Savannah & Alex

Army life comes with many challenges. We can be far away from family and friends back in Texas, Alex's deployments and training exercises can keep us apart at times, and we move every few years for a new duty station and start from scratch. Despite all of that, it has been such a beautiful experience. We have met so many incredible people that are now family to us. The relationships we have built are truly something special. We now not only have family in Texas, but all over the world. As we move with the military, we build new friendships and often times run into old ones. Living around or on a military base is also something special! People seem more devoted to building relationships since we all have the same challenges. Even if you are brand new to your duty station, baby showers are thrown for moms-to-be by complete strangers. Invites to birthday parties for little ones or block parties for holidays are for the whole neighborhood. Everyone wants to make sure that even though we are away from family we can always count on our Army family right next door! Family members love visiting us as well. Alex loves to take his nieces and nephews on tours through his hangar and show them the aircraft he loves to fly! He has also been able to take his sister for a flight since she is in the Air Force. Some nights it can be a little hard to sleep right next to an airfield, but the sound of helicopters every night now rocks us to sleep!On top of the bonds we have made, we get to live and travel new places all of the time. We have lived in Alabama, Hawaii, and currently Washington state. We never really know where the Army will take us in the United States or abroad, but every place, no matter how remote, turns out to be a hidden gem for something. We won't live this life forever and one day hope to have a forever home in Texas close to family, but we are so thankful for our Army Family and the loved ones we have all around the world.

Alex was born in California and moved to Texas when he was 8 years old. He has a degree in political science. He is very close to his family and aside from his older sister - who is in the air force - everyone lives in Texas and California. Alex has always dreamed of becoming a pilot and joined the military after college to achieve that dream and learn to fly helicopters! He has now flown Blackhawks for 7 years and loves every minute of it! He is a hard worker and deserves everything he has accomplished. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games with his friends, playing piano, golfing from time to time, and having friends and family over for BBQs. We both really enjoy board games and after the military days are over, Alex hopes to maybe open up a comic book/game shop one day! Have I mentioned how much he loves Sammy and Koa?! Alex has all the qualities you would hope for in a person. He is patient, driven, smart, and is truly the kindest most positive person I have ever known. He is full of the best dad jokes, always has a smile on his face, and makes me laugh every single day. He loves to plan fun things for us to do together on the weekend and is the most thoughtful gift giver. He really does make me a better person and I believe that anyone who meets him feels the same way.

Savannah was born and raised in central Texas. She did move around a little as a child due to her father's job but was raised in Texas! She loves almost everything about Texas and likes to poke fun at me for being obviously not born there! While growing up, she also discovered her love for Dachshunds. She got her first one when she was nine and has had only dachshunds ever since. This eventually expanded into a love for animals of all kinds! For over ten years, she worked as a manager at a local Tom Thumb grocery store and eventually had to leave that job when the military took us to Alabama. Ever since, she has worked as a nanny and babysitter for the many military families that need help caring for their children. The hardest part of that job, by far, is having to say goodbye when she or her littles end up leaving for other duty stations. They still love keeping in touch and getting to hear from "Miss Sabannah" and Savannah still makes sure to send them a little something for their birthdays! I am always amazed at how creative she is when thinking of things to do with the kids she nannies. Taking care of children is absolutely something she was born to do! Savannah is just the best person I have ever met. She is loving, caring, and all-around just a great person. She loves making sure that everyone is included and that everyone is having a good time wherever we are. She is quick to make friends and loved by everyone she meets. She is genuine, passionate, and not afraid to stand up for her beliefs.

Meet Sammy and Koa! Ideally, we would need to write a novel to share just how incredible they are, but we will try and keep it short. Sammy is our old man and is 11 going on 8 (we really have no idea how old he is...). Savannah likes to joke that he is ageless and will be with us forever. He likes a warm blanket and sleeps 23 hours a day. His favorite thing to do is to nap in the sun and be next to Savannah on the couch. He loves road trips, chasing birds (even though he can't see them too well!), and barking at the kids riding bikes outside as he watches from our front window! Savannah is definitely his human! Koa, or Koa James (KJ) when he's in trouble, is our spunky, 5-year-old, long-haired dachshund. He was a compromise since he looks so much like the golden retrievers that Alex has grown up with! He loves playing in the sprinkler, playing fetch with his many tennis balls, and tug-o-war with every other toy he owns. He has this thing where he, on purpose, pushes his ball under pieces of furniture and proceeds to bark until we get up and play with him. We have never seen so much personality in a little sausage dog! He is absolutely amazing with children and loves for them to chase him! We taught him plenty of cool tricks, but take it from us, don't teach your dogs to speak on command! We did and now he just loves to be vocal all the time now... He's still the best though! We are dog people through and through. We like to take them to as many places as we can and while at home, they never leave our side. They are truly the best dogs anyone could ask for.