I just got off the phone with Nick tonight. They made it into Kuwait yesterday but it was too late here in Hawaii for him to call (even though I slept with the phone next to my pillow...just in case). Their total flight time was about 25 hours from leaving Honolulu to arriving in Kuwait.
9 hours to Maine
6 hours to Germany
5 hours to Kuwait
The time difference between Hawaii and Kuwait is 13 hours. Nick is 13 hours ahead.
Time difference from Iowa: 9 hours, Nick is 9 hours ahead.
Nick said it's very cold at night. Down to the 40s. During the day it can get up to the 60s. Luckily he got a heads up from a few guys on advanced party and brought some warm clothes. The only mishap during the flight was a busted cinnamon flouride bottle....so a few of his shirts smell "cinnamon-y". I told him it could be worse.
They should find out later 'today' when they will get a flight into Al Asad. It was great to finally hear from him. He sounded great, well rested.
More updates to come...
Nick called and left a message on the phone before he left Honolulu before we got back home, so I played it today and Addison immediately walked right up to his voice and smiled, so I knew she recognized his voice. I'll have to keep that message as long as I can.
Trevor came up to our room this morning when he woke up and crawled into bed with me, looked around, and said "Where's Daddy?" I told him, "Daddy is in Iraq." He giggled and said, "Oh yeah..."
I know that Nick always wonders if the kids notice he is gone... I think that's a pretty good answer for him.
McKenzie has always been emotionally strong...(she sure didn't get that from me...I can be an emotional train wreck at times), but I can tell that she misses him. By the end of past deployments she always makes a comment like, "Ugh...when is he coming home already?!"
So here's to a safe and speedy deployment!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Bathtime Fun
Addison LOVES bathtime! She climbs in the tub all by herself...sometimes when she is fully dressed! She loves it that much. A few weeks ago, Trevor was in the bathtub, and I was in the kitchen cleaning up after supper. Addison snuck back into the bathroom, and we heard a sudden SPLASH! Then Trevor screamed, "Mom! Addi just jumped in the bathtub and she still has her clothes on!!!!!"
When I went running in there, she was sitting in the tub just as happy as can be...fully clothed!!!
Here are some pictures from the other night...She gets crazy hair!
When I went running in there, she was sitting in the tub just as happy as can be...fully clothed!!!
Here are some pictures from the other night...She gets crazy hair!
Pre-School Lion Cupcakes
Trevor's pre-school class made lion cupcakes today at preschool. They got to be involved in the entire process from mixing the batter, to frosting and decorating.
Trevor opted NOT to eat his cupcake at pre-school. So he saved it until he got home....and THEN he had lunch! They did a great job, because that little lion disappeared fast!
He also had an "Ouchie Note" for me. He was playing on the playground and slipped and hit his cheekbone on the steps. It swelled up immediately. But by the time I picked him up, I could hardly tell where he bumped it. The Ouchie Note was really neat. It explained what happened, what they did to help him. Bandaid, Ice, TLC, etc....
His teacher is now on maternity leave after delivering her first son earlier this month, so my friend, Traci, happens to be his sub for a few weeks. I asked him if he liked having "Ms. Traci" as a teacher and he said, "Yes! Everybody LOVES her! She is a lot of fun!" So I'm glad he has adjusted well to a new teacher. Her husband is a Marine as well, and she is aware that Nick has left, so she is really good about keeping an eye on Trevor for me to make sure he isn't acting out or anything. She said yesterday that he was sort of sad in the morning, but he cheered up and was back to normal after a while. I'm glad I have a friend with him at school who can keep a close eye on him for me!
Trevor opted NOT to eat his cupcake at pre-school. So he saved it until he got home....and THEN he had lunch! They did a great job, because that little lion disappeared fast!
He also had an "Ouchie Note" for me. He was playing on the playground and slipped and hit his cheekbone on the steps. It swelled up immediately. But by the time I picked him up, I could hardly tell where he bumped it. The Ouchie Note was really neat. It explained what happened, what they did to help him. Bandaid, Ice, TLC, etc....His teacher is now on maternity leave after delivering her first son earlier this month, so my friend, Traci, happens to be his sub for a few weeks. I asked him if he liked having "Ms. Traci" as a teacher and he said, "Yes! Everybody LOVES her! She is a lot of fun!" So I'm glad he has adjusted well to a new teacher. Her husband is a Marine as well, and she is aware that Nick has left, so she is really good about keeping an eye on Trevor for me to make sure he isn't acting out or anything. She said yesterday that he was sort of sad in the morning, but he cheered up and was back to normal after a while. I'm glad I have a friend with him at school who can keep a close eye on him for me!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Made it to Germany
Received an email from Nick this afternoon. He made it to Leinpzig, Germany. The CO authorized everyone to have one beer so I'm sure they all enjoyed that. It will be the last beer until Super Bowl! They each will get 2 beers for that event!
Nick said the flight to Germany wasn't too bad, however, he got booted from his first class seat by an Army General.
One last flight into Kuwait left. He hoped to be able to call once he arrived. They will be in Kuwait for a day or two to get processed before going on to Al Asad.
More updates to come!!!
Nick said the flight to Germany wasn't too bad, however, he got booted from his first class seat by an Army General.
One last flight into Kuwait left. He hoped to be able to call once he arrived. They will be in Kuwait for a day or two to get processed before going on to Al Asad.
More updates to come!!!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Update on Nick
I got a phone call this morning from Nick! They made it to Maine. They flew straight through and are refueling and getting a new crew before heading to Germany.
I commented on how that must have been a pretty long flight, but he responded: "Well, it wasn't too bad, I got to move up to first class!!!!" He sounded pretty excited about that. I guess if you have to fly halfway across the world, first class is the way to do it!
He said he was able to sleep ok and had called on a cell phone that they provided the squadron with in the USO room so that they could call home while they waited to take off again.
It was nice to hear from him. I like to know where he is and where he is headed next.
I'll keep you all posted when I hear from him again!
I commented on how that must have been a pretty long flight, but he responded: "Well, it wasn't too bad, I got to move up to first class!!!!" He sounded pretty excited about that. I guess if you have to fly halfway across the world, first class is the way to do it!
He said he was able to sleep ok and had called on a cell phone that they provided the squadron with in the USO room so that they could call home while they waited to take off again.
It was nice to hear from him. I like to know where he is and where he is headed next.
I'll keep you all posted when I hear from him again!
And He's Off...
Today we took Nick to the hangar to see him off before he left for Iraq.
When we went home for Christmas I had planned to get some family pictures taken, but due to all of our illnesses, it never worked out! So, this afternoon, moments before we headed out the door, I got everyone together for some quick family pics! Here are a few from our "session"! (Thanks Meridith!)
Once we got to the hangar it was crazy. There were Marines and family members all over. Nick had to get a paper signed, people were calling him nonstop, and everyone was getting in line to get issued their rifles and pistols.
We stood around and visited with the other spouses and kiddos. After a while, they were getting ready to do roll call and load the squadron on the buses to go to Hickam Air Force Base.
Trevor was a little moody (tired) and snuggled on Nick a while.
Trevor got too heavy to hold, and chilled in Addison's stroller...
next thing we new, he was asleep.
Soon it was time to say goodbye. All the kids gave Nick a hug....Addison wouldn't stop hugging her daddy. It was really cute. It was hard to say goodbye, but the sooner we let him go, the sooner he would be coming back home to us!
The squadron was getting bused to Hickam and then flying out from there on a chartered 767 (?). Their flightplan was unknown but if I hear from Nick along the way I will let you all know!
Thank you for all your emails and phone calls these past few days wishing Nick and all of us well. We enjoy hearing from all of you! Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated! Keep them coming! I'll do my best to keep you all updated on Nick's deployment happenings over the next 7 months.
If you would like his mailing address, please email me at: kimturner@hawaii.rr.com and I will get that to you!
Nick will be getting a new email once he gets in country. I will post that here as soon as he gets that.
When we went home for Christmas I had planned to get some family pictures taken, but due to all of our illnesses, it never worked out! So, this afternoon, moments before we headed out the door, I got everyone together for some quick family pics! Here are a few from our "session"! (Thanks Meridith!)
The kids wanted to climb our coconut tree, and then it turned into a photo op!
Once we got to the hangar it was crazy. There were Marines and family members all over. Nick had to get a paper signed, people were calling him nonstop, and everyone was getting in line to get issued their rifles and pistols.
We stood around and visited with the other spouses and kiddos. After a while, they were getting ready to do roll call and load the squadron on the buses to go to Hickam Air Force Base.
Trevor was a little moody (tired) and snuggled on Nick a while.
Addison was a pistol. When she wasn't walking all over the hangar, she was lovin' on Nick.
Pretending to go 'night-night' on daddy and finding daddy's nose.
Pretending to go 'night-night' on daddy and finding daddy's nose.
Trevor got too heavy to hold, and chilled in Addison's stroller...
next thing we new, he was asleep.
Soon it was time to say goodbye. All the kids gave Nick a hug....Addison wouldn't stop hugging her daddy. It was really cute. It was hard to say goodbye, but the sooner we let him go, the sooner he would be coming back home to us!
The squadron was getting bused to Hickam and then flying out from there on a chartered 767 (?). Their flightplan was unknown but if I hear from Nick along the way I will let you all know!
Thank you for all your emails and phone calls these past few days wishing Nick and all of us well. We enjoy hearing from all of you! Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated! Keep them coming! I'll do my best to keep you all updated on Nick's deployment happenings over the next 7 months.
If you would like his mailing address, please email me at: kimturner@hawaii.rr.com and I will get that to you!
Nick will be getting a new email once he gets in country. I will post that here as soon as he gets that.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Day at the Sandbar in Kaneohe Bay
It was a beautiful day today...the sun has finally come out! We took a pontoon boat out to the sandbar in the bay. Addison drove us out there...
As soon as we anchored off, and applied sunscreen....
Trevor immediately grabbed his sand castle gear and headed to the sand...
Addi and Daddy soon followed...
Addison didn't like the sand on her hands and feet at first, but she soon got over that.
Trevor showing off his "sand hole"
McKenzie, Tiani, and Trevor walked clear out on the sandbar until they were little specks. They brought back all kinds of ocean treasures!
Meridith drawing in the sand
Addi walking in the sand and watching the dogs that were running around the water.
Bringing in water for the "sand hole"
Addison thought it was funny when I tried to bite her toes.... they were salty!
But she was such a tease when pretending to give out kisses...
She'd get right up to kiss you and then turn away at the last second and say 'no!'
McKenzie and her friend Tiani on the way back to the Marina.
Addison had NO nap all afternoon, or morning for that matter. She finally crashed on "Aunt Brookie" (aka Meridith) on the way back to the Marina.
Our boat captain... who managed to NOT bottom out the pontoon on coral this trip out! Yay Nick!
As soon as we anchored off, and applied sunscreen....Trevor immediately grabbed his sand castle gear and headed to the sand...
Addi and Daddy soon followed...
Addison didn't like the sand on her hands and feet at first, but she soon got over that.
Trevor showing off his "sand hole"
McKenzie, Tiani, and Trevor walked clear out on the sandbar until they were little specks. They brought back all kinds of ocean treasures!Meridith drawing in the sand
Addi walking in the sand and watching the dogs that were running around the water.
Bringing in water for the "sand hole"
Addison thought it was funny when I tried to bite her toes.... they were salty!But she was such a tease when pretending to give out kisses...She'd get right up to kiss you and then turn away at the last second and say 'no!'
McKenzie and her friend Tiani on the way back to the Marina.
Addison had NO nap all afternoon, or morning for that matter. She finally crashed on "Aunt Brookie" (aka Meridith) on the way back to the Marina.
Our boat captain... who managed to NOT bottom out the pontoon on coral this trip out! Yay Nick!
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