My Favorite Gifts

My favorite things to get in the mail are my magazine subscriptions. Thanks Kelly and Barb!

The General

It's an honor and a pleasure to see this man every day and work about 50 yards from him. He was nice enough to write me a note and autograph a book for me that featured him and three other Army four-star Generals.

Stop Feeding the Cats!!

"So daddy, why did they throw you out of Afghanistan even though you really wanted to help with the war and were really good at your job?"

"Well son, one day I mistakenly fed a starving cat."

Marine Roommate

Here is my Marine Major roommate, Tom Chalkley, who left our room around the end of June. Tom is on active duty, married with no kids, and expects to be back in Afghanistan for a seven-month tour Summer 2011! Great roommate = no snoring.

British Roommate

Here is my British roommate, Mark, all dressed up and no place to go. Mark is assigned to the British Royal Air Force and is wearing this tux (which he had made here on base by a local Afghan tailor for $140) enroute to a post American Embassy party. Great roommate = no snoring!

This weekend Taylor has a hockey tournament in Muskegon. There are about 20 teams in the tournament. Yesterday Taylor's team played and the game ended in a 4 - 4 tie. It was too bad because they had a curfew clock at the rink that went off, but they still had about 2 minutes left in the game. Tonight his team plays the Kalamazoo Blades--we are hoping for a win:)

Taylor goes to Hope Tennis Academy next week for a full week of tennis. The high school tennis season starts Aug. 11, so it is right around the corner. The next week Taylor goes to a Lacrosse Camp at Davenport University. It is an overnight camp, so he and a friend will stay in the dorms for the week.

I'm busy finishing up projects around the house. I painted Taylor's bathroom and bedroom and the master bedroom, too. Taylor's bathroom and bedroom got bead board on the lower half installed as well. It looks fantastic! I am hoping to paint the master bathroom before school starts:) We are in the process of getting all new appliances, too. We are upgrading to stainless--I am looking forward to the new look.

It's Official - Taylor's Driving Now!

Wow! I can't believe Taylor is driving! It seems like just yesterday when he was learning to ride a two-wheeler. He has inherited the 4-Runner and it got a full tank a gas and a washing today--YES Tim--it has finally had a bath (I splurged for the $11.00 one). Taylor celebrated his "freedom" by going to drop in hockey and out to Buffalo Wild Wings with some hockey buddies afterwards. When he got home and we checked the mail, his picture I.D. was there waiting to be opened. Congrats, Taylor! Be smart and careful when you're behind the wheel--remember there is one one YOU!!