Baby Brother's Army Send-off

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My baby brother is all gown up!

It is still hard for me not to think of him like this. To me, he is still that goofy little brother who was picked on mercilessly by his big brothers.

(My scanner doesn't work so you get a picture of a picture.  Real professional.  I know.)

Mom always said stuff like, "Knock it off!  I hope one day he is bigger than you boys and kicks your butts" and we just laughed at her, because we didn't think the little boy who ate a lot of beans and cheese and watched Toy Story a million times would ever grow up.

We were wrong. 

This is an older picture (and a silly, terrible one of myself), but it shows just how much he loves his sisters!

We are so proud of him.  He enlisted in the Army and last week he left for Basic Training.  We had a little send-off for him so that family and friends could say goodbye.  I insisted that, even though my parents are in the middle of a lengthy, involved, more-than-anticipated home renovation, we should put up some decorations. 

I threw together some of my recycled manly buntings from old hunting magazines and attempted to hang some crepe paper.  It went well with drop cloths and insulation! =)

 Of course, we can't have something like this without Subway.  It is tradition.

 Mom had these cute little flag toothpicks, too, and I just loved them, as long as all of the flags were facing the correct direction.  (OCD) 

Simple. 

Just family and friends and lots of laughter and love and hugs and mushiness before we sent him out into the big, scary world.