Sweet Home Alabama!!

Some of you say "Home is where the heart is..."; While others of us say "Home is where the Air Force sends you." It never feels like home at first...there are all sorts of comparisons...but somehow at the end of each assignment we feel like we are leaving our home, which gives me hope that someday this too will feel like home!!


This is the front view of the house we are renting. It is situated in a nice neighborhood that aparently has numerous military families. Yesterday we saw 2 big moving trucks across the street, moving in a classmate of Justin's; and today we noticed a couple of other garages up the street filled with moving boxes!!


Our first meal in the house! We are still staying in a local hotel until tomorrow morning, but yesterday we enjoyed some fine Arby's food for dinner. The boys just couldn't eat "without a table" so they used a rubbermaid bin, and thought it was "great!"


The moving truck arrived today!!! This is always such a monumentous occasion...all of your worldly possesions in one section of this huge truck, just waiting to be delivered into every nook and cranny of your home!

The boys supervising the delivery! The kids and I stuck around for a little while, but as you can imagine big trucks, movers, heavy furniture and three busy boys do not make a very good combinations so we spent the day at the hotel while Justin commiserated in the heat with the movers. (On a side note, 2 men went through 16 bottles of Gatorade in just 5 hours!)

I had to throw this picture in of E. By 10:30 this morning he was so tired, hot, sweaty, and filthy...but was still smiling...what a guy!!

Now we have a home filled with boxes...this is always a very daunting task...opening boxes, unwrapping, and organizing what some stranger randomly threw together into a box labeled "a;sldkfjasdlkfjas;" Not that I'm complaining about having the house packed for us...just about the unpacking! And just to think in 11 short months we will get to do it all again!!

Alive in Alabama

Hey all...sorry no pictures, but we wanted to let you all know we are in Alabama! The truck did awesome towing the car and allowed us to all be in the same vehicle. I don't know if it saved us on gas mileage or not, but it sure helped save us all some sanity!

We just spent our second night in the hotel, and the kitties just spent their second night in our new house. We are hopeful that the truck driver who has all our worldly possesions will arrive in the next day or two. I do not have to be on base (in uniform) until next Tuesday when I will sign in, and on Wednesday I will be starting class! It is is probably a good thing the first week of class is only three days long. If it were a full 5 I would probably die of suffocation in my uniform!!! :)

Vonnie and the boys are already seeing how you only sweat down here if your are breathing or your heart is beating. Both of those are synonymous. Even Zach was sweating pretty good after only playing for a little while.

Our new house looks very nice and we are excited to be in it...we wish we already were. We will post some pictures when we are in...just wanted to let you all know we are here...

On the Road

Here is the Pre-travel smiles! The boys are all ready to go on our road trip...we were getting ready to pick up the kitties at home before we headed out of Colorado Springs!
Speaking of said kitties...here they are "chillin out" in their carrier!
This is a typical "Pit Stop" on the road...we make it about 100-150 miles between. That isn't bad as the truck is going about 65-70 loaded down and pulling the honda behind! This was done so we could all ride in the same vehicle...a good call as Vonnie gets sleepy about 1 hour into driving, and I would fall asleep if I didn't have kids and Vonnie to get frustrated with!! :)
Above was in Colorado and below was in Kansas!! Love parks!
The best one yet however was in Blackwell Oklahoma! We were looking for a park and stumbled on this FREE wading pool! Good thing Vonnie had things packed soo well the swimming stuff was in its own bag right on top!! Thanks baby!

This one was for Derek! :) The boys can only do so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and meat and cheese. So we had to get some nuggets and fries for the road!

As we pulled in to Holiday in in Salina Kansas, I needed a little help. This might look a little familiar to any of your "Ground Hog Day" fans...DONT DRIVE ANGRY!!
This is Bliss while traveling! Unfortunately in two days, I believe this was the only time they were all three sleeping at the same time! Seth holds out the longest to fall asleep, and Zach sleeps the shortest. And then they both poke Eli's eyes to wake him up!!

And 3 of my 4 favorite people cuddled up to watch Peter Pan in Fort Smith Arkansas...we are excited to stay with our dear friends the Murphys in Memphis TN tomorrow! Love to you all and wish you were here with us...

100+ degrees and at least that in humidity!! WHY ARE WE MOVING TO THE SOUTH AGAIN?? :)

Fishing and Packing

Sorry these are all out of order...but you will get the point....my computer is SLOW!!! I thought the internet in Antigua was slow...it was, but not as slow as this processor! Sorry, back to the point.

Zach was realing in his first fish...he had that part down pretty good...Seth didn't really want to fish, but he was loving watching while he was eating his fire chips (Doritos).
On our way home from fishing on the "mountain". We were on the notrh slope of Pike's peak! The view on the way down was fabulous. The boys looked out of the little telescope thing and a squirrel came to get a look at us. The boys all look good in their Antigua Hats!!

Flash forward to Eli helping us pack!!

Zach and Seth helping us pack...I am pretty sure they would have been overweight at the airport, and it would be cheaper to have bought them a ticket!! :)

Back to Zach reeling in another fish...1 of about 4 he reeled in! Grampa Sel was a little scared. Seth was eathing his fire chips!!
Seth reeling in his first fish..until he got bored and had Zach finish it...with his patented whine "I'm Done!"
Wow that was hard work...good thing we brought along our lunch of watermelon.
Having a good time...almost getting pulled in!!
Worn out after a nice day on the water...the boys really liked their Grandpa Sel's White truck!!

Last few pictures on Antigua and First ones at home with the Boys

This is a picture of Art, Susan, Vonnie, Justin, Vickie, and Col Gruber at the Tradewinds resort above Dickinson Bay. This picture was taken the night before the change of command!

This is the picture of Vonnie and I at the Orlando Airport. We had a plane that flew out at 0823, so we were up at 0530 Eastern Time...or 0330 Mountain time (where we were headed)...needless to say we are a little tired, but ECSTATIC to be headed home!


Grandpa Sel and I went to the store with the boys so they could pick out their Spider-Man fishing poles...we will try and head up to Crystal Lake tomorrow to hook into a couple of fish. I am pretty sure the time at the lake will be limited to about 2 hours...or so! Should be a good time, and maybe the pictures tomorrow will be with BIG fish!! :)
Zach took to casthing pretty quick...Seth just let his drop down. Zach will probably use lures and Seth will just use bait!! :)

Antigua Air Station has a New Commander...

Almost 1 year ago I posted a blog with this title...I can't even believe how quickly the time flew. Yes there were many days that were long, I mean REALLY long...but all together the year flew by! The ceremony...perfect, the weather...perfect, and the outcome...perfect...Justin is DONE!!

These are our dear friends whom many blog posts have been written! John and Patricia, Paul and Boni with their daughter Megan...thanks for many great memories...we hope to see you again someday either in the States, in England, or in Canada!!

Giving the Stars and Stripes it's due respect during the National Anthem!!

Just a few of the dignitaries that were at the ceremony...including the Deputy Governor General and Attorney General, Chief of the Defense staff, and the list goes on.

Justin received a Meritorious Service Medal, this picture is with his Colonel who flew in from Florida on Monday for the change over.

After Justin "reliquished command" the flag was passed to the new commander!!!

Farewell Antigua Air Station...we will miss you!!

The Box!!

It's official!!! The box arrived this morning!!! This box signifies many things for us...moving day...the end of a crazy adventure...the beginning to a different kind of adventure...it means we're done being apart...and we're back to being together!!

Justin is busy this morning with meetings and with the last minute details of the Change of Command Ceremony...I am busy with laundry and with socializing. I have been walking around the base talking to old friends! All around, you can feel the buzz of change...an anticipation for what's to come in a new Commander...and the sadness of seeing the last one leave. A comment I have heard over and over this morning, "The Major's shoes will be extremely hard to fill." I am so proud of Justin for what he has done here...and for what he very obviously means to all of those around him!!

A Day on the T.S. Prudent...

Justin has spent a least a half a dozen days out on this 45 foot coast guard cutter, currently operated by a Royal Navy Officer...today was my first, and unfortunately everybody's last time out!! We spent the day swimming, snorkeling, eating, and reminiscing!!

Justin and I gave parting gifts to all of the couples. To John, the Navy Officer and skipper of this boat he gave an American Flag...John and his wife are leaving Antigua also for a new assignment in Naples, Italy; so he had already taken down the U.K. flag. He quickly ran up to the top of the boat and put up the American Flag...the Stars and Stripes certainly looked beautiful waving above this English owned boat!


I am definately enjoying my break from the boys and from the everyday stresses of life...as much as I miss them, I realize how much I needed this break; and how much we need to spend some time together before the chaos of moving starts in just 10 short days!


Justin leaping off the top of the boat! He did this many many times...usually with the intent of splashing those of us on the main deck!

They dropped us off at the dock, where Justin and I had spent the last day on a docked sailboat. With lights and sirens this didn't go unnoticed by the others on the dock!!

I'm picking up Justin and bringing him home!

After a little chaos, I finally arrived here in Antigua late last evening. Today was the first day of our little vacation...

We went down town to shop at a couple of little vendors when Justin asked me if I'd like to stop and take a quick tour of the USNS Grasp that has been ported here for a short time. I wasn't sure what he had in mind, but with the quick flip of his cell phone and after 5 seconds of sweet talking we were getting a personal guided tour of this vessel. The hard part wasn't getting past the American's, it was getting past the Antiguan women who were the security guards for the port.

Justin wanted to try out the compression chamber. The Captain and the Commander offered to let us both in to take pictures...I didn't trust them enough to put us both in there!!

Up on the top deck with Saint Johns in the back ground.

I was expecting the Captains wheel to be huge and wooden, but instead a very small little metal one!! I could handle this ship, especially with my blended Mocha in hand!!

Later in the afternoon, the station set up a little beach BBQ as a farewell for Justin and I. There was so much food, a few locals stopped by to join in also!

Now we are headed out to our sail boat retreat with our Brittish friends picking us up tomorrow morning on their boat for a day of sun, snorkeling, and celebration!! The boys think I am here "helping Daddy pack," but that doesn't come until Monday!!

First time fishing on Antigua

I was invited to go fishing with Mike and Dave last night...they said they were going out at 9PM. It turns out they left at 6PM and had a great time...so today when Dave called me at noon to say they were leaving to fish at 4:45PM...Naturally I was ready to go by 2:30...didn't want to be left behind!! :)
This first picture is of the bait...we used Squid!! Yummy...who doesn't like calamari, including the little fish!
Me fishing off the rocks on the way out to the CIF...this is just past Allan Stanford's compound and boat yard. Beautiful way to spend a day...I got snagged and had to wade out and free my line.
The first stop didn't go so well, so after about 1.5 hours we moved over to the pier at the old Beachcomber hotel...notice that I am wet all the way to my underarms...this is from freeing my hook at spot #1.

Me with the Beachcomber in the background...and an nice begining to the sunset. Mike caught 7 fish, David caught 4, and I caught 1...at least I wasn't skunked!

Happy Forth of July everyone...hope you enjoyed your fireworks...they didn't have them on Antigua...it turns out not all the countries around the world celebrate our independence...Just us and the UK! :)

Gibson Park...with friends!

One afternoon the boys and I were able to catch up with a very good friend of mine! Kelly and I have known eachother for almost 10 years (sorry Kelly if I'm wrong about that). We have kept in touch through phone calls, mail, and most recently instant messenger! The last time I saw her Zach was just 9 months old, so it was VERY fun to catch up over lunch, and then to have her join us for some duck feeding! Enjoying lunch! The building behind us is a little cafe, called Park and Ponder...incidentaly it is the restaurant that Justin and I not only met at, but where he proposed!! Gibson Park holds many memories for me!

Zach and Kelly! I tried to find the picture I have of these two when Zach was just a baby, but I couldn't find it - either way a very nice picture!!

Fedding the ducks...wait...those are Canadian Geese. There were tons of them, and they seemed to over power the ducks. There were lots of ducklings too!
Eli seemed excited about the ducks, but wasn't too sure about the whole deal, especially when they started honking at him!

Thanks Kelly for a really nice visit! We miss you!!