Veterans Day & More

Payton's school had a Veteran's Day ceremony last Friday. I thought it was really nice for the school to do a big assembly and recognize all of the family members in attendance who were Veterans. I don't think Payton fully grasps  Payton doesn't have a clue about the sacrifice that comes along with having a family member in active service.

We have new neighbors that have 2 little boys around Payton's age and the father is serving in Afghanistan. The mom is hoping he can come home around Christmas, but he hasn't seen the boys in over 6 months. Payton could not understand why their father was never around. He just can't wrap his brain around the concept of someone from our country going far, far away to defend us and help others.

But I am trying to do my part to explain this to him and help him gain an understanding - and more importantly - a respect, for our Veterans and active-duty service men & women. I am always in awe of my girlfriends whose husbands get deployed for months - even years - at a time and they are left raising their children as a single parent.
It blows my mind.
And makes me feel so grateful.
Thank you.
To all of our Veterans and active duty military...
Thank you for all that you & your family do for us.

So, this is what Payton wore to the assembly on Friday at school. His Cub Scout leader told him that it was a sign of respect to wear their uniforms. So he did. And he got to participate in the flag ceremony.

I think he's starting to get an idea of what it means to have pride in our country.

The rest of our weekend was pretty low-key. Friday afternoon the boys just played at home.

(Parker trying to be one of the "big kids")

On Saturday morning, we had our pictures taken for our Christmas card, and then went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Since it was chilly out, they had the fireplace going. I asked if we could sit nearby and they placed us at the table right in front of it.

Parker spent the ENTIRE meal saying, "Oooo! Hot!" And trying to blow on the fire like it was a candle that he could blow out. He was so worried about the fireplace, that he wouldn't even eat his breakfast! Note to self: Next time, wave "hello" to the fireplace on your way to table far off in another corner of the restaurant.

Of course a candy stick and rocking chairs afterward made everything right with the world again!

Saturday afternoon was Payton's last baseball practice of the season. After a little bit of practicing, the coach surprised the kids with a full-family participation kickball game. The kids had a BALL (although I think the Dads had the most fun!).

 Then, on the way home from practice, Parker was getting fussy, so I asked Payton to read to him. Parker was silent the entire rest of the ride home. He loves it when Payton reads to him!

Yesterday, Payton had the day off school, so we headed to Busch Gardens with our neighbors and their cousins. The weather was perfect, the lines were short, and the boys had a great time. Parker is at such a great age right now for Busch Gardens. Even though he can't ride a lot of the rides, he is so enamored with the animals. 

We rode the train around the park and saw all of the safari animals.

 We would sit and have snacks or "people watch" while the big kids rode rides.

Then we hit the Sesame Street area, which is like a huge playground for someone Parker's age!

We watched the Sesame Musical show:

And the characters would walk up and down the aisles. 

You can see Elmo behind him here. He really wanted to hug Elmo!

Then Elmo came back and made his wish come true!

He was SO happy!!!

Then we went to the water area and hung out there for a long time.

Payton ran into a friend from school while we were there so they rode the "Air Grover" rollercoaster together a couple times and then we headed out.

Parker looked like this about 5 minutes after getting in the car...

That's the sign of a good trip to Busch Gardens!

Tonight is our end-of-the season baseball party. More on that tomorrow...

A Thank You Letter - Memorial Day

Tomorrow is Memorial Day.

We will celebrate like so many other millions of Americans with family, food, and fun. 
We will hug our loved ones who have traveled hundreds of miles to be here, and we will wear red, white & blue to show our outward American pride.
We will probably watch bits and pieces of an old black & white war movie... and probably some good ol' American baseball.
Heck, we may even eat some apple pie.

But inside, I feel a little sad about Memorial Day. 
Sure, I'll have fun tomorrow watching all the cousins play together, and I will enjoy lots of laughs and good times. But I have a feeling, in the back of my mind, there will be a resounding sadness.

I think about the husband who will do all of the "motherly duties" tonight of tucking the kids into bed and running that last load of laundry because Mommy is deployed on naval ship for the next year. And how he will tell those kids once again, "Mommy loves you so much, and she misses you."

I think about the little 7-year old boy who won't have his Daddy around tomorrow to throw a football with, because he sacrificed his life for our freedom.

I think about all the wives who will spend tomorrow at the grave sites of their husbands who were lost at war. Carefully, and lovingly placing flowers and notes on the headstones. Drying tears from their eyes as they long to be able to just have one more hug... one more kiss.

I think about a dear friend whose husband is gone for several months and missing yet another pregnancy of hers because he is serving our country in the military medical field.

I think about my own father-in-law who lives in constant pain and has had a myriad of medical treatments to help relieve some of the ailments that he still endures from serving his country decades ago.

We so quickly take for granted the fact that we live in a country where we have all of these freedoms. The freedom to vote (or not to vote), to worship whatever religion/God/or non-God you want. The freedom to voice our opinions openly and freely in every medium imaginable. The freedom to wear shorts and t-shirts and flip-flops instead of having to have everything on our bodies covered except our eyes.

We have all of these freedoms and yet... how often do we say "Thank You" to a Veteran? How often do we take a moment to shake the hand of the man behind us in the Walmart line who is wearing a "Vietnam Veteran" ball cap? How often do we just close our eyes and pray for the soldiers who are away from their families and the comforts of home to keep OUR country out of harm's way?

I want to take a moment to just say "Thank You." To all of the men and women who fight for our county. Who are deployed on medical missions, fighting on the front lines, and serving in secretive bunkers. You are self-less individuals who absolutely amaze me. Thank you for all that you have done; all that you are doing; and all that you will continue to do.

I can sleep soundly tonight knowing that our country is safe, and that is due to you. So, thank you.

I wish a happy and safe Memorial Day to you all!