The Graduation

Friday morning came very early. It was dark and cold outside when we woke up. Sam did at least stay awake through breakfast. He would not eat anything, or be pleasant.
We hurried to the Reception center so we could wait for a bus. Then we hurried on the bus to get to the parade grounds so we could wait for the ceremony to start. Both kids loved the bus ride.

They hated sitting in the bleachers, way at the back (the only seats open) in the freezing cold weather. So Donnie took them down and found an area with little wind for them to play in. That meant he was not able to watch the ceremony. But the kids were much better behaved, and warmer. I, however, froze as I waited and waited for the ceremony to start. As we were all waiting on the bleachers all huddled together like we knew each other trying to stay warm, a lady spoke out "I'm praying for a hot flash." Everyone started laughing! It was great! A hot flash would have truly been welcome right then.

Finally the Airmen started marching into the parade grounds. Aren't they sharp looking?

After lots of talking and band playing, and more moms crying, they started marching around in front of all the bleachers. Our own personal parade! Made me cry. Of course. We really were unable to see our Airmen because they were so far across the field most of the time.

Eventually they all marched forward to be sworn in. I video taped it, and I'm sure you could hear me sniffing quite a bit from all the crying.

It took a LONG time to find Drew in all the masses of people. But Donnie did find him, much to Drew's relief. "We have got to find a latrine NOW!" were his first words, lol.

This is a picture of Drew and one of the 3 Stooges he is part of. We are going to try hard to get all three together for a shot some time this weekend.

Sam had fun playing during the ceremony. But afterwards he was back to his uncooperative self. We tried to get a picture of the 3 kids together, but this is how it turned out. Sam running away from Drew.

I, however, was willing to stay in the picture with Drew.

This is a picture of Drew's impeccably made bed. Why couldn't he just throw his covers across his bed all those years at home? I knew he was capable........
Again, more evidence of his capability to keep his home neat as a pin........... Minus the stroller and stuff we drug in.

Even his shoes are perfectly lined up. And tied correctly. He had honor graduate until Sunday night when he was caught with his shoes tied wrong and his bed not neat enough.

He warned me not to even bump people's shoes because they get messed up easily. I pointed out one of his bunk mates shoes all askew. Yep, like that. He had to fix them for his buddy so they don't all get in trouble.

After graduation we had to hang around and wait. They wouldn't let them leave until 2pm, even though nothing else was happening. Drew picked up his orders, he is going to Keesler AFB in Mississippi for ATC school. Can't say when, though.

When we could leave base we took Drew back to the hotel and just chilled for hours. He didn't know how to relax, lol. Dude, take off your tie and shoes and lay back a bit!

Drew was able to just get online and email everyone and facebook and IM with some friends. He has had such limited contact and it was great that he could just do that and catch up.

After we dropped Drew back off we took the little two kids to see Madagascar 2. It was funny, but I preferred the first movie.

The theater we went to was weird. It was one with waiters who took our orders and brought us food and drinks, including alcoholic drinks. However, that wasn't the weird part. It just felt evil in there. Not sure why. Was it because of the showing of Twilight, and all the Twilight junkies in there? Was there a weird presence to the building? Not sure, be we were weirded out, and even Sam was acting uncomfortable and on the defensive. I can't even describe the bathrooms adequately. Weird. Like sheet metal walls for sheds. Strange. None of the floors were carpeted or tiled or finished, all just cement.

Ick.

Then we came back to the hotel and went to sleep.