I'm Home!!!!

Well, I had a great trip to see my son at his boot camp graduation. We traveled from Michigan to South Carolina, spent Thursday and Friday with him there, then we transported him on Saturday to Virginia where he will do his AIT training. We got to spend Saturday and a good part of Sunday with him. He had to be on base by 5 pm, so we had a great visit. Did some sight seeing, did some swimming, shopping and just had a lot of fun. On Thursday night my son proposed to his girlfriend, so we worked on getting a list of guests together and talking about wedding plans while we were down there as well. We headed home on Sunday, but stopped just before we got to Ohio and stayed one more night in a hotel. I got home on Monday evening. I miss my baby already. I cried so hard when I had to say good bye to him again. It is so hard to let him go. I never thought it would be as hard as it was. The wedding is tentatively planned for December 1st. It will all depend on how much leave he gets after his AIT training, before he is stationed. We ate out so much and the hotel had nothing that was good for me for breakfast... I was surprised that I actually lost a pound while I was there. Although we did do a ton of walking plus I made sure to use their fitness center while we were at the hotel. I did try and make good menu choices when we ate out, but it wasn't always that easy. Especially when we would stop at McDonald's or Burger King. But I managed and I did pretty good. I would have done better if I had a kitchen at my disposal and could have cooked myself my meals... LOL.... I am running ragged this week with my kids starting school today and tomorrow, but I will try and get online as much as I can. I also have an Open House for my Tastefully Simple business next week that I have to get ready for... plus we are working on wedding plans now as well... and shower plans... uggghh... I am going to be soooo busy the next few months... LOL... Oh and I put up some new pictures in my profile from the graduation.. check them out!!! HUGS to ALL, Shawn M.

Shawn, it sounds like you have a GREAT time! You are such a proud mom. And it sounds like you will be very busy the whole rest of the year. Congrats on losing a pound while gone! With all the temptation, you did great on your choices and staying active. Good job!

Thanks so much Kim!! You are so right about me being a proud mom. I am very very proud of what my son has and will accomplish in his life. It is just so hard to believe that he is old enough for all of this... he still seems like my baby... LOL... Shawn M.

It sounds like you had a lot of fun and stayed really busy. I'm sure you are tired to the bone! Try to get some rest this week and good luck with the wedding plans - sounds like you are going to be getting busier and busier! Susan

This week is going to be horribly busy as well with school starting and a new kindergartener and all... whew... I am ready to drop already and I have soooo much to do still... uuuggghh... I have done horrible on my food today too, because I keep grabbing easy stuff... I am going to have to make up some food ahead of time and keep it in the fridge so it is easy to eat.... I need to get back on the treadmill too, I haven't been able to do that for the past couple of days.... Just too much to do... Shawn M.

I LOVE YOU NEW PICTURES! YOU LOOK GREAT IN THE RED DRESS - (but hey ...you look great in all the pictures!) How nice to be there for the engagement - Dec 1st will be here in no time! Was your son impressed by the *new* you ...since he hasn't seen you in a bit? glad you had fun! thanks for sharing, Britt

Why thank you so much Britt!! You are so sweet... December will be here too soon if you ask me... and we can't even book anything yet... We don't know how much time he will get off after his training and before he is stationed, so it could be as early as November 10th or as late as December 1st. I just wish we knew now what the date was so we could start getting things booked and set... Just not enough time to get everything done.... Shawn M.

Shawn, I checked out your new pictures on your profile and you are one Hot Mama in the red dress! You look more like your son's sister than his mom! You're looking great! Is his Virginia base on the eastern coast of Virginia or inland? I hope he enjoys it but I'm sure he will be so busy training and thinking about his wedding that he won't have much time to get out and see and do things. Did all the kids go with you to the graduation? Sounds like it was more a trip for you and your husband. Congrats on losing a pound being away from home and not being able to make the preferred choices! Good luck on your Open House and take a few deep breaths and recover from this trip before you start planning the shower and wedding!!! Boy, your son is REALLY changing his life! The military, a wedding and being married?! WHEW! CeCe

Thanks so much CeCe!!! He is doing his training at Ft. Lee, on the east side of Virginia. My hubby and kids did not go to the graduation. I went with my parents. There is no way I could have afforded to go otherwise. They paid for all the gas and 3/4 of the hotel bill. Made things much easier for me. He certainly is making 2007 a big year for himself... He graduated, then the Army, then the engagement and then he will be getting married.... What a big year... They just grow up too fast.... KWIM???? Shawn M.

Shawn, Your son's base isn't too far from me if you need me to go over and spy on him or give him a hug from you! Just kidding!!! I'm on the coast and he'll probably venture over to this area on a weekend or two with his new buddies! CeCe