It's Official!

Ethan re-enlisted yesterday so it is finally official. We have signed our lives over for at least another 4 years. No more waiting to see what happens next. No more wondering if things are going to work out for the best. Ethan spent almost an entire year trying to make sure that he could stay a Marine, and now he doesn't have to worry for a good while. It is a huge sigh of relief for us.

The morning started off nicely. I woke up on time {a big accomplishment for me when I didn't go to bed until past 3 am the night before} and did my hair before the rest of the house began to stir. Jennifer took a quick shower while I woke up Aiden and got him ready. We made it early to the parking lot and got both kids in the strollers and to the grassy area where the ceremony was going to take place when we realized that while we had grabbed the sippy cups, make up bags, food to keep the kids quiet and happy, etc. we had forgotten the one major thing that was needed. The camera!! It was left on the bed next to where the cups were. For some reason we grabbed the cups but completely missed the other essential. And because Ethan was the only person re-enlisting no one else had a camera with them. So we have like three pictures that were taken with a camera phone. I was bummed, but I couldn't do anything about it.

I had never seen a re-enlistment ceremony before so I didn't know what to expect when Ethan told me that I would be standing in front of the formation too to receive a certificate. I was a little nervous, although looking back I have no idea why because I literally stood there and looked pretty :-) He was discharged and was asked if he had anything to say as a civilian. He turned his cover backwards, did a goofy Michael Jackson spin, fixed his cover back and said "No sir." Everyone laughed {even though they were in formation} and then they got on to the rest of it. I was called up to receive my appreciation certificate. It was a nice little ceremony and Ethan had the rest of the day off.

Within the next two months we'll find out when he'll be going to his OJT and then on to Florida for his school. I'm a little nervous about moving to Florida just because I know that he'll need to be really focused on his schooling. I don't want him worrying about how Aiden and I are settling in, but with an MOS like EOD I really would like to spend as much time together as we can because I know that the next four years are going to bring a lot of time apart as well. I'm starting to prepare myself for that aspect.

So here we are, starting the next chapter of our Marine Corps life. It's gonna be a hell of a ride!!


On a side note, Aiden has a doctor's appointment in Wilmington tomorrow so we're trying to find things around the area that is inside {he'll be getting his eyes dilated} and kid-friendly. I'm thinking a visit to the Children's Museum is in order. I'm definitely not forgetting the camera this time!