A silly picture of Joe and I. I love him anyway.. 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 7:42 PM  |  comments: (4)

I wanted to share something with you. As you all know, my husband recently returned from Iraq. There's only a small about of good you see on the news from over there, and I wanted to share something that I think is a very good view of what our men and women are doing over there. It is part of a letter written by my husband's CO to the families of the squadron. It was from the 6th of March. Joe didn't come home until April 1st. They were over there from Aug. to April. But I think it leaves an affect on you.

It was not until the end of February that we could change gears. Overnight we went from fighting the war, to preparing for our departure. Our Harrier Marines departed for Yuma, we sent numerous Marines fome as advance party or to follow-on schools. A convoy of equipment and personnel rolled south toward Kuwait, as the reminder of the squadron scrubbed layers of Iraqi sand from the helicopters and boxed up the last of our equipment. Finally, on the morning of Feb. 28th, with the aircraft loaded and our tents swept clean, we said fairwell and began the long flight south. As we flew over towns and villages, men and women waved enthusiastically with smiles on their faces. Children jumped up and down excitedly as we passed overhead. If there was any doubt whether we made a difference for these people, it could be put to rest. Iraq had become a different place from when we first arrived. We encountered much less resistance, and people who once opposed us, began to embrace us. We helped to plant a seed of hope and optimism in the Iraqi people, and for now our job is done. We returned to the USS Essex, and were recieved with open arms. It was a warm reunion to a ship that, after a year and a half of deployments, had become our home. Now we embark on the long trip toward Okinawa, excited to be one step closer to our loved-ones, and happy to have the war behind us. Someday people will as us whether we served in the war that freed a nation and restored hope to millions of people, and we'll reply with,"...Yes, I was there. I was a United States Marine."


posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 7:05 PM  |  comments: (1)

Since my life isn't that interesting at the time, I'll just show more pictures. This is Tristan's sound affect block. He would make all different kinds of noises with it in his mouth. 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 11:40 PM  |  comments: (2)

Anyone want to help pay postage? 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 11:18 PM  |  comments: (1)

Throw some cookies and some blankets in there....he'll be fine... 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 11:17 PM  |  comments: (0)

Wrap him up and send him off.... 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 11:15 PM  |  comments: (0)

I don't know if everyone knows or not, but Joe and I probably won't be able to go back to the states on leave. First of all we can't afford it. We looked into tickets to come and just to get to a coastal state would have been around $4000. On top of that, Joe doesn't have enough leave time to go, plus he has to go to swim qual. some point in time. Nothing is permanent though. But as far as we see, we can't make it. We are looking into something else though. We thought we should take advantage of being in this part of the world. Not to mention it's a hell of alot cheaper to fly around here than it is to go back to the states. We saw there was a package deal at a travel agency here we might try. It's $900 per adult for plane tickets, 6days-5nights hotel,breakfasts,transfers, and city tour for Singapore. My one way plane ticket to Okinawa cost more than that. And I had to buy a Japanese bus ticket on top of the plane ticket to come out here. Joe says it's really nice in Singapore and very clean. He says there is a really nice zoo and lots of things to do. I think it's a real good deal. Like I said though, nothing is permanent.
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 11:05 PM  |  comments: (2)

Sorry for all the pictures at once. I didn't get really good ones when Joe got home, but I tried. I have quite a few I want to put up now, but I better space them out a bit. Joe is on leave for a couple of weeks and we plan on taking Tristan to the zoo and a place called Ocean Expo Park. It's supposed to be one of the best aquariums in the world. Joe says you can ride sea turtles there and is determined to have Tristan ride one if I say so or not. I will take pictures of that. We are also going to get family pictures done since the only real pictures of Joe and I together are from our wedding.(which was almost 2 years ago, can you believe that?) Joe bought me a new bathing suit too so we plan on going to the beach when it's not raining. Summer time here is beautiful. I'm just mainly glad to have Joe home and know he is okay. They might be going back next year so this summer will be a good one to have before heading back to the sandbox. He was glad to go, but happy to be back.
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 10:48 PM  |  comments: (0)

You might not see this one very well. I was waiting for Joe still and saw this man hold his brand new baby for his first time. Not a dry eye in the hangar at that moment.  
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 10:46 PM  |  comments: (0)

Joe and Tristan when he got off the helicopter. Tristan wasn't too sure of him yet. 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 10:44 PM  |  comments: (1)

Joe's squadron flying in. It was so exciting to see them fly in. Tristan was scared of the helicopters though. 
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 10:42 PM  |  comments: (1)

Joe is finally HHOOOOMMMMMEEE! He got here in the morning on the 1st. I got a phone call from one of the wives the night before saying that they were coming in in the morning instead of the afternoon and to be at the hangar at 8:ooam. Well, I was anxious and got there at 7:30am. Joe had told me a few days before that he was on the first wave of helos. He wasn't. He was the last. It was still great to watch. All the guys were in desert gear and seemed suprised by all of us. They roped off the flightline right in front of the hanger and passed out ear plugs. The III MEF band was there and played for them as they marched into the hangar. Everyone stood and clapped and cheered for all the guys, even if their husbands weren't in the group. It was great. I got a picture of a woman handing over a brand new baby to her husband. No eye was dry when that happend. The news crews weren't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but they took alot of pictures of Tristan. It was only local crews like AFN and Stars and Stripes. I haven't got the film developed yet. Tristan wasn't too sure of Joe, but now he's coming around. I think he's a little confused. He still points to pictures of Joe and says Dada, but hasn't caught on to the man who looks like the pictures. Anyway, when I get the film developed I will put it on here as soon as I can.
posted by: Michelle  |  date & time: 7:26 PM  |  comments: (3)