10 Weeks of H...

Well, I highly doubt any of you want to hear about how basic went for Benjy from me but considering Benj has been running from one thing to the next since he got home and relief is nowhere in sight, I'm your informant!

The first week was spent recieving all the company. Process paperwork, physicals, haircuts, etc. Benj said they had to hurry up to wait wherever they went. When they actually got to their barracks and were set up, the real work began.

This is part of an obstacle course they had to complete in the 1st week of training. They had to caterpillar crawl under those ropes. These pics were posted on facebook so I'm not even sure if that's Benj but it sure looks like him : )

If you use your zoom, Benj is standing to the left of the rope ladder.



This was one of those problem solving challenges where they had to figure out as a group. The better they work together, the faster and dryer they stay!

The really good stuff! The gas chamber. don don don! They start with their masks on and then have to take them off inside, recite information, and come out without touching their eyes, face, etc. Because if they do, it's a LOT worse! I believe Benj is just about to go in the door.

Grenade training! Benj scored an expert in grenade! There's my man holding that grenade to his chest right by the door.

Benj also scored expert in rifle marksmanship! He looks so serious, eh?

This pic was taken at the 3rd Field Training Exercise. It's 5 days in the field putting all your training into practice. Benj was the Platoon Guide for a couple of weeks and into this training. This is my all time favorite pic taken. He is a hunk!

All in all, Benj sailed through Basic with ease. He said he didn't realize how difficult it would be to not be with the family but was able to handle all the physical and mental demands put upon him! I'm so proud of him and am so grateful for how hard he works! I'm also grateful to the Lord for safely bringing Benj home and for giving us both the strength to get through those 10 weeks!

Z "Scout Camp"

So, unfortunately I was a little too busy at this family reunion to takes pics. I do want to document it though. Around the end of August, my Dad, since he works for the Boy Scouts of America, was able to reserve half of a scout camp for us to have our annual reunion. It was a blast! There were little cabins with bunk beds in it for each family, a gated pool, a trailer to prepare food, a commissary, a horseshoe court, a rope swing, showers, and flushing toilets! My kind of place to camp! There were a lot of my siblings missing a spouse at one point or another but that doesn't mean we didn't have a blast! The kids especially enjoyed the pool! Mom got little flotation devices and they were eating it up!

We had a little scare with Lydia falling off the bottom bunk. She wasn't responding for a few minutes and looked very sleepy. It was super scary! My Dad was amazing and knew what to do. After she started to cry enough to get some oxygen to her brain, my brother-in-law checked her pupils and then the men in my fam gave her a blessing. It was so comforting to know Lydia would be just fine and it was pretty incredible that all the cousins were dead silent during the blessing! The priesthood is such a comfort! I sure missed Benj at that point, but I'm so grateful for my family! My parents especially were so amazing during Benj's absence and I feel so blessed!

Russell Campout

I failed to post these in order but at the end of July, we went to the Russell Family Reunion at Twin Peakes. It was my first venture without Benj so I wasn't as prepared as I wanted to be but we still had a good time. We got there Friday afternoon and hung out by playing games and enjoying the fresh air.

Our site even had this amazing amphitheater just for us!


I had to take a picture of my successful attempt to get the tent up all by myself! (I fully appreciate all Benj does when we go camping now :)

Grandma Russell is always prepared with fun games to play!

And this was Lydia's home for the duration of camping!

Grandma reading The Friend to the kids. They were enthralled!

You can always count on silliness with the Russells!

Aaand more silliness

Miles and Gabby sure liked loading rocks into that bucket

The rest of the night, we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows and chatted. The kids were tuckered out and slept so well for me! We certainly missed Benj and by the next morning, I was all camped out! We took off after cleaning up breakfast, which was good because if I had lingered to go fishing and have lunch, I probably would have missed my first phone call from Benj!