So MUCH has happened since last post... Ricky graduated basic training November 18th in the top 10% of his class. We got to go out for family day and graduation, pick him up, and transport him from Columbia, SC to Newport News, VA. So the kids and my soldier and I drove up the east coast, along the beautiful fall colors, up to VA. Before Ricky had to go officially move in, we got a couple of days to go spend some time together as a family. We really just went and hung out at Colonial Williamsburg the first day, then went to church together before we had to drop Ricky off.. Oh yeah, it just so happened that the 21st, the day we had to send him back, was Brandon's 3rd birthday... Poor guy. He didn't get a cake, presents, or anything.... So then the kids and I went and checked the area out until Ricky got his Thanksgiving Holiday leave. We went to Virginia Beach, Norfolk, the Naval Base and checked out the big ships and helicopters, and back to Colonial Williamsburg. On Thanksgiving, we went as a family to Jamestown (the sight of the original Thanksgiving) and then had our dinner in an old Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. Day after Thanksgiving, the kids and I flew home and left Ricky alone at the hotel for a little rest.
Moral of the story, he is set to graduate on or shortly after June 6th. He is studying the Apache, the avionics and electronics and armament for it all... He was just made Squad leader on Sunday and is line for a few more little promotions, which will look great in his file! He continues to impress his instructors, he complains that he is the smart kid in the class... lol... He has his cell now, so he can text at night when he has personal time. His new address is
PFC R Barlow
1002 Benedict Place
Ft. Eustis, VA 23604
He would love some mail, care packages, etc. Please know, that any food sent has to be eaten before he can go into his barracks (like college dorms).
As for me and the kids... We got to have daddy home for two weeks at Christmas... That was so wonderful! It definitely seems harder this time saying good-bye... We are at 147 days till he graduates... so long time... I went to school full time last semester, pulled pretty decent grades and learned that I am 2 classes away from a general Associates, or 2 general and 2 more business classes away from my Business Associates.... So, considering that I have the pell grant, I am doing 2 classes this semester, and then will finish up in the fall and graduate. I have a hard time stopping now when I am so close! And it will be a lot easier to continue down the line with an AS then just a bunch of credits.. So here I go again! Glutton for punishment I guess. I continue to work for an amazing Realtor, who is also one of my best friends, and stay at home with the kiddies... Brandon is now 3, and may or may not end up in preschool in the next couple of weeks... Katelynn is 1 and is running all over the place. Right now she has 4 more teeth coming in, so needless to say she has a fever and we are not getting a whole lot of sleep at night.
Think that's the updates! I will try to be better and will try also to get some good photos of our trip up... Happy 2011~~~ May it be a productive, positive and amazing year for us all!
No comments:
Post a Comment