Yay for birthday wishes and Thanksgiving visits! We are heading to Vance AFB to spend the holiday with our DS...three of us are on the road, daughters will fly in Tuesday. So thankful to be together!
That is disappointing news, NancyW. Your daughter and family had to make a very tough call. Safe travel back across the pond. You've missed some pretty good November storms. Rained buckets! Wind in some areas. Flooding. Salmon swimming across the roads. Usual Thanksgiving treat.
James....Congrats on your son buying a house. I am sure you found out how competive house buying is in that area. But what is nice is even through the housing crash houseing in that area held there value.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are thankful that are DS is statesite. Since he is re-certifying he was not able to come home, but was able to spend it with his family and in laws. We hope he is able to come home for Christmas as he will have a new nephew to meet.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day, I am off to work this morning. Just got to love Monday's because we have to have them to get to Friday.
We're from the Dallas area, but have family near Boerne. We won't be there at Christmas, but it is beautiful! We're not decorating either...going to be with our DS in Pensacola!
No children home for Thanksgiving, but both sons will be here for Christmas - yippee! Plus, both of their ladies are also coming. How lucky am I? Pilot boy getting ready to go to carrier quals before Christmas.
We had a great visit to see our DS for Thanksgiving! He arranged for us to have an "escort" and we got to go through their life support room, meet some of the IPs and his friends, and watch him take off and land from the tarmac! It was so cool. That Monday he went out for his last formation flight and then Tuesday was his solo...we road on the bus that takes them out to their planes and heard them debrief with him! It was so surreal...he really is all grown up. Everyone one was wonderful to us and the students are all so confident and knowledgeable...they really are the best trained pilots in the world. And the best news came today! Selection was announced and he received his first choice (since he was a little boy!)...jets! He said the commander came in and had both of the Navy students stand up and announced where they would be going. He got his first choice there too, and is off to Kingsville TX! Christmas came early this year, I guess. We are just all so pleased and relieved that it went his way!
I've been following along quietly to everyone's posts for the last couple of weeks, and send my warmest support to all... but have been holding my breath to hear how things were going to come out for him. Have a wonderful night!
Suzie and Pedsdoc, that's so cool that your sons will be in the same class! My DS has to be in Kingsville in a couple of weeks...for some reason I thought he'd go after the first of the year. Chris, any thoughts on housing? There seem to be plenty of apartments, but no houses for rent. I feel like we just haven't found the right website yet. He got spoiled in Enid (that's just funny to say) in a house & garage with a fenced in yard for his dog.
Barb, so exciting for your son. I get the part about holding your breath. And how thrilling to be able to watch him fly, meet his colleagues and take the tour. I'm hoping we'll get that opportunity too!
I love reading your comments...knowing I'm just a few steps behind you. Sure gives me an idea of what's ahead.
The kneeboard they use on their leg in the plane as support for checklists & papers. You can see one on the nightvision pen webpage. Darn, I thought I could use my REI coupon but their pen doesn't have a night vision light or a lanyard attachment, which seems desirable. It does write upside down, in the cold and on wet stuff. Gee, I could use the REI one myself.
Flyboymom: what a gorgeous stained glass piece! Such a beautiful gift from your friends, and you will have happy thoughts of your son each time you look at it!
Leslie, glad your son will soon be in your sights!
Navy Pilots x 2 - love the expression!
Anyone else out there with a LO in Kingsville? We are still looking for more info and our DS is in search of a house to rent (with a roommate) so there's a garage for his car and a yard for his dog. We're hoping he'll get there and settled in time to request leave for Christmas.
Christmas in July.....Ladies I would once again like to do a service project for the Wounded Warrior Project. For you new mom's this is where we get together in July and sew pillowcases for those Wounded Warriors that are hospitalized. Its a great day, spending time together and working on this wonderful project. You don't have to sew to work on this project. Many purchase fabric, some come and help with the ironing, some learn to pin, some sew and then we have our cheerleaders:)
Last year we were able to make 66 pillowcases to donate and I hope to be able to make as many or more if possible.
The reason I bring this up now is I was just in Joanne's and they have all the Christmas fabric on sale for 50 to 60 % off.
I will once again be buying what I can to make pillowcases. If you can find it in your budget to purchase fabric towards this project I would greatly appreciate the assistance.
Let me know if you are interested in assisting with this project.
Barb and GoNavyMom, my DS in Kingsville also. He is leaving tomorrow for carrier quals. Anyone else have someone going for carrier quals next week?
He lives in some apartments on So Brahma. OK, not spectacular. Some of the other guys in his group rent a house with a pool. Kingsville is pretty small.
Hi all,
It's been a while, I've been reading just not posting. It's great to read about everyone's lived ones! Congrats Leslie on Brian's safe return!
Flyboymom, I want to be friends with your friend and have her make a p3 - I'd pay $$ for it! It's beautiful!
My ds just arrived in Japan for his next deployment, ironically on Pearl Harbor's anniversary! He got married in September and has a baby due in April - a girl! He will not be here for the birth, but should get home about a month later!
I had unexpected back surgery in August but am doing well looking forward to ski season here in the NW.
NPx2, That's a neat idea! There's always a new class coming along to rent. I keep thinking that there's some organized way that the Navy does this, but we haven't found it so far. Thank goodness for this site, I get way more information here than he does!
Quilt made from scrapes from our pillowcas project that went to the Wound Warriors program. I made this quilt with my 8 year old and 4 year old granddaughters. They did the majority of the sewing and pinning. I mainly did the finish work. We took outlines of their hand prints and I sewed them on the quilt. If you go to me page you can see the handprints that I traced on top of the quilt and oversewed on.
Paymaster, the quilt is really beautiful and such a nice experience for the girls. I haven't quilted in years. I just can't seem to find the time.
I've been battling with a contractor and my insurance company since April to get my floors fixed from water damages. Finally have all the materials and yesterday, they came to pull the old floor out and found mold. Had that fixed yesterday and are scheduled again to start tomorrow morning. It's a 3 day job and they will be done Friday afternoon. I have tickets to the Nutcracker Friday night and my DS gets home on Saturday at 9:11. Slave labor to put the house back together. I hate doing that, but really don't have a choice. He said he was happy to do it. I love that boy.
IsP3Orion - Is your son at Atsugi? My DS has been there since last Nov. and really likes it. It was his first choice, but then again he doesn't have a family (other than us) to worry about. Good luck to your DIL, too. If it helps, there are a number of areas not too far off base where they can rent a house. Plus, they have just moved out some of the BOs from some of the better base housing to make room for more married couples.
We are actually going over there next week! The other two kids decided that we would all give up Xmas and birthday presents for 2012-13 and do this instead. Now I just hope the North Koreans don't mess things up for us.
Very exciting news for many of you! Congrats to all. My DS is hoping for his first flight in Primary before the holidays. Finished his SIMS and is anxious to get in the air. We are very excited to be heading to P'cola for Christmas next week. His sister and hubby are joining us from CA...those were expensive plane tickets! But so worth it to have all of us together. Don't think that will happen very often in the future.
Suzie, my son was invited to one in Kingsville on Friday, December 14 ...and then there were additional festivities on Saturday. Good luck! Our DS rented the only available house we could find there. He still doesn't have hot water but he did get leave!!! He'll be home for Christmas!
Enjoy your visits with loved ones and prayers for those far from home for the holidays.
Suzie, "ours" was a Friday, too, in Norfolk. The actual ceremony wasn't until 1, but "festivities" started at 8 AM with meeting the CO, getting to climb into the plane, etc. I sympathize with you as a fellow teacher - DS winged in August, on our second day of classes at my HS. Hard to juggle, but SO worth it to be there for him.
Suzie, our DS's winging in Meridian was on a Friday. We came in Wed evening and he was able to let us play in the Sims on Thurs and we had a nice Dinner out.
Friday we went to the hangar and got in the jets and took lots of pictures! There was an awards ceremony that morning and they showed a nice video and explained in more detail about the training they had. The ceremony was that afternoon in the Chapel. We were able to stay in the Navy Lodge on base and had 3 rooms for all the family that came to town.
There was a big party that the graduates did at the base pool that evening, since it was August. Lots of booze, but as usual there was the "van" to drive all the intoxicated people home!!
He had to be in Lemoore the next week, so wasn't able to take any leave. Then after training in Lemoore and CQ's he left immediately for Japan. Haven't seen him since Christmas last year. Thankfully he will be home on Friday!!
Chris, he is with VFA 27 on the George Washington forward deployed in Japan. The same ship as NancyW's DS but different squadrons. He should be based in Japan doing Pacific patrols for 3 years.
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.
I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-little bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special and rare.
I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them.
Merry Christmas to all! Celebrating here in Pensacaola with DS and his wife. Also our daughter and sil from CA. Got a tour of Whiting and did the Museum at Pensacola. Absolutely wonderful! The beach is beautiful and it is marvelous to be all together!
Hope you all had a great holiday and one more to come! I wish I were going to Japan to see my son - don't know how that rumor started - just living the life in Oregon :)
Oops meant to answer a couple of inquiries - my son is at Kadina AFB - has a pretty nice set up too! Skyped with him a couple of days ago and saw someone walk behind him in his apartment - found out it was the maid!
Catching up on all the Merry Christmas posts here -- so happy for all who are with their loved ones either in person or via technology! We are fortunate this year that DS is able to be with us this week and our other DS and his wife were able to be here over Christmas Eve & Day. Please give grateful hugs from our family to all of your families... so appreciative of the many efforts & sacrifices made by all so our USN can be strong & vigilant!
JudyM
Nov 15, 2012
JudyM
Navy wife, sounds like that is an automatic birthday cake with both birthdays. My DS celebrated 25 on wep det in El Centro.
Nov 16, 2012
Barb
Nov 17, 2012
Helomom
Nov 20, 2012
Paymaster
Mickey say's it best!
Nov 21, 2012
Paymaster
Welcome Michelle!
James....Congrats on your son buying a house. I am sure you found out how competive house buying is in that area. But what is nice is even through the housing crash houseing in that area held there value.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are thankful that are DS is statesite. Since he is re-certifying he was not able to come home, but was able to spend it with his family and in laws. We hope he is able to come home for Christmas as he will have a new nephew to meet.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day, I am off to work this morning. Just got to love Monday's because we have to have them to get to Friday.
Nov 26, 2012
CheriH
We're from the Dallas area, but have family near Boerne. We won't be there at Christmas, but it is beautiful! We're not decorating either...going to be with our DS in Pensacola!
Nov 26, 2012
Dawn
Nov 26, 2012
JudyM
Nov 27, 2012
Barb
We had a great visit to see our DS for Thanksgiving! He arranged for us to have an "escort" and we got to go through their life support room, meet some of the IPs and his friends, and watch him take off and land from the tarmac! It was so cool. That Monday he went out for his last formation flight and then Tuesday was his solo...we road on the bus that takes them out to their planes and heard them debrief with him! It was so surreal...he really is all grown up. Everyone one was wonderful to us and the students are all so confident and knowledgeable...they really are the best trained pilots in the world. And the best news came today! Selection was announced and he received his first choice (since he was a little boy!)...jets! He said the commander came in and had both of the Navy students stand up and announced where they would be going. He got his first choice there too, and is off to Kingsville TX! Christmas came early this year, I guess. We are just all so pleased and relieved that it went his way!
I've been following along quietly to everyone's posts for the last couple of weeks, and send my warmest support to all... but have been holding my breath to hear how things were going to come out for him. Have a wonderful night!
Nov 29, 2012
Barb
Suzie and Pedsdoc, that's so cool that your sons will be in the same class! My DS has to be in Kingsville in a couple of weeks...for some reason I thought he'd go after the first of the year. Chris, any thoughts on housing? There seem to be plenty of apartments, but no houses for rent. I feel like we just haven't found the right website yet. He got spoiled in Enid (that's just funny to say) in a house & garage with a fenced in yard for his dog.
Nov 30, 2012
CheriH
Barb, so exciting for your son. I get the part about holding your breath. And how thrilling to be able to watch him fly, meet his colleagues and take the tour. I'm hoping we'll get that opportunity too!
I love reading your comments...knowing I'm just a few steps behind you. Sure gives me an idea of what's ahead.
Nov 30, 2012
JudyM
Nov 30, 2012
Michelle
The kneeboard they use on their leg in the plane as support for checklists & papers. You can see one on the nightvision pen webpage. Darn, I thought I could use my REI coupon but their pen doesn't have a night vision light or a lanyard attachment, which seems desirable. It does write upside down, in the cold and on wet stuff. Gee, I could use the REI one myself.
Welcome back NancyW.
Dec 1, 2012
Rose
Flyboymom: what a gorgeous stained glass piece! Such a beautiful gift from your friends, and you will have happy thoughts of your son each time you look at it!
Dec 4, 2012
Michelle
Wow, that's beautiful!
Dec 4, 2012
CheriH
Wow...beautiful stained glass! What a treasure to have.
Dec 4, 2012
Paymaster
Leslie....Congrats on your returning warrior!
Go Navy! Beat Army! Game On!
Dec 8, 2012
Barb
Hi there,
Leslie, glad your son will soon be in your sights!
Navy Pilots x 2 - love the expression!
Anyone else out there with a LO in Kingsville? We are still looking for more info and our DS is in search of a house to rent (with a roommate) so there's a garage for his car and a yard for his dog. We're hoping he'll get there and settled in time to request leave for Christmas.
Suzie, thanks for the great gift ideas.
Have a great day!
Dec 8, 2012
gonavymom
Hi Barb: My DS is in Kingsville. I visited him in June. You can PM me and I'd be happy to tell you about where he lives.
Thanks ladies for all the great gift ideas, I love this forum!
GO NAVY!
Dec 8, 2012
Paymaster
Christmas in July.....Ladies I would once again like to do a service project for the Wounded Warrior Project. For you new mom's this is where we get together in July and sew pillowcases for those Wounded Warriors that are hospitalized. Its a great day, spending time together and working on this wonderful project. You don't have to sew to work on this project. Many purchase fabric, some come and help with the ironing, some learn to pin, some sew and then we have our cheerleaders:)
Last year we were able to make 66 pillowcases to donate and I hope to be able to make as many or more if possible.
The reason I bring this up now is I was just in Joanne's and they have all the Christmas fabric on sale for 50 to 60 % off.
I will once again be buying what I can to make pillowcases. If you can find it in your budget to purchase fabric towards this project I would greatly appreciate the assistance.
Let me know if you are interested in assisting with this project.
Go Navy! Beat Army!
Dec 8, 2012
JudyM
Barb and GoNavyMom, my DS in Kingsville also. He is leaving tomorrow for carrier quals. Anyone else have someone going for carrier quals next week?
He lives in some apartments on So Brahma. OK, not spectacular. Some of the other guys in his group rent a house with a pool. Kingsville is pretty small.
Dec 8, 2012
gonavymom
JudyM: I bet our sons are in the same complex! I would love to meet some N4M moms in the Puget Sound area.
Dec 8, 2012
Dawn
Dec 8, 2012
lsP3Orion
It's been a while, I've been reading just not posting. It's great to read about everyone's lived ones! Congrats Leslie on Brian's safe return!
Flyboymom, I want to be friends with your friend and have her make a p3 - I'd pay $$ for it! It's beautiful!
My ds just arrived in Japan for his next deployment, ironically on Pearl Harbor's anniversary! He got married in September and has a baby due in April - a girl! He will not be here for the birth, but should get home about a month later!
I had unexpected back surgery in August but am doing well looking forward to ski season here in the NW.
My best to all of you!
Dec 8, 2012
Barb
NPx2, That's a neat idea! There's always a new class coming along to rent. I keep thinking that there's some organized way that the Navy does this, but we haven't found it so far. Thank goodness for this site, I get way more information here than he does!
JudyM-thank you!
Dec 8, 2012
Barb
NNM, Good luck to you both! :)
Dec 10, 2012
Dawn
Dec 10, 2012
Dawn
Dec 10, 2012
Barb
It feels wonderful, doesn't it? Congratulations, I'm so glad!
Dec 10, 2012
Paymaster
Quilt made from scrapes from our pillowcas project that went to the Wound Warriors program. I made this quilt with my 8 year old and 4 year old granddaughters. They did the majority of the sewing and pinning. I mainly did the finish work. We took outlines of their hand prints and I sewed them on the quilt. If you go to me page you can see the handprints that I traced on top of the quilt and oversewed on.
Dec 11, 2012
AH
Paymaster, the quilt is really beautiful and such a nice experience for the girls. I haven't quilted in years. I just can't seem to find the time.
I've been battling with a contractor and my insurance company since April to get my floors fixed from water damages. Finally have all the materials and yesterday, they came to pull the old floor out and found mold. Had that fixed yesterday and are scheduled again to start tomorrow morning. It's a 3 day job and they will be done Friday afternoon. I have tickets to the Nutcracker Friday night and my DS gets home on Saturday at 9:11. Slave labor to put the house back together. I hate doing that, but really don't have a choice. He said he was happy to do it. I love that boy.
Dec 11, 2012
Barb
NNM, Oh my gosh, that seems awfully fast! Prayers for all of you!
Dec 11, 2012
JudyM
Dec 12, 2012
Marianne
IsP3Orion - Is your son at Atsugi? My DS has been there since last Nov. and really likes it. It was his first choice, but then again he doesn't have a family (other than us) to worry about. Good luck to your DIL, too. If it helps, there are a number of areas not too far off base where they can rent a house. Plus, they have just moved out some of the BOs from some of the better base housing to make room for more married couples.
We are actually going over there next week! The other two kids decided that we would all give up Xmas and birthday presents for 2012-13 and do this instead. Now I just hope the North Koreans don't mess things up for us.
Dec 13, 2012
CheriH
Very exciting news for many of you! Congrats to all. My DS is hoping for his first flight in Primary before the holidays. Finished his SIMS and is anxious to get in the air. We are very excited to be heading to P'cola for Christmas next week. His sister and hubby are joining us from CA...those were expensive plane tickets! But so worth it to have all of us together. Don't think that will happen very often in the future.
Dec 14, 2012
Barb
Suzie, my son was invited to one in Kingsville on Friday, December 14 ...and then there were additional festivities on Saturday. Good luck! Our DS rented the only available house we could find there. He still doesn't have hot water but he did get leave!!! He'll be home for Christmas!
Enjoy your visits with loved ones and prayers for those far from home for the holidays.
Dec 19, 2012
Marianne
Suzie, "ours" was a Friday, too, in Norfolk. The actual ceremony wasn't until 1, but "festivities" started at 8 AM with meeting the CO, getting to climb into the plane, etc. I sympathize with you as a fellow teacher - DS winged in August, on our second day of classes at my HS. Hard to juggle, but SO worth it to be there for him.
Dec 19, 2012
TennMom
Suzie, our DS's winging in Meridian was on a Friday. We came in Wed evening and he was able to let us play in the Sims on Thurs and we had a nice Dinner out.
Friday we went to the hangar and got in the jets and took lots of pictures! There was an awards ceremony that morning and they showed a nice video and explained in more detail about the training they had. The ceremony was that afternoon in the Chapel. We were able to stay in the Navy Lodge on base and had 3 rooms for all the family that came to town.
There was a big party that the graduates did at the base pool that evening, since it was August. Lots of booze, but as usual there was the "van" to drive all the intoxicated people home!!
He had to be in Lemoore the next week, so wasn't able to take any leave. Then after training in Lemoore and CQ's he left immediately for Japan. Haven't seen him since Christmas last year. Thankfully he will be home on Friday!!
Dec 19, 2012
TennMom
Chris, he is with VFA 27 on the George Washington forward deployed in Japan. The same ship as NancyW's DS but different squadrons. He should be based in Japan doing Pacific patrols for 3 years.
Dec 19, 2012
Paymaster
MERRY CHRISTMAS !
Today...I wish you a day of ordinary miracles-
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.
I wish you a day of little things to rejoice in...
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish you a day of happiness and perfection-little
bite-size pieces of perfection that give you the funny feeling that the Lord is
smiling on you, holding you so gently because you are someone special
and rare.
I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour
to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to
forget them.
Dec 23, 2012
Dawn
Happy holidays to all!
Dec 23, 2012
CheriH
Merry Christmas to all! Celebrating here in Pensacaola with DS and his wife. Also our daughter and sil from CA. Got a tour of Whiting and did the Museum at Pensacola. Absolutely wonderful! The beach is beautiful and it is marvelous to be all together!
Dec 25, 2012
lsP3Orion
Hi,
Hope you all had a great holiday and one more to come! I wish I were going to Japan to see my son - don't know how that rumor started - just living the life in Oregon :)
Dec 26, 2012
lsP3Orion
Oops meant to answer a couple of inquiries - my son is at Kadina AFB - has a pretty nice set up too! Skyped with him a couple of days ago and saw someone walk behind him in his apartment - found out it was the maid!
Dec 26, 2012
Dawn
Dec 26, 2012
Paymaster
Welcome campbellm
Dec 26, 2012
Paymaster
pedsdoc.....What a wonderful Christmas surprise! Enjoy your time with your family. Happy new years.
Dec 27, 2012
Rose
Catching up on all the Merry Christmas posts here -- so happy for all who are with their loved ones either in person or via technology! We are fortunate this year that DS is able to be with us this week and our other DS and his wife were able to be here over Christmas Eve & Day. Please give grateful hugs from our family to all of your families... so appreciative of the many efforts & sacrifices made by all so our USN can be strong & vigilant!
Dec 27, 2012
campbellm
Thanks for the welcome! My son is just starting IFS at Pensacola NAS; API is next. Melodie (campbellm)
Dec 27, 2012