Basic Training Graduation~ Ft Leonard Wood, MO

Howdy friends….

Today I’m going to share our trip to Missouri.

Last Wednesday morning we flew to St. Luis….our baby soldier was graduating boot camp.

We watched the sunrise from the airplane….it was beautiful.

I am not a fan of flying…but there was no way I could miss her graduation.

It was a good flight and having my Mister beside me….I felt brave and even looked out the airplane windows.

We were shocked when we landed….we couldn’t believe all the snow and ice!

We don’t see this kind of stuff living so close to the gulf coast.

Here we are waiting for the the shuttle….Mister had already gulped his Starbucks….

I nursed mine….the windchill was –15degrees! WOOT!

( note we were wearing shorts just a few days earlier…lol. )

We rented a 4 wheel drive suv ( amen ) because we had a 2 hour drive and there was snow & ice on the ground and snow flurries…..the remainder of the day.

That’s me in the rearview mirror taking a picture of the ice on the truck.

The drive was beautiful~

We made it!

Did I tell you, the genius did not know I was coming? Nope, she didn’t. She was only expecting her daddy. She knows I do not fly….but she had her suspicions. I think she knows I would go to the ends of the earth for her….

I

I loved this house…..

Getting close to her barracks. At this point she was on the phone with Mister giving him directions and asked him 25 times. Where is Mom? She even called, my dad, my mother in law and bear. No one would tell her anything….lol.

I crouched down in the floorboard of the suv and I could hear her voice through Mister’s phone….she was looking out the window and then I jumped out blew her a kiss and took a bow. I heard her scream and then her friends ( battle buddies ) giggled and she cried. Don’t tell her I told you. Soldiers don’t cry either. lol.

Then they had to get in formation….

Being silly in formation

Day pass!

We toured the base and she showed us where she did some of her training.

Such an incredible day.

I loved this church~

This is what they call a cattle car….they load 150+ soldiers including ours in here….

I loved seeing the snow covering everything in sight.

The temperature. 9 degrees!!

Thursday morning….the view outside our hotel.

Time to graduate!! HOOAH! ( that’s what the Army says )

Soldiers creed ( you can click to enlarge any picture )

Here she is!

We have never been so proud~

They played a slideshow of their 10 week training.

This is her on the big screen

She also got the sharpshooter badge! Isn’t that awesome? HOOAH!

Me & My girl

She is Daddy’s girl, too

I loved this picture.

After graduation we got to take her off base. We had lunch at Cracker Barrel and went bowling. We had a wonderful time! We were so fortunate to have this time with her. We came home early Friday morning and she left for her next adventure. Training for her job = missiles. sigh.

♥ Jessica