Reenlistment Day!

Judd reenlisted today!!!  Wow, I am so proud of him!  The whole family went to the reenlistment office which was located in a very secure building (by secure I mean there was a completely annoying guard guy that hassled us!).  We got visitors badges, had to relinquish our military ID's, and have an escort lead us through the locked entry to the office.  Now, why you may ask am I detailing the security measures...well we wanted to video tape Judd being sworn in!

When the reenlistment guy came up to escort us to his office we asked about filming the oath, and he said we could!  Yeah!  Take that crazy guard guy!  So Judd ran out to the car and grabbed the camera.  Once in the office the man helping us set the kiddos up with some blocks and then explained how the oath was going to go.  He has to be sworn in by an officer so the guy helping us went and got a  Major who was up to the job.  The Major was very nice and we visited for a few minutes about how we like SF and things like that.  I told him that we are thrilled to be in the SF family and then I told him quickly about the SF briefing that we went to.  (the briefing is a very basic informative class about what the SF is and does to convince people to join)  I told the Major that while we were at the briefing the Sargeant leading it explained that the wives need to be prepared for the riggors of SF life, and that we need to be just as tough as our soldiers.  Then he turned to me and said, "What do you think Ma'am, are you tough enough?!"  I answered back. "I had a baby three days ago!"  Both the Sargeant that day and the Major hearing the story laughed so hard!

So, the soldier that had been helping us called Judd to attention and I filmed the Major swearing Judd in!!!  It was so incredible to see and hear exactly what Judd promises to do for our country.  I forget sometimes what it is that he really does.  I guess forget is not the right word, more like I lose sight of what he does.  He just goes to work everyday and we don't think about it much...untill he's walking around in uniform and people hug him and shake his hand!  It truly is amazing what he does, and that he loves it so much.  It completes him.  I am so thankful to be married to a man like that, but I am pretty awesome myself!  (he he, yeah me!  I just had to get that in there!) 

Congratulations and thank you Judd, for promising to serve this country for another four years!  And getting a bonus for the first time ever is well...a bonus!

I forgot a graduation story!

So, in my first blog I went over Judd's SF graduation...but I forgot a story!  At the formal ceremony in the Crown Coliseum the announcer asked that all cheers be held to the end.  He started calling out the gradutes names and it was soooo quiet.  A couple of people would do a little yell as their graduate was called, but nothing too big.  My Dad and I thought we should all get to scream like banshees for each person!!!  They (and we) have earned it!!!!

Obviously I had to cheer for Judd, anyone who knows me should also know that I can't resist cheering for my Judd.  As they called the guy ahead of Judd I stood up and braced for maximum volume.  When they called his name I shouted, "I LOVE YOU!"  as loud as I could!  Judd's face burst into a smile and all of the presenters on stage started laughing.  When Judd returned to his seat, all of his buddies were smiling and talking about my little battle cry.  I guess I gave people courage because LOTS of people started calling out after me. 

So as Judd was leaving the arena he walked past a visiting General that was trying to get his attention.  When he went over to the General and shook his hand the General said, "When I graduated my wife yelled I love you too."  Judd replied, "Only the best then, right?!"  The General laughed and agreed! 

Wow, the graduation was truly amazing.  Coming soon...my post about our adventures to Wrightsville Beach!

Oh yeah, tomorrow Judd is reenlisting for another 4 years!!!  Now the Army is stuck with him again Wa Ha Ha!!!  Plus he should be getting his first ever bonus : )  He only had to be in 7 years before he finally got one!

Well since this is my very first blog posting, I think I'll write about our most recent event: Judd got his GREEN BERET!!!!  Yeah!  After 3 years of hard work and a few manly tears he graduated Special Forces training July 9th 2010.  Hopefully I'll figure out how to  post a few pics from the graduation if not I'll call Tricia (my blog savvy little sis) for some help. 

The entire event was amazing!  Judd's parents, Paul and Sandy Entrikin, flew in the week before the ceremony.  My parents, Bill and Donna Herrmann, flew in a day or two before the ceremony but then got to stay after.  So we got a few overlapping days or what I like to call them - the super happy family fun times!

We went out to dinner two nights in a row which was a major treat for a guy that just returned from the field!  The first night out we went to Red Lobster (coconut shrimp...yumm!)  and it was perfect!  With Maddie Thyer babysitting Jack it was laid back and easy dining.  The second night out was at Olive Garden.  You may not guess what the best part of the meal ended up being...dessert!   As delicious as their pastas and breadsticks are, dessert had them beat!  We ordered these tiny little desserts that come in a variety of flavors and them passed them all around so that everyone could try every kind.  We were all laughing and calling out which ones were our favorites, then trying a new kind and calling that one our favorite!  Man, it was fun!

We were so happy to share this graduation with our parents.  I keep joking with Judd that I expect him to volunteer for more training schools with big ceremonies at the end so we can all have a redo!  Okey dokey, good night all!