Santa's List

I just couldn’t stop laughing when I came into the living room and saw Mr. Hottie on the couch with his Inventory List.  I asked him if he was going over his Naughty or Nice list.  He didn’t see the humor……but than nothing is humorous when he is going over gear issued over a year ago, especially stuff he never uses because like all good Marines, he has his OWN stuff he prefers but he still has to leave with it, keep track of it in a hostile, crazy, dirty, and dangerous environment and hope to return with it all, because we all know that gear issued costs a million times more than gear you can buy!!!! It is also frustrating because NOTHING is supposed to break during the year on the Battlefield and somehow be in great condition to turn in.  The Government thinks you go to the Battlefields and sit the whole time in a clean perfect weather environment I s’pose…..these people that decide what gear should look like on return need to actually wear the stuff for atleast 6 months out in the elements. Just an idea….but like all good ideas for the military it will never be utilized…..sigh……sooooo, anyways, he was not finding any humor…..but I still laughed……hahahahahahahahahaha!!! And, when all was said and done everything was there, some stuff still in their original packages.

 

Not Needed Anymore

The Dude in Cammies started unpacking his gear.....he handed me this and said, "I won't be needing to carry this on me at all times anymore." I joked and said, "You might want to hang on to that with the way our country is headed....."

Marine to Lumber Jack

The Dude in Cammies dropped me off at work this morning......7 1/2 hours later a Lumber Jack arrives to pick me up from work!  Love this guy!

Silly Waiting Photos

While waiting for The Dude in Cammies the kids were being silly.  Here are just a few of the kids while waiting....

Last Night On The Bed

I told Jasper to enjoy tonight, as it will be his last night on the bed.  He looks to be a little sad....but i told him he will be sleeping with me again in about 9 weeks.....

The Dude in Cammies is 40!!!

The Dude in Cammies has had some Birthdays with us and some without us.....this one is without us but in a new place he has never turned a year older at before!!!

Still in his SUPER early 20's

He turned 30 on Okinawa.......

While we were in Okinawa he had his 32nd Birthday in Iraq.

He had a Birthday in Afghanistan

He's had a Birthday at 29 Palms during training...

And the big 40 was in Kyrgystan leaving Afghanistan!!!

After Ball Breakfast

We stopped at Dunkin Doughnuts and picked breakfast up for our kids.....yep, they will be happy campers in the morning! We had quite the looks at us when we went in in nice dresses and boots!!!  Good thing it is a Marine Base and these kind of things are just kinda the norm!

The kids will be thrilled to find breakfast tomorrow is doughnuts!

Deployed Souses Ball 2013

Tonight was the Deployed Spouses Ball.  AND!!!  It is The Dude in Cammies BIRTHDAY!!!  This was my first one to ever go to.  I have seen lots of posts from friends who have gone to these and seen many fun pictures but had never had the opportunity to attend one as The Dude in Cammies has either left right after one or arrived home before one or when he was an augment the Battalion always made sure to invite the Wives of their deployed Marines and since they bought the tickets and offered transportation and child care I didn’t say no, so I have never had the opportunity to go until this year! My friend Kim who lives down the road from me asked if I was going.  I was originally not planning on it as The Dude in Cammies arrival was going to be somewhere in that window and so I wasn’t sure if I should risk buying a ticket and that ends up being the night he comes home or he comes home the day before and I leave him his first night home or something like that! Amy definitely wanted to go. Her Marine is in Afghanistan and is retiring this summer.  She has yet to go to one of these either and she wanted to go as this was her last chance.  I told her I would buy a ticket and go as long as I wasn’t picking up my guy during the Ball! Ha! I figured this way I could check this off my Marine Wife Bucket List and go with a fun friend!!! We had a total blast! The decorations were sooo fun! I was going to sit on one of the sand bags and right when I was sitting I realized they weren’t filled with sand but with air!  That was close!!! I almost fell but thank goodness my brain began thinking ‘sand’ bags would be really heavy to bring in in this quantity!!! Caught myself just in time!  Now, that would have been a classic Julia Moment if I hadn’t had that sudden brain power happen!!! The food was delicious, the desserts were every girls dream, and the speakers were hilarious and know the Marine Wife Life!!! It was a fantabulous evening with some super fun wives!     

The entrance going in

Had to lay down on the cot

With my friends

The tent to go thru to sign in and find out your table number

Loved this sign!

Had to make this for The Dude in Cammies....we all know I am always waiting on him!!!

Our super cute table centerpiece

Yes, those are the coolest M&M's EVER!!!!

Yes, i tried almost everything!!!

A try once dessert, good, but don't want again! 

Jump Start Lovers

It happened......we finally had our deployment vehicle breakdown! Lucky for me it happened in our driveway! I went to drive the jeep and it didn't start.  I had just driven it the day before, but probably not long enough to keep the battery alive. Cayce came over and helped us.  I was going to try jump starting it with a You Tube video, but neighbors are awesome in not letting you do things like that.  He hooked everything up and we weren't getting anything better than a click click click. So, we gave up on that and i called my road side assistance.  Our rescuer arrived 30 minutes later.  It was active duty Marine who does this on his days off. It was Veterans Day, so he was off and happy to help a military wife in a rut with a deployed husband far away. He was really nice and let me know that the battery was completely shot and needed to be replaced.  He hooked the jeep up to my car and with his added machinery my car jump started the jeep back to life! But as soon as i took my foot off the pedal it would die.  It would not hold the charge.  UGH! He offered to take it off so i could drive it to a store and get a new battery but i would have to put it on myself or he could follow me most the way to make sure i made it somewhat close to my destination before he had to turn off to his next call.  I managed to get Vicki and i to the Auto Parts store in Richlands without the jeep dying on us. This was no easy task as i could NOT take my foot off the gas pedal even at a stop sign or light! Getting across the freeway was the hardest but we made it! Vicki ran in the store to see if they had one and if they could put it in before i took my foot off the gas!!! They had one and said they would put it in! Yay! $101.00 later the jeep is running again! On a side note the guys working there were, in Vicki's words, 'HOT'! They were really nice too!  

A Year Later in Swansboro

A year ago tonight my love and i were at the Tree Lighting in Swansboro.  We were so happy that The Dude in Cammies was able to participate in some holiday festivities before he left for a year on the battlefields of Afghanistan. I love this picture of us.....i wore the same thing i wore last year and took a picture in the same spot.....when he comes home i think we will go take a picture in this same spot....

Next Banners Will Be Ours!!!

Driving down Freedom Way on my way to work today there were sooo many banners tied to the fence line leading up to the gate.  Soo wonderful to see these and know all these Service Members are returning to their families, and just in time for the holiday season!  Love reading all the different things people come up with.  My Marine insists i keep it simple and prefer that there be no banner, but too bad! It's tradition and everyone loves seeing the banners up!!!  I also couldn't help but think that the next banners going up will be for The Dude in Cammies and his team coming home!!!

No More Yard Work 'Till Spring 2014!

Sooo excited that the last cut of the season is done!!! I tease The Dude in Cammies on how he was the one that wanted a big yard, but somehow i am the one that ends up taking care of it!!!  Hmmmmmm.....i guess i would want a big yard too if i never had to do the work!!! Anyways.......the last cut has been done and he might never have to cut this grass again!  he will be gone before Spring comes and might only ever be back to just help me pack out! But the front porch is ready for when he does get back.  We will sit out there on our rockers, me with my hot chocolate and him with his hot cider.  Can't wait!!!

Ending Tradition

Getting our tags for the jeep every year is a pain!!!  It has California plates.  The tags are due in July.  I pay in July, EVERY year!  The check always clears in July. But, tags take forever to come.....This year they arrived in October. I happened to remember to put the tags on the jeep the day they arrived.  I usually forget this step and just put in the glove box and every year The Dude in Cammies gets pulled over for expired tags.  NOT this year!  That tradition has ended and tags are on the jeep!!!

Good Night #307

This is The Dude in Cammies Good Night picture #307. It is from Bella and Jasper.  They crack me up. Bella is giving him her 'Don't kill me when you get back!' face and Jasper is giving a 'I miss you terribly!' face and probably trying to guilt trip his Master into sending for him!

Another Season Has Passed

The Dude in Cammies left in the middle of Fall....We have finished Fall, survived Winter, cruised into Spring, and loved our R&R with The Dude in Cammies during Summer and now we are back to Fall!  He must almost be home!!!

He's Already Left....

Whenever The Dude In Cammies deploys he is completely gone before he actually leaves....you can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He stops looking at me. He looks over me. There is zero eye contact. His voice becomes serious and matter of fact. I am basically now one of his troops being left behind to take care of his little troops. He gives me his last bit of advice almost like a briefing. It literally sounds like the guy who gives you the mandatory power point presentation telling you something you already know. Than it is the  one armed hug, and he is gone. This was the most reserved i have ever seen him. I know this deployment is bad. He has only shared a few things with me because he knows how much i worry but he also knows how much i read and that i read the newspapers of other countries. He was surprised i knew so much about his location and missions. I showed him the reporter i follow. He said everything was accurate. I knew it was.....he lives in a very scary world. I understand him already checked out emotionally. I don't cry. I smile. I tell him i love him and we will be fine and not to worry about anything in NC, that i have the easy job, for him to just do his job and come back to us and we will be waiting to pick him up.  I get the little half smile and a tiny glance into my eyes, itty bitty tiny glance before he quickly looks away while kissing my forehead. I know he didn't even want to do that, but he did. He loves me more than anything and i know leaving is hard and he won't show that, ever, and i won't cry and have him feel that pain when he leaves....he can see me smile blinking back tears.....i think he can handle that as he flies back to the depths of hell.

 

 

Waiting To Say Goodbye...

Looking at these pictures i can feel every emotion.....deeply...it kinda hurts....but these pictures also make me smile even though my eyes are watering up and there will probably be a few tear drops that drip drop while i type..The personnel at the airport by our house were awesome. It is a tiny airport about 15 minutes from our house. It is always nonstop of Marines flying in and out. A huge number of Marines fly in after boot camp to attend a variety of schools here as well as SOI. That alone provides a rotating door of Marines in and out. not to mention those getting orders to New River, Camp Geiger, Camp Johnson, and Camp Lejeune all fly in here. The airport gave us all passes and let us go thru security with The Dude In Not In Cammies and wait with him until he boarded his flight. It is a small airport so when you are called you go outside to the flight line and climb the little ladder to the little airplane that takes you to a larger airport to connect to your larger plane.  First this was weird to be saying goodbye in a regular airport terminal.  It was also like 5 in the evening! Not 11 at night or 1 am!!! The sun was out and i was fully awake! There wasn't all the hustle and bustle of Marines in their desert cammies scurrying here and there and children running all over, wives chit chatting, little ones crying, friends (other Marines) gathered around who had come to see the Marines off. There were no giant stacks of packs piled up. Everything was just off! The Dude in Cammies, was NOT in cammies. He had them in his carry on and he would change into those as soon as he left American soil and got in a certain part of the globe where Marines are allowed to dress in their cammies off of a military base. All other military branches can travel in their BDU's, but not Marines.....i always feel for our Marines; as when you see them in an airport in civilian clothes there is no way for any American to know that they just traveled half way around the globe and could have been literally fighting for their life (and yours) just a few days prior and will go un-noticed in the airports but the soldier wearing his cammies home on leave just flying from his base in NC to visit a girlfriend in California may get bumped up to First Class, numerous hand shakes, tons of compliments, food and drinks bought for him and he might not have ever even deployed.....yes, I've blogged about this before and will again....it frustrates me.....i don't know why our guys have to find a place to change and lug around boots and cammies in a carry on.....I'm sure there is a really good reason, probably so they aren't recognized by a potential terrorist on a plane because their haircut and tattoos won't give their Marine identity away already.....well enough rambling....i think i succeeded in distracting my emotions to dry my eyes and get back to this blog post....yes....Waiting to say the official last goodbye....i usually just sit and watch the kids with their Dad.....all their funny little teasing that they always do with each other....Ryan still gets pulled on his Dads lap even though he insists he is too big.....the downfalls of being the 'baby' of the family i s'pose....he will never outgrow anything!!! All the final advice given, especially between Dad and Ty.....i guess football is really important in a guys world.....they went over plays, conditioning, what to do, not to do.....yes, The Dude In Not In Cammies is really saddened to be missing the boys football season. It is just a really tender time to watch them and with them being older now they know the realities of what their Dad does and that there is a high probability he might not come home. Some jobs on deployments are pretty guaranteed for a safe return. Very few ever die on ship deployments, that is rare. Those who have jobs that keep them on our bases in other countries have a VERY high probability of coming home. These kids know that when their Dad deploys he is off a base more than on a base and this deployment he is with the ANA advising an Afghan Sgt Maj and 4200 Afghan soldiers who switch back and forth with the ANA and Taliban as fast as Jasper switches on if he wants inside or outside. He lives in a tent right there with the Afghan Army in the most dangerous place in Afghanistan. There are certain places he goes that the bridges can't hold our big armored vehicles and so he has to ride in the BACK of these little trucks, not like back seat of extended cab trucks, like BACK, bouncing around in the BACK of the truck bed, little trucks....i think if people knew exactly what he did over there they would probably wonder how i could possibly even let him get on that airplane and leave us....but it is what he does.....the kids and i know this is what he does.....this is what he has been trained to do.....this is a guy who doesn't blink when things go to hell, he goes forward. He actually loves what he does and he serves under our countries flag and that is the only reason he does this and why we can send him off. I am in awe at the maturity in my children and how they just know this is how it is. They never grumble aside from what i would expect from anyone their age. They have never asked for their Dad to get out of the Marine Corps. They love who he is and what he does, even if that means sharing him with our country and sending him to the far corners of the world for extended periods of time. They get it and they understand that some have to make the hard sacrifices for those that can't or are unwilling. Vicki kept covering up her face.....i will have to see if i have any of her that aren't blurry or a hand in front of my lens....but anyways...these were those last 60 minutes before he had to leave us, again....it was nice having him pretty much all to ourselves....he was with a group of Marines who were also slated for R&R during his same dates. Not from his team, from other teams, so they had traveled to NC together and were traveling back together. It was a small group, 9 and they met to discuss a few things about a couple places they were headed and where they were changing and some things that had come up in some desert locations they would be making some hopeful transfers at. It gets a little dicey once they get to certain spot, than it is just a matter of piecing your way back to your FOB flight by flight and working around sand storms, religious holidays, hostilities, etc., as you make your way back to your tent. It's not like the typical American booking a flight from location A to B and you just arrive at B. They are kinda going from A to Z and dodging missiles and RPG's and such on the latter end.  We are chit chatting and getting ready to say goodbye.....The Dude In Not In Cammies is doing his best to still stay with us but i can feel him detaching as he glances more often at his watch and his answers become more monotone mhmms or he asks me to repeat myself when i am looking at him and he knows he missed something......that is my cue, i know he is checking out and i just hold his hand for those last few minutes until they start making the boarding announcements....

            

 

He His Already A Million Miles Away

 

This was taken right before he went out the door to board to his plane. You can tell by the look in his eyes he is already gone....the wall is up, he has disconnected with us, and his mind is already a million miles way.....back to the battlefields of Afghanistan.....

Hugs & Tears

The hard part arrived....the last hugs before he gets on his plane and flies away from us....we don't say it, but we all know we might not ever see him again. It is the reality of having a Marine for a Dad and a Husband.....they fight bad guys in the enemies land. It's a dangerous job with no guarentees of survival....Vicki always takes the goodbyes really hard.....The Dude In Not In Cammies is on robot mode by this point and he isn't even really with us anymore. His mind is already in battle mode. We can feel it in his hugs, they are barely there, mine are always one armed by this point....i understand....he gives us the big goodbye hugs at the house after we have one last family prayer before we leave to drop him off. By the time we arrive at his drop off location he has already completly seperated himself from the civillian world and even though he wasn't in cammies this time, he was still in full Marine mode when they called his flight over the microphone.

 

Just a half way hug

The one arm hug...

Vix in full blown tears...she makes it rough on the rest of us!!!