Family Pictures before Lisa leaves!

We had so much fun at home tonight - just taking family pictures. At first we were just going to take pictures of David and Lisa in their military uniforms, but when we called them to get in front of the camera, Ricky and Rob had decided that they also needed to be recognized and so they dressed up, too! What crazy kids! What a hoot! John, Micah and mom just kept snapping pictures at them all. Then Joan kind of felt sad, so she got in on some of the fun, too!

We Are Family!

Crazy us! We made some more memories by taking family pictures together!

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays!

Christmas time has been so happy with everyone home! That's right, Lisa is home from the Army, and David is home from the Marines! Joan, Rob, and Ricky have had so much fun withthem here, finally! One of our favorite things is staying up and talking 'til way past midnight in mom's room! We talk about all the memories we've had growing up! We've had some fun Christmas celebrations, too! Extended family with mom's brother and sister and their kids was a great time! We've also had Lisa's boyfriend, John, home with us, and of course, Micah, David's girlfriend, has spent a lot of time at our house, too! That's an important part of Christmas - being together with family and loved ones!

David Graduates from Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego!

After 3 long months of basic training, David graduated on December 12th from his boot camp! We were all there to celebrate with him for 2 fun days of celebrations! Family Day was on December 11th. All the families arrived just in time to see their Marine in a moto run. David couldn't help having a smirk on his face when he saw us all! David looked happy, strong, and very disciplined! He looked handsome in his Marine Uniforms! All of us were so proud of his accomplishments! Here are some of the different events that took place at the Depot: drilling, physical training, academic training, core values of honor, courage, and commitment, martial arts, confidence course, combat water survival, marksmanship training, field firing range, field training, the Crucible, Marine Week, and finally Family Day and Graduation.

LISA GRADUATES FROM DEFENSE LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

Lisa is coming to an end at the Defense Language Institue at Presidio in Monterey, California. After being based there for a year and a half, she will be transfered to GoodFellow Air Force Base at the end of December. She has learned Russian and her teachers and her Russian friends all say she sounds as fluent as anyone from Russia and has even picked up their accent!

She has excelled in her studies an was even asked to speak at her graduation. Her speech was incredible! We even heard that in 26 years of hearing graduate speeches in Russian, none could compare to Lisa's! She wrote the speech and a classmate translated it back and forth between Russian and English. It was witty and clever and everyone was laughing through it! What a wonderful accomplishment, Lisa! Поздравления на вашем венчании Congratulations!

20 Days and Counting 'til David Graduates from MCRD!

David called home last night! It was the first time since the day he left! He sounds great and like he's grown a ton in the last 2 months! He's lost 25 pounds and must be all muscle! He's made some great friends and can't wait until we can meet them at graduation! His platoon is also one of the top 2 and is in the running to be at the top at graduation!

Our plans are to leave Salt Lake the morning December 11th and get to San Diego in time to see the big 4 mile run that they participate in as families arrive for Family Day. We will get to have a luncheon with David and then he can show spend time with us around the base until 6 p.m. Graduation will be Friday morning at 10 a.m. and then he is all done with MCRD and will get 30 days to be with us in Salt Lake. We will stay in San Diego until Sunday night and spend the weekend there, away from the cold. Everyone will be there, even Lisa!! We can't wait!!