Kyle at Parris Island

Here's a couple of pictures we found on the Parris Island ezboard site yesterday. The man who took the pictures was nice enough to e-mail them to me because you couldn't just right click and save them to your computer. Anyway, Kyle has been at Marine Corps. boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina since May 31st. He actually left our house on May 29th, so that is the last time we saw him. So, this is the first glimpse we've gotten of him since he left. (Kyle is the recruit in the middle on the picture with only three recruits visible.) There are 70 training days in boot camp, and today is Kyle's 48th training day, so he's over half-way thru. We also found out that Kyle is the best shooter in Alpha Co. There are six platoons in Alpha Co. so there are over 300 recruits total, and Kyle shot the best out of all of them. He will be getting a special award at his graduation on August 25th. Now he is concentrating on his Physical Fitness Test. He has to do 20 pull-ups, 100 sit ups (in 2 minutes) and run three miles in 18 minutes in order to receive a perfect physical fitness score of 300. He has the pull-ups and sit-ups down, it's the three miles that will be hard for him. Last week they all had to do pull-ups with a 50 lb. pack on their back. Kyle beat them all in that, also. He could do 10 of those. He can do about 23 pull-ups. He's always been in pretty good shape physically. Oh well, enough about Kyle - I'm just so excited for him so I thought I would share in my excitement! See ya all later. Barb

Detroit Tigers Game

We went to a Tigers game on a chartered bus. It was so much fun. Everybody on the bus was from our little town of Hudson. We had good seats - row 6, between third base and left field. We got there a little early, so Michael and I went down to get autographs. While I was getting the autograph, Michael was taking pictures. That is a picture of Craig Monroe, the Tiger's outfielder, signing my book. I even ended up with a baseball. Here's the story. I was the only one from Hudson who brought a glove. I told everyone I would get a ball. Then, after Marcus Thames caught the third out in the first inning, he came over to the foul line and threw the ball into the stands. I put my trusty glove up, but the ball was just to my left and I couldn't reach it. Well it bounced in the seats behind us and Mikey snagged it and gave it to me. I was so excited! Isn't that a good story?! I was the only one from Hudson that got a baseball and pictures with the players. We're thinking of going to another game in September - can't wait!

I'm posting again!

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I last posted. We had a great time at Lyz's wedding. We almost got a complete family picture, but Kyle is in Parris Island, SC trying to become a United States Marine! Nicholas wasn't supposed to make it to the wedding either. He got his wisdom teeth out (they were impacted) on the 14th. He was supposed to be recuperating in his barracks but decided to drive up to PA instead. It was a nice surprise! His face was swollen and he had his prescription for pain pills with him, but I think he had a good time anyway. Tim and Jill had flown in on the 15th - Dot and Julia picked them up at the airport in Philly. It was so nice seeing them because we haven't seen them since December.

Kyle writes to us once a week from Parris Island. He is doing fine. He actually told us that wrestling camp is harder than boot camp! I've sent him about 50 pictures from the wedding. I don't know if he has the room in his foot locker to store them all, but he loves getting them. He says that when he looks at the pictures, he feels a little like he was there. That's nice. He is in his 5th week of training, so only 8 more weeks to go. He is scheduled to graduate on Aug. 25th. Of course we're all driving down there. Uncle Charley, Aunt Margie, Aunt Dot & Julia are also planning on being there. Kyle is so excited. We're trying to find Tim and Jill a flight, also. It would be so great if I could get a "real" family picture again - this time with three sons in uniform!

James is keeping busy this summer, too. He is leaving Saturday morning for wrestling camp in Virginia. Then he is going to a weekend bible camp hosted by our church here in Michigan on July 21st . In August he is going to French Creek for the 7th & 8th grade camp. This will be the first time for him as a camper - he hasn't been there since he was three years old. Julia is also going, so at least he will know somebody. The next week is Uncle Charley's week at camp, so James is going to stay for that week also. He'll just stay in Pennsylvania till it's time to go down to Parris Island. He'll be going with his Uncle Charley & Aunt Margie.

Okay, so much for the Williams family update. Talk to you all again soon.

Barb