Ok, so I finished up my May-June/some of July blog, and am onto the latest one to catch up. For July, we took vacation and visited my family in South Carolina, Makayla's Basic Training graduation at Fort Jackson, and then we ventured down to Florida for our LAST trip to Disney World, along with a visit to our dear friends in Tampa. It was three weeks long, and if you ask me, we picked the WRONG time to hit up Disney. It seemed like everyone from all over the world was there this time of year, making it a crowded cranky mess. I forgot how humid and icky the weather is in the southeast during the summer months, ugh. There was no sense in trying to wear make-up or even style hair, because the weather there had other plans for both. However we made the best of it, and have lots of memories added to our memory banks.
Makayla's basic training graduation and family day. What an awesome experience for me and her dad, to witness such a beautiful thing, from our side as the parents. Tim and I both went through basic training graduations on our own, but seeing our oldest daughter do it was something beyond words. We were able to spend family day with her prior to graduation, and even though she had to stay in uniform, we took her mini-golfing and out to eat. Mason and Madison were so happy to see her as well, and from what I took from the visit, was their bond is even stronger now then ever. The graduation ceremony was beautiful, minus the humidity and the fog that seemed to appear on my lens as I tried taking photos. However, I was able to grab some great shots. After graduation, we had to say our goodbyes, as PFC Hockenberry was on her way to AIT up at Fort Lee, VA. There she will be till sometime in October. From there, who knows where she will end up? Maybe Fort Sill, OK??? (We are SO PROUD of you Makayla, and we LOVE you so much!!)
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| OOh, theatrics.. |
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| Ok, I know she's in there somewhere |
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| "There she is, I see her" |
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| Say Cheese! |
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| Mini-golfing |
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| Waiting for graduation |
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| CSM Hockenberry and PFC Hockenberry |
Visiting family in Charleston was a blessing to me. I saw my new niece and got to experience my sister as the mother I always knew she would become. She was getting my niece to take a bottle for the first times while I was there, so my niece wasn't the happiest of babies, which made me sad because usually I have a way with the babies... Not my niece.. She wasn't having it. Just being able to see her and hold her made my day. Her name is Ryan and she is perfect! My sister and her husband were both adjusting well and they seem to be getting the hang of this parenting thing. Although it can be very frustrating and tiring, it is so worth it.. =)
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| my cutie pie niece, Ryan =) |
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| Maggie and Ryan |
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| Ted, Maggie, and Ryan |
We also got to visit my parents, and my parents flew out my other niece and nephew--so we could all be together for a few days. We got to spend time with my parents and we were there to celebrate their 30th anniversary with them. We were able to do a few things together and sightsee. We checked out the Charleston Aquarium, we went boating in the swamps where a part of the Notebook was filmed, we went and checked out the beach, and all had dinner at Poppy and Nonna's. It was so great seeing Cory and Taylor, as they are both teenagers now, and the last time I seen them, they were small. Cory is now well over 6 feet, and is driving!!! Crazy. And Taylor is 13, wearing make-up and growing up so fast too. I was devastated when we had to leave. I cried for a good hour when we left. =( It was so nice having the family together, (except we were missing my brother and sister-in-law). I feel like we have missed out on so much of my family's lives, the kids growing up away from their cousins, etc. I know that this is what military life is all part of, but I am surely excited on retiring somewhere closer to everyone so the next 10+ years don't fly by as fast.
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| Hanging at the aquarium |
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| me and my beautiful niece, Taylor |
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| Cory, my fav and only nephew |
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| Taylor and Maddie |
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| My daddy and me |
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| ???? |
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| DOLPHINS |
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| The boys |
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| At our campground |
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| Me and Maddie, at the beach |
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| You're gonne get sand in your pants!!! Ha! |
Somehow and someway, I was able to talk my dad into coming bowling with us. It wasn't without a fight, but he put his big boy panties on and came with us. All it took was a little competition, (we all kicked his butt then he bet me that he would beat me...) and he surely did. Ok, so I let him win.. He is much older then me, haha. Good times!! My parent's couldn't remember the last time they went bowling! I had to change that!!
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| My dad, plotting his revenge =) |
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| Go Cory!! |
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| Even Tina was competitive, and she bowled well |
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| Don't fall and break a hip Dad!! |
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Me and my lil nephew
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| Look! We even did this year's Christmas card pic =) |
And, after a long visit with my family, we took another long drive down to Orlando, Florida, where we stayed in the Wyndham Resort Condos. We had a friend who let us use his timeshare since he had so many points saved up. Our room was great: had a washer and dryer in room, a kitchenette, pullout couch, bedroom, great shower, and all the fixings just like home. During our stay, we visited the Disney World parks, and of course, my fav--Sea World. Even though it did rain everyday we were in Florida, we made the best out of what I am calling--our LAST Disney trip. July is NEVER the time to vacation there. It seemed like everyone from every other country, but the United States, was there. Way too crowded and way too hot/humid. Next time, if there is a next time, we are doing Disney in the winter months...
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| We even played mini-golf and... |
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| fed some baby gators =) |
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| The Happiest Place on Earth, NOT!!! |
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| Waiting to see "It's Tough to Be a Bug" |
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| Mason photo-bombing us |
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| Geez, they look like taking pictures is a bad thing... |
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| Candy apples... No I didn't get any.. =( |
And lastly, our trip to Sea World, where I was thrilled beyond anything to FINALLY pet a dolphin. Check that off my bucket list now.
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| checking out where the coasters are |
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| "Shudder" the Manta. |
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| Tim and Mason went first... I so did NOT want to go... |
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| Ok, it was terrible and anyone who knows me, knows I am terrified of heights, and things like this... I swore I was gonna die that day! |
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| The Krakken, I didn't go this time... |
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| Mason and Tim loved it!! |
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| oh so close... |
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| aww come on... |
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| YES!!! |
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| Check this one off the list. |
And finally, before heading back to Oklahoma, we seen our dear friends and hung out on Clearwater Beach, Florida. It was a smoking hot day, sand burned our toes, but the water was warm and the company was food to our souls.
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Me and Laura, friends forever..
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Maddie and Hannah
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| The Cullen family |
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| Us Hockenberry's |
And so all good things must come to an end, and of course we had ONE more pit stop on the way back to Oklahoma. Last one...
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| Duck Dynasty fans =) |
Hope everyone is well and enjoyed. Until next time...
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