Back from 9/14/07 PIR

[KYmom]

Arrived in Waukegan on thursday at 2:30. Checked into the Residence Inn there, then took a tour of the area and to find the base entrance.
To find base entrance when you go down Buckley it's the second entrace, which is just past the second set of railroad tracks.
Meet up with Sue (sethsmom),Connie (WAmom), Tina (GAmom), Karen (Daylilly) from Navy Moms.org & United Navy Families, and lots of others.
It was a busy night at the full moon.
Got up early on Friday and headed to the base for PIR.
We sat up next to the wall on the first level right infront of the doors were they come through. (took the binoculars).
Was able to spot our son before he entered the building. It was awsome,
we could tell from the binoculars that he had spotted where we were sitting, so when they called liberty we stayed there and let him come to us. It didn't take long for him to get there.
We went to the main nex off base and shopped then went back to the hotel for awhile before heading to Anastacia's in Waukegen to eat.
The food there was good. Then headed back to base.
Spent Saturday in Chicago, went to Shedds Aquarium, Sears Tower and the Navy Pier, then back to base.
The other side is awsome.

[tmsmom]

We had a great time meeting other parents at the Full Moon Restaurant on Thursday night before graduation. Thanks so much for getting us together. I also learned about this site which is awesome.

Our son was very excited to see us. My husband because he is taller than I actually saw him wipe a tear from his eye when he saw us walking to him after graduation. We spent the day at the Gurnee mall after eating at Chilli's. Tim had to be back early for his watch which was from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. We did have him for the whole day on Saturday so we went to Chicago and visited the Navy Pier and took a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan. After that we walked to the Sears Tower and took the elevator to the top. We had a great time. I told him it was something to have a celebrity in our family since he had several people come up to him and thank him and want to shake his hand. He also got to ride up in the Sears Tower free since he had his military ID.

Sunday was my husband's birthday so we took him to breakfast and went back to the Navy Lodge since our son wanted to watch a movie and just relax. After that we took a tour at the Jelly Belly factory which was interesting.

We finally had to say goodbye which was really hard but we will really cherish the time we were able to spend with our son and look forward to his first break when he can come home. We still do not know where he is going to his A school since their RDC would not tell them until Monday and they are leaving on Tuesday.

Cynthia (tim's mom)

[Michaelsmom]

Love the pictures. Congraulations on your new Sailors!!! Debbie aka Michaelsmom

[Kristie]

Pictures are wonderful.....we missed you!

Yes...the other side is awesome!

[KYmom]

He thinks the other side is awsome too.
He got to have steak last night at the base. LOL . .
He likes the refrigerator and microwave in his room, and he said a "nice mattress" LOL .
Wonder why he didn't like the boot camp one? ? ?
LOL

[Kristie]

LOL....too funny.....it is so different for them after BC....I remember poor Jennifer could not make any decisions about what she wanted to eat that weekend...lol