A Merry Weekend!

Can you guess where we went this weekend? (Saturday, Dec. 17)

The Nutcracker Ballet!

What a wonderful gift...to take my sweet girl to the ballet. Five Moms along with 6 daughters enjoyed a day in Oklahoma City....The Oklahoma Ballet with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic put on a spectacular presentation. Lucey was mesmerized.

Here is our group minus one Mom and Daughter who went up to the city before us to do a little shopping. We had a beautiful, sunny, mild day. As you can see by our squinting.

The older girls took very good care of Lucey as we walked around and enjoyed the pre-show activities. The girls met Mrs. Claus, made an ornament, shopped for delightful snow globes etc...

Here we are ready for the show to begin. We had fantastic seats. Center and only about 12 rows up from the Orchestra Pit.

We met the beautiful ballerinas after the show. We were served milk and cookies too.

Today, Andrew and Christian played in the hand bell choir for our church service. It was lovely. After church, the Chaplains invited everyone over to the Patriot Club for a buffet brunch/lunch. It was quite the spread. There was a special guest....

This Santa was amazing. He wore a lovely coat and had a pipe too. He was very sweet with Lucey. This is the first year Lucey has not been afraid.

The Troops...very full and very happy. Minus Adam....who Arrives Tonight!!!! The day we have all been waiting for! Our first born comes home tonight. We can hardly wait!

Play Me some Songs You're The Piano Men...

Moving means starting over with a new piano instructor (of course we start fresh with every service we need but let's not go there). We are blessed with Mr. K. He is the neighborhood teacher. He goes from house to house every afternoon on Mondays and Tuesdays. We have him on Tuesday right after school for an hour. He is straight forward, he is kind and he expects much. The boys and he really gel. I love that it's one activity that I don't have to drive the boys to.

The boys were very prepared for their December 4th recital. There were 21 students performing. What a treat to hear what everyone had been working on. I knew some of my neighbors and others I met for the first time. We enjoyed a nice reception afterwards.



Andrew's back :-) That's the best I could do. He played Vivace by Carulli.

Christian's song was a little longer and he needed Mr. K. to turn his page for him. He played Song of Kilimanjaro by Faber.

We sat in the front row and Lucey did well but she was tired....she looked like she could use a nap.


Mr K. with Andrew-left and Christian-right.

So had to stage a few photos....Andrew!

Christian!

Christian was being a little silly. They had a good time especially since there was a lot of food!

I love this picture! Just missing Adam! By the way....Adam comes home on December 18th... We are counting down the days. Not too much longer!

We had one stop to make on the way home and Lucey was happy to be snuggled up in her car seat.

Balls Galore!!

This year, we were invited to 4 + Balls....I think that is an all time record. Ron accepted invitations to two of them and they happened to fall within 6 days of one another.

The first Ball was the Post Commanders St. Barbara's Day Ball. I did a little more to prepare for this one. I was in need of a dress so I ordered 3 from two on-line stores. I modeled them for my family and they chose the Charcoal Taffeta, one shouldered gown. I was able to get it altered and picked up the evening of the Ball. That's cutting it close. Ron had been on a business trip to New York and I was juggling The Troops, solo. This time of year is so busy for everyone.



I love this picture taken by my friend and neighbor with her iPhone.

Our friends and Neighbors-- Tracy and Bill. On a side note: Our moving company and their moving company arrived on the same day this past summer and we found out we both were coming from Kansas and our boys knew each other from Boy Scouts. What a great way to start our tour here. Tracy and I spent the week sending texts to one another and running back and forth from her house to my house and back to give opinions on our dresses, accessories, hair...etc.... We had a good time.

The Grog Bowl Ceremony...it's fun and each ingredient has a specific meaning. It's a very strong concoction. I did not partake. ;-)

The Army Band and Bagpipe ensemble played all night. What a treat.

Our Twin Boys, A and C, volunteered with their Boy Scout Troop checking coats. I loved having them close by. They are getting so tall.

I love this picture of them with their Dad.

Six Days later, on Dec. 9th--We went to the 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Ball. Last week was another very busy week so I really didn't have time to think about what I was going to wear. Friday was a full day--I gave myself 20 minutes to throw on an old dress (thank goodness it I could get away without it being steamed) and re-freshen my make-up and off we went. We had a great time.

We met a new couple sitting to the left of us. They were kind to snap this shot of us.

Here we are in front of the same Christmas Tree where we stood just 6 days prior (At the Patriot Club). Another great event. Instead of dancing like we did the week before....we investing our time in meeting new people. We met an amazing couple who happens to live down the street. They are from the Canadian Army. They are special. Have a feeling we will be seeing more of them.

This is a touching; The Fallen Soldier Table.
A sad part of military etiquette -- honoring service members who have fallen in the line of duty. Remembering them honors their sacrifice and that of their families. It also underscores the importance of the commitment to duty made by the living.

Each article placed on the table has special, symbolic meaning. To name a few-- salt representing the tears shed;the lemon is a reminder of their bitter fate; one red rose symbolizing the blood that may have been shed for the sacrifice of freedom......the young Soldier was very reverent. His hand shook as he gently placed the item on the table. It is our reality. Also notice to the left....the PWO/MIA Flag.

Where Past Meets Present Part VI

May 21, 2011~ Adam's High School Graduation.

Our first born~ A huge mile stone....

"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
Ralph Waldo Emerson


Adam's graduating class.

Baccalaureate Mass

We are in the School gym waiting for the graduation ceremony to begin. Nana and Papa, Aunt Marianne and Uncle Paul, Aunt Jennifer and her sweet little guy, and my dear friend, shea!

Adam in the door way preparing to walk.

Adam plays trumpet in the band...they played for graduation.

Tossing their caps.

Our family. (It seems as if Andrew couldn't wait to untuck and roll-up...boys!)

I'm so proud of my Adam!

Adam with proud Dad!

The guys.

The Tucker Men.

Myself, along with several other mom's of graduating senior boys threw a collective graduation party. Each of the boys had a table dedicated to them. On display were pictures and things that represent what they have done and what they are going to do in their future. Adam's table displayed a few of his awards, Sports, Army things (since he is a reservist), The University of Hawaii where he will attend next year and his beloved Woody Doll from his childhood etc....

The food was excellent.

I made the flower arrangements....I wish I had some better pictures of them. The ladies and I went the evening before to decorate.

The Group....those Senior boys are such close friends. Many of them grew up together. A few of them are boarding students from other countries. Adam was the military kid....they embraced him in his junior year when we moved to Kansas. Adam's third High School. This is a special group.

A favorite saying...

Adam and his table.

Adam with his Nana and Papa.

Adam with his Aunt Marianne and Uncle Paul.

My Shea....my boys adore her. She is the kind of special friend who loves my kids almost as much as I do. My boys call her and text her from their cell phones. They love her and I'm so happy she came to be with us (from Alabama).

Sweet Lucey Lu.....

Present--

Lucey is in front of the office building where she does speech therapy. Miss Mary is her therapist. What a blessing she is. Miss Mary is amazing and in three sessions we see huge improvements. Mary is about 60 years old...lot's of experience. She adores Lucey and offered to sit for Lucey if we ever needed someone. Lucey has that affect on others. Such a ray of sunshine.

Army Ten-Miler

Each year tens of thousands of runners and spectators go to Washington, DC to join in this race classic. Produced by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, the Army Ten-Miler proceeds support Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation, a comprehensive network of support and leisure services designed to enhance the lives of soldiers and their families. The race starts and finishes at the Pentagon, passing by DC landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building.

This is where my sweet husband is today. He is a runner and has ran several marathons but today, he is there on business. His new job here at Ft. Sill is one of public relations for Air Defense Artillery ~putting it very simplistically. I'm sure he wishes he were wearing a number on his back! That's okay though, my poor guy has thrown out his back several times in the past several weeks. Resting it is a good thing!

Back to the Ten-Miler~ I'm in awe of all the money that has been raised. MWR~ Morale, Welfare and Recreation does a lot for the Soldier and military families.

MWR is committed to the well-being of the community of people who serve and stand ready to defend the nation, to enhance the lives of Soldiers, their families, civilian employees, and military retirees.” The mission is to serve the needs, interests and responsibilities of each individual in the Army community for as long as they are associated with the Army, no matter where they are.

MWR, through the Army Family Covenant, seeks to bridge the gap between the garrison and the local community, and contribute to the Army’s strength and readiness by offering services that reduce stress, build skills and self confidence for Soldiers and their families.

Our lifestyle is odd to most people. It's where The Lord put me over 20 years ago when I married my Soldier. I'm so very proud of him. I'm in awe and proud of Adam, our oldest, who has also made the same choice. MWR has been a huge benefit to us....the list is huge. But here is one example... before Ron deployed to Iraq in 2005, Steven Curtis Chapman performed for us. Through MWR...he came to our small Air Defense Battalion. He gave a lovely concert. There were only about 100 of us and he came. He spent time with us. He ministered to us. It was through his story that we had heard on Focus on the Family back in 2002 that we considered adoption as a possibility. God kept whispering in our ear. Then to meet Mr. Chapman in person.... an amazing experience. He is just a very nice guy with a huge heart!

My guys! Ron was on a business trip to South Carolina just 9 days ago and detoured over to Augusta, Ga to see Adam and take him to dinner. They had a great time even though it was a brief visit.

My Soldiers.