My new adventure

I am now making videos and posting them on YouTube, feel free to subscribe and help me build my presence on YouTube. Slowly I will be noticed, so feel free to speed that up for me. I also have a blog you can follow, which I am going to get some guest bloggers for, as I am not so great at remembering to post!!!

I know you are all thinking- we know that!!

life is very busy, summer holidays here, so A and B are off and enjoy themselves. J is in San Diego now, and enjoy that area of USA, while my darling Cara is here in Austin, working hard, trying to remember to relax and breath. They are relocating offices at the moment, so facilities is another word for Hell!!

My facebook page for all my cooking is Kitchen Coach, you can link there from my Tamzin Cochrane FB page, and I am also on twitter @fabkitchencoach

The  boys are getting many dishes made all the time, we are the house to visit if you are hungry.

another week has gone by

I can't believe another week has gone by, Always glad when Fridays arrive, it means the school routine is over for two days!! Only three weeks left of school, as we break up on 5th June, and Jack arrives home that day, which makes it a very special day in deed. We will not have seen him for over 18 months. So it will be a day to celebrate, Ben is finished with elementary school, and Jack comes back home for a holiday from Okinawa.

Ben is doing well at Karate, he is now a blue belt and is hoping to be able to test while Jack is here for his next belt, advanced Blue, but that might be difficult, a lot to learn in two months, the saving grace will be that he is in summer camp at Karate, so will get extra tuition time in June, fingers crossed.

Ben being congratulated by the board after testing for his belt on April 29th 2014

Alex has the firing range on his 13th birthday

Opening the presents

cookie cake time, friends and family

Alex had a great birthday, we threw a surprise party for him, and it was a surprise- so funny. He had no idea. I do not think  he will ever say to me again I want a surprise party mum, because i managed to pull it off for him!! Of course he had totally forgotten he had asked for one, that is the secret. But his 13th was an amazing day, which was turned in to a fantastic weekend, his friend Joary flew in from Las Vegas to spend it with him, and it was a VERY full and fun time.
Cara kindly let us use her house for the party, which made it even easy to surprise him .

Jack's birthday

Its is May 6th 2014 and Jack is spending his twentieth birthday away from us, and his second birthday overseas. He is still stationed in Okinawa, Japan, although at the moment he is in the Philippines, so his 19th birthday was in Japan and his 20th in the Philippines, he is traveling for sure.
Ben went to bailey middle school today, as he is now in his last year of Elementary school, and will be moving up to 6th grade, and will have one year with Alex ( who is now known to most as Xander) .
Alex will be heading into 8th grade, they are all growing up so fast.

Cara has her own house not far away, has a great job working for ARM in facilities and seems to be living life to the full.

Mum has been out to visit for the month of April, which was fantastic, we went to Napa for 4 days and enjoyed ourselves.
Cara and I went to New York for her birthday present, and met Alison and Ellie there, a great time was had by all.
I celebrated my birthday in San Diego, with friends that flew in from all over the US, which was a lot of fun, so travel has been a happening in this house.

Jacks last few months..look at the hours !!

Basic Training - Marine Corps


Marine boot camp is officially 12 weeks of training, plus 1 week of processing.

Without doubt, Marine boot camp is more challenging -- both physically and mentally -- than the basic training programs of any of the other military services. See below just what it takes to survive this grueling process called boot camp. Not only are the physical requirements much higher, but recruits are required to learn and memorize a startling amount of information. There are more than 70 "training days" in a period a little longer than 12 weeks.

Week 1 - Receiving
The first stop in week one is at Recruit Receiving, where new recruits spend the first few days of their recruit training experience. During this first week you will be up the entire first night, and all of the next day. During this day and a half, you will be:
Completing paperwork processing
Getting Pay set up
Haircut
Initial gear setup
Full medical and dental screenings
Initial Strength Test (IST)

The remaining hours of week 1 will be comprised of various academic classes.

Week 2 - In the Barracks
The 2nd week of boot camp is intended to bring discipline into the recruits' routine. Get the Recruits used to an intense schedule that they will be following everyday throughout bootcamp. Expect to learn and maintain the following in a matter of minutes:
Wake up call
Getting up
Getting dressed
Making your bed
Brushing your teeth
Getting shaved
Moving out

Week 3 - Combat
As you move away from the first two weeks, you'll continue learning the basics of close combat skills, including the infamous "pugil sticks." Many recruits are somewhat apprehensive about this phase of training, but then find out how much fun it really is. It's almost impossible to get hurt. The recruits are protected by a football helmet and mask, rubber neck roll and crotch cup, and only two kinds of blows are permitted: the slash and the horizontal butt stroke, both to the well-protected head and neck. A clean shot ends the bout. The secret is aggression -- this is not a defensive sport. In addition to more pugil sticks and close combat training, you will learn:
additional classes on first aid
Core values
3 mile march (with packs)
The Confidence Course

Week 4 - More Pugil Sticks
During the fourth week, there will be even more training with pugil sticks and additional training in close combat skills. In addition to the daily P.T., there will be further academic classes (including more core values training). The highlight of week 4 is the individual drill evaluation. Your platoon will be evaluated, graded, and compared to the other platoons.

The winning platoon, of course, receives a trophy for the trophy table. The losing platoons receive the wrath of their respective D.I.s.

Week 5 - Combat Water Survival
The biggest event of week 5 is Combat Water Survival. All Marines must pass basic water survival skills in order to graduate from boot camp (those who don't pass will receive extensive remedial training until they do). Training in Combat Water Survival develops a recruit's confidence in the water. All recruits must pass the minimum requirement level of Combat Water Survival-4, which requires recruits to perform a variety of water survival and swimming techniques. Recruits will also:
Trail a 5 mile hike
Test on Marine Customs and Courtesies
Train in first aid
Full blown inspection(uniforms, rifle, questions, etc)
More core value training

Week 6 -/Rappelling.
This week is dedicated to learning and overcoming the fear of heights by getting up and rappelling down "the wall". You will be taught the proper procedures and how to place your hands on the rope to successfully rappel down safely to ground.

Week 7 - Weapons Training
This week is dedicated to training that last two weeks. The first of which is called Snap-In Week. During this week, recruits are introduced to the four shooting positions (standing, kneeling, sitting and prone). During the second week of marksmanship training, recruits actually fire a known-distance course with ranges of 200, 300 and 500 yards. Recruits prepare for rifle qualification on Friday of that week. In addition to rifle training, you'll practice and master training on:
Grenades and other types of weapons.
Training on how to fire properly
Adjusting sight on weapons
Firing a known-distance course
Experience Field Firing Range (FFR)

Week 8 - Firing Week
Week 8 is strictly dedicated to firing your weapon and using the training you have been giving. Firing live rounds will show your sergeant how well you have listened. Concentration is key to the success of firing five well-aimed shots correctly.

Week 9 - Confidence Course
This week you will put your training on The Confidence Course to test. The Confidence Course consists of eleven obstacles, designed so that each obstacle is more physically challenging then the last. The obstacles are: (1) Dirty name (2) Run, Jump & Swing (3) The Inclining Wall (4) The Confidence Climb (5) Monkey Bridge (6) The Tough One (7) Reverse Climb (8) Slide for Life (9) the Hand Walk (10) The Arm Stretcher, and (11) The Sky Scraper. While these names sound daunting, the course is designed so the average platoon can run it in 45 minutes.

Week 10 - Field Training
During week 10, you'll start putting all of your training together during field training. "Field Training" is "practice war." You'll operate and live in a simulated combat environment, and learn the fundamentals of patrolling, firing, setting up camp, and more. Basic Warrior Training introduces recruits to field living conditions. The majority of a Marine's field training is conducted after recruit training at the School of Infantry.

During the 3-day Basic Warrior Training conducted during boot camp, recruits will learn basic field skills like setting up a tent, field sanitation and camouflage. It is also during this training that recruits go through the gas chamber.

Week 11
During week 11, you get a chance to put everything you've learned in boot camp to the test. The week starts with the biggest competition of all: The CRUCIBLE. Everything comes together , as a team, leadership, discipline and the skills you have obtained throughout the 10 weeks of training. You will pull together as a team to finish up strong.

Week 11 is also known as "Transformation Week." During this week the new Marines are given 1 hour extra free time each evening and wear the rank insignia of the grade to which they were either guaranteed upon enlistment, or earned during recruit training.

Week 12
YOU MADE IT! This week is the receiving of awards, graduation practice and then graduation! You have now earned the title "Marine".

The minimum (core) graduation requirements are:

(1) Pass the physical fitness test and be within prescribed weight standards

(2) Qualify for Combat Water Survival at level 4 or higher

(3) Qualify with the service rifle

(4) Pass the batallion commander's inspection

(5) Pass the written tests

(6) Complete the Crucible

If you fail in any of the above areas, you are subject to be "recycled" (sent backwards in time to another platoon), or may possibly be discharged. Here's how your 13 weeks breaks down in actual hours:

Instructional Time (The Crucible / Combat Water Survival / Weapons and Field Training): 279.5 hours
Core Values / Academics / Values Reinforcement: 41.5
Physical Fitness: 59
Close Order Drill: 54.5
Field Training: 31
Close Combat Training: 27
Conditioning Marches: 13
Administration: 60
Senior DI Time (nightly free time): 55.5
Movement Time: 60
Sleep: 479
Basic Daily Routine: 210
Chow: 179
Total: 1518 hours

All about the history of the Marine Corps uniform etc

http://marines.com/history-heritage/symbols?WT.mc_id=090612_SYMBOLS_FB

I found this interesting, and since jack is now only 5 days from completing his training..I thought these facts worth putting out there for those of you who do not know as much about the United  States Marine Corp

A poem for my son as he heads for The Crucible

Did You Know

When you awoke this morning to begin the crucible

Did you know I walked every step with you that was possible?
When you humped all those miles over rough terrain,
Did you know I was by your side again?
When your rations were low and your belly was hungry,
Did you know that I wished it wasn't you but instead it was me?
When your feet ached and blistered from stress,
Did you know that I was carrying you deep in my chest?
When you were tired and sore and almost ready to fall,
Did you realize I would have carried it all?
When you had little sleep and your eyes were red,
Did you know I would have given you my bed?
When you had to push and pull for that extra mile,
Did you know that I was so proud and so tall, with such a big smile?

When you went to bootcamp, I went to one too,
It's the one where mom's worry over all you go through.
I couldn't eat dessert, knowing that you had no treats,
I felt quilty for wanting a pedicure, when you had tired feet.
I anguished over ever tough moment, I thought you had
I cried when I missed you, I cried when I was sad
I cried over your letters, that declared your love for "Mom"
I cried over thinking about the day you would come home.
I cringed if I thought someone was yelling at you
Even though I knew it's waht they had to do.
I lost sleep just wondering how you are
I prayed and thought and even wished upon a star.

Now your almost through and soon you will be
One of The Few The Proud, a New MARINE
I get an Honor too for going through the bootcamp for Mom's
I get to hug you and hold you in my arms
I get to see how handsome you really are
I get my bright shining star
No I don's get a medal or a pin to wear
I don't get to sport that awesome Marine Hair
My reward is one that can't be seen
It's called "Being the Mom of a U.S. Marine."

The marine Corp Recruit Depot newspaper link

Believe it or not, the MCRD where jack is doing all his training has a weekly newspaper, and here is the link

http://www.mcrdsd.marines.mil/News/ChevronNewspaper.aspx

it is fun to see what is going on there and you get to see pictures of what the recruits are going through.

I thought this might be interesting for some of you.