Weekend Pass

Sara and Mitchell went down to Indi on Friday evening to go pick up Ricky who has a long weekend pass. They got back into town a little after 10:00. Maddison and Mackenzee stayed to play with Brent and I. And boy, did we play! It was late when I put them in the bath and Sara called to tell me they were 10 minutes away. When Mackenzee heard that, she started freaking out...."Hurry up Grandma! We HAVE to get in bed RIGHT NOW. Uncle Ricky is supposed to wake us up...hurry, hurry, hurry" Sara had told the girls that she would be back late, but she assured them that their Uncle Ricky would be sure to wake them up when he got in. So Mackenzee took it that they HAD to be asleep when he got there. Well, it didn't quite happen that way, but they did manage to hurry under the covers in my room just as Ricky walked in.
He looks and sounds so grown up now.



Mitchell driving to Indi to pick up Ricky.

Sara riding along to Indi to go pick up Ricky.

Sara's first glimpse of Ricky. She said he was already waiting outside when they arrived and because of the traffic flow, he barely had time to JUMP into the vehicle as they drove by!

Made it....finally!

Sara and Ricky hamming it up on the way to Fort Wayne.

Ricky trying his beret on for Sara.

Fort Wayne and.....Ashley......FINALLY!

Do you think they've missed each other?!!

Yup! I think so!

Uncle Ricky....you're home!

YEAH!!!!!

We are all so happy to see him.

I'm really happy to see him.

"Cheese!"

Ringo telling Ricky "Hello" - me checking out his hair cut.

Ricky and Ashley.....Ricky's reason for coming home this weeked....stay tuned for the next blog!!

Still happy to see him!

Proud Army parent!

"Hello Grandma!"

"Hello Silver!"

"Gees.....flashes going off every second!"

Even Laurel made an appearance at home to welcome Ricky.

"Wow, it's not HOT here....I like it!"

So happy to be back for a visit.

Mackenzee making sure he's real!

The party really got rolling when the girls began jumping off the counters into their Papa's arms!

"Catch me Papa!!"

Ricky was telling us how amazed he was at how people treated him just becuase he was wearing his ACUs. People at the airports stopped him constantly and thanked him. He was a little taken aback...not sure why they were thanking him. On the plane, an older man sitting next to him asked him how old he was. When Ricky told him 21 (Yup--he's 21 now!), the man asked if he'd like a beer. Ricky told him sure, he'd have one. The man had just returned from out of the country and only had $10 in American money on him. The beer was $7, so he ordered one for Ricky and got a water for himself. The stewardess said she wasn't going to charge for Ricky's because he's military. So, Ricky said he told the man to get one for himself and they toasted each other.

Truly, Ricky actually carries himself differently (more proud maybe) when he's in his ACUs.

Anyway, everyone was very happy to see him.

More to come.................................... it gets even more exciting!