Nigel's Going Away Party:

On Monday afternoon, Cary and I drove over to Eugene to Mom's house for my baby boy's going away into the Navy party. Nigel's best friends came, along with his sturdy, there-for-you, no-matter-what family. We ate pizza, salad, ice cream and punch. It was 86 when we left home, and 2 hours later in Eugene it was 103. Hot and miserable, with a few flies thrown in, but we had a nice time regardless.

Nigel drove with his recruiter to Portland yesterday and stayed overnight ... flying out to Chicago and boot camp this morning. Whoa! Please keep him in your prayers. We won't hear from him for several weeks. He is signed up for communications.

Casey and Me
(Finally, a good picture of me!)

Max, Kari, Jesse, Kristin, Casey, Ethan,
Kathy, Nigel and Derrick

Max, Kari, Jesse, Kristin, Casey, Ethan,
Kathy, Nigel and Derrick

Kari, Kristin, Casey, Kathy and Nigel

Cary giving Nigel the four things you need
to know about boot camp speech.

Grandma Jody eating her ice cream.

Mom and Cary, sweltering in the living room.

La Braun trying to keep cool.

Nigel

Jessie, Max, Nigel, Derrick, Kristin and Ethan,
with Kristin's dog Cody

Max

Jessie, Max, Nigel and Ethan

Angie

Ethan and Derrick

Nigel, Ethan and Derrick

Kari and Casey

Nigel, Kari, Ethan, and Derrick

Jesse and Max

Mom's table set for dinner.