Our good friends, the Trammells have been spending their last few days here on the island at the Hale Koa Hotel down in Waikiki, and as I type this, they are just starting their long flight back to Pensacola, Florida.
Yesterday, the kids and I met them down at the pool behind the Hale Koa to let the kids spend a little time together, ok, and so us girls could hang out too before they left the island! Julie came down too. It was a gorgeous day and perfect to be at the pool!
Hudson & Trevor having a mid afternoon snack in the sun, trying not to feed the birds.
Addison and I even dipped in the pool for a while. She was so tired, and lounged around most of the time.
Julie, Me & Addi, and Sherree (the boys are in the background and kenzie was taking the picture)
Trevor did great with the water wings. He immediately floated out into the deep water and found a little stick and threw it all over and swam after it.
Me & Addison posing for a quick picture!
Addison slammin' down some milk after a long afternoon in the water.
Hudson & Trevor playing in the kiddie pool during the break session at the big pool.
Best Buddies
Enjoying their post pool snack back in the hotel room.
What happens in the car after a long day at the pool with your best buddy!
He had a run in with a bat the other day (hence the black eye) and THEN that morning before we went to the Hale Koa, the preschool called me and said he ran into the bookshelf and scratched his face next to his black eye. Poor guy looks a little rough right now!
Marines with Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force - Afghanistan's aviation combat element, begin rebuilding a partially dismantled CH-53D Sea Stallion minutes after its arrival on Kandahar Air Field, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, April 16. The unit's mechanics worked around the clock to ensure their birds were transported from Iraq and were ready for combat operations in Afghanistan. SPMAGTF-A's mission is to conduct counterinsurgency operations, with a focus on training and mentoring the Afghan National Police.
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – On April 15, 1962, a squadron of Marines launched from the USS Princeton to Soc Trang, Vietnam, becoming the first Marine helicopter squadron in-country. Those Marines began a proud tradition of combat deployments that day. Today the same unit continues their combat tradition in Afghanistan.
Unlike the majority of units serving in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, part of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force – Afghanistan's aviation combat element, didn't deploy from its home station at Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii – it deployed to Afghanistan from Al Asad, Iraq.
Originally deployed to Iraq, Jan. 23, to conduct assault support, logistics and movement of personnel missions, the unit was given a new mission shortly after arriving: pack up and go to Afghanistan.
"Afghanistan is where the fight is now," said Lt. Col. Jeffrey A. Hagan, HMH-362's commander. "There was a planned drawdown in Iraq and an increasing need for medium lift capabilities in Afghanistan. So we begin making arrangements to move from Al Asad to Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan."
Though the unit was motivated and prepared for their new mission, environmental differences between the two theaters coupled with operational requirements called for major modifications to the Ugly Angels' CH-53D Sea Stallions.
The unit's maintenance Marines began working around the clock to exchange the T64-GE-413 engines, typically found in CH-53Ds, to hotter burning T64-GE-416 engines used in CH-53E Super Stallions, according to Master Sgt. Robert Webb, the maintenance section chief.
In addition to the modifications, the Marines had to partially dismantle their aircraft for transportation to Afghanistan; each bird was sent one at a time. But despite their daunting task, the Marines pulled together, rolled up their sleeves and went to work.
"Our maintenance Marines are the best in the Marine Corps," said Maj. Gary W. Thomason, HMH-362's aircraft maintenance officer. "On their backs is how we made this happen. I think I speak for everyone involved when I say, fantastic job."
After more than two months of backbreaking work, the Ugly Angels are in Afghanistan, eager to take the fight to the enemy.
"This deployment has been a great experience," said Cpl. Jorge Toledo, a crew chief and flight line mechanic with HMH-362. "We've been able to operate in both areas of operation and it's been a good training opportunity with the demanding terrain and climate differences. Since arriving in Afghanistan, I personally was able to be a part of testing seven aircraft in twelve days. I have gained more experience on this one deployment than my whole time in the Marine Corps."
Today, the Marines and their Sea Stallions are ready to tackle whatever the insurgency and Afghanistan's terrain throw at them.
"We expect the mission set to remain relatively the same," Hagan said. "Given the more kinetic nature of this theater, I would expect to see more raid and quick reaction force support than was executed during our time in Iraq. But the Marines are excited and eager to do what Marines do. This deployment has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that my Marines can, are eager and willing to accomplish any task thrown at them."
On April 15, the 47-year anniversary of the unit's Vietnam deployment, The Ugly Angels arrived in Afghanistan. HMH-362 began combat operations, April 22.
My cousin heard on the radio back in central Iowa about some "Exclusive Toby Keith photos from Afghanistan" they had on their website...
Turns out, they are the photos of Nick's squadron flying him around! They are the same photos that are on a previous post on my blog that Nick had sent me, but go check out the site!
I started out my day by seeing McKenzie off to school, and dropping Trevor off at preschool. Then Addison and I headed to the doctor for my 26 week checkup.
Everything went great... well, besides Addison making a poo poo in her diaper while we waited in the room. Of course today being the day I didn't bring in diapers or wipes. Ugh! So when the doctor finally made it in the room, I immediately apologized for the aroma she walked into. She has 4 boys of her own, and just laughed it off!
ANYWAYS... she did a quick measurement and we listened to the heart rate (150's) and we were on our way! I have to go back in 2 weeks to do the glucose test. And then back for a checkup one week after that!
Next on our list of things to do was to hit the commissary. Addison and I were rounding the produce section when a commissary employee approached me holding a HUGE gift basket and asked if I would like a free fruit basket. "uh...sure!" It was for their "Every Day Is Mothers' Day" Promotion they were running these past couple months. So I just had to sign a photo release so they could take my picture and put it in the commissary newsletter (or something) and then he loaded up my cart with the ginormous basket o' oranges and apples. It also had a nice card and a $20 Jamba Juice Gift Card included! How awesome is that?!?! By the time we finished at the commissary (it was hard to get all my list of items in my cart with the huge fruit basket....but I'm not complaining) it was time to go pick up Trevor.
The Trammells' are packing out today and tomorrow, so I offered to come pick up the kids for a while to keep them out of the packers' way. So this afternoon when McKenzie got home from school, we headed over there, loaded up the van with car seats and kids, and headed out!
Our first stop was this little beach out the back gate where turtles sometimes frequent. Not today though. But it was still fun to go check! The boys had a good time throwing rocks and coral into the water.
Then we headed back to the base to the super playground. It was funny to see the expressions of some of the other moms there when I unloaded my van with 5 kids, and having one on the way! Oh the looks I got! I had an 11 year old, a set of 4 year old twins, a set of 18 month twins and one on the way! HA HA
The girls did pretty good in the swings for a little while. It was easy to keep track of them all when half of them are strapped down! But that didn't last long!
The boys were pretty much on their own while McKenzie ran after Hannah, and I ran after Addison.
Little Miss Independant climbing all over the playground... McKenzie was off following Little Miss Independant #2 (Hannah)
Scary to think that this is what my van will look like in a few months anyways... (well, minus one carseat) But still. It's still going to be a full van with 3 carseats!
He had a run in with a bat the other day (hence the black eye) and THEN that morning before we went to the Hale Koa, the preschool called me and said he ran into the bookshelf and scratched his face next to his black eye. Poor guy looks a little rough right now!
