HAPPY 2007!!!

To kick off my postings of 2007, I'm displaying a sampling of pictures from R's deployment.......

Pulling into Brunei

(Island of Borneo)

When they crossed the equator on the way over, since it was his first equator crossing, R participated in the festivities as a "WOG"......

But on the way back, he was now qualified to participate as a "SHELLBACK"!!

Note the halo above his skull and cross bones---

as chaplain, he referred to himself as a "HOLY SHELLBACK!!!"

This picture was actually in one of the Navy papers! He worked with an organization and was able to get 3 Christmas trees for the ship!!

Some of the families had sent their sailor Christmas decorations, but many of them used "necessity as the mother of invention" to create their own---- warfare pins were hung on the tree with dental floss and, yes, a dashboard hula-girl someone had picked up in Hawaii was rigged for the angel!!

She has the Dubuque crest hanging on her arm.

Another exciting event on the way over was a storm!! This pic is taken from the bridge. And they were actually skirting AROUND the storm!!

Just to get a bit of perspective........ the deck is over 30 feet above the water line!

Pulling into Hawaii

Some fun in Australia

One of their outings in Borneo was to the rainforest.....

They boated down the river.......

Then climbed up scaffolding to the rainforest canopy!!

A couple of FUN ones in Dubai

Where's R??

Christmas 2006 -- Part 3

Of course, I spent time with R's family, too!!

Here's his Dad proudly showing off his

"MY SON IS IN THE U.S. NAVY" bumper sticker!! :)

We had to go to Rosie Jo's in Ozark to give R a fried pickle salute!!

YUMMY!!!

Seriously into a family Christmas tradition---a puzzle!!

And a NOT so serious game of "whatever-you-want-to-call-it" poker!!

(And, no, there was nothing extra in our coffee :)

After a great time "home for Christmas," Truman and I headed back to sunny Southern California just in time to miss the ICE!!

This tree is in my in-laws front yard. Believe it or not, it survived!!

But, not this one in their side yard :(

Christmas 2006 -- Part 2

Since R was gone, I was not going to spend Christmas in California ALONE!! So, I packed up and Truman and I went "home for Christmas".....for almost a month!!!

I got to spend some time with my brother and nephew.....

...at Bass Pro.

...at our cousin's house.

...and bowling a few frames. If I remember correctly, the boy won!!!

I even got to see A's Christmas program at school!!!

Spent some time with Dad...

And were able to see some extended family, too.....

In this pic: Grandpa, my brother, and Grandma's brothers

Truman loved this tree, too!!

Andre triumphing over his Christmas HAUL!!!

But, I saved probably my favorite pic of the trip for last.......

Grandpa and Andre!

And for you kids who know (sadly--knew) my Grandpa,

can you tell he his counting Andre's ribs???? :)

Christmas 2006 -- Part 1

With R gone, I didn't mess with putting the tree up, but I still had to decorate some! So, I focused on decorating the table and bannister and, as our tradition, set up our

Precious Moments Nativity set.

R's sister had given this to him for Christmas a few years back.

R's mom had done the ceramic tree for us before we moved. It's the one we had set up in the hotel Christmas Eve the year before during our move to California. It was much easier to set it up by myself than the big tree!!

Ornery boy, Truman, decided he wanted to check out the tree!!!