March Adoption: First to be Second!

[MomByHeart]

No one ever wants to be second.   Not unless it means they will be getting showered with love by Molly moms for the second time!

The USS Cape St. George is our FIRST ever SECOND time adoption!  You ladies did such a great job the first time that they are back for more.  Our first time supporting the Cape was a Christmas adoption in 2010.  Over 50% of the crew is new since then, so even though the ship is being adopted a second time, many of the sailors will be first-time recipients of our love. 

The Cape St. George is a guided missile cruiser based out of San Diego and is deployed as part of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet  as part of Operation Enduring Freedom. They left on their current deployment on December 7 and have already heard that they will be extended.   Their theme is "Dragon Slayers."  Their moto is "Always Victorious."

I did some research and found out that April is “Humor Month,” so the theme for this adoption is “humor.”  When I asked the POC about this theme, he said the crew will certainly be ready for some humor by the time our boxes start arriving.  So let’s try to bring smiles to their faces and laughter to their day!  Here are few ideas to get us started:

• Clean joke books
• Comics from local newspapers
• Movie/sitcom dvd’s with a comedy theme
• Silly putty
• Funny ties
• Those Groucho Marx fake glasses with the furry eyebrows
• Knock-knock jokes from kids .  I thought this would be great for groups of kids…they can write down all their favorite corny jokes that we parents  get tired of hearing over and over =]
• “Gag” gifts
• A collection of humorous stories/pictures from the internet or your own family

 

Their specific requests are:

• Magazines
• Toiletries
• Personal hygiene items
• Snacks
• Microwaveable food
• Candy
• DVD’s and popcorn for “movie nights”
• Phone cards—The chaplain has requested phone cards and has said that he is willing to distribute them on an “as needed” basis.  There will be a separate address for the chaplain listed when shipping time comes.
• Pillowcases: This group is able to receive pillowcases, so pillowcase moms, you are on duty!

 

We are also going to have some extra support and love from the Makin Island moms this month.  As a way to “pay it forward” for our adoption of their loved ones last month, they are going to hold a special packing party for the Cape St. George!  Thanks, Makin moms, you rock!!!

 

The male/female count is 350 male, and 6 female.

 

 Here is a list of what we need and what we have so far:

Female pillowcases (6)—All taken care of!

Male pillowcases (350)—All taken care of!

Magazines:  Loraine 100+

Toiletries (female):  Boxes for the 6 females

Toiletries/Personal hygiene: 1 full box of misc., deodorant, toothbrushes (1 case+), lip balm, razors, dental floss-240, hand sanitizer, body washes

Microwaveable food/Snacks: Popcorn-2 boxes+, 400 cookies, Fortune cookies - 2 boxes,

DVD’s:  40+

Candy: Laffy Taffy-101, fruit snacks, several boxes of misc. goodies

Drinks:  Drink packets-500, water bottles filled with goodies-36, energy drinks-800

Games, etc: 120 decks playing cards, "game" cards (Monopoly, Clue, etc.), puzzle and brain teaser books, puzzle pages-350

Silly stuff:  Groucho glasses-4, glow-in-the-dark glasses-4, Silly Putty

Banner: 1

I know you moms are going to be full of great ideas for how to get some huge belly laughs out of this awesome crew!   So let’s get busy and show our FIRST SECOND that our love is just as strong the second time around!

 

Shipping Dates:  March 21-23

 

 

 

[MomByHeart]

Wonderful!  Have fun.

[PAM (GM MOM)]

Hi ladies,  I just though I would give all of you alittle more info on the sailors who shaved thier heads in support of cancer.  This is alittle more personal than just supporting cancer, One of thier shipmates father is battling cancer and is not doing too well.  He had gotten emerency leave and has been home for the last two weeks, he will be leaving today to return to the ship, knowing that he may never see his father again.  How wonderful it was that his shipmates in his div and others did this in support of him and his family.  If you go to the Cape group you can see a picture of them holding a banner that they sent the family.

[PAM (GM MOM)]

Hi ladies,  I have started packing boes for the Cape and want to know what you guys think.  I have enough decks of cards for everyone on the ship to have a deck, do you think I should send a deck for everyone or just send a hundred or so?  I can always get more decks as I get them for free from the local river boat.

 

I also have 36 water bottles packed with goodies ready to go, will keep everyone updated as I get more.

[MomByHeart]

I would think that 100 would be plenty...that would be enough for 1/3 of the crew, and most card games you play with others and only take one deck.  What does everyone else think?

 

[TN Navy Mom (Stennis Nuke Mom)]

Picked up a couple of DVDs this weekend, one comedy and one dramady, some silly putty, some popcorn for the movies.  I'll see what else I can come up with from Dollar Tree, Big Lots, etc.  My sailor suggested some of those pocket sized books of funny sayings and maybe a Darwin Awards book (those are always funny).  No bookstore in my town, so I'll have to go on a mission.

 

Plus I already have deodorant, razors, lip balm in my stash.

[MomByHeart]

Great job, TN mom! 

[Elaine-PIR 10/1/10]

Evening, Molly's helpers(?). Was trying to think of something cute but couldn't come up with the right word. LOL. Okay, quite a while back I had won 100 pillowcases from a contest on pillowcases.com. Then my money ran out and I am just now getting back on my feet. I am in the process of washing, drying and folding said pillowcases and they will be ready to go by Wednesday. I need to know where to send them. Some of them would be perfect for the females on board the USS Cape St. George. There should be just enough. Most of them look more manly. They will be separated by design and some could even be held back for another adoption. Please, I really want to get these to the people who need them the most. Thanks.

[MomByHeart]

Hi Elaine...I think the pillowcases are covered for this month's adoption.  Check with Nancy on We Stitch Love to be sure.  We will certainly be needing them in the future if not this month.  So glad to hear things are getting better for you.

[PAM (GM MOM)]

Mombyheart,  I wanted to keep you updated on what I have packed so far.

37 puzzle books

36 water bottles filled with tooth brushs, lip balm, candy, and snacks

101 long laffy taffy sticks

114 packs various snack crackers

240 snap and floss

500 drink packets

120 decks of cards

10 pillow cases

[MomByHeart]

Wow, Pam!  That's wonderful.  You have been busy, busy.  Thanks for the numbers and for all the time and work :)

 

[MomByHeart]

I think someone asked me question about the phone cards the chaplain requested, but I can't find the question or remember who asked it....

[Sally Guenther]

Molly asked it.