Thanksgiving in the Smokies

This year we opted not to go home for Thanksgiving. Instead, we decided on a Thanksgiving/anniversary trip in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. We rented a cabin up in the mountains and made our Thanksgiving dinner. We also did some exploring in the tourist-trap towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, as well as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We missed our families on Thanksgiving, but had a nice, relaxing trip.

Happy Birthday Marines

On November 10th, the Marine Corps celebrated its 230th birthday. Marines around the world gathered in groups large and small to commemorate the founding of the world's greatest fighting force. The ceremony includes the reading of General Lejeune's birthday address as well as a message from the current Commadant, General Hagee. The celebration also includes the cutting of the Marine Corps birthday cake with the first piece going to the oldest Marine in attendance and the second piece to the youngest.

Me and my buddy Tim Hudson.

Mandy and Timmy's wife Stephanie.

The Ladies breakin it down on the dance floor. Notice no husbands are out there. Marines are too tough to do the "Electric Slide"!

This looks like an advertisement for Cingular wireless. Those other Marines are really tall! That is Jason Raper next to me, then Scotty Buerstatte, and Kris Harris (no relation to our Chris Harris!)

Fun with Dad

Josh's dad came for a visit in early October and we were busy with lots of airplane-related activities (how else do you keep someone entertained in Meridian, Mississippi). We took him over to the squadron to fly the plane in the simulator and also went down to Pensacola to the aviation museum.

At the Naval Aviation Museuem in Pensacola, Florida.

He was a natural in the simulator...

I won't be quitting my day job any time soon...

Josh took him to see his plane, the T-45, up close

More airplanes at the Pensacola Aviation Museum

And one of the Blue Angels' Jets