Allen's hero in GI

This afternoon, Cael and I got to go meet Rulon Gardner. We were super excited, since he's one of Allen's wrestling heroes. We took Allen's wrestling shoes for him to sign. As we were waiting in line, the 'MC' of the event was asking the kids questions to earn a Subway gift card. He asked "in what city was the Olympics where Rulon won his 3rd place medal?" Athens, duh! So Cael answered correctly first and got to go up onstage. He was pretty proud. So was I. We got up to talk to Rulon (Jacob Schwan, one of Allen's wrestlers was with us), and I told him about how Allen lost his weight so he could go into the military while watching him on Biggest Loser, and the inspiration he got from watching him. Rulon's a great guy. Very humble, very down-to-earth, very personable. So glad we got to see him! He was going to bend down to take a pic with Cael, but then he just picked him up and put him on his shoulder. Cael thought that was pretty cool. Afterward, a guy from the local radio station asked me to explain the story about Allen's shoes, so I guess I'll be on the radio!

Back in Nebraska

We are back. I really hate unpacking, and I have a heck of a lot of it. The car needs to be cleaned out in a bad way, since there are sand and cracker crumbs everywhere. I guess it's back to our lives here. Hopefully we'll find out Allen's duty station at the end of August.

Last days

Cael had to have a set of ACU's just like his Daddy's. My tough guys. He wanted a set of PT's, too. But then again, so did I.

One morning, I noticed that both of our chains were laying on the counter together.

Cael and I stopped at Fort Campbell, KY on our way to MO. Since my dad was stationed there before he went to Korea, I wanted to be where he once was. I'm sure it's changed a lot since he was there, but it was still a good feeling being where he had been many years ago. There were some old aircraft and artillary across the street from the museum (which wasn't open yet).

"Home"

You know, "home" is a state of mind. Right now I'm in Georgia, and I'm "home." Allen is here, Cael is here, and I'm here. We're together, so we're home. Being here for 2.5 weeks, I've gotten very comfortable, and have found my way around Augusta pretty well. I think the car could go from the hotel to the base and back by itself by now. On Sunday we'll have to head back to Nebraska, which is technically "home." It won't feel like it now, since we've been with Allen so long. We can't wait until we can be with Allen permanently. Leaving him after basic training was hard, but not as hard as it will be on Sunday. We've been a part of military life for several weeks now, so it's almost become "normal." All I know is that Sunday is going to suck.

Hilton Head Island, SC

We decided that since we were only 3 hours from Hilton Head, and none of us had ever seen an ocean, we'd drive there on Saturday. It was pretty cool. First we had to get sunscreened up. My lens was fogging up from the humidity. Race ya!

Cael loved it!

Anyone who knows me at all knows that this took a lot of courage.

Cael wanted to take a picture of us. We were waiting to go to supper.

Hilton Head Lighthouse.

View of the marina from the top of the lighthouse.

It was a LOOOONG day. Cael was asleep before we got off the island.

July 7th

I finally took the pics I was really wanting to take since the second day I got here. Here's the sign at the main gate. That's a hard one to take. It's right after the checkpoint, so you can't stop.

This is the sign right outside of the barracks. PHB!

I remember my dad having a picture of a sign like this. It was pretty much the same situation.

Keep off the what? Where?

July 4th

Today Allen had to go back to base. We get to see him everyday for the next 2 weeks, though. He has put in for passes for the next 2 weekends, so hopefully he gets those approved. That would mean that he could spend the weekends with us without having to go back to barracks for formation and bedcheck. Check out the scruff on him! He shaved everyday since Feb.23. He didn't shave once all weekend! We didn't care. But, (sigh) time to get ready to go back to base. This is the main gate to Fort Gordon coming in from the north heading south. I took this from a ways away. You have to show your ID to the MP's before you can get through those gates.

This is Signal Towers. Notice there is only one, yet it's called "Towers." Weird. Lots of upper brass work in there. Allen had to do some cleaning detail in there, and said it's nerve-wracking with all that brass around you.

Cael and Allen played catch while we were waiting for formation to start.

Tough guys Burke and Blake. They were at Fort Leonard Wood together, and now they are members of Bravo Co. 551st Signal Battalion at Fort Gordon. PHB! That's the company motto. (Physical training, Haircuts, Barrack maintenance.) Allen taught Cael to yell in a tough guy voice "PHB!" as we walk around the base.