The Latest Caleb-isms

Sadly, I have not been so great about recordings those funny little moments over the past few months.  With summer travel and business, I just didn't take the time to write them down.  So bummed because I know there were a few good ones on vacation.  But I have captured a few moments to share and I have to share them before I forget them!

 

One day we received a package in the mail that had an item we wanted to surprise Caleb with later.  So I hid the package on top of the frig.  Somehow Caleb spotted it and we told him it was a surprise for later.  When he got the chance, he climbed up and peeked in the box.  In his excitement, he told us about the item.  Disappointed he had peeked, we warned that he may not get the surprise for a long time now.  He was sad he peeked, and for the next couple of days he began tell us this phrase.

Caleb: "My brain is empty now. I emptied my brain. It really is empty."
It took us a while to figure out what he meant, but we soon realized that he had emptied his brain so he wouldn't remember the surprise anymore.  He brain was empty!

Driving in the car one day.
Caleb: "Mom, someone told me that there is a rule that you have to get married again. And I said that was true."
Mom: "When do I have to get married again?"
Caleb: "If Dad dies you have to marry someone else."
Mom: "No you don't have to remarry. You could choose to.....but I don't think you have to worry about that. And if I died, Dad would not have to marry someone else."
Caleb: "If it was just dad and me, then I would have to go to meetings with him.....(sigh)....I would be so bored!"

One day when daddy was gone on a trip.
Caleb: "Mom, why do we have war? Because people die in wars. (sobbing) I don't want my daddy to die. I would cry every day if my daddy died!"
Broke my heart, and I didn't know what to say at all.

After the first few days of school, Caleb began to tell me about how they were discussing classroom rules. He said that he came up with a great rule to share. His rule was, "No Running." I told him that was a great rule and we should always walk at school.
Caleb: "Yep! I told the teacher no running out of the bathroom naked!"
Mom: "Oh that's just wonderful."

Caleb:  "I know why you make me do chores!"
Mom:  "Why is that?"
Caleb:  "So you can sit around and do Nothing!"
Mom:  "Yep!  That is exactly why!" (with a great big smile on my face!)

While dad was in Alaska, hunting a Dall Sheep Ram.
Caleb:  "Mom, why is dad shooting a ram? Because I am NOT eating that ram!  And I don't want a dead body in the house."
Mom:  "You will have to ask him that question."
Caleb:  "Well I am not eating that thing."

One day after not getting to do what he wanted to do and after spending time alone in his room, Caleb came down the stairs hauling his little pop up tent, a book, pillow pet, and his killer whale.  I asked him what he was doing.
Caleb:  "I am moving out, because you made me mad."  He then took his tent into the back yard.
Later that night, when it was time to clean up, I asked Caleb if we could take his tent inside.
Caleb:  "Yes, but if I get upset then I am moving back into my tent." 
At least he was willing to runaway to the backyard!

O Captain, My Captain!

Friday was a big day for our family.  Brydon was promoted to Captain!

Promotions in the military are exciting events and due to Brydon's boss retiring, the promotion turned out to be an extra special day.  The Major was kind enough to include Brydon's promotion in the retirement ceremony and it was a great military event.

The Major served just over 24 years in the military and he served in both the Navy and Air Force.  The Flight presented him with this beautiful (rather large) shadow box with many of his awards and decorations from his service.  The Major has been such a great mentor to Brydon and he is an amazing man. 

As part of the retirement ceremony, the flight did a rare flag passing ceremony.  It is a beautiful ceremony celebrating the many rank advancements the Major had received during his military career.  You can get a small feel for it in the video below.

For rank advancements the Airman gets to choose 2 people to pin on his new rank.  We decided to pull Caleb out of school to be a part of this special day.  It will be years before we advance to Major and we wanted to really celebrate together as a family.  Caleb even got a uniform just like his dad's and I was able to sew on Captain's bars.  So both boys were able to be Captains.

Caleb was really nervous and didn't think he could do it by himself but he did a great job!  He was so excited and could hardly sleep the night before.  He was very focused and was great!

Immediately after pinning on the new bars, Caleb grabbed his dad and gave him a big hug! 

My two awesome Captains!

We were able to have some great friends come and support Brydon.  They were able to film the pinning on for us.  We are sure grateful for the amazing people in our lives.  We always have "family" wherever we go.

After the pinning ceremony, Brydon then retook the Oath of Office.  In a somewhat Navy tradition the Major swore Brydon in and then as Brydon's first act as Captain, he relieved the Major from duty. 

I find these Military traditions very touching and think it was a really neat moment.  There is a lot of beauty in these old military traditions.

It is hard to believe that we have officially been in the military for 2 years now.  It doesn't seem that long ago that a newly commissioned 2nd Lt. was pulled out of Medical school to commission Brydon in Philadelphia.  It was a quick, last minute ceremony in an empty classroom so that just a few days later we could send Brydon off to Alabama.  We were suddenly thrown in the military, when we thought we had months of waiting.  However last minute, it has been a wonderful journey and we are proud to serve our country and be part of the United States Air Force.