Taylor in Boot Camp

I wanted to write about Taylor and what he's been up to. After being home from his mission and attending school at BYU-H for about a year he called one day from Provo where he was visiting some friends and told us that he wanted to join the Navy...I wasn't too surprised because he had mentioned it before and I knew he had been considering it for awhile. We told him we would be supportive of whatever he chose, so he enlisted in Navy special forces in January of this year.


In March he started Boot Camp in Great Lakes, Illinois where he mostly studied a lot and did a little bit of physical preparation and graduated 8 weeks later on May 23rd. Robert, Ben, Brian and I went back to Illinois for the graduation. It was a long flight and the boys were tired by the time we arrived and rented a car.

The graduation was unlike anything else we had ever been to.

The graduates stood, mostly at attention, for over an hour while the ceremony took place.

You can see Taylor here, right in the middle. There were a lot of graduates and the security was what you would expect it to be. It was very patriotic, complete with flags and musical numbers.

It was so wonderful to be there with Taylor on this important first step of a new journey for him.

Afterward, we were able to spend the weekend with Taylor...we rode the train into Chicago for the day, to a movie that night and attended church on base with Taylor on Sunday.





After graduation, Taylor will stay in Great Lakes for two months training with the other special forces groups after which he will transfer to the Navy base in Coronado California.

We are very excited for him and proud of him and hope that he will do his best so that he can join this organization of very devoted men who want to protect our country.

Ben´s Senior Prom.. Uncle Stan was kind enough to let Ben borrow his car for the night.
Ben is one lucky guy!

...and his Eagle Project, planting trees at Barney Park...

Bryan Colby and Robert discussing plans, etc. for the project

Bishop Gallacher, Max Lamourex and Robert taking a break from all their hard work...

Thanks to all who came out and helped to make this project a big success!

Kimber and Ryan's wedding was last Saturday... what a beautiful day! They were married at the Mesa Temple.





Later that night we had a reception at Kathy Gray's home. Kimber and I did most of the decorating and Kimber had done all of the pictures for the tables. It was beautiful...

Ryan and Kimber leaving the reception...

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU!!

Eagle Project

Brian decided to plan and organize a food drive for the United Food Bank in Mesa for his Eagle Project. This included organizing the boys, handing out fliers, picking up the food, loading it into the trailer and delivering it to the Food Bank. We had a fun morning handing out breakfast to the scouts who helped and then going to collect the food.

The trailer that we collected all the food in. This sign was Mom's contribution to the project.

Brian making calls and making sure everyone is signed in. It was his
responsibility to make sure all the records were accurate and all the information was correct.

Taylor helping out in his usual manner...

Some of our helpers! Austin, Matt, Matt, Gary, Brian, Steven, Ben, Taylor
and in the front, Andrew and Brother Colby, and the three boxes of food we collected...

At the Food Bank after the delivery of all the food they collected.
They were very impressed with the amount of food that was collected and they
were so pleased with his and the other Scouts' efforts.

Good Job Brian and all the Scouts of Troop 189!

Well, February brought some new developments around our house... Some neighbors of ours found a large parrot in their backyard and so naturally we got a call to come and look at it. It turned out to be a very friendly Cockatoo. She climbed right onto Robert's arm when we offered her some food and the people who found her didn't want to keep her, so we brought her home in one of our bird cages. She really is beautiful and very friendly. We put signs out, but so far no one has claimed her.


Some random pictures of the kids with the grandkids...Taylor came home for a couple of months and will be here until March when he starts Boot Camp.


And, our big news for the month, and perhaps the year, is that Ryan proposed to Kimber! They have been dating each other for the past year and we are so excited for both of them. They will be married in April and we couldn't be happier!

Bradley came home from his mission in Peru today. We are so excited to see him again! Larry, Melanie, Ethan and Catherine were at the airport to greet him as well as Kimber, Brian, Taylor, Benjamin and Lindsay. It's great to have him home again!


Leave it to Taylor and Benjamin to have some fun while waiting for Bradley to arrive...

Catherine keeping a low profile till he comes on the scene...

And here he comes! Sorry the picture is a little blurry...

It looks like Catherine doesn't remember Bradley... how can that be?

Lindsay and Bradley... and Dad in the background... sneaky dad!

The three amigos... I mean, missionaries!

Brian was having fun taxiing the bags and Catherine around the airport...

Welcome Home Bradley!!