Tribute to my Granddad!

My granddad, John A. Hamilton, served in World War I. So, I give thanks to him on this Memorial Day for fighting for our Country. He took his army training in 1917 at Camp Travis in San Antonio and was then sent to France. He served there with an ammunition train.

War was ugly and it was especially so for my grandfather. He was on the other side of an ocean and homesick. He was wounded, troubled by the gassing he had endured, and even more troubled by the violence and brutality he experienced. He had several operations on his return home but none so brutal than the one he had in the field of battle in France. They strapped him down and gave him some anesthetic, but not enough. When the doctor came to check on him and four others he said, "well this one is dead, that one's alive and when he got to my grandfather he said, "well that one will never make it." John A. said "yes I will if you bring me some water." They brought him water in a spoon and poured it into his mouth. Of the five men just he and another man made it; the others died of gangreen. He returned to the states in a boat full of sick men and disembarked at Newport, Virginia and traveled on to Camp Travis by train.

But he was a strong man and returned home to live his life in Arizona. He was a great storyteller, loved to sing, loved his horses and was always a wonderful grandfather to his five grandchildren. Below is a picture of him and me at a rodeo parade in Chandler sometime in the early 1950's. Thanks for the memories Granddad!

Memorial Day

Alvin worked in the yard until Stephen and Chelsea and kids came over around 2:30 to swim. I know you all probably have seen enough water pictures but here are some new ones you have to see. First you might notice the backyard looks different than the previous post. Alvin did some major trimming on the bushes around the pool. He actually found a hummingbird nest in our grapefruit tree. Yes, the nest is actually on a hanging grapefruit.

What is with all that poop! Hummingbirds are too small for all that don't you think?


This was suppose to be a water wheel as you can see. However, it didn't move so well so the toy turned into something altogether different.











YES - those last two pictures is ALVIN! We couldn't believe it when he jumped on the wheel not once but twice.









This is a water fight between Chandler, Stephen and Pa. Please don't get my windows wet!!!

I promise - no more swim pictures for a while!

Swim Time!!!!

Mr. Frog said 88 degrees - defnitely time to swim!


Chandler and Tatum just jumped right in - Still a little cold for Cooper however.




Chandler and Stephen tried their talents at surfing.





Chandler likes to jump off of his Dad's shoulders.




"Me too" Tatum said. It seems she wants to do everything her brothers do and never seems scard.

Swimming lessons coming up!

Cooper's Graduation!

Cooper graduated from preschool this morning. The final day of his two years at "Ray of Light Preschool".




I asked him if he was going to miss school and he said "no - but I will miss Mrs. Bond." Mrs. Bond was also his teacher part of time last year so he has been with her for quite a bit and she was very good with the kids. In the classroom the helper was Mrs. McNaughton and she was fun too!


His special friends the last two years have been the twins Clare and Bridget, Nick, Andrew and Viet.





They also had a program on Wednesday evening to sing songs they had learned throughout the year. Didn't get many good pictures because of sitting too far away for flash.




After the singing was over Cooper and Tatum could't wait for the cookies.

Final goodbye with hugs from the twins.

Lucky for Clare they will be in the same school next year!


Pa treated with ice cream afterwards!




Another FUN night with family!