Gone again!

After a short 3 week stay, Jeremy is back with the gang at BYU. I know he'll be embarrassed at this old photo taken freshman year, but it represents BYU. We sure enjoyed his time at home, but I know he's glad to be out of this heat and humidity. (Jeremy is first boy on the far left on the bottom row.)

Oh, those big blue eyes!

I was looking through some of my photo files, and came across this one. Avery has inherited those big blue Ellis eyes (both Carl's mother and father had big blue eyes).

Photo Frenzy!

The papparazzi are at it again! We got a good laugh at ourselves this weekend, as we were frantically taking photos of our little celebrity kiddos. We all whipped out our cameras at the same moment. You'd think we'd just run into Bradgelina and their brood. (See my girls' blogs for more photos of our fun father's day weekend.)

June 7th -- Papparazzi spots the latest baby bump!

You might think this is Jennifer Anniston, but no, look again, it's our very own Courtney! What a cute baby bump! This is our #8 grandbaby, the first to carry on the family name. Courtney is due the end of Nov. while our Emily, who is carrying #7 grandchild, is due in the middle of November.

A fun weekend with the girls

We babysat the girls while Lauren and Dan got away for a 5 day cruise to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
Kyla is helping Auntie Jess make oatmeal cookies.

Mark and Courtney came down from San Antonio and joined us for a fun day at the beach.

We celebrated Jeremy's 22nd birthday. It's been so great to have him home again, even though it's for just 3 weeks (he's heading back to Provo).

All good things come to an end. Here we are picking Lauren and Dan up at the cruise terminal. Lauren is so excited to see her babies again.

Jeremy's home!

Jeremy flew out of Anchorage, Alaska at midnight (the sun was still shining at that hour) and arrived at Intercontinental airport at noon.

A good missionary! Jeremy was able to lift this man's spirit (he had flown in for the funeral of his brother) In a short period of time he was able to teach him, and gave him a pamphlet. "It's hot here", says Jeremy, walking through the airconditioned terminal. "Just wait til you walk outside", we tell him. He's going from 50 degrees in Alaska to 95 in Houston.

Jeremy's amazed by how much his neices have grown in 2 years.

Memorial Day Tribute

"In grateful memory of Private Carl G. Salmon, who died in the service of his country in the European Area, August 17, 1944. He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live, and grow, and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives --in a way that humbles the understaking of most men." Franklin Roosevelt, President of the United States.
Carl was a paratro0per who died at age 20. On the 15th of August, 1944, he was in Comany "C" and took part in the invasion of Southern France, coming in by parachute before dawn. The day of the 15th was spent in moving into position and preparing for the German counterattack. The attack came at noontime on the 16th and began with enemy artillery "giving our lines a terrible pounding". Carl's platoon was holding a central part of that line, and was subject to heavy fire. A large shell made a direct hit and Pvt. Salmon died instantly and without pain. He was buried with full Military Honors and now lies in an American Military Cemetery in France.
For courageous action taken without orders, in Italy, which saved the lives of all men in his platoon, he recieved the Bronze Star. He was also awarded a Silver Star and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. A fellow paratrooper who was lying right next to Carl when he was mortally wounded, says "he was about as nice a kid as I've ever known and all the guys took it pretty hard that knew him".
Carl Salmon is my husband's uncle, whom he was named after. We have also named our youngest son after him. On Memorial day , we pay tribute to him and express love and appreciation for him and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.