CONGRATULATIONS, PVT. NAVAKUKU

Dear Gabe,

Wow!  So you're a soldier now.  And not just any soldier, but a Calvary Scout!  That fills me with both pride and fear.  Sorry dude, I guess its a mommy thing.  But boy am I proud of you!  And just think of all the adventures you will have, the people you will meet, the things you will do, the places you will go!  Do you feel the change in yourself?  I see it every time I look at you, I hear it in your voice.  You've done so much growing up in such a short period of time.  But there is still so much ahead of you.  Don't ever close the door to new things.  And be a gentleman... always.  I saw the way you helped your brother when he was so sick.  You will make an awesome leader if you always remember to take care of those who are with you.  I am so very proud to be your mother.  My love always!

Mom

ROAD TRIP

 Dear Gabe,

 We leave tomorrow morning for Kentucky and while I am excited about seeing you graduate, I am so not looking forward to the trip out there.  Thats 1,100 miles squished into the Hemi with your 4 brothers and sisters!  I worry because they cannot get along in this big old house, how the heck are they going to get along in the pick-up?  And then we have to come back again... maybe even with you!  If those kids are too bad I'm renegging on my decision to be a stay at home mom with them and I'm withdrawing my resignation!

  I saw Mark today, he still hasn't gotten the time off to go to Kentucky so he'll just wait until you get back here.  I don't think he realized how far it was to Fort Knox because he seemed surprised that we were leaving in the morning when the ceremony isn't until Thursday.  Everyone else at work sends their love and congratulations. I've even received some well wishes from the folks on AOL.  I've mentioned your adventure from time to time so you're no stranger to them.  Its really cool because when some of them talk about how proud they are of you and your decision to join the military, well, I honestly believe that they really are proud of you!  You're doing a good thing sweetie, and everyone appreciates it.

Your brothers spent the day trying to pick up the spare room for you so be sure to thank them.  Your dad was walking around, cracking a whip like a drill sgt. himself.  He's so excited for you and he wants to honor you, even if its through little things like bringing you home to a clean house for a change!  Yeah... right, like thats really going to happen!  But he is proud and is fussing about you like you were some kind of dignitary.  You know what?  You are!

Well, I better get some sleep because I probably won't get any more until we get back next week.  Miss you, love you!

Mom

PROOF THAT YOU WERE ONCE TALLER THAN ZACK

Hey Gabe,do you remember the day this picture was taken?  No?  Me either.  I believe it was taken in Lichtenau, but I won't swear on it.  Look, you were taller than Zack then!  It didn't last did it?  I'll bet that boy grows another inch before he stops.  Art went on a little growth spurt and is almost up to Becca's height.  I doubt he will be taller than you though.  Rocky will also be short.  I'm sorry, I guess my height genes were a little stronger than your dad's.

We're still not exactly sure what we will show up in when we get to Fort Knox.  We wanted to rent a mini-van (yuck!), your dad was even looking into an RV, but man thats a lot of money.  It will be a tight fit coming back if we all try to squeeze into the truck though. We may end up traveling like the Beverly Hillbillies with a couch in the bed of the truck and the kids strapped on. Oh well, just know that we will be there.

Just 11 more days!  Till then, miss you, love you.

Mom

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY

Okay, I'm going to attempt to call this one... I say Patriots 31, Eagles 27... I hope!  We're going over to Luke's this year.  I'm the designated driver... it figures!  We were supposed to stay home so both your dad and I could drink, then Mike called and I said 'sure, come on over', but your dad was afraid that Luke would be offended since we turned down his invitation to stay home alone but were still having someone over.. so now we're ALL going to Luke's, and I don't get to drink.  To his credit your dad did offer to drive, but come on, its his friend's party... and I'm sure he knew I could be suckered in to volunteering.  Oh joy! (insert heavy sarcasm here).

We finally got the bottle cap mailed in to claim your PS2. Oh my gosh, we stopped at 7-11 to get some gas on the way to the post office and your dad decided to clean out the truck... he almost threw the bottle cap away!  Hahaha!  But don't worry, its now safely on its way to Prize Central.  I doubt we'll have it by your graduation but we will send it to you as soon as we get it. When you get it... check the box to make sure its the NEW system cos your sneaky dad may try to do a little switch-a-roo! 

The kids are really starting to get excited about the trip out to Kentucky.  Heck, for that matter so am I.  Till then be good.

Miss you, love you!

Mom

I SAW YOU TODAY!

Guess what... dad and I were at the new Chinese Restaurant down the street today at lunch and a guy walked in with a pony tail who... I kid you not... could be you in 10 years!  He didn't just look like you, he 'Oh My God!' looked like you!  Same smile, everything.  Even your lamo five o'clock shadow.  Your dad was so freaked out that he kept staring at the guy... Dad said the guy was probably thinking that dad looked just like his own dad because of the way he kept staring at dad... but I think it was because he was just trying to figure out why we kept looking at him!

Dad just asked me over lunch how I felt about him taking a job in Germany.  Are you kidding?  I'd love it!  The kids would probably fuss, but it would be such a great opportunity for them as well.  And it would be a promotion for dad.  The only drawback is that we don't know how it would affect Zack.  He'll be out of school and I don't know if he'll be able to go as an adult.  I don't even know if he would want to go, but if not, what would he do?  I told dad to go ahead and put in his resume and we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Well, my vacation is over and I go back to work today.  Soon in fact, so I better get off this machine before I'm late.

Miss you, Love you!

Mom