The Bare Family

This weekend has flown by WAY too quickly but we have enjoyed every moment! I picked Dean up again this morning while everyone else kind hung behind. While the kids, Granny and Melissa went to hard rock Dean and I snuck in a little quiet time and then we all met up at the river walk a bit later for the river boat ride. Once done there is was time to head back to the base once again. We went back to the parade field and looked at the airplanes before heading back to the bowling alley for a little bit before having to say our goodbyes. Tom morning Dean will head to Wichita Falls for tech school while we all load on a plane and head back to FL. At least tom morning he receives his cell phone back!!! We still have a long journey ahead but at least we have our communication back without it being dictated!!

So today I got to pick Dean up first thing! We had breakfast and walked around the river walk while the kids hung out with Granny and Melissa. Then we all met up in the hotel and just hung out for a while.. had dinner in our room... just did NOTHING.. and it was GREAT! We headed back to base a little early and went bowling with the kids {they had a really really nice alley!!!}

This morning we headed back to the base for Dean's graduation parade. It was a chilling ceremony... I think I had goosebumps almost the entire time. And let me just say... Those boys look good in their blues!! HA! After the parade we headed to Dean's squadrant and got a tour of where the guys had been staying the last 8.5 weeks and met Dean's MTI. The guys were then granted their base freedom and we headed to the river walk for some lunch and some touring... then back to the hotel for a bit before once again returning Dean to base.

This morning started out extra early {esp after all our delayed flights and getting here SUPER late}. We're all running off about 2 hours of sleep but I don't care I'm just so ready to see my AIRMAN!!!! We made it to the first briefing they offered today so that we could just get it over with. Next was out to line up and get ready for the Airman's run. We found a spot next to one of the girls I had met online... her husband is actually in Dean's brother flight. It was hard to find Dean in his flight though I was aware of where to look for him it happens SO quickly and he looked SO different! {I guess losing 25 lbs will do that to a person!} It was certainly hard to restrain from just running out there and grabbing him! HA! They ran by us twice and then they returned to their quadrants to shower and get dressed for the Coin Ceremony as we went to find seats and wait. After letting the kids run for about 2 hours, having some snacks, talking and meeting so...

It's finally HERE!!!! We're flying out today to head to Dean's graduation!!!! I absolutely can't wait to see him and I know the kids are excited too!!!! This has been harder than all of us actually expected though we knew it wasn't going to be easy. I've met some GREAT people through the AF Wingmoms page and it was so nice being able to go through all this with them. They are all either wives, girlfriends, moms.. friends... it's been absolutely wonderful knowing that they feel exactly the way that I do.. that their kids are going through the same things as mine. It certainly helped my sanity and I can't imagine going through this without all of them. I can't wait to actually be able to meet some of them in person as well! it's going to be a great 4 days!! And though I know this is going to fly by I'm going to savor EVER waking moment!!! Now.. off here to head to my plane!!!!

So I thought the kids and I would would enjoy a Disney trip for a couple of days to help make this month go a bit quicker. This is the first trip I've made with just me and them... it's been interesting but not as hard as I though it would be. they've both actually been pretty great! This trip has been hard though but so has everyday since Dean left. After much begging on Zane's part because it was no where in my plans we went to Mickey's Halloween party tonight. Headed out to Epcot the next morning only to get caught on the far side of the park in a thunder storm... makes for a good story though, right?!?! We finally did make it back to the hotel soaking wet.... we got dried off and headed down for some dinner and then back to our room to watch the fireworks from our balcony.

So while we're enjoying some time with Mickey Dean's celebrating his 30th birthday in boot camp. This week they're in what they call "Beast" week. It's basically putting them in a mock war zone where they use the things they've been taught the past 6 weeks. On one hand I can't believe I"m saying 6 weeks... on the other hand it feels like 6 months! Only a couple more weeks till this is over. Until then we're wishing Dean a very happy birthday till we can celebrate with him. These are the pics that we sent him for this week....

Our shirts for Dean's graduation arrived today!!! YAY!!! I seriously can't wait!!!