Home again!

My son has come home from his AIT training in Virginia.  Graduated at the top of his class with certificates of achievement and a couple of "coins" that are like awards.  We are so proud and glad to have him home for a little while.

He and my daughter-in-law will be busy getting a nursery ready to the soon-to-be-born baby girl.  He was putting together a rocking chair today and a crib for later tonight.  That room used to be a guest room here at the house.  It's painted in a soft green that will perfect with all the pink and purple stuff for the nursery.  I'm so glad they will be here while he is gone over seas.  I'll get to be a full-time granny!

"Tie a yellow ribbon"
Yellow mixed with red, white and blue seemed like the natural choice!

We had to be something for his homecoming so my neighbor and I got together and made this banner for the driveway.  The rain held out long enough for him to see it when he got home.

My son graduated from Basic Training

I've been late in posting this.  I had it on the computer but didn't really have the time to post it.  All the pictures were downloads from facebook or various cameras which meant I had to find them on the computer(a feat in itself), copy them to my pictures, yadda yadda yadda!

I'm so not a computer person so that any task like this is a miracle when I actually pull it off!

My son graduated from Army basic training around the Memorial day week.  We spent 3 days in Columbus, Ga, going to various events and ceremonies.  It was so awesome!  It made me so proud of my son and to be an American!  HOOO ah! That's what the Army says. Not to be confused with HOO Rah which is what the Marines say.

Overnight "camping" trip
That's a real M16

The beginning of the graduation ceremony with smoke bombs and the sound of gun fire off in the woods. It was kinda scary and then these soldiers appeared from behind the hill.

I'm not sure what this was.  A bazooka, RPG launcher, something really big and deadly!

Bravo Company. 4 Platoons.  My son was in the 4th platoon which is the one  to screen right.

In formation

From screen left, he's the third one

Jad and his wife, Keshia.  We went to Outback to get him a steak and a Coke!

He's in tech training now, studying to be an aviation electrician.

Memorial Day Weekend

This is Memorial Day weekend and I feel I should salute the troops.  Now that my son is in the Army, graduating Basic Training next week, a tribute to all who have given the ultimate price.  My daughter-in-law is a great military wife and understands the stresses that are put on families but it's still hard.  We try not to think about the unthinkable.  I never really thought about what Memorial Day stood for until my son joined.  It was always just the kick off to Summer, a reason to go to the beach, have big sales everywhere and have a cook out.  So here is  a salute to the troops!  Thank you for all you do and give and sacrifice.  We are proud to be Americans!

In The Army Now!

Jad and Keshia

I'm both proud and anxious.  My son is going off to Basic training today.  He passed his physical and is headed to boot camp.  Studying aviation electronics.  We had a fun family dinner Saturday night with the whole family.  Taco salad, one of Jad's favorites.  Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and red and blue sprinkles to give it a red, white, and blue theme.  Our daughter-in-law, Keshia,  will live with us while he's gone.

Amanda and Jad
Classic pose for them

It's always great fun with the family all together. Our daughter, Amanda, is the light of my life.  She's beautiful, funny, smart, hard working, everything parents could ask for.

Jad will be seeing his efforts finally come through.  This process started over a year ago with ups and downs along the way.  He's going to great.  We'll think of it as an adventure.

Amanda and Clint

Julie, Jad and David
Jad's name stands for Julie and David.
Unique but not weird!