Alumni PIR 12/17/10 & 12/22/10

Gotta love this group. We are so supportive of each other.
Betsy, I have not spoken to IB in a couple weeks..I'm so bad. It's the end of the school year, and it is simply nuts. Only 6 more days until sanity returns, until the next year starts up again.

Nancy, I can imagine how much you have going on now.  Yikes!  Maybe we will see you more on here.  :)

NDG...Wao a couple of weeks!!!  I know how crazy end of the year is at school.  Almost done!!!

I can't imagine not hearing from Jo for that long.  I know is bad for me because once he get deployed I know I can go months with out hearing about him but for now he KNOWS that mom like to hear from him a least once, so every Saturday he call and if the evening comes and don't hear about him I call.  Sometimes we don't have nothing to talk about it but like to hear his voice and a few minutes late I end saying just checking on you love to hear your voice thank you for calling, love you.  I know is crazy but trying to enjoy him as long as I can.

ctownnavymom........where r you?  how is your sailor?  Miss your postings.

I'm so excited my son is finishing up his C school in Pensacola this week and he received his orders......HAWAII ! ! ! ! ! I told him I'm already looking at airfare and planning a trip. I wasn't able to make it to Pensacola but I sure will make it to Hawaii.

Hi everyone...just stopping by to say "hi" to everyone and let you all know that I am really really jealous of everyone that is making plans visit their Sailors....I'm hoping to visit T in July/August sometime if even for just a long weekend.

I have a question and maybe those who have Sailor's already in the Fleet can answer this for me.  Once the Sailor's have their assignment and report to their base/ship/sub...do they live on the ship/sub or do they live in barracks?  I know that when they are deployed they are on the ship/sub full time even at whatever port they may visit but when the ship/sub is at the homeport where do they live?  I feel sort of silly asking this question but T has a friend who was living in the barracks and his ship just returned from deployment and he mentioned on FB that he was packing up to move out to the ship...I didn't quite understand why...ok if anyone knows please let me know so I can stop feeling silly.

ElizabethC......I ask the question in one of my other groups and this was the answer.

 

Rose, your son will more than like live bachelor quarters on the base to start with, or at least my son did. They can live off base if they choose, but my son didn't, was cheper to live on base, as did most of his buddies. He went to Bangor , Washington from Groton, and is back there again. Good luck to your son, sub school is an exciting adventure.

Elizabeth it depends on if the the ship and the assignment. CJ is actually stationed on his ship. He does not have a barracks. Just a rack and locker. He will be on his ship for three years. Right now he is at sea in the Pacific ocean and his ship is stationed in Japan. Infact his ship is always in Japan. They are going to seven different countries in thei float. Not sure where he is right now as we have been out of contact for the last two weeks. His float is 6 months. Right now they have passed all their drills and doing well according to the Ship's web page. I am not sure I can last three years and financially a trip to japan is out of the question. Good luck!

 

Hi Everyone - just checking in and see that everyone is dong well.  I have been busy with my youngest son's Army Basic Training family page.  It is somewhat similar to Navy4Moms but on the FB networking site.  I'm the Betsy for my son's Company page.  Basic training in the Army is 11 weeks counting week 1 which is reception.  Today marks 30 days and a wake up until I see him. They have 2 full days of activities for the SIT's friends and family - Family Day which is pretty cool.  We spend the day on the Fort campus touring the base; a evening dinner is planned where you get to meet your SITs drill sergeants and leadership command.  The 2nd day is graduation.  We are driving my son to his AIT base in Virginia so he will be released to me right after the ceremony and I get him for a couple extra days.  Kind of cool that they do this - saves the Army transport money and family gets a bit more time with their SIT - a win - win.  All news from Drew is very positive.  They have the same issue with blisters as our Navy sailors.  Heat Exhaustion is a huge issue right now as the temps in SC are high 90's and 100's and they train no matter what outside.  If any of you remember, I was able to adopt my sailor at Thanksgiving so I saw him within 4 weeks of leaving and then again 3.5 weeks later so this 11 week time frame is a little harder plus he is my baby.  Ashley is in Groton visiting Adam now until July 5 so they are having fun.  They did ocean kayaking yesterday and were heading to the beach today.   I guess I will stop rambling - Happy 4th of July - this year the holiday is more meaningful than ever! 

Lori, Wow, they do a lot of nice things for the family.   That's so awesome!  That must be brutal training in the heat and I'm sorry to hear about his blisters.  :(  I've been reading all the letters that you have been posting and it sounds like he is thriving.  :)  I had a question, actually from my friend Denise.  Do you know how much their pictures are yet and how they order them?  Is it like the Navy and they need the money when they get there?   She asked me something else, but I can't remember right now, so I'll pick your brain later.  Her son is going down to FL (where he will ship from) at the end of this week.  He won't leave for boot until August, but she had a going away party for him last Saturday and boy, has he grown up since last summer.  Btw, Congrats on your new future daughter in law.  That is exciting!

I am getting ready to drive to Pensacola on Thursday.  Gunnar is driving a car and I am too.  We are leaving an older car down there for Adam.  My sister in law (Adam's godmother) and grand daughter, Caity, are going too.  We will stay Friday night through Tuesday morning.  I am so excited to see him.  I can't wait. I miss my baby boy.  

Penny, I hope you hear from Cj soon.  ((hugs))

@Lori, Army boot camp seems so long!!. I'm glad he is sounding positive.Family day sounds really fun too. My E graduates next week From Navy boot camp. We are getting ready to fly out for PIR next Wednesday. I'm so excited! We are getting in a full day early so we can do a little sight seeing in Chicago. I never got to see the lake when we were there before. lol  @ Betsy, my E is headed to Pensacola after boot camp. He will either be an AT or an AE.  We don't know yet. Unlike K his letters home have been very short. So hoping to gets lots of info when we see him.

 

My K  graduates from Nuke A school next week. It's been a tough program and he still has some testing next week before its all over.  He has done well so far. I'm so proud of him. After that he will go on to Power.  I think he has to wait around a couple months though before it starts. He is thinking about taking leave to see his brother in Pensacola..........What about mom?? lol  At least I get to talk to him fairly regularly.

Mochi - how exciting - enjoy your 2nd Navy graduation!!  Kind of makes your head spin with 2 in the military and thinking back to last summer when both were still home!  Congrats on K's graduation too - Nuke school is tough so really happy for him - what an accomplishment!  Its funny how 2 children can be so different.  My A's letters were very short but at least 1/week; now Drew, I get 1-3/week and they are detailed.  A was writing Ashley though and Drew doesn't have a GF so am sure that makes a difference.  Ashley is no longer A's GF - they got engaged a week ago Sunday so wedding plans will begin this week w/Ashley's return home from Groton today.  We are all really excited.  The wedding may possibly to Labor Day weekend because of the extra day it gives A to fly home and return to Groton.  They want to be married before Adam gets his orders following A school completion.  He was hoping to class up today but looks like it will be next Monday and then he is in his last leg of school.  Hopeing each had a wonderful 4th.  Will look forward to hearing from those of you who visited your sailors over the long holiday weekend - Rose, Susan, Penny and Betsy.  I had plans to visit the 15th - 18th of this month but now with the wedding I've canceled the trip to safe the $$ for the wedding.  I would have been in Groton when Penny was visiting N so a little bummed.

Betsy - pictures I believe are the same as Navy - the SIT orders them from BCT.  I think Drew ordered pictures because I saw a larger $$ amount come out of his account.  He hasn't mentioned pictures in any of his letters and I've only had a 3 minute phone call with him since he entered BCT.  Army allows far less phone contact - we were lucky with Navy BC.  Let me know what her other questions are - she has me on Facebook so tell her to send me a message.

Hi everyone.  I haven't been on for a long time. trying to read and catch up on everything!  WOW lots going on.  My S graduates this Friday from Groton, CT.  Anyone else?  And he is able to come home before leaving on Orders.  I am so excited. I havent seen him since Jan!  Miss him sooo much I cant wait!

Hi everybody!!!Hope everyone had a great 4th. It was hard for me because H and I always went to fireworks together. She commented on the same thing. Tomorrow is our birthday, so it will be hard to not be together. But the good news...2 weeks from today I will be in Hawaii with her for 9 days.

Hope everyone had a happy Fourth and that y'all and your loved ones are doing alright! :)

 

Haven't been on here in forever. Our little baby's been keeping me busy. Husband graduates FC 'A' school next month, then we'll be awaiting orders for 'C' school and our next duty station. Crossing our fingers for San Diego. I'm seriously missing my family, esp living up here in Chicagoland by ourselves (with ugly weather and no seafood lol. I have to order crawfish online just to make etouffee).

Hi Everyone, I shared this on the Groton site, but wanted to share it with this site too… Super video that a good friend sent me...

http://www.youtube.com/v/ervaMPt4Ha0&autoplay=1

Hope that all is well with you.

Priscilla, so glad to hear from you. Happy that things are going well with the baby, yes, they DO take a lot of time considering how small they are. lol

Lori, Sounds like everything is going well with both of your boys. So glad that you were able to hear from Drew. :-)

And totally jealous (in a good way) of all of you who got to see your sailors over the Holiday. Beginning to make plans for the graduation in October, so it is seeming more real!! Can't wait!

Wendi....have a wonderful time with your daughter and have a safe trip.

Lori...Congratulations on A's and Ashley engagement. Glad to hear everything is going well.

Priscilla....nice to hear from you.  Enjoy the time with your daughter, take a lot of pictures, they grow too fast.

I just got home, spend 4 days with my Jo.  Things are getting better but still crying a little.  We didn't went to the Subfest, small carnival, he prefer to go to another place.  Have a nice time eating (a lot), going places, including the park we used to visit when we live in MA Canobie Park (two hours from Groton).  It was really nice, completely worth it.  Now God first two months more and he will be done with A school. We decide not to go, can't afford another trip plus he want to go on a mini vacation (Orlando) went he come home to visit.

wow!!Trying to catch up on everything on here,havent been on in a while.Congrats to all of you that get to see your sailors!!I am waiting for my sons power school graduation to go see him.Kinda stinks though cuz,I havent seen him since Christmas but try to talk to him everyday.I think his brother is missing him pretty bad.Well ladies gotta go get ready for work.Hopefully I will be on more often!!!Have a GREAT week

My home town is experiencing its first fallen hero (in many years) - a Navy Corpsman who was on tour in Afganistan.  His parents are leaving tomorrow morning to welcome him home at Dover Airforce Base; they will then see their hero home to Midland.  Aaron Ullom was only 20 years old.  His older brother was a good friend of my Sailors growing up and his mother was my sailors Boy Scout Leader.  My Soldier son knew him well.  Please keep Aaron's family in your thoughts and prayers - he is one of ours.

So sorry Lori.  Will keep you all in my prayers...

((Hugs)) Lori.  Prayers coming from me as well.  That is so sad.  :(  

 

 

These are recent pictures of my sailor.  I made him bring his dress whites to the hotel, so I could see him in those.  :)

Hi All!, its been months since Ive been here.

Lori - So Sorry for the Loss of Arron, so sad - such a young man.

Betsy - Your Son looks amazing, Im glad pensacola is treating him well.

 

My nephew is currently at RTC, shipped out 06/27 with a PIR 08/26, Ive been coming on N4M alot lately - so I will stop by to check in on my old friend.

All is Well in out household, S came home for 4th of July weekend and proposed to his Gf, great weekend we will all remember, but too short.  I just booked a trip to Folly Beach SC at the end of July for a Mommy/Son only weekend - so excited, Im being selfish, but honestly dont care :) 

Talk soon!

Patti, Wow! Congratulations on your son's upcoming wedding.  You deserve that mommy/son weekend.  Woohoo for your nephew!  If you come on the 8/26 PIR group, you may see me on there.  I've been helping on the dep groups and PIR groups since my A graduated.  

My A finally started his A school last Friday.  He said he likes it a lot better than the ATI training, so things do happen for a good reason and result.  (He is now CTT).  I'm just so glad that he is finally busy again.  :)   

Cakes!  I miss you :-)  Looks like we both have future daughter in laws!  Ash and Adam are getting married Labor Day weekend - THIS YEAR!  Holy Moly!  Glad S is doing well and you grab that mother / son time!  You brought him into this word so you have every right to be selfish!  :-)  Good luck to your nephew!  Drew graduates from Army BCT 2 weeks from today; I leave for SC a week from this Sunday and I can hard wait.  It will have been 10 weeks since I've seen him and have only had 1 3 min. phone call and one 15 min. phone call.  His letters have been awesome though; priceless really!! 

 

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers for Aaron!  ((Hugs))

 

Lori.....sorry for the loss of Aaron.  My prayers for his family. Also have a safe trip!!!

Betsy.....what a fine young men you have.  Your lucky, I know if I ask my sailor for something like that (bring your uniform) he will say forget it mom!! Glad to hear that he is happy, that is very important.  If they happy we are happy.

pmg.....you make me laugh!!!  You deserve that weekend and much more, enjoy.

Thanks Ladies! - It nice to be missed

Lori - Congrats to you on the engagement.  Labor Day - so soon how exciting, S & K have not set a date yet, this phase of school for S will end in October so possibly then, currently the Hold is 8 Months to start the next phase and he would have to stay in SC so it really is up in the air

Rose - thanks for your comment - i do deserve it ~ LOL , so hard being far away and not alot of communication.

Betsy - look forward to seeing you in PIR 08/26 groups, Its always great for the newbies to have a veteran mom giving them wisdom, courage and support.

I just love that we all can come back here to share to our joys and sadness with each other. ((Hugs)) to all of you.
Rose, thank you. Trust me, he thought it was weird to bring it, but it sure did make me happy. :)
Lori, Wow, I am so excited for you! I bet you can't wait to get your arms around your baby. How long much time will you get to spend with Drew?
Patti, I am really enjoying it too.

Betsy - the Army has a Family Day on Weds which begins at 9 (short ceremony); and at the end of it the U.S Army's newest Soldiers will come running out of a wooded area amongst red, white and blue smoke to take their formation on the field and then family is dismissed to join them.  We are given the entire day to spend on the ground of Fort Jackson, touring, eating and catching up; the evening is a hosted dinner where everyone gets to meet their Soldiers command - so that is Day 1.  Day 2 is graduation - very similar to Navy, but outside.  Drew will then be processed out and released to me.  We can spend the day and evening in Columbia and then Friday are charged with transporting him to Fort Lee in Virginia.  Once there, there is a strong possibility that Command will grant him a weekend leave.  So if this happens we get a fair amount of time.  We will see :-)

 

That sounds awesome Lori! Have fun.

Lori, that is so great that include the family in the process.  How awesome!  I can't wait to hear all about your time with Drew and see all the pictures.  :)

Hello everyone...I know it has been a long time since I have been on...summer vacation has been fun... but crazy! ...a good crazy though! I just had to touch base with all of you as I just got back from Groton. I spent a weekend with my son and it was awesome! Alex and I stayed at a motel about 2 miles from the base and N stayed with us. We were able to go to a great beach in Rhode Island with Lori's son. In the evening N took us on base to a special sneak premier of Captain America that the Navy is able to see before the actual release. It was a packed auditorium of sailors and their families! I was truly counting my blessings this weekend! :)

Rose...I saw your sailor! I was driving to the barracks and N pointed him out...he was walking down from the barracks ... I wanted to stop the car and give him a hug for you...but I think that would have been frowned upon! haha! :)

Lori...A told me about the sailor yesterday...so sorry! :(

It was fun catching up with you...am going to try to check in more often. I know it has been a little easy for me this summer as N has been home on weekends quite a bit, but I know I am going to be in for a huge awakening this fall when he ships off. Oh well...I'm just enjoying my time with him right now!

Groton Penny

Penny, I got a giggle thinking about you stopping your car, jumping out, and running to the sidwalk to hug Rose's sailor!!

Penny....is so nice to know how you doing!!!   I miss him so much, it was so hard to say good bye last week.  Next time, go mom give the hug, he knows you!!!  Trust me he will start laughing. Thanks for let me know is so special for me. Enjoy the time with N.

Hi to you all, I am sorry I haven't been on here in a while. It is nice to see some of you are able to visit your Sailors.

 We recently got news that TJ will be going to "C" school in Oceania Virginia and then leaving for Yokuska, Japan where he will be stationed on the USS George Washington. He leaves the US in October sometime. It will be bitter sweet. I will miss him dearly and will have to adjust to him going so far away, but I am so excited that he will be going to such an amazing place. He seems a bit nervous, but excited too.

 I never realized he would be leaving to go overseas so quickly.

Love to you all and our young men and women!!

 

During our visit to the Pensacola Aviation Museum in June.

Prayers for Aaron's family. It makes me so sad, esp that he was so young; just a little younger than myself actually.

 

Patti: congrats to your son on his engagement! Being a Navy wife isn't the easiest, but it's the most rewarding. I've learned to really appreciate every minute I get to spend with my husband. FC "A" school is intense and very time consuming!

Penny, that sounds like a great weekend and that is funny about Rose's son.  I bet Lori's son was happy to spent time with you too, how nice that you included him. 

Rose, he sounds like my A, he would have laughed too.  lol

Stacey, I love the picture.  You look young enough to be his sister, not his mom. Woah, on his Orders.  It does seem like a lot of our sailors are heading over there.  ((hugs)) to you.  

Priscilla, how is that sweet baby girl?  

 

The only news on my end is that A has started his A school and loves it.  :)  He has a 90% average right now and says that what he is learning is very interesting.  

The investigator came yesterday to interview me for his top secret clearance. He was here for an hour and 20 minutes!  He was talking to me about all kinds of things and not just Adam.  I guess that's good, huh?  I learned as much about him and his family as he new about mine.  lol  Oh well, I'm just glad that's finally over.  I know that they have also interviewed my best friend and A's best friend, so that's moving along now.  If there are no problems with A's A school, he said he should graduate the 3rd week in September.  

I'm also now searching for affordable airfare to go see my Kristen in Hawaii.  I'm hoping for Sept. or Oct.  I can tell she is really missing me, because she keeps saying, "When are you coming to see me mom".  Unfortunately, a trip to Hawaii is not exactly something that you can take off and do.  :(  I think she is alone a lot because her bf  has had a lot of duty lately.  He told her that he may have to go underway again in the spring, so she's not happy about that.  I'm hoping that my husband and I will be able to somehow swing another trip there if her bf does have to go out on the sub again.  

oops, I just realized that I misspelled the word *knew.  It would drive me crazy if I left it there like that.  :)

Betsy...good luck finding airfare.  I know how is that, we wish we have a little bit of extra money just for all this trips to visit our kids.  We also try as best as we can to go visit Jo.  Hopefully Jo get to stay near, hope east coast (like I'm the one there huh, LOL) we can just wish, God will decide. 

Stacey....wao, what a change!!!  Start saving for the trip!!

Hi Everyone !!  Been ages since I have had the time to drop in !!  So glad everyone is doing so well. Betsy, so glad you were able to see Adam again. I havent seen Steve since we left Pensacola in April :(  He has graduated A school in May, now doing C school. Scheduled to graduate Sept 22. He is hoping to get a post in Norfolk, Va. How sweet that would be, only 5hrs away !! My fingers are so crossed !!  We have come so far since our Sailors left for Navy life in Oct. I hope everyone continues to enjoy this hot summer !!

Hi everyone!  I am officially on vacation; I leave for South Carolina Sunday early a.m.  Drew is officially a Soldier; the Rite of Passage ceremony was at 9:00 P last night.  Whew!  I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.  It doesn't help that Aaron's funeral is this afternoon.  I'm dreading it. 

 

A and Ashley's wedding plans are moving along great.  I finished printing the invitations last night and Ashley is going to work on putting them together while I'm gone so we can mail them by the 4th of August.  A's leave is underway but not yet final - prayer appreciated that the Chief grants it.  Prayers that Drew can get leave and be home as A's best man.  I know everything happens for a reason and I pray all comes together for a beautiful wedding!  I'm having loads of fun with Ash and her mom doing wedding stuff.  :-)  Betsy is right Stacey - you could be your son's sister - you look amazing!!  And yes, thanks Penny again.  I'm glad my A spent some time with you and thank you for sharing your family time with him.  He LOVED Captain America!!  Looking forward to my travels to SC and and Virginia - seeing more of the U.S.; a year ago I would have never known I'd be have traveling to so many states!!

 

Drew last week; 25 lbs. less than when he entered BCT.  He has shrunk from a L  to an M.

Donna, we are still working on a lunch date for the Maryland Navy moms, I'll let you know when I find out.  My fingers and toes are crossed for Steven to get Norfolk.  Keep up posted.

Lori, I can't believe you are now officially the mom of a soldier and sailor.  Congratulations and ((Hugs)) to you my dear friend.  I can't wait to see the pictures of Drew in his uniform.  Wow, so many great things going on in your life now.  

 

 

Betsy and Lori- Thanks for your kind words. TJ dosen't like it when people say I look too young to be his mom. I Love it!!! When we visited him in Pensacola I walked him back to the Barracks and another sailor came up to us and wanted to meet his girlfriend,lol, mind you I had sunglasses and a ball cap on, but it was a classic moment. It helped keep me from crying after we said good bye. I saved my tears for the car ride home after I bragged to my husband :)

I looked up flights to Japan and we are going start saving I am thinking that if we start saving now we will have enough to fly about the time TJ's enlistment is up, lol. It is $1500 round trip each, cough, and of course my other 4 kids want to go too.

Donna- good Luck on Norfolk!!

And to the rest of you amazing ladies- Have a great week and God Bless our Service Men and Women!!

Woah, that is a lot, but what a great trip to plan for.