Jillian Going to Preference

Jillian and her date for Preference

Just Jillian

Over the last three weeks we have had a few family events to post. Plus we want to wish Jamie and her family the best as they travel to Florida for Carter's next surgery. They left today and already I have received some text messages regarding their trip across Wyoming. But Colby got to see his first antelope!

First we had a wedding (congrats to Jessica and Tyler)! Unfortunately the individuals I assigned as photographers seemed more interested in taking pictures of the grandkids instead of the bride and groom. So I will have to post more pictures when I get some more. It was a great weekend with a reception in Salem and the wedding and dinner in Ephraim.

Then this last week we had a graduation - way to go Joy! Julie, Caleb and the girls were able to come for the ceremony and we had fun with them for the day. We also met with the CEU volleyball coach to finalize the Letter of Intent for Joy's scholarship. It will be exciting to watch her play at the next level. Their first tournament will be at CSI in Twin Falls!

Hey,
Yeah I got Joy and Jill's letters, and wrote them back, but i haven't seen yours yet, it should be getting here shortly.
Our platoon has been split up for the last two weeks while we waited for the base tac to get here so thats why I was filling in at the bomb stop, and today my platoon finally got back together. We did some patrols today and for the next six months we'll be doing patrols in the northern part of our AO.
Funny story for you, (i thought i died twice) two days ago I was sitting in my truck behind the 50 cal. and some army convoy crossed in front of us so I raised the gun up so it didn't flag them and I herd a whssssss sound and something hit me in the face and was burning my eyes for a second I though I got shot in the face, until I realized I left a pepsi can under the gun mount and the T and E poked a hole in it and i got blasted in the face with pepsi then about an hour later a afghan drove by us in an eighteen wheeler and just as he passed the truck one of his tires blew and shot moon dust and rocks all over the place I thought it was and IED, because it was loud as heck.
As far as what I owe you, you can go a head and take out what ever you need to.
Well thats all for now, I'll talk to you later
Jake

Latest Email from Jake

Here's the latest email from Jake. Good reading!!!


Hey,
I only have a couple minutes left so I'll just sum this up, I'll call you in a second,
but yes i'm 100 percent focuses, and doing my job, and things are going well, i was just but in charge of the bomb stop, which is a couple hundred meters away from the base next to the soak lot where all civilian traffic coming on the base soaks so the dogs can get a better smell off of it (i don't understand that) but its me and my team and we control all the traffic and patrol the soak lot and deal with the afghan all day and all the bull crap that is involved with their trucks and the weird things they try to bring on base or to harm us, but all is well I enjoy it, today we met some kids and they loved fruit roll ups that you sent in the package, and silly string petroffs wife sent, they covered us in it. The sardings (spelling) were a big hit with me and my team we all loved them includding the swarms of flies that infest our truck! Thanks alot for the package, my team and platoon say thanks
Thats all take care
love ya
Jake

Check out this link to get a tour of Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-ro9zLSb2s

This is a MRAP.

I spoke with Jake and they were on a training course. The driver was going along side a bank and took a turn too sharp and it tipped on it's side.

Recent emails from Jake.

From Wednesday

Hey,Yeah I'm at leatherneck for now, there are rumors going around about a move as part of our mission but i can't really go into detail, but all is well just wrapping up on our first week of bull crap training and classes, and about ready to start our rip and shadowing with the unit we are relieving, other than that not to much, other than i was in an mrap that turned over on its side that was and experience. Well that all for now things are still good. Tell everyone to send letters because im sick of slow internet!Talk to you later Jakey-poo

From Saturday

Hey i made it here safe, things are crazy though, its been busy and internet is terrible, i can't get it on my laptop but the internet cafe (what they call it) is where i can email every so often. i quess we are taking over qrf for the whole base and outside operating areas so i'm going to be pertty busy so tell everyone that letters will probably be the way to go. thats all for now tell everyone i say hi.Jakeps can you send me some celltech made by muscletech, either grape or fruitpunch, you can use one of my checks to buy it from gnc thanks

Follow Up

Forgot I had this picture of Jake's platoon. It was included in a letter from his Platoon Commander. Jake is on the back row all the way to the right - with the sunglasses.

While Jake thinks this is corny, wanted to include what the Lieutenant said.

"I would like to thank you for the sacrifice you make as parents to support Jacob, our Corps, and our coountry. Your son's hard work and dedication have gratly contributed to our mission success. Jacob is an outstanding Marine worthy of the many accolades and awards he constantly wins. He seets the example for his peers and has quickly become an excellent team leader. I look forward to witnessing his development as a leader in Afghanistan. I promise you that I will do my utmost to bring him back home safely."

The words from an officer as compared to Jared's Platoon Sergeant who said upon Jared's return from Iraq the second time:

"Sir, this is the best damned Marine I've ever had!"

Jake in Afghanistan

Been awhile since I last put something on this blog, but I thought this would be the best place to keep everyone updated on Jake.

He arrived in Afghanistan, he did not say where so I asked. I am assuming he is at Camp Leatherneck. He can not get connected on the internet so he is using the camp's internet cafe. At least that is what is calls it. I'm sure it isn't much of a cafe.

He wants plenty of letters and packages. I will get one a letter off to him today with a package of somethings he wanted. How about we rotate like we did with Jared?

Not much else to report. The job is going fine and now it is time to begin planning the move.

Here's Jake's address for the letters

CPL Jacob Malone
3D LAAD BN (A Battery)
Unit 42025
FPO AP 96427-2025

More Updates

I know all of you in Utah do not really want to see the snow but the two boys are enjoying weather that does not include snow.




Picture from Joy's Senior All State game. Just when you thought she was the tallest! But still the whitest legs!








Pictures from Jared's apartment.








And the last one. Let me know if you can figure out how to use all the fixtures in this bathroom - the one next to the toilet and the one with white handle on the wall.

Another update with email addresses. Both of them now have PCs so send them some emails and let them know about your blogs if you have one.

Jake - jacobmalone20@yahoo.com

Jared - jaredmalone2@yahoo.com

Ok - It Has Been Awhile

Quick update on the boys:

Jared - as everyone knows he is in Kuwait. He calls either early in the morning or late at night since he is 10 hours ahead of Utah. Here's his address:

Jared Malone
GDLS, KAT
CFLCC, CMD GRP, (IMTF)
Camp Arfijan
APO AE 09366

Do not ask me what the intials mean. I can make out some but not all. If the mail gets to him who cares.

Jake - promoted to Corporal today. My birthday. Here's some pictures:

The red mark on his face happened that morning during some Marine training.

Making Corporal is a big step. Now he is a non-commissioned officer (NCO) expected to lead other Marines. He will be made a Team Leader.

Jillian in the Cross Country

Jillian has been participating in cross country since school started. Swimming starts later in the fall (just now starting practice) so she decided to stay in shape by doing cross country. It has been difficult for her since she is like me in high school - I hated running. But she keeps at it. I've attached some short videos of her at the meet in Price this week. While she does not finish in the top group to medal, she does complete the course and she is aheaded of several girls.

The other day she asked why I keep pushing cross country. I asked her three questions. Are you having fun? Do you like being with your team? She answered yes to these and I told her that was what was important. Then I asked what would you being doing if you did not do cross country? She replied sitting around watching TV. Plus I told her there are many people who would not attempt to run cross country let alone finish each race! I did not like running until I was in the Marines.



Jillian also auditioned for the "Sound of Music" play and she will be one of the nuns. Joy will receive her Young Women Medalion tomorrow in sacrament.

Joy did not play on Thursday after hurting her shoulder in the volleyball match against Wasatch. In that match she had 32 kills - pretty amazing! They won giving them a 3-0 record in Region. With her out the team did not do well against ALA on Thursday. They lost and it was Carbon's first region loss in over two years. Joy went to physical therapy on Friday and has to return on Monday. They think in might be torn ligaments. They will know more on Monday.

First Time Blog

Ok - like I do not have enough to do each day, now I need to spend time checking family blogs. But unlike my favorite TV character, Special Agent LeRoy Jethro Gibbs (From NCIS), I am trying to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and social networking trends. Besides, when I had two daughters arguing over who first had the idea and who first posted a story about Jake, I figured I needed to be the one to post some items. Plus I've wanted to get some videoes of Joy out to the family.

While all of Joy's sisters had their own individual talents, Joy is the first high school athlete of all the girls. Jillian is following close behind! So everyone one has seen Joy on the volleyball and basketball court. Now it is time to see her in another setting!

Just so everyone knows, she is back to her old ways in volleyball.

This is all for now. I'll post some video of Jillian later. Don't want to wade too far into the unknown at this time!! Besides I'm sure I will get plenty of advice from the expert bloggers in the family!