Christmas Greeting

Merry Christmas to all of you who I hope found the web-page relatively effortlessly as a result of our Christmas card. We thought we would use this blog as our vehicle for updating everyone on what has been a very busy year for the Spurlock Crew. This was a PCS year for us and with that comes busyness in and of itself!

As you can see, Drew has really grown this year! He started off the year in his second semester at Hampton Roads Montessori School in Newport News, Virginia. Drew absolutely LOVED that school and was sad to have to leave in June when we PCS'd. Before leaving Virginia he played soccer at Fort Eustis and although no goals were scored, he had a blast playing. After moving to New Jersey, Drew started Kindergarden and has been learning so quickly. He really has become an avid reader and will read just about every road sign he sees while riding in the car! He continued his soccer this past fall and is ramping-up for karate which will begin soon.

Kristin has continued to enjoy being at home with Drew and discovered the runner inside her! While in Virginia she paired-up with a running buddy and began training for the Rock and Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. While training for the race, she raced in three 5K races and one 8-mile race (the Yorktown Victory Run)! Go Mommy!!! She hasn't run much in New Jersey since we moved, but lets just say the weather hasn't been as pleasant to run in here. She has also stayed busy in the wives group here at Picatinny and with her scrapbooking (the card you received was hand-made)!

As for me, I started the year still in graduate school and finished in August with a Master of Science in Program Management. Once I graduated we moved from Virginia to Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey for my new job as an Acquisition Corps Officer. After moving Kristin and Drew here to Picatinny I had to attend the Acquisition Basic Course and Intermediate Contracting Course in Huntsville, Alabama for 3 months! Needless to say after graduating the courses in Huntsville, I was pretty schooled-out! Since October I've been getting settled into my new job as an Assistant Product Manager in the Joint Lightweight 155mm Howitzer Office here at Picatinny. It's been such a great job change for me, I truly feel blessed working there and look forward to work everyday.

That about hits all the high points. Paging through this blog you fill-in some of the blanks of the stuff I left-out. Our hope for the holidays for all of you is that the Lord has blessed you in as many ways that He has us, and that you all have a happy and joyful Christmas and New Years!!

Sledding

After 5+ inches of snow in the last couple of days and a coating of freezing rain/sleet, I couldn't resist the temptation any longer...

Drew and I went out to WalMart this morning in search of a sled since we had none from our days in Virginia. We found a sled that was a little pricey, but was really slick on the bottom and looked really fast. So we took our sled down the street from our house to a modest-sized hill for starters this season. We'll move-up to the bigger hills at the ski resorts later in the winter. The three of us had an absolute BLAST! The freezing rain over top of the snow made the conditions really fast as you can see from the video below. The top of the snow was like an ice rink!

Hope everyone out there on the East Coast is having fun in the early blast of wintery weather!!

Season in Full Swing

Well, the season is indeed in full swing at our house. Complete with snow on the ground and road salt all over the cars! It took us a while but we finally got our decorations up over this past week. We decided to go out and cut-down our own tree this year! This is the first year we have gotten a real tree since we were engaged to be married like 10 years ago!

We went to tree farm in NW New Jersey...let me tell you for all of you out there who have this picture of New Jersey in your heads (I had it too) of smog and pollution and factories and city, there is an incredibly beautiful part of the state as well. The area we went tree hunting in is some of the most beautiful country I have ever seen! I know, some of you are looking above for pictures of this beautiful place. Well, I sorta forgot the camera at home. I do have pictures of the tree above...one of the best trees we have ever had! Perfect for our house.

We hope all of your plans and preparations keep you all safe during the celebration of the birth of The King...

Promotion

Today Brian is officially a Major in the U.S. Army. We had a ceremony yesterday with cake and parents and the whole shebang. He even got a free lunch! It was the nicest promotion ceremony he's had yet. It was special since he was the only one getting promoted (vs. getting promoted as a group) and because of the insisting by his bosses. They had never promoted anyone in their office before since they are all civilians. Despite their lack of experience they did a great job! It was really great that Brian's parents and my parents were able to come too.