GRADUATION!!!!

I apologize for not blogging for weeks! I know live in the land of dial-up internet only . . . so needless to say it is quite difficult to get online.  Anyway... CASS GRADUATED FROM BCT on November 6th!  

Pat, Meme (Cass' Grandmother), Bridget (Aunt), Joey (Uncle), Ian (Cousin) and I left OKC for Fort Leonard Wood on November 5th, Wednesday.  We met Grant (aka Gant) in Springfield (he lives in Kansas City) and then on to the Cabin at Blue Jay Farms.  Cass' graduation was the following morning at 8:00 a.m.!  The first time we have seen him since he left on August 21 was when he marched in with his Platoon that morning for the ceremony.  It was awesome!  Lots of cadences, D.S., and Army propaganda.  But I must say Cass looked very much like a soldier in his Class A Uniform (and very handsome of course).  

He got an off post pass for the day and we went for some real food and out to Blue Jay Farms where we hung out for the day.  There was fishing, canoeing and hiking.  But mostly just hanging out together.

Friday night, Bruno, Chris, Ashley and Brianna made the trip to MO to see him.  So he got to hang out with them and Grant on Saturday most of the day.  It really meant a lot to him for them to come.  He was most excited to see his friends of course.  They had to head out on Sunday.

Cass found out that he was free Monday and Tuesday as well, so his Meme and I ended up staying an extra day so we could spend time with him on Monday.  We just hung around the base.  We went to the museum (Chemical Corp) and he got a haircut.

He moved into new living quarters and shares a room with two other guys.  But now he get to have his TV, XBox, Cell Phone, etc.  So please feel free to call or text him!  He will start AIT (Advanced Individual Training) soon with the 84th Battalion 3rd Chemical Brigade.  It will last 11 weeks.  After that he will get shipped to his first duty station.  We will no know where that is until about a week before it is over.

I have posted some pics!  

I cannot close without saying how proud we all are of him.  In only 9 weeks he made some major changes.  Army Strong they call it!