My birthday at Crystal Hot Springs

Amber and Kristi and the kids joined me for my birthday up at Crystal Hot Springs and we played in the pools and had a picnic.  EmmaLee joined me a few days later for some more time in the pools since I needed to get my punch pass used up.  

Kasen is learning to use his arms and make the swimming motions and he got himself from one end of the big pool to the other while racing me. He does not like to jump in or have his head go under water though.

Mike's Deployment

The sad day for EmmaLee and the boys finally arrived and we had to say good-bye to Mike for his year-long deployment. And it's not just that Mike will be separated from them, but EmmaLee will also not be able to see the boys because their mother is a witch and refuses to let the boys be around EmmaLee while Mike is gone.  Mike's mom has tried to get visiting time with them, but their mom is a very immature and vindictive person so she plays games and uses the boys as pawns. Sad for all of them during this time. We had a going away gathering for him the night before he left and got to meet his family.  We also used this opportunity while everyone was together to get an updated family portrait.  Amber had a large canvas print of it made for me to hang in the living room.

Stephanie's puppy, Bleu, was a hit with the kids.

EmmaLee and Mike with Mike's famliy

The airplane was 2 hours late, so it was a long hot afternoon waiting in the hangar.

A video I made of his deployment day.