Waiting for Summer

I have not written for a long while. That would be because it has been raining and cold every single day. In all honesty, I am gonna have to go shopping if things don't improve soon. My girls have 2 pairs of pants that actually fit them. I hate to buy new pants when summer is just around the corner, but their pants are just plain sad. They look like they are waiting for a flood. They have a closet full of summer clothes and dresses that have not been touched because the temperature refuses to go above 60. It is a good thing we don't leave the house much lately! We have been bringing the school year to a close here as well. Josh and the girls are completely done for the summer. Michael and Sam have about 5 days worth of History/Geography left to do. They will be doing handwriting and math review all summer, but we are done with 3rd grade!!!! So excited to get a break and gear up for next year! I am a nerd in that I truly enjoy planning our schoolyear. By the time school starts, I have everything planned and ready. I have an accordian file that is seperated into 32 weeks and every single worksheet and test is placed in correct order. I think that is why I like My Father's World so much, it thinks like I do! I love the smell of printer ink and new pencils! That said, I am SO looking forward to some time off and sunshine. I cannot wait to spend time at the zoo, my absolute favorite place, and finding new playgrounds. We are rarely home in the summer and never in the house even when we are home. We have to soak up a years worth of vitamin D in 3 months. I hope it comes quickly, I am so tired of gray sky and cold!

Senior Chief!

The results of the Senior Chief boards came out last week. They came out late Tuesday night. We did not look. Marvin was up for Senior Chief for the second time. He was not at all hopeful of making it because he does not play the political games it takes to get a great evaluation. He works hard and has exceeded the qualifications he needs. He loves to push himself and he is a great leader because he works hand in hand with his guys. When they have to stay late to get something done, he stays later. His guys work hard for him and accomplish much because he works hard as well. I have seen a true leader emerge from him over the last 2 years! That said, without great evals, it is hard to make Senior Chief. The fact that we are still waiting for the results of his Officer package, Senior was not really on our radar. He told me in passing that results were coming out late on Tuesday. We went to bed like always, he got up and went to work on Wednesday. Once he gets to work, I do not hear from him until he is on his way home, so I was very surprised to get a call before noon. He told me that his boss just walked up, shook his hand and said, "Congratulations, Senior Chief!" I'm pretty sure he was still in shock! In the navy Senior Chief is a really big deal. They say that Senior Chiefs make up 2% of the navy, it is safe to say that not many people make it! I am so proud of my husband, and thankful that God has allowed Marvin's hard work and sacrifices to be rewarded. This throws a wrench in our future plans. It is much harder to throw down Senior Chief for officer than it would have been Chief. But we will not get ahead of ourselves, as we don't even know right now that it will even be a decision we'll have to face. For now, we are just enjoying Marvin's new title!

Waiting for the pinning to begin...

I had the opportunity to pin on one of his new Senior Chief  pins. Jose pinned the other!

The newest Senior Chiefs on board the USS Abraham Lincoln

 The kids have no idea what all this means, but they approve the cake!