Missing my kids!

It's a Friday afternoon and we're having a thunderstorm here in Maryland right now. I need to go buy groceries for dinner but it's raining! I need to clean the kitchen but feel lazy! I'm missing all my kids so instead of being responsible I decided to catch up on my blog! I love it when everyone else posts new pictures so decided to beat them! Tim left on Wednesday for Jacksonville, Florida. He will spend three weeks at the Naval Air Station there attached to a squadron with P-3's. He had been home for a few days after moving out of Bancroft for good last Friday. It's always fun to have him home...and get to spend the nights. Next year at this time he will have graduated and will be preparing to move to his next assignment. His hope is that he'll be headed to flight training. So I have one more precious year here with him! Of course, I miss my kids in Oregon! You'll see pictures below of my last visit to see them! Jill is now expecting! Yea!!!! We'll see them again in late June. Here are some pictures of after Ring Dance. Melanie stayed a few extra days which was really fun for her and for me! We went over to the yard to watch the plebes climb Herndon and another day to watch the Blue Angels. It was gorgeous weather for commissioning week! I took Mel, Tim, and his friend, Jason out to eat and celebrate Jason's 21st birthday. Tim and Mel hung out, too. We loved having you, Mel!

April in Oregon

I went to Oregon while Jeff was in China for a week. Here are some highlights. Cami now has pig-tails...so cute! She was teething that week and just didn't feel good! Still so cute and sweet! The boys were into CARS then so I brought some CARS books. Micah loves to look at books. I even caught a darling picture of Josiah reading to Micah. Oh, they have some sweet moments! We all got together at Dan and Anna's one night to celebrate Jill's past birthday...27! And Mike's soon to be birthday...25! Dan bbq'd and then we all went bowling! Jill beat all of us...and, at least, I beat the little boys. BTW it's wonderful entertainment just watching them bowl! Anna sat out with Cami. Then cake for all! Another night Jill and Nolan took their new dog, Toby, to meet his cousins, Hobbes and Alvin who belong to Mike. They did great! I just looked at the photos...can you tell we are now a Navy family????

A sneak peak

Here is a peak inside for a look at the 2010 Ring Dance ballroom. Dahlgren Hall was the venue. In earlier times this is where cannon training for ships was done (complete with gunpowder, projectiles, and occasional explosions). In recent times, until the new sports complex was built, this is where the Navy Ice Hockey team played its games. When Tim arrived at USNA in 2006, King Hall was being remodeled, so part of the Brigade ate here. But for tonight, it is an enchanted ballroom!

USNA Ring Dance May 16, 2009

The Big Night has arrived! Jeff and I waited anxiously (with other "stalker" parents lucky enough to live close enough) to see our mids and their dates arrive at the dance. The wind blew hard and it sprinkled on us. By the time the Tim's group arrived in their limo the light was beginning to fade. This only added to the enchantment of the evening. Many other mids were arriving and the air was filled with....enchantment! That's the best word to describe the evening! The guys goal was to be classy! They out-did themselves treating the ladies like princesses! Everyone was lovely!

Tim and his date Courtney Hayslett

Tim's Company Mate Ty Moulton and his date Melanie Cannon





Waiting for our group to arrive. We loved watching as mids and their dates arrived at the dance!

The group has just arrived in their limo!


Tim's company mate Jason Mahuna and his date Kanani

This is Rene Martin and his fiancee Shelly. Rene and Tim have been roommates since Plebe year.




Note Melanie in the background fixing Tim's tie!




The Theme for this year was "Club 2010". One last group photo before entering.

Jeff and I are standing at the opposite end of the Dahlgren Hall entrance. You can see the tent where the giant rings are staged for photos. They enter the tent from inside the dance.

Here's a shot from the tent window. You can see the giant rings where they stand to dip their rings in water from the seven seas around the world before wearing officially.

The Day Before The Ring Dance!

The big weekend has arrived! Tomorrow night, May 16, is Ring Dance at USNA! It is a huge celebration for the second class midshipmen of the class of 2010 as they are one week away from becoming "Firsties" (seniors). It's a culmination of all the hard work they have put into the last three years at the academy. It's not just a ring! It's a symbol of achieving a goal! The academy pulls out all the stops and puts on a first class affair called Ring Dance. Having a date for Ring Dance is fine but as I've been told it's a "Great Date" you want for the dance! Tim and his buddies have been planning this night for months now. Tim, Ty, Jason, and Rene (Tim's faithful room mate the entire time) have rented a beautiful home on the eastern shore of Maryland for the weekend. Tim and Ty are honored to escort two very lovely young ladies as their dates! Tim's cousin, Melanie, is Ty's date and Melanie's friend, Courtney, is Tim's date! They flew in from California early this morning on a red eye! Here is a peak into the beginning of the weekend. They all came to our house to get food and "stuff" packed into our Camry...gotta love a Camry! They left this afternoon to cross the Chesapeake Bay for the weekend celebration. Tomorrow night Jeff and I will "stalk" and hope to get a picture of them as they arrive at the dance! Stay Tuned!

Here's Tim as they get ready to pull out!

This is Courtney Hayslett (I think that's how you spell it:) I hope!) She is a good friend of Melanie's from Visalia, California and currently attends Long Beach State in California.

Here is Melanie Cannon, Tim's cousin from Visalia, California. She just finished her sophomore year at College of the Sequoias in Visalia.

This is Ty Moulton...taking Melanie. He is in 10th Company with Tim and is from Montana. Tim says he's a great basketball player!

Tim and Mom...he was so appreciative of all the work I had done. I did the grocery shopping for the guys. They made the list so it was easy! They will eat well! I was more than happy to do it!

Ty and Melanie!

Tim and Courtney!

The whole gang. Every inch of the car is filled. Courtney has a lot at her feet. An ice chest is between Melanie and Ty with the guys uniforms on top of that! I think Mel is holding a fruit plate and tomatoes!

And they are off! On their way leaving Windwhisper Lane!