Update

Tuesday October 9,2001

     Hey there everyone! Since this is the first installment of our News Update let me bring those of you who haven't heard yet up to date! WE"RE MOVING! Sometime shortly after Christmas we will be leaving Virginia and heading "Down Under" Yes we're moving to Perth Australia! Why? So Doug can train on how to drive diesal submarines with the Australian Navy. (The American Navy doesn't make them anymore our's are all nuclear).
    After about two months in Australia (January and February are summer in Australia!) We'll move on to The Netherlands / Holland . Where Doug will take part in an exchange program with the Royal Dutch Navy. He will spend about four months taking part in their PCO (Translation for those of you not in the Navy = Prospective Commanding Officer) program for Submarines. The kids and I will be going along for the ride and we are all very excited!
    You'll be able to follow our adventures here on this web page. You can also get in touch with us via this site or just email us at Karen@reckamp.com or Doug@reckamp.com Katie@...... Etc... Yes we all have our own e-mail addresses now! If you have enjoyed reading this update please let me know by clicking on the E-mail button below and tell me if you'd like to be notified when there's new news added. Also if you have a sec please send us your street address and/or e-mail address if they have changed recently That way I can get everything organized before the move. Thanks!

Saturday October 13, 2001

The last couple of weeks have been very hectic. There are lots of things to do when you're getting ready to move to the other side of the world! It's definatly more complicated than moving from the east coast to the west (or vies versa) which we've done a couple of times.
Back on the Norfolk front...
Fleet Week started yesterday and we went downtown to be part of the grand kick off. Fleet Week is a celebration of, well, THE FLEET! (ie: "The Navy") . The kids were thrilled to get dinner consisting of Flwaffles, cotton candy, and fresh squeezed lemonade (I insisted on one fruit-like food aren't I a good Mom?) After wandering through the stands and booths we were serenaded by Lee Greenwood himself as he sang "Proud to be an American" followed be an amazing fireworks display over the Elisabeth river, while the kids ran around in their requisite glow in the dark necklaces. (On a side note this was Emma's first fireworks display that she did not watch from under her Blanky!) It was like the 4th of July only in October!
October 11th was not only the one month anniversary of the terrorist atrocities that occured in Washington D.C., New York and Pennsylvania. It was also the one year anniversary of the bombing of the USS COLE (a Norfolk based ship) where 17 US Sailors lost their lives. As a Navy Wife, {and Air Force Daughter :)}, A Mother, A Christian, and simply as an American, it felt so good to be surrounded by so many people all celebrating the existence of one of the things that makes our country so great!
God Bless America!!!!

Monday October 22, 2001

Last weekend was action packed! Saturday the festivities began with the arrival of Gramma and Grampa Chester, Aunt Susie (known as "Oosie" by Emma), and cousins Robbie and Andrew. Soon after, some of us went over to the school's annual Fall Frolic (school carnival) where we "walked on the moon" , "crawled across a dragons back", "dug for treasure", "went fishing", and gathered lots of loot along the way! It was soon time to leave the Frolic and head over to Emma's birthday party at "Chuck E. Cheeses". We celebrated with friends & family, ate overpriced cardboard flavored pizza, played games, had cake, and opened some great presents! {Check Emily's web page for pictures} Sunday we spent the morning at the beach and even got sunburned (IN OCTOBER!). After we said goodbye to Gramma, Grampa, Susie & the boys we stopped and played a round of Putt Putt before heading home, Katie, Daniel & Dad all got holes in one, look out Tiger!