Hail To The Chief

Today I got to be the proud wife again, as I saw Barry pinned with his shiny new rank. Tutter and I cooked all kinds of good things and spread out a table to rival any catering company. There were chicken salad croissants, pasta salad, cocktail sausages, meatballs in gravy, veggie and fruit trays, and the obligatory red velvet cake. Soon the room filled with soldiers of all ranks to see his promotion ceremony. We had our own entourage as well, to include Papa, Granny, Barry's dad and Reba, Tutter, the boys, and me. Bear looked so good as he stood in his dress blues! When the time came, he dropped to one knee and his proud sons pinned on his Chief Warrant Officer 2 rank. The photos are priceless!

This has been a good year for his career. First we had the competition for the William Few Award , which named him the top junior-grade warrant officer in the state, now this promotion, and then he will celebrate 20 years in the Army in September!

Honor Troop

Well, chalk one up to Troop 354 as being named the Honor Troop at Summer Camp! They unseated a troop that has held that title for 16 years - and they were REALLY sore losers. Their scoutmaster had them lined up and was making them recite the scout law and oath over and over.

Our boys really deserved the award though. Not only did they have an awsome campsite, but they helped other troops get their campsites ready for inspection. They pulled together as a team, which is what they were supposed to do.

Barry served as their stand-in scoutmaster, and really loved it. The boys all completed their merit badges and had a great time. Aaron learned to sail! He had a blast! He also earned merit badges in Communications, Archery, Rifle Shooting, and almost completed his Fish & Wildlife Management badge. (The fish weren't biting, so even the boys who took the Fishing class didn't complete their badge either!) He had a wonderful time. I felt so much better with Barry there. Last year Aaron just wandered like a lost soul, but this year the boys all had some oversight. Makes Mamas sleep much better!!!!

On Safari With 200 Little Wild Men

We survived!!!! We guided two-hundred little wild men on a safari down a croc-infested river, across a long rope bridge, under the vines laced with bells that summoned headhunters, up and over the Cliffs of Insanity, and back safely to base camp. Yep, it was time again for Cub Scout Day Camp! This year, Barry and I designed and built an obstacle course - and it was a favorite event for the Cubs. The theme of the week was "Scouting on Safari." The boys got to shoot BB guns and archery, do metal craft, go swimming, canoeing (Webelos only), fishing, crafts, nature study in the creek, the obstacle course, and survival skills. We drafted one of Barry's buddies to teach the survival skills, and it was right up his alley! Colin is a paratrooper, Ranger, Pathfinder, etc, and just lives and breathes the stuff. The boys learned a ton of valuable information from him that could one day save their lives. Barry's old battalion loaned us two big tents, cammo nets, and a Hummer for the week as well.

On Wednesday we loaded 300 people onto 4 school buses (were supposed to have 5!) and set off for the zoo. I sure was glad to get all of them safely back home. Thursday the Georgia Army National Guard sent a color guard out to open the camp that morning, and they were great. It was a perfect way to celebrate Flag Day, the Army's Birthday, and Barry's promotion date to CW2! The camp director announced Barry promotion and all the kids yelled, "HOOAH!!!!!" He was speechless for a minute - which doesn't happen very often! Friday was our biggest day. Mid-morning the "Orange Crush", which is a recruiting Hummer, rolled in to camp driven by a SGT who just returned from Iraq and was in full combat gear. Oh, the kids loved that! We headed up to the ball field about 11 AM for the awards ceremony and a cookout in the rain! Granny and Papa joined up and I stashed them in the dugout so they'd be dry and out of the weather. The boys started lining up asking Barry, Colin, me, and the SGT to sign their shirts, which was so cool!!! Thankfully the rain let up in time for our biggest guest - a US Army Blackhawk helicopter, which landed right on second base! The kids all got to get in the Blackhawk, and all the crew had to sign their shirts. Even the men from Barry 's old battalion who came to take down the tents were mobbed by little people and asked to sign shirts. There was a police officer who dropped by. I went up to his car and invited him to come out on the field to see the Blackhawk. As soon as he did, the boys wanted his signature on their shirts too! Granny and Papa were so cute. I took them onto the field right after the chopper landed so they could see it. I introduced them to the pilots and crew chief, and told them that Papa was a combat medic who was on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The crew chief grabbed Papa by the hand and thanked him for his service. He told Papa, "You guys saved the world!"

All this time, Barry was zipping around like a mother hen, making sure everything was as perfect as it could be. He really did a great job in arranging things, and making chaos run smoothly! After all the scouts went home, we staggered back into the woods, and took down the obstacle course. Colin joined us for supper at Moe's, and we had a great end to a great week!

Now I get to do laundry, and pack my two big ones off to Boy Scout Camp for a week!

Feelin' Old

Not quite 18 years ago I held this tiny, beautiful baby girl. She was always petite and very pretty. Well, today she was a bride! I was honored to be their photographer and share in their special day. Kristen looked like a Barbie doll! I honestly didn't know they made bridal gowns in size "0"!!! Her new husband could not have been hand-picked and been a better match for her. He is very tall, and just as handsome as she is pretty. The ceremony was very well-done. Her sister was gorgeous in her red cocktail dress. Her mom was running around in circles, and her dad just didn't quite know what to do with himself. The groom's folks were doing about the same thing!

As the couple made their way from the church to their truck, JB scooped Kristen up in his arms and carried her through the shower of birdseed and bubbles. When he reached the truck he swung her effortlessly up on the side, opened the door, and picked her up to place her carefully inside.

I also have to brag on my assistant. Aaron did the videography for me, as I couldn't be in two places at once. He was so careful and took his job seriously. I really think the families will be pleased with what we did today, and Kristen and JB can look back over the years and remember their very special day!