Happy Thanksgiving!

Mom came into town to help us take care of Gray while I was walking last weekend (because as soon as we didn't have help Josh would have been called in at 2am or something crazy), so she decided to stay a little while to hang out and keep Gray while Josh and I go on holiday next week!

Josh volunteered for 24 hour duty today so everyone else could stay home with their families. We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early, by having a few friends over and eating a BIG meal Wednesday night! Mom, Gray, and I just hung out at home, ate leftovers, wrapped Christmas presents, and watched Harry Potter movies. I hope you are having a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING and have at least a few things to be thankful for this year!

Three Days and 60 Miles for the Cure!

This weekend was the 3Day for the Cure! My teammates and I started the course early Friday morning in Del Mar, CA. We walked 20+ miles south toward our camp ground Friday. The sky was cloudy, but the weather was fairly nice outside, not too hot or too cold.  The second and third days we walked around San Diego, returning to camp Saturday night and walking to Petco Park Sunday afternoon. This link will tell you more details about our route if you are interested. If you were watching the weather or following me on Facebook, you know it rained all day Saturday and Sunday! The wind was blowing, the rain was coming down pretty hard, and it was pretty chilly but we kept walking. At the end of the 60 miles, we walked into Petco Park (Padre's stadium) where we received a t-shirt and waited to walk in to the closing ceremonies together. 

I walked for two amazing women. In memory of my Aunt Doris and in honor of my Aunt Kitty. 

Walking through Del Mar.

Coming into camp at the end of Day 1!

Bikers helped us cross the streets.

Screw Crew Sweeties!
Lois's husband and Josh are in the same squadron, HMH-462, or the Screw Crew!

The weather wasn't so pretty on Day 2 or Day 3...

Cops cheering us on. 

Sunset Cliffs.

One of our Walker Stalkers!

Just before lunch on Day 3!

Camo Cuties with the Padre outside of Petco Park!

Waiting for the closing ceremonies inside the SD Padre's stadium!

We made it! Thanks for all of the support and donations!

The weekend was amazing despite the terrible weather. The people who cheered us on through the rain, the San Diego and San Jose police departments, the bikers, the medics, the 3Day crew, and my amazing teammates made it so fun and inspirational. I can't believe how incredible the experience was and the San Diego 3Day walkers raised 10.8 million dollars for breast cancer research! I want to thank everyone for the calls, messages, texts, and support!

There is a great little video of the 3Day event on the main Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure webpage. To view it click HERE. Thanks again for all of the support and donations!

USMC Birthday Ball!

The United States Marine Corps celebrates their birthday every year with a Birthday Ball! This year they celebrated their 235th Birthday! HMH-462 celebrated at Knott's Berry Farms resort, near Los Angles, so the day after the ball we were able to spend some time at the amusement park free of charge! Josh was the S-5 officer (I like to think of him as the party planner. :) He also handled the money for the squadron, filled the geedunk, ordered and sold all HMH-462 merchandise, etc.), so he was the ring leader of planning the ball this year. I personally think he, along with the Marines on the planning committee, did an excellent job. I have heard lots of other people say it too, so it much be true! He recently handed the job on to someone else, so he is getting home earlier now. Gray and I are pretty excited about it! 

The Commandant of the Marine Corps always gives a video message at the birthday ball. I'll attach a link to the message in case you want to watch it. Click HERE. You can read something he wrote, but the video is farther down the page. And as a bonus, if you look closely, you will see a few CH-53's! 

Marine's rendition of YMCA after the ceremony!

The ladies at our table!

Josh and I before picking Gray up from childcare.

Josh and Gray on Gray's first amusement park ride! He loved it!  

Josh and Gray on the school bus ride! 

My little varmint loved Knotts Berry Farms!

My Little Monkey

Here are a few shots of Gray from the last month or so. I think they are pretty cute, but you be the judge! 

He fell asleep on the couch after laying like this for about 15 seconds.  

Gray loves the quilt Aunt Doris made for him!

Watching Sesame Street in Mommy's rocker, waiting for his breakfast. 

Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure!

I officially have 18 days until the 3Day for the Cure! I hope to train hard in these last three weeks and come out of the 3Day with no blisters. I'm exactly not sure if that is possible, but I've got my fingers crossed. I want to send a big shout out to everyone who helped me reach my $2,300 goal! I can't believe the incredible outpouring of support from so many friends and family members, but THANK YOU doesn't even begin to say how grateful I am for the money you have donated to this outstanding cause! 

If you would still like to donate to the Susan G. Komen 3Day for the Cure even though I have reached my goal, not all of my team members have. You can donate to my BFF and team member, Stephanie Bolton. The money will go to the same great cause and go toward our team goal, but not under my name. Of course, you can still donate under my name as well. I only mentioned Stephanie because she will have to pay the $1000 she has left toward her goal out of her own pocket to participate! Again, thanks so much for everyone who's donations and kind words have made this journey so much more fabulous!  

Happy Halloween!

Walter and the Dude from 'The Big Lebowski' at the HMH-462 Halloween Party!
(Bowling ball and Caucasian not pictured.)

Happy Halloween from San Diego! Josh and I enjoyed a weekend of beautiful weather here in San Diego and some fun Halloween festivities. Gray participated in the Hangar 4 Halloween Parade, Josh and I went to the CO's Halloween party, Gray did some trick-or-treating, and we all passed out candy to neighborhood kids! It was a fun weekend for everyone! 

Just inside the gates at Josh's squadron.

Gray 'parading' through the squadron spaces to get some candy!

Marines and Trick-or-Treating

Through the hangars...

Gates' fam after the parade! 

Neighborhood trick-or-treating!

Our first real trick-or-treating experience!

Gray's first M&Ms!

Candy is awesome!

Gray and Josh giving out candy to the neighborhood kids!