Devoted Patriot and Warrior

Of significant note!
Mike ended his eight year tour of duty with the military on Thanksgiving day, November 2008. From the bottom of our hearts we thank you Mike for your honorable service. We thank everyone who offered so many words of comfort to our family, and the innumerable prayers on his behalf for his safety. Most of all, we thank a loving Heavenly Father who answered those prayers. Thanksgiving was truly a day to be grateful not only that Mike was successful and accomplished in his military duties, but served his country with honor both in war and in peace, and returned to us healthy and whole. He is proud of his military accomplishments but feels it's time now to move forward with his life. His training will always be a part of him, and the discipline and structure he acquired will serve him the rest of his life. He is and will always be a devoted patriot who loves his country, a soldier who took up arms in her defense and a man of honor even though his uniform now hangs in the closet! From those who love him, and from a grateful nation we say "Thank you, Mike. We're so proud of you and surely glad you're home to stay!"

Christmas with our little Jaxon!

What an adorable, precious little boy! When I asked Jaxon to smile for this picture, I thought I'd get a little grin, but no, was I rewarded with a dazzling 100,000 watt smile!! Grandma Lelia, Jason, Mike, Kitch, Angela, Jaxon and Lia were with us this year for the Christmas holidays and we surely had a GREAT time! I particularly loved the extra time Paul and I got to have with Jaxon and Lia the week after Christmas. What a special and memorable time with our grand children. We love them so!!!

Christmas with Lia

Beautiful little Lia spent the Christmas holidays with grandpa and grandma too. Grandma couldn't help but take about a million pictures of her and Jaxon. This is just one of those million. What an angel! We had a wonderful time together! We love you so much sweetheart!

Precious little Hayden

Hayden spend his spring vacation here at grandma and grandpa's house in Wyoming. Actually Paul and I were lucky enough to get to take care of him for two weeks while Jenny was in Florida attending an intensive education course (in the care and treatment of lymphedema).

Paul and I had such a GREAT time with Hayden. He was a complete joy every day! I actually took many, and I mean MANY pictures of Hayden so I could email a few to Jenny every day she was gone so she wouldn't feel so far from her baby. Since there just isn't room for eight thousand pictures, I chose this one to share. Talk about a precious picture of a precious little boy! COME AND VISIT US AGAIN LITTLE GRAND SON!

A dip in the DRY pool! No fins or snorkels needed!

What a GREAT Conference weekend! Our family was able to get together at Kitch and Angela's house as well as Jenny & Corby's house. Mike and his sweet girlfriend Casey were even able to come up and attend the Sunday afternoon session in person. A first for both of them!
Here is handsome little Hayden in his backyard enjoying a dip in the pool full of balls. (Don't need a swiming suit that way!) I was not able to get a good picture of him DIVING in, but he did it over and over. It was so funny! Finally as you will see below, Jaxon tried it and found it to be great fun.
It was a very special time to be together as a family and feast on the words of the new church presidency and other great leaders. Paul and I were sad to leave. Not only because we would miss our wonderful children and precious grand children, but we had to come back here to Star Valley where winter is still very much with us and theres LOTS of deep SNOW, penetrating COLD and FROST! I know spring will come up here one of these days, but until then, the only spring we've found was in Jenny's back yard!

Little Cousins

Once upon a time I was THIS big. Jaxon gives Hayden a tender touch as they play in Jenny's back yard over Conference weekend.

Fun Conference weekend at Jenny & Corby's house!

YAY diving into a swimming pool full of little balls! What little boy wouldn't love to do that! Jaxon is sporting his new spring time buzz. It ended up a little shorter than mom and dad intended, but Jaxon doesn't mind a bit.