This was Goldie's job on the boat as one of the Catapult and Arresting Gear Officers aka Shooters! He enjoyed being on the flight deck and shooting in particular. The video is of him in action.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Larry and Lane Visit
This was dinner the day Goldie came home. 
Yummy Barbecue!
The dogs were so excited for Larry and Lane to be here because they got so much attention from them. The boys enjoyed wrestling with them, too!
Lane watching Sladen wrestle Squirt!Friday, August 6, 2010
Homecoming 2010 Video
Video of Goldie getting off of the USS Eisenhower after a 7 month deployment and our reunion!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Homecoming 2010
The ship finally comes in to view! The white you see around the top edge is all the sailors manning the rails. We were so excited to see the USS Eisenhower come into view.
I am filming mom taking a picture of me with the boat in the background!
Here she comes!
Patiently waiting for the ship to put the brow down so Goldie can get off the ship.
I see Goldie on the flight deck. He is to the right of the guy in red about 3 people talking on his phone.
There is Goldie waving at us. He picked us out of the crowd so he could find us easier when he got off the boat.
Here comes daddy!
Kenan spotted Daddy and took off running to him!
I finally got my welcome home hug and kiss! So wonderful!
Sladen sees Daddy and runs to him arms wide open! This melted my heart!
Mother's welcome home sign for Goldie!
My sign for daddy!
The boys sign for daddy!
Goldie cannot believe how big the boys have gotten while he was gone!
Our whole family together again
Daddy is HOME!This is one of those times that I wish that I was an eloquent writer. There is just no way I can write to convey all the emotions that I feel whenever we have a deployment homecoming! We started preparing for Goldie to come home days before we knew he was coming. There is so much to do like cleaning house, making signs, getting haircuts, finding outfits, working out the logistics, etc., etc., etc.. Of course there is just trying to fill your time so that you don't go crazy waiting. I had a few appointments in the days before his arrival. I had a massage, a facial, a pedicure, the night before gathering at the zoo, and dinner with a friend.
This was, also, the first time that we had done a ship homecoming since last year Goldie flew home a few days earlier than the ship. There were a lot of factors to consider. Should I take the boys and have to chase them for several hours on a day that was 90 degrees or hotter? Should I leave them with a sitter and just let Daddy see them when we got home? Should I dress up and look fabulous or should I dress practically for the 90 degree weather? Do we take chairs, umbrellas, cameras? Will I be able to find Goldie in the 20,000 plus people that were there? Where should we park? Should we take a car the night before so we don't all have to squeeze into one car?
The emotions run high during this time. It is almost as exciting as your wedding day with much of the same emotions. I was so excited! I was so nervous! I was so excited! There is so much excitement on the pier and everyone waiting anxiously for the boat. Then the boat comes into view and the crowd erupts into a roar of cheers! It is so amazing to see that huge ship pull into view with the sailors in white manning the rails! It is an amazing sight! Then the boat pulls up to the pier and you have to wait for the brow to come down. Surprisingly the hour that passed until the brow was down went by really quickly. Goldie was able to go up on the flight deck and call us so that he could find us in the crowd. It was so hard to be able to see him but not be able to run to him. I tried to convince him to jump and swim over to us but to no avail.
So this is what I finally decided to do. I had Amylynn, one of our babysitters, come and stay the morning with the boys. Once the ship came in to view I called her and she brought the boys up to the pier. So the boys were only there about maybe 30 minutes before Goldie got off the boat. It worked out fabulously and I appreciate Amylynn's willingness to brave the crowds and parking to bring the boys. What a special occasion... I couldn't let the boys miss it completely. I, also, decided to dress practically even though it went against everything I wanted to do. It was 90 degrees and I was a hot sweaty mess. I would have loved to dress up for the occasion but was glad to be comfortable. Maybe if I wasn't lugging chairs and diaper bags and signs I would have dressed up. Anyway...
I got a text from Goldie that he was getting off of the ship so we all got ready. We were waiting when all of the sudden he appears walking toward us out of the crowd. Once Kenan got sight of him he was gone and running full speed to his daddy! He jumped right into his arms and gave him a big ole hug. Looking around there was not a dry eye around. Then I got my humongous hug and kiss from my man. There is nothing better than having Goldie in my arms again. Then Sladen saw his daddy and ran to him with his arms outstretched for daddy to pick him up. Since Goldie has been gone more than 13 months of his 17 month life, I think he was concerned that Sladen wouldn't know him. Well, Sladen definitely knew his Daddy!
It was such a joyous occasion to have our family complete one more time after another successful deployment! Thank you, Lord, for watching over Goldie while he served our country and me and the boys while we supported him stateside! We give you all the glory! Thank you, Lord!
This was, also, the first time that we had done a ship homecoming since last year Goldie flew home a few days earlier than the ship. There were a lot of factors to consider. Should I take the boys and have to chase them for several hours on a day that was 90 degrees or hotter? Should I leave them with a sitter and just let Daddy see them when we got home? Should I dress up and look fabulous or should I dress practically for the 90 degree weather? Do we take chairs, umbrellas, cameras? Will I be able to find Goldie in the 20,000 plus people that were there? Where should we park? Should we take a car the night before so we don't all have to squeeze into one car?
The emotions run high during this time. It is almost as exciting as your wedding day with much of the same emotions. I was so excited! I was so nervous! I was so excited! There is so much excitement on the pier and everyone waiting anxiously for the boat. Then the boat comes into view and the crowd erupts into a roar of cheers! It is so amazing to see that huge ship pull into view with the sailors in white manning the rails! It is an amazing sight! Then the boat pulls up to the pier and you have to wait for the brow to come down. Surprisingly the hour that passed until the brow was down went by really quickly. Goldie was able to go up on the flight deck and call us so that he could find us in the crowd. It was so hard to be able to see him but not be able to run to him. I tried to convince him to jump and swim over to us but to no avail.
So this is what I finally decided to do. I had Amylynn, one of our babysitters, come and stay the morning with the boys. Once the ship came in to view I called her and she brought the boys up to the pier. So the boys were only there about maybe 30 minutes before Goldie got off the boat. It worked out fabulously and I appreciate Amylynn's willingness to brave the crowds and parking to bring the boys. What a special occasion... I couldn't let the boys miss it completely. I, also, decided to dress practically even though it went against everything I wanted to do. It was 90 degrees and I was a hot sweaty mess. I would have loved to dress up for the occasion but was glad to be comfortable. Maybe if I wasn't lugging chairs and diaper bags and signs I would have dressed up. Anyway...
I got a text from Goldie that he was getting off of the ship so we all got ready. We were waiting when all of the sudden he appears walking toward us out of the crowd. Once Kenan got sight of him he was gone and running full speed to his daddy! He jumped right into his arms and gave him a big ole hug. Looking around there was not a dry eye around. Then I got my humongous hug and kiss from my man. There is nothing better than having Goldie in my arms again. Then Sladen saw his daddy and ran to him with his arms outstretched for daddy to pick him up. Since Goldie has been gone more than 13 months of his 17 month life, I think he was concerned that Sladen wouldn't know him. Well, Sladen definitely knew his Daddy!
It was such a joyous occasion to have our family complete one more time after another successful deployment! Thank you, Lord, for watching over Goldie while he served our country and me and the boys while we supported him stateside! We give you all the glory! Thank you, Lord!
Our New Pool
This is our new alligator pool
Kenan loved being in the pool
Sladen even enjoyed the pool
Sladen playing in the water
This is Sladen's latest trick. Little ham!
Our handsome boys ready for church!Sladen's First Haircut
I took the boys to get haircuts a couple days before Bryan got home from deployment. Kenan has been here a few times and loves Katie because she gives him a lollipop. This was Sladen's first haircut and he did really well. It made him look so much older when she was done. They look so handsome with their new haircuts.
Potty Training
Kenan potty trained while we were in Texas. He told me one day he needed to poop and he did. The rest is history. It was almost exactly two months after his 3rd birthday. He has only had a couple accidents since then and one time it was my fault. He has done so well. However, this is what we find sometimes when he decides to go to the bathroom on his own. That is definitely one way to do it.
Pictures of the Boys and Their Antics
All ready for church with Nana
Monkey
Dog Piling Mommy
Kenan's Uncle Sam hat he made at school
Aren't we cute in our monkey pjs?
Just taking a ride
Another Dog Pile
Maybe he will be a soccer player
Another set of matching pjs
Brotherly Love4th of July with the Sunday School Class
Sladen hanging out with Dave
Sladen hanging out with Brooke
Mr. H teaching Sladen and Kenan Corn Hole - You gotta start 'em young!
Kenan holding Baby Robert! He has a new thing for babies. He loves to watch them and hold them! So cute!
Kenan swinging
Brooke trying to keep up with the boys! Love her!
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