Ricky's an Outlaw!

Ricky's Company has its own website and blog! There is even a slide show with pictures, and Ricky is in there!

Here is what has been posted so far.... He is a part of the "outlaws"

Welcome New 'Outlaw' Family and Friends Comments(0)
Posted on: 10/1/2010

'Outlaw' Family and friends,

Welcome to a new cycle of Basic Combat Training. Our newest 'Outlaw' Soldiers have been extremely busy over the past few weeks. Your loved ones have been through many stressful and physically demanding training events that have begun to push them to their limits, and turn them into highly motivated and skilled Warriors. We have posted several new photo albums on the web site and will continue to update this as the 'Outlaws' progress through their training. Please feel free to check those out and see if you can get a glimpse of your Soldier. Alpha Company has a long standing tradition of training some of the best Soldiers in the Battlion, and we continue to pride ourselves on the quality of Soldiers that we graduate. Rest assured that your loved ones are in the best hands possible, and even when they call and tell you how hard it is and want to quit, you need to tell them that they can do it. We all hope that everyone will make it through training and we look forward to seeing all of you at graduation.

'OUTLAW 5' Out!

Letter 2.. Dated September 16th

Well, I have a few minutes at least now. We got our rifles today, that was cool. Yesterday we did the victory tower. It was 2 repels and a rope swing and a whole ropes course really. It was a good time. I was officially titled as our platoon guide today. We have 35 soldiers in our platoon so I guess that puts me over 34 and myself. That happened night one. No idea How that happened. Then they also made me Bay leader. That really sucks. I have to try to get my platoon and all of the guys from the other platoonto keep the bay clean and take FireGuard watches. . . Have to be up at 0430.

....

He misses us all! He also went on to say that because of his leadership roles, he has no personal time to write. Things can always change... He also sent me a list of things to ship to him.. lol... It seems to be taking about ten days for his mail to get to me, so I don't know how long it is taking to get to him. His tentative Graduation Date is set for November 18th! So excited! 56 days left!

thanks to all!

kristy

Letter 1... Dated around Sept10, 2010

Ricky says:

So we got smoked this morning for not being in formation on time. I was but not everybody. So of course we all got smoked for it. Then one of the other companies was missing a soldier and couldn't find him. I think they found him in the latrine with his wrists cut. Those privates have probably never run so fast in their lives. He was okay though. Everybody in my platoon is pretty cool. No drama yet. I got a bit more sleep last night until the SGT on duty was spitting off football scores all night on the loud speaker. It was actually kinda funny. My throat still hurts. So I've been here for like 2 days and I already have a southern accent. Everybody does. It's kinda funny actually. Today is our last day of reception. Tomorrow the good stuff begins.

I miss you so much! I hope and pray you guys are well.

PFC Barlow

Address:

PFC RICHARD BARLOW
1-13th IN REGT, A-CO, 2nd Platoon
4420 Jackson BLVD
FT JACKSON, SC 29207


Please only send encouraging and uplifting letters. If you can't do that, then don't send anything! He is being torn down every which way you can imagine. Lets keep it positive!

Welcome to Hell!!!

Well, almost literally..... Ricky has been in "Reception" this last week and starts official "Basic Training" today. Until today, he has had his phone and has been able to call me and tell me what's going on. It really has been wonderful to get to talk to him... Even though they are still in Reception they are still getting "smoked" as Ricky likes to call it. These punk kids, probably first time out of their parents houses, keep running their big mouths and everyone gets punished for it. It is so funny to me to hear the background noise while I talk to him, because the first think I thought was, You get a group of guys together, and the first thing that happens is the alpha tries to establish himself. Well, with a huge group of cocky kids, you can imagine it gets loud. Everyone trying to bark out orders and sound bigger and badder then the next guy... We are hoping that Ricky will get put into a leadership position quickly, seeing as he already knows all of the Drill and Ceremony from being in the Guard, and is a little more, well, mature.. that is an odd thing to say, especially in regards to Ricky. Almost seems like an oxymoron.. Mature Ricky... lol.. but in that situation, he knows when to keep his mouth shut and say yes sir... or hooha... or whatever he is supposed to say.

But officially today it all begins. So we have our countdown till we see daddy next. I can't wait till we get to a month, then a week, then we're there! As soon as I get his address, I promise I will post it. Until then, thank you for your support!

-Kristy

Last Days Before the Big Send-off

So we had an interesting situation with Ricky's departure. Because he is in South Carolina, and all of the flights leave from SLC in the morning, he ended up staying in a SLC airport for two nights before leaving. The week before we had a wonderful adopted member of the family put us up in Park City at the beautiful MountainSide resort. One of the days we had a sitter come spend the day with us so Ricky and I could go play while the kiddies slept. What an amazing time. It really is so wonderful that after 8 years, we can still play together and laugh, and have so much fun. So we rode the coaster, and the zip line, and the slides, over and over until I was about ready to throw up...

Then we had a great BBQ Saturday with some great friends and family so that whoever wanted to could come and see him off. Then Monday we drove him up to the Hotel that the Army put him up in, had dinner together and took off. Tuesday morning he had to go to MEPS... its the Military's medical checks to make sure he is still fit to go. He was done by noon, and didn't fly out till the next morning. So we got to go to the zoo for the day! What a fun last day for our little family. We had an enjoyable time, the kids were great (for the most part) and then we got to have dinner and dessert with mom and dad Barlow. When we dropped him off to the hotel that night, we had been instructed to use that as our goodbye time. So it was a very tearful event. I can't imagine how it was for him, how it IS for him, having to leave his wife and children. But we did it.

He flew out Wednesday morning, and really was traveling all day. He took his cell with him so he could talk to me, until it gets taken away. So I got updates all throughout the day. He got into South Carolina around 4pm, but then had to wait till almost 9 for all of the other soldiers to get in. I know he didn't get to sleep till 1am, didn't fall asleep until 3am, then had to wake up at 3:45am to get showered shaved and ready for formation. I have had a chance to talk to him a few minutes here and there... So far it has been a lot of hurry up and wait. A lot of waiting in lines to get uniforms, boots, haircuts (even though he shaved his head before he left), vaccinations, etc... He sounds positive, tired but positive. Monday is when he officially starts Basic Training... His phone will be taken away sometime before then... and that is when the "REAL" fun begins. As soon as I get his address I will post it. Anyone who is willing to write him, I know he would appreciate it! (unless you happen to be some loony that we don't know... then maybe not)

Anyway, that's all for now!

And Off The Tower We Go!

So, most of us all know how good I am at opening my mouth and saying things that I shouldn't. Last month Ricky's RSP Unit had a family day where we got to go BBQ with his Sargent and other soldiers. As I was standing there speaking with Sargent Dixon, the thought came to me, and of course I didn't stop it from coming out of my mouth, "So how many wives step up and come to drill to support their husbands?" To which he replies, "well, there is always a first time for everything." The next day Ricky comes home and tells me that I am expected at drill next month... lol... great... What have I just done??!!

So my amazing best friend Marisa stepped up and said that she would go too so I didn't have to go alone. Amazing! (Marisa being in amazing physical shape having just completed a 1/2 marathon) So I jogged a few nights, did a couple push-ups and sit-ups, and figured I would do my best. Then we get the drill letter and learn that we are doing the "confidence course." SWEET!!! So we get to drill, go through the morning line up and roll call and official stuff, then we load onto a prison bus where Sgt. Montgomery (who really is one of the coolest chicks I have ever met, and the smallest) jumps on and drives us to the fireman's tower. We notice as we pull up that there are repelling ropes hanging from this tower... SWEET! Repelling!

Needless to say, I don't know how many people would willingly launch themselves off of a perfectly good building, but it was a great time. And really, it was amazing for me to watch Ricky in action. Whenever there was down time, he didn't stand around and chit chat or lolly gag. He took charge, taught the newer guys D&C (drill and ceremony) or helped with the belaying. His form was perfect, his knowledge regarding proper Soldier etiquette, amazing. He really has found his calling. It was such a proud moment for me to sit back and watch him take charge and be a leader. It was a huge wake up call and reminder that this is what he is supposed to do! I can't wait till I get to go to his Basic Training Graduation. How amazing it will be to see him at the end of that hard journey, and to celebrate with him.

You Scream, I Screa.... No wait.. It's just you...

So, Katelynn has developed a new, bad habit. She has started screaming.. not like loud yelling, but real blood curdling screams... it is driving me insane!!! I try to remind myself that she is still finding her voice, and that it is normal... But this is when she wakes in the middle of the night, and decides she doesn't want to go back to sleep... for an hour.. and screams the entire time...

Any suggestions or thoughts? I want to nip this in the bud immediately.

Also.. Our sweetheart has decided that she doesn't want to eat baby food anymore. She only wants food if she can feed herself. She refuses to eat any other way.... so I am going to try to do soft veggies and rice and soft meats... lets hope it works. If so, then she will just start eating what we eat and I better be good about what I make.... Dude!

Looking for advice!

New Home

So we are officially all moved in! (almost unpacked, and in no way decorated) We have been given the wonderful blessing of staying with Mom and Dad Barlow while Ricky is away. So, this last weekend we moved in... It is wonderful, to be in such a beautiful home, with family, and in such a gorgeous neighborhood. I know that with Ricky gone, I will need someone to talk to every once in a while, and to check on me if we don't come down the stairs for days.... lol... Most of everything is in storage, but it is all just stuff, and at that stuff we could live without.

Anyone want to come help me decorate a little since I seem to be seriously lame? Come on by!

Lucky for us, Brandon is over his little summer virus... Not lucky for us, Ricky and I have been suffering from it this week. Not as bad as he got, but still... And it seems that Katelynn has it a little too. Either that or she has some more wicked teeth coming in that just keep her unhappy. But as of next week, hopefully we are all better and can get back to normal life, in our new home!

Summer Diva Virus?

Yes... That is what Dr. Matt called it today when we took Brandon and Katelynn in... The Summer Diva Virus. Sore throat, fever, aches, rash, all really bad, really quick... So needless to say we have two babies in sick today. It almost sounds like the flu... but alas, no... Thank goodness for "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs!" which is the movie of the summer. We will not be spreading the love to anyone outside of the house, so here goes for a few gorgeous summer days inside!

Daddy and Bubbas up at Tibble, having some guy time

About the Barlow's...

I have started this blog for a couple of reasons. 1. We need a family blog. 2. With Ricky being away, learning first to serve our country and then going to Iraq, I thought this might be a nifty way to keep everyone up to date on how he is doing. 3. It will be a great place for happy family info.

So who are we, this crazy Barlow family? Ricky has just joined the Utah Army National Guard. He will be leaving in the beginning of September to Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. As long as all goes well, he will be in Basic Training (Boot Camp) for 10 weeks. We will not get to talk to him but maybe 3 minutes at a time, once a week... If he's good and we're lucky. So we will be writing a lot of letters. Once he leaves South Carolina, he will go straight off to Ft. Eustis, Virginia. He will be there around 5 1/2 months learning everything there is to know about the Apache Helecopter. Lucky us, we will get to see him for 2 weeks at Christmas. Did you know that the military pretty much shuts down at Christmas? Unless you are deployed that is...

Then, for now, he is set to deploy for a year to Iraq in June 2011. I am grateful he is going to Iraq and not Afghanistan. But, that can always change and probably will. Who Knows?! Ricky is really excited to go and serve his country.

Kristy (that's me)... I am the crazy wife/mother of the bunch. I am so proud and excited for my husband, and really sad at the same time that he will be away for so long. But I can't think of anything more perfect for him to do... I work from home for a very amazing and successful Realtor, I keep track of my two amazing and adorable children, and starting in August, I will be back at school full time to finish my Bachelors. The kids and I will be living at Ricky's parents house while he is away(mostly so I don't go bonkers being all alone all day). We are so grateful to have the love and support of all of our family.

Brandon. Let's see. He is turning 3 in November... He is the funnest, nicest, happiest little guy I have ever known. Don't get me wrong, he is a 2 year old... So 'nuff said there. He is very smart, can sing his ABC's, can count to 15 (working on 20), knows what stuff like gears and petroglyphs are... He is an amazing big brother to his little sister, always making her laugh, helping mommy with her, etc.

Katelynn. Right now Katelynn is 7 1/2 months old. She starting rolling at 3 months, crawling backward at 4 months, and started crawling forward at 6 months. Right now she can say mama (only when she is crying though will she say mama), dada, and bubba.. She squeals and sings (in her cute baby way) and is pushing herself up to stand! She looks much more like her daddy than her mommy, but mommy is there a little. Both Katelynn and Brandon are full of energy!

We are all very excited for this new part of our lives to start. I will do my best to keep Ricky's contact information up to date as well as update you on his latest news, as well as that of Brandon and Katelynn.

Here we go!