Jack's Change of Command

On March 15, Jack took command of HHC 2-3 BSTB. He commanded E/1-30 IN for about 10 months, but the company was merged with another engineering company in January and Jack got to be the lucky one (sarcasm) to be the new HHC commander. HHC is just a different kind of group than a "normal" company. For starters, there are about 220+ soldiers in the company! That's a lot of folks to keep track of! I'm very thankful that this command is during a non deployment time, because I thought keeping up with about 50 spouses was bad, I can't even begin to imagine the work involved in a company this size. So anyways, the fun begins. Let's just say, he's been at work more during the last 2 weeks than home, although it seems to be quieting down a bit. On his first day, he didn't get home until 9:30!

Jack taking the guidon for the new company

Jack with the BN Commander and outgoing HHC Commander

Jack with the new company (or about 50 of them!)

Reception

Time to cut the cake
(Do you see Katelyn in the background just having a blast?!)

She was the entertainment at the reception
and was the best little girl that we could have asked for that day!

Wearing Daddy's hat!

Congratulations Jack! We're so proud of you!
We love you!

2BCT Ball

Saturday night Jack and I attended the 2 BCT ball in Savannah. The dinner, speaker and dance took part during a river boat cruise down the Savannah River. The other ball festivities ie. grog ceremony took place on the dock under Army tents. All in all, it was much better than I had anticipated, but the hour and a half that we had to stand out on the dock freezing with no restrooms was not so great. There were many unhappy women!!

These were the Army tents set up on the dock.
At least they were equipped with 2 kegs and wine!
This was probably the first ball I have attended that alcoholic beverages were provided for free - well at least until we boarded the boat, at which point the drinks cost a small fortune!

I found it rather amusing to watch the "tourists."
Apparently we were quite the tourist attraction because the sidewalk was lined with people watching, pointing and taking pictures.

"Old" E/1-30 IN ladies!
Me and my handsome Captain!

Welcome Home Jack!!!

After a long year, Jack's 3rd tour in Iraq is finally done.
He arrived home with the rest of E Co in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
We thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and support over this past year.
It is so wonderful to have our family complete again!!


Getting ready to leave the house for the ceremony (It's midnight now!)



Still waking up and trying to figure out why she is at
ANOTHER one of these crazy ceremonies and at this god awful time of night!


Pops keeping Katelyn occupied while waiting


Our pretty girl!!


A video on the jumbotron showing the soldiers getting off the airplane!!


Eating cheetos provided by the USO - she was so messy!
But there was no taking them away - they kept her quiet and occupied for a long time!


Here they come!!!!
AHHHHHH!!!
We were wishing they would march just a little faster!!!


We FINALLY found him!!
There were 353 soldiers on his flight!!!!
(Katelyn was a little puzzled how "the guy" in the computer was standing in front of her!!)


"I guess you are ok and we can take you home with us."


It feels like a dream still!
I love my soldier with all my heart!




We made it home!!
It's now 3:30 AM!!


Daddy helping put Katelyn back to bed - almost 4 AM at this point!
She was such a trooper and crashed the minute she got back in bed
and slept in til almost 9 AM too!!
Thank you so much Katelyn!!!


Playing with Daddy the next morning!
"He's a keeper Mommy!"

Please continue to keep those that are still serving overseas in your thoughts and prayers and pray for continued strength for those family members left behind and that each soldier come home safely!

Walk to Iraq

Post is doing a "Walk to Iraq/Afghanistan" event while most of the post is deployed. We keep track of the miles walked/ran, etc and in total, post has made 11 trips to/from Iraq or 5.5 round trips! That's a lot of miles!! We had a walk on Saturday morning and the weather decided to interfere; we still got our ribbons up on the trees though.



CPT J, there's one for you in there somewhere!!
We are so proud of you and can't wait for this "downhill stretch" to fly by!! :)


And Jack - Here are your 2 favorite girls :)
We love and miss you!!