There's More

Not only does he sing........

He also plays the bugle.

- These photos were taken by the wondrous Navy Parent, Nushi Carrera. Nushi lives near the yard and frequently posts photos from various Naval Academy events as well as from the day to day activities. There are a boatload of parents who will be forever grateful to Nushi for providing us with frequent glimpses into the lives of a Naval Academy midshipman, and even better - photos of our very own Waldo. Thanks, Nushi!

He Sings?

There's my Waldo - front and center, trumpet (aka soprano bugle) in hand and SINGING. I didn't even know he could sing.

- photos compliments of Navy parent, Stefan Ventura,
I told you Navy parents were wonderful!

More sightings! I love Navy parents!

This is a tough one. My Waldo is in there, but it takes a mother's eye to spot him. First row, second set of shoulders. You can see just a bit of his glasses behind his ear and the diagonal stripe on his shoulder board.

Behind the drums, front row of horns, with the glasses.

In the row closest to the camera, second from the right - carrying the thing that looks like a trumpet but is actually a soprano bugle (so I'm told). I'm pretty sure that's Ian's roommate two people in front of him. Boy, I'm getting good at this Waldo thing!

Navy parents with cameras - I love you!!! Thanks to PixelParv for the photos!

First Waldo Sighting of the Season

Thanks to Nushi, fellow Navy mom, here is the first sighting of my Waldo for the year - right of center in the dark glasses. (No not sunglasses - transitions.) This is a practice parade and they are wearing the uniforms that they wear on a typical school day. The firsties (aka seniors) are in tan.

The Box Kids

The littles and the neighbor kids confiscated our recycling boxes and turned them into the preferred mode of transportation for superheroes. Unfortunately, the girls had not been briefed on appropriate and inappropriate decor of said vehicles and were kicked out of the club for drawing hearts on one superhero's rear fender. Imagine that!

When Max was driving around in his box this morning, he recounted the offense. I tried to stick up for Catherine and Hope and told Max (age 7) that even superheroes need to have a little heart. His response, "They do! They have a heart for justice!"

This time next month.......

I will have a whole better perspective on life,

I will not be yelling, "shut the door, shut the door, shut the door,"

I may actually start and maintain an exercise program,

I may be sane for at least 6 hours/ day,

I may start sorting, organizing and scrapping 20 years of family photos,

I may blog again!

This time next month school will have been in session for one week and it doesn't look like I'll be homeschooling anyone next year. Last year was my first year, in 19 years of motherhood, to have an empty quiet house from Monday to Friday, for six hours each day. I think I spent the whole year in shock and recovery. This year I plan to actually accomplish something! Tune in sometime next month.

Blowing Bubbles, etc.....

I am loving my Mother's Day gift - a new Canon Rebel. These were the first photos I took. It just took me 6 weeks to get the pictures on the computer. Aren't they great?

Herndon - finally!

You didn't think I'd show pictures of the Naval Academy with out at least one of the Drum&Bugle, did you?? That's Ian on the far right. This was noon meal formation. Sorry there's no sound!


Some of my wonderful new USNA mommy friends!

Ian and Kiley carb loading before the big climb. McDonald's delivery compliments of Grandpa!

The monument! It is much taller than it looks in this picture, especially when coated with lard!

Getting started.

Making progress. They used their whiteworks from plebe summer to wipe the lard off the monument. They also scooped up handfuls of lard and flung it to wherever it might land - sometimes on the spectators. I was lucky, me and my camera stayed grease free.

Ahhh - the top, at last. Just when it looked like we would be there for hours, a young mid from Wyoming scaled the bottom layers of the pyramid to grab the dixie cup from it's perch. It happened so unexpectedly that noone had the Navy cover needed to replace the dixie cup. All ended well and the class of 2012 finished in a respectable 1:14:38. Just the right amount of time if you ask me.

Some happy plebes-no-more!

The aftermath! They brought in some heavy machinery to clean the whole place up. New sod was even in place by that evening and everything was ready to go for commissioning at the end of the week.

Here is Ian, no worse for the wear, after the climb. I never saw him during the whole event. He and his friends were on the bottom layer on the opposite side from where I was sitting. I am sure I wouldn't have seen him in that mass of midshipmen anyway.

Ian and Austin, after the climb, all decked out and ready for a celebratory dinner. Plebes No More, Plebes No More!!!

Of course, after all of the hoopla's over, somebody's still got to do the laundry and for this time it's not ME!!!

I will return.........

There is a whole lot going on at Table for Eight, and surely some of it is noteworthy enough to be blogged, it is just that I can't seem to grab enough uninterrupted time at the computer while all of the kiddos are home.

The Waldo sightings have been put on hold for now as well, because Waldo is currently residing under the very same roof as the rest of his siblings. His 4 week leave ends Sunday and then it is off to spend a little time learning about the Navy while aboard the USS Monterey.

More Waldo sightings to follow once football season begins. Go Navy!