Memorial Day Weekend

While this Memorial Day Weekend wasn't at all how I would have preferred it, it ended up being a great weekend.

You see, every single Memorial Day Weekend for the past 10+ years, I've spent it at the lake....with my family.  That is my most favoritest place on earth.  With my favoritest people ever.  (You might remember THIS post.)
Last year we didn't go to the lake because we were all in Annapolis, watching my amazing husband (then fiance) graduate from the United States Naval Academy and commission as an Ensign in the Navy.  I gladly skipped a lake trip for that experience (but it was also easy since my family was with me, not down at the lake without me.)

I think this weekend also upset me because it just reminded me how much I miss the lake.  I didn't go at ALL last year (because we missed Memorial Weekend, then married and we moved away.)
So I was bummed my family was at the lake.  And I was not there with them.

But this weekend was great!  Nick had the entire weekend off and it was fabulous.  We did nothing out of the ordinary.  But I enjoy our ordinary life together.  We didn't get "ordinary" or "normal" or "mundane" for the first four and a half years of our life.  So we embrace this.

I wasn't feeling too well but Nick tended me as the loving husband he is.
We made our Blue Hawaiian Bucket and enjoyed that.

We watched Cardinals games.
We cooked together.
We cleaned, organized, and worked on some DIY projects for the house.

We took the pups to Blackwater River for the first time.  We walked along the path for about half a mile, took a tiny trail through some trees, and came out onto this tiny, wooded, and secluded beach.
It was perfect!  The dogs had an absolute blast swimming, fetching sticks and pine cones in the water, exploring, etc.  Spending those three hours on the beach and playing with the pups and my husband made me so thankful for my little family and our ordinary moments together.

Like I said, nothing special but it's how we spent our first Memorial Day Weekend as a married couple =)

Family, we missed you all greatly and wished more than anything we could have been at the lake with you,/.  But no worries, we still enjoyed our weekend =)  (with little moping from me)

My First {Fur} "Mommy's" Day

No, this is not a post where I announce I am pregnant.  Sorry to disappoint but that (hopefully) won't be a post for a few more years.

But I am the "mommy" to two wonderful puppies.

Most mornings I wake up with the dogs.  Usually because Nick is already gone at work but even when he's not, I'm the one up early with them.  Not because Nick is selfish, but because he's a heavy sleeper.  The dogs will wrestle and play in the bedroom once they wake up.  It wakes me up.  Not Nick.  So I get up.  (Yadi also chooses to throw her paws in MY face, not Nick's.)  Nick always says "Wake me up.  I'll get up with them".  HA!  Nick is impossible to get out of bed if there's not the threat of the Navy pink slipping him.
I will wake him and say "You said to wake you today to get up with the dogs."
"Okay......" and continues to lay there as they become more obnoxious.
"Nick are you going to get up?"
"Yes."
......10 minutes later and more obnoxious wrestling from the pups
"Nick?"
"Huh"
"Are you going to get up?"
"Yeah"
....10 minutes later.....
I get up.  By this point, I'm already wide awake so why continue to lay there and nag him.  And when he does get up later, he doesn't ever remember this conversation.

So anyway, that long story was too show I usually get up with them and having Nick get up with them is a chore.

But Sunday was different.  Sunday I woke up at 11am and I was alone in the bedroom.  No wrestling dogs.  No husband.

I walk out into the living room to see them all hanging out.  Nick had set his alarm for 8:00am (the dogs usually get up at 8:30am...right on the dot for breakfast) so that he could get up with them, not wake me, and let me sleep in for Mother's Day.

It was just after talking to him that I turned to walk into the kitchen that I see this GIANT envelope:

I open it up and my wonderful pups got me a card ;)

And they even signed it themselves!!! (Nick says they had no idea what was going on.  They didn't understand why he got their paws wet, made them run around in the sand, and then forced them to stand on this paper lol....as you can see from their "signatures" (aka paw prints) they did not cooperate very well.)

After a few failed attempts at getting a picture with them, individually, Nick took my phone and took a picture of the three of us and my giant card (please excuse this "I've been awake for 5 minutes" look, complete with obnoxious air-dried over night hair)

We just lounged around all early afternoon, enjoying a lazy Sunday.  I talked to my Grandmother for about an hour and then webcammed with my own Mother and my siblings for about an hour or so.

Later that afternoon we headed to a barbecue with Nick's classmates.

The rest of the evening was spent enjoying some couch cuddle time with my husband until he needed to begin studying.  Then I curled up in bed with some junk food and watched Gilmore Girls until I fell asleep.
Doesn't get much better than that!!

It was a perfect First {Fur} Mommy's Day!!!  Big thanks to my husband for being so cute and getting the dogs to get me a card and "celebrate" and for letting me sleep in.  I can't remember the last time I slept all morning without being woken up!

Happy Mother's Day 2012

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms, which also includes you soon-to-be Moms!!!

I hate not being home on this day.  My mother is most definitely the most amazing person I've ever met.  She is not only my mother but my best friend.
My mother has always been nothing but accepting, loving, and supportive.
She's kept me smiling when I just wanted to cry, kept me going when I wanted to give up, was my strength when I lost it all.  I think she's gone above and beyond her role as a mother.  No mother should have had to deal with what she did (or still does.)  Please read this old post to learn a little bit more about what I'm talking about if you don't already know or watch THIS video.

Aside from that, my mother is just truly amazing in all aspects.
She is not one to judge others.  She might have had her own views on things, but she never, ever forced her opinion or views on us children.  She always let us make up our own minds about things.  I think she is the reason we all grew to be very accepting and open-minded adults.
She never speaks negatively about anyone.  You have to do a LOT for my mother to not like you.  And I honestly cannot think of a single person my mother dislikes, (even though I can think of many she SHOULD lol.  I wish she would stand up to some people and tell them the things they need to hear!!!!)
Mom is always willing to give even when she has no more to give.
She has the biggest heart of anyone I know.
She never told us 'no'.  She thought name brand shoes were silly but because we all insisted on brand new Nike's every school year, she bought them.  She'd buy us Lisa Frank school supplies even though they were 5x the cost of regular old plain red notebooks and folders.
She's made our lunches every night, always giving us what we wanted, not necessarily what we needed.  (Which some might see as a bad thing but I sure appreciated it!)
She woke me up every single morning with a cup of coffee.
She would spend her weekends cooking for us, cleaning up after us, etc.  She rarely asked for help.  And never complained.
She gave us chores to do, not to be mean, but to play the foundation for responsible, self-sufficient, independent, and well-mannered children,
She came to every single softball, volleyball, soccer, and basketball game.  Rain or shine.  Sleet and snow.  Hot as balls to frigid Artic temperatures, she was there.
She didn't force me to get a job in high school because she respected my passion for playing soccer 24/7.
She shelled out lots of money for me to play on competitive soccer teams and indoor teams.

She taught me about life and love.  Mom never judged our decisions.  She understood the importance of letting children make their own mistakes and learning from them.  She'd offer up her advice, but only when we asked it of her, and then stepped back to let us handle it how we saw fit.  And she was there with open arms and Kleenexes when it ended poorly.

She helped me plan my wedding which was just a ridiculously stressful task.  She didn't get (too) annoyed with me when I'd slack because I had just given up on the small details.  She helped and took charge.  She attended all appointments and meetings with me.  Helped with email and phone correspondence with vendors.  She was my saving grace in this wedding planning ordeal.  I am thankful she did not try to take control.  She never ONCE told me what to do.  She only offered her opinion if I asked.  Even then, she was hesitant to offer her opinion for fear of me doing what SHE wanted, not what I wanted.  After talking to other brides with controlling or opinionated moms, I cannot thank my mother enough for this.  She saved me a lot of stress and anxiety.

My mother and I have a unique bond.  Most go through some phases where they don't get along with their mothers.  I can happily say I never went through that.  My mother and I have ALWAYS gotten along.  We never fought.  I never lied to her.  I can think of two times I "lied" to her.  And immediately after both, I had to confess because the guilt was just too much for me to bear.  We always talked about everything and anything.  I don't think I've ever had a true screaming match or fight with my mother.  Maybe she can remember one but I know I can't.
Our bond only grew closer as I grew older.  She became even more of my best friend as the years passed. Our conversations were more deeply rooted in personal matters.  I talked to her about boys, sex, friends, my fears, my dreams, etc.
We'd lay on the couch together as she scratched my back or played with my hair.
She let me go back to Mizzou during chemo even though it killed her and my father to have me so far.  To have me not under their close eye and care.  But she knew it's what I wanted...what I needed. And she let me go.  But she was always there when I'd call crying about hard it was to walk to and from classes, to go to work and teach and play with the kids, to studying all night long, etc.  She never said "I told you so."  The time I got sick, she hopped in a car and drove to Columbia.  Again, never said "This is why you should be home."  Always supportive of whatever we wanted.

My mother and I are a lot a like.  We both have huge hearts and would do anything for anyone.  We have the same views and opinions on most things.  We're both open-minded and accepting.  We both love our sweets late at night and I got my love of wine from her.
But we do have one main difference.  My mother is pretty shy and introverted.  She's a pretty classy lady and very reserved.
If you've met me, you know I could not be more opposite (I tone it down a LOT for this blog).  I am vulgar, perverted, loud, obnoxious, and unbelievably inappropriate.  I make the most obscene comments or jokes.  I don't mind sharing TMI stories or information (even if my family begs me not to keep going lol).  On a daily basis I hear:
" *gasp* MELANIE ANN!!!!!"
"What on earth is wrong with you?!?!"
"You are so bizarre"
...and other related things.  Sometimes even my brother, yes BEN, cannot believe some of the things that come out of my mouth.
You'd think my mother would be used to me by now and she wouldn't still have to make these comments but she does.  Although she does know there's nothing I can say now that will surprise her.
But she puts up with me.  She still takes me in public.  She still loves me.
(I will admit, my immediate family sees the worst of it.  I'm my TRUE self around them...probably because my brother is identical to me and he brings it out in me.  Yep, my poor mother has to deal with it from both of us.  Thankfully my sister isn't AS bad as us, but she does have her fair share of inappropriateness.)
I'm happy she still proudly claims me as her own.  Even though she pretends to hate it, I think she secretly likes how I am.  I keep things fun and interesting.  You just never know what will come out of my mouth (God bless my husband, future children and grandchildren when I age....I cannot imagine what I will be like as a filterless elderly woman.  And I thought my Grandmother was bad!)

But today I am sad.  It's my first Mother's Day away from "home."  I knew this was going to happen...and will continue to happen for many, many years to come.  But knowing it doesn't make it any easier. I still miss her.  She means the world to me.

I've now lived away from home for 10.5 months.  I pulled out of my driveway on July 1, 2011.  It's been a rough 10.5 months being away from home.  I miss laying in the living room just talking and laughing with my mother.  Sharing a glass of wine, debating which of the three houses we'd choose on House Hunters or judging the dresses on Say Yes to the Dress.  I miss every single thing about home.  I'm happy I lived at home the last three years before I got married.  I'm happy I didn't follow Nick before we were married.  I have the rest of my life with him.  I'm so happy I have these wonderful memories of my time at home.

Being gone for 10.5 months has not hindered my relationship with my mother.
We talk every day.  Yes.  EVERY.SINGLE.DAY.
She calls me every single night before she goes to bed.  Some nights it's just a quick one minute conversation where she says "I'm going to bed.  Goodnight.  I love you."
Most nights we do have a real conversation.  It lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour.
And sometimes she calls me on her lunch break and we talk as she's walking on the treadmill or eating.
And sometimes we talk after she gets home from work.
Yep, we're obsessed.  Okay, no, not really.  I don't HAVE to talk to her every day.  I'd be just fine if I didn't.
But we WANT to talk every day.  There's a distinct difference is wanting and needing.  One is unhealthy and the other is not.  We WANT to talk every day.  It helps curb my homesickness.  It makes me feel closer to her.  We feel as much a part of each other's lives as we can with being 12 hours apart.  She is my best friend and that will never, ever change.

I love my mother and I am proud of our relationship.  It makes me excited to have a little girl one day.  There is NOTHING like the bond between a mother and her daughter.  (I just hope my little girl loves me and gets along with me like my mother and I do!  I'll die if I can't have this with my own daughter.)

I love you, Mom! HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!! I'm sorry I wasn't able to be home with you today but you know I love you, miss you, and am always thinking about you.  Words cannot describe what you mean to me.  I would be nothing without you.  I hope the rest of the family made your day special!  Thank you for webcaming with us this afternoon!

Can't wait to have you down here with us in 36(ish) days!!!

My 1st Military Spouse Appreciation Day

I received this in an email today:

"...They Who Wait Also Serve.' We all know that when sailors go to sea, the challenges at home continue, and our military spouses bear the burden each day in support of their loved ones and in service to their nation. We thank our husbands and wives for their constant patience and steadfast understanding as they often face challenges at home or celebrate life events without us. Though they may not wear the uniform, it is their honor, courage, and commitment that sustain us."
- Admiral J. W. Greenert
Chief of Naval Operations

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day.  It's a day to recognize those strong spouses of military members.
This is my first official MSAD.  In the past, Nick has always made sure to thank me for everything I did for him.  Because to him (and me), it's not just the spouses that need recognition.  Girlfriends and fiances put up with a lot of crap too and I feel they should also be appreciated on this day.

Some people get so worked up over this day.  In a Facebook group, a woman actually said "If your husband isn't currently deployed, I don't feel you need appreciation today."  Talk about a jaded wife!  One of her friends, if she has any, should buy her a bottle of wine and a vibrator.

My husband is not deployed and I am very thankful for that.  I know we are lucky because I do get to see him everyday.  I might not get much interaction one some days, but I get to sleep beside him every night.  Others are not as fortunate.
Despite my husband being deployed, I do feel I am entitled to some appreciation.  Not much.  Just a simple "thank you".  It's really all it takes.  I love when my husband recognizes the things I have to deal with or the sacrifices I've made.  Yes, I willingly do them because I love him but it's always nice to have it recognized once in a while.

I've now been a "Navy Wife" for 11 months (exactly!).  In these 11 months I've had to do one of the hardest things I've ever done.  I moved far away from my family, friends, and the only life I knew.  There is no way to describe how incredibly close I am with my family, especially my mother.  This alone made moving away very hard.  I cried...a LOT on the drive from St. Louis to Annapolis.  I cried 50% of the nights we lived in Annapolis (9 weeks).  It was very, very difficult for me.

I left my friends and had to make all new ones.  I wasn't even sure how to do that!  I hadn't HAD to make new friends since 1st grade when I came to a new school.  How do you "make friends" at the age of 26?! The last time I did this I simply said "Want to come over to my house and play?"  If I tried that line now, I'd be pegged as the "Creeper Wife" and I'd be sure to have zero friends.  {Advice, I have found that "Want to come to my house and drink some wine" works rather well ;) }

I left a job that I loved, working with people I loved.  I came to Pensacola, Florida where the job market is pretty much non-existent.  A place where employers only want to hire "local graduates".  A beach town looking for employment from high schoolers, not "over-qualified" (which is bullcrap) people like me.  Because of this, my self-worth has taken a drastic spiraling plummet downward.

I'm having to put off nursing school for lack of programs close to me.  Having to put off my dream career for my husband, because he can't control where we go or how long we stay.  We're having to discuss how to make this dream happen, which inevitably means we're going to have a long distance marriage.  (Which we're okay with, but it's not our ideal situation.)

Moving away from my doctors.  Might not seem like a big deal but with all the complications and ongoing issues...with the rarity and severity of my case, I felt 100% comfortable having all my doctors in one place.  Just a short drive away if anything happened.  Now I'm in a place with doctors who don't know me, don't know my history, don't know what my insides look like now, don't know where to look for things, don't even know what my cancer was or have ever heard of it.  It's an incredibly unsettling feeling.

I moved from a city where there are always lots of things to do, lots of things going on, lots of things to see, .....to Pensacola, Florida.  Don't get me wrong, the beaches are amazing.  But that's about it.  It's a LOT different than home.  The people are nice but it's not my hometown.  I was uprooted from the only life I knew, the only place I really knew to a completely different place 12 hours from my "old life".

Leaving my family and friends.  Leaving my job to not be able to find a new one.  Putting off nursing school.  Those three things alone are enough to feel I've "done" something to be appreciated.
No, I have not gone through a deployment.  No, I have not had to be a single mother with a part-time husband.  I cannot imagine how difficult a deployment is.  Especially once you have children. I have a HUGE amount of respect for those women and their families.
But us children-less wives have gone through our own fair share of hardships.

I get frustrated with the day to day life we lead.  I know it could be worse.  I know Nick could be deployed.  I'm thankful he's not.  But that doesn't mean I'm 100% happy with how life is.
I hate not being able to plan anything.
I'd love to spend a day at the beach with my husband...just us.  I'd love to have a date night out to the movies or to dinner.  I'd love to work on house projects with him.
But because of how flight school is, nothing can be planned until after 7pm the night before.  His schedule is put out at "5pm".....realistically it's not until 7pm.  Only then does he know what his "tomorrow" looks like.
Plans are always tentative.
"If I don't have a sim to prepare for...."
"If I don't have something to study for..."
Some days we do get lucky and he'll have a day free.
But I've learned to not get my hopes up.  Things change.  A lot.  It's better to expect to do nothing with him and be surprised and happy when it works in our favor than to tentatively plan something, get excited for it, and then have it ruined by the Navy.  I'll spare myself the emotions, thanks.

It's always frustrating to have your husband in the house but not be able to talk to him.  Nick spends most of his time in the house studying.  If you know me at all, you know I loooooove to talk.  And since Nick is my best friend and husband, he's the one I want to talk to most.  But I can't.  Because he has hours and hours of studying and preparing to do.  I find myself thinking "Oh, remember to tell/ask him ______."  But when I finally get the chance at dinner or when he calls the next day during a break, I forget.  I keep telling myself to buy a small notepad to write it all down in.  But when I think "Oh I want to tell/ask Nick _____ but can't.  You should write it down, Melanie." I automatically get pissed and think "I don't want to write it down!  I hate that I have to write down what I want to say to my husband when he's in the next room!"  ...I know, I'm being a baby.  But it's annoying.  I hate that the Navy dictates almost every aspect of my life, especially mundane things like when I can have a conversation with my husband.  (Something is always more frustrating when it's RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU yet you can't "have" it.)

ANYWAY......
the point is, I've sacrificed things I haven't wanted to but did so because I love Nicholas and I want a life with him.  Even if it is this life.  Don't get me wrong, this life is not all negatives as I'm making it out to be.  There are a lot of positives...but all the small positives are hard to combat the magnitude of the negative of being away from loved ones and my "old life".

I am thankful I have a husband who recognizes and appreciates the sacrifices I've made.  He knows I struggle with being away from "home".  He will randomly come behind me while I'm doing the dishes, wrap his arms around me, and thank me for everything I do for him (dishes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc) because he knows that I LOATHE being a housewife.  He will thank randomly thank me for giving up almost everything to marry him and move to wherever the heck the Navy sends us.  He thanks me for respecting and not being (too) whiny about him always being gone or studying when he's home.
When he gets free time, he's more than willing to do something I want to do to show his gratitude.

So back to Military Spouse Appreciation Day....
This afternoon, Nick had to run to the store to get some supplies he needed while studying.  When he returned, he had a beautiful bouquet of my favorite flowers in a vase and a card with a sweet note inside telling me how much he appreciate all I have done and all I do and how much he loves me.  How he wouldn't be where he is without me by his side through it all.  It meant so much to me.

Then later than evening, he told me he was taking me out to dinner to celebrate this day as well.  We don't go out too often as we're trying to be smart with our money and pay down some medical and student loan debt.  But he felt this was necessary.  And who am I to turn down a large glass of my favorite sangria and my favorite pasta dish?  So I happily obliged =)

Then we came home, cuddled up on the couch, and watched our Cardinals...one of our favorite things to do together.

It was a simple day but that's all I needed =)

I hope the rest of you wives (and husbands) know how appreciated you are and I hope you all had a great day!!!

I'd like to end this with a poem I've read many times, and have seen plastered all over Facebook today:

I wear no uniforms, no blues or army greens.

But I am in the military, in the ranks that are rarely seen.

I have no rank upon my shoulders.

Salutes I do not give, 

But the military world is the place where I live.

I am not in the chain of command, orders I do not get,

But my husband does this I can no forget.

I am not the one who fires the weapon,

Who puts my life on the line,

But my job is just as tough, I am the one that is left behind.

My husband is a patriot, a brave and pride filled man.

And the call to serve his country not all understands.

Behind the lines I see the things needed to keep this country free.

My husband makes the sacrifice, but so do our kids and me.

I love the man I married.  Soldiering is his life,

But I stand among the SILENT RANKS known as the Military Wife.

Weekend with Kyle

This past weekend was a lot of fun!!!

I'm sure a lot of you know who Kyle is.  But I'm sure a lot of you don't.  And I'm sure most of you don't know much about what's going on with him right now.

Kyle is my little sister, Leah's boyfriend.  And by boyfriend, I mean he's pretty much my brother-in-law.  He was pretty much living at our house before (and after) we got married.  He attended all family functions with us...birthdays, holidays, the lake, etc.  The family loves him and he gets along really well with the other boys (Ben, Randy, and Nick.)

Kyle's dream is to fly apache helicopters for the Army.  He's been working hard to get into that program for a long time.  At the beginning of this year, it finally happened.  In February, Kyle left for Basic Training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.  He was there for 10 weeks and last Thursday, he graduated from  basic.  We were all really proud of him.  Nick and I wanted to attend but weren't able to since it was a weekday graduation.  Thankfully my sister and my mother were able to attend.
I was also SO proud of my sister.  This was her first experience away from Kyle.  As I said, he pretty much lived with her the past year or so.  Then he leaves for 10 weeks, and their only contact was letters and a few short phone calls.  But she was so strong!  I talked to her multiple times a week and not once did she ever seem down!!  If I didn't know Kyle was gone, I would have never guessed it.  Leah was acting the exact same as if they were still going about their normal life.  Talk about a bamf!  I was so proud of her!  I told her she could call me if she needed since I knew what this was lifke but nope.  No tears, no moping, nothing!  (At least never to anyone!)  It makes me less worried about her.  I know she'll be able to handle this lifestyle.  Sure, it will be MUCH harder than a 10 week basic training, but she got through it with ZERO issues, and it was her FIRST time away from him, FIRST military distance, etc.

And I'd like to take credit for it.  You see, I was an AWFUL big sister!!!!  And Ben was a horrible big brother.  We ganged up on her.  Constantly picked on her.  We were ruthless.  We hated each other until I went away to college.  So she had 15 years of me being a bitch to her.  (I'm sorry Little Leah!).  But maybe it was for the best ;)  Because now, she's one tough cookie.  So you see Leah, I knew all along what I was doing.  I knew I was just toughening you up.  (That's why I got cancer too.  To toughen you up).

ANYWAY......immediately after Basic Graduation, Kyle had to report to Ft. Rucker, Alabama for WOC School.  (Warrant Officer Candidate School).  It's a 6 week program to become a Warrant Officer in the Army.  Following WOC School graduation, he will stay in Ft. Rucker for another 18 months for their flight school program, and hopefully he'll get selected to fly the apache, as is his dream, at the end of the program (it's a very similar school/process as what Nick is in now, Primary.)

Kyle's brother, a Captain in the Air Force, was at his Basic Graduation and drove him from Ft. Jackson to Ft. Rucker. They arrived Friday morning, and then his brother took off.  Later than afternoon, my sister calls to inform me that Kyle was granted an entire weekend.  We already had plans that evening, and were actually in the midst of them.  But as soon as the bowling alley closed at 10pm (base bowling alley...lame hours) we hopped in the car, and around 11pm headed to Ft. Rucker.

It's about a 2 hour drive through the nothingness backroads of Florida and Alabama.  Seriously something straight out of scary movie.  (Reminds me of Brewton, Alabama for those that have had the misfortune of driving through there.)  For those back home, it'd be like driving Highway A and Old 21 from Festus into Desoto late at night.  Nothing.  No gas stations.  No lights.  Just a lot of critters ready to jump out of the trees and total your car.  And I'm sure a few scary men with chainsaws.

We arrived at Ft. Rucker around 1am, picked Kyle up, and headed back home.  We got home around 3:15am so we all just went to bed.

The next day we went to see "The Avengers" with our friends, Matt & Jenny (whom you should all know by now).  Afterwards we headed home to just chill.  The boys played video games.  That's really all Nick and Kyle do ;)  When we go home on leave, they play together.  Before Kyle left for basic, these two would play each other (via internet on Xbox) for HOURS....and annoy the crap out of Leah and I.  Normally I loathe the games but I know how much Kyle missed them.  And I know how much Nick missed playing them.  Realistically, Nick hasn't played too much of that game, (Call of Duty) since Kyle left.  (One person's sacrifice is another woman's reward).  So I didn't mind hearing "Enemy UAV spotted" or hearing Nick's constant cursing Tourettes outbreaks.

That evening we went to a Cinco de Mayo party at Aaron and Lauren's house and had a good time.  At least, I hope Kyle did!  I always worry about bringing someone around a bunch of people they don't know.  I feared he'd feel left out, not knowing them, not knowing what we were talking about it.  And Kyle is like Nick....pretty quiet unless he knows people.  But it seemed to go well.  We just sat around with a few others and the boys pretty much just talked about flying, aircrafts, ranks, etc within all the various branches of the military.  (With Jenny and I throwing in our usual perverted or inappropriate comments...which Nick, Matt, and Kyle are used to anyway.)  Kyle was able to join right in seeing as he now is in the military, will be starting a flight program, has a brother in the Air Force, and his father was a in the Navy for quite some time.
We didn't stay too late (1. because I wasn't feeling too well and 2. to spend some quality time with Kyle.)
We got home and the boys, of course, started playing video games...and continued until about 3am.
(I immediately got in bed and watched Gilmore Girls....well watched for 15 minutes until I fell asleep.)

Sunday was our chill day.  I had originally thought we'd go to the beach. In my mind, I was in "entertain my guest" mode.  But then I stopped to think about Plebe Summer.  After 6 weeks of intense physical training, all Nick wanted to do was lay around.  He was so tired.  So I figured Kyle would be the same way.  For 10 weeks he has been going, going, going.  No rest.  No sleeping in.  And for the next 6 weeks, it would be the same.  Kyle is very much like Nick and loooooves his sleep.
So we nixed the beach.  I mean, Kyle is LIVING here for the next year and a half.  My sister is moving down here with him in July.  We will have PLENTY of opportunities to go to the beach.

So Sunday, the boys slept in.  I woke up with the pups around 9am.  We spent a good portion of the morning outside playing (to avoid waking Nick and Kyle because our walls are pretty much made of tissue paper and you hear every little noise [please make note of this Leah ;) ]).  Kyle woke up and joined me in the backyard and played with the pups.  Then I woke Nick's lazy butt up.  There was more video game playing and lunch made by Nick.  Then we watched the Cardinals game, another thing Kyle has missed.  After the game, I made dinner while Kyle, Nick, and my sister played bowling via the Xbox.  Finally, we all webcammed, via Xbox, including my mother.
And then it was time to leave.  We made the 2 hour drive back to Ft. Rucker to drop Kyle off.

I really hope he enjoyed his time.  Nick very much so wanted to do this for Kyle.  He said he knew what it would have meant to him after his basic from when he enlisted in the Navy and wanted to do this for Kyle.  Nick said it was similar to having his sponsor family in Annapolis to pick him up and give him a weekend away from that life.  Nick could never express what his sponsors meant to him, and he wanted to do this for Kyle.  (A pay it forward kind of deal??)  We knew Kyle would be the same way...wanting to get away.  Anywhere but the base.  So we were happy to do this for him.  It was far from a burden to drive to get him.  We loved having him here.  It was so great to see him and spend time with him; to hear all about basic and how military life for him is, thus far.
It also made me so excited for the end of June when my mother and sister are coming down for his WOC School graduation.  And ridiculously excited for when my sister moves here and we can spend weekends together often!  It will be soooooo nice having family close by =)

So that was my fun weekend.  It was so great to see a familiar face here.  To see "family" down here.

And because it must be said...

GO NAVY!  Beat Army! ;)