Washington, D. C. July 2008

We started out at Mt. Vernon with a bus tour. The tour was good since we had transportation, but we aren't very good at staying with a group and following the rules. We stayed in an amazing hotel called the Gaylord that had just been opened in February. There weren't any places to eat locally that didn't cost an arm and a leg, but we were invited to dinner a few times and had incredible meals. Order the crab cakes whenever you can=)

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My cousin, Judy, and her husband, Mike, live in Virginia so they sacrificed a day to hang out with us and we had a great time. We started with a tour of the Capitol with their friend who works there. Then we headed to the Library of Congress and Arlington Cemetary with a quick tour of Georgetown by car. Don't forget the lunch and dinner that we had together. We had a great day and it was so good to see family. Thanks Judy and Mike. Did I mention that it was hot and humid???



Arlington is a beautiful place that has a very somber spirit. It is truly awe inspiring to think of all of the people who have paid the ultimate price for this country. We stayed for a long time walking and talking.


Of course, we had to go to the Mall and see the monuments and memorials. You can see from this picture that it was tiring and we did need to rest a couple of times. What a beautiful city.


We got on the bus early in the morning to go to the train and travel to Kensington, Maryland to go to the Temple. It was about a two hour travel time, but it was very worth the effort. The Temple looks like Oz and is totally beautiful. After we left the Temple we went back to the Mall and checked out the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

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We got pretty good at getting on the bus, remembering to get a transfer, buying the proper fare, getting on the train, and then figuring out where to get off. The people were always very willing to help us out and answer questions. One time we were eating a pretzel while we were waiting for the train. A guy standing and waiting told us that if we took food on the train we could get a big fine, you better believe we finished it up=) The trains were clean and free of newspapers and other junk. We saw a cute little mom with a baby strapped to her in a pack and two little boys. She had her system down and kept everyone happy, although I did see some Capri Sun packages.

UFO's

Kit gave me these blocks and I finished the top for a charity quilt.


This is the challenge quilt from last summer. Each person in my quilt group made 9 blocks and then we exchanged the blocks and put together our own quilt. The quilts all look very different and beautiful. Mine is done now=)


This is a queen sized charity quilt for Jody's home. The blocks came from Peg and her sister.


This wool project has been in the works for years. Finally done=)

I have been working on unfinished objects in my sewing room with my fancy new sewing machine=) Here are a couple of quilts that will be used as fundraisers for Jody's group home. I'm not sure how many UFO's are facing me because I can't count that high=) Today I am working on the 29 holiday pillowcases for the grandkids.

Tumbleweed

You never know when one will blow into town, but Bill is in the Phoenix area. He and his wife, Teresa, came to dinner with our gang. We think it's been about 4 or 5 years since we have been together and it was nice to get caught up. He is working here and who know how long they will be around. Family is a good thing=)

The Fish Pond

Roy and I cleaned out the fish pond. It was an amazing task with pungent smells. We reduced our fish population by about 200 and kept our herd of 5 red eared slider turtles. We have about a dozen fish left. Hopefully it will stay clean for a while.

Fourth of July

Our ward had a Fourth of July breakfast and the kick-off is a parade by the kids with their bikes, etc. decorated. They ride from the school parking lot to the park which isn't even a block. It is really cute and Michelle helped Deacon decorate the Freddie Flintstone car so he could be part of the parade=) Roy and I went to a swim party with Brook and Travis at Judy's house. We had a great relaxing time watching Charly and Will swim like maniacs. I think we may have been watching future Olympians=)

Shoes

Charly and Deacon were spending the night here together. Charly brought Deacon's shoes to me and wanted them on her feet. After Deacon noticed that she had his shoes on there was a protest and he insisted on wearing her shoes. I think it is a nice look=)

Off to Florida

Marx and Maddox headed to Florida at the beginning of June. Kris has a job there for a year and then hopefully they will be back. We have talked to them on the phone and they are loving the beach and Sea World. We can't wait to give them a hug=)

Molly Girl

Cambria and Molly came into town at the end of May, Greg and Alan stayed home and worked. Molly didn't warm up so well to Papa but would tolerate him if he would do what she wanted him to do. Cambria tried to get 80 thousand things done and went home with not one square inch of room left in the van, I was happy she didn't get pulled over=) Cam brought a pinata and we had a great time breaking it up and getting out the goodies.

Moving Again

One more time it is packed for the movers.


When I moved from Washington to Sunridge Roy and Travis loaded up the trucks and did the job. At least now the district will hire the muscle and the truck=)


I'm not sure how many times I have moved my classroom in the last 16 years, but I think it's around 8. One more time I am packing up the 'stuff' of my educational life and moving to a new school. We will be a mile west of where we are now at Jordan Elementary. There will be 6 ELP teachers and we will service 15 schools, we will be busy. The Extended Learning Program acronym will have to be changed because of the English Language Proficiency class the state of AZ has incorporated. Any good suggestions?

Rain in Phoenix

So on Monday, May 19 the temp in Phoenix hit 110 degrees. We have had an absolutely wonderful, mild spring and the 110 day was a shock to the system. By Thursday it had cooled to 50 degrees and there was a wonderful rain storm. Michelle's kids were here running in the rain and soaked to the skin. We realized it was cold when Avery's lips were blue.

More African Daisies

Will and Charly stopped by and of course they had to have their pictures taken in the African Daisies (me not them). At the end of the month when it was time to pull up the daisies I really didn't want to do it so I decided to do a little bit each day. I started on Friday and pulled for an hour, an hour or two on Saturday, and on my birthday I was out there for a couple of hours. I decided that Tuesday would be the last day and by this time I had 5 garbage sacks full plus the black garbage dumpster. When I came around the corner after work they were all gone. Roy noticed a landscaping crew across the street and paid them to finish up the job. Money well spent=)

On March 28 Roy had knee surgery on the right knee. He was out patient and came home the same day. I think it hurt lots more than he thought it would but was only off work a few days. We have been married 31 years and he has had 10 surgeries or hospitalizations: right knee, left knee, appendix, hernia, thyroid, back surgery, back surgery, back surgery, staph epi, and motorcycle accident. The knee surgery seemed pretty easy in comparison=)

Charly's Birthday

Charley turned one on March 2. She was tired and ready to go to bed...until the cake appeared, Will showed her the finer points of blowing out candles and she knew what to do with the cake=) She is a sweetie and so easy to get along with. This is a darling little family with one more on the way=)

February Birthdays

Roy (holding Deacon), Will, and Brook


Triumphant Will after digging in the treasure chest.

Some of my favorite people celebrate their birthday in February: Roy 6th, Will 8th, and Brook 9th. My dad celebrated his birthday on February 23. Will turned 4 and in only 20 more years Brook will be old, I guess Roy already is=) We had fun and Will loved his dive into the chest.

Spaghetti

This is just to prove, to anyone that cares, that the darling Miss Charly loves spaghetti=)

African Daisies

Deacon's turn in the flowers.


One of the best pictures of Will I've had the pleasure to take=)


The sea of African Daisies at the house.


Charly in the middle of the flowers.


We have had rain at just the right times and just the right amount this year and the African Daisies are the best they have ever been. Every time a baby comes by we have a photo op.

Babysitting

Michelle and Ben went to Las Vegas for the MLK weekend and we got to have Marx, Maddox, Deacon, and Will Friday night. We slept in the tent and had smores and a great time. Deacon stayed until Sunday evening. When I got Deacon he was without bruise Roy was playing with him and Deacon tipped over onto the tile. Deacon was playing on his little car and fell off onto the same spot. He didn't look quite so good when his mom and dad came to get him. Oops, I hope we get to have him over again.

Christmas

Roy and Greg built a trailer for Mexico while they were here because all of the babies LOVED being pulled in our little wagon. The look on darling Charly's face says it all. Sheer Bliss=)


Charly also enjoyed the leftovers after others opened their gifts.


Greg did a great job cutting the hair of all Michelle's boys. Maddox wasn't that impressed...when he looked in the mirror after the cut he said, "I don't like it!"


Roy did quite a bit of shopping this year and one of his most fabulous finds was the $2 headlamp from Harbor Freight. All of the little boys got one, even Roy.


Marx and Papa opening gifts.


So, there was the afternoon when each family made a gingerbread house. Here is the Memmott home.


The Tuttle home.


Here is the creation Michelle and her boys made.


Heather came over and snapped a few pictures of the family. We didn't do such a great job avoiding the shadows, but we did get a family picture, such that it is. It just keeps growing=)

Cookie Baking

Brook and Donna showing off the Jubilee Jumbles.


Michelle working away on the next batch.


Nana with Molly and Charly


Here is a sampling of the cookies we made.


Alan really gets into his cookie frosting=)

December 21, 2007
We made a boat load of cookies, including: Hershey Kiss Peanut Blossoms, Jubilee Jumbles, Hugs on Pretzels, Chocolate Chip, Ginger Snaps, and then there were the sugar cookies we didn't share with anyone...except Santa. I'm not sure how many dozen cookies we made, but it was a great day and the kids had a great time playing with each other.