Kitch, Angela & Jaxon Head

Mike and the medic and gunner that traveled in his vehicle.

Good Friends!

Mike LIVE on our hometown radio.

Nothing can be better than this!

It was a day of remembrances as we neared Rock Springs yesterday. It occurred to me that we had been here...done this before. But those times were laced with hearts so burdened with anguish that I shied away from the memory. Here we were nearing the armory again, only this time to bring our son home instead of dropping him off to serve in a distant and forbidding war. The bus carrying him pulled in the same time we did, so we parked in a hurry and ran to join the crowd jostling for positions at the door of the bus. There was a band playing, flags flying, tears and smiles, families reunited after 16 long months. I got separated from Paul and Jason; they got separated from each other. We were all on tip toes trying to catch a glimpse of just one soldier as he stepped from the bus. Then I saw Mike wrapped in the arms of his father. In just a moment it was my turn. He felt solid, warm, and so good. Then Jason caught him up in the biggest brother hug. I handed the camera to one of Mike's fellow soldiers and he snapped this picture. The wind was blowing, there was dust in the air, but we were all smiles! SO GLAD TO HAVE HIM HOME!!!

Handsome Jaxon!

Sixteen month old Jaxon is particularily handsome in his yellow bowl and spaghetti sauce. We can all take a lesson from him how to REALLY enjoy food. While I was in SLC with Hayden, Angela and Jaxon came up and spent the day with us. Kitch was able to come after school, and Jason joined us as well. Good fun was had by all.

Beautiful little Hayden

Here is Hayden (almost seven months) being very charming and happy in his activity chair. I was lucky enough to get to spend last week with him while his baby sitter, (his wonderful other grandma) was out of town. We played, and laughed, and I pushed him around on a little baby bike. He would sit on it and hold on like such a big boy. He was just adorable and fun! When I was there, he was SO close to being able to crawl. He would rock on his hands and knees. Well, he has finally figured it out. Corby is up here with us to go hunting with Paul and reported that Jenny told him so last night. So LOOK OUT WORLD! Hayden is now mobile!

Paws and Claws!

How would you like to be wandering along a river bank and come upon this? Corby and his friend Tom found this fresh black bear paw print north east of Palisades yesterday. You can just barely see Corby's foot print on the left side of the picture. They also found trees that had claw marks on them as high as Corbys head. Yikes! Not many bears have been spotted in that area, but they are obviously there!