Nathan and I got to San Antonio on Wednesday the 22nd. After getting 2 hours into our 5 hour drive I discovered I left Daniel's sign for the Airman's Run back in Fort Worth! I called another Air Force wife and we worked our bums off to get a poster done for Daniel for the Airman's Run the next day. It took us all afternoon but it got done!
Thursday the graduation events started! Nathan and I woke up really early at 5:30am to be at a 7:00am briefing of all the events. After the briefing Nathan and I got ready for the Airman's Run. We had our new signs, camera and Nathan was snuggled into the moby wrap on my back. We had to wait 30 mins for the run to start because we got there so early and I wanted a good spot where I knew Daniel would see us!
Nathan and I ready for the Run!
At 8am the Run began. I did NOT get a video of Daniel's flight passing but I got a video of some of the flights before his so you know what they run looked like. I waited anxiously for Daniel to run by. When he finally did I screamed at the top of my lungs "GO DANIEL!!" His head whipped around so fast at the sound of my voice I'm surprised he didn't get whip lash! He turned his head and saw us and a HUGE smile spilt across his face! It was the best moment ever. I finally got to see my wonderful husband after 8 1/2 very long weeks! Daniel ran by twice he saw us the first time when I screamed for him and he saw us on the way back. He watched us as he passed with a huge smile on his face!
Yup he saw us!
After the Airman's Run was the honor graduate ceremony. Daniel had tried to make it a surprise for me that he made honor grad which is a big deal. only the top 10% make honor grad. Unfortunately I already knew he had made honor grad. I knew he was in the running by how well he did on his PT test and how well he did on his tests over all. I was also told at the briefing that morning that Daniel made honor grad so I knew I would get to see him before everyone else saw their Airmen.
Nathan and I waiting to tap out Daniel
After the honor grad ceremony there was the Coin ceremony. Where Daniel became a official member of the United States Air Force! He got his Airman's Coin which pretty much means he made it though basic and is now Airman Laughlin instead of Airman Basic Laughlin. After the Coin Ceremony Nathan and I got to tap out Daniel. It was the best thing in the world! I was finally able to hug my husband, my Airman! As we walked up to Daniel he didn't see us until we were about 5 feet away. I had to check his name tag to make sure it was really him because he looked SO different! He has lost a lot of weight and he just seemed different over all.
Daniel is front row last on the right
Here is Nathan and I tapping out Daniel on Thursday!
Seeing each other for the first time since Christmas! It was AMAZING!
After the Coin ceremony Daniel was released for base liberty. Which means he is free to go anywhere on base he just can't go off base. We ate lunch with a fellow Airman and his wife. His wife and I had gotten to know each other over facebook though Air Force Wing Mom's while our husbands where in basic. We just hung around base until 7:30 when it was time for our Airman to go back to their dorms.
Our family together again! This was taken right after we tapped out Daniel.
Friday was the Graduation Parade. It was FREEZING! On Thursday it was 85 degree's but on Friday it only got up to 60 degree's! Friday wasn't as big a deal as Thursday because technically Daniel was already an Airman and there wasn't as many ceremonies on Friday as their was on Thursday. Nathan and I followed the directions on the map of where Daniel would be which totally lied. Bill and Cathy had come down for Friday and they got to Daniel before I did and tapped him out. Nathan was having a bad day because he was so cold and fell asleep before the tap out so I didn't get to Daniel very fast since I had 25 lbs of limp toddler and a back pack to haul to get to Daniel. Friday we hung out with Bill and Cathy and they took Nathan for a few hours so Daniel and I could have sometimes to ourselves, Which we really needed! Daniel took Nathan and I to see his dorm where we also met his Military Training Instructor SSGT Knight.
SSGT Knight and Daniel
Nathan with Daddy while we looked at Daniel's dorm
Saturday Daniel has town liberty which means he could go out into the town but he had to stay in the San Antonio metro area. We went to the River Walk and took a boat ride, it was still a little cold so we didn't stay long and Daniel had to get back to his dorm. Most of Saturday was spent in our hotel room. Basic exhausted Daniel so we all took a 3 hour nap when Nathan took his nap.
Nathan and Daniel on the boat at the River Walk
We are one happy Air Force Family!
Daniel in his Blues
Saying good-bye on Sunday
Sorry this post took so long to get up. We moved to Mississippi yesterday so everything is CRAZY! I hope you enjoy!
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