Last Sunday....Another Good Bye

Last Sunday Jeff and I took Tim back to the yard for his final block of training. He is a squad leader for the second set of plebe summer. We had a great month with him in Oregon and here in Annapolis. Even though it's a ten minute drive we still feel the impact every time we take him back and say another good bye. I keep saying it's easy now but next year is going to be hard when he actually leaves USNA for the real Navy world. These photos are when we said bye after he had taken in a few loads of his "stuff". Then the actual last shot of him going back into Bancroft. He was excited and motivated to be a part of the leadership in training the new plebes. We can't forget his plebe summer and now it's hard to believe Tim is actually at this point. We will be saying it all year, I'm sure. As we drove off the yard we drove by the parade field and noticed Tim's company mates who were the first set of detailers for plebe summer. These are the people Tim would be replacing. They have all been together since their plebe summer. We always heard about the bond that develops among your company mates. It's so true! Of course, we stopped and got some photos of them!


Tim always thanks us!


Another last shot...carrying his computer.

Matt Gillin, Bill Resavy, and Jason Mahuna

Jess Vance and Jason Mahuna

Plebe summer...now and then!

Tonight Jeff and I took a friend, Melody Slothower, from Corvallis, Oregon over to the yard. A former student of hers is a plebe and she is in DC for a conference. While we were there, of course, we had to see Tim. We show him here tonight as a "Detailer" with the specific job of squad leader along with company mate, Mallory. I found photos of the night on July 4th of their plebe summer when she came up with the idea of a few of them to walk towards us and put their trash in the trash can and no one would be the wiser of whose parents were there. Very clever! We've never forgotten! So now who do we see walking towards us but Mallory and Tim! Only this time we shook hands and hugged! No more incognito! And Melody got to see her student! It was great! Small world...he's from Corvallis and I was his preschool teacher!

Here is Mallory obviously telling Tim of her great plan. I can just hear her saying, "If we all do it together no one will know!"

After scheming Tim, Mallory and another cohort walk towards us. Notice the empty plates. We were behind a fence about 20 yards away from the trash can(which you can't see) so they came towards us to put them in the trash.

Fast forward to tonight. As we watched for Melody's student along came 10th platoon and the squad leaders following. It's Tim and Mallory.... only now they are firsties and in charge!

Courtney Comes For A Visit!

Courtney arrived on Wednesday and leaves tomorrow to go back to Long Beach, California and her summer school classes. We've had a great time with her here. She and Tim did a day in DC, a day in Annapolis, a day in Scranton, PA. and lots of hanging out time. We will miss her!

Highlights of Courtney's visit

We celebrated Courtney's early birthday today with a German Chocolate cake! And gifts from USNA! Happy Birthday, Courtney!





Tim surprised Courtney with a road trip to Scranton, Pennsylvania in honor of their love for The Office. Here they are leaving and coming back. It was a great time and memorable early birthday present!



A visit to the yard.

Summer in Oregon

I have posted the high lights of our trip to Oregon below. Jeff took lots of pictures on his camera so some of the events are missing. It was a great time seeing all of our kids and having the whole family together for one event: celebrating Micah's third birthday. Jeff has those pics so sorry to say they are not here. I went out before Jeff and Tim so I could help Anna with the kiddos while Dan was in Arizona with his high school students. We had a great time and then the guys all arrived. We moved between Jill and Nolan's house and Dan and Anna's in Salem. Tim got to spend time with the family and his friends. We have great memories!

4th of July

Our last day in Oregon! We started the day by watching Anna run in a race! Next watched Mike in his mountain bike race for a couple of laps then to Dan and Anna's for a BBQ. The final event was watching a great fireworks show on the river bank in Independence. Jill and Nolan saved spots for us and it was great!

Dan's Mission Trip Photo Time

Dan showed us his photos one evening when we stopped by. I love these shots of Josiah on Daddy's lap!

Mike's China gifts

We stopped by the bike shop again since we forgot to give Mike his wooden carving of the year of the monkey and book.

Jill and Sweet Toby

Jill was feeling crummy most of the time we were there with morning sickness. Her Toby adores her and Nolan but is very shy with us. Such a sweet dog!

Visits

Lee Eick and Jeff Time


A great time with precious friend, Melinda Ameele


Lunch with Vicki Eick

We Bowled with Jill and Nolan

Jill beat all of us!

A Visit to Bike 'n Hike to see Mike

Mike was on his lunch break so we walked down to the river and chatted while he ate. It was a gorgeous Oregon summer day!

Young Plebes!

I bought "Blue Rimmed" T-shirts and USNA shorts for the boys to match Uncle Tim. He put them through a work out and a run!

Sunday!

On Sunday, June 28, I stayed home with Cami while Anna took the boys to Sunday School with her. I had the supreme pleasure of getting Cami dressed in her DARLING dress and putting ponies in her hair! Such a sweetie:) Then after church a photo op with all three sweeties:) Tim and Jeff arrived from Maryland. They hadn't seen the kids since Christmas. Jill and Nolan stopped by and the girls got their pearl necklaces from China. Nolan got his wooden carving...year of the dog and a book.