CACHING

Nolan uncovers a find!

Our 50th find... This was themed cache - zoo animals....unfortunatley, we had no animals in our caching bag, but we'll go back again and leave some and take some...the younger set loved playing with all the animals.

Wednesday...

I came home early this a.m. to put in a produce order. Ran back to the lake and Mike had breakfast ready. It's been VERY windy and we all decided to pack up and come home.

We're home from the lake. Mike had to run to base to register for a week-long trip he is taking in April. I'm still not sure if I'm going. He'd like me too...but I need to figure out if I CAN leave the children for that long. ::snort::

The children and I unpacked, ran some laundry and re-packed.
Here are some photos...and I'll upload more as I have time.

Setting up Camp for the first time with the trailer:

Stacia knows how to set up a camp....

Mike wrestles with the water line while Cy hams it up with the sewer line...

After being assured the tanks were empty, I uncapped the sewer...this gave me QUITE a moment of ALARM...

I felt better when Mike had the same trouble...

QUICK UPDATE

Jamin gives Michael a copy of his book, I still need to call you Becky and get your copy off to you....

Saturday - The day was spent checking out all the systems on the trailer, loading the trailer etc.


Sunday - We left for the local lake. This is not to be a "camping" trip per se....but a chance for us to try out all the systems on the trailer before we leave. It also gets ALL of us away from home, so that no one knows where we are and we can reconnect. Josiah ran into town for a graduation meeting.

Monday - More fun at the lake....geocaching, basketball, tennis, playgrounds, crochet, boccie (photos will follow when the camera is here). Mike had to go to base to begin in-processing.


Tuesday - Mike had to go to base early this a.m. to finish in-processing. The orderly room told him that he has two weeks off starting WEDNESDAY (tomorrow). Because of other obligations we have decided not to leave and go camping until the 27th. This may give us time to work on that Honey Do list before we hit the trail.

Mike wants to spend another night at the lake tonight...we will. We're home now. I'm making produce co-op calls (letting everyone know we are not doing produce NEXT Fri. as I'll be camping), doing a bit of laundry, grabbing food and clothes for another night at the lake. Mike has gone to the RV dealer to buy other little things he's discovered we need on this quick "camping" trip.

We're having a blast. We'll be in contact when we get home.....more photos tomorrow....I knew I should have grabbed the camera when we left to come back to the house.

NEARLY PERFECT DAY

 (only way it could have been better would be to have the girls here)

I had shown a bit of foresight and cancelled speech today. There was no drama or weight management class for me.

Jared, Arielle, Nolan and I hung banners, put up balloons, and bows this a.m. I'll show pictures later - I'll need to blur names on uniforms and signs before posting.

Heather and Kelli came over and helped sort produce today! What a BLESSING! They stayed and passed out produce, put away tables and such. There was a bit of a mix up today...seems we have two new women today Sandra and Sandy....and I really mixed it up...but all were understanding and it worked out fine.

We ran out of house with 20 minutes to get to the airport. It's just a few minutes down the road. Josiah looked over and said, "Are you a bit excited, Mom?" YIKES I was going 65 mph and I wasn't near a freeway. I slowed down to 40 mph. I simply can't think of WORDS to describe my feelings and such...maybe tomorrow. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words - so I'll post some photos below.

Mike got to talk to the girls. I missed them terribly today. Krista had called last night with orders for me NOT to climb on top of the RV....goodness that girl knows me. She said the boys were younger and would bounce better. ::snort:: We compromised with a ladder and Jared held it. I'll show the photos of the decked out RV tomorrow or so....

Initial Michael Sighting

Cy had the camera and snapped photos....as I wrote earlier home for me is wherever this man is....

Stacia, however, is not so sure of Michael right off the bat. He is GOOD - he had a stuffed pig for her in his carry on.

A Man and His Dog...

Mike removes the last link in our homecoming chain and is home at last!

We were milling around outside, hooking up the battery and about to check out the RV, when Margie came by. What great timing. She welcomed Mike home and took a family photo for us.
We gave Mike the tour of his gift...Zander opened the control panel (right at child level as you enter) and said, "ta DAH!" Then he showed Mike the "master suite" and said, "See - we got you a bed. You can sleep here instead of in the house!" ::snort::
Mike was making phone calls to family and fell asleep. Stacia peeks over the footboard...she seemed to wonder why I was allowing this man to get into "our" bed...but she's warming up...she curious now. LOL

Mike is still on Middle Eastern time. He fell asleep while calling family....I think this means he'll finally get up early with me tomorrow morning! ::snort:: We are starting to figure out what we want to do with the next two weeks. The Air Force gives us 2 weeks of "recon" time. The first week seems to be full with briefings....but I think we are going to get away for a bit the second week. Darshia, Jamin and Mike got those AK plates installed right away on the RV. LOL

IRONY...

Did I say I loved irony? My printer quit working again tonight....how's that for irony? The appliances are going to continue the revolt until the bitter end.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!

I got a call this a.m. from Ch. S in Ramstein AB, Germany. He let me know that Mike had been through there and was on his way to the States.

We got home from the park and Jamin had talked to Mike. He is in America. I believe he is in Baltimore. He'll be in tomorrow at 11:25 a.m. Any local folks that want to be at the airport are welcome to be there. Kelli and Heather have volunteered to come at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow and help sort produce. They may end up sorting it all so that I can make sure children are properly attired and out the door. They'll also handle pick up time for me and lock up the house.

YIPPEE!!!! This is too good to communicate via email..... Below are the posts I've not been publishing all week because Mike's return was classified until he landed in America.

THURSDAY

We're waiting for a call from Mike to say that he is back in America and to tell us when he is coming home for sure. There is simply no way the little ones are going to be able to focus on the Civil Rights Movement today. I set them the task of cleaning their rooms. I'm not fretting my to do list any longer, it really is not going to matter to Mike if I have the garage, the yard and the van clean. He's not going to be terribly upset if the cheesecake doesn't arrive until next week. He won't be upset that I didn't get all the fix it jobs done - he'll know he's needed...dreadfully...around here.

In the midst of cleaning I found Arielle crying in her room. She was feeling what I was feeling, "The girls should be here." It was one of those "ahhhh" moments when Stacia wandered in and gave Arielle a big hug. Of course, by the time I got the camera she was done patting and was brining the hug thing to a close. LOL

Our plan is to work until lunch. Have lunch and then go spend an hour in the park with Tricia and her girls. We need a diversion.