Billy the Exterminator...a check off of Hailey's Bucket List

You can imagine the excitement that descended upon our house this week as we found out Billy the Exterminator was going to be making a guest appearance at the AutoRama in Salt Lake. Hailey of course was on cloud nine all week, since she is one of Billy's BIGGEST fans. Billy has a reality show that is featured on the A&E channel. His show is about his business Vexcon. Keeping it in the family, Billy runs Vexcon with the help of his brother Rick, who he describes as “just as crazy as me,” his father Bill Sr., his sassy southern belle Mother Donnie, who runs the offices, and his beloved wife Mary. Billy was in the USAF and learned about pest control there and once he got out he started his Vexcon business and has taken a militaristic approach to pest control – and is emerging a victor. In the show, Billy and his family are called out to take care of Louisiana’s worst pest problems. It’s a big business in the swamp-like state of Louisiana, especially since Hurrican Katrina. Although there are numerous other pest control companies in the state, Vexcon is the only team that handles all types of animal removal. From tiny ants, giant snakes to alligators. You name it, Billy and his team have seen it. Hailey and her brothers AND her best friend Brandon all started watching the show over in Japan. They all became immediate fans. Hailey & Brandon had several adventures in our backyard trying to rangle up and catch many of gators that live along the bayou, just like Billy would do it. So, Hailey's so desire in life is to be an exterminator just like Billy and eventually one day go to work for Vexcon. Though my sweet girl loves the color pink, pigtails, pedicures, and dresses, she also loves bugs, snakes, gators & sharks. I guess we'll see how long this lasts...LOL

the kids arriving at the Salt Lake Expo Center for the 2011 AutoRama with special guest appearance Billy the Exterminator Billy just signed his Vexcon Logo and autograph on the piece of paper Rylan is holding. Rylan was so excited and Billy laughed at his excitement.

Hailey was star struck when she finally got up to meet Billy. We had practiced what she was going to say to him Saturday night and Sunday morning before they left. When she was finally in front of Billy, she got very quite, shy and was speechless. Mark had to tell her to move closer to him and put her arm around him to capture the moment. This little girl was so excited that she got to meet her "Exterminator Hero"!

This is Josh videoing Billy sending me a personal video message...just laughed when they came home and told me he sent me a message. You can see it below after the pictures.

Billy has added the rocker look to his business and is know for his
wild hair and black dress.
The Vexcon hand sign

After standing in line, they got out and toured some of the cars

The Volkswagen area, or as the boys called it "Hippie Row"

Hailey loved this little camper, the color and the ladybugs was her favorite thing about it. She asked Mark if we could one like this for camping out.

Hot Rod , one of Rylan's favorites

Mark took this picture especially for me since my new car is a 2010 Chevy Malibu. The on-going joke is I'm driving the Ken & Barbie car, hence the name Malibu, as in Malibu Barbie.


The above two pictures are for Papa. This is a CJ7 Jeep from 1974 that has a trailer you can attached to the back of the Jeep.

The JellyBelly Hot Rod that gave away JellyBelly jellybeans.

A funny car dragster

Video clip of Billy, click on the arrow to play.

Our Angels looking down...

♥ ♥ ♥ a plain, but simple capture of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, I took when we stopped for gas on our trip to Utah in January of 2010. As we drove through Colorado, my thoughts were with Aunt Mary and Danny and my heart was full as if they were there with me. In memory of them both our angels, Aunt Mary Lane and Danny who are always watching over us. ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ Mary Lane Truax Goolsby December 31, 1945 - February 26, 2010 ♥

Durango resident Mary Lane Truax Goolsby died Friday, February 26, 2010. She was 64 years old. Mary was born to William F. and Kathleen Anna Truax on December 31, 1945. In 1972, she married Gary Lee Goolsby in Palos Verdes, Calif. They were married 14 years when the marriage ended in divorce. Mary earned her BS degree in Education from Louisiana State University and she earned her Masters degree from Adams State College. Mary began her teaching career in 1971 in Venice Beach, Calif. She owned and operated Conroy Flowers in Long Beach, Calif. In 1985, Mary moved her family to her home town where she became an active member of St. Thomas Catholic Church working in the Parish office and became Director of their Capital Improvement Campaign. In 1995, Mary moved her family again to Durango, Colo., where she began substitute teaching at Durango High School. From 1998 to 2007, Mary was the Director of the Kid Time After School Program for the 9R School District in Durango. In 2008, Mary looked for a career change and was employed by Toh-Atin Publishing Company as a Sales Representative. She ended her working career at Tri-County Head Start. as Site Manager/Director. Mary was a devout Catholic and always an active parishioner. She was very talented in her flower business. She loved art, the beauty of the mountains, gourmet cooking and dinners with her local friends and family gatherings. Mary loved to travel and explore and made many friendships along the way. Her talents and accomplishments were unlimited. Mary volunteered locally for the United Way Christmas Bell Ringer and the Red Ball Express annual fundraisers. Mary was preceded in death by her second son Daniel Lee Goolsby. She is survived by son, Jason Patrick Goolsby, San Diego, CA, granddaughter Savannah Elizabeth Goolsby, Biloxi, MS, sisters Barbara Dorman, Fort Walton Beach, FL, Kathleen Graham, Long Beach, MS, Sylvia Newnom, Watkinsville, GA, brothers Billy Truax, Gulfport, MS, Jesse Truax, Kiln, MS, four nieces and four nephews.

♥ Daniel Lee Goolsby November 30, 1979- July 1, 2008 ♥

Durango High School graduate Daniel Lee Goolsby, 28, died Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at his home in Phoenix. The cause of death is unknown at this time. Mr. Goolsby was born on Nov. 30, 1979, in Long Beach, Calif. He moved with his family to Long Beach, Miss., in 1985 and attended Catholic school in Long Beach and Gulfport, Mississippi. Mr. Goolsby moved to Durango in 1995 and graduated from Durango High School with a football scholarship to Colorado State University, where he earned degrees in economics and finance. He began his work career in California with Beneficial Finance. He also worked in Denver and Phoenix. He had lived in Phoenix for a year and was a sales representative for Arrowhead Water. He loved his family and friends, who described him as a dedicated sportsman who loved all sports and sports competition. Mr. Goolsby is survived by his mother, Mary Truax Goolsby, of Durango; father, Gary Goolsby, of Phoenix; brother, Jason Patrick Goolsby, of San Diego; paternal grandmother, Kathleen Sadler Goolsby, of Phoenix; four uncles; four aunts; a niece; and numerous cousins.

Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock...

December has finally arrived and we found ourselves cleaning out all of the stuff we have accumulated over the last three years while being here in Japan and getting ready for the movers to come and pack our household goods once again. Our move back to the states has come rather quickly since we decided back in Spring/Summer for Mark to put in for retirement. We didn't really make a BIG announcement because we weren't really sure as to where we wanted to retire. But with a lot of prayer, fasting and inspiration, we feel we have been blessed to head to Utah. Mark has served his country with honor for the last 25 years and if asked to do it all over again, he would PROUDLY say YES! It's hard to believe that we will be starting a new chapter of our lives and doing so with the belief that this is what we are suppose to be doing in our lives right now.

So the movers came a few weeks ago, Mark had a small retirement dinner and the kids finished up school on Friday. Unfortunately, I came down with a stomach bug that is running ramped around Misawa. I am finally back on my feet and ever so grateful for my new friend ZOFRAN that kept me from visiting the porcelain throne every 20 minutes getting sick. Oh, the feeling of a revolving door constantly spinning just isn't my cup of tea. I felt better a little on Saturday, so I helped Mark get the last of our stuff out of our house and moved over to the Inn, where we will spend the next week cramped in a little room celebrating Christmas until we board our plane. It's has snowed a bit throughout the week, not sure if we will have the BIG Misawa DUMP before we leave or a White Christmas...we'll have to see. I can't believe we are slow close to leaving Misawa. The time has flown by fast!

Happy Thanksgiving

I love this time of year! Fall colors are so beautiful here in Misawa. The air is cool and crisp and the holidays are around the corner. Thanksgiving will be our last one here with good friends. The movers will be here on Monday to pick up our first shipment and then be back at the end of the week to get the main bulk of our household goods. I have found myself needless to say running around cleaning out closets and taking bag after bag to the thrift store. It's hard to believe our return back to the states is upon us. We have been ever so blessed with good friends and a church branch during our stay here over the last 3 years. I have endured 2 deployments of Mark being gone and have watched 4 children grow up so fast before my eyes. I am ever so grateful for this opportunity to have experienced living life overseas. I have come to appreciate my life and the Japanese simple way of living. I truly wish I could bottle it all up and just bring it back with me. The on-going joke is that we have been living in a bubble for the last 3 years. I would have to agree with that somewhat BUT truly the Japanese culture is very simple, consistent, and structured. They take PRIDE in everything they do and life here just isn't so FAST pace. I think America can learn a thing or two from the Japanese.

We spent Thanksgiving day hosting dinner at our house with our good friends, the Staceys, the Hermanns and the Barry's. The kids were all wonderful and excited to spend the afternoon with one another. This was one on of the BEST Thanksgivings by far in the Crew household. We will truly miss the friendships we have made here. Happy Thanksgiving!

Two of my very best friends, April and Stephanie

Playing Catchphrase with this group will never be the same...what an awesome time and great memories!

September, October & Daddy has made it HOME!

Well Mark made it home in September. It seemed like the day would never come with all the changes that were made to the flight his squadron was. It really dragged out over the week. Considering they were just over in Korea and with the number of changes that were made, they could have swam home and made home faster than their final flight. It was really ridiculous that I stopped telling the kids when he was coming because it was always a let down when I said he wasn't. So, he finally made it home September 14, 2010. We had to be at the hanger at 5:30 a.m. His flight was due to land on the flightline at 6:05 a.m. with the hanger doors opening 10 minutes of. So, I got us all up and we drove over to Hanger 949 in a down poor of rain along with the other families that were there to meet the plane. We stood around a little bit and they hanger doors finaly opened. Rylan was just beside himself when he heard and saw the plane land on the flight line. Once it got to the hanger doors, I had to hold him back from running out on the flight line. He was soooo ready to see his Daddy. My best friend Rose showed up to welcome Mark home and to take some pictures of us reuniting with him. We are so proud of Mark's service and all that he does for our family and country. Enjoy the homecoming pictures.

The Crew and Farless kids

Plane arriving at hanger doors

Rylan seeing his Daddy

Hugs

Hugs

Hugs

and more Hugs

with a Kiss!

Our welcome home sign we made Mark...

Until we meet again my friends...

Summer has come and gone once again! School is getting ready to start and Mark will soon be home from his deployment. We spent the end of August hanging out at the beach, spending a week at Cub Scout Daycamp, wishing Hunter a Happy Birthday and saying good-bye to good friends. There is a time and season for us all as we travel along this road in life. We make friends that make an impression on our hearts and lives. It's these friendships that will come back around to each of us again because of the bond that was made at the beginning. They are the friendships that are hard to find and impossible to forget!

Saying goodbye to Marcus was hard to do for Joshua. The two of them were two peas in a pod!

Marcus was became a part of our family as he just lived right next door to us!

My sweet friend Kristine Johnson, don't know what I would have done without her.

The Crew Kids, the Anderton Kids, the French's Kids & the Furqeron's Kids
all making s'mores and roasting marshmallows

My sweet friends that made Misawa so much fun...Ginger, Elaine, & Julie

and all the hubby's Ryan, Ben & Michael...just missing Mark cause he was deployed!

Our time here in Misawa will be coming to an end soon for us too an we will be saying good-bye once again. This time it will be much harder. Together Mark and I made the decision it is time for him to retire and start a new chapter of our life. We are rather excited and nervous BUT know that this is what we are suppose to be doing in our life at this moment. I have never been so sure of something in my life and it's refreshing to know that we have the Lord on our side helping at every turn and giving us the warm fuzzy feeling that we are heading in the right direction. BUT first, we have to get Mark home for Korea before we can even begin to make final plans! So, let the planning begin...