CCTI (Chief's Call to Initiation) Dinner

November 14th was Tim's big dinner! After 2 months of initiation Tim is now a "Real Chief" (Initiated). Not all E-7's are initiated they have to choose to participate. It was a long 2 months of trying to balance the CCTI (Chiefs Call To Initiation) process and do his new job but he did it. They had a very nice dinner and ceremony at the end. It was fun to get dressed up and see him rewarded for all his hard work. This is exactly where he wanted to be at this point in his career. We are enjoying being able to sit back and enjoy a goal being reached.



Off to the dinner. I love getting to see him in his more formal uniform!


At the dinner.



Tim's mom and I got to pin on his anchors that go on his collars.



They had the spouses go up and they gave us a letter of recognition. They said they know that these Chief's didn't make it to that point in their career on their own. It was really nice. They also gave us a pin (same as the ones they wear on their collars). However we the spouses out rank our husbands by one rank and ours are black instead of gold like the special operations wear. It was pretty funny and meaningful at the same time.




Tim's parents and brother and his wife came.
And our good friend John came also. He is a retired Chief of the Coast Guard. We met him at our very first unit in Alaska 14 years ago. It was neat having him there. He was actually Tim's boss way back then when Tim was brand new out of boot camp. I know he enjoyed seeing Tim reach this milestone in his career.

Where's Nixon

Where's Nixon? Something that is becoming a common question in our household. The other day Tim and I told him to go up to his room to take a nap. We were finishing up a conversation then I went up to make sure Nixon got in bed. Hmmm? I walked in his room the light was on and there was no Nixon to be found. Maybe he went in my bed I thought. So I walked out and looked in my room. No Nixon. Huh? So I told Tim I can't find him. Then we both thought check under the bed. Tada poof there was Nixon sound asleep under his bed.

New Coast Guard Add

After I took this picture of Tim washing both boys' hair at the same time and realized he had one of his CG shirts on, I thought this should be a new add for the Coast Guard. You know some catchy phrase like you can do more than one thing at a time or something. It's not easy to give two boys very excited to play and splash in the water a bath at the same time. Especially when one hates getting his eyes wet and the other is learning that from him. Good job Daddy!

Halloween and Pumpkin Time

We had a fun Halloween Season. Here are some fun pictures of our time.

Picking out Pumpkins

Now that we got them we need to carve them!

We had Nixon's with a cute face, Simon's was a Storm trooper face and Paige's was a traditional Jack o lantern face.

Now for the fun Trick or Treat Time

Mommy was an Olympic Snow Skier, Nixon was Blue from Blue's Clues, Paige was Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Simon was Jango Fett from Star Wars, and Daddy was a Biker Dude!


We went Trick or Treating with our cousins. Paige and Emma were both Ariel and looked so cute dressed up the same and had fun looking alike. Paige got lucky and didn't have to wear a wig since she already has the right color of hair for Ariel. Hmmmm Maybe next year I should have her be another red headed character???? Pippy Long Stocking maybe, she has red hair.

We hope you and yours had as much fun as we did. Thanks for checking in on us!