Family Day and Graduation

Well, Family Day finally came. We were supposed to be on base for a 10 oclock Demonstration. I'm sitting at the hotel around 8 just waiting. I have butterflies in my stomach just waiting to see my son. It's been a long time (to me). We finally decide to leave around 8:30. I know an hour and half early. But, I guess we need to make sure we can find the spot. We get on the base and follow the directions (I think). Pull into the first parking lot and there are no cars. We think that we are doing great. We are the first ones here. A soldier walks by and we ask him if we are in the right spot for graduation...nope. We're on the wrong side of the base! You would think that the people at the gates would have told us this. They asked if we were here for graduation and just let us go right in. This gate was on the opposite side of the highway, not like it was just the wrong side of the base!
We finally got to the area that we were supposed to be in and had to stop at a stop sign and let soldiers pass. Boy, Tommy got impatient! He started fussing that they just kept coming and looks like they would let us go ahead...like we were the only ones on base trying to find out soldier!Ha. We had to wait until 10 for the activities to start and at straight up 10, the music started and just to the right of us up ahead we heard the troops marching and chanting. Oh, the butterflies just started fluttering!! They set off smoke bombs and the troops had to march through all this smoke...hey, I'm trying to see my baby! The battery of guys lined up across the field from us. We knew Cody was in the second row, 4th person. Mallary took lots (and I mean lots) of pictures of the guy in the 2nd group, 2nd row, 4th person. I told her that it was not him but she argued with me...Never argue with Mama when it comes to where her baby is! I had found him and...yep...it was him. I asked him is he scratched his back and did some other movements and he said "how'd you know" Mamas just know...
After the demonstrations, where they did an enemy capture routine, showed us combat fights and other manouvers that they had learned, they dismissed back to the bays for instructions for the day. We marched behind the troop and they lined up in formation yet again. I found my boy and when they were told to go up and change for the day, I grabbed him and had to get my squeeze on. I turned around and there was Mallary with tears streaming down her face and she grabbed hold of him and wouldn't let go. Shelby was right behind with the same intent. Tommy didn't force his way throught the crowds to get to him in time. Oh, and Mallary was so persistant in getting to him that she actually shoved this older guy completely out of her way!!! Such force!
I felt like forever before the guys finally came out and boy were the hugs intense when they did appear. We met several of his platoon buddies and their families. Took lots of pictures (all posted on facebook).
Since Cody has had Army rations for the last 10 weeks, whatever he wanted, he got! We started out at Pizza Hut where he enjoyed himself. Went to the mall and hung out with some of his buddies and their families. Then back to the hotel for a little rest and computer time. He hasn't had his computer until this time. We went to Longhorn for steaks later that afternoon. He had to be back on base at 8:30, so we went on early and hung out at the PX and back at the bay. It was hard to let him go back, but I knew we would be together again the next day.
We got to the hotel right before a major storm hit. The lightening was spectacular!! We were awaken around 12:30 with hail hitting the window. Sounded like someone throwing rocks at us but, we were on the 3rd floor so, we knew that wasn't possible. The storms were gone when we got ready to leave the next morning.
Now, we are at the Graduation site and there are crowds of people waiting in line. Of course, we were an hour early here too. We were waiting on the doors to open, and when they did, Mallary shot out like a rocket!!! We were one of the first in line. When we got down to the front row, Mallary and another Mom were into a word battle!!! Mallary was telling her to go find her another row because this one was hers and she wasn't budging! Tommy sat inbetween these two and he told them both to 'shut up' several times...I made Mallary and Shelby swap places in order to put some space between them. Burgess' dad and brother ended up swapping with the lady in order to put a little more space between them. After all, Burgess' family knew this lady and Burgess and this mom's son are both friends with Cody. We had even hung out with this group the day before...not today. haha
Funny thing about that fight, the soldiers were seated in the rows next to us. I looked over, and 7 people away...there was Cody. He heard the whole thing and couldn't even laugh!! How's that for control?
I was so proud of Cody. He graduated in the top 10% of the class! What an honor for him. After the ceremony, we had to sign them out. The Drill Sargent started a clipboard around for us to sign and this is where I got into it with another mom...like mother, like daughter... The clip board was with the lady beside me and another person put her hand on it and got it as soon as the one before signed. Well, I put my hand on it as this lady was signing. The lady beside me looked and told me that she had been standing there first. Huh!! NO...She had not...as I so politely told her. I got the board next!!! She placed her hand on it while she fussed the entire time I was signing and when I got done, I passed the board right on over to Burgess' dad!! There, fuss now lady!
We fed Cody good againg and visited a Museum. Cody said something about just hanging at the hotel so, that's where we are now as I'm blogging. Bless my sweet son's heart, he is sound asleep on the bed. Poor thing hasn't had much sleep lately. He had forewatch last night again.. I am enjoying the sound he makes when he sleeps and being able to glance over and see his precious face!! Oh what bliss...
We have to take him back tonight at 8:30 again and he leaves for San Antonio at 7 AM. Things will be more lenient there and he will be able to call home more often. That makes me feel better and I know that after making this first 10 weeks, the next 12 will go fast too. He has matured so much in this little while and I am anxious to see the transformation in September when I go out to see him and BRING HIM HOME!!!