Thanks to all the nice people from the 81st Brigade Combat Team who offered to share their lives with us over this 10 days that they have together before they ship out for Fort McCoy. After that they go to Iraq.

So far we've featured Maj. Todd and Debbie Bonham of Tacoma, who are enjoying a Caribbean cruise before he heads back for his second Iraq tour with the 81st. He was a Marine for five years and an active-duty artillery officer in the Army before joining the Washington National Guard right after Sept. 11. He is an Edward Jones stock broker in civilian life; Debbie is a teacher in the Fife School District.

Part 2: We told you about the Moores of Tacoma – Staff Sgt. Mason Moore and his wife, Lauren – who wanted to be sure to have their two children dedicated into the Puyallup Foursquare church before he goes to Iraq.

Part 3: Newlyweds Kyle Everhart and Darah Harris-Everhart tied the knot Sunday in a backyard ceremony at her mother's place in Parkland. Kyle, a specialist, is a Tacoma Community College student and Darah works at the Urban League in Seattle. They'll be going through their first overseas deployment in Kyle's four years in the National Guard.

Part 4: Kurt and Yvonne Shevalier of Lacey are prepping their kids – 17, 13 and 11 – for Kurt's second deployment of the war. Kurt also plays a big part in the lives of his students at Northeast Tacoma Elementary School, where he's a gym teacher.

Part 5: Meet Kyle Weiss, a mortgage banker from Ferndale who will soon be driving an armored Humvee on convoy security duty in Iraq. From our sister paper, the Bellingham Herald.

Part 6: It's Christmas in August for Sgt. David Isaac and his wife Suzanne and their kids – Caroline, 8, and twins Stover and Jackson, nearly 4.

Part 7: Thai shrimp and Italian food at home are just fine for Capt. Blake Melancon and his wife Leanne, who are "travelled out" in advance of his overseas deployment. From our sister paper, The Olympian.

Part 8: Heath Sherrer is a big-time Seahawks fan, and he and some fellow soldiers got the VIP treatment for the preseason OT win over the Chicago Bears.

Part 9: Lt. Aaron Thompson, his twin brother and the rest of their large clan grab a chance for a family portrait in a Gig Harbor park.