Friday, October 9, 2009

Rest and Recuperation

I haven't posted in over a month, mostly because I have been home visiting my family. I have been back for about two weeks now and have been busy getting back into the swing of things. I wanted to post some photos and write a little about my vacation with my family.

First I had to travel from Shank to Bagram in the back of a Blackhawk. Not quite the same as riding up front. After a few days of travel, I arrived in Atlanta.


My wife and I surprised my four children, Samantha, Ethan, Noelle, and Emily by taking them to the airport in Atlanta to pick me up, but we told them that they were going to pick up their grandparents. They were very surprised to see me show up, they knew that I would be coming home eventually, but they didn't know when.
We visited Varasano's in Atlanta, and the pizza was great. They even brought us some doughnuts made out of the pizza dough and covered in sugar for free. They were messy but delicious!


We then drove home, or at least that is what we led them to believe. I know, we are horrible, but we drove to Florida to go to Disney World. Samantha, our oldest, figured it out before we arrived, by paying attention to the signs, but the others didn't realize it until we told them. We rented a house for six nights and it was great. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a pool and jacuzzi. We spent five days at Disney World, visited all of the four major parks and had a great time. When we had extra time we would play in the pool. We enjoyed several of the rides so much that we rode on them multiple times. Some of our favorites were Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Expedition Everest, and Kali River Rapids.

After five days in Florida, we drove back to Fort Campbell. We enjoyed the food at Varasano's so much that we called ahead and ordered a couple of pizzas for take-out. When we got to Tennessee we enjoyed a little over a week at home before I had to return. It was good to relax and spend time with the family. All in all it was a wonderful trip.

6 comments:

  1. Oh thats so awsome you got to see your family and the children were so surprised !!! My Son leaves soon and We are all getting a little nervous but he'll be fine.... He and his wife are having my first grandbaby the beginning of the year and hopefully he will get home for the birth...I went to see him this month and spend some time with him before he leaves...So i know how important even the 2 weeks you got to spend with your family is - just take care and I'm glad you had a nice visit.... Toni T

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  2. Thanks Toni, I appreciate it. Congratulations on the grandchild! It has been hard at times, but it has been good for my wife and I as well. It has brought us closer together. The ability to communicate with each other has been important, whether it is through e-mails, instant messaging, phone calls, or just letting her see some photos on the blog. Good luck to you and your son and his family.

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  3. Thanks....I know it will do the same for my boy n his wife... They are stationed in GA. - I live in Los Angeles - so we get one big trip a year, and my husband said take Joanna (thats my daughter who is 20) and go spend time with your Son. So we had a ball doing kareoke,this was the first I had met his wife - they got married this year....we went to what they call River Street and saw alot of old history ... And that was pretty awsome....and just having fun !!
    i know he will be gone for along time and I'll miss him, but thats what letters and pictures are for ...hehehehe...Speaking of pics...I do have a facebook and there are alot of pictures of the trip there...I dont have a computer at home and I cant get on it face book at work - so it takes me going to a neighbors house to add people, but I will eventually add you if you n your family want to see pics of me n my family :>) thats the only ones i have up right now....You Take care - Be safe and I'll write more soon...Toni T

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  4. Hi there !! just wanted to wish you n your family a nice Thanksgiving... My Son is now serving with you ...and we miss him dearly...
    Take care be safe..... Toni n Ron T

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  5. I hope you and your family are doing well and you have a safe n Merry Crhistmas :>)
    Toni N Ron T

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  6. Just wanted to let you know Tom n his wife had a healthy 9lb 1oz baby boy on Friday :>)
    Hope all is well .... Toni T

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