What have I done?

You can all blame another Air Force Mom for making me create this blog. You all know I am talking about Hallie http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/ She has shamed many of us Air Force Moms (and possibly some dads though they won't admit it) into creating blogs. Hers is the blog every new Air Force Mom wishes she had created before her child went into the Air Force. If you have a few hours to spare head on over and check out her blog and learn all about her wonderful Airman (CJ, A1C Twomey, Shmoopy). You can also check out the comments that folks have left concerning her posts. Some will bring tears to your eyes.

Back to why I am creating this blog. Because I want a place where I can share information about my pride and joy, A1C Sharayah (Shay) Farrell. She is currently serving in the US Air Force as a Medical Lab Tech and will be heading to Wright Patterson AFB (Dayton), OH to continue her training (10 months) before heading to her first permanent duty assignment. She has been in since May 15th, 2007. We are so very proud of her and the decision she made to join the Air Force.

Today is the day after Christmas and I am lucky enough to have my daughter home with me for the holidays. There are many parents who do not have their kids home for one reason or another. Please take a moment to think of them. Shay graduated from the Med Lab Tech Course at Sheppard AFB on December 19th and her and a friend (A1C Sarah Burgess) made the long trip to Florida. Thank you Sarah for providing Shay company and sharing the driving. Sarah then left on Dec 24th to go to Massachusetts to spend Christmas with her family.

The girls were making great timing until they got a flat in Mariana, Florida. After waiting almost 3 hours they finally got their tire changed but then could not drive more than 50 mph. They stopped in Tallahassee just before 7am so I convinved her to buy a new tire. They found the tire store, had to wait for the technician to get there and were finally on their way by 8:30am. They arrived at my house around 1pm. Tired, Hungry and definately needing a nap.

We took them out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory and they were going to hang out with a freind from MacDill but decided they needed their rest so came home instead. Saturday was uneventful. The girls did go meet up with their friend at the Mall but were home by 11pm and then on Sunday we all went to see the Manatees. If you have never seen one it is pretty cool to see. They come up the river by the power plant in the winter months because of the water being heated through the plant. There were tons of them, some with babies, just floating around the river. Then Sunday evening I prepared our Holiday Meal. We wanted to share it with Sarah before she left. A couple of their friends came over and we all had a nice evening. Then I had to get up at 5am to take Sarah to the Airport. Later that day we took Shay to the Outlet Mall and she showed me the Coach Store. Hallie, I see why you like them so much. The one I want is over $400. So I guess I can keep wanting. Then we drove around St. Petersburg and went to the beach. Can you imagine being at the beach on Christmas Eve? Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that. But, there we were. Had supper at a sandwich shop and headed home. Then we opened our Christmas Eve Gifts. ALWAYS pajamas. I got Mickey Mouse pajamas, Shay got Victoria Secrets pjs (get your mind out of the gutter..they were flannel jammies) and Wes got shorts from the OU store. For those that don't know my husband is a Sooner born and bred. After we all changed into our new jammies we settled in to watch The Christmas Story. Probably another tradition in our house for the last several years anyway.

Christmas morning started early for me. No, not the kids waking me up. It was the dogs! And it was 530am! They should have went potty before they went to bed. Well, they didn't so I had to get up with them, let them out, and put them back to bed. Got back to sleep and they were up again around 730 so I stayed up this time. I got breakfast started and waited for the rest of them to get up. We opened gifts and then we went to Disney World Animal Kingdom. Another first for me. Good thing we did not plan on going to the Magic Kingdom. As we were driving up the long road we saw the sign telling us that the Majic Kingdom was closed. Go figure we thought. Well it appers they had reached maximum capacity. I can not even imagine what it must have been like in that park yesterday. I have been to Disneyland when it was crowded but never at maximum capacity (like my brother said..so they do count). It was nice spending the day with my husband and daughter.

Now today I am back at work. Spouse and daughter are home (still sleeping) while I sit here creating this blog. I can't promise that I will be as witty as Hallie or that I will even blog everyday but I will try to keep you posted on the happenings of the Lewis Family and the accoplishments of A1C Shay Farrell.

Have a great Shopping/Return Day and I hope to see you all tomorrow.

Michelle