Basic Training Graduation

Caleb's Graduation

Once again I'm very behind on my blog, I so want to do better. So I'm going to try and play catch up, so read fast. 

Our first little family vacation with Kerby and Kerlandy was a trip to Ft. Jackson, S.C., for Caleb's Basic Training Graduation from the US Army in June 2012. We all loaded up the SUV and headed to South Carolina. Sasha (our oldest daughter) was able to get off work to go with us, we were all so excited!!! My parents and two sisters were all coming too. 

After we found out hotel, with a nice pool the kids all enjoyed we went to find the base because early the next morning was family day and we were going to get to see Caleb, who we have not seen in like 10 weeks. We were all excited.

We all got up early that morning and headed to the base for family day. We had a great time visiting with Caleb, we went bowling, got to eat together and got some Army shirts. My parents and sisters came in the afternoon and we all went to play miniature golf (IT WAS HOT). It was hard leaving that day, but we knew we would see him the next morning at Graduation all dressed up in his nice clothes. That evening at the hotel the kids got to swim with my nieces and had a great time.

Early the next morning the hotel was buzzing, I think everyone there was attending the graduation, everyone was so excited.  We arrived early to get a good seat where we could see everything. They started the service with the Army band, we loved it.  Then they started marching in we all was looking so hard for Caleb, then we finally spotted him. He was in the back row of his company because he is so tall, but we could see our hansom son, in his dress blues.  After the graduation ceremony we all went to take pictures and I wanted one with one of his Drill Sergeants, we seen them both and as Caleb stood between them one said for Caleb to "DROP". He made him do a push up while I took pictures.. It was GREAT.. LOL . After all the photo ops we went to see his barracks and we loaded his belongings. He got to come home with us that day so we could take him to Ft. Leonardwood, Mo., for his AIT. He got to stay home for 1 night and the next day we had a big cookout for all of our family and then headed to AIT.

Only Jonathan and I took him because we knew we it would be go there and back the same day trip. a LONG LONG 14 hour round trip.  We left our baby for the US ARMY to mold him and educate him to help defend our country.