Will's Graduation -- University of Montana

There's no prouder Griz parents than Ann and I on our long awaited yet somewhat sad graduation day in Missoula... glad that Will is transitioning into another chapter in his life's journey -- sad that we will not have a good excuse to visit Montana; a place we have grown fond of visiting.

It was a beautiful spring day on campus; and the first graduation ceremony held outdoors in over 100 years at UM.

In just a couple of weeks Will heads off to Glacier National Park where he will work as a councilor for the Glacier Institute.  Will loves the outdoors; backpacking and rock climbing (a parental worry).

[Right]  Andy made his first visit to Montana for his little brother's graduation.

One of our favorite eat places is Lolo Creek Steakhouse in Lolo, MT.  It hosts a rustic mountain environment with menu items like venison, elk and rattlesnake.  This was our graduation night celebration.

This was one of our day excursions to Garnet MT; now one of the popular "ghost towns" of western Montana.  Once a big gold and silver mining town in the early 1900's -- today the town's remains mark a generation and culture of living almost extinct in the great wild west.  Garnet is about an hour and a half east of Missoula.

Welcome Jonah Joshua McMillon!

Jonah McMillon was born into the world Wednesday, April 28, 2010.  A hefty 8+ pounds of boy... and joy.  Beth and Josh are doing fine and Ellie is amazed that she has a new friend.  Check out the name badge on Ellie; she was a big hit with the nursing staff.  Ann and I can't believe we now have two grand kids.  TSS 

Ellie and the Easter Bunny

What a beautiful Easter Sunday in Raleigh -- visiting with Ellie, Beth (expecting in a few weeks) and Josh.  Once Ellie discovered what inside each egg... her interest increased dramatically. TSS

Ellie -- 18 Months

Merry Christmas 2009

Tom and I send along our best wishes for a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you who are very dear to us.  Through the many years together we share a host of priceless memories our our family and friends.  May God Bless all of you during this special season and the coming year. 

Maui Invitational 2009 -- Another Great Start to the Basketball Season...

Great competition again this year -- my new partner at the mic was Gene Honda, voice of the Chicago White Sox and Blackhawks... Gene has also been the venue announcer at the NCAA Final Four the past three years.  He was a lot of fun.  Looks like at least I got tickets this year...

Ellie at the 2009 North Carolina State Fair

What a great time we had with Elisabeth and Josh at this year's State Fair.  It was Elisabeth's first NC state fair in nearly 10 years.  Josh and Beth moved back to North Carolina in April 2009.  Josh is growing his chiropractor practice in the Triangle area.  This was Ellie very first fair (almost 1 year old) where she enjoyed funnel cake and fried ice cream... things her Mom and Dad said were forbidden.

Daughter and Son-in-Law Moving to Raleigh

Great news for us this summer as Elisabeth and Josh have decided to move to Raleigh after Josh's graduation from medical school. Having our first and only grandchild, Ellie, close by is also a real joy for both of us. Josh is begun his new practice while Elisabeth plans to be a stay-at-home Mom.

Flying in Hawaii -- An Adventure to Remember

Ann and I got to do some sightseeing that few will get to experience.  We rented a G1000 Cessna Skyhawk at busy Honolulu International and made a day of flying first to Maui -- along the scenic north coast of Molokai before landing at the tiny airport in Hana on the northeast coast of Maui.  Ann then took over the controls at Hana and flew us over the Alenuihaha Channel along the west coast of the Big Island (of Hawaii) before turning west and flying along the southern coast of Maui and the Haleakala volcano, over Kahoolawe and then landed at Lanai City (Lanai).  We flipped a coin and I lost -- so I had to fly the last leg back to Honolulu International... luckily we made the right choice to take the offshore arrival where air traffic control was able to work us in to HNL without much delay.  We have lots of pictures -- but can only post a few...

Afterwards... A Nice Dinner in Lahaina Town.

March Snowfall

We got to experience an unusual event this morning. In the 24 years we have lived in Raleigh it has never snowed in March but we awoke to about 2 inches of snow. It is beautiful. The good news/bad news is school is canceled today/the make up day is Spring Break. Here are some pictures around the house.


Belle loves the snow!

The trees are gorgeous.

Ann's First Night Landing at Raleigh-Durham

Check out this video of Ann landing at the busy RDU airport. It was fun to be a passenger, sit back and let her do all the flying back from Charlotte. Ann does not particularly like flying at night -- but she finally agreed if I would take her out to dinner afterward... She made it look easy.