HAPPY BIRTHDAY ASHTON

My niece Ashton shares a birthday with our little red head. She turned three today. We hope she had an awesome birthday!

Cute cake.


We love you and miss you Ashton!

PLEASE REMEMBER OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES TODAY

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY

Semper Fi!

JIMS CHANGE OF COMMAND

Sadly our time at Camp Johnson came to an end today with Jim's Change of Command.
It was beautiful weather by the water with Gunny Rice as Commander of Troops.
Janine with the Company Guidon.
The handing off of the Guidon representing the handing over of command.
It has been such an honor for Jim to be the CO of H&S Company for the past year. Most officers dream of having the chance to lead a command and many never get the opportunity. It is even more difficult for an Adjutant to achieve this.
Following the ceremony we had a gathering with food, drinks and cake ( awesome cake Janine, thanks). Jim was presented with the company Guidon (flag) which flew for the more than a year that he held command. This was also a great honor for him to receive. The plate in the center reads:
CAPT JAMES K. BARE
03 Aug 2004 - 18 May 2007
Your leadership will always be remembered.
Thanks for hookin' us up with SEPS Platoon!
From the Marines of H&S Company

This is the MAT miniature Guidon which was part of his command.
This is the Guard guidon which was also part of his command.
I was also presented with a gift that my good friend and Jims' awesome First Sgt Janine put together for me. This was a poster of some of the female Marines serving at Camp Johnson, most of which I know quite well and Janine is one of them. I bugged her for months asking her for an autographed copy, since she is now famous, and she had everyone autograph this one and added a plate that reads:

MARCY BARE

The First Lady of H&S Company

March 2006 - May 2007

We will miss you.

This meant alot to me because I was blessed having the opportunity to know some awesome people and make some really awesome friends. We will both always treasure our time at Camp Johnson!

THANKS JANINE!

As we left through the main gate we were given a farewell message from our Camp Johnson family.

OOHRAH and SEMPER FI!

We will miss you all!

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT UNDER THE STARS

I.N.U.T.S

It was a beautiful night at Camp Johnson for our 2nd anual INUTS.
Each school picked a country and decorated their tent. We chose Japan and had the best decorated tent thanks to Janine and Combat Camera. Each tent had catered food from their country. The Greek food was my favorite.
Rik and Janine under the awesome Turi that was made for us by the folks at Combat Camera.
Debbie personally folded a ton of oragami cranes using Marine Corps themed paper. These two were huge and hung from the center of our tent.

Janine enjoying some Orion beer from Japan. We also had plum wine which was quite strong. I may have gotten a little tipsy.
I don't think he was drinking but our designated driver sure looks drunk to me.
This gorgeous man was with me. Love you baby!
Joan, Jaye, Donna and company doing some crazy dance move. I gracefully bailed out because I had no clue and they all looked a little silly.
Finally, they brought out the cake. We had such an awesome time and hopefully someone will invite us next year (Janine) since we will no longer be at Camp Johnson.

HAPPY FIRST MOTHERS DAY LECHELLE

ENJOY MY LIL PUDGALINI!

We love you!

FIRST SGT SAYS:

HAVE A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
TO ALL THE AWESOME MOMS I KNOW!

I love you Janine, I really do!

I hope you have a great day with my girls.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ME

Jim gave me the most thoughtful gift I have ever received! It is an Atta Girl bracelet and each link represents a ribbon specially chosen by Jim for me. It is not adorned with precious stones but is worth far more to me than if it were.

Each link comes with a certificate that explains its meaning and the meaning of the Swarovski crystals in them. They are made to look like military ribbons and are an amazing idea for military spouses whom watch their husbands collect ribbons and awards throughout their career as we stand faithfully by their sides. Their are six ribbons in all that he chose for me.

My favorite one is the Hazardous Duty Atta Girl.

The certificate reads:

Because the biggest decision of the day is to watch the news or not watch the news.

For every breath filled with the possibility that he may not come home.

Because PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is just as real for you.

Because the doorbell ring takes on a whole new meaning. (This one is so true for me because I had a neighbor come by just to check on us and I paced for about five minutes before answering. I answered the door near tears and all I could say to this kind man was "Do you know how badly you scared me.")

They may call it 'anticipatory grief, you call it a nightmare.

The courage it takes to run the "what ifs" and plan for a life without him, while simultaneously planning the homecoming.

And despite all of this you can still laugh. ( my laughter as well as my heart went with Jim)

I can not read this without crying so this means alot to me.

The crystals represent:

Siam red-for you sacrifice and nerves of steel while your military service member is deployed.

Crystal-your love and tears for your military service member.

Jet-for you service member standing in harm's way.

Montana blue-for the hope of you service member's safe return.

His thoughtfullness brought tears to my eyes and means so much to me!

Thank you HHB! YAMWW!

I LOVE YOU!

http://www.attagirlgifts.com

ELIJAH'S JUNIOR PROM

The prom was being held at a small community center so a lot of students did not go. Elijah and his friend Jace took the girls to dinner, bowling and to play laser tag. They all had a great time!
Jace, his girlfriend, Elijah and Erica.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NICK

Okay I got behind on this because my laptop hard drive died and I was without it for three weeks so I am trying to catch up.

I'm not sure what the goof is doing but I hope it worked!