Something I found to answer questions:
BOOT CAMP VOCABULARYLearning to Speak "Navy"
If you're new to the military, or simply new to the Navy, be warned. You're going to have to learn a whole new vocabulary to communicate with your soon to be Sailor. Actually, Sailor is the first term you must learn. Although your Recruit is officially in the United States Navy from the swearing in ceremony, he or she is at first just that - a lowly Recruit. It's part of their name, now; when you get the address to boot camp, you'll see that you have to write "SR" (Seaman Recruit) as part of the name. Your Recruit also will wear a hat with "Recruit" emblazoned across the front. After battlestations, Recruits are officially known as Sailors. There is a capping ceremony, during which a new NAVY hat is given to the new Sailors. One more point of interest is that the word Sailor should always be capitalized.
PIR - Pass In Review - Boot Camp Graduation. ASMO - Assignment Memorandum - to be sent back in recruit training. RDC's frequently threaten their Division with being ASMO'd. Recruits do get ASMO'd for disciplinary or medical, or because a recruit has not passed a test.
Brother (or Sister) Divisions - Divisions sharing the same ship and PIR date. Ship - Barracks - There are currently nine ships that house Recruits:
Ship 5 - USS Theodore Roosevelt
Ship 6 - USS Constitution
Ship 7 - USS Chicago
Ship 9 - USS John F. Kennedy
Ship 10 - USS Enterprise
Ship 11 - USS Kearsarge
Ship 12 - USS Triton
Ship 13 - USS Marvin Shields
Ship 14 - USS Arizona
Division - A group of about 88 recruits that live, work, train, and (hopefully) will graduate together.
SIQ - Sick In Quarters - Really Recruits who are very sick or have extensive dental work are confined totheir rack.
Ricky Crud - The upper respiratory, headaches, stomach cramps, diarrhea, and nosebleeds that plague a very large number of those in Boot Camp.
Ricky Heaven - An areain the RTC NEX which has games, fast food, internet access and telephones. Toward the end of boot camp, divisions may be awarded time in Ricky Heaven.
NEX - The Navy Exchange - A department store for Navy personnel and their families. The NEX at RTC is small, and sells items the Recruits will need during boot camp, as well as Navy souvenirs.
PT - Physical Training
P-Days - Processing Days, also known as P-Week - P-Days occur when Recruits first arrives at boot camp. During P-Days, they are issued initial equipment, uniforms, and supplies. They are undergo medical and psychological tests, are interviewed, and are ultimately assigned to a division. When P-Week is over, Boot Camp officially begins.
IT - Intensive Training - Getting IT’d is a consequence for all sorts of infractions.
PI - Personal Inspections - An inspection of a recruit's personal appearance and uniform. A recruit can earn between one and five points for PI. Points are taken away for irregularities such as an off center belt.
PREPARE FOR BOOT CAMP!Want to learn how to get physically and mentally prepared for Boot Camp? Would you like to find out how to beat the mind games and get inside the minds of the instructors? Do you want to really be ready for recruit training? You need to read Prepare for Boot Camp! Prepare for Boot Camp is the ultimate guide to being ready for Boot Camp. Get your copy today!!
MORE BOOT CAMP VOCABULARYCaptain's Cup - A field day, during which the divisions compete against each other. It is usually held the Saturday before graduation.
Battle Stations - The final boot camp test. It is a twelve hour long simulation of battles, crises, and ship life. It's a make or break event, that takes place on a state of the art simulated ship called the USS Trayer. The ship actually sits in water, and sights, sounds smells, and motion provide very realistic simulation of various historical Naval crises that the Recruits must successfully overcome. If the Recruits pass, they graduate from boot camp, and are allowed to trade in their recruit cap for a Navy cap in a very moving ceremony. Read more about Battle Stations here.
Marlinspike - A life size, model ship where Recruits practice mooring, line handling, putting out to sea and other aspects of Basic Seamanship.
PFA - Physical Fitness Assessment - There are two assessments that a Recruit must pass in order to graduate. The second PFA takes place during the 6th week of training.
DMI - Departmental Material Inspection - An inspection of bed making, folding, and stowing of gear.
Watch - Standing Watch - Time spent guarding the ship (barracks).
Muster - Roll Call
LLD - Light Limited Duty - Given to recruits who are not up to par physically due to illness, injury or dental work.
SEPS - Separation - The barracks for those who are awaiting separation from the Navy.
THU - Temporary Holding Unit - The barracks for those who are finished with boot camp, but are waiting to be transferred to school or their duty station.
BS - Battlestations
BZ - Bravo Zulu - "Well Done"
CO - Commanding Officer
PO - Petty Officer
Rack - Bed
Head - Bathroom
Chit - Request for special permission - A sailor fills out a chit for such things as requesting leave, getting a tattoo, or moving off base.
BCG - Boot Camp Glasses (also known as Birth Control Glasses) - The singularly unattractive large, black rimmed glasses issued to Recruits.
RDC - Recruit Division Commander - The Navy's version of the 'drill sergeant'.
Peanut Butter Shot - A very painful shot given in the buttocks or thigh.
Great Mistakes - A slang term for Great Lakes Naval Training Center.
Rate and Rating - Two important terms that are often confused and misused. Read about them here.
R-POC - Recruit Chief Petty Officer - The Recruit in charge of the division when the RDC’s aren’t there. The R-POC also leads the division when marching. The Recruit who is R-POD at the end of boot camp will be promoted to an E-3, but there is usually a lot of turnover for the position. The RDC's wouldn't want anyone's head to swell.
A-ROC - Assignment Recruit Petty Officer - This Recruit is the second in command when the RDC's are not present.
Yeoman - Clerk or secretary - Yeomans take care of paperwork, and spend a lot of time in the office. There are three Boot Camp yeomen: Medical, Dental, and the "general" Yeoman.
Master At Arms - The MAA is the Recruit responsible for discipline in the division. He or she must make sure the division behaves and that the galley is properly cleaned. The Master At Arms is usually unpopular with the other Recruits, and but is punished for their mistakes. It requires great leadership
been 3 LONG weeks since we've said good-bye to Patrick. I had 1, 20 second phone call and that was it! Until last Thursday! i went to get the mail and when I opened the box, I literally squealed out loud! 4 letters were in there from our boy! I had the first one open before I got inside!!!! The first letter was written on his way from Memphis to Great Lakes. In it, he was saying how much he loved us and good-bye. One thing he wrote in that letter that was so special was: 
(Pat is the favorite right now! HAHAHA! OMG, I'm going to catch it for that! I'M KIDDING!). OH MY GOSH, I can only imagine what all the kids are going to say after reading this!.......
(BTW, I'm only allowed ONE comment per day about the NAVY/NAVY MOMS or PATRICK (by Katie)! hAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 
Look at that adorable little face! Isn't Powell precious? We kept him last night while C/R went to dinner at their neighbor's house. He was so good! He definitely loves to eat and DON'T make the mistake of trying to BURP him, tho! He flips out! He even ate cereal and BIG T had the honors of feeding him! What a doll baby he is!
I LOVE Natalie and Brad's new cabinets! 
They are gorgeous! They have finished getting them all in, I should say BRAD has! HAHA! Terry helped Brad put some in, too. They are soooo pretty-- I love the distressed look to them and I love the pulls she has chosen. SHe is MOST proud of her brand new (big!) PANTRY!!! It's sooooo nice! I love it!!! He had to move light switches, etc. around, so glad he knows what to do with plumbing/electricity too! He is saving them so much money by doing it himself. PLUS, it will be beautiful, just like THE QUEEN likes it! HAHAHA! Next they will begin working on the countertops, etc. It's an ongoing project , but it is fantastic! I'm so proud of Brad and the fact that he truly CAN , "DO ANYTHING!" Lucky Nat to have MR. HANDY MAN 
Here's a few random pix from my little camera before it DIED. Yes, my little Olympus camera (that Katie gave me for my last b'day!)is now not working! THAT MAKES ME SOOOO MAD!!!! I can't live without my 2 cameras!!! (my Canon's flash is also not working!).Katie said that it's because I WORK THE POOR CAMERAS TO DEATH! HAHA! So, now I'm on the lookout for another one---one to keep in my purse for those cute shots,( like these of Daisy "kissing" her mama)! I have to have a new pocket camera before heading to the beach next Friday, too! I don't really like to take my Canon on the beach too much--I think the humidity and sand just are the worst things for the lens... So, I am busy scouring the Sunday ads for the best deal on another little (Pocket )Camera. I think I just might have a funeral in the back yard for all my cameras that have died over the years! HAHAHAHA That would be lot of holes in the back yard! HAHAHA!
Hello! It's the RIVER RAT! Yes, we went to the Warrior River Sat-Sunday and had a great time! Bobby and Dianne Clelland invited us and it was so nice to go back and just have a day of cruising down the River and just enjoying the perfect weather! I have decided that I want THEIR River house!! It is awesome! It was built by Bobby's dad in the 1940's and it is just incredible. He has been going there all his life, literally! I can tell he loves it so much and it is just a part of him!!! I love it, too!! It is so COZY and has so many neat things. Of course, they have updated it some over the years, but basically it's the same place. I love looking at the old pictures on the walls and just thinking about all the fun they had there over the years....Bobby took us on a long boat ride and of course, PATPAT the bear went along! I am going to send Patrick pictures of the "adventures of PatPat"! HAHA!....Great week-end, just what Terry and I both needed! I hope we'll go back VERY soon!
2 weeks ago, they had a "Decorate your Door" contest at Playschool. Katie was DETERMINED to win! I thought it was the CUTEST idea (and NO, I had NOTHING to do with it!). She came up with "GOT MILK?!" as her theme and made baby bottles with the babie's pix on them with this BIG OLE COW on the door. It was ADORABLE! BUT, she lost to Megan's door! HAHA! (her's was cute, too--see pix). She is already thinking about her next door and is even MORE determined to win next time!! The big LAMB that Lily is standing next to was made by NATALIE. I think BOTH the girls are very CREATIVE>! ....(I had to put pix of another kid besides Patrick. The others were threatening MUTINY if I mentioned Patrick's leaving again! HAHAHAHAHA). Katie just adores her babies! Especially she loves DREW the little chubby baby boy she is holding in the pix! He is sooooo kissable and sweet!!!! ...On a gross note: Natalie has to get her toenail removed today (OUCH!) b/c she has a terrible ingrown toe nail she's been dealing with since Daisy was born. Hopefully, it won't be TOO bad--Brad is keeping the kids and I'm taking her to the doctor. All the kids but Katie have been plagued with ingrown toenails at some time or other! Poor things!!! Anyway, hopefully , she'll be fine in a day or so. She has to sing in the new Cahaba Heights UMC Contemp. service on Sunday afternoon! I'm excited! The worship leader there is GREAT and after we visited a couple of weeks ago they immediately contacted ole Nat to come sing with them! They meet at 4 on Sunday afternoons. AND the best part??? Natalie could WALK there if she wanted to it's so close to her house!!!! ....Pat's box of clothes came and it was bittersweet to go through all his clothes and stuff! (they send EVERYTHING back!).You could tell they were yelling at them to "hurry/hurry" b/c everything was just THROWN in there! HAHA! I found a slip in his pocket where he had he last meal, in Memphis, before going to Chicago. At least he got some peach cobbler as a last dessert! (the last pix are me opening the box. Sorry , other kids, had to post them. And NO, he is not the favorite, but he IS gone from his mammy!). Michael ate dinner with us Wed.night since Kadie/Lily are in Fla. with her mom , staying at her friend's place in Mexico Beach. He looked lostwithout his Lil! Of course, it's always fun to have Michael around for some comic relief!!! He ALWAYS makes me laugh! hahahaha
Here is Patrick checking his e-mails for the last time. our last night together was so sweet and we sat up and talked until around 1:30 A.M. We laughed and chatted, and , yes cried together. He said, "I didn't know it would be this hard to leave". I knew it would, of course! It's been 8 days now since our last good-bye. THankfully, I have family and friends who are always e -mailing me and asking about him and how I'm doing! Like I mentioned yesterday, I have met a friend in Fla. whose son is in the same division as Pat and is on the same schedule for graduating etc. so that helps tremendously to talk/e-mail to her!!! OH! His clothes came yesterday! Natalie called and said a box came and saw it was from the Navy. She has it ready for me to open this morning when I go keep Miss Daisy. When Daisy naps, I plan on going downstairs and packing up a few more of his clothes.He left a few things on his bed so I'm going to bring what's left back here. Like his pillow! .....I am much better, I guess you could say "life goes on". Having said that, not too many minutes pass that I don't wonder what he is doing/if it is too strenuous for his back/if he has any regrets (too late at this point!). I STILL wish he hadn't signed up for the Navy, but I'm proud of him. SO proud. I know this is something he wanted to do, so I am there to support him, even though I am missing our baby boy terribly! I'm so thankful all the others are in town and that I can call them whenever I wish. None takes the place of the other, but it helps having them around when I want to talk.Since Kadie/Lily are going to Mexico Beach today until Sunday, I have asked Michael over for dinner tonight and Friday. It will be nice having my comic relief nearby! He always can make me laugh!.....I have just a few more of Pat to add in the next few days and then I'll have to wait till I see him in 8 weeks to post some more!! (I'm SURE I'll have some of all the grands before that, tho! HAHA).I am also putting some in today's entry where Patrick took Kemp (and his friend!) to Oak Mtn the Sunday before he left. It was so sweet. He is such a great uncle!! Kemp LOVES his PatPat to take him to Oak Mtn. and always cries when it's time to go home. I think this time Pat might've cried, too.....
Beer and Pizza---some of Pat's favorite food for his "last supper"! We went through some pizza, that's for sure (probably beer, too, if I had to guess!).....Here's some pix of us and the precious little babies! Such a great night !
Pat's fun night with the family continues. And the memories I have from that night continue as well!......GREAT NEWS!!!!!!! I met a NAVY MOM online at the NAVYMOMS.Com and we started e-mailing. Her son arrived the same day Patrick did and we started chatting back and forth. Well, she got her son's address on Friday. I tried to, Katie called the recruiter but he didn't call back. Well, I went first thing this morning (before I even got Daisy!) and walked in the minute the doors to the recruiting office opened. I met his recruiter and got his address! HURRAH! I just mailed off a HUGE package of letters , just from Katie and me! (He may not reads t hem all until he gets out! HAHA! Anyway, this is just a God thing--he address has the same Ship number and division number as my friend's son! Isn't that amazing! I called Shari back and we both squealed with delight! Not only that, her son is going to be in Pensacola as well! Just that little bit of info like that makes me sooooo happy! I have a new friend in Largo, Fla and Pat has a new friend in Great Lakes, Illiinois!
GROUP HUG!!! That's what it was last Monday night! ONE BIG GROUP HUG ALL NIGHT LONG!!! Pat was the "man of the hour" and everyone had a chance at getting their pix with him!!! Charles and Rachel stayed for awhile before going to a Charity dinner so we all (all of us!) babysat baby Powell. That was fun, too!!! Anyway, it was a fun night of Pizza/hugs/laughter/babies/kids/siblings/Chiminea time/family time. I hope Pat took all those HUGS and MEMORIES with him during the difficult next 8 weeks. His first week of Boot Camp really starts, starting tomorrow. Here is a sample of what it will be like that I copied from one of the Navy websites:
Katie thought Patrick might need to practice getting up like they do in the Navy So, she got some pots and pans and decided she was going to bang them right over his head and WAKE UP her big bro! BUT, he didn't move!!!!!! WHY? Because she didn't have the heart to hit the pans She thought he needed ONE MORE MORNING of sleeping late! HAHAHAHAHA *(BTW, he slept through me leaving and bringing Daisy back here, too! HAHAHA)
I'm so excited! In Patrick's handbook (that I copied/scanned some things out of before he left, thank goodness!), I found some websites for Family Support. There is a great Navy website for families of sailors and one of them was JUST FOR MOMS of Navy recruits! WOW, I felt like I just stumbled onto a gold mine! I was sooooooooo excited and the MINUTE I signed up, I started getting questions like: "welcome!!!! where is your sailor? Tell us about yourself and your son", etc. It felt so good! What was even better, was that so many had signed up yesterday b/c lots are right where Pat is (maybe all of them?) in Chicago. It was so wonderful to read about other moms who feel EXACTLY like I do---they talk about SOBBING and feeling so sad, only feelings that other Navy Moms can understand. One of my favorites said that when her sons civilian clothes came ,(what he left in), she opened the package; burst into tears and just SMELLED her son on his clothes. GOSH, I can relate! I slept on Pat's pillow the first night and did the same thing! OH and get this! I was the 1001'th mom to join! I MISSED BEING # 1000 by ONE number!!!!!!! HAHA! (Katie said, "Would you have gotten anything?" haha). Katie and I sat outside yesterday and wrote Pat. Her letters are soooooooo cute , he will LOVE them. She is such a good writer, wrote about funny memories/telling him "day to day" stuff (American Idol, etc!).Mine were typical MOM ones, probably he will skim mine and go straight to the letters from his siblings!!! ...Natalie mentioned that yesterday morning she went downstairs to get online and was being very quiet b/c usually Pat was asleep after having worked late at Up the Creek and she said she tiptoed around and suddenly it hit her, HE WAS GONE. I think she had another melt down moment then, too. She said, "it's WAY TOO QUIET" around here. Kemp asked during his bedtime prayers, "when is patpat coming back? In a little while?" (Brad told me that last night). So sweet, God love that little fella, he just doesn't understand! I can't wait to let Kemp "write" his PatPat a letter........OH! And we got THE "big" phone call last night around 11:45 P.M. I SWEAR he only talked 15 seconds. It's supposed to be a 2 minute phone call, but it wasNOT. He just said he was there and o.k. I did manage to ask him if he could keep the addressed envelopes and stamps ( *Frances, he can! Thank you so much!). I was so glad he said he got to keep the stamps/stationary, that means at least we'll hear from him to get his address. Actually, his recruiter said if I hadn't gotten his address by Friday to call or come by and he would give it to me. I'm so glad his recruiter is just around the corner! (he might wish he wasn't!!!). Anyway, I feel much better now and this great website is just the balm I needed for my soul and such a great place to have other moms feeling JUST LIKE I DO. Some of these moms have 2 or 3 sons in the Navy! UNREAL!!!! And some, girls! (katie and Natalie have laughed for 2 days thinking about my girly girls going to BOOT CAMP! HAHA). Katie loves the Navy mom's site too (there are SISTERS on there, too!) and stayed up last night reading and she was telling me some of those she read and what all they said. It's quite fascinating. Also get lots of info from other moms about what it's like the first few days, etc. I'm just PUMPED about this great website! (can you tell?). ANyway, yes, I am feeling better. Still sad but feeling better. Today is a day all for myself---the first one since he left! I plan on visiting the NAVY MOMS website a lot and also get back to life---get into my scrapbook room and CREATE--that's a perfect outlet for me. I also am going to start walking, another great way to have time to pray and just be with nature and God , too. So, I'm slowly coming back from the dead. Thank you all that have called; left messages; text messages; E-MAILS; and cards! you are all so precious to me. Words can't explain. (Bobbie, what would I do without you?). Jack, my precious minister, has left me text messages and phone messages. So so sweet and I plan on calling him back today . I know the next 8-10 weeks will be intense and uncertain at times, but I also know it will go fast , too (for us, not Pat! HA). I am already marking the calendar till he finishes BOOT CAMP. Kind of like last year when the babies were coming, I wrote what week the girls were in , in their pregnancies, now I am writing weeks till I see Pat. Then, I'll be writing weeks till our WEDDING for Katie, which will be soooooooo exciting and happy time>! So, I am looking UP (towards the heavens) and THANKING GOD for all the good and joyful things He provides to me, even in my darkest times! 
Made it through one day, as hard as it was! Terry JUST CALLED and said that one of Pat's "new friends" somehow had a cell phone ( I'll bet that the phone will get definitely get confiscated before long!!! haha) and he let Pat call his dad and tell him that he was fixing to board the plane to Chicago and that he was "doing fine". He said he sounded just fine! WHEW , what a relief!!!!! There are 4 guys from Alabama and they are going up together. Don't know if they'll be in the same group (or is that called a "company"?) when he gets there but at least he has some new friends to hang with today! Of COURSE, I cried when Terry told me that but I'm so relieved to just hear that. Terry promised me that as soon as he gets to Pensacola we'll go down there and eat with him and see him. Thank goodness Terry has work going in at the base! He can get in places civilians can't! (a God thing). Anyway, I feel better even though I still am feeling so sad--_Terry was so sweet and said "Patrick is going to be FINE, I promise. We HAVE to trust God with him!" He's right of course, but it's still really hard......I'm going BACKWARDS with the pix, starting with him leaving yesterday and working backwards! These were made at the house while we were just CHILLIN' till he left. Kemp wanted PatPat to "draw Halloween" so that is why Patrick is drawing a witch and a skeleton! HAHA!..... PLEASE PLEASE continue to kee Pat in your prayers as his JOURNEY BEGINS TODAY!
THere's really not a lot I can say today!
We had a FANTASTIC time last night with all the family ,eating pizza; laughing; playing with the babies; Kemp/Lily! It was surreal but yet, I knew that LAST NIGHT was the last time we'd be having us all together like that for awhile. I tried to NOT think about today last night but it was hard. These pix were made when I first got there, thanks to Brad! We got LOTS of pix! Believe me!!!! We had a WONDERFUL time last night. Just as I prayed it would be. After his "family party" he went by to say good-bye to friends. It was MUCH harder than he thought it would be! When he walked in last night, one look on his face showed me that it was REAL. He was leaving! tears were on his cheeks and he ran to me like he did when he was Kemp's age for a cuddle. So, that's what we did! Only he comforted me as much as I comforted him. For a long time. I said everything I wanted to say to him and vice versa. I guess God just gave the two of us, mom and son, that time to cry together and say everything to each other we wanted to say. I expressed my pride in him and how I loved him and many other things that is between us. Just lots of things. How can I express my pride in what he's doing coupled with my anguish? it's a paradox. But, part of being a mom, I guess. Our baby boy, our Patrick, going off to serve our country and fixing to have to go through strenous boot camp and be away from family for over 8 weeks
. It's a toughie. But we'll get through it. I will post pictures later. For now, I'm waiting for him to get back and for Natalie and the little ones to come over. He was up at 6 and left immediately to go get his final stuff at WalMart (which isn't much!!!) and to take the rest of his papers, etc. to Terry's office. Then they can also have "father/son" time, too, by themselves. I know Terry Fry, he's just like me, cries VERY easily. His eyes were red this morning, too, and we both just tried NOT to think about 11:00!!! THANK GOD that Charles was on the radio this morning! HOW IRONIC!!!! My oldest son, I was so proud of, on the radio (he was GREAT! HILARIOUS!) that it was if God was giving me that to remind me that I have 4 other children (thank GOD, again!) who will be here for me to support me and make me proud/happy! Of course, I need to hear from my MICHAEL today, who is always there to make me giggle. (Forget Katie and Natalie, they are worse than I am! HAHA)! I'm just so THANKFUL for a big family, not that Patrick going doesn't TOTALLY break my heart, but I'm so glad I have the others to occupy my thoughts and mind and support me. And they all do. For now? As Frances told me , "It's o.k. to cry! " SO, I am. Today is my CRY DAY. forgive me if I don't answer phone calls or be "Little miss sunshine" for, at least a day. Or , who knows? Maybe the SUN will come out this afternoon--
--!Pictures (GAZILLION of them, will be coming in the next weeks!). I plan to make some pix this morning, if I can do it. I need one of Pat and his dad, that's for sure. We got everyone else's pix last night but Terry was later getting there so I HAVE to get some of them this morning.Well, that's it. I'm just waiting for my baby boy to come home , the last time for awhile, and then we're off to the Recruiter's office. Thank goodness it is JUST DOWN THE STREET next to WalMart! (they JUST moved). He has to report at 1100 hour! Pray for us as we say good-bye! ...
Yesterday, after church, Pat came over. We had just had lunch and he walked in with this big BUILD-A-BEAR box. Natalie and the kids were here (Brad was busy putting in cabinets at home and she wanted to get the kids out of the way! HAHA), too, so I thought he had gotten a bear for Kemp. He walked past Kemp to me and said, "This is for YOU, mama!" I was excited (I know what comes in those cute boxes!!!) and when I opened the box and looked inside, I almost flipped! 
You probably have already guessed! It was a SAILOR BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Patrick (with a little help from his little sis), went and bought me a BUILD-A-BEAR! (Katie was with him, but she said he picked out the exact one he wanted!). 
as well as a RECORDING! Of Pat's
VOICE! PAT-PAT (the bear's name!) says,
Now for all you who know me well, I'm sure you are thinking, "the poor girl went into complete hysterics!" NOT SO! I was sooooooo excited and HAPPY that I just kept squealing and giggling!!!!!!!
I can't think of a more touching and precious gift!!!!!!!!
with me!!! Like the phone commercial where the little girl puts her bear into her traveling daddy's briefcase? Well, look out! PAT PAT the bear will be going everywhere 
chatting. WHen he finally said, "I'm tired, I think I'll go to bed" I didn't want him to!!!!!!!! 
My SPECIAL gift that I will sleep with; travel with! I am reverting to my childhood and attached to my new BEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Meg! What can I say? She's MISS SUNSHINE 
all wrapped into one! SHe's one SASSY GIRL! We are so excited that MEG aka" Sassy girl", is going to be in the wedding! Katie asked her and "she said YES"! haha! I love being around Meg, too! She 's so much FUN! katie gets to work with her and that makes the day go by much faster, I know! They have gotten to be such good friends and it was no surprise when Katie told me she wanted Meg to be in her wedding, too. She wanted to surprise her
and I think she did! Katie found an adorable bag that says "Bridesmaid" on it and when Meg opened it, she said "how cute!" Katie said, "READ WHAT IT SAYS!" She turned it over and saw the words and she was sooooo funny, she shrieked with joy! Here's the pix from that night and also some from last night when they went to dinner and to a birthday party for a friend at work (Jon was even invited! HAHA)! ...MEG, we're so glad you are going to be a part of the BIG DAY and I'm so glad Katie has such a great friend like you to hang around with ! There is always so much laughter 
32 years ago, my mama ( aka : Mimi) smocked this precious little blue dress for Natalie. I loved it on Natalie~! She had sooooooo many pink dresses, that Mimi said she wanted Natalie to have a blue dress to show off her big blue eyes. I remember the first time Natalie wore it and how excited I was. I even told Mimi then, "I'll keep this for Natalie's daughter one day!" . I sure did! I put the dress up until 1985 and then Katie got to wear it, too! it loked beautiful on both baby girls! Once again, it was washed and put away for another 22 years! the day Natalie found out she was having a baby girl, I went and found the dress and washed it and ironed it. It looked just as pretty then as now! I didn't think she could wear it yet but, SUPRISE! It already fits! (back "in the old days" little girls wore dresses much shorter!). Anyway, when I picked up Daisy at Riverchase yesterday morning, imagine my happiness and surprise! There was Miss Daisy, looking so much like her mama did in the same dress 32 years ago!!!!!! How beautiful she looked! Just like Natalie, Daisy looks gorgeous in blue. The dress is smocked in pink and of COURSE, Natalie had Daisy's little toes painted to match the pink smocking in the dress! I took Daisy outside (before the storms arrived!) and the minute I walked out, my neighbor walked over and "oohed and ahhed" over her! (of COURSE! haha). it was windy (the storms were on the way!) and the wind and bright glare took Daisy's breath away! You can see that in the photos! ...once again, my flash is messed up on my camera! SAME problem as last year! Only THIS year it's not under warranty! So, I just might get me an external flash to use instead. ANYWAY, I took her outside to make the pix b/c of that. Actually, I LOVE nature's light better than flash light anyway!....Well, it's count down time (again) and Pat only has a SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME left with us! I slept fitfully last night , in part b/c I drank MILOS tea before going to bed (dumb!) and partly b/c I am so anxious about Patrick. I am praying that things will go smoothly (like the morning he leaves!), with a minimal amount of hysterics! HAHA!.....