The "Visit"

After many tries to complete this, and countless interruptions, I have finally succeeded!! Without further ado, our visit:

1st Stop - Grandparents

We started out our visit with a stop (well technically it was our 2nd stop, because we stopped in VA to see friends just for the afternoon, but I forgot to take pics) in MD to see Granddad and Grandmom. The boys had fun playing with Buddy and of course G-dad and G-mom made sure they had all my favorite foods!!

2nd Stop - PA and SNOW!!!

As we were driving to PA, it started to snow! The boys were so excited. It turned out to be perfect because due to the storm, dad had off work, and school was canceled! So we got to spend a whole day with everyone. It was a great relaxing day.

Fun times with all

Another thing that really worked out is that Ash was home from college for a few days on winter break, so we got to see her too. Ryan came up for the weekend and Alex and Paul drove up for Sunday dinner. We have the best family!!!

As you can see, Ryleigh is quite a hit with her aunts and uncles.

My cute sisters!
Homemade donuts! Thanks Mom!

Another great meal from Mom

Ash and Ryan playing darts at Caitie's Crazy Ash and Caitie at Caitie's (by the way Cait made some awesome desserts while we were home! YUM)Diligent Jas working on college

Hanging out in the girls room (As usual, Liz made incredible things to eat too!)

More hanging out, having girl talk, Kyle listening in :)
Grandmom Sally with Ryleigh
Cute Belle and Ryleigh, we never got a pic of Katie!
Our dear friends Tim and Meredith, we really miss hanging out with them
3rd Stop NC- Chris & Chelly's

Our final stop was to Chelly and Chris's. We had a great time, even though it was short and we can not wait to move there and hang out with them all the time!!

Jason and Chris trying to figure out how to fix the ice cream maker


Still working on it - they figured it out


Allie and Aiden

The cousins!


Allie checking out some homes for sale! :

The end! :)

7 Months Old!

Here is our adorable little girl who is 7 months already!! She is scooting all over the place to get where she wants to go and her personality is really coming out. She is loved immensely by the three men in her life and I am still amazed that God gave me a little girl.

We are still in PA. Going to be headed to NC tomorrow to visit with Chelly and Chris and look at neighborhoods to get a feel for where we will buy our next house. Then back to SC to start another cycle!

Just a few pictures

I know I am very behind on updating the blog. But we are having so much fun and so busy that I have not taken the time to get on the computer. Here are just a few pics from while we have been here. The kids are having a blast in the snow. They have been outside for hours on end. I have lots more pics to put up, but they are still on my camera, these were just a few that got downloaded to my parents computer. I knew Granddad and Grandmom would be getting antsy for some pictures, so this is to hold them over! :)

Graduation Day and other tales

Jason's platoon, on the parade deck, ready to graduate.
Being with Jason on Family Day and Graduation is like being with a celebrity. Everyone wants to talk to him, introduce him to someone and have their picture taken with him. After being through several of these events, I have come to the conclusion that I don't think I would like being married to someone famous. :) But, Jason is very down to earth about it and does not let it go to his head! :) All I have to say is "Hey Hon!" and he will excuse himself and come right over to find out what we need. I usually just stand back and watch all of this, but Aiden demands attention. After having his dad be gone for so much during the 3 month cycle, Aiden is like "This is my dad, and I want him back NOW." He hangs on him the whole time the new Marines are trying to say their goodbyes. Several of Jason's new Marines came up to me and said "We just want to thank you for giving us your husband and supporting him so he can do his job. He always would tell us that you were the real hero, at home taking care of the kids. He taught us not to forget the ones at home that support all we do." Made me feel special. :)

All these people and many, many more are waiting to talk to Jas. I keep trying to tell them he is not that special! Just kidding. :)
Aiden anxious for all this to be over so he can go home and wrestle with Daddy!

So, how do we celebrate graduation? And how do we top a week of sick kids? I am about to tell you. We were all together in the truck after grad, happy to be done and looking forward to a relaxing afternoon. We went through the drive through at McDonald's on the way home and gave everyone their food. About half way home Kyle says the now famous words "Mom, I have to throw up." Yeah, we totally believe him now. I grabbed the only thing I could quickly find, the fast food bag (after I dumped the food that was still in it on the console) and put it in front of him. So, he emptied his stomach and just as he was done, I see that the bag is breaking. Jason pulls over quickly and wanting to save the carseat, that had been puked in twice that week already, I tried to get the bag to the front as quickly as possibly to put it out the door. Of course in hindsight, this was a really bad move. As I moved from the back seat across the front, the bag ripped and it's contents went everywhere. And I mean everywhere. I didn't even realize what had happened until I heard Jason go "AHHH!!" I look over and see he is covered in throw up. He is literally dripping in it. I look down, it is all over me. I look behind me, it is in the diaper bag, my purse, all over Kyle, all in Jason's duffel bag and all over the stuff in it, on our food, in our drinks, in between the seats, on the cell phones, the mirrors, the floor, the door, the radio, ok, I guess you are getting the picture. For a minute I just look at Jason, he just looks at me, then we start to laugh. What else can you do? So, we get home and begin the agonizing process of cleaning up. It takes hours, and since we were so busy, Aiden had to fend for himself for a few things. He needed help in the bathroom, but I told him to just deal with it himself. In hindsight, another bad move. A few minutes later he says, "Mom! Why is the water rising in the toilet?" I run to find the toilet about to overflow. Aiden says "I used a really big ball of toilet paper." I call Jason, we start frantically looking for the plunger. It takes a minute, because the kids had found it the other day and I took it away and hid it. I find it just in time, hand it to Jason, he plunges the toilet, it goes all over both of us. At least we had not taken a shower yet.....

Motivational Run

Today was Family Day for the recruits. It is for recruit families to be able to see the base and hear all about their recruits time here on the island. It is one of my favorite days too, because it means that graduation is the next day and then Jason gets some time off! It also a time that we are able to interact with Jason's work, go in the squad bays and see the product of what Jason does everyday. The day starts out with a motivational run. When a company graduates, they start family day by running by each Battalion on base and ringing the bells of the Battalions. Of course they run all the time, but everyone goes together on this run and it is really neat to watch with all the families, who have not seen their son/brother/husband/boyfriend in three months, lining the streets cheering. It is one of my favorite parts of the day.

Waiting for Daddy to run by.
Lima Company , Jason's platoon is the very first one.

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Family Day

After the motivational run, is the Eagle, Globe and Anchor Ceremony. This is when the recruits officially become Marines. They are awarded the EGA symbol, which they put on the their covers. They are given these emblems by their Drill Instructors (this is the part where most moms are crying as "Proud to be an American" is playing over the loud speakers). :) So here is another peek at the day. None of our family has ever been able to make it down here for a graduation, so I hope this gives you all an idea of what it is like. Maybe it will make you all want to come down for the next one! :) (Early June, in case anyone wants to mark their calendars!)

The Colors

Aiden during the National Anthem. Jason awarding the EGA's to his platoon. Jason in front of his platoon.
Jason with his Drill Instructors

Here is a video of Jason marching out his platoon. You can not see him very well, but you can hear him singing cadence. I was trying to take this video clip and tape it with our regular video camera at the same time. Plus keep an eye on the kids! :) So, you have to cut me a break!


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After the ceremony, we had our outpost party with all the DI's and their families (outpost is what they call our time off in between cycles). The boys had fun playing football. I hope Jas remembers to shine his shoes before Grad tomorrow! :)