Family

Jackson will be going overseas again shortly so we headed out Thursday afternoon to catch the ferry to Oak Harbor - since we've made the  trip a few times it gets easier each time. From our house to the port is really only 3 and a half hours, but you have to be there about 45 minutes prior, then the there's the ferry ride, docking etc.... but all in all not an unpleasant way to spend an afternoon. There's a lovely little diner right before that we stop and have dinner at, the food is good and the prices are too. Since we're back on the water David enjoys eating fresh seafood again, he tries something different each time. I had posted on Facebook that we were going to be out there this weekend and my cousin's wife told me their son is on the base for training - yep, it's another Navy boy. I contacted Tom Jr and asked him to dinner Saturday which he accepted, since Jackson will not be here for Thanksgiving I was doing the meal ahead of time. 

We could see the ferry from the restaurant and as we were finishing up I noticed they had not started loading so we hot-footed it over there to see if we could take the 5:45 - they squeaked us in the corner, we arrived at Chez Lester at 6:30 instead of 7:30, just in time to be bad grandparents and upset bedtime. We've noticed since moving here there is a lot less fan fare, the hugs and kisses are not quite as Gone With The Wind level, but I love that they' re getting used to seeing us at least once a month, so wonderful! It was a short visit and Jackson took us to the NEX to do shopping, it's been a long time since I've cooked for a small crowd - I was doing the basic Thanksgiving dinner but we managed to fill up the cart. Saturday was cooking, it's made far more interesting with having a pair of 3 year old "helpers". It's like cooking with an Octopus, opening the refrigerator they're both in there getting all handsy with the yogurt and applesauce. David and Jackson went to pick up Tom, they took him to the NEX so he could see it and also to pick up some odds and ends for me. Tom has only been there for less than a week and is only there for training. Dinner was so much fun, we were a bit crowded but made it work. Delilah and Chloe loved having Tom over, Chloe was beside herself - she must've hugged and high fived him a dozen times, it was very cute and Tom is a very patient man. 

We were so happy to get to see Jackson a couple of times before he is leaving and to have Thanksgiving with family for the first time in years. Tom got returned to the barracks after dinner and then we took off this morning around 7:30am as I have to work tomorrow. The girls are a little sad to see us go but I think they understand they'll see us again soon, not in 6 or 7 months. We will be spending Thanksgiving with Kim,Stephen and they're family and then for Christmas - Brandi and the girls are coming HERE!! We will have Kim and Stephen over too, I can't wait.