Moms/Dads/Families with Nukes in Ballston Spa, NY

B'sNukeMom - Just so you know - the train leaves from Albany which is about 20-25 mins from Ballston Spa and NYC is about 2 hours from Albany.  If you decide to do that, call me as we live really close to NYC and I'd love to meet up with you if we could arrange something.

NJ Navy Mom - I would love to be able to meet up with you!  It looks like now we are heading that way Easter weekend....4/17- 4/21.  Flights are much cheaper in April than in June.  I booked the Roosevelt (thank you Patti for the recommendation!) and just need to finalize the air which I hope to do today.  Of course then we have to keep our fingers crossed that sailors schedule doesn't change too drastically. 

Airfare booked, hotel booked.  Now just need to figure out the train from Albany to NYC for that Saturday! (And really hoping it does warm up a little by then too!!)

Hey, all. Sorry, was a little frazzled. Yes, my sailor made it to Norfolk in time to report on Monday. He and the car arrived on the back of a flatbed.  He's found a secure location for it, and we are going to figure out what to do (I think I know what it needs) when we know what his short term future looks like (whether he goes to the HST or waits for its return).

Thanks for prayers and good wishes!  Not sure how much I will follow this group with mine gone from BS, but I will always remember his days in Proto, and the blessings of all the support we got there!

ktrsb - well sorry the car is on a flatbed - but glad to hear he at least was able to check in on time!  Hopefully you/he will have some time to get it fixed......good luck with the car and good luck to him in his next step with the Navy!

Just heard from my son - prototype class starts on Monday!

Thanks Patti!  Yes I am glad it's finally starting....and sailor is too!  Now I just hope there aren't too many delays!

Hopefully that will work for my son too (the advance planning part!).  He's MARF.  I know he has mentioned a few times about shutdowns (both planned & unplanned!).  I just hope things move along smoothly for him (and all of them).  I know he should still be on "off crew" when we head that way Easter weekend.....he thought maybe on Friday's they might get off a little early - rather than the 12 hours.  At least we know we will have the weekend with him!

That is the difference between having a good instructor (that cares) and one that doesn't give a rip for their students.  My son is an MM instructor at S8G and does his very best to keep his students up to date with what is going on and also with making sure they understand the material enough to pass their tests and Oral Boards.

Patti, I had no idea my son taught your son.  That is exciting to this mom to hear.  Yes, he was on off crew for about 4 months before they moved him back to his regular on crew (where he is now).

Oh well Patti - I spoke too soon - prototype classes aren't starting on Monday now - delayed a couple more weeks!

One month from now I'll be in NY visiting my sailor!  Let the countdown begin!

Doin' the Happy Dance ;-)

Patti - woohoo - only 4-5more weeks - that should go by fast!  So happy that your son will get to spend some time at home with you - I know that will be a wonderful gift!!  Doin' the happy dance for you too!

Spring has arrived!

Talked to my son last night - he's still waiting for proto classes to start but he mentioned they might be switching from MARF to S8G....so Penny he might see your son after all!  No word on when that might be happening....

YAY !!!  lol  Not that there is a huge difference between the two, but I am partial to S8G.  :)

Well keep your fingers crossed that it happens Penny!  Maybe at least this will get things moving along LOL.  (I know, hurry up and wait!)

Happy Friday!  Hope everyone's wearing their Red shirts today. Remember Everyone Deployed!

Well now the "new" start date is 4/21/14.....

Laura - I forget - does your son know yet where he is going or is it too soon?  Are he and Patti's son in the same ELT class?  I'm counting down the days until our visit - only 2 more weeks!! I hope the weather continues to warm up a bit.....

My son doesn't have hard orders yet but has been told he will be on the Carl Vinson out of San Diego when he's done at BS in November. That was his first choice so he's happy. He's been in BS for what seems like a very long time, the last two years as staff.  Hard to believe May 12 he will be in for 4 yrs already.

NancyJo - San Diego would be awesome!  We live about an hour from there and love to drive down to visit and hang out.  Hubby and I used to go to a lot of Padres games there.  When our son was home at Christmas time we went to the NEX there - wow! It's huge!  San Diego is a great place ;-)

Eppidoo - I don't know much about Washington....I believe there is a site on here - I think it's "Washington & Oregon" or something like that - but if you check there they probably can give you some insight.  I know that Emily is married to a nuke and they live in Washington I believe.  She is very knowledgeable - maybe you can find her.  I think she is "Emily Aarons girl". Give that a try...also ask on the "Nuke moms" site too!

Happy Friday all - Hope you remembered to wear your Red Shirt today!

Eppidoo - here's the link for the Washington group...

http://navyformoms.com/group/washingtonoregon?commentId=1971797%3AC...

Happy Tuesday! Spoke with my son last night and he got another new start date for Proto.  Now it looks like it will be this Monday, 4/14.  His class did officially change too - from 1306MARF to 1401S8G.  He says he'll believe it when he sees it but it looks more certain this time since they passed out their text books. 

So we're heading to Ballston Spa for a few days at the end of next week to visit our sailor.  Anyone have any "must see/do" recommendations in the BS/Saratoga Springs area?  We probably are not going to make it into NYC - not enough time...however we are going to Cooperstown to the Baseball Hall of Fame! Any restaurant recommendations?

My son and his wife take visitors to Lake George. I saw photos of them in a ferry. The kiddos really liked it. There's also some great hiking. Sadly, that's about all I know of that area. 

Thanks NancyJo - not sure what we will actually get to do since it's a quick trip but I at least want to have ideas!  Probably won't get any hiking in - my mom is coming along and she's not a hiker!  She'll be happy just hanging out with sailor (and getting her hugs!).

bethr311 and Wendy - ugh sorry to hear about the delays....

My son did actually start prototype today!  He's only had to wait 3 months which from what I hear isn't too bad. He said in a "perfect world" they would graduate the end of September but then he reminded me this isn't a perfect world and it will be "the Navy's way!".  Oh well, just glad he's finally starting! 

Have a good day everyone!

I know Patti! Pretty excited for him. And he even texted that he got a check out done today LOL!

WooHoo - will be in BS tomorrow night and can't wait until Friday to see our son!

Laura, the sailors get 30 days to go from the end of training to their assigned base. I don't recall if there is graduation for ELT training. My son got assigned staff and basically just hung there in BS until that started.

Thanks NancyJo!

So, PattiP, he was a sub vol and still got assigned a carrier? I hope he isn't bummed. Did he want Japan?

How exciting to finally have a firm idea of the future, or at least the next few years. Such a relief. Actually, my niece went as a college student and spent a semester in Japan, then returned as a teacher for a whole year. I don't think it was 2 yrs but time flies. She LOVES Japan. I hope your son sees a lot of the sights. Congrats!

If anyone has a sailor heading up to ballston spa and needs any furniture or household items, please message me and I'll forward my son's email address to you.  He just got his orders and will be leaving in less than 2 weeks.  He has quite a bit of furniture and other household items that he has no use for.  They were also renting a nice little 3 bedroom duplex that will be vacant as of May 15.  He has a queen size bed frame, mattress and box spring that was purchased last May too.