We love you, Daddy!

Before Gary left, we had a photographer take some family pictures at Garden of the Gods. I was looking around online and comparing prices and a photographer wrote back saying that she volunteered for an organization called Operation; Love Reunited. Photographers volunteer their time to photograph military families before, during or after deployment. Their only stipulation is that the session be military themed, preferring that the soldier be in a uniform of some sort. They allow you a free session and put together a little album for the soldier to take with them, free if charge. We were also given a huge price reduction for any additional photos we wanted. She was so patient with working around schedules (AND weather!) If you're in Colorado and you're looking for a photographer who is super nice AND good at what they do, her website is http://fallchildphotography.info/index2.php
Even if you don't, you should check out her galleries, the main photo is too precious!










Gary left on Friday, June 5th around mid-day. We ferried him around to do his last minute things and had a picnic lunch under the trees.

Mia isn't a bad photographer!

Final formation to call the manifest. Where's Gary?

Just before they loaded the bus

Mia is doing okay, it helped that we left for Hawaii the next day. She was upset that she couldn't get onto the bus with him but I redirected her attention to her own plane ride in the very near future. We finished our last minute errands and went home, packed, ate and then went to bed. Since we've returned, she has asked about him and talked on the phone with him. I don't think she fully understands how long it will be and I don't expect her to get it during this deployment.

Today was full of errands. We had an appointment with a college advisor to finish up the application process. I thought I would go to Colorado Tech, but their nursing program is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Yah, I know! I was very confused (so was the advisor) and couldn't get a straight answer as to why COLORADO wouldn't have a CTU campus in the entire state that offered the program but South Dakota does?! So that plan was blown out of the water. I've opted to just get started at Pikes Peak Community College because it is right beside post and it's cheaper than UCCS. I hate the idea of starting a 4 year up again, only to move in about two years but it's better than waiting any longer. Plus I'll be able to squeeze in some Spanish classes and these days, it would help to know Spanish when you work in health care.