The Preposition Song

All of our children attended a Junior High School that taught this "Preposition Song", here performed by sons #2 and #3. Enjoy!

Harmony Version:

Opera Version:

Where's Our Waldo?

The parents love to play "Where's Waldo" to find their New Cadet. Thousands of pictures are scattered all over more than a dozen sites, and Mom has dutifully been going through them looking for "our" Waldo. See if you can find him in the attached - they range from down right easy to quite challenging. And these are the ones where we think we actually see him!

These next three are of Devon's Company "Delta" at ettiquete training. Thankfully for Brandon, we didn't see any pictures of our New Cadet and his partner giving each other IV's - yes, they really did that, and in the first two weeks!

He's In The ARMY Now!

The final march. It is the last time we saw him! Yes, I'm crying now!

How can they do this to my BABY????
He's trying so hard to keep a stern look on his face. We all know how much effort that must take!
It was so strange to see him go for so long without smiling. I had to keep reminding myself that he wasn't allowed to smile.
The oath! He's official at this moment!
The salute!!
Then we played "Where's Waldo", except it was "Where's Devon?" I saw him first! Can you see him? Find the guy in the near left corner with the glasses. Devon is the fifth one in that row.
Here come the Cadets!!
5:40 PM: While Randy and I ate some lunch and toured the base, Devon was learning how to march. The parade started at 5:40. Here is the band that led the Cadets.
9:20 AM. They took a group of Cadet into the auditorium and left us parents standing outside. For a minute or two we thought we weren't going to be able to say goodbye but then they allowed us to go into the auditorium and sit behind our Cadet. They gave us 90 seconds to say goodbye and then we couldn't see Devon the rest of the day, and it was the last time we were able to talk to him.
The Eastern Baseball shirt guy just abandoned his girlfriend to chill with Devon while waiting in line.
Of course Devon made a few contacts while waiting in line. As luck would have it, the guy standing next to him will be playing baseball. They really seemed to hit it off.
It was "hurry up and wait". The line was quite long.
Devon hooked up with the basketball coach who was kind enough to take this picture of us. I can't believe we didn't get a picture of him...Coach Jim Platt.

WARNING!! Some of the above pictures are NOT for the faint of heart!!! This is a picture of Devon walking from the parking lot to the check in point on R-day. Randy and I could not keep up with him--he was so anxious to get there and get checked in!

Sunday at "The Point"

Army and Navy -- side by side!

Doesn't Devon look happy? He's standing at the edge of the baseball stadium. The barracks are behind us. Devon fell in love with West Point. He kept saying that he couldn't believe that he would actually get to live in such a beautiful place.
This is the football stadium. We were all very impressed. What a nice facility!!
Another view of the stadium.
Look at this lake! Can you believe that Devon gets to walk along the lake every day? It is across the street from the football stadium. It is so stunning.
The West Point Parents Club hosted a picnic Sunday afternoon. Devon found a few other future Cadets to talk to for a little while. We actually arrived at the very end of the picnic. Most of the attendees were already gone.

West Point Scenery

The Barracks where the Cadets live, including Devon for the NEXT FOUR YEARS!!!
Army Baseball field, where Devon will PLAY (hopefully) for the next four years!
The new library, out past the right field fence of the ball field. It looks pretty close, but trust us it would take a BLAST to take out a window.
Lake on campus, across the street from the football stadium.

Another view of the barracks. Devon is probably in this picture, as this archway is his company's "Sally Port" where they march out for parades.
A sweet, live and in use military police car.


West Point is the oldest continually manned army base in the country.
Another view of the right side of the baseball field. Army Baseball. Good luck Devon!
The Hudson River, looking out over a summer concert.

The Army Mule, out in town.