Getting Things Ready......

I have been a bit weepy all week.....getting Jon ready for college. Today was a downright cryfest for me. I cried all during sacrament meeting....especially the songs. The talks were wonderful which kept my mind occupied, but as soon as the singing started again, so did my tears. I know Jon thinks I'm a nutsy mom, but I can't help it!! As he sat next to me singing in his deep bass voice, it hit me knowing next week I won't be hearing it. I blame Richard really....on the way to church he said something about us losing our pew since next week there will only be 3 of us. It's not like I haven't gone through this before with Jenny, and I know it will happen again in 4 years with Josh, but it is how it is.It's been fun buying food for Jon. He'll have a meal ticket since he's in a non cooking dorm....but he'll have a microwave and microfridge, so we stocked him up for those in between meals and the days he doesn't want to eat out. We got alot of canned good like ravioli and soups and stews. They even make cute little microwavable mac and cheese bowls. He tried different foods to make sure he would like them and we bought them when he did.
Then, like when Jenny went to college, there is the stuff like towels, laundry and dish soap, hand soap, contact lense solution....you name it we got it. I stocked him up for the entire year on deodorant and shampoo and body wash. I filled the plastic drawers with pencils, pens, paper clips and post it notes. Jon and I filled pill bottles with quarters for the laundry. He's got all school supplies and bedding he will ever need:)And finally....how could he live without his cereal???? He told me he won't need a meal ticket if he just has his cereal:) He's going to put it in his suitcase under his bed (in case you were wondering where he will put it all:)
I am so excited for Jon to start his life's adventure, knowing that in January he will begin the process of putting in his mission papers. But for now, I have all the memories of his childhood flashing before me and I cry tears of happiness of years past:)

The Eagle and The Elder

Well, the big day is finally over!! We had Jon's court of honor tonight. It was a very nice evening. So many family and friends joined us. I took a few pictures, then my friend Kim took the ones of the actual ceremony. I was so busy afterward that I didn't get pictures of those who attended. The evening came to a wonderful close with Jon becoming an Elder!! Richard ordained him and gave him a wonderful blessing. It was such a special night!! Here he is with his friend Jeff Cook who gave him the Eagle Pledge. Jeff recieved his mission call and will be serving in Las Vegas Nevada Mission.
Here he is givng me my pin.
President Nord (right)has had a large role in helping mold Jon into the fine young man he is. He was the speaker tonight. He told some great stories on Jon (like when Jon lost 2 pair of glasses in the same summer. He was so glad when Jon got contacts!! Brother Hullinger (Left)worked with Jon for many years in scouting as well and is now in the Bishopric.
Brother Sears (left) has got to be one of the greatest YM Presidents ever. He works so well with the boys in the Ward....not only is he a great scout leader, but a spiritual leader as well. And Bishop Meuller (right) works well with Jon in Priests Quorum.
This is a sweet one of Josh. Kim shot this one. Jon's college roommate for the first semester is standing in the Eagles Nest reciting the Eagle pledge. His name is Josh also.I snapped this one of the table. I completely didn't get a picture of the food table OR the cake!! Oh well..... everything looked niceThis is what the stage looked like. The power point video I did was played on the upper wall on the left.

In the Shadow's

Sometimes we wonder how Josh must feel following after his older siblings. All of us who have older siblings know how it feels....either for the good OR for the bad. He's grown up always being Jenny and Jon's younger brother.....same schools, same teachers....with them always having high expectations of him because of it. This year is no different. His first year in Marching Band and we had a few reservations. He is his own person, and would rather play outside building forts with the neighbor boy than to do scouting or the like. But....there are benefits to it as well. This year he got to take over the lawn mowing job Jon has done for 4 years. He loves the money!! AND this week band camp started. It's a grueling week for him (and me...all that driving) Each day there are 3 blocks. The morning block they march from 9-12. Afternoon block they practice their music from 1-4 and then evening block 5:30-8:30 they march again. I'm loving watching his progress. He started out a bit slow and under the weather from being with the scouts in Bend Oregon last week. He even missed a few blocks the first few days....which for all those who have been in marching band know is not an option!! The temperatures have top 100 degrees.....and all those PUSH UP'S!!
BUT...he is finding his stride. Here he is one afternoon when he came home for lunch. He got his mellaphone that morning and couldn't wait to play it some more. There are definitley benefits to being Jon's younger brother. They call him "Little Egan" or "Jon's little brother". Somebody told him he couldn't do something...only the seniors could do that, but then somebody else spoke up and said "It's okay he's Jons little brother". Another person told him he's equally as talented as Jon on the horn...it made him feel special:)
I ran into a boy from band who graduated last year and who has a job at Walmart and he said he had dropped in on the band and saw Joshua. He told me "You can tell they're brothers"
We are amazed at how fast he's picking up the marching. It's hard he told me, but it will all pay off in the end! Just what a mother wants to hear:)

31st Annual July Picnic : Family FUN.....Family Talents

I came home from Girls Camp a day early so I could attend the Annual July Picnic (although it was really held in August this year.) It was a rather small crowd when compared to other years. Cousin Tom was out of the country and Grandpa Drew had a ham radio convention to attend, but those of us that were there had a nice time. The spot Richard reserved for us was just across from our usual spot and it was very convienent. It had a nice covered picnic area with a place to build a fire. The day was a bit chilly, so Richard and Jane built a fire, Grandma Rose and others roasted marshmallows. We had quite a feast. We ate chicken and hot dogs, fruit, macroni salads, rolls, chips and lots of yummy desserts. I'm afraid not too many of us had any jokes to tell, but Aunt Adele had brought some fun prizes, so we did what we could to be able to pick a prize.
Aunt Adele's family had a good turnout with Jane, Jim, Neal and Roger and their families. Grandma Rose came with Jane and Aunt Sue drove from Hillsboro to be with us. Josh brought his friend Austin to keep him company. They had fun playing on the Lewis River
Uncle David wasn't able to be there, but he made us some very cute pins. I look forward to going just to see what he will come up with next. There were alot of different colors, but they all had the traditional frog on them. This was the one I chose:)I've been wanting to blog this adorable pillow that Aunt Adele made for Jon for graduation. Click on it to make it bigger. Notice how it's specially made to reflect the things that remind Aunt Adele of Jon: playing the french horn....politics and government....baseball...school days. It is SO creative. I love the little cap and tassle!! See the baseball fabric squares? She made one for Jenny when she graduated and it is equally wonderful!!AND....look at this darling fabric that is on the back!! Little marching band people!! This is something Jon will treasure forever!! I have such a talented family!!!

ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE....

Last week, while most people I know were perspiring from the extreme heat, I was snug and cozy in my layers of thermals and sweatshirts up the Washougal River at Girls Camp. It was fun singing songs and doing skits. I learned how to cook in a dutch oven AND a box oven.....amazing!!! It was my first time ever at camp and it was a great experience. In spite of the fact that just getting there was an experience in itself (Debi...you would not have liked it)...it was a beautiful camp. The theme "All the World's a Stage" taught the girls that they can be who they are and that they can write their own story of how their life will be.
On our free time we went canoeing on this lake. There was also swimming, repelling, hiking, a waterfall, and of course crafts in the craft shack. I spent 2 days getting my first year certification so I could get my beads. Have you ever heard of lashing?? I never had, and I meant to get a picture of all the cool things the girls lashed together, including a kitchen area.
This is where we slept.....on the 2 days that it rained (the rest of the time is was beautiful and warm)....these tarps were all leaking. At 10PM one night we were scrambling to cover them with more tarps.....and just when we thought all was fine, it started pouring on our 4th night and continued all day Friday. We were so thankful for the Priesthood, who took such good care of us by keeping things going....the water, the generators, etc... But, it didn't deter the girls.....they were out in the rain all day Friday having Jamboree....where they rotate stations doing team building activities. Testimony meeting on Friday night was an emotional time for many of the girls. While I missed my family, it was a good week and I learned alot just being there.