We were able to go visit our young man over Labor Day weekend for Parent's Weekend. It is always held that weekend alongside their first home football game. It was nearly 2.5 months since the boys had seen each other. Boo!
We were initially planning to be in a hotel but heard the doolies would always have to be in their dress blues when out of their room, and we thought that wouldn't be much fun. So we got a house instead and it worked out just great!
Riding down in the 'ol Aviator with my chauffeurs.
We arrived on Thursday night, and Jason and the boys got there really late that evening.
Thursday was just allowed a hug pretty much.
Friday - cadet wing parade, dorm and campus tour, and then we could bring him home for a few hours.
Saturday - football game and then we got to officially get Grant for 48 hours and 2 nights away from the military life.
I see him!!!
It was great for Mom, Dad and me to get there early as we were able to hand him his "junk" he needed, decide what he really needed, and then grab the bag on Saturday.
Friday - the first one to spot him after the parade and go running/flying into his arms was Reid.
I wish I had the whole thing on video but he pretty much took off towards him as soon as we were allowed to and left us behind.
It was really hot. And we think Kyle had covid and it kicked his booty. He didn't do much with us Friday - Saturday. By Sunday afternoon, he was able to play games outside and be a little social.
Only Reid, Jason and I did the campus tour as it was so hot and a lot of uphill walking.
His squadron's doolies showing up what Minutes looks like every morning at 6:45 am. Eek. Fully dressed and ready for an question/answer and reciting ability about nearly anything AF related.
His dorm.
Reid taking his turn on (he thinks) the same footprints Grant was on for BCT.
The others met us at his dorm. It's old and small and very little storage and he "gets" to be the top bunk.
Squadron 39 hometowns.
We love it there are three from OK and two from Stillwater!
There are only two cadets from Stillwater at the entire campus and somehow they're both Jedis (Grant will switch squads next year)
He's finally able to relax.
He was at our VRBO for about 30 seconds and Reid just kept following him around saying "want to do this?" "hey, Grant, wanna play....." It was pretty sweet and obvious he had really missed his brother.
"I haven't been able to sit in a cozy chair in two months and six days" he said as we were watching a movie that first night. Bless his heart! The things we hadn't thought about.
He had to get dressed again to go back to campus for the night.
Saturday at the football game - Jedi tailgate.
Jedi boat - they are the only squad out of 40 that has such a fun thing to cook out of, etc. It's been a great place for a "baby squad" experience.
Where else can you find a parachuting mascot at a football game?!
cool flyovers each game as well
Game time.
They destroyed their opponet.
It was so hot. Hotter than OK on this day.
We were able to sit in the Oklahoma parent's section which was nice to start seeing familiar faces.
Like this one!
We met on Thursday in a gas station bathroom.
She's a Deer Creek mom and is neighbors with one of my childhood friends.
Our boys don't know each other yet but they will soon!
Cozy for 48 hours away from school.
Kyle was finally better on Monday.
Just in time to leave...
a few pictures before we have to say goodbye on Monday!
Hilarious parent post after the weekend was over...
The cadets are given two hats with their class color. One is the BCT hat and one is for the rest of the time. I laughed at just how disgusting the one got after six weeks of sweat and work.
Forgot to mention the shower started leaking into the light fixture on the first floor.
Eek.
Heading home.
At least we had Eddie to smile with since we were sad to leave.
We get asked ALL the time "How are you doing?" in regards to him being gone. That weekend just confirmed it - it's so hard to be sad when you know your kid is thriving - especially in such a tough environment. We were able to hear a lot of stories about his experiences and requirements. His life is TOUGH right now. And he's usually smiling and positive about his day.
There's only been one time this entire time where he has sounded really sad/lonely. I hope it was short-lived and it seems to have been.
USAFA misc - pictures he has sent us or screenshots I have taken of BeReal.
This was his first Sunday allowed off base for church and he was nice enough to send (only his DAD) a picture of him.
happy shot of taking a study break in the library. Must have been Flight Suit Friday!
Green screen "BCT photos" - we laughed at them.
Jedi 39 pictures from their instagram page
yes, that's him laying on cornhole boards. Several of his class took other squads boards during tailgating time. Guess that's a thing for doolies to prove themselves to the upper classmen.
The USAFA Commandant (school president sort of) is right in the middle. Grant is right over his shoulder. and Lance from Stillwater is just over Grant's shoulder.
Pretty cool.
His two besties in the front and favorite roommate in the back.
On their way to intramural soccer...
Where he is apparently the GOALIE!
What the heck.
We laughed when we heard that update.
Meals are family style. Tables are set by doolies.
Different outfits he has/will have and get to wear.
getting ready for their first SAMI (Saturday AM Inspection) where it is intensely scrutinized, and graded, which goes to their overall cadet ranking. It is as a room and not individual score. They got a 95 because one cadet had dust on a shelf on his desk and they as a room had a few smudges on their mirror.
having dinner with Brennan later that night enjoying their SAMI score.
He was on the Jedi Instagram. Guess this is mimicking a favorite scene from Ron Burgundy.
And this is roommate Brennan wearing their required cadet robe but so tightly bound b/c there is a logo on the chest that the doolies cannot show b/c they haven't earned the right to display it.
One of my favorite pictures.
FINALLY got to get off base last Friday night with friends. They borrowed an upperclassman's truck and five of them went to a movie and dinner. Gotay and Lily, Lee and Jenna.
Lily's mom - top left - sent these to me b/c she thought they were cute!
Yes, they are. Glad other parents can help keep us informed to the fun stuff
(ahem, Grant, when you read this!)
