This post has had me stymied for a long time, thus the two-month pause in blogging. This was such an important event for our family that it has been daunting to write about it. It's very hard to explain how important the command tour is for a Naval officer. It's what they aspire to their entire career. In fact their semi-annual performance reviews, called Fitness Reports or Fitreps, rate officers on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0 based on how fit they are for command, or how on track they are towards earning a command billet. It's a small percentage who ever actually make it to that point. Truth be told, Clint had aspired to be a commander of a squadron (a helicopter unit) and not a reserve center. But as a good friend told us long ago, "You never know when God is saving your life." Had Clint got the command he wanted he would be deploying to Iraq for seventh or eighth time right now. Clint's record was good enough that he got first choice when they selected CO's (commanding officers) for NOSCs (Navy Operational Support Centers, formerly known as Naval Reserve Centers--someone high up wanted to leave their mark and made the million dollar name change) and he picked Utah for me. He calls this the "Wife Payback Tour." I'm so glad he did. It certainly has been an adjustment for us--this is so different from anywhere we've been, but it is a dream to have so much family around. Good thing we really like our family!
The Change of Command ceremony is rich in Navy tradition that dates back to the Royal Navy's sailing days. At the beginning of the ceremony, the incoming and outgoing commanding officers are "rung aboard," complete with side boys, a bosun's whistle and a ship's bell. Here is Clint:
Here is Erik Ostrom, the outgoing commanding officer. We really enjoyed getting to know him and his fantastic wife, Kris, and their three kids.
This is the reason our boys did not make a peep during the entire hour-long ceremony. They were in complete awe. Maybe if there were sailors at church with guns they could sit quietly through sacrament meeting.
Erik has a great sense of humor. I've never heard such a laid-back and entertaining Change of Command speech. This is Clint reading his orders to assume command of the reserve center.
This is Clint relieving Erik of command.
This is the Captain who flew in from Washington to receive the ceremonial salute from both of them.
Clint's speech was more on the serious side and very inspiring. He even got choked up at one point and I can count the number of times I've seen that happen in public on two fingers.
This is Erik departing with the ringing of the bell and whistle as a farewell.
This is Clint departing, with the same ceremony.
The remainder of the reception afterwards: Here is Jenny Pulsipher's knees, Phil Hale, Mike Pulsipher, Barbara Hale and Tal, Cole and Jack in the background. Other friends and family who came included: Dick and Megan Legas; Tad and Tanya Legas and son; Kenon King; Pam and Cap Cresap; Cara and Scott Lafferty; Amanda Kost; Julie and Bill Wareham; Seth Merrill; Wendy and Chad McKay; Edith and Casey Songer; Leo and Karen Frazier; Buzz and Patty Sandberg. I hope I didn't forget anyone, it has been four months!
When we passed on our opportunity to take a chairlift up the mountain in Steamboat Springs, Co, we promised the boys we would do so in Utah. It was only a couple weeks after we arrived that we made good on that deal. Here are the boys at Solitude resort before we headed up.
These little varmints were hiding under a bridge between the lodge and the lift. We met many more.
Hanging on tight--I've worked hard to keep these guys alive thus far.
A reluctant hiker. 
It was about a 10-minute hike from the chairlift to Secret Lake. At the lake edge were a dozen, very tame and hungry ground squirrels and chipmunks. A group of nice college kids lent the boys some trail mix to feed the critters. It wasn't long before Jack had them eating right out of his hand. He really has a way with animals. He says he loves all animals with fur.
On the other hand the critters quickly grew wary of Trace who tried to swat them a couple of times before attempting to feed them.
With some patience and perseverance, Tal was able to feed them too.
Before we left Jack had the squirrels trusting him so much that they let him pet them, even without a treat as a reward. Jack was so jazzed about this that as we hiked down he had to tell the mountain bikers all about it. "The squirrels let me pet them with 100 ascent NO BAIT!" This while standing in the middle of their trail, stopping them on their ascent up the mountain. 
These three men are the top Frisbee golfers in the world. For reals. There was an international competition on the mountain that day. And you saw it here on Snollygoster Roster.
