The Navy Dental Corps 100th Birthday Ball

This year the Dental Birthday Ball was formal due to it being the 100th Birthday.  It was the best Birthday Ball I have been to yet.

The food was delicious.  The H'orderves, so yummy - the best bruschetta I have had in awhile.  After mingling for awhile we sat down to enjoy our 5 course meal.  I had vichyssoise for the first time.  I like cold potato soup.  Jason didn't enjoy it, but enjoyed the fact that it would have been even more uncomfortable in his jacket with hot soup.

The committee did a fantastic job of decorating and providing entertainment.  The tooth ice sculpture was a nice touch.  The entertainment was Eisa Dancers (more to come on that).  If you remember the opening ceremony from the Beijing Olympics with all the drummers.  It is like that, but a smaller scale.  It is so cool to feel those drums and watch them dance.

Part of the formalities of a Military Ball include toasts after the meal.  There are nine toasts, Jason was asked to do the toast for Family Members.  This is the only toast that you provide the one to two sentences yourself, the others are scripted.  He was fantastic and looked smashing in his Dress Whites.

Here are some pictures of Jason and co-workers, and one with a friend and I.  

Trying to get a good picture at this was like pulling teeth, hehehee.

Sorry For the Disappearance

We had been planning a trip home to the States for awhile.  Then suddenly it was here and then due to unforseen scheduling it was time to leave early.  That is why I didn't get a chance to leave a note explaining my lack of blogging.  I know, they have internet in the States, but I was on vacation and for the most part unplugged.  It was so nice.

I will share the travel logistics to be sure we never forget and incase anyone in the military thinking about Space Available travel.  Space Available travel is super nice, it doesn't cost anything.  You get on a list and you wait for your turn to take a flight on what ever aircraft is going that has room for passengers.

We flew to the states on a C17.  They are big and very noisy.  Thy give you earplugs to wear, of course the kids don't want to wear them.  They have important things to do like play games and watch movies.  The nice thing about the flight was that Tennyson  could scream and nobody could hear her.  You only knew she was throwing a fit, if you looked at her.  This was a big stress reliever for me.  The C17 is a big aircraft that can hold 3 Blackhawk Helicopters in it.

 We should have brought blankets and pads to make the journey more comfy.

Getting to the States was a breeze.  1 try, direct flight, super easy.  Getting back to Okinawa was another story completely.  We decided for several reasons to try and get a flight back to Okinawa on another noisy aircraft.  Our first attempt - the flight was changed to a fly-over.  So we drove a few hours and visited more family for 2 days and then tried again.  This time the hotel near the airport had only one room left - with  one bed, Awesome.  The fire alarm went off in the middle of the night, even more Awesome.

We did get a flight that morning to Hawaii, about 10 hours on a KC135. I froze on the flight.  If you were warm, your feet were still ice.  Unfortunately our layover in Hawaii was only for over night.  We were supposed to leave the next morning for Guam and then onto Okinawa.  They had issues that they needed to fix so the delayed and delayed until they changed the flight to having only room for 3 passengers.  So we spent the entire day in the airport waiting to be told sorry.  Hawaii has a nice family lounge with an outdoor playground and movies and things to entertain.  The next attempt to leave to would be the next morning, so again no time to enjoy Hawaii.  We stayed that night in the airport.  They had 2 cribs, so we put Grahm and Charlotte in to sleep.  Tennyson slept in her car seat and the rest of us snoozed where we could.  We left that morning for an 11 hour flight on a KC135.  We were so glad to be home.  A KC135 is medivac plane and it also refuels other aircraft in the air.  Jason and Grahm checked out he refueling pod and Grahm was also a patient for a training exercise.

Yup - I have bangs... still trying to decide if I like them in the humidity.

Deployment to Korea

*****It only took 5 months for me to hog tie Jason long enough to have him help provide captions to his pictures.  ******

Yes - Jason made it home - early!  We were surprised when he called to let me know he was only an 1 hour away (that took about 5 to get here).

Riding on the HSV (High Speed Vessel).  

HSV with about 20 trucks inside and holds up to 800 people.

An MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected).

The individually wrap all of the fruit while still on the trees.

Trying out the Medical Highback HUMV.

Medical Trauma Bay.  Not near as fancy as the ER.

Jason really liked taking pictures of the Blackhawks coming and going. 

Jason went running in the rice fields.

Eating an MRE

Working on patients using an Adal unit.  Set up in a storage room.  Dentistry on the go.

Portable X-ray!

More field setup - sterilizer, distiller...

Super comfy dental chairs.

No explanation needed.

North Korean watching Jason take pictures of him.

South Korean patrol.  The one South Korean stays facing the corner of the building, only keeping half of himself visible to the North Koreans.

This building is half in North Korea and half in South Korea.  This is where they meet for talks.

Kijŏng-dong is a city just inside North Korea from the DMZ (demilitarized zone).  The city is mostly fake.  There are workers to take care of any thing.  North Korea used to broadcast nice invitations to South Koreans to join them.  Later it" switched to blaring, condemnatory anti-Western propaganda speeches, Communist agitprop operas, and patriotic marching music at high volume for up to 20 hours a day".  Read more about it, kind of interesting.

The Bridge of No Return.  At one time was used for prisoner exchanges.  An interesting history.

Marine Corps Birthday Ball

Jason finally let me attend a military formal function.  In the past we have had too little of babies or he has decided that it is not a great atmosphere for his wife.  This one was a great experience.  I loved all of the ceremony involved and all the symbols.  It was a nice reminder of why we are here and to feel a real connection to the history of our great country.  I think it is so easy to take for granted all of our freedoms and all of the sacrifices of the past that bring us to this point.  I was so glad I was able to attend and hope to be able to again.  The Marine Corps knows how to put on a show.

As we reached the car on our way out - Jason conveniently remembered that we didn't get our picture taken.  Even though I was disappointed I was not about to ask a grumpy man to walk all the way back in to see if the pictures were still available.  So I was sad until I decided that we would just have to dress up again another day and have our pictures taken.  Jason realized that he should have chosen to walk back in and check things out or he should have helped me remember earlier in the evening.  He loves getting his picture taken and loves getting fancied up.

This is a snapshot after we got home - so the hair has wilted and we are tired.  I photoshopped out the door, so that is why it is weird.

Check out the Bow Tie!

Anything missing...  like a date?

Once again a formal event has arrived and I am not at it.  I think he does it on purpose.  He hates going to formal events, while I love them (I think - I never get to go). 

We missed all formal events while he was enlisted.  He claimed there was too much drinking, since we don't drink - how could that be fun for us.  We missed the Senior Ball at Dental School because we were going to save our money and go to Hawaii.  That wasn't going to happen so he claimed it was too late to pay and say we wanted to go.  This time my baby is only 1 month old, so I don't really want to go - but he didn't even ask.  He told me that we had to pay awhile ago and it was too late to change.

So he is off to the Ball while I am home with our 4 amazing children eating cold cereal and oatmeal with tapioca pudding for dessert.  I hope his commander ordered him Chicken since he never made a meal selection!!

I do think he is handsome all dressed up.  I love the bow tie.

MRE's

Sorry I have been MIA.  Even Jason mentioned my lacking of posting lately.

I am posting about MRE's.  I will be honest with you - when ever I heard the word MRE -I thought gross, military, and cockroach (survive a nuclear explosion!).  Recently Jason had to leave for some training and they were provided (out of their paycheck) with MRE's while away from home.  I was here comfortable and cooking up yummy food and thinking poor Jason.

Well - he brought home some of the leftovers and we tried them.  I was suprised to say the least.  MRE stands for Meal Ready to Eat.  They are just as tasty as any frozen already prepared food at the grocery store.

Each MRE is different.  There is a main dish, a side dish, a snack, a drink, and a desert.  We opened up 4 of them and all of it was tasty.  All you need is a little bit of water and you will have a nice hot meal [I should probably add here that MRE's would still get old if that is all you get to eat - so I still feel bad for our troops that are far from home and want nothing more than a home cooked meal]. 

We tried - Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken Fajitas, Chicken and Salsa, Beef Burrito (can you tell which ones my husband doesn't eat?).  Side dishes - fried rice , refried beans and mexican rice. 

Snacks - PB and J with the yummiest whole wheat biscuit (shaped like a slice of bread), crackers with cheese, and cheese crackers. 

Desert  - short bread cookies, milk shake (just add cold water - yummy), and another kind of cookie. 

Drinks - Tang, and coffee.

I added the unopened ones to our 72 hour kits.  If you can get some MRE's I think they would be a great addition to any 72 hour kit, warm food!

It's Official - New Orders!!

Jason just forwarded his Orders to me...



and...




we...



are....



going....



to....








Okinawa, Japan!

For the next three years.  So many questions.  We are excited, and nervous.  What an adventure.

Happy Fourth of July

To wish you a Happy Independence Day, here is a peek at my very own Naval Officer!!
A special Thanks to all those who Serve!!

Things You Missed, part 4

Messy popsicles, messy apple dip, messy dinners, messy lunches, fighting (I hope Jayce settles into being home all day soon), more lawn mowing, aphids, rain, weeds (but they are all back again, so I guess you didn't really miss them), babysitting while I ran to the fabric store, Jayce repeating Dam Dam Dam over and over (I told him that was probably not a good idea, he thought he was just making a noise like bonk, bam, bang, etc..-why is that a bad word? Is it only a bad word because it is usually part of a curse?), tooth brushing fights, amazing - wild thunder storm, 3 kids in the bed, neighbors beating each other, no sleep, Jayce's first musical (he was playing and suddenly I hear him singing - bad guys "We will fight for darkness all over the world" , good guys "We will fight for lightness all over the world" - pretty catchy tune), upset tummy's, potty accidents,

Just a few more hours...
Post Edit: Actually it is now lots of hours. Sometime tomorrow -stinkin weather and airports. Not sure if I should yell or cry.

Tomorrow Night

One week since we met, Christmas Day 1999.

Tomorrow night he will finally be home. He will have been gone for 5 weeks. Which I know is not that long. This past five weeks has crept along and flown by.

As I sit here thinking of all that I want to do before he gets home - Clean the house, bake a cake, grocery shop, wash the car, etc...

I am not sure I will be able to sleep tonight. I am a mix of emotions.

I am filled with the same anticipation that infects me on Christmas Eve. I feel jittery, exhausted, and happy. I play out the possible scenarios of tomorrow night when we pick him up at the airport. Each is filled with hugs, kisses, smiles and the excited chatter of 3 little ones.

I also feel on the verge of tears. Each of the girls in my family is plagued by overactive tear ducts in only one scenario. The scenario usually plays out thus...

One of us has fallen deathly ill at school and we have been given the approval to make that phone call.

phone ringing

Mom - Hello.

Sister (any one of the 6 of us) - burst of tears and we can hardly talk. Mom, I don't feel good. Can I please come home?

I can already feel it building. The moment I see him - that instant relief that I have love, support, help and I am not alone anymore.

I think there will be tears (and I do not like to cry). I will do my best to keep it at a minimum of only 1-3, but they will be happy tears.

Things you missed, Part 3

Charlotte thinking the race car driver on the Cheerios box is you, last day of school, root beer floats, soccer practice fiascoes - thank you Lymans, more late night sewing (I have only had the TV on twice in the past four weeks), the bike in our room, more fast ones by Grahm, more pumpkin pancakes (their new favorite), noisy neighbors, bad dreams, three kids in your bed, new clothes, first day in nursery, Chicken Tikka Masala (different, but yummy), Nazi Germany stories (very cool), cool evenings, lots of love and support.

I officially decided last night that I don't mind our noisy neighbors. You might have to remind me of this as early as next Saturday night. I am sure I will be lying awake at midnight seething and wishing the entire US Army to march on them and kindly escort them away.
When it is late at night and the nerves are starting to react to every creak and bump in the night. Suddenly I am not alone, there are noisy people right outside. It is nice to not be alone. I do believe in the good of humanity and that they would respond should I have to scream out in the night because some crazy person has somehow made it up my creaky stairs unnoticed and is at my door. Or maybe my mind is simply diverted from imagining bumps in the night to being angry at the thoughtlessness and total disregard for other people. Either way, they have been a wonderful blessing while you have been away. I am glad they were there to keep me company when I needed it.

Things You Missed, Part 2

Not having to mow the lawn or weed eat, free babysitting, Grahm hoping that just because you are coming home the "new food" wont stop, Jayce learning to roller skate and even though he didn't want to - ended up loving it, Charlotte and Lucas kissing, Charlotte making fast friends with Greg because she misses you, homemade chocolate chip cookies, Grahm trying to pull a fast one, millions of hugs and kisses, the boys doing dishes so they could make you cards (unloading and loading and cleaning up the BBQ pork they dumped on the floor - I was letting them do it their way - they did a great job), throwing up in the middle of the night, Falafel, Charlotte starting to let me know when she pees, more pudding pops, the usual - dirty diapers, Lego messes, Charlotte's signature Ya, peanut M&Ms, late night sewing, Saturday morning snuggles,

I promise....
That the second we see you we will slather you with hugs and kisses, (especially really long hugs - that say - don't you ever leave me for that long again).
The kids will be super noisy and crazy just for you.
Charlotte will run back and forth in the house, giggling and smiling to get your approval.
The boys will talk over each other at a 100 miles an hour recounting each adventure you missed and asking you to do a million things.
To have a babysitter for the next night, so we can escape and talk to each other (see above).
To cook you anything you want, so no chicken.
That the first time I do your laundry I will appreciate your clothes being in there (the next time, not so much).
To snuggle you until you reach an internal temperature of 104 (I still think that is brain safe) and then I will retreat to my side of the bed.
Not to grab my keys and run out the door yelling - "your turn" or "see you in a few hours".
Not to overwhelm you with 5 weeks of honey do's (I will wait until the next day!!!).

Blessings!

Over the past couple of weeks I have had so many friends offer to help in so many ways and it has been so comforting to know that if I needed help, it was only a phone call away. I have received e-mails, phone calls, friends who have fed my children while I ran an errand and so many other ways. Thank you everyone.

Today I was royally spoiled rotten.

It started this morning when a dear friend came over with her three little ones. I was able to talk to an adult face to face, wahoo!! The kids played so well and did their best to ignore us. It was a nice relaxing morning - I didn't have a thing to worry about.

Then this afternoon I was ordered out of the house by the another wonderful friend- it was to get my grocery shopping done with out children. I was done in about 40 minutes (and this was with an extra trip back in) instead of the usual 1hour to 1.5 hours it usually takes. I had a few minutes to kill before Jayce would be let out of school so I read a book - no interruptions. Then her husband showed up and mowed the lawn and did the weed eating (I hate trying to start those contraptions). Again, my children were completely entertained by friends and I was able to visit. They also brought us dinner - which was so yummy. Charlotte has not been eating much of anything lately and she ate almost all of it. Jayce at 3 of them.

Then this evening we were visited by members of the Elders Quorum. They made sure the boys were minding and helping out. They shared some scriptures with us and prayed.

My heart is so full! Thank you to everyone who has remembered us in your prayers! They are being answered. We are truly being aided by angels; those seen and unseen. I suddenly thought of that poem footsteps in the sand, the part where the person asks why at times there was only one set. I find it interesting that they didn't even know there were being helped. I don't think I realized I needed until the service had been given.

Like I said my hear is full and I don't want to forget the sweet expression of my Father in Heavens love that I have received today. The Lord is very aware of each of us and lifts us even when we don't know we need it.

Ladies - kiss the man in your life and offer a prayer of thanks for the blessing that he is.

17 more days!!!!

Things you missed this week.

2 new teeth, lots of dirty diapers, she told me potty and I didn't realize that was what she said until she was already wet, Night at the Museum 2, "firepower", Cafe Rio dinners, Gunpowder chicken, Grahm accidents in their many forms, Jayce took a soccer ball to the face - kicked by an adult and no tears!, Jayce claims his special field trip lunch was "not healthy", Grahm is worried about the mermaids getting you (the mean ones from Peter Pan), being told that I don't know how to lead music, Charlotte hugs the phone, she calls Daddy regularly and points out the front, lots of Lego's, Lego comics, chocolate pudding pops, fever, runny noses, smoothie pops, the night I was frustrated and needed a time out - so I was going to take one -I told them to just go to bed - I was planning on coming back when I could deal - and Grahm started crying and this is what he said when I asked why because "we will die if we don't say our prayers", Orange Granitas,


Tonight I am missing you terribly. I know that this is just a moment in time, but I am very tired and thus teary. I am lonely and have heard things that have hurt my feelings. I need you to tell me that the person is an idiot and that I should not pay any attention. Its not the same when I say it. I miss you commenting on how clean the house is, it always makes me feel good that you notice and care.
Mostly I am in desperate need of a hug from you. I have commented several times this week on how hard the lot of house wife is. I would never trade it for another job. Sometimes I just wish I could have a few hour break and have the work still get done and not be waiting for me. Or to just leave and not have the work constantly whispering that it needs done. I have realized that for the few moments when you wrap your arms around me - I get that. I get my deliverance, I feel peace, safety, love, rest, and reassurance. Everything I need to pick up and keep going.