Dad and the Kid's at CiCi's

Terri went back to work this week. Terri doesn't like CiCi's. That means that with Terri at work, it's the perfect time for our family to go eat WAY too much pizza. But I can't just give such a treat away. So when Catherine and Andre asked if we could go eat lunch at CiCi's, I told them that it depended on how well they buttered me up. My idea of buttering me up was doing some work around the house. Catherine's idea was just telling what a great Dad I am. That wasn't bad either. This is what she drew in paint while trying to talk me into taking them. Pictured are Andre, Catherine, me, and finally her boyfriend Nick. We're at CiCi's in the picture. You'll notice there's a pepper on Andre's plate. Catherine has her favorite, Alfredo pizza. I'm eating a bowl of chicken noodle soup while for some reason balancing my laptop computer in my left hand.

And then Nick is seated across the table from Catherine. Nick wasn't initially in the picture, because he wasn't in the CiCi's plan. He was invited to join us at the last minute, and added to the picture when we returned. That's why he's not seated next to Catherine in the picture. And that's why it looks strangely like he's laying down.

Independence Day at Ft. Huachuca

We have been blessed to be able to spend the Independence Day weekend in Sierra Vista, AZ, home to the Ft. Huachuca Army post, where Jonathon is stationed. On Thursday we went to the mall and watched a movie together. On Friday we found a spot at Apache Middle School to watch the fireworks. Saturday has been a busy day so far. We went shopping on post at the PX, visited the Ft. Huachuca museum, and then went to the Gray Hawk Nature Center where Jonathon has been volunteering for the last few months.

Catherine in Orlando, FL

Catherine, the social butterfly of the family, is enjoying a week in Orlando with her friend Heather and her family. Heather's parents, Eddie and Tracey Arrington, and little brother Dakota, have been attending FBC Lovejoy for a couple of months now. They have been a fun family to get to know.

This is Catherine's third trip to the Orlando area in the last year. For about 10 years Terri said, "We need to take a trip to Disney World, because Catherine has never been." We went last year with David and Marcia West. Then this past spring Catherine went with her high school chorus group.

Enjoying the 4-Day

We had a great time having Jonathon home for the Memorial Day holiday. For him it was a four day holiday. He was given both Monday and Tuesday off, making for a four-day weekend. He left Fort Huachuca Friday afternoon and traveled with some of his army buddies to the Phoenix airport. He left Phoenix just after 11 Friday night, and arrived in Charlotte, NC about 6 Saturday morning. After a 3 hour layover he flew into Atlanta, where we picked him up about 11 AM.

The first thing he wanted to do was go by Truett's in McDonough for breakfast. He missed both the food and the friends there. While Terri and I settled into a table, Jon was in the kitchen renewing old friendships. When we got home he spent a few hours playing video games with Andre. Since Andre was going to the movies with the middle school boys from FBC Hampton, Jon decided he's go to the movies too. He went to see Prince Caspian, but wasn't able to find the group from FBC Hampton while he was there.

Around 5 PM he got home from the movies, and Catherine got home from a birthday celebration with her boyfriend Nick. It was a great reunion for the two of them, and they spent the evening playing video games with Andre.

It took some doing to stir the three night owls to get ready for church the next morning, but in spite of being tired they all had a good attitude about it. Jon had agreed to be my color guard for a special Memorial Day presentation during the service, but he forgot part of his uniform. I was very disappointed, but he did it anyway in civies, and did a great job. I was very proud of the way he Marched, and of the respect he showed for the flag. It didn't matter what kind of clothing he had on, there was no doubt that it was a soldier carrying that flag. Between the video, the music, and Jonathon's awesome show of patriotism and respect, I was weeping like the mother of the bride. It was an awesome service.

Sunday night after church we churned home made ice cream in the fellowship hall. Catherine and Jonathon made chocolate chip mint. Although I tried 3 or 4 different flavors, I must say I liked theirs best. Really, I'm not just saying that because they are the greatest kids a dad ever had.

Monday was a day to sleep in, but in the early afternoon we managed to find our way to see the latest Indiana Jones flick. It was a fun movie, but not the best of family time as the theatre was crowded and we weren't able to all sit together. Afterwards we came home and did the traditional Memorial Day cookout, grilling both hamburgers and hot dogs. After that the challenge was just getting the kids to go to bed around 11, so I could get them up in time to leave for the airport at 6 the next morning. Jon had an 8:06 flight. He wanted one more taste of Chick-fil-a, so we stopped at the Jonesboro store and got biscuits. He got two. He ate one, and said he was taking the other to Arizona, since there are no Chick-fil-a restaurants there.

It was a great weekend, but not nearly long enough. Two and a half days is just enough to wet your appetite for spending time with a son you haven't seen in five months. The good news is that we are going to go out to Arizona to visit him in July. That's a four-day holiday for him also, but we'll be able to fly out the day before and fly back the day after, giving us all four days together. We can't wait.