Chicago Mom's

Hope everyone is have a great weekend! Enjoy!

Paula you are very smart! They is a very good idea to donate call cards, you are very nice Michelle. I just finished with a project for the Nimitz I did 50 goody bags and send 300 Christmas Cards, it was a lot of work but it was worth it.

Hi ladies.

Happy Thanksgiving, don't eat too much!

Did a little shopping with my daughter yesterday just up in Crestwood, she is in from school, did I say a little shopping do you every really do a little shopping when it comes to your kids. LOL Hope everyone is doing good!

Michelle that project was a lot of work but it was well worth it. I have two papers in the area doing a story on the project I can't wait to read them.

Paula, great pictures! LOL How great is that, Paula is this her first turkey??? Hope she has a pizza number. LOL I am only kidding!

Paula that is wonderful, what does all that mean, remember you have been doing this a little longer then some of us, but I know it is something good!

Michelle, how are you? I am glad I missed your first dinner. LOL

Annie, how are you? You also have a wonderful day with your family.

Paula I have spent days on the computer looking for that charm and no where, so you might be right it might not be open anymore.

Thanks Paula, you wouldn't think it would be so hard to find, well I might have to go with something different.

Hi Mary, how are you doing?

Yes you would Paula I have seen nothing like it and it is perfect. Hope you ate a lot of turkey and pie.

Michelle your son is home, I am so happy for you, enjoy every moment with him. How long is he home for? Yes I believe that Stephen is thinking of us I have been thinking of him all day long. I handed out my blue candles to the family and we all lite them on Christmas to remind us of Stephen (not that we every forget) we all enjoy doing this. GIve you son a hug for me!

Annie how was your Thanksgiving?????

Welcome Maggie, glad you are here. We are hoping to get together again after the holidays. There are two other moms that they sailors have been in the Navy for 3 years or longer, a lot of us are around a year. I think we all know how you are feeling. My son Stephen is an ITSN and is stationed in Naples, Italy. This will be the second holidays without him, putting up the tree without him yesterday was very hard for me. I know one mom lives in Tinley Park, maybe close to your cousin. My in-laws live in Tinley Park around 176 in LaGrange Rd. Hope you keep posting the more the merrier.

How everyone, hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!

OMG Annie that is so wonderful, have you stopped crying yet! What a great Thanksgiving for you.

Well Maggie that is not far from my in-laws, small world. I am so glad you got to talk to your son, I am sorry for that family, I will keep them in my prays and thoughts. People think if your sailor is not in a danger area it is ok, but it is not I hate when people say oh your son is in Italy, yes much better then some places but can still be dangerous, I pray for our sailors everyday no matter where they are.

Nice talking with you Michelle, I did send you an e-mail did you get it?

Hi Lovemysailor, I guess we just don't pay any attention to people like that. Your son is in my prays and thoughts, he always is. Let us know when he gets there.

Hey Mary someone was watching over you that is for sure. I am glad mom and baby are doing fine. Dan will be home for Christmas how wonderful, give him lots of hugs for me, take lots of pictures I would love to see them.

Michelle, good I did not write too much I wanted to make sure you got it.

Paula that is really cool, how awesome! It is just amazing what our sailors do, isn't it.

Hi everyone else, hope your and your sailors are doing great.

Well my son moved off of base this week, please keep him in your prays that he is safe.

Hello, I had not problem getting to work I work only 10 minutes from home, it did look pretty coming down. How is everyone doing?

Yes Michelle he has moved off of base, I bet he will love it.

I bet that was fun baking with friends, I bet you ate more then you put away. LOL I have my tree up and everything is all set but I have only baked choc chip cookies and nut cups so I still have baking to do but it will get done. Have a great Monday, talk to you soon!

Hi Annie! How's thing in Oak Lawn!

Make sure you have some kleenex!

For All my N4M's friends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZQRMYkBx5Y

LOL Annie, you are so silly. I love the Germany Fest, we use to go every year with the kids, no kids this year, how sad is that! That is the one in the Daley Center?

How is everyone else is doing?

Hi Jenny, all of those places are so much fun, enjoy!

Hey ladies, how is everyone?

Hey we have another Debbie? Welcome! I live in Alsip.

Annie how is your son doing, I was thinking of him today!

Just wanted to let you know that last week my son got his E3 and will test for his E4 in March. Bravo Zula to Stephen.

Also the Navy beat the Army in Football on Saturday! GO NAVY!!!!!!!!!

Michelle I am sorry to hear that but he will start school before you know it. You will blink and he will have moved on the his career. Like we say about the Navy hurry up and wait. Hope to talk to all of you soon!

Cathy, Stephen is an ITSN. He is overseas, he received a metal for finding a problem in there software and they promise him a promotion but then said he as not been there long enough so that is one resons he received his E3 so fast, maybe it is different overseas. But it sounds like you daughter is doing great, I love those IT. LOL

Yea Michelle, hope things work out.

Hey Laura, good to hear from you, you should come on more often. I bet you cannot wait for him to visit, how great is that. You also have a wonder Christmas and take care of yourself.

Hi Ladies, how is everyone else doing?

Yes they can test but if there is no room they do not move up and then they have to take the test again.

Hi Michelle, yes they do grow up so fast but he will be home, you will have the BEST Christmas! Enjoy your time with him.

Paula how are you doing? I know it is not ez not having the girls home, but we are here for you. My daughter will be in Sat., so at lease I have her, that helps a lot.

I'm home for two weeks after a month's adventure! I took my sailor's dog, Tex, and drove to the Houston area in November. He flew from chicago to meet a young woman he'd been talking and writing to--I got to meet her, too. Nice person, but no chemistry for them. (I've told him that after a California girl, a Texas girl, and a Michigan girl, he needs to stay closer to home!) He and I visited my brother in Houston, then drove to Tucson for Thanksgiving. My husband flew; his family is all there now. Had a wonderful time! Son and Tex flew back on Dec. 1; we drove to our winter home in the Rio Grande Valley near McAllen. Got things unpacked, missed the blizzard here! Flew home on Sunday. We'll be here till New Years Eve when we go back to Texas. Spending time with the granddaughters and hoping our sailor will get home for Christmas. He's doing snow removal as well as being an instructor, so he doesn't know yet. Merry Christmas to all!

I suppose I can goggle this information, but can anyone tell me the Congressman responsible for Zion? I want to contact him.

Thanks, Paula. Hoping that he can help with my son't purple heart that he still doesn't have because the Army lost a required piece of paperwork. We've gone through our own Congressman, but we haven't heard anything from him for months--he's doing nothing possibly to wait and use it during election time.

Is Mark's district include Great Lakes and Judy's Zion? It sort of looks like that on the map. I called Mark's office and left a message for the military affairs guy. This injury happened two years ago May, and my son will never be without pain. Eventually, he'll probably need knee replacements. He hit an IED while he was an IA with the Army. The Navy doctor wants to sign off on it, but he can't because all the records say simply "no injury" or contusions--written by a supply clerk at the time. It was later that an Army doctor determined permanent injury, but the paperwork never got in his file. The dr. was National Guard and we can't find him even going through the military locator. At least the good thing is that my son works through the pain and continues to pass PT. He wants the Navy to be his career. He has six years in already so he doesn't want to leave; he just sucks it up. (and sometimes complains to his mom!)

Paula and all, Mark Kirk's military affairs guy called me back last night. He's calling my son on Monday to see what can be done about the purple heart. It's not the medal we're after--it's the life long care. Thanks for the help.

Cathy, I hope your daughter has a great trip home (safe). Enjoy your time with her.

Annie I just love the picture. Is this the picture we were talking about?

Debbie, you are by Sara Lee right? Right in the neighbor!

Ruth keep us updated if he deserves it he should get it.

Laura thanks, I have heard this before, it is terrible.

Welcome tmsy22, best of luck to your daughter she is going to love battlestations.

Paula, sorry to say Christmas is not over yet!!!!!!!!

Talked to my sailor (Andy) this morning. Bad news, he won't get home for Christmas because of the weather and not a lot of time off. He said it's snowing like crazy at GL--he's on snow duty, but says he doesn't get cold with good equipment and winter gear. Good news, one of his friends off the Roosevelt has moved to GL, and he and wife have invited Andy to their house for Christmas. It makes his dad and I feel good that he won't be alone with his dog! More good news, Andy talked to Congressman Kirk this morning who requested all his paperwork about the IED incident. Andy sounded more hopeful than he has in a long time. His dad and I are so disgusted with our congressman--his office has had the file since last summer and has never once even been courteous enough to call us or Andy after the initial promise to get him the awards he deserves (there's more than a purple heart). I've visited his office twice--a worker pulls out his file, says they've sent a letter to the pentagon and that's the end of it.

I didn't know he was running for Senator. I think it's time to let some people here know that!

Ruth, I am sorry he cannot come home, how disappointing. Sorry about his purple heart, what is wrong with people he deserves it he should get it. I am glad he has a place to go for Christmas, that is very nice. Just take care of yourself Ruth!

tmsy22, let us know how it goes. My son PIR in January last year it was so cold outside and snowing too. Thank God we do live close, I stayed at my sisters she lives around 20 minutes from GL so that was nice for us.

Hey Michelle, how are you doing, snowing here in Alsip too, but not too bad. Yes you have to get on here more often to keep up. LOL

Hi Paula!

tmsy22, WAY TO GO! BRAVO ZULU!!!!!!

I like both places! Can't wait to meet you Cathy!

Hi MIchelle, how are you doing!

Annie, what's up!

Hi Annie, yes it is not nice outside that is for sure, enjoy your family.

Paula, how wonderful would that be for your girls to come home, I will keep them in my prays.

Teresa, looking forward to getting to know you and more about your sailor.

Lovemy sailor, I am glad they are together, sorry they could not come home.

I feel we will have out turn next year where our sailors can come home.

Buon Natale and Na-Tally & Auguri! This means in Italian Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I do not have grandchildren but I do have a grand-dog, this is Stephen's dog Daisy!

My son called this afternoon from the Zion Wal-mart wanting my recipe for banana cream pie--it made me laugh because it's so simple, but his favorite. He's making it to take for Christmas dinner. His Navy friend, his wife, and Andy are taking the train into Chicago to see the lights tonight. He says it's snowing there, but here in the western suburbs (Rock Island--LOL) we're getting lots of rain. Weknow the snow is coming though. We're going to Davenport tomorrow to our daughter's, then celebrate with Andy's daughters when they stay with us for the weekend. Merry Christmas to all my Chicago Navy mom friends!

Annie I am so glad you get to see your son, enjoy!

Ruth, yes it is snowing and rainning and just cold. Going downtown is so much fun at this time of the year, the lights are beautiful, maybe you need to share your banana cream pie recipe with us. LOL

I'm almost embarrassed giving out a recipe for my banana cream pie! My father-in-law loved it, and now my son, but it's so simple. Graham cracker crust, bananas sliced and placed on the bottom and along the sides, 2 boxes of pudding (vanilla, or banana cream or cheesecake) made as pie filling, and top with whipped topping. That's it--quick and except for the bananas, I can keep the ingredients around for an emergency. That's it.

Ruth, thanks it sounds good and I like ez, I am going to try it!

Hope all the sailors made it home safely if they were coming.

I talked to Stephen today he worked going to have some dinner and go to bed for tomorrow starts again, it was great to see him and talk with him. Hopefully he will be home next year.

Yes Christmas is over, way that went fast. Hope Santa was good to everyone.

LOL Mary, that is so true, things never change.

Lovemysailor, it is hard when they are so far away but it is the best when they come home or we get to visit them.

Hi everyone!

Annie, that's a perfect picture to use to make a sailor doll. I print a picture on t-shirt transfers, iron it on white cotton, and make a sailor shaped "doll." My granddaughters have their "daddy dolls," but maybe a girlfriend, wife, or mom would like one, too.

Annie great picture, yes he is very handsome! Enjoy your visit with him. Please thank him for serving our great country, I am very grateful, he has a very hard job. That would be great to put him on a shirt, good idea Ruth!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May this year we all get to see our sailors!

No Debbie I did not hear anything about that, hope everyone is ok!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

All you need to make the doll is a digital camera, your sailor, a printer, the t-shirt transfers you can buy at Sam's, Wal-Mart, Office Max, etc., and some material. I have pictures of them somewhere if I can get to them. I'm in Texas with the laptop for three months--escaping all that cold and snow!

Paula, what a great surprise!

WOW Paula, that is a great way to start a new year!

Happy Monday ladies! Have a good one!