Props ...

We've had many celebrations & homecomings in Kyle's 10 year military career. Today is another one of sorts & I have to give props to him. [Get it? Props is a nickname for the airplanes with propellors :) ha] I got word yesterday afternoon that he passed his checkride [with a perfect score, mind you] & is packing up the car and moving back home today.

Six months ago he packed up the car and moved to Little Rock in order to learn the ins & outs of [how to fly] the C-130. We joked that it was a "Deployment to Little Rock". The benefit being that a) he was on U.S. soil & b) that he could come home every weekend. He worked his tail off Monday thru Friday, then always jumped through hoops to make flights to & fro on the weekends or drive the 6 hour drive home. [Then, repeat that 26 times.]

Of course we're used to our crazy life [I've been a pilot's wife for 9 1/2 years now], but it doesn't mean that our 3 kids don't miss him terribly & that I'm still not exhausted come Friday evening after I've had all the kids, chores & shuttling all week. All while trying to still find time & energy to cREaTe. But, I tried not to complain [much] because, after all, this was just a "Deployment to Little Rock". There are, of course, military spouses & parents who are doing what I did 24/7 with no end in sight. No relief on the weekends, no comfort that he/she is still on U.S. soil. We've experienced those kinds of deployments ... and so I can tell you that this "Deployment to Little Rock" was a cake walk compared to that. So again, I tried not to complain [much].

But, at the same time ... I'm glad it's over. I'm glad Kyle no longer lives full time in Little Rock & part time in Kansas City. I'm glad that he'll occasionally be here for trash night, be able to help with shuttling kids, and of course help with dinner & bath. Oh & since that just sounds like I'll put him to work when he gets home, it'll be nice to see him more, go on date nights & watch the new season of the Office together. Stuff that was just hard to squeeze into those 36-48 hours weekends we've been having.

He is {HANDS DOWN} the hardest working 33 year old I know. Always has a lot on his plate & somehow seems to excel at all of it. I'm so proud of him.

And just because I'm feeling nostalgic, here's one of my favorite photos of us. It was taken at the Winging Party at the Officer's Club on the base in Corpus Christi. He had just finished flight school & gotten his wings at a ceremony earlier that day. [See his black badge with the gold wings?] We were newlyweds back then in 2000. Seems like ages ago ... although we do still have that video camera. Yikes ... let's upgrade that thing already.

Winging Party, Dec. 1, 2000