Iraq war is declared over! 7 1/2 years after it started the last full combat brigade crossed over to Kuwait. Remember the beginning, Mar 2003. Had a WNDU news reporter in my living room. They wanted reaction of local familes of Company B Marines in Iraq. Was a big deal then. Didn't even made the TOP story on local news stations tonight. I was watching it on MSNBC. Know more about Iraq than I ever needed to know...

Bits of Summer 2010

Jt at the Elkhart County fair July 25th, 2010 Mercy and Nick dancing at Brooke's wedding on June 26th, 2010

JT, Nick and Mercy at Nick's 5th birthday party, 2010

Mercy riding the pony at Nick's 5th Birthday party. Now those parents know how to host a kid's party.

Mercy trying out Papa's old skate board.

Daddy's girl

Mercy and her daddy dancing the night away at Brooke & Kevin's wedding. I love this picture. Wish it was clearer. The lighting made my pictures blurry. Can you believe how tall she is getting? Hard to believe she is 6 years old. Harder yet to believe that JT is 27 years old!!

Easter 2010

Easter was fun again this year. The kids got to stay with us and wake up at our house to their Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny. JT loves his Mater car

Just what she wanted!! She looks so big in this picture.

Checking out their Easter baskets.

My 2 angels on Easter morning.

Homecoming 3/24/2007

Hard to believe it has been 3 years ago yesterday when our Marines returned home after their 2nd tour in Iraq. For those of you who have never experienced a homecoming, it is comparable to giving birth or getting married, only with a big sigh of relief. We forged bonds with Marine families that will last a lifetime. I love and miss my Marine Corp family. There will always be a place in my home and my heart for a United States Marine. Semper Fi.

Grandma's Poor Baby

Do not let your grandkids play with their parents. Big J, Little J and Mercy went to Kid's Kingdom yesterday to enjoy the warm, sunny weather. Big J had Little JT over his shoulder as they were going down a tunnel. Little JT lifted his head just as they were going under a 2x4 cross bar. He cut the back of his head open. 3 staples later he was good to go. Of course his dad felt so guilty he took them to Chuckie Cheese. I called him last night to see how he was doing. He told me that a spiderman tent would make him feeling alot better. Then his sister had to milk his injury. Mercy told me that JT told her that I would get "them" something. I guess she thinks she deserves something for her pain and suffering because she witnessed him getting hurt. I hate to tell her that I think he is going to cause her more suffering. He is only 4 and he has had a broken leg, and cut open his arm after putting it through the storm door. Grandma's poor little baby........

Kids....

Look closely at Mercy's eyebrows. She decide to trim them with her dad's nose hair trimmer. When asked if it hurt she said "no, but I will never do it again." Thank goodness she didn't take them all off.