Hey Everybody

Well it's been, I don't know, too long. Anyways, Emily had her tonsils taken out about three weeks ago and she says it sucks. After the surgury I took a look at the back of her throat and it looked like the doctor took a melon baller and scooped out the tonsils and the holes were black. It was really gross. So she has not been able to eat and barly drink anything for two and half weeks and tonight she was able to eat a Burger King hamburger. I think she was so hungry that she was going to tough it out and eat the burger.

School has started for Annabella. She is now in Kindergarden. CRAZY !!! Our little girl is riding the bus to school and is gone all day all week. She says she has fun. Marcus' pre-school starts after labor day. Emily is teaching the preschool here at home with a couple of other kids. So, he is excited for that.

My school is going good, I am plugging along. I found out this past week that I did not make promotion and on top of that I missed it by .2 points. That sucked, but we know it did not happen for a reason. So we'll just keep going.

It has been a hot summer, we spent many days at the pool here on base, and that was really awsome. The kids took swimming lessons and have become really good but hillarious swimmers.

Doing some catching up Emily and I had the opportunity to go out with the Young Women for the Girls Camp 4th year hike. It was fun, we went to a state park called Enchanted Rock state park. Now for those back west in Utah and Washington and other westerly states, this is not a impressive site to see; however, for Texas folks this is a Mountain. Anyways, the girls hiked to the top and myself and a few other guys went and set up rock climbing and repelling. It was awsome, I did not get to as much as I wanted to, it was about the girls; however, Emily and I did get to go at the end and it was my first time to do this. So I walked out to the edge and took a deep breath and went, it was crazy. Then one of the other guys there, more experianced, hooked into the harnest to go face forward. It was an opportunity of a life time, and I took it. Here is the pictures.

And here is the Mountain, don't keep your hopes up.

The next pictures are from our annual trip to the coast. This is in Port Arnasas Tx. past Corpus Cristi. We love going there, and the kids absolutly go crazy going to the beach. They love the water, waves and sand. Now the pictures you are going to see are true and real. The beach is not a paridise beach with long white crystal clear water. In fact it is murky and off in the distance you can see off shore oil rigs. That was different; however, if you don't pay attention to it is a cool place to visit, and at least we get a chance to go play at a warm water beach. Some people don't even get to do that.

Oh yea the seaweed, the kids loved throwing that around and at each other, I did not like it so much, it felt gross aginst the legs as it washed in and out.

Up next is our annual trip to Seaworld. One of the perks of the military is that we get go in for free once a year. Thank you Anheuser-Busch for supporting the troops. The kids had a blast, and it was even better this year because Marcus was tall enough to be able to go on the same rides as Annabella, so they were both excited to be able to go together. Proud parent moment when Annabella took Marcus' hand and led him on the roller coaster and showed him what to do. It was awsome.

Well, that is that, it has been a fun summer and now we will move on to the winter time, not that there is much of one here in Southern Texas. I miss the cold, wet and crisp fall and winters in the Northwest.

Take care all

and remember

It's almost Friday