Happy Birthday Neil!

Happy Birthday to our sweet Neil! Where have the last 10 years gone? It's hard to believe that today is your birthday and you're turning into quite a little man.

I think one of the hardest parts of being a parent is watching your children grow up. Time passes by so quickly. It seems like not too long ago they were babies, dependant on you for all their needs and then all of a sudden they don't need you at all.

We have truly been blessed with having Neil in our family. He is a such a special and unique spirit. He definitely helps us to view the world in a wonderful way that many don't get a chance to experience. I admit that sometimes I find myself staring at him, wondering who the child in that shell really is. Neil is so introverted sometimes it's hard to know what he is thinking or how he feels. At the same time, that quality about him makes him sensitive and special.

Last night just mom and Neil went to Walmart, it was so nice spending a little one on one time with him. We had a good, silly time together.

Happy Birthday Neil, may you get all that you wish for!

We love you!

My Smart Kids and other stuff

Of course I admit to being completely biased in that opionion HOWEVER, their reports cards also say that my kids are SMART as well. This week the two younger boys were recognized for both making the A/B Honor Roll. We are very proud of them. It was bittersweet when it came to Daniel because I'm not sure he's old enough to be on an type of Honor Roll list!! (yes I am in denial that he is growing). But we are very proud of our boys and how well they are doing in school. Michael too made A's and B's but middle school is different and we should be getting his certificate this week (maybe?).


Also, the two younger boys participated in an All City Chess Tournament where our school placed First! Go Kings!!! Neil placed 2nd in his field and well Daniel, he just participated. Kevin said he wasn't sure some of his challengers really knew what they were doing and there weren't enough adults supervising but Daniel didn't complain so we are going with the flow! He was happy to participate. Michael is going to take on the challenge of getting together a chess team at his school, we're proud of his initiative and support him 100%.



Michael and Kevin went camping last weekend and thus Michael has completed all his requirements to earn his Second Class ranking in Boy Scouts...and as long as everything works out he should earn his First Class before his birthday in March. Go Michael!


Neil has also completed his requirements to earn his Bear rank which will be awarded at our next Pack meeting and after this coming Saturday he will have earned his Religious Knot...go Neil!

Kevin and I continue to do the same things, he dons his uniform daily and Soldiers off to work and I participate in my various volunteer organizations...AFTB, FRG, Deployment Club, Cub Scouts!

Random Pic of the Boys

Reflagging

4th ID Patch

4ID’s Cobras to become 1st Cav’s Long Knives
Ivy Division’s 4th BCT to reflag as First Team’s 4th BCT

By Spc. Creighton Holub
4th BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
January 14, 2008

The 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is scheduled to become the 1st Cavalry Division’s 4th BCT in mid-March. The reflagging process involves three units that will shuffle their flags, guidons and unit historical items while their Soldiers will stay at their respective posts.

“We have proudly served in the 4th Infantry Division as steadfast and loyal Soldiers,” said Col. Philip Battaglia, the Cobra Brigade commander. “The unit is re-flagging after having contributed to the proud lineage and history of the Ivy Division. This brigade just went to war with the 4th Inf. Div., and when you think about the long and proud history of the division – including D-Day, World War II, Vietnam and Iraq – our Soldiers are very proud they contributed to the division’s legacy. Fortunately for this brigade, we are joining another division with an amazing history and proud traditions: The 1st Cavalry Division.”

The first of the three units to reflag will be Fort Bliss’ 4th BCT, 1st Cav., as it takes the colors of the currently inactive 4th BCT, 1st Armor Div. The Cobra Brigade will reflag as the 4th BCT, 1st Cav., this March. Finally, the 2nd BCT, 2nd Inf. Div., will reflag as the new 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., at Fort Carson, Colo.

While the Cobra Brigade’s unit designation and icons will move to new bases, the Soldiers and their equipment will remain at Fort Hood. “The reflagging process will be transparent,” said Lynda Nash, the Cobra Brigade’s Family Readiness Group support assistant. “One day your Soldier will be wearing a new shoulder patch.”

However, she added that the brigade’s Soldiers and Families will use different facilities such as the 1st Cavalry Readiness Center instead of the 4th Inf. Div. Readiness Center after the reflagging is complete.

The brigade’s subordinate battalions are also changing their unit designation when the switch from the Ivy Division to America’s First Team occurs. The unit currently known as the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment will become the 2nd Bn., 7th Cav. Regt. The 3rd Bn., 67th Armor Regt., will reflag as the 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. The 704th Brigade Support Bn., will reflag into the 27th Brigade Support Bn. The 8th Squadron, 10th Cav. Regt., will become the 1st Squadron, 9th Cav. Regt. The “Strong and True” Soldiers in the 4th Special Troops Battalion will maintain their current naming structure as the 4th Special Troops Battalion, but they will also receive new distinctive unit insignias along with all the other Soldiers in the battalions and the brigade headquarters.

Every Cobra Brigade Soldier is scheduled to receive new 1st Cav. Div. patches. They will receive four camouflage Velcro patches, four unit crests for their berets and Class A uniforms and two Class A uniform patches.

The current Cobra Brigade will become known as the Long Knife Brigade after the switch.
“The traditions will also be different,” said Lonni Maddux, the FRG support assistant for 1-12 Inf. Regt. “But you won’t have to get a new identification card or move. Your children will go to the same schools. The only thing that will change is your Soldier’s uniform.”

(Editor’s Note from Bob: For those wondering about the current 4BCT subordinate units, I am pretty sure that when 2BCT of 2ID reflags to 4ID’s 4BCT out at Fort Carson they will pick up the designations of 1-12 IN, 3-67 AR, 704 BSB, and 8-10 CAV).

So why am I posting this article? Because it applies to us. I have a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts. The unit's themselves hold great history behind them but it's emotional for us on a personal level. Cobra Brigade is who we endured a deployment with, it's whom those we lost hold ties too and there is much love and pain included in all that mixture of feelings. As we get ready to switch out patches and move on (isn't that what the Army is all about anyway, constant change?) we will do so with sadness in our heart yet excitement to see what the future holds.

On a side note...I reaaaaaaaallly am not looking forward to switching out my normal sized 4th ID patch for the HUGE 1st Cav patch but we'll adjust, lol

1st Cavalry Patch

Oh and a p.s.s if you will...I do look forward to Kevin putting back on the Stetson...he looks super yummy in it!!

U.S. Army All- American Bowl Jan 5, 2008

Ok, so I'm a week late in this, I've been meaning to sit and write but you know how that goes, it's been one of those crazy, busy weeks. But last week, we got to go and watch the U.S. Army All-American Bowl down in San Antonio. Don't know what that is? Well it's a football game made up of high school students from all over the country, some of the best. Former football player Howie Long's son played, as did Mike Golic's son (from Mike & Mike in the morning), along with many others. We were given free tickets courtesy of the U.S. Army.

It was a pretty neat day because it was all geared towards the military. Walking into the Alamodome, was the "Strong Zone". It had all these different booths sponsored by Soldiers and they gave out tons of neat things...hats, D-rings, towels, balls, posters...pretty cool. At one booth they were handing out little towels...one of the guys said that he would give anyone who did 25 pushups a T-shirt...so Kevin did, lol. He actually did 30...it was funny because there was a huge gaggle of people who were amazed that he could do 25 pushups, many said the t-shirt wasn't worth pushups, lol. It was a pretty cool t-shirt. I admit that I didn't watch a lot of the game because I was looking around trying to take it all in. The kids were fascinated as was my husband and everywhere you saw Soldiers. They continually announced over the loud speakers to keep the Soldiers and their families in your prayers. It was nice to be somewhere when you heard the National Anthem, everyone, 2 years to 100 years old all stood up and knew what to do. It was also a bonus that they played the Army Song and you could hear people sing. Overall it was a pretty awesome day. The coin toss was done by a Soldier who was injured in Iraq with the Secretary of the Army and the Vice Chief of Staff looking on. The winning trophy was awarded by Coach Boone (Remember the Titans).
Probably the worst part was when Daniel was pouting cuz he kept leaning on the rail...we were 5 floors up and I kept envisioning him falling over the rail onto the concrete, but he got over it.

Hope you enjoy our pics!

Reflecting on 2007, Bringing in 2008

As we look back at 2007, there's no need to complain. We were blessed to have a relatively quiet, yet good year. Kevin was stateside all of 2007. He wasn't actually home with us all year but he was out of harm's way and for that we are grateful. 2007 brought change...the Army is all about change but it was hard to leave our old unit and transition into a new one. We continue with that transition even now. We do know that we are where we are supposed to be and continue to have faith that the answer as to WHY we are there will be revealed at some point.

2007 also brought changes for our children...the biggest being that our oldest is now a middle schooler...where does the time go? Wasn't he just in diapers? That was a bit hard for mom to accept but the fact is that he is getting older. Each child comes with challenges and we have worked hard in overcoming many of them.

I have rejoined the Army Family Team Building ranks and am thoroughly enjoying it. I have taken a step back in other activities and focusing more on the family and me. I continue to work with the Cub Scout program, currently serving as Cubmaster. Kevin is serving as assistant 11 year old Scout leader. So it's obvious that Scouting is a big part of our family.

What does 2008 to the Albrecht family? Well sadly on the forefront of our minds is the impending deployment. Sometime this summer we will bid farewell for 15 months to the head of this household. It's hard not to focus on that...6 months seems like far away, sadly time never flies this fast when they are actually gone, only when you're wishing it would slowdown to delay the goodbye.

Over dinner we each talked about the things we hope for in 2008.

Kevin - to be a lose 5 lbs and get in better shape; to be a good example to our boys.

Nadine - to get healthier and exercise more...be a better wife and mommy (though God Bless the men in my life, they say I'm already awesome!)

Michael - to get better at soccer and make it to 7th grade

Neil - to get better at football

Daniel - to get better at baseball and get to 2nd grade!

During the last deployment we grew a lot as a family. A lot of the things we learned, we have already applied to our daily lives. We hope in the new year to continue to live these lessons. The main one is to focus on today...not to live in the past and not to worry about the future but to live for today because we aren't promised tomorrow. It really is all about the simple things.

To all of our family and friends...we love you and wish you all a wonderful 2008, may you all get all that you desire and from whatever life throws at you, may you learn and grow!

With love always,
The Albrecht Squad!