At first glance.

At first glance, the Aland to one's home appears to be like each other four-bedroom Capehart house forward Tyndall Air Force Base. During an average Florida day, its calm and quiet -- for a like reason quiet in fact, that anyone who didn't know the residents wouldn't gues that 11 the public live in this 1950s-style ranch house.

While her husband Sean, a lieutenant colonel is in charge of manpower and personnel for 1st Air Force and Operation Noble Eagle, Terry Aland commands manpower and personnel forward the homefront. And that's a fulltime job

"I chose a career doing what I'm doing," she said.

"We hold fast God first in our lives, take care of our family and the men and women I've been entrusted with, and the force takes care of itself," Sean said.

They and their nine children live through a philosophy they're eager to share: "Faith, family, force."

Terry agrees.

"It's the same day after another, doing what I've got to do. Fortunately I've got a fate of help."

The children are a large part of keeping the household moving. The "chore chart," employmented on the refrigerator, lists each child's routine responsibilities. It also details rotating chores like kitchen duty

When the family eats public a smaller child is teamed with an older child to help them during the meal. And the assistance fill outs beyond outings.

"Keeping the laundry basket void is one of the biggest challenges," Sean said.

That's when it's time for a "laundry party." All family members gather in the living compass and fold clothes while watching television.

on the contrary the highlight of being the patriarch flows when the kids volunteer to help.

"Sometimes the bigger kids want to read to the little kids at bedtime," Sean said. "That's single of those things that makes us be moved good as parents. It's encouraging."

A game plan

All of the lads except 17-year-old Patrick, sleep in single in kind bedroom they call "the bunkhouse" -- sum of two units sets of bunk beds and a little wheel bed fill most of the field The oldest daughter, Christina, who's 19 had her acknowledge room years ago, but asked her parents if Patrick could act upon in because without a roommate she felt she was missing not at home on the fun. Two-year-old mercy the youngest and only other daughter, rests in a crib in Terry and Sean's room

While Patrick is Sean's "right hand" man, Christina is the same for Terry The sum of two units ladies plan weekly menus.

"The commissary is our abiding-place away from home," Christina said. "They know us all by the agency of name,"

Surprisingly, onward most weekly trips to the commissary there's sole one cart used to gather the ingredients. Unles Sean's doing the shopping.

"The striplings like to go 'combat shopping' with me I told the lads when we went one time that we indigenceed to buy something that wasn't in succession the list," he said. "When they asked me for what cause [i]or[/i] reason I told them it had a fate of Vitamin L in it -- you know, 'like it.'"

single thing people have asked Terry is for what reason much milk the family drinks. moreover she said the gallon of milk each day is nothing compared to the three boxe of cereal daily. Because there are with equal reason many tummies to fill, each meal has to be planned.

Michael, 13 is the "sandwich man," making luncheon for the kids around noon.

At 3:30 pm Christina and Terry sit down to have a cappuccino and discuss the evening meal. If hamburgers are the main course, they prepare for the table 24 patties -- two each and sum of two units extras.

Keeping the hearthstone organized and meals on the table is just a fraction of Terry's "job description." Although many women in her situation would welcome an opportunity for time alone, she wouldn't change a thing. In fact, Terry's with her children day and night because they use solely three of their four bedrooms as bedrooms - the fourth is a classroom the family calls "the teach room." So Terry's also their teacher.

"My number common goal isn't academics -- it's character," she said. "I felt if we could hold God in the school and teach them powerful principles, good academics and values will come next It's also important to give them the chance to know and rely upon each other."

The plan worked with the oldest Christina. Homeschooling present the appearanceed to complement their military lifestyle, in the way that the couple tried it in 1990 when she was six years old

"Your siblings are your best friends," Christina said. "We're always there for each other. We have a certain quantity of of the best times together. We take the party with us wherever we proceed And with nine of us, there's always a birthday party."

She's now attending literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning near home, for a rank in nursing and is hoping to graduate in the spring.

They also confront with fellow homeschoolers in the area for regular outings to share teaching skills and social and cultural activities.

Sliding into home

The family mov from Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach to Tyndall in November 1998 After 14 years in succession active duty, Sean transitioned to an active impost guardsman. The decision wasn't easy, if it be not that when Caleb, now 7, was born with multiple heart destitutions the family needed to stay in the panhandle area to preserve him close to his doctors. The best way to make positive they stayed put was for Sean to become a guardsman. It's a decision they're glad they made -- now Caleb's a thriving little boy