Thank you to Aunt Shirley for making such a great grad card for me and thank you to my Dad for taking such a beautiful picture!!

A beautiful day in Seattle...

A perfect day for pictures in Seattle. What a great day this was with no agenda, a warm sun and a cool breeze.

Me and Patty and the Freemont Troll under the bridge


Ballard Locks - going out


cool shot

another cool shot

Patty, Alex and Sean

A couple new pictures

Steven Waine Boat, 2009-I can't believe how much he looks like Todd now, I never saw that before.

Lona and her girls at the Boat Family reunion, Labor day weekend, 2008

Beauty Pageant

Ronny Boat winning the crown.

Easter 2009 at Grandpa and Grandma Jerry's

Sundee and Sammy

Stephen, Sundee, Sammy and Dillon

Grant and Grandma Jerry

Can't loose touch with our friends during that 3 hours away!

Pictures Jared sent form Iraq

He looks all grown up.

Some pictures to make me smile.

We were just trying to get some work out of them before they turned into teenagers...

and did this every time we asked them.

Look how proud Stephen, Dillon and, I think that is there friend, Allen are.

Samantha and her second cousin Ariel. Ariel was always posing for pictures and Sam wanted to pose too.

Jared is getting a little baseball coaching from his daddy.

Jared and Stephen modeling there shirts I think there grandma Kellar made them.

Me posing with my french bread.

You can see Grant always had a little biker in him.

Me and Stephen, I think he is getting an award at school.

Me with Sam and Jared on my lap, Grant and Stephen and then Dillon down in front. What made them all look away we will never know, whatever it was it made them all smile so I don't care.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Today is my dads birthday. I think he is about 165 years old. He must be because he and Daniel Boone used to hang out. Here are some pictures I found of him to show today. I wanted to post his beauty pageant picture, he was the king, but I can't find it today.

Chilling out with me on a quilt in the yard about 1981
with his little brother Don
taming the cow for his mom

This must be when he knew Daniel Boone.

Pictures from Grandma and Grandpas AZ trip

Aren't they sweet?

Cool how this little plant can split the rock.Everything hurts in the desert.
Looking for treasures and it payed off
she found 3 gold nuggets.


Grandpa vs. the rattlesnake
Did the snake win or is this just a much needed rest, he did just wrestle a rattlesnake.

They even brought me back some sand to add to my collection from out of a dry bed in Stanton, AZ. If you want to see the rest of the collection go here.

Jared update...

basic training graduation picture


This is a e-letter written to a lady from the CPT Priest, she will forward all that she recieves to the parents and spouces of the unit.

Melissa,

We finally know where out home is going to be. We will end up centered around FOB Hammer. It is located about 60km east of Baghdad.

There are multiple Joint Security Stations (JSS) out there we will occupy is some fashion.

We still do not have a mailing address. They are working on that. I will make sure it is sent to you as soon as I get one.

Everything here is going well,and the Soldiers are glad they finally have a mission.

We are working on taking an individual photo of everyone in HHB. Once we get that we will send that to you on a disk. I'll have someone rename the photos from the number the camera gives us to the Soldiers name.

My wife has still not received the disk I mailed over a week ago. We'll let you know as soon as she gets it, and get you the pictures of the platoons, and the few pictures taken in Kuwait.

vr
Jeff Priest
CPT, FA
Commanding

HHB/1-82 FA

News from Kuwait!

I woke up to 2 wonderful things today, a little bit of snow and a letter from Kuwait, here is the first of many more I hope. Here is the 1st Message from Commander in Iraq: Hello to all the families and friends of the Dragon Battalion. As we wrap up our first week in Kuwait, many of your loved ones are experiencing the all-too-familiar feelings of duty in this region. Even those who are experiencing their first deployment recognize good old fashioned military duty at its finest, including lack of sleep, dust storms, long lines, crowded showers, and interesting food selections at the dining facility. They all remind us of the importance of Service to our Nation. As mandatory preparation training continues, I want to say how proud I am of the professionalism and determination the Dragons are exhibiting. After two days to shake jet-lag, we have aggressively tackled a wide variety of training requirements that serve to hone the edge of our combat capability. Even as plans coalesce to define our final operating space and mission, every Soldier is hard at work building teams, refining skills, and preparing for the move North. I have no doubt that the Dragons are ready for their next challenge. In Iraq, we will continue the hard work at securing the people and providing for them the precious time to become self-sufficient. All our indicators show us taking on a mission where we can make a tremendous impact at increasing Iraq's own ability to protect, govern, and lead their own people. I see our year here as instrumental in facilitating Iraq taking charge of their own political process and building reliable infrastructure for every Iraqi citizen. We will assist the Iraqi government in increasing civil capacity that provides jobs and improves security. With our first day in Iraq still ahead of us, we all feel that the upcoming tasks are daunting. But, rest assured, we are ready for the task. The Dragons are anxious, enthusiastic, and eager to rise to the challenge. I look forward to being able to use this format to stay in regular contact and keep you informed of the great work our fantastic battalion is and will be doing. Dragons.....decisive, relevant, now. OIF 09-10 Dragon 6, Can and Will!

Merry Christmas

Jared managed to get away for Christmas so I thought we better get a picture now or we may not have a chance for a long time. I don't think we will see him until he gets back for Iraq.

Stephen, Dillon, Jared

Samantha, Grant, Christina

And here are some shots from my front porch on Dec. 23. There was 8 inches of snow on the ground and it was still coming. The pictures that look more blue are without the flash.

And this is in the back. I can't remember the last time we had this much snow.

Homecoming 2008

Samantha and Nieko

Happy Birthday Merry

QUAIL MAN!

Thank you Aunt Sundee for taking me for my new do.

Jared

Tonight, at 2:30am, Jared will be leaving for the desert in California for his training before Iraq. Here are some self portraits he sent me today preparing to go. He will be there 29 and 1/2 days, if they stay 30 they have to pay the married men separation pay.

Quilts, Hikes, Bikes and Pampering

The trip was wonderful! We went on hikes, road the Harley, went to a quilt fest and made new friends, got pampered at the B&B and ate way too much. I couldn't have asked for a better trip, except my camera died in the first few hours so no great pictures, but here are a couple.

Over 40,000 bikes with one or two riders. I was told this started 27 years ago with one guy and his 3 friends. Towns 45 minuets away were packed with bikes. Only one unfortunate thing in a neighbouring town. A rider hit a cinder block wall, put a hole in the building 4'x3' wide and did not live. We saw the building, he must have been going fast. Mostly it was very laid back and lots of police but we didn't see one vender with oysters.

We went with 5 other people and met another couple that joined us for a couple rides and hikes. It is a beautiful place and we plan to go back in the spring with a fully charged camera and a back up battery.

I think this is my favorite quilt I saw, I'm so impressed that someone not only took the months to make this but that they can. I'm no where near this level. WoW!

And this is what I learned

so I guess I've been doing it right all along.

So once again I find myself turning 29, soon my Stephen and Dillon will lap me. This is a picture I had taken the first time I turned 29 (a few years ago) to say good bye to my youth, but I still haven't been able to let go. Anyway, I won't be here tomorrow, on my actual birthday, so I thought I'd let you know what I'm doing. My sweetie has planned a weekend trip for us. So we are off to LaConner, WA tonight. There is a bike rally there and little did he know there is also a quilt show! LaConner is the cutest little town, it is one of the towns the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is held in the spring every year. So hopefully I'll have some great pictures of quilts to post when I get back on Monday. I forgot how beautiful they are. I've never been there in the fall, things should look a little different. As soon as my last day care child leaves we are off! I can't wait! Here are a few pictures Grant took at the tulip festival a few years back. He can really take great pictures.

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was my big brother Mike's birthday. He would have been 45 years old. He died in 1994 in a fishing boat accident. 30 is way too young to die. We miss him.

Quote

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." - Emerson

Martin Aunts

Linda Martin (13) on the left and Marcie Martin (12) on the right. These are my mothers step sisters, daughters of Edwin and Mitsu Saito Firer. Picture was taken in 1971.

First Fish

Dillon's and Stephen's preschool class took a fishing trip and here are the results. Jared and I were invited to join. Dillon and Stephen are 4, and Jared is almost 2 so he needed a little help holding his (believe me, that changed). As time went on they all became quite the fishermen, I spent many hours sitting on the beach or in the car, depending on the weather, reading while they and there friends fished off the dock of Browns Point. Summer of '91. Wow! my kids are cute!!

First Bergade First Cavelry

Jared has been told he will be in the desert of California, leaving the first week of October for 29 days, to train and then in Iraq by February. So he will be able to come home for Thanksgiving for 4 days and then at Christmas for 6 days or Christmas for 10 days. Maybe we can finally get a family pictures. I guess Hurricane Ike hit him at about cat 1 level so the weather seamed alot like Washington in a wind storm. These are his new Unit Crest and Patch.

Jared took his own picture with his phone and sent it to my phone.

9-11

I don't know how long it was, maybe a week or two or just a few days after the towers came down, I was at a football game watching Jared play. It was a beautiful sunny day with a deep blue sky, in fact it was a perfect day after all of the emotions I had been feeling. It was a wonderful break just to sit there and be a normal mom and watch him be a normal kid. All of the sudden I heard a plane fly over, the first I had heard or seen since the attack. I remember just staring at the sky, the game had stopped, the field and stands became quiet and I realized that I was not the only one with tears running down my face. As I write this the tears are there again because of the memory of that day and the pride that I feel for my son, that same son, who has stepped up to protect me and those I love from that ever happening again. So Thank You, to all who serve, who have served and who will serve, and to the families who have lost those they love in service to me and my loved ones.

The Hudgibears

E, J, R (Grant's sister), baby K and L

R and J

E, K, and L. Feb. 2008

AT School Graduation

Can you find Jared?

hint: Look for the only smile.

July 2008

The Davilas

My sister's family, from the top Patty and Alex, next row Sarai(15), Gillian(12), Annika(9) and Sean(18). Picture taken Aug. 2008

Last Day

Jared in his Class A's. He is leaving today for Fort Hood so he got all dressed up for me.

Danielle(girl friend) and Jared at the Airport.

Gig Harbor Ride

Grant and I took a road trip on the harley Saturday, here are some things we saw.

Grant



I think the mountian looks like it's flooting.

Look at the price ($595,000) on this crappy run down house!

Cool picture, this is the view from the crappy run down house.

In the yard next to the crappy run down house with the view.

How cute!

My little camera takes pretty good pictures.

On the way home.

Cool shot!

Jared's dinner

Jared is leaving for Fort Hood, his first Army post, in a day or two so he asked grandma Jerry to have him over for a dinner before he left. So of course she made the usual, chicken, green bean casserole and ice cream pie. Here are some pictures from then.

Stephen and Jared

Stephen and grandma Jerry

Makayla (Jared's friend), Jared and grandma Jerry
September 5, 2008

Don Boat

Donald Edward Boat is the 2nd child of Roy and Grace Boat, my dad is the 1st.

Don and his second wife Aumora Diane Barton Boat and there children-Roy Alen, Jamie marie and Rayna Lee

Don and Shirley's kids
Carlos Alonzo (on left) and Donald Edward Jr. (Butch) (on right)

Don and his first wife Shirley Annett Hardin Boat

Don in a convoy to ShanTan Vietnam


The back of this picture says,"Donny and the hawks".

Donald Edward Boat

1981

When I was in 7th grade my parents devorced and gave us a choice where to live. I chose to stay with my dad and stepmom, Susie, and the other 5 chose to love with my mom and her new husband, Jack. I never saw them much after that, but this was one of our visits from the coast to the mountians to see them. So here it is, from the left, Steven (10), Patty(16), Me (18), Shiela (12) and Todd (14), I don't remember where Mike was.

Las Vegas

2003 Spring Break, Dillon met us there from boarding school. The kids had a great time, but I was way to stressed over money, everything cost a lot more than I expected.

Dillon, Me, Samantha, Jared and Grant. Stephen was off getting his shoes airbrushed.

Jared and his new friend. We never did get his name.

Manly Men and Sam

Ronald LeRoy Boat (my dad) all dressed up for a sport show or something. I thought he was such a dork when I was a kid, but I think that makes the best kind of grandpa. Samantha told me a little while ago that I will make a great grandma. What was she really saying?

Dillon, Jared, and Samantha
Grandpa Boat, Grant, and my brother Greg.


What form!
Summer 2001

Dillon

Dillon and his older brother Davie from his birth mother.

Dillon and his little sister Delia from his birth mother.

The Martins

Edwin Arland Martin and Sally Jo Martin(my mother). May 1944

Sally Jo Martin-she looks a lot like my sister Patty-Ann

Sally at about 11 or 12 years old.

Edwin Arland Martin(my grandfather). 4 years old. Whitter California.

My Grandfather, my mothers, father, Edwin Arland Martin. Born 1920, Died 2002. This looks like a senior picture.

My mothers, fathers partent. Laura Lousia Ebersol Martin(born 1885, died 1971) & Raymond Curtis Martin (born 1884, died 1948)

Grace Boat, Bailey

Edgar Harrison Bailey(77 years) and Grace Close, Boat, Bailey(71 years)
Grace Close-Who is Dan?

Grandpa and Grandma Close

Grandma Close(Dortha), Grandpa Close(Loren), and there daughter Grandma Boat(Grace) and Clara Moore (Grandpa Close's cousin).

Back row Grandpa Close, me, Grandpa Boat, Mike. Front row Todd, Patty, Shiela. Looks like it is Christmas. I spent many Christmas's at his house.

My dad's mom's Dad. I remember he couldn't hardly here anything. I guess my uncle Don has that truck now and has restored it.

The Boats

Top row-Ron, Lona, Don. Front row-Joan and Larry. This was taken March 1977 and there father's funeral. I think this is the last one of them all together.
Lets see if I can get all of the names right. From the top left-baby girl Lona Marie, her dad Bill Newman, her mom Joan Boat Newman, Lona Boat, Grace Close Boat, Roy Boat, Larry Boat, next row, Ron Boat (my dad), Sally Martin Boat (my mom) Shirley Boat, Don Boat, kids in front, Tina Boat (me), Mike Boat (my brother), Patty Boat (my sister), Todd Boat (my brother), Donald Jr. Boat or Butch (Don and Shirley's son). I remember when my mom made those dresses for me and my sister.
Joan and Lona
Ronald(7 years) holding Larry(8 months), Joan(1 year 11 months) and Donald(4 years)
Roy,Grace and my dad Ronny

This is Grace Close and Roy Boat, I think these are there senior pictures.

Football

Jared trying on his dad's football jersey from high school.

I really didn't want my kids to play football, but Jared found a peewee team and a coach we already knew and trusted so what could I do. It turned out to be a great experience and very fun to watch. He looked like he was born to play. Every year I tried to let him know that because he was new and the other boys had played more than him he would spend a lot of time on the bench, but every year he was a starter and one of the best players. I wonder if that is where he gets his ego?

Beauty Pageant

In 1994, when Sam was about 3 1/2, her dad decided a beauty pageant would be fun. He took her to the beach to get the black and white photos she needed and we got her a pretty dress and we were ready. We thought we were ready but we forgot to teach her how to loose gracefully, she's so little, would she really know the difference? Well she did, we have the proof on video. When the winner was being crowned you can here Samantha saying,"I'm the pretest one here, why am I not getting the tiara?
She was very happy with her trophy though, but to say the least that was her last pageant!

First day of school.

Look how happy she is to be a senior.

Imagine how happy I am.Neiko and Sam

More Favorites

Dillon and Stephen

Jared


Samantha

Ron and Sally Boat

This is my Dad and birth Mother and my older brother Micheal (Mike) in 1963. I've always loved this picture. They look so young and sweet. But they only had one kid the rest of us (5 more) come over the next 8 years. And then they split and each had 2 from there new marriages, that's 10 of us all together.

Brendan and Aunt Merry

First birthday at Grandpa and Grandma Boat's house. Sage is represented in the photo too can you find her? June 2006

JoAnn and Family

The Emersons in 2007. My aunt Lona's daughter and family. JoAnn, Dominic, and Brian.

Dominic at Merry's baby shower for sage. Spring 2006

Puerto Vallarta

In 2002 we took a trip to Mexico and stayed at Paradise Village. What a fun and relaxing place to go. It is all inclusive with a mall and zoo. We all had a wonderful time.

We took a day curse to the village of Yulapa


Where Grant made a new friend.



Some of the local kids on there way to school

Yulapa is a small village that we visited. The only way to get there is by boat so we took a cruse. We got to do some snorkeling to see and amazing varity of colorful fish and horse back riding (not Stephens favorite thing) up to a beautiful waterfall and pool where the lacal children ask you to through money in so they can dive for it. They have one phone and get there water from a hose strung from home to home in the trees. The locals remember swimming with the sting rays when they were younger. Very beautiful beach village.

Marry and Clayton

My Baby sister Merry was Married to Clayton In December of 2003.
Samantha, Dillon, Merry, Clayton, Jared

Dancing on temple grounds. Look at the shoes, they say all you need to know about her.

Greg and Ann

My baby brother Greg and my wonderful friend Ann were married Aug 2003 in Seaside OR.
Dancing at the reception.

5 neices and a nephew. We both have big families so this is just a small representation of the kids.

Some of my favorite pictures

Samantha and her aunt Sundee (Grant's sister)

Sweet Sammy after a very muddy soccer game.
Jared in his sister's hat being silly on grandma Julie's lap.

Dillon posing like Bo Jackson.

Stephen was quite the roller blader.

Samantha looking for another Christmas gift.

Jared camping.

Samantha and Dillon at his 8th grade graduation.

Stephen at his 8th grade gradution.

Samantha decked out for a little soccer.
Jared playing at Husky stadium.
Dillon and his cousin Ethan.
Stephen looking cool.