I said "good-bye" to the boys on Christmas night last year, fully expecting that Uncle Sam keep them in Afghanistan for the full 12-14 months. I can not tell you how happy I am that they were returned early!!
Even more than a week later - I'm ecstatic!
Many of you lovely ladies have friends or family in the military, so you know how unpredictable Army life is. Hurry up and WAIT... and that we did a whole lot. Originally, the guys were supposed to be home "sometime the first week of December". That didn't happen. Then it was the 13th at 8 PM...then the 14th at 2 AM...then 1:30...then back to 2..and on, and on, and on.
They touched down at 3 AM. The ceremony was at 7 AM in Magrath Gym. (BTW - I still claim that navigating military bases is a life skill!) The fabulous staff in charge of the ceremony/abbreviated shin dig asked that we be there at least 2 hours early. So, after almost no sleep; a shower in frigid water; and fighting with a hair dryer that didn't want to work - I had my keister in the gym at 4:45.
We were then treated to 2 hours of patriotic songs and slideshows while we waited. I actually found people I knew in the slide show; SCORE!! I have tons of pictures, but here are my favorites.
Marching in...
It takes a few minutes to get 297 soldiers in place.
Precision saluting!
G is trying NOT to make eye contact with me. (He's the big guy in the second row)
JC is back row in the middle. :-)
My favorite part was at the end when they had to sing the 10th Mountain Division song. It was horrible and fantastically hysterical. What you should know is that this song is short. And painted on the top of the wall. All they had to do was read...and have some semblence of rhythym. It would have been a whole lot less memorable if they all had sung the song together; and in tune!!
As soon as they broke formation - I got some of the best hugs and kisses of my life. :-)
*Also of note: The roads of Watertown, NY are ghetto-rific after a snow storm and I am extremely thanful for 4 wheel drive.*
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Yeah! Now THAT is a Christmas present...so happy for you!
ReplyDeleteWooooooooooooo hooooooooooooooooo! They're HOME! I sure wish you would have taken video of them singing. But before that song, I bet this was incredibly emotional!
ReplyDeleteJustine :o )
soooooo happy for the looooving sister.....bless you Cole and have a very very very happy Christmas
ReplyDeletechikisses
coco & lilian
I am very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteKisses and hugs
Lorenza
I'm so happy for you!! What a nice present:)
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome!!! How great is Christmas?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Christmas present! I'm so glad they got back safely. Merry Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Christmas present! So happy they're home!
ReplyDeleteHahah! LOVE IT! :) Your pictures are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteSo glad they're both home, and THANK YOU for the pointers about the good/bad roads up there!
I am so glad they made it home. Thanks for all of their hard work.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas.
YAY!!!! So glad they're home and just in time for Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Christmas present! So happy for you.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a Merry Christmas!! Thank you so much for sharing with us Cole!!!
ReplyDeleteYay! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeletewoo hoo!!! fantastical christmas present if you ask me!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! What a wonderful present!!!! I have something for you on my blog!
ReplyDeleteCole, what a heartwarming post! I'm so glad your boys were home for Christmas & I'm sure you've been spending a wonderful holiday with them (and feeding them lots of yummy stuff!).
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of yummy stuff, Beckett, did Santy Paws bring you anything good?!
Thanks for the peppermint brownie recipe...my hooman bought some mint choc chips but didn't know what to do with them!
Your pal,
Sedona (and hooman)
what a wonderful blessing!!! hope you had a great christmas and have a happy new year!
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