Visiting the Ship

We dropped Paul off this morning and later he said we could meet him at work to spend a few hours together. The later that night turned into 8:30 at night but we still spend a little time with him on the ship.

The USS Ronald Reagan is HOME

The Reagan pulled in this morning. Paul had informed me earlier that he would not be able to get off the ship today because he had duty. However he emailed me this morning saying that he might be able to get off the ship to have dinner with us. I'm pretty excited about this because I'm thinking that he will try to surprise us by saying it's for dinner but then say he can come home. He said he would call once he was off watch around one thirty or so. He call me at two o'clock the say that he would talk with the boss and see if he could get off for a few hours. He called me back in about fifteen minutes saying we could pick him up at five. So we put up some decorations in case he was really coming home tonight and I told Maddie that we could go for a ride and see the ship. We got in the truck and started driving and I was feeling a little nervous, my hands were sweating. I was thinking if he would already be out waiting for us and I was wondering how I would feel once I seen him. As we drove into the parking lot Maddie was like, "I'm glad we get to see the ship, too bad we couldn't see Daddy." At that moment I seen where Paul was standing. Madison didn't see him so I rolled down the windows as I was about to him and said to Madison "Maybe we should ask this guy if he knows your dad." Then she looked out the window and seen him, "Ohhhh.....It's dadddyyyyy!" I quickly grabbed my camera and took a pic of their first kiss. Then I handed Madison the camera to take a couple pictures of Mommy and Daddy. Few some kisses and hugs Paul gave us some gifts that he got while he was gone and then we when to fine some a place to eat dinner. We ended up eating at a dinner in Coronado. After dinner we headed back to the ship to drop Paul back off because he really had to stay and work. I was so pissed! Really....... I know I should have been happy to get to see him that night but he had to go into the ship a day and a half before all the other guys that were working that day. So we didn't get to spend the last day they were home together and now he couldn't come home the first day we was back. I felt like I was being gipped. I thought we should spend more time together that night so I decided we should watch a movie in the back of the truck. I climbed in back of the truck and started folding down the seats, checked to make sure we had a movie in the truck. The only movie that we had was the movie in the player, Racing Stripes. We got some snacks from the vending machines before we started the movie. We finished the movie and we head home.

Three Year Anniversary to the Chief!

Congrats, Honey you have been a CHIEF for three years! Also congratulation to all the new CPOs. Traditionally the Chief pinning cermony is held on September 16th. Since today is September 16th, I was thinking back on our journey to chief. I mean Paul's journy to chief, but honestly it was a family affair. I didn't do anything to increase the odds of him making chief but I was along for the ride. Since today is the day they celebrate the pinning I wanted to share something that I thought you might find interesting.

The anchor is the emblem of the rate of a Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy. Attached to the anchor is a length of chain and the letters "U.S.N." These identify a Chief Petty Officer of the United States Navy. To a Chief, the letters and the anchor have a noble and glorious meaning.

* The "U" stands for Unity, which reminds us of cooperation, maintaining harmony and continuity of purpose and action.

*The "S" stands for Service, which reminds us of service to our God, our fellow mand and out Navy.

*The "N" stands for Navigation, which reminds us to keep ourselves on a true course so that we may walk upright before God and man, and in our transactions with all mankind, but more importantly, with our fellow Chiefs.

*The "Chain" is symbolic of flexibility, and it reminds us of the chain of life that we forge day by day, link by link. May it continually be forged with honor, courage, morality and virture.

*The "Anchor" is emblematic of the hope and glory, or of the fulfillment of God's promises to our souls. It is the golden and precious anchor, by which we must keep steadfast in the faith and encouraged to abide in our proper station amidst the storm of temptation, affliction, and persecution. (Taken from Lifelines)

Memories from the pinning ceremony:

I love you!

Half Way to Homecoming!

I decided to have a party to celebrate the half way point in the deployment yesterday. It was fun and messy. So here we all are celebrating the half way point and hoping the second half flies by. I MISS YOU HONEY!

Charleston

Charleston
Originally uploaded by saolmsted2007

Good Morning! We have been talking a lot about moving to Charleston, S.C. in a few years when we get transfered. We still have just over two years here in San Diego then we will be moving somewhere else. Hopefully, Charleston! I really think that I would love living there. I know that we will have to see if there are any job openings when we are up for transfer and according to Paul, there should be openings. There are two different places he could get a position prototype or teaching at a school. Only time will tell be I still look forward to the possiblity of moving here. It's so beautiful.

The picture above is actually a bunch of pictures I like off from flickr.com Click on the picture and it will bring you to flickr and you can see who took each picture. All of the picture are awesome.

A Thousand Thanks for All you Do!

A salute to America's military children. A couple from church send me information to request a letter be sent to your child thanking them for their parents role in the military and also thanking the child as well, signed with a cartoon character. I send out the request and didn't know what to except. We received the letter today and Madison was so excited to receive mail from Scooby Doo and the Gang. She wants to write Scooby back and tell him about her dad and her life. How cute.

Navy Bride

Madison was playing in her room and I was working on the computer, she came out dressed like this. I said "oh you look so cute let me take your picture." She was happy to get it taken....just about the time I went to hit the button she said wait, "I have to do that thing daddy does...." It is cute went she picks up on the things she sees her dad do.

USS Ronald Reagan

Daddy's Job

Madison and I got a tour of Paul's ship today. A tour of part of the ship anyways. We got to see daddy's office, the door to his plant, were he sleeps and eats. I am glad that we got a chance to see what and where he goes everyday. The thing I liked best about the ship was in the coffee cups in the Chief. There was a coffee cup for each Chief on the ship hanging in on the wall, I just thought it was cool. I was going to take a picture of Paul's cup hanging on the wall BUT of course his was in the plant. Maybe I will see if he can get one for me later.
This is Paul's locker/closet. It was actually much large than I thought it would be.



Madison sitting on daddy's bunk. Had to be the top one of course.


Madison sitting in the galley with Daddy. I love the chair covers.

Cute.


Daddy and Maddie.


Mom and Maddie.

Me and Paul

USS Midway

We when to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego. The USS Midway is a 1940s carrier that is now a museum that is open to the public. We wanted to bring Madison on the ship so she could get any idea of what daddy's ship was like, also so I could see what it was like for Paul. He says sometimes he thinks, I think he is on a cruise ship. The ship was neat, I could easily get lost on that thing. Of course we could not look at the whole ship but you get to go on the different levels. In Virginia we went on the USS Wisconsin and you could only go on the main deck. I really liked seeing where the different ranks eat and sleep. I am so glad that I don't have to sleep in a berthing (room with racks) or in the small bunk. The worst part about the ship is the smell, it stinks! I guess it smells like a garage, with all the grease, gas, and sweat. I'm not sure if that is accurate or not but I know it stinks.

While we were waiting for the ship to open up we walked down the pier. Across the bay from the pier we were on was the USS Ronald Reagan (Paul's ship). So here in a picture of Maddie and Daddy sitting on the pier with the Reagan in the background.

The racks in one of the berthings, looks like it would be fun to sleep in ugh?

We got throw in the brig!

Madison training to be a pilot.

Madison and Daddy are going to move the plane on the flight deck.