Relaxing after the big day and calling our friends to invite them over for boxing day dinner.

Enjoying the snow

The Christmas day snow made a fun few days for us. A bit of cross country skiing in our back yard and making snowmen

Christmas Time

We enjoyed a small family Christmas in Williamsburg. Dylan seemed to enjoy unwrapping and playing with is pressies, but it was pretty tough work.

Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas! 

  We hope Santa brings you all some really cool stuff

Get Well Mom!! - We love you!!

Christmas in Williamsburg

Much to do and see in Colonial Williamsburg over the Christmas holiday.  As was the tradition of the day, during festive periods the public buildings would be lit to celebrate the holidays, a significant public event or royal birthdates.  This year in the days leading up to Christmas several buildings were illuminated with torches, the events marked with narration and musket fire.  It was a couple nice nights out in olde towne.

This gets my vote for the best cell phone photo: Michelle captures the moment on her Blackberry

Torches blazing and fife and drum band marching - Dylan was enthalled

MEDEVAC delays my return

Happy to be back for the holidays after a couple weeks at sea.  In addition to our regular training missions we were called on to help out a few fellow mariners.  The latest call came as we were within sight of the pier - we turned the ship around and headed back out to sea with many families (and a many onboard the ship) wondering where we were going.  We were able to coordinate the rendezvous with another US warship, pick up one their sailors who has suffered major head trauma,and after a brief evaluation onboard our ship we flew him to South Carolina for further treatment.  We call this mission "MEDEVAC: or Medical Evacuation.

Bush dispatched to help injured sailor

Carrier was scheduled to return to Norfolk on Wed.

Published : Wednesday, 15 Dec 2010, 4:42 PM EST

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A MH-60S Knight Hawk assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 26 embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) conducted a medical evacuation on Thursday of an injured sailor off a U.S. Navy submarine conducting operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
On Wednesday, the George H.W. Bush was ordered to make "best speed" to assist the injured sailor, who had a head injury, according to the Navy.
The Mayport, Fla.-based USS Boone was also dispatched to aid the submariner.
A Navy neurosurgeon, assigned to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, assessed the sailor and both were transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, S.C., for further evaluation and treatment as necessary. The last assessment listed the sailor in stable condition.
"Mariners at sea take care of each other," said Vice Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. "There is no better way to show our sailors and their families the extent the Navy will go in order to take care of their own."
The Bush was scheduled to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Wednesday after conducting training operations off the eastern coast of the U.S., while the Boone is already underway conducting training operations in the Atlantic Ocean.
An unconfirmed account received by WAVY News 10 indicates the carrier was past the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and close to Naval Station Norfolk around noon when it hurriedly came about and went back out to sea.
"The saying that we never leave a shipmate behind was proved today," said Capt. Chip Miller, George H.W. Bush commanding officer. "There was a sailor out there who needed our help, and we were honored to receive the call. I am very proud of the professionals on board this ship and our families at home who provide constant support."
The Bush embarked with three MH-60S Seahawks from HSC-26 and one C-2A Greyhound from Fleet Logistic Squadron Four-Zero (VRC-40). The Boone will embark one SH-60B Seahawk from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light Four-Two (HSL-42) and additional medical staff to include a fleet surgeon and anesthetist to support this operation.
The SH-60B Sea Hawk from HSL 42 provided surface surveillance and search and rescue support during the medical evacuation.
This marks the second time the crew of George H.W. Bush was able to lend a helping hand in December 2010. The ship assisted a sailboat stranded 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C., on Dec. 3 by supplying them with fuel on their return to Norfolk.
"Being extended at sea is something we are always prepared for," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Caleb Haynie, a member of the George H.W. Bush's Medical Department. "If the roles were reversed, I would want the Navy to do anything and everything to save me. And I'm proud to be part of the medical team that helped this sailor get home safely for Christmas."

Refuel at Sea

We usually practice this sort of thing between two warships, but early in our latest at-sea period we received a distress call from a sailboat.  While enroute to Bermuda they had lost their sail in a storm.  They turned back for Norfolk but ran out of fuel.  We altered course and rendezvoused with them and were able to pass over some fuel, a few baseball hats (with our ship's logo) and some fresh cookies before returning on mission.  We alerted the Coast Guard who would further track their progress towards shore.

Norfolk carrier aids vessel in distress

USS George H.W. Bush helps 4 on standed sailboat

Published : Friday, 03 Dec 2010, 1:21 PM EST

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) came to the aid of a stranded sailboat in the Atlantic Ocean early Friday morning.
The Shangri-La and its four crew members were approximately 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C.
The Norfolk-based aircraft carrier, currently conducting carrier qualifications in preparation for a 2011 deployment, was approximately 30 miles away from the sailboat Shangri-La when the distress call was received at 4:00 a.m.
According to the Navy, the stranded sailboat, also homeported in Norfolk, ran out of fuel trying to return to Norfolk in high winds and lost its sail. The George H.W. Bush assisted the ship by sending fuel over in one of its rigid hulled inflatable boats.
"We were fortunate to be at the right place at the right time," said Capt. Chip Miller, commanding officer. "Assisting fellow mariners on the seas is one of the many missions Navy ships are always prepared to execute. Every time we go to sea or conduct an exercise, we train for the unexpected, and today we had the opportunity to do just that."
The Shangri-La, a 65-foot catamaran, left Norfolk on Monday to sail to the British Virgin Islands. The Navy said the sailboat's crew now plan to return home.
(Compiled from report by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian M. Brooks, USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs)

Missing Daddy

Les has made a few book reading videos for Dylan so he can still have Dada read to him while he is away. So before Dylan goes to bed he likes to have Dada read and he follows a long. We all miss Les when he is away, but this is a nice why for Dylan to still see Dada.

Christmas Baking with Mama

Well it is that time of the year and some baking is in order. So Dylan and I baked some Christmas biscuits (cookies for the none Aussies) for his daycare and my work. So Dylan put on an Apron like muma and off we went. Dylan was a big help, he especially enjoyed rolling out the dough and cutting out the shapes. My kitchen is a little worse for wear, but we had fun and he was pretty proud of himself at the end.

Christmas season

Dylan and I have been braving the cold and getting out and enjoying some of the local Christmas tree lighting festivals. Dylan has certainly been enjoying them especially the dance offs with the various characters.

Ridem Cowboy

Dylan looks like he is ready to go to Texas with his 10 gallon hat, just needs the horse instead of the BMW!

Baja No Go

Some weeks ago I made an outlandish claim that I would run the Baja 1000 off-road race.  Sadly we were forced to postpone our participation in that insane competition.  The good news is that we are setting our sights on the Baja 250 (a more reasonable introduction to off-road mayhem) in March 2011.  If anyone needs a Baja Fix you can join us following the live tracking (the race is on now) at the following link:

IriTrack Baja 1000 Live

Jamestown II (on Land)

After we finished with the ships our young man got a taste of life ashore on the young American continent.  Indian village structures called "yehakins" were a more semi-permanent dwelling than the nomadic tepees that dotted the western and plains states.  A small village typical of the Algonquain or Powhatan tribes is juxtaposed with the high walled fort of the English settlement.  It was one big (historical) playground for the little man.

Dylan thinks the Powhatan yehakin makes a cool tent.

He's not afraid of a little manual labor!

Gotta go...more to see...

Jamestown I (From the Sea)

It was at Jamestown on May 14 1607 that John Smith came ashore with the men and boys who established the first permanent English settlement in North America.  They had set sail in February on three ships: the Susan Constant, the Discovery and the Godspeed.  Using a southern route they past the Canary islands and the Caribbean before turning north and entering the Chesapeake Bay and James River. Unlike many who would follow they came not for freedom or liberty but for profit.

Dylan was very excited - a future man of the sea perhaps?

Master and Commander?

We took Dylan down to see the re-creations of the three ships that brought the first Virginians to the new world.  He loved it - it all seemed a bit too natural for the little man.  He's pretty good on a three hour drive from Maryland but probably not ready for the 3 month sail from England...yet.

Holloween

Dylan enjoyed his first Holloween trick or treating. Our Neighbours were taking their boy (Jack) out so Dylan and Les joined in the fun. Dylan and Jack made a good pair, Jack could say "Trick or Treat" and Dylan would say "Bye bye" it was very cute. Dylan seemed to really enjoy it and even managed to collect some candy, but unfortunately he doesn't get to eat it Mummy and daddy do.

Sugar Loaf Mountain

Enjoying a few local walks while the weather is good. Sugar loaf Mountain is our local mountain around here in Mayland, not much of a mountain, but still nice to walk around, particularly this time of the year.

Happers Ferry

Visiting more places with Dylan and Bernie. We are now in Maryland so took a trip up to Happers Ferry it ended up being a beautiful day.

Touring around Virgina

Dylan and I have been enjoying some time exploring with Bernie. We have been touring around locally in VA, exploring Yorktown and Williamsburg and even got to a game of Hockey which Dylan seemed to really enjoy. It has been great having Bernie around.

Happy Birthday Les

We wish were were able to celebrate with you but unfortuntely we can not. So you will have to just listen to us singing Happy Birthday on this video. We love you and miss you, looking forward to seeing you and celebrating your birthday when you get back. xoxoxo

Family day at Busch Gardens

My sister Bernie is in town so we all decided it would be great to go to Busch Gardens. It was a beautiful day and there were plenty of rides for everyone. There was some pretty Crazy roller coasters and some great rides for Dylan to enjoy too.

The Little Man

I'm back out to sea soon - gonna miss this little dude (and his mother - of course!!)

This is going to sound crazy but I've agreed to run the Baja 1000 off-road race with the Cooley Brothers (High School friends). I've had the motorcycle off-road over the weekend getting a little experience in the dirt (or deep sand in my case!) - although we'll be doing this race on a 4 wheel All Terrain Vehicle (ATV).

This was a line item on Paul Cooley's "Bucket List" (things he wanted to do before he 'kicked the bucket'). I couldn't say no.

So, as far as the Navy knows, I'm "support crew handling navigation" (not sure what they would think of this from a Safety point of view!). But hey, they're the same guys who launched me off an aircraft carrier more times than I can remember so - who are they to object?!

More to follow on our preparations - the race is coming up in mid-November. It's actually a pretty big deal - previous competitors include Steve McQueen, James Garner, Parnelli Jones. We can expect to be passed this year by Jesse James (I think he used to be married to some famous actress), Robby Gordon who spends most of his time running left hand circles on the NASCAR circuit, and Jimmy Vassar (Ok, I do respect the Indy Car drivers). I'm not sure if we really fit in that group - but, hey...why not...it's all part of the Adventure!