Oktober Fest in Savannah

Mattison and I decided to head to Savannah for Oktober Fest on River Street this Saturday. There were bands playing, people everywhere, and arts and crafts booths set up. The weather could not have been prettier, and we had a great time strolling around. Matti loved the river and the boats driving by. There happened to be a "Pirate Ship" parked that you could tour. Matti loved it!

After we toured the ship, Matti played in a bouncy house for a while. Then we went near a band and listed to them for a while. She kept wanting to get closer, and eventually she walked to the side of the stage and was looking at them right behind the big speaker. She had fun dancing (or running around in circles) to the oldies they were playing. We had a good time, and it only could have been better if Matt had been able to join us. We are looking forward to having him home again so that we can do these kinds of things as a family again.

Hooah!

Well, Matt has thankfully made it through the first phase of Ranger School. Mattison and I were able to go visit home for his 8 hour break between phases. We drove the 4 hours to Fort Benning, spent the day with him, and then drive the 4 hours back to make it home right after midnight. It was so worth it! He looked good, although very tired. We met him right after noon and headed to Lonestar for a steak lunch. Then we went on post to start washing his clothes at a laundry mat. The water in the washing machines were so dirty! Then we ran to Ranger Joes, Commandos, and to the PX to restock his packing list. We had a few other errands to run as well and ate dinner at Little Ceasars. Matti was on cloud nine all day. She was bouncing off the wall and kept trying to wrestle with him. It was heart-warming. We've missed him so much, and it was one of the longest stretches of time that we've ever gone having no contact at all.

We had to drop him back off for formation at 7:45p.m. We didn't want to stop hugging him! We won't be able to visit him between the 2nd and 3rd phases, so that was it until graduation. Here's to hoping that these next 6 weeks or so FLY BY! We are proud of you and love you so much, Matt! <3

Flashback

I was going through pictures on my Blackberry, and these are some older ones of Mattison that made me smile. Where has the time gone?!

Unfortunately, our area has had several fires in the past few months. Now there is one burning in the woods behind Taylors Creek Elementary, the school where I teach. It has been burning for over a week now, and it is very smokey, even inside the building. We weren't able to go outside for recess because of it all last week. This is a picture from Friday evening. There were two fire trucks on our playground spraying the woods, along with a bulldozer that was cutting more fire lanes in the woods. When I drove by, several vehicles had pulled onto the front lawn, watching everything happen.

This is a picture from right outside my neighborhood. That dark smoke cloud is coming from right behind TCE. Scary! I heard that it is supposed to rain in the next few days. It's safe to say that we could definitely use it!

While I water the flowers in the evenings, Mattison has fun playing with her "vehicles." She rides them in front of the house on the side walk, around the cars, and in circles inside the garage. Then she'll park them in a row somewhere and then move them all again. It definitely entertains her for period of time.

Matt had a uniform inspection not too long ago while getting ready for Ranger school. He's looking pretty sharp, if I do say so myself.

Mom came across this picture and sent it to me recently. I think it's just the sweetest thing. Matti loves her Papa!