Joshua and Yokota High school homecoming

Joshua was selected as one of the Homecoming Princes this year at Yokota High School. He escorted a young lady named Lexus during the halftime of the homecoming football game. On Saturday night at the homecoming dance he found out he was the runner up for 2009. He had fun at homecoming and is looking forward to his Far East Championship week at Okinawa, Japan from 10-14 November.

Joshua is the starting middle linebacker for the Yokota Panther varsity football team this year. He has improved in every game and is the leading tackler on the team. Their record is 6-4 and they are in Okinawa this week for the Far East championship. They play against the Okinawa, Guam and Korean High school champions. I wish we could be there, but the base has me playing war games this week and next! Maybe I can go to Okinawa for the wrestling Far East championship if Joshua can get down to 148 and win that weight class.

We made it to the top. It was an amazing view to be above the clouds and 12,000 ft. high.

Mt. Fuji

We are only half way up Mt. Fuji at this point. It was raining and over cast but that is the best kind of weather to climb in. There is no way I would of made it up the mountain on a hot sunny day.

Thad was promoted to colonel on May 8.  It was a special event that was shared with family and friends.  The most amazing part of the day was that Thad had the flu.  He did great and was a trooper.  He even was nice enough to give his flu to Karen who was visiting from Alaska.  It was her husband Nick Miniotus that promoted Thad.

Elder Michael Chamberlain Comes Home

So, Elder Chamberlain finished his mission on 11 February 2009 and was taken to the airport by his mission President. He waited on the runway for over 4 hours and then had his flight cancelled. He ended up spending the night at the airport Marriott hotel and catching the same flight home on 12 February. Needless to say, when I got home after work on the 12 (Tokyo time) I found his mother sitting on the couch in a very bummed out stupor! He left Los Angeles at 11:40am on the 12th and arrived in Tokyo at 4:50pm on the 13th. We met him at the airport, and then made the 2 hour drive to the Naval Station at Yokosuka, Japan, where the George Washington Aircraft Carrier is currently in dock. We ate dinner at Coco's restaurant, which is a Japanese curry chain, and then spent the evenning talking at the Navy Lodge. The next morning Michael was released by President David Fry of the Honshu Military District, Japan. We then went to Kamakura and saw the big buhdda and then home to Yokota Japan. On Monday, Michael, Jamison, Joshua and I went to Sayama Ski hill, and indoor ski area and we were all able to snowboard. We are thrilled to have Michael home and the boys have spent many hours wrestling and testing out their older brother in any way possible.