More I Do’s

Congrats to Cole and Amanda Williamson!

Chad’s younger brother got married yesterday morning to sweet Amanda! Unfortunately, I couldn’t make the nuptials, the stack of work on my desk was calling my name.

I got to spend Saturday with Cole after I picked him up from the airport, weather was nice, Cole put the top down on the Vette…nice. We stopped off and got Cole outfitted for his big day and then grabbed a bite to eat.

Sunday I headed down to Cowboy Church with Chad’s family, had lunch with them, and then went with Glen to see Nana. Always glad to see Nana.

Thanks for spending the weekend with me Williamson’s!

Was going to try and go see Chad this weekend…but he got new orders. He is leaving Benning and heading to Camp Shelby, MS to start pre-deployment training.  Bummer.

A HUGE THANK YOU to two of the guys at the office for being so supportive and offering to help me out so much to try and get to Chad. I consider myself to be so lucky to work with such great people.

- JCW

“It is the soldier who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag." - Dennis Edward O'Brien

Happy Wedding Weekend!

Happy Wedding Weekend to my pretty pretty older sister, Lisa!  You looked gorgeous,but then again  you’re a Dessi, I expected nothing less. :)

Bride, Dad, Me @ the Rehearsal lunch

Lisa – Lisa and her two cute new kiddos

Sunday was rough at the wedding… This was our first, of many, big events apart. I know how much Chad wanted to be there and how much I wanted him there.

To the Bride and Groom: Congrats from A Solider and his Wife – we love you both!

- JCW

Termites Eat Concrete?

I guess the ones at Ft. Benning do. For the time being Chad managed to kill them with Lysol…who knew!

Chad informed his higher ups earlier this week. Army motto “sit around wait” right? He still has termites. My guess, he will have them until he goes to his next station.

-JCW

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.
--George Orwell--

Tick Tock…Tick…….Tock

Does it feel like a minute takes an hour to anyone else around here?

So Chad is at Ft. Benning, no internet and thanks to all our fine tax dollars building all those concrete barracks, he has little cell service too.

Long week, past, another long week ahead.

- JCW

Let The Deployment Begin

I dropped Chad off at the airport this morning. He is headed off to training for the next month or two. Today, Chad left for Ft. Benning.  Thanks to my sister Lisa, her fiancé, RJ, A.J. and Kathy for coming out to the airport and keeping my spirits high!

Below are pictures from our last weekend together and the last picture is from today at the airport!

Dinner at Wolf Gang Puck in Reunion Tower

Last full day together. How cute are my two boys?

Last minute errand before heading to the airport.

My super boo boo face. Check out Chad’s fresh shave!

About to say goodbye. :(

I should get to see Chad one more time for a long weekend before he heads overseas. We have no dates or details at this time. As I know where Chad is going I will let everyone know. However, I will not post the dates he will be leaving for his deployment, just time frames.

- JCW

We’re Back!

DC was a blast! We landed around noon on Sunday, got to the hotel, put on our walking shoes on and headed out too see the sights!

 

On Day 2 we rented a SMART car and drove up to Baltimore and spent the day on the harbor. We had some pretty awesome crab cakes and visited the old historic ships. We both really enjoyed this entire day. (AND I am totally buying a SMART car for my next set of wheels)

 

One of the main reasons we ventured to D.C. was Chad really wanted to get to see the National Cemetery. Even covered in snow, it is a sight to see. We were lucky to see the changing of the guards, which is as amazing as the stories you hear. Those guys are nothing short of perfection!

 

I would like to add that while we were visiting the cemetery I think we were very humbled to witness the funeral of a solider. Very honorable.  I was extremely upset when a group of young high school students came walking by and didn’t stop to pay respect nor did they even stop talking and shouting… I was saddened at their disrespect to one of our fallen. One young boy was even so disrespectful as to start taking pictures of the soldier's service…

The Iwo Jima memorial was just around the corner, so we made the trek in the snow. I probably should have worn jeans and not a dress.

On our last full day we took a taxi over to Alexandria, VA. We got to visit the church of General Robert E. Lee and our first President, George Washington! The below picture is us sitting in the Washington pew.

          

The last two pictures are both walls by memorials that I couldn't agree with more.

We had an awesome vacation, and if you have never made the trip up there, we recommend it!

- JCW

Would they like a pint of my blood too?

Chad’s last day of work was earlier this week, so he has been getting everything ready to ship out. I feel like they need my entire life biography as well as his. I was ready to stick my arm out and give them a pint of blood, might have been easier!

Getting everything together and packed for Chad has been a pain! We got him a new laptop though the other day…built in webcam, we already tested Skype! :) (TO ALL FAMILY: DOWNLOAD!!!)

An exciting plus, we leave for DC on Sunday! Can’t wait for our 5 days away from everything! It’s just us going, so we will be able to really enjoy each other before Chad leaves.

We might have splurged a little on our hotel, we are staying 2 blocks down 16th Ave from the White House @ The St. Regis (www.stregis.com). We’ll update with photos when we get back! We will be flipping our cells off for most of the trip. :)

Hope everyone has a good week.

- JCW

Valentines Weekend

Since we just booked a 5 day vacation to Washington, DC the week before Chad leaves, we decided to skip the fancy dinner out and enjoy a day downtown yesterday.

We started off at the Dallas Aquarium, then had a disappointing lunch at Spaghetti Warehouse and attempted to go to the bodies exhibit. Thanks to the MBA All Star game and cold weather everyone was seeking shelter in the exhibit…boo.

We headed over to the DMA instead. Probably a bit more entertaining for me than Chad… he was a good sport though.

Before heading home we stopped at the Galleria, Chad needed some shaving supplies to pack in his bag (www.theartofshaving.com). I went on the hunt for a new purse for a bit so Chad made his own turn off, when I got out he had a small turquoise bag in his hand to surprise me… yes, Tiffany’s! He got me the bracelet I have been wanting for forever. Always full of surprises that one :)

We cooked a yummy dinner at home and enjoyed a relaxing evening together. Can’t get enough of those with him leaving soon!

A Little Snow

By a little… we mean record breaking!!

Chad and I got outside last night and had a snowball fight and built a snowman… hey us Texans don’t get this stuff often!

 

Yes, our snowman kind of looks like a burn victim… We don’t get much practice?

An unexpected day of fun before Chad ships off!

- JCW

A Going Away Party

Thank you to all the family that made it out to the going away party for Chad and Cole last night! It meant a lot to both Chad and I!

A big extra special thank you to Heather for helping find a location with such short notice, Glen and Vicki for picking up the room, and Christine for grabbing the flowers!

Below are a few pictures from the party:

- JCW