!? SO classic.


She survived!

But only after meeting Grandpa & Grandma & Earl & Peter &&&&&

Merry Christmas!!

First, wonderful blogger will not let me move the order of the photos...Grrrr. SO, pardon the random order!

I am a woman of few words...so I will let the photos show our family's
Christmas in Utah.

However, I need to send special loves to Mom, Dad & David in Korea: I LOVE you & miss you all horribly. There's not a moment that I didn't have you all in my heart. Emily did a fabulous job doing gathering my 'Santa' gifts...thank you.

Joe, Emily & Noah: I'm glad we followed a few holiday traditions together! Cookies, movies & Zoo Lights..Christmas 'musts' for me! Emily, your shopping skills amaze me. THANK YOU for being 'Santa's' helper! Give loves to my Max and kisses for Nephew!

Merry Christmas to all my friends in Iraq!
I'm blessed to have met you all & share some life changing experiences.
Thank you. Thank you & God bless your families.

Christmas 2008:

3 of 5!

Holiday Kisses

Christmas Naps...my favorite kind

I love Bob...even if he is a Boston fan!

Beautiful Laurisa & Kathy

Christmas PJs, Fab Slippers (Thank you parents & Emily!)
& Grandma's decorating magic!

Frosting sugar cookies in St Louis

World's biggest Eagle Fan.
(AKA Thabo)

Amber with beautiful, new Gavin

Happy Peter!

Vanna Alison!

Love these boys

Enough said.
(I already miss him)

Perfect.

Home Sweet Home

Home & Happy & Lovin my rash-covered nephew!

Fun Snaps

Goodbye Bear Hugs

Breaking the Rules

My Bad Boys

Ready to fly..again

They can think of Acronymns for EVERYTHING else...why did they need to spell this one out?!?
Just, plain, morbid.

Following the Tigris home


Ta-Ta for now... See ya'll soon...

Wonderful Homemade Breakfast.

Samoon & Fresh, made-this-morning Cream

Thank you Joe.

Your sweet holiday gift made my day.

Everything I need?!?

Really?!?

I asked if they'd show Twilight...yeah...no

Another space

Big Desk, little chair

Nicest Desk EVER

Wish I had time to do my hair

My latte makes life better

My private tent

Empty bunks

My body is spent

No need for rent

Turkish Coffee and other Ramblings

Since my time in the IZ, I've had an obsession with Turkish Tar, I mean coffee.

The way it's made, the variety, and the conversation

that comes with fellow coffee lovers..

Priceless.

Bonus: who can resist the delicate cups it's served in!

The coffee is boiled with sugar until the grounds disolve. Creating this blissful, thick tar.

Coupled with fresh bread, cheese and Iraqi sweets..makes for a Blissful & Buzzed afternoon!

Now. To jump subjects (I'm known for this):

I took this photo of a team member's ring on our travels:

Cool ring huh?

Although, we forgot the name of the stone.

SO, as a result, here is part of the email my buddy wrote searching for the name of this ring:

So, I asked my faithful teammate, “What is the name of the stone on Ben’s ring?”

She says, “I don’t know.”

I asked, “Didn’t you put the name of it on the picture?”

She replied, “No, I just put ‘special ring.’”

I'm so tired...

I don't know why that made me laugh.

Thought I'd share...

Kinda sad.

FYI: the ring is called Sulaymani. It's said to have mystical powers.

Jeez :)

Waiting

Leaving!

On to the next assignment.

Ok.

Let me pack real quick.

Really?

Cancelled?

Again?

Tomorrow?

Argh. Unpack.

Again.

Repeat