Our First Camping Adventure

It was quite a night. The boys were so excited to go on their first camping trip, I was just happy knowing it was just in the backyard. I don't mind sleeping in the outdoors, but please just let me have normal bathroom plumbing. During the day they set the tent up in the perfect stop of dry grass, actually the entire yard is dry so it didn't really matter where it was placed. As dinner time was approaching we headed to Walmart to get the last minute items we needed for our camping night, oh the modern day camper...

We cooked hot dogs on our little grill and then enjoyed the mess that goes with making our own s'mores. Besides the marshmallows sticking to the grill and all the rest of it sticking to Logan's face it was a very enjoyable meal. Again taking advantage of being in the backyard, we carfully marched into the house to clean ourselves up before storytime and bed.

The boys were all snuggled in their sleeping bags and ready for a peaceful night in the outdoors.

After the excitement finally wore off the boys were sound asleep for the remainder of the night. Brian and Logan woke up and made potatoes and bacon on the little grill. We topped the morning off with a soak in the hot tub and we will probably follow it this afternoon with nap.

All in all, I think the boys will be looking forward to another adventure next weekend.

An Accompished Weekend

Happy 4th of July to all our friends and family members. OK, don't really pay attention to the date that I am typing this, it has been a bit crazy here and this is the first time I am able to get to the computer to wish everyone a Happy 4th. So I guess the better thing to say is: I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July.

After spending a week in Annapolis, Brian, the boys and I loaded up our stuff and headed back to Ohio to spend the afternoon with my family. My mother planned a BBQ for the entire family since both my brother's family and ours were in town at the same time. This was a first in probably 6 or 7 years. I guess that is what happens when two members are part of the military and have lived on opposite sides of the country most their careers (even they were even in the country). This was gave all of us an opportunity to wish my brother well as he prepares to head to Afghanistan for a year. We send him with our love and wish him a safe and speedy return.

During the BBQ are family did what it does best: Drink and Compete. Brian and I were able to wipe the ground with all competitors as we dominated the corn hole board the entire afternoon. After not losing the entire day, we stepped away only to rush the boys off to see fireworks. It was a great boost to our egos. It only continued the next day when Brian and my sister, Ang, took down my brother, Roy, and family friend, Cindy, on the golf course. Way to keep the winning streak alive.

Back to the fireworks, they were great. It was probably the closest Brian and I have ever been to the fireworks, they were practically right above our heads. Never would have thought the boys would miss them, but after such a LONG day both of them had fallen asleep before the finale even began. Bless their tired souls. They were adorable, until we had to carry them the half mile walk back to the car. Boy, did my back get a workout.

After I took it easy on Saturday, while Brian was out golfing, I prepared myself mentally for my triathlon race. On Sunday morning, as I left Brian and the boys still sleeping, I wondered to myself why I was going to create such agony on my muscles. The chills kept running through my back and the butterflies kept twittering in my stomach, but I was able to set up my bike and gear and walk along the beach thinking about the coldness I was about to swim through. As the time counted down to the beginning of the race, my family members began to arrive. Brian brought the boys and my sister and her friend, Renee, came to cheer me on or make fun of me, depending on how you look at it. (all in good spirit). Always behind schedule, my brother and his family finally did arrive in time to watch most of the race. After swimming a 1/4 mile, biking 14.3 miles, and running 3.2 miles, I am happy to say that I completed the race in 1:44.11. Coming in under the 2 hour goal that I set for myself. To my surprise, I manage to come in 3rd in my division. Not too bad, I have to admit. Once the butterflies left my stomach I was able to remember why I subject myself to this feat: Because it is such an accomplishment when you cross that finish line, and there is no way to describe how it feels when your entire family is there cheering you on and supporting YOU.

Not to leave you thinking I was a wonder woman or anything: I basically sat on the couch and took a nap all afternoon to recuperate.

Annapolis

OK, I am not always able to get on the computer so those of you reading my blog, surprise you get two today. We have been in Annapolis since Monday. For those of you who do not know why I am in Annapolis, here is a quick update. My husband attended the Naval Academy (in Annapolis). My younger brother-in-law teaches at the Naval Academy and my youngest brother-in-law is currently a midshipman at the Naval Academy. Wow, that is a lot of one school. By all means I am extremely proud of my husband and his brothers. After being with my husband for over 15 years and watching his brothers and sister grow up, I do not think of them as in-laws. They are truly my family also. But back to the Academy, this is the week that new Midshipmen, known as Plebes, enter the Academy for their summer training, known as Plebe Summer.

As we walked around the Yard, we were able to see the tops of the new plebes as they took their Oath, entering the Navy. We were graced with the beautiful sight of the Blue Angels doing their fly-by. The boys were thrilled, even though it was quite loud. I wish I had pictures to share, but as it is very difficult to catch them in photos, I decided to enjoy the sight without a camera. Sorry.

There is a tradition at the Academy that all Mids yell their graduation year. Since we were walking around with two Academy Grads and one upcoming Grad, the boys have been taught to yell their graduation year at any one wearing white. Now it is very cute to watch a six and four year old yell out the years 2024 and 2026, however as their mother, I do not want to think of my little boys walking around in Whites becoming well groomed men , before they enter the US Navy. It is quite a sight, but very frightening for a young mother. But I know my boys will make me proud, as they will probably be highly encouraged to follow their father's and uncle's footsteps. GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY!

Friends Part 2

Well, after sharing the definition of a what a friend means on paper. Here is what a friend means to me: someone I can vent to at all hours of the night. Someone who gives advice, whether I want it or not, when it is needed. Someone that does not judge me for the mistakes I make, but usually stands by my side so that I do not make them alone. There are million other things I can list here that I could describe a friend.

Many of you know that my husband is in the Navy, (if you don't go back to read the O-4 blog). Assuming you are update to date with the status of my husband, most of you know this personally because I would not have met you if it was not for this fantastic job that takes my husband out to sea six months out of the year. But this blog is not about the Navy, it is about the friendships that the Navy has helped me create. I have a lot to thankful for as my life has been surrounded by Navy friends and families.

There are many people that become your friends based on convenience: husbands are gone at the same time, husbands went to school together, or they are your neighbors. These are good friends, but are they true friends? I guess that is determined by how much you stay in touch with them after these convenient times do not exist. For example, having moved 10 times in 10 years, I have managed to have lots of friends, but only a few True Friends. To those of you who I am still in touch with over all these years, Thank you for being a True Friend. Without all of you, my life as a Navy Wife would be lonesome outside the company of my children.