Patriot!!

Aaron was worried about Patriot. Bryce has been Patriots voice since Aaron has been away. He loves him dearly. It actually scares me the way they play together. Bryce never wants me to put Patriot in our room.  

Back to School Birthday Beach Bash!!!

Alec's wanted to have a bunch of boys spend the night for his 13th birthday! With Aaron away, I said no way. I suggested a beach bash. Alec debated and agreed, only if he could invite the entire sixth grade from last year. I said yes since it was the end of the summer and all the kids would be going to different schools. It was a blast and a great turn out.       

 What a great group of kids, I love them all!

This is Holi Color. It was a huge hit. If you are looking for a fun activity email me and I will explain. Or  google Holi Color or Holi Powder.  

Thank you Mr. Davis for bringing the watermelon & entertaining the little guys. 

Chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes!

We said no gifts!!! I cried when Alec opened this. How thoughtful and it means so much to our family.  

He's 13! That was the fastest 13 years ever!

The beach bash was such a hit we are going to make it a tradition until the kids graduate! Aaron will join us next year and it's sure to take the fun to a whole new level. Thanks to everyone that helped me. I couldn't have done it without you!     

LOOK OUT COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN

BABY BRYCE has arrived! Today was Bryce's first day of 3year old pre-school. He is going to the same school Alec did and even has the same teacher, Mrs. Young. We love her, I'm praying she still loves us after a few hours with Bryce. She has assured me the kids are different for her. Yesterday we visited the school so Bryce could check out his classroom and the playground. Within minutes he was letting the other kids know what STAR WARS character they would be for the day. He will be going on Tuesday's and Thursday. I snapped a couple of photos and ran as fast I could. These couple of hours are a much welcomed break.        

19,588 applicants, 3500 selected and Aaron is one of them!!!

       I have attached a great article that explains the Chief Petty Officer Selectee process. I had know idea until Aaron was well into the fight.  The Navy emailed me a 60 page PDF document titled Guidelines for the Spouses Wife.  He has two sponsors that have reached out to me as well as their wives. Like I said we had know idea. They wanted me to know what to expect from Aaron over the next few months; basically he would be tired, irritable and it would be rare for me to hear from him.
     Aaron spends his time away from his normal job (the mission), working on CPO Selectee obligations. Sleep is rare. It doesn't matter that he is deployed. The entire United Sates Navy selectees go through the same steps and process at the same time.

A message from Aaron:

Five weeks down, six to go. The pace is mind numbing. The ‘training’ is like trying to get a drink of water from a fire hydrant! I had no idea the tradition and history involved. I will not be the same person when this is over. According to our instructors this will never be over. The induction is the easy part. Once we earn our anchor and are genuine Chief the adventure truly begins, the mentoring and growing of the junior enlisted will be placed firmly on our shoulders

 Navy Announces Newest Chief Petty Officers

Story Number: NNS110804-11 Release Date: 8/4/2011 11:18:00 AM 0 Comments   Font Size: A A A 2 0

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW) Maria Yager, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- More than 3,500 Sailors were selected to join the chief petty officer ranks when the Navy announced the results of the fiscal 2012 active duty chief petty officer selection board Aug. 1. "This is just the beginning for those selected, starting a new journey in their military career," said Navy Personnel Command Force Master Chief (AW/SW/NAC) Jon Port. "Much more will be expected of these Sailors as they step into a role of greater responsibility." The board convened June 20 to review the records of 19,588 selection board-eligible candidates. The board was charged with reviewing pertinent sections from candidates' official military personnel file, including performance evaluations, awards and any correspondence the candidate submits to the board. A precept instructs selection-board members to seek the best and fully qualified candidates, and instructs the board on which factors they may consider and which factors they may not consider when evaluating candidates. "The most important selection criteria item is sustained superior performance in difficult and challenging leadership positions throughout their career but especially over the last five years," said Port citing the precept. "That is the biggest item which determines selection." Other factors the board considered include: • Educational, personal and professional development • Competency and skill information • Anti-terrorism and force protection • Language, regional and cultural experience • Naval Special Warfare and Navy Expeditionary Force experience • Special duty assignments: • Collateral duties • Overseas and arduous duty Additionally, the board was directed to give consideration to candidates who have displayed superior performance while serving in individual augmentee, Global War on Terrorism support assignments or overseas contingency operations assignments. After the selection board reviews the records of all eligible candidates and selects the best and fully qualified Sailors based on the precept, their results are forwarded to the chief of naval personnel for final approval. "Selection to chief petty officer is a significant milestone that begins early in a Sailor's career," said Port. "Junior Sailors on the deckplates can look at the factors for selection as a guide; study, achieve excellence personally and professionally, diversify your assignments and seek additional duties that will broaden your experiences and contribution to the Navy and your shipmates." The precept is a written order signed by the chief of naval personnel, providing general and specific guidance to the selection board. It may be reviewed in its entirety in the enlisted selection board section at www.npc.navy.mil. The active duty chief petty officer board is the largest selection board conducted in the Navy and typically lasts four weeks. For more news from Navy Personnel Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/npc/.

Take a walk in Baby Bryce's shoes....

          Well Baby Bryce's shoes, he's three and his daddy has been away now for three months. He was ok with the first couple of weeks and maybe even the first month. But after three months our funny strong willed child has become difficult. He asks for his Daddy daily. He is very concerned with Alec going away to camp; he has been away off and on throughout the summer. When I'm away at work he will ask “is my mommy coming home?” When I return he lets me know how much he misses me, and then proceeds to slap me for leaving. He's angry! He has a paddle with his name on it. His world as he knew it for the first three years has changed.

     Yesterday was a hard day for all of us. Bryce refused to go to sleep the night before then came to my room at 5:00 a.m. He wouldn't take a nap. I tried everything. He was whinny and miserable all day.  Alec had a softball game with Scouts, my plan was to wear Bryce out at the park then bring him home for bath and bed. I wasn't going to cook. 

     I told Bryce if he was good at dinner we would go to the park. I was hoping to eat outside at the Fish Company but it had just rained, we opted for a table inside. We were sat at a booth; Bryce and I sat on the side with no one sitting behind us. He was for the most part good; he hadn't screamed and was entertaining himself with the crackers. They make great train tracks. When our food had arrived a gentleman was sat behind us. As we were paying our bill, Bryce started rocking in his seat, I of course told him to stop and thought I was on top of the issue. He started again and the grumpy old man behind me yelled knock it out. I'm so mad I didn't knock him out. I have worked in the restaurant business my entire life. I would have sent Alec out with Bryce, before I let Bryce ruin his meal. Bryce stopped rocking and I started crying. I was so mad at this man. When we got to the car I asked Alec if I should go back in and tell this grumpy old man this little boys dad had been away for three months now and had many more to go. I understand lots and lots of kids have gone through deployment and Bryce will survive, but in his little mind his Daddy is gone. Perhaps knocking the man out may have not been the right solution maybe I should have asked for him to pray that I have patience with this little boy. Patience so that I don't continue to lose my cool and scream and yell. 

     

    

CANDY GIRL!!!!

Aaron sure does know me!!! I love CANDY! This was such a fun surprise. The card said to share,  so Alec and Bryce both had a couple of pieces. Bryce had his first candy necklace. Thank YOU Aaron!     

Thank GOD for GREAT Friends!

This is a message I received from the Davis Family.

Alec had a great 4th of July. He did a 4 mile hike with a 20 foot waterfall to slide/jump off of. Then dinner outdoors with another creek to play in. We shot off lots of his fireworks, (they were really good ones). Now we are heading out for a day of whitewater rafting. The weather is beautiful, hope you have a great day!

 I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the Davis family. They have always been a blessing to our family.  I would never consider a vacation without Aaron, yet I hated for Alec not to have a summer vacation. He loves their mountain house and being outdoors. Cameron (Wesley's older brother) leaves for college this fall; he has been a great role model for Alec.

Bryce and I decided to keep with tradition. We met Melissa and Makennah at the beach. The beach wasn't too crowded and the sea breeze was just right. I wish we could send the sea breeze Aaron’s way. With a cooler full of snacks we stayed for three hours. It was very relaxing and Melissa's chicken salad sandwiches were delicious. Melissa pulled Bryce around on the little boogie board, as you can see in the pictures he LOVED it.  I think it took us 45 minutes to get back to our car, because Bryce was amazed at all the people riding bikes and the festivities on First Street.      

I took my camera but didn't take any pictures, shame on me. My mom came over to watch Bryce so I could run to Bone Fish for a bite to eat. They had a band playing and my good friends and Outback customers were there. I wish I would have went earlier so that I could have chatted longer. I had a quick bite to eat with Staci. The food and atmosphere could not have been any better. 

Laura Glover invited us to St. Augustine to see the fireworks with her AWESOME and ENTERTAINING family. Bryce was excited to see his friend Will. The weather was perfect and the breeze kept the bugs away. The boys were able to run and play before the fireworks. I'm so glad we didn't have to see the fireworks by ourselves. 

Since Bryce is three he wasn't sure what the fourth of July was all about. He only relates fireworks to Sea World and Disney. I explained to him it was America's birthday. When we first saw the Glovers he was excited to tell them his mom was going to make a huge Star Wars cake. In his mind if America was having a birthday, America needed a huge Star Wars cake for all these people at the party. It was obvious he was a Star Wars fan, he did his Darth Vader choke for everyone. To top off the evening the fireworks were being shot off to music. Yep the Imperial March was one of the songs. Bryce was so excited. 

Aaron is the family land navigator. I got lost going back to the car. This is not my department,  It's Aaron's. I never pay attention, I'm always with Aaron. I parked on a street off of San Marco. As we left our car I read the street name so that I would remember it. All the streets are named after a Saint and resemble each other. No big deal, just six blocks out of the way. I found it, eventually. Hey Aaron and Alec, Guess what? I was lost!!!