Holy Windchill! We spent 4 hours in single digit windchills waiting and waiting, but we got him back!
Below, organized Navy wives - the 5 of us followed each other and parked far away for an easy exit, and were able to keep warm in our cars for an hour or so while we waited for our first glimpse of the ship.
There she is!
Getting closer, this is still about 30 minutes from tying up, but it was time to head out of the warm cars and out into the cold!
Slowly, slowly approaching pierside
Finnegan looking cold but very happy!
The boys and I - good thing I didn't spend any time on my hair today, wind was gusting to about 25 -30 knots!
If you look closely, there's Santa under the jet canopy
BFF's boys - all our kids were real troopers out there in the cold today, but BFF is from Iowa, we must have passed on some good cold tolerance genes! The only thing they complained about was being thirsty, but that's because I was rationing it out so we wouldn't have to leave our good spot to find a porta potty!
Then the P.A. system announced "Liberty Call, Liberty Call, All Hands".... and the flood started!
Classic Navy stuff below.... look closely at his "baggage"... this is "the bull" mascot of the VFA-37 Ragin' Bulls squadron - yep it goes on deployment with them!
BFF & her hubby
playing with the B & W - I always love black and white for photos of sailors in uniform
Me & Hubby - and we barely got this photo, it all happens so fast.
Shortly we will be on our way to Minnesota to celebrate Christmas and Homecoming, we have 1200 miles to catch up with each other - as of right now I am not agreeing with his new taste in music! This too, shall pass... :)
All packed and ready to go!
I will admit that I am a horrible blogger while on vacation, I always envy those of you who can do updates, but I just can't seem to get my act together that much! This will probably be it until after the New Year when we return. I usually am able to read them on my iphone but it rarely maintains signal on the road enough for me to comment, but it sure helps pass the 24 hour drive home!
Thank you all for supporting the troops by making sure one particular Navy Wife got through deployment feeling supported and with sanity intact, you DO make a difference!
Wishing all of you Happy Holidays and New Year!
Hooray for you and your family! We're so glad to see that he's home safe. Merry Christmas and Happy Travels to you and we'll be looking forward to hearing from you next year.
ReplyDeleteTogether at last!
ReplyDeleteWhat GREAT pics from start to finish (the black and white IS perfect). Enjoy enjoy enjoy every minute (silly thing to say cause I know you will).
And probably even more silly to say 'Merry Christmas' cause you and the boys just got the best present ever :-) (and DH did too)
See you when you get cyber-home and have time to post again.
**Thanks to your DH for doing what he does (and you too woman, cause it's no easy task
'keepin home life' going either)
Faye (who's married to a ex-navy-man)
Yayyyy! I know I was pestering you via FB - wondering when he was actually back on terra firma, but I didn't expect you to find time to blog! THANKS! Sooooo, what *IS* his new taste in music? Bollywood? RunDMC? (Wait, I'm dating myself with that last one.)
ReplyDeleteYea!!!!!! Now enjoy yourselves. And no blogging. It's been HOW LONG since you've seen each other???????????????? Take care. Have fun!!! He doesn't need to see you stuck on a computer!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYipee!! Glad to see your hubby is home safe and sound. Love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteYou enjoy your Christmas and New Years with your family Erin and don't worry about blogging. We'll be here when you get back.
Woohoo!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe look on your husband's face when he is hugging the boys and you...says it all!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas
yay! So happy for you and yours! Enjoy your trip and time together! ahhhhhh,.... All is good.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family, Erin. Have a wonderful holiday and drive safely. You can catch us up when you get back! You're not toally off the hook....I now see where Finn gets his great smile.
ReplyDeleteOh Erin we are all so happy for you and your family! Have a very VERY wonderful Chirstmas and enjoy getting to know each other again!
ReplyDeleteDrive safely and we look so forward to your return! Love and hugs!!!
Hoorah for all!! Hugs all around. You can give him an extra one from me- not that you won't be giving him any ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip. Stay warm and have fun!
Judy
Yay, Yay yay yay yay!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWELCOME HOME, CHARLIE! So happy for all of you. Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures for us. We all just wanted to see you together. Now go enjoy your intact family! WA-HOO! Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!
ReplyDeleteYAY! Welcome home! That's so exciting. Glad he made it home safe and sound. Now you all make it to Minnesota and back safe and sound! Have a merry Christmas and a great New Year!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, you and your guy hug each other a lot to warm up ;-) Then have a safe trip and a wonderful Christmas with your family. Hurry back though, so I can get my reality show fix....."Keeping Up With The L*****s"!
ReplyDeleteI *heart* all of you you.
Thank your husband for me for serving our country and you all be safe on your trip. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
ReplyDeleteSafe Travels!
LOVE, Love, love the post and updating us!
Enjoy your time ~ NO blogging ~ just family time!
(Later, you can update us on his music tastes NO fighting over the radio on the trip ;)
Take Care, Jill
Bravo brave soldiers, wishing you both much happiness and well deserved peace
ReplyDeleteI'm sooooo happy that your hubby made it home safely, Erin!!!!!!!!! And I love the new photo in your header.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe trip home for the holidays! Hopefully the weather won't be too bad on the road.
WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Have a safe trip and enjoy all the wonderful food and family.
ReplyDeleteWOO-HOOOOO!!!! Thrilled beyond words your family is whole again. Was that your home state on a stick I saw? ;)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time catching up, and a very safe trip "home". (((hugs)))
PS- Love the longer hair.
I'm so happy for all of you! Enjoy your vacation together!
ReplyDeleteWhat a Christmas present! Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your life with us and a huge THANK YOU to you and hubby for the sacrifices you make to keep us all safe. Bless you all, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI am so happy for your family! Welcome home!! Those photos were wonderful! Have a fantastic holiday and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteOh, hooray. Enjoy your off time. Long drives can be so great.
ReplyDeleteErin, your photos brought back wonderful memories. Hubby was on a submarine, not so many people, but the wait still seemed eternal. I know you are all so relieved to have Dad safe and home. May you have the best vacation ever (despite the music). Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteGod bless our service men and women!
ReplyDeleteI added myself to follow your blog. You are more than welcome to visit mine and become a follower if you want to.
God Bless You :-)
~Ron
Merry Christmas! Thank your husband and you and your family for the security my family enjoys. I am so glad they are home safe.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift for the holiday---your family all together! Have a safe trip and a Merry Christmas! -Amy
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful Christmas gift for all of you. As a sis to a just-retired Navy guy, I admire and appreciate you and your kids for supporting your hubby as he dedicates his life to our country.
ReplyDeleteAre you back yet? Safe travels home if not!!
ReplyDeleteWow that's awesome! It brings back a lot of memories for me. My Dad was 7yrs Navy & 18yrs Coast Guard... both with ongoing deployments and many hours waiting for ships to come in, get docked, and the flood of men in uniform...
ReplyDeleteBrought a smile to my face too! Happy times! :)
I'm late saying welcome home, but the welcome home wishes are heartfelt. Military Mom here, saying thanks!!!!!
ReplyDelete