Bithday 2009!

Here I am, I made it, yup 49 years old! Aren't Savannah and Olivia cute!

In my post for the Veterans dedication I forgot to mention that Frank Layton is the guest speaker. I got caught up in the patriotic elements and forgot to mention who was speaking:).

Veterans Home dedication

First of all this is Christina being congratulated by the Sky View faculty for receiving the Student of the Month award. She was able to bring two quests of her choice to a special luncheon held in her ( and the other students honor). There were 3 students chosen from each grade level. (Each grade has 450-500 students in it!) The lunch was fabulous! Christina also received a $25.00 dollar check she can put towards a savings bond if she wants too. They receive this honor for good citizenship, participation in class, good achievements, mentoring or other noteworthy areas a teacher sees fit to nominate them for. Congratulations Christina! We took Dad and Mom to the Ogden Veteran's Home dedication on Thursday the 19. We arrived early enough (since Bob had to check in and receive his VIP pass) that Bob took us on a tour of the building. We didn't have to fight the crowds this way. Then we went to the multi-purpose room where the reception is being held and we were treated to refreshments of fruit and muffins.

There is a military band playing for entertainment. Very nice.

This is the bell that will be place in the bell tower (when they get it finished. As usual not everything is done the day of the dedication :) } The brick we donated in Dad's honor will go at the base of the bell tower. This is me pushing Mom out to the seats where we will sit for the dedication ceremony. These are flags for each branch of the service.

This is after they did the Presentation of Colors. Which was sure nice. They had veterans carrying in the flags. The two who carried in the US flag were a father and son team, the father just retired from service and the son being deployed next week to Iraq. They had the MIA/POW Corp "standing tall" as the veterans passed by with the flags. Then they had the Ben Lomond Bagpipe Corp play "Amazing Grace". Colleen Bott sang the National Anthem and then we all join in, in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. The students of Wahlquist Jr. High sent balloons soaring into the sky. One is when they were first launched and one pic is after they began to take flight! After the ribbon cutting ceremony they released a bunch of Doves. It was so cool. I was happy I was able to get a picture of them before they flew off!

Finally the Ogden Concert Band played the Armed Forces Medley where the veterans stand during their branch's march. This is a picture of Dad and fellow veterans standing as the Air Force March was played. It turned out to be a very beautiful day for this. Mom and Dad enjoyed themselves immensely. We went in after the dedication for more refreshments of cupcakes and cookies. It was a very nice program.

Fall Fun!

Trudy wanted to can pumpkin so they cut up one of our huge pumpkins to preserve. Tiffany, her sister, also brought over a small pumpkin and together with Anthony this is the results! Neat, right! This is the pumpkin Christina and Monty carved! A duel peronality! Day, Night!

This is the pumpking Sandra and Bob carved. Our true feelings! :) Day, Night!

Elise, the cowboy, Thomas, Korean National Dress, Olivia, Yoda, Savannah, Pirate. Tom and Elise Yoda, using the force, Olivia Savannah, do you want to walk the plank, pirate.

Zion's Vacation

Here are pictures of our vacation to Zions National Park over the UEA weekend. They are in no certain order. The weather was great. Cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoon. It was so relaxing. Although my body is asking me why I torture it so with all this extreme hiking! Bob and Christina at the mouth of Echo Canyon on the way up to Observation Point.Christina in Echo Canyon.

Bob and Sandra climbing the trail to Hidden Canyon.

A waterfall by the Emarld Pools.

Christina making the traditional stack of rocks on the upper trail to the Third Emarld Pools. She felt kind of lonely without her brothers building a rock tower with her!

Looking under the falls at the bottom Emarld Pool.

Hiking our favorite trail in Zions. Angels Landing.

Christina sitting on a rock on the top of Angels Landing.

Another view of Angles Landing.

Watlers Wiggles on our way to the top of Angels Landing.

Christina in one of the holes on the way to Angels Landing.

At the end of the River Walk trail standing in the Virgin River at the Narrows.

Bob, Sandra, Christina sitting at our camp spot in Watchman Campground in Zions Park. This is a fun rock that was north of our campground. You can see a face on it right now. But, depending on the light you could or couldn't see it.

Family Camping Trip

We went camping up Franklin Basin Road from Wednessday to Saturday. It was fun getting the whole family together. Thursday evening Anthony was able to take us on a private tour of Minnitonka Cave in St. Charles Canyon. He couldn't get the generator to work, so we toured the cave with flash lights! That was really fun. Then Friday we went to the North shore of Bear Lake and had a fun time swimming, playing frisbee, eating lunch, and of course Anthony and Trudy built a sand castle. Friday evening Anthony and Trudy were walking through the sage brush and willows to get to the river when Anthony was attacked by wasps. Bees just seem to always find him. He is allergic to them and always swells up. (See last picture) Trudy took him down to Logan to the Insta Care. He received Benadryl and Steroids to help the swelling go down. Tom and Elise brought their dogs. Trudy braided our hair. We didn't even plan the blue shirts, but it's fun that we matched!

Christina watching Olivia with their dog Isis. Steven and Anarie with Olivia. Elise and Christina waiting for breakfast. Bob cooking. Savannah helping Grandma do dishes.

Testing out the water at Bear Lake. Tom and Elise and Savannah and Olivia. Isn't Olivia cute!!!

Playing frisbee. Top Anarie throwing to Christina. Anthony and Trudy getting ready to go snorkling. Middle Bob cathing the frisbee. Bottom Sandra, Tom, Steven and Bob. Anarie trying to keep warm. Christina trying to get a little sun. Anthony, Trudy and Steven building a dike so the waves won't wash away their castle.

A heart Christina built in the dike.

Master piece done. Bob, Christina, Trudy, Anthony, Savannah. Below Sandra with Steven and Anarie on the beach.This is how Anthony looked about a half an hour after the bee stings. His right eye is swelling up. There is a rash on his left shoulder with litlle rashes all over his body. This is after he washed off the mud to help take the sting out.