2003 in Review

January

We visited the Farrisses in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Hawaii</st1:State></st1:place> and had a great vacation.  We really enjoyed seeing all the beautiful sites.  Highlights of the trip

• We saw the Arizona Memorial
• We saw some Hawaiin gooduns crash the gate of a Navy base
• Carlie celebrated her 2nd birthday
• Cammie broke my nose with a bedpost
• We brought back a very special souvenir

February

We found out that our family was growing in February (remember that special souvenir).  That was enough big news to fill the entire month.

March

Cammie turned 30 and I was promoted to major in the month of March.  We threw a party for ourselves in our hometown of Heflin so our oldest and dearest friends could help us celebrate.  It turned out that some of our friends are so old that they forgot about the party, but we had a great time celebrating with the ones who still have their memory.  It was an 80s themed party and some folks really went all out.   I was also pleasantly surprised to receive a great gag gift in the form of a picture of one of my high school teachers – the one who said I would never amount to anything.  I will withhold the name of the presenter in order to protect that person’s identity (that person is still scared of that mean old teacher).

Another significant event was Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Many of our military friends were deployed to support this operation, so we followed every development very closely.

April

US Soldiers rescued Jessica Lynch on the first day of April and saw the end of major combat operations in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> (which President Bush announced the first day of May).  An unprecedented military victory – all who deployed in support of this operation had plenty to be proud of. 

At the Benefield house, Carlie achieved a big milestone in April.  On Easter Day, the Easter Bunny took Carlie’s paggie (passifier) to a little baby who needed it – he took it gone, gone, bye, bye.  There was one dramatic night of crying and a couple of expeditions into the pine straw where the paggie was left, but Carlie made the adjustment very quickly.

May

I ran my first half - ironman triathlon in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Hiawassee</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">GA</st1:State></st1:place> on 30 May.  I finished the race, made many new friends and helped catch a famous fugitive. Here’s the short version -

During the bike portion, one aggressive driver gave us the one finger salute, questioned our sexual orientation and threatened to come back and beat us within an inch of lives.  He infuriated me to the point that I reported him to the deputies that were controlling traffic for us.  To my surprise, when I finished describing this guy and telling the deputy which direction he was heading in (he was heading into the town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Murphy</st1:City></st1:place>), the deputy jumped in his car and turned on his lights and went after him immediately.  I thought that Clay County, NC was the most bicycle friendly county in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></st1:place> when that happened.  It was only later that day when I turned on the news that I figured out the reason that deputy sped away like a bat out of Boaz was that the bird shooter was actually Eric Robert Rudolph (well, not actually, but that is the way I told it since he was caught along our race route on the day of the race). <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

June

June was the month we started buying blue.  We found out that Carlie was going to have a brother and we were all very excited.  I also had another birthday, but who’s counting at this point.

July

July was the month we received orders for Robins AFB.  We were excited about the move, but we knew it was going to be a very hectic time.

Carlie also achieved a milestone in July and became fully potty trained.  I wish all parents would have as easy a time with potty training as we had with Carlie.  It was mission complete in two days.

July was also the month that Steven and Matthew came to see us and attended the Rangers in action demonstration.  Matthew seemed ready to enlist on the spot, but he was short a few birthdays.

August

We can’t remember what the heck was going on in August, but it was hot at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Fort</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Benning</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>!

September

September was the final approach for our new addition.  Cammie was getting very ready to have that baby and starting to stress about our move.  We had two yard sales to reduce our inventory of household goods and made enough money to – hey, wait a minute, what did Cammie do with that money? 

October

Oh, happy day, Jay Allen Benefield was born.  On 13 October, he entered the world in grand fashion.  I was afraid to let <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">CSM Lane</st1:address></st1:Street> see him because he was born needing a haircut, but other than that, he was a perfect little man. 

We had lots of visitors and lots of people who helped us out.  We began to feel guilty about how much others were doing for us.  Actually, I was feeling guilty and fat – people brought us so many meals (with desert), that I don’t think we went to the commissary for three weeks.

November

November was a time of adjustment as we settled into a routine with Jay Allen and prepared to move. 

December

December has been a great month with many highlights (and we have a few hours left). 

• We started an internet business (email me later for detailsJ)
• We moved to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Warner Robins</st1:City></st1:place>
• Jay Allen’s first Christmas and visit with Santa
• Carlie received her first hot pink bicycle for Christmas and has started training for her first triathlon
• Carlie also received her first computer and has learned how to use it (somewhat)
• Cammie and I celebrated eleven years of marriage

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I apologize that this year’s review is not as entertaining as some past editions, but I still wanted to share some of the major events in our lives with all of our friends (all who read their email, anyway).  I hope all of you have a great 2004.  I love all of the Christmas letters that you guys send and encourage the rest of you to do a short letter to let us catch up with you.  For those of you with kids, please send pictures (email or paper is fine)– I can’t tell you how excited all of us get to see how much they have grown – especially Carlie.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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The Benefields

Jason

Cammie

Carlie

Jay Allen

Pile and Charlie

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