Welcome Homes are Awesome!

What can I say other than I love my family!

My time away...

My first assignment with the USMC Reserves was scheduled to be logistics planner/action officer working out of the US Embassy in Estonia in support of BALTOPS 10 for most of the month of June. Truthfully, first I had to look up on the map where Estonia was, by the way it is next to Russia. Then I had to figure out what I was going to be doing. That one didn't really happen until I was in country for a few days. It turned out that I was very busy. We had over 1000 Navy and Marine Corps folks in country during that time and conducted land and sea operations. The highlight was an amphibious demonstration between the US and Estonia for the President of Estonia, all the ambassadors, military officials, media outlets, and the public.

There was some down time at the end of my Estonia stay, where I got to really get out and explore the city, tour the museums, sample the local cuisine, and pick up some cool souvenirs. Gardens of Kadriorg Kadriorg Palace View from Town Hall Tower of Toompea Castle, churches, and old city walls

View from St. Olav's Church Tower of the original city wall and guard towers

Alexander Nevesky Cathedral (Russian Orthodox)

Kiek in de Kok (38m high cannon tower that also serves as the entrance to a system of tunnels that connects the bastions under Toompea Hill)

Town Hall

Town Hall Square with cobble stone streets and lots of markets and festivals

Fat Margaret's Tower (defensive cannon tower that protects the sea side of the city)

At the very end of my reserve duty, I swung through Germany to do some administrative things with Marine Forces Europe. The highlight of Stuttgart was meeting up with my sister and darling nephews for a few days. We toured the zoo, and dinosaur museum, and checked out the awesome German toy store.

All those children's activities made me really ready to go home and see my own family.

While I was gone this what the kids did...

Life went on with swimming lessons,

(I still can't believe that Ava jumped off the diving board, and LIKED IT.)

backyard picnics,

bouts with viruses,

(that is our wonderful nanny Rachel who filled the role of chauffeur, cook, teacher, caregiver, housekeeper, etc. while I was gone) road trips to visit friends,

(Beau and Ali are pretty cool b/c they have a boat)

(and chickens)

and plenty of the routine things like school as well.

Good Byes are tough

I had a great opportunity come up with the Marine Corps Reserves. They offered me a position with Marine Forces Europe where I will travel to Europe once or twice a year in support of different training exercises for the next 3-4 years. I am not sure there are many people who wouldn't seriously consider the opportunity for an all expense paid trip to Europe, plus a salary for a few weeks. I did miss the adventure and brotherhood aspects of the Marine Corps, and I felt this was a great way for me to be involved without impacting family or work too much. So I signed all the paperwork, got some shots, took some classes, hired a nanny, and put in for a leave of absence at work. Still it was tough to say goodbye to Ryan and the kids at the airport. I knew I was only going to be gone 4 weeks, but that was 3 weeks longer than I had ever been away from them before. I know Ryan is an absolutely wonderful father, but I still didn't like the fact that I was going to miss all the little moments in the kids lives, I would have limited control over things while I would be away, and I didn't get to Ryan with me on this great trip. Elizabeth was the toughest to say goodbye too because she started crying also.