My second first birth day again!

This day just keeps getting better... I got presents, more presents and my cake! I will admit, it did not look like my other birthday cake, but with all the cherries it looked like I had 8 candles. Only problem is I am only one, so I have seven to grow on.

Well it seems dad made cake and dinner... Auntie Nicole and her family came over for dinner on my second first birthday. Guess they knew about it before I did and they were on time.

Here is the cake daddy made for me.

Here is something daddy made, it does not have a name, but it was good!

Nicole and her family, Jeff, Nicole, Zach and Kayla. She was mommy's college roommate in Hawaii.

Kayla brought her car. It was cool and she played with my toys while I test drove the car.

Did someone say cake?

Kayla and Zach enjoying cake!

Yep, it is my second first birthday! CAKE.... ummmmm!

Auntie Nicole got me PJs!

We need our own photographer! It is hard to get all three of us in the picture!

Well if you eat cake you have to clean up when the company goes home!

Just splashing around! It is a my second first birthday so I am just goofing off! I do love bath time!

Again, thank you to everyone who made my second first bithday a great day! Love you all!

My second first birthday???

Let me see if I can explain this, because I am not sure I understand it myself. Last week we celebrated my first birthday, so I figured that was it! Then today, more presents arrived. I got a box from my aunt Michelle and it had presents from her and Grandma and Grandpa Young! So if last week was my first birthday, then today is my second first birthday! Makes sense right?

I sure hope I have a third first birthday! I like getting presents, so thank you aunt Michelle, Chris, Ella, Emily and Grandma and Grandpa Young.

Here I am with Mommy.... I got a card from Ella and Emily. Mommy read it to me and I really liked the art work!

Here is mommy opening a box for me!

Here is another box, this one has a cool yellow ribbon!

I got a bear and did I mention the yellow ribbion?

I got an orange shirt.... and a bear.

Did I mention I got a yellow ribbion!

Did I tell you guys I got a yellow ribbion?

Wow that was fun... now I have to text and say thank you. Well I would call, but I can't talk yet, so I text so they can understand me!

Hmmmm. It was my second first birthday, but where was the cake? Guess that will come later!

A real milestone! Gosh I miss the good ole days!

According to my dad, I reached a milestone today. I don't really know how, because I did not walk anywhere! However, he said it, so it must be true.

I think it has something to do with finishing my last bottle of Similac and starting on whole milk. I was supposed to do that on my 1st Birthday, but daddy over bought, so we had to take an extra week to finish it up! The jury is out on the whole milk thing, but daddy sure was happy when we went shopping. Said we saved a lot of money! So I guess that means I will be getting more toys since there is extra money now!

Daddy was so happy, he took my picture with the last empty bottle, before giving me my last Similac bottle and putting me to bed! Not sure which he was happier about, finishing the Similac or me going to bed. I was a bit cranky, but gosh! It was a long walk to that milestone!

Me wondering why I am getting my picture taken with trash! Ok, not trash. Recycling!

Guess I should smile, he sure is.

Two was more then enough. How many you going to take - five?

If I don't look or move he will lose interest.  Learned this watching "Animal Kingdom"!

So there are the pictures of me and the recycling. I think we will be taking the recycling tomorrow just so we can close this out and make sure he does not take any more pictures with it!

He is my dad.... I know, I just got to love the big silly guy.

Flowers for Mommy!

We went shopping yesterday and while we were out, we got my Mommy some flowers! Why? Because, we could! Mommy works really hard and is going to school and makes sure I am always taken care of, so I should try to show how much I love her and how grateful I am she let me come into the world.  Seriously, do I even need a reason to get her flowers! She is my Mommy and I am o so lucky... and that is all I have to say about that!

Beautiful flowers for a beautiful Mommy... for those of you who are not getting your Mommys flowers.... Hint, Hint, Hint! Mommys love flowers! So tell your Daddy get with the program and take you shopping!

Week of the Eagles (Part Seven) The rest of the week

After the DMOR ceremony we were able to mingle with our fellow veterans and the current members of the Regiment. Some new faces and some old ones. It was a full week, one that I will not soon forget. It was amazing to see old friends, spend time with them and to meet the current members of the Regiment. Amazing young men and women who continue to write the history of the 327th Infantry Regiment.

Chris and one of his former 3/327th Inf Rgt brothers.

The Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial (Back) dedicated to the 55 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan. 

 

The Operation Enduring Freedom Memorial (Front)

Chris with a M-4; when he was in, he carried an M-16A2.

The latest and greatest in Mine Resistant Vehicles.

Chris dreaming about re-enlisting just so he can drive one.

Dennis, Al, Chris and me. Al is a unique individual who we met and befriended while at Fort Campbell. Al is a Gold Star Father. His son Dale was killed on 7 Nov 2010 while conducting a route clearance mission in Kunar Province. We had the honor of spending time with Al and learning about Dale and his daughters.

The four of us again, in front of Patrick's quarters, before dinner.

David, Dennis and Chris in a jeep with David on a M-60 Machine Gun outside of the Pratt Museum.

Inside the vault of the museum playing with lots of guns! Dennis scored us a behind the scene tour.

More weapons and toys.

WWII display at the Normandy Bar-B-Q.

Honored WWII Veterans: (Left to Right) A Pathfinder (Age 90) who jumped from the first plane going in on June 6th 1944. WWII Glider Pilot (Age 85) and a Member (Age 87) of the 506th Infantry. They were the honored guests at the Bar-B-Q.

Chris and the Pathfinder

The Division Change of Command

The massing of the colors. The National and Division colors in front, with all the Brigade colors with all of the Battalion colors in the rear. Representing all the units of the 101st Airborne Division.

Pass and Review. I have to admit I was a little disappointed. We used to do the same thing except we used to wear helmets, load bearing equipment and carry M-16A2s with Bayonets fixed! So I am jealous.

Again, it was a great week and I look forward to doing it again in about 11 years! It will be the 31st Anniversary of Desert Storm and the 80th Anniversary of the 101st Airborne Division.

Week of the Eagles (Part Six) DMOR and the "The Four of Us"

On of the other events that I attended was the Distingished Member of the Regiment (DMOR) ceremony. I was invited by my friend Dennis and even had a reserved seat!

Dennis was nominated and recognized as a Distingished Member of the 327th Infantry Regiment. A DMOR is a member of the Regiment who distingished himself while assigned to the Regiment and has continued to support the 327th and its members.

This honor was presented in front of the whole Regiment by the Brigade Commander and Command Sergeant Major.

Dennis after the Ceremony.

Dennis and a fellow Vietnam Veteran. They do clean up when necessary.

Dennis and David

David and Patrick

The four of us with the "Wallet." (Left to Right) Me (Desert Storm), Dennis (Vietman) holding the "Wallet," David (Operation Iraq Freedom) and Patrick (Operation Enduring Freedom).

The wallet Dennis is holding in the above picture was carried by each of us during our war. The wallet is 42 years old, funny enough, it came into being about the same time I did, 1969. It has travelled around the world several times and touched down in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Germany, Ireland and several others in its travel. It has had an amazing journey that is not over. The next time the 327th Infantry goes to war, the wallet will travel with an unknown recipient to where ever he may go.

Week of the Eagles (Part Five) "The Wallet"

As I have said, I have come to meet Dennis, David and Patrick, all of who share a piece of 327th history with me. What really binds us all together is each of us have carried a small wallet in our war! We all carried the same wallet, that has been passed from one generation to another.

The wallet came into Dennis 'possession some time in 1969 while he was with the platoon in Vietnam. He carried it with him to protect his personnel affects from the elements. When he returned home, he put the wallet away and did not see it again till 1990. Then he sent the wallet to me during Desert Shield and I carried it through Desert Storm. I then put it away until 2003 and I sent it to David while he was in Kuwait, waiting to invade Iraq. David then carried it home. He also carried it back to Iraq in 2005/06 while serving with the 506th Infantry and took it too Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2008/09 while serving with the 101st Division G-2. He finally released it to Patrick in 2010 who carried it on the 327th Infantry Regiments first deployment to Afghanistan, where the Regiment served in Kunar Province.

The Wallet, which is as old as me! Both came about in 1969!

Dennis and David's pictures in the Wallet. Vietnam and Iraq.

David's DCU patches from his Uniform.

My pictures that are in the wallet. Above the wallet is Spc Young, during Desert Shield. The others where just added. OIF II, OIF III.5, OEF in Kunar and My DA Photo.

Patrick's pictures have not been added, but will soon enough.

The wallet will remain in Patrick's care until such time as the 3rd Platoon of B Co 2/327th IN returns to war. Not the next tour, but the next war.... We all pray there will not be another memember added to our ranks, but if there is, we will all be there to support him and the Platoon where ever they go.