congrats to the chief

So remember when your dad said that he didn't know many things, but that the Navy was one of the things he did know?

Well, we finally did it! On June 30th, 2016 (the morning we were leaving for vacation), your dad made Chief.

The results had come out the day before and he hadn't gotten a call, so he was a little bummed. This was his third time going up for Chief and he figured he hadn't made it because he didn't get the call. So our vacation came and he was just ready for some time off to prepare to start over next year and try to make it again. I wasn't giving up, I knew that the time we spent apart this past year was for something. A few months ago (when he made board), I had these made for him. I knew I was going to get to give them to him this year.

So on the morning the results were made public, I checked their page every 5 minutes. When they were finally released I searched frantically to see his name. When I finally saw his name, I freaked out and called him like 5 times.

He was in a meeting at work, and wasn't even really going to check the results. When I finally got in touch with him we were both nearly in tears. For the past 2 years now, he'd gone through the selection process and now FINALLY he made it.

So for the last 2 months, we've lived and breathed Navy.

CPO Selectee Meet-and-Greet

(Ellie, you had pneumonia that week, so you sat this one out)

We've helped him study, learn songs, just been a sounding-board when he was frustrated and wanted to give up. He's stayed up late, gotten up early, been on phone calls for hours at a time. This was a truly stressful time for all 4 of us but we made it! Before we knew it, it was time for the pinning ceremony. I can recall two other times when I've seen your dad so happy (when each of you were born). 

The first time your dad did PT with his Season, he ended up getting sick midway through his workout. He hadn't been feeling well all week, and his fellow Selectees had too much fun at his expense afterwards. He came home and showed us this and we were all in tears for a good 10 minutes just laughing at how ridiculous this picture was. (If you don't know who this guy is, look him up NOW!) RAMBO!

As a part of his Charge Book, I had to write a letter for him. In this letter, I was to write why he would make a good chief and how I felt about this promotion. Here is what I wrote. I want you to know that this is how I feel about your dad. I (and I'm sure you guys as well) am very proud of him, and I can't imagine anyone I'd rather share my life with.

Also in this Charge Book, he had to write an essay titled "Why I Want to be Chief". You girls truly changed your dad's life. You made him a new man. Thank you for that, babies.