Basic training graduation day. Finally!

A lot of people graduated! A lot! And I was nervous they were going to announce everyone butthey didn't. Fewf. Especially since it was about 30 degrees and freezing wind!! On the way back to base, mason got carsick so Renee stayed with him in the hotel room. It was actually a big blessing since it was so cold and much more boring. Lots of marching. 

(Photo by Kate Dooley)

Travis looked so handsome in his uniform. 

Travis and his parents. 

Cute hubs and I. (Making sure we are following PDA rules)

Travis and his battle buddy Zach Dooley (according to Travis the only one worth meeting)

Travis and chuck. Air Force vs Army National Guard. Even though he couldn't quite stand in attention anymore. 

Travis and his proud mama

Travis and Jim! 

A couple more of Travis and I. Trying to be serious or at least make him crack a smile in uniform. 

Travis and I with Kate and Zach Dooley (Travis' battle buddy and his wife!) we've become long distance friends! It's been great!!

After graduation we got to take Travis back to charolette to chuck and Renee's. It was so nice!!

Basic training graduation- family day

The first day we got to see Travis (Wednesday) was "family day" they gave us a briefing before but I could hardly pay attention because I was so excited/nervous/anxious to see him!!

Mason hung out on grandma Jim Jim's lap most of the time. 

The smoke started by tossing grenades as the started to March out. Mason loved it and was completely entertained. We have part of it on video and he loves to watch the "army men" over and over. 

I couldn't tell which one was Travis but I knew he was the tallest (he told me in about every letter!) when they released us to go find our soldiers (they couldn't leave formation until a family member released them) the bleachers were completely packed. Everyone was trying to go down the stairs at once. I was way too excited. I ran down the seats of the bleachers to the bottom and hopped the fence. I dropped about 4-5 feet! But I ran and found him and hugged him so tight. I was crying and stepping all over his boots and tugging on his coat. It was so great to see him again. After we left the feild he couldn't touch me again (uniform rules) so that was disappointing. But we went around the corner and mason shouted "my daddy!!" In the most cute excited voice I had heard him say! He didn't let Travis put him down pretty much the rest of the day (the PDA rules don't apply for children) 

Travis and Chuck and Renee and Jim on our way into dinner

We ate and shopped and talked. I had so much adrenalin built up I was feeling pretty sick. I kept squeezing my fist to try to release some energy. Chris hugged me tight and that seemed to help. It was just so emotionally draining. To be together again but different. It's hard to explain. 

After Travis gave us a tour of the base and where some of his activities took place, Chris and Jim went back to chuck and Renee's with mason. I stayed on base that night and Travis had to be back in his barracks before 8. I didn't get into my hotel until 6 because the rooms weren't ready. But it was nice to talk and really connect. 

Travis' group was a hard bunch of guys who kept getting into trouble. That is why he didn't get many phone calls or time to write. He was very glad that basic was over. I was very glad that step one is over! Now onto AIT!!

Neighbors playground.

Lucky us. The McConnells have a neighbor with a swing set! Mason is getting so big! Sitting on a swing! He even tried pumping his legs! He climbed and slid and ran all over! Love the wild boy!

Crashed

What do you get when you mix Sunny charolette days, a fenced yard and 5 adults to entertain you? An exhausted toddler boy! Mason ran and jumped and ran and tackled and chased and ate and slept and then did it all over again!  It was heaven!

Super cut!

The one thing I forgot to do before we left was cut masons hair (not bad eh?) so we didn't want him to look scruffy (it is an army graduation) we found a super cuts and brought him in 

She said he sat more still then most adults. 

Cute boy ready to see his daddy!!

Girls reunited!

I was so happy to see ashley Drolette and Valerie Isham when I was on my trip. Since they live in the area it was so exciting when we matched schedules to see each other and our kiddos. So much fun! Valerie has a gorgeous house and mason was a crazy man so we didn't stay as long as I had hoped but it wAs so worth it! 

Chuck and Renee's

We got to stay with some family friend chuck and Renee! Mason had so much fun in their yard. They spoiled us so much! Eating good food, not having to dishes or laundry and having 4 extra eyes on mason made our trip even more awesome!!

Mason loved all the leaves

Major hunk. Love this kid in little army clothes!!

Renee bought mason a cop car to play with while we were there. He loved it!!

Each night he crashed!! We had so much fun!!

Pilot in training.

While waiting at our gate for our flight to charolette, the pilot came to talk to mason. Mason was so excited when he gave him a pin. The pilot asked mason if he liked buttons and wanted to come see the cockpit. Mason said "yes peez I lob buttons" As soon as I put our stuff in our seat he remembered and said "pilot buttons now!" We hurried to the front and I thought they would just say hi. Oh no they invited us in and got up from their seats. Let mason sit down and wear their hats. Then he reached for a button. I said "no don't touch" and they said "oh no let him touch whatever. We will fix it" so mason touched all sorts of buttons and knobs. I laughed thinking later of there was a malfunction they would come online and say "this problem is brought to you by the little boy in isle 8." Then he turned to them and said. "I do it. Bye" ha ha. Nice try. When it was time to go I told him to say thank you instead he said "I love you" that is like the highest of thank yous in his vocabulary! ha ha  But he happily found his seat and ordered apple juice when the flight attendant came by. It was seriously precious!6

Way to go delta! You made this little boys dream come true!!

Layover with Opal

It convienently worked out that our couple hour layover was in Minneapolis. The home to my freaking best friend opal! I've know opal since middle school. We went to high school together. Were roommates in college and traveled across the us for a job with her. She also moved to Spokane while I was in pullman. Then she went to Minneapolis for more school. So mason was only about 6 months old when we saw her last. We FaceTime and chat but it isn't the same. I was so excited to see her. We had a great time and even though it was quick it was so worth it. Ever since we saw her mason will randomly say "oh opal I love her so much" and he is so right! We both do!!

Masons first airplane ride

Mason was SO SO SO excited for the trip to see Travis because we got to fly in an airplane! When I woke him up at 3 am to catch our flight he sat up quick and cheered  "airplane day". He told everyone he could (tsa workers, random passangers) "we ride airplane to see army daddy" it was too cute!

He loved the window and opened and shut the shade 100x!

I packed lots of goodies but mostly he just loved looking out and being on the airplane! He really was  rockstar. I couldn't have expected better. He was SO good!!

We couldn't wait to land to start our vacation!

Two year photos

We had some awful weather weekend after weekend so we had to keep pushing back masons two year photos. But we finally got them taken by Jessica Damstedt I was so excited and loved how they turned out. We printed them off and surprised Travis with them for graduation. 

Baking cookies

This little boy froze for 12 minutes watching the cookies bake! It was priceless. We will need to make cookies more often :)