Our first week in Utah

I can't believe we've already been in Utah a week! Time is flying by a little too quickly. I've had a lot of fun so far, its been really nice spending time with our families. The below pictures are in random order (I'm too tired/lazy to put them in their proper place) from our past week here. For some reason I didn't get very many pictures on Christmas day. Ty likes to tease me that I "made out like a bandit" each year, and this year was no different. Ty got me an amazing mini laptop (in my favorite color...pink), FIVE books, and of course new clothes. He's the best.

Bridger enjoying his new stuff (he also made out like a bandit)

Ty (and his family) had this plaque done of his Grandpa's service medals to give to his Grandma. It was really amazing!
All the girls (Mackenzie, Corine, Ivy, Kathy, Brittney, Eliza and Brooke)

Ty and Kath

Jared, Ethan, Janie, Bridger, Barry and Brooke

My mom Connie, Brooklynn and Trevor

Nicole and Brooklynn

Bridger

Ivy and Eliza love their uncle Ty

All my neices and nephew

Brittney, Bridger and Kath

Charlie was SO good on the 11 hour drive up!

Charlie Company Outpost

I recently graduated the last group of my recruits, there are 440 new basically-trained Marines. These pics are from the outpost (the party for the DI's and their families after every graduation). It was the last training cycle that I'll be doing and I'll be reporting back to the legal office at the start of the new year.

Rick, Glen, Ryan and me

"We are Charlie Company, we drill better than Bravo Company..."
I got a going-away souvenir, they gave me a cool plaque for my time in Co. C.
I was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievment Medal for my 18 months training recruits as a series commander and executive officer in Delta and Charlie Companies. This is the CO, Capt Flores, giving the medal.

Marines from Charlie Company

The "J" Drill Instructors after graduation.

The Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal

The Crucible

Tyler recently finished his last crucible with his recruits at Camp Pendleton. The crucible is the last big event for recruit training that consists of a 54-hour field exercise, with about thirty obstacles and about 40-50 miles hiking, all on 2.5 MRE's and a total of eight hours sleep. Below are a few pictures of the crucible and Charlie company staff and drill instructors. (They are not allowed to take photos of recruits.)

Live fire range

Bivouac site (recruit tents)
Obstacle on the Crucible

DIs: Sgt McNulty, GySgt Caldas, Sgt Bishop, SSgt McBride

GySgt Molnar, Capt Hart, SSgt Reyes

Charlie Company Staff

Sgt Cortez, Capt Hart, SSgt Mott (watching the body sparring)

1stLt Ankrah, Capt Hart, Capt Flores (trying to stay warm on "the hill")

Funny

I saw this on my friend's blog (Shannon) and thought I'd share! Also, Tyler and I will be going home to Utah for a couple weeks and I plan on doing lots of fun posts while we're there. I just have to remember to not only bring my camera but to use as well! Happy Holidays!