Marine Corps Commandant Band and Silent Drill Team

On March 14, the kids and I were able to go to the Commandant Band and Silent Drill team for the Marine Corps!  This was the 4th time that the kids and I had seen it in person, and I think it is great every time.  There is so much work and practice that goes into the whole show. 

 



 We had something cool happen this year...the band started walking straight at us.  The kids loved it with them so close and so loud.  For the most part the band has always been out in the distance, but not this time!!

The Silent Drill Team! 

I love the kids to have the opportunities to do these things that feel so patriotic and apart of the USMC community! Respect, pride, and love for our country is one of the things I want them to have!  That and the fact that, though, we do not wear an uniform like their Daddy we help make it possible for him to do the things his country calls him to do! 

This group above really loves and misses their Daddy and (her) Hubby!

Charlemagne Puppet Show

In history, we were learning about Charlemagne and decided to make it a little more fun we would turn the people and what we learned about into a puppet show.

The kids read books form the library, made scenery backgrounds, puppets, and came up with their own script.  It was fun and hopefully educational!!

Logan's legs can be seen through the window hole, he was Dilon's assistant.

Quick Visit from Dad

A few weekends ago Matt surprised us with a visit because he did not have any training.  The reason he did not have training was because Matt was trying to join my broken foot club.  Side note, two months ago I feel down our steps holding Logan and broke my foot.  Matt has a stress fracture.  We didn't do much, just enjoyed having Matt in the house.  The kids and I miss him so much and loved his surprise!  My dishwasher even decided to spring a leak and spill water all over the kitchen floor while he was at home and I have to admit I loved the feeling of yelling up the stairs, "Matthew!!!"  I have had two other leaks...washing machine and bathroom upstairs while he has been gone, so it was nice to have one that he could help me fix.

Hugs and kisses before he goes.  Logan was inside, he does not like good-byes and wanted to just watch his movie.  Dad slipped a squeeze and a see you later.

I also took a picture of our matching boots for our matching broken left feet!

Little cliche remarks came to mind like:

• matching pair
• match made in heaven
• two of a kind
• two peas in a pod

Beirut and Vietnam Veterans Memorial

In Jacksonville, NC, where it is said there is not much to do (if you don't want to go shopping or eating), I found coming back from getting my handicap parking pass, the Beirut and Vietnam Memorial.  So, I decided to take the kids one afternoon and explore!

It was a great memorial!  We started with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

It was a little sunny, but they were quick to want to take a picture in front of the USMC emblem!

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Little break in the shade.

The next thing we saw, I didn't expect and didn't realize that is was there.  It is a beam from the World Trade Towers, and now as I think about it, it took me back to see this 8 foot section of a beam that came from those towers.  It hit me how much that beam reminded me of...the people in the towers, those that went in to help, and the military actions that were set in motion that day.  I stood there for a moment as I marveled at how much emotion an 8 foot metal beam could invoke!  It stands as a good reminder to us all!

There was also a Beirut Memorial.  I was not as familiar with what happened in Beirut, but learned a little that day.