We got back from San Diego, California last weekend after seeing our son, Alex, graduate from marine boot camp.   It was quite a week.  We flew out there Monday morning September 15^th and we took Miranda and our oldest daughter.  It was baby’s first airplane ride and she loved it   We had a few problems once we arrived in sunny San Diego though…  First we had to pay an extra unexpected deposit on our rental car, then we got to the hotel to find our room reservations had gotten messed up..  We finally got into our room but ended up having to change hotels after the first night due to a reservation mix up.  The new hotel was in downtown San Diego and talk about a nightmare trying to get around! 

                We were able to do some sightseeing.  Mainly we went to the Ocean and then just did some driving around to see the sights.  Thursday was Family day on the Recruit Depot. We were there shortly after 5am and we saw Alex getting ready to do his morning run with his platoon.  We walked around until it was time to listen to one of the Drill Instructors tell us about the rules for the day.  After that we were able to sit in the stands and wait for the platoons to be brought out for our official first look at our new Marines     We were able to visit Alex for 5 hours after he was released from formation for on base liberty.  He looked so good!  It had been 3 months since we had last seen him.  There were lots of happy tears and hugs.  We walked around the base and looked at everything and just enjoyed spending time with him.  When his leave ended we went back to the hotel and relaxed for the night.  Friday morning we were back on the Depot bright and early to get a good spot for graduation.   Graduation ceremony ended about 1pm and Alex had all his gear ready and we left the depot.  After a wonderful walk thru Old Town we had a nice dinner at one of the outdoor cafés and then it was back to the room to pack up for our flight home Saturday morning.

My first hug after 3 months!

Me (my sunburned face) and Alex & baby

Alex marching with his platoon

Waiting to be dismissed after graduation

Alex & baby having dinner at the Cafe Coyote

A tired baby asleep on the plane ride home

                Saturday morning we dropped the rental car off and was shuttled to the airport. By 10pm we were home at last..  Sunday all the kids came over for a welcome home party.  Alex has 10 days of leave which are up tomorrow.  He was lucky and got Recruiters Assistance which means he can stay home for an extra 14 days but must report to the Recruiter every day and help him out.  Once his 14 days are up Alex has to go back to California, this time to Camp Pendleton for his last 30days of infantry training.  Once that is done he will be heading to North Carolina to Camp Lejeune to begin his diesel mechanics schooling.  After his schooling is up it is anyone’s guess where he will be sent…

Alex home and seeing his new nephew

Alex with his welcome home cake

Alex and his nieces and nephews

All of us

In schoolbus news…   My old bus was turned into a spare bus and I was given one of the other spare buses.  This one has well over 100,000 miles on it so I am reasonably sure next year I will get an updated, newer bus.  Not one of the new buses cuz I don’t rate that high, but one of the newer, older buses

I am loving this cooler Autumn weather we are having   I have always loved Autumn, the colors, the smells.  I would be happy to have this weather year around.  I am definitely NOT looking forward to the ice and snow that I know is just around the corner…

That’s it for the news from here.  Stay safe everyone and have a great week

School officially started on August 21^st this year.   The mechanics brought my bus back to me 2 days before school started.  They dropped it off in my driveway and later that afternoon I went out to check the bus over and to make a route time run in it for the upcoming school year.  I turn the key over and….   Nothing!    The bus wouldn’t start!   I have had this problem off and on in the past and they have changed the starter etc.   Well after the bus has been at the bus barn all summer long you don’t expect to get it back and have it immediately not work…    I called them and they brought me a different bus and took my bus back to the barn.  Of course they wait til the next day to bring me a bus so now I really HAVE to get my route timed cuz I have parents calling me wanting to know what time to expect me the next day.   I get the route timed and find out my route is about 15 minutes longer than last year because I (lucky me) had 7 kids from the other bus route put back on my bus again this year!   You will probably remember I have had this problem in the past with having a full bus while the other bus has 15-20 kids on her route.  This year the problem is the other woman just has to get back as quickly as possible and those 7 kids add too much time to her route…   My question is….  What about MY route!?   Now mine is longer and  I have added extra kids to it.  There just is no winning.   But back to my bus troubles.  The first 2 weeks of school I drove a spare bus while my bus was in the shop.  This past Monday they brought my bus back.  Monday afternoon it started.  Tuesday afternoon it wouldn’t start!   WTH!!   They have had it for 2 weeks and it won’t start!?   Finally it catches and I drive my route.   Wednesday morning the bus starts, Wednesday night it won’t start again.   After many tries it finally starts and I drive my route.  This morning I took it in to fuel it up and they decided to keep it and finally change the starter.   In 20 minutes I am supposed to run my afternoon route and there is still no bus in my driveway,  (they were supposed to bring it back to me as soon as they got it fixed)   I guess this is an early sign of the way the rest of the school year is going to go…      Can I just fast forward to next summer????   PLEASE!!!!

Hey Everyone!   No,  I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth…   Just a lot of things have been going on….   First of all school is back in session and I am back to driving the schoolbus every day.  That hasn’t been too bad except my shoulder started bothering me almost immediately after I started driving again.  I went to the chiro twice last week with no relief.  I finally got into see my family Dr yesterday morning.  She put me on a medro pak to start taking the inflammation down.  She also gave me some muscle relaxers and pain medication as needed.  I am supposed to keep my shoulder moving so it doesn’t freeze up on me and see her next week unless I am better.  She wanted me to not drive the bus for a week but I can’t do that because the week after next I will be off work while I am in San Diego…   Which brings me to big news number 2….

                Alex, my son that just graduated High School in June enlisted in the Marines as you all probably remember.  He left for boot camp on June 23^rd.  On September 19^th he will finally be graduating boot camp and will be a Marine!   I am so proud of him.  Next week they have to endure a 54 hour crucible which separates the men from the boys.  He has to pass that in order to earn his Eagle, Globe and Anchor.  Hubby, I , baby, and my oldest daughter will be flying out for his graduation and he will be flying back home with us for a 10 day leave.  Then he will have to go back to San Diego for another 30 days before he goes on to his training school.   I am not sure where that is going to be yet.   I have missed him so much and can’t wait to see him again

 Alex, Sara and baby the morning Alex left for Boot Camp

                Big news number 3….    I am a grandma again!!!   My daughter Lily had a beautiful baby boy Wednesday night at 7:27pm.  His name is Ezekiel and he weighed in at a whopping 9# 11.8oz’s!!!   He is 22” long…   He was welcomed into the world by grandma, grandpa and his proud daddy.  My daughter also has 3 little girls that are just ecstatic about having a little brother   The birth was easy and fast and although he was born with the cord around his neck plus a big knot in it, he is perfect.  He was even born with his little fist clenched up tight against his cheek    Mama and baby are doing great and if all goes well will be coming home sometime today…

Is this a proud daddy or what?? 

                I have been keeping up with all my xanga friends thru the subscriptions I have at your sites.  Thank God for subscriptions     I am going to head out for now and check up on how you are all doing today…    Take care and TGIF!!!