Here's The Celebration!

As we often do when Tim can't leave the yard Jeff and I take a tailgate to him. Tonight we took cupcakes and gifts. We always park alongside the water and enjoy the view while eating and talking. It will be one of our fondest memories when we look back on Tim's time at USNA some day. For today, we celebrated his 21st birthday. I made cupcakes for him to take and share with his company mates. Happy Birthday, Tim!

Happy Birthday, Tim!

Today is Tim's 21st birthday! Last week we flew to California to spend the week for spring break. Lots of time with family was wonderful and relaxing! This is my favorite picture of Tim from the trip. He's with his new cousin...cousin Becky's little girl...Leah. She is a little doll and Tim had a great time taking photos of her. I got one of him when he put his camera down. I like how Tim loves the little people in his life. His nephews and niece...and cousin! Below I posted some photos of Tim's plebe year to show how far he has come. Next year is Firstie year! It's hard to believe! We are proud of you, Tim! Happy Birthday!

Out to dinner with Grandma and Grandpa! A nice break from King Hall food!

Grandpa Steiner loved having Tim help him with his computer!

As We Celebrate Tim's birthday today here's a look back to Plebe Year!

June 28, 2006 Induction Day. We are minutes away from saying good bye to civilian Tim! We may have smiles on our faces but inside tears, fear, apprehension...oh, my...words don't do it justice!

Six weeks later...our first "Hello". The smile tells it all! After six weeks parents come back for plebe parent weekend. It is their first liberty!

Plebe Parent Weekend is over and Tim is on his way back to begin the school year. We thought Plebe summer was hard. It was easy in comparison to what was ahead!

This is from the end of the year just before Herndon at Sea Trials. Jeff and I got to watch Tim and his company compete in a grueling 12 hour competition. A good ad for Tide!

Jill came for a visit in Feb. She got to be Tim's dinner "date" and ate in King Hall with him!

Mike was still at the Tomb Tim's plebe year. Tim got expert advice on shining shoes!

Grandma and Grandpa Steiner came for a week to see Tim at USNA and Mike at the Tomb. Tim was in the D&B that year so we traveled to Harrisburg, PA to watch them perform. Proud!

Grandpa Imbach came in the fall of plebe year. He got to see Tim play taps on the steps of Bancroft. Loved it!

Dan, Anna, Josiah and Micah came at the end of plebe year just before finals. Cami came along, too, but we didn't know it!

Tim and his room mate Rene Martin just after Herndon! They are elated that plebe year is over! The tradition of the plebe class climbing Herndon monument with the dixie cup cover being replaced by a midshipman cover marks the end of plebe year.

Jill and Nolan came for Herndon week. Here they are with Tim just after he has officially become a "youngster"...plebe no more!

Tim's New Bling!

Do you see the smile on Tim's face? It took spiffy shades to protect his new PRK 20/20 eyes from the bright bling of his new ring!


Jeff and I don't think we've seen Tim this happy in a loooong time! Congratulations! This ring symbolizes a HUGE achievement in getting to the brink of being a firstie....first class....senior next year....one more year to go! The class of 2010 received their rings last week and get to wear them for 10 days. On May 16th at the Ring Dance Tim will dip his ring in the water from the seven seas of the world. From then on he joins the ranks of USNA ring wearers! Not sure if that's a word but you get the picture!

Baby Cambria Lynn

As you'll see below I chose cute pictures of each of our DARLING grandchildren! This post is dedicated to sweet Cami who turned one in December. She's a miniature Anna! How fun!





This darling hat got lots of use! What a cutie!

Baby Micah

As I say below I was looking for a photo to send of Josiah but I found more than one! This is Micah's turn!

Baby Josiah!

Anna posted pictures of the kids yesterday from their "baby" days. So cute! I went looking in ours for my favorite (ok I have a million favorites!) of Josiah when he was on the coffee table on Easter at our Corvallis house. It's one I have on my fridge. As I searched I kept finding more and more that I just had to post. I'll do Micah and Cami another time....I LOVE all three but I don't have any of them at our Corvallis house. So sad! These were very happy days with our little Joe!

Snow in March in Maryland!

Sunday, March 1st, it began to snow just as we were driving Tim back to the yard after his Sunday liberty. We had picked him up for church that morning then came home for a relaxing afternoon. Tim did his laundry and I cooked Sweet'nSour chicken for an early dinner. I love it when Tim is home....the house just doesn't seem so quiet :) He plays his guitar, takes photos, talks about the week he just had, and hangs out. It's great for us. I think Tim likes it, too. As you'll see below I love to cook for my kids. Anyway...back to the snow! By Monday morning when we woke up there was a blanket of white outside. School was closed and even USNA! A rare thing! Jeff stayed home and worked all day on the phone and computer. We did make it out in the afternoon to shovel a path to the street and get the 8 inches off our cars. The sun is bright and the sky is blue today but it's still cold! It will be a high of 29 after it got down to about 10 last night. It's still supposed to be cold again tonight!

Time to See the Kiddos....Again:)

After we got home from Missouri (you'll see below) I packed my suitcase and headed to Oregon! Jeff had a trip planned to Colorado so I was able to sneak a trip to see all the kids and kiddos. One of my favorite hobbies! Jill and Nolan are computer people. Can you tell? They added to their family of two cats a dog named Josie. Josie is loving her new home and is learning how to be a "Nelson"! We all got together at Jill and Nolan's one night for dinner. I love to cook for my kids! Cami began taking more steps while I was there!








Don't you just love this one of Uncle Mike reading to Micah and Cami??? Look at Micah's hands:) I think this was the second time that book was read to him since he arrived.