Today - Day 5

I'm really going to start with last night. Hallie and Megan had been promised they could sleep in the room with Grandma and Granpa one night, so they picked last night. I guess the fact that they went to bed more than two hours earlier than us didn't really matter to them, but they were excited to jump on our bed in the morning. Knowing today was going to be a sunny one we decided to head to the Louisville Zoo. One of the really lucky things about our timing for this trip was that the girls are on Spring Break this week. However, every other child in Louisville is also on spring break and so every other parent in Louisville decided today was the day to take the family to the zoo. We were able to visit the holy shrine also known as the Rhino pen. I wanted to go in and pet the rhinos but the girls said that was against the rules, so no rhino petting. We didn't think the Lorakeet petting cage would be open but it was. Enjoy the photos.

Consolidation

Yesterday was a very special day. It is really the reason we originally planned this trip. It was the day Hallie was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints. She was excited and so were we. It was a wonderful event and the Spirit was felt by all very strongly. I'm so glad we were able to come and be here with Hallie for her special day.

The reason I titled this one Consolidation is because I'm consolitating today's report with yesterday's. Today was another special day but this time for Davis. At church today he was given a name and a priesthood blessing. Again we were so happy to be here with the family for this special occasion. However, for the rest of the day it was a laaaaaaaaaazy day. I've probably taken 3 or 4 short naps. I hope I can sleep well tonight.

Enjoy the photos from yesterday. I've included a photo I took of Davis because he is missing from all the other photos, and he's so darned cute.

Day Two

Pretty exciting day for both Trevor and Hallie and Megan. For Trevor it was his last day of work for about a week and for Hallie and Megan their last day of school for over a week. The next week would be devoted to fun with family, not to mention the real reason we had an excuse to come all the way to Louisville. Of course for the big girls there was the all important trek all the way to Cincinnati to the Gap outlet stores. To be honest I have my serious suspicions on some of those outlet stores, but the girls had a good time and didn't have to worry about Hallie, Megan, Trevor, Campbell or me, so I'm sure it was worth it. While they were gone and Hallie and Megan were in school, Trevor, Cambell and myself went to a nearby Mexican Restaurant. Campbell was in rare form and they asked us not to ever come back. ;^] Enough said. Then when they got back Kathryn and Melissa got down to some serious portraiture work on little Avery. Again, I think a good time was had by all. Even Avery seemed to enjoy most of it. I guess girls don't mind putting on silly looking clothes for the camera. After that Kathryn gave Melissa a few free lessons on PhotoShop. I think I could stand a few lessons myself. While they were doing all that Davis got to spend some quality time with his favorite Grandma Law, and he seemed to think that was all right too. All in all Day 2 was a great day ~ well, except the poor Mexican restaurant.

The Lights Are On - But Nobody's Home

Wednesday was a great time to leave Utah. A cold and cloudy day with snow in the morning. I've heard that Thursday was frigid. About 1:30 in the afternoon we pulled out and went to Melissa's house where we dropped Annabelle off to stay with Jeff while we took his wife (Melissa) and daughter. From there it was down to Leger's Deli, where we got a delicious sandwich to eat on the trip. Jeff took us to the airport so we could fly from Salt Lake City to Phoenix to change planes and then on to Louisville, KY. We arrived in Louisville at almost exactly 12 midnight local time. Kathryn picked us up while Trevor and the kids were all home in bed. By the time we got up the next morning Trevor was at work and the girls were at school. I had a terrible nights sleep so I was really tired all day. The girls (Jeanne, Kathryn and Melissa) took the two babies and went grocery shopping. Campbell was in his crib asleep so I went to the couch. Somewhere around 3 p.m. I thought I heard noises at the door, when I finally woke up (4 or 5 seconds later) I went to the door to find Hallie and Megan home from school. It was very exciting to see them. They are such sweet girls. We played a game and had some fun and the ladies finally came home. Of course then it was time for the cousins to get reaquainted. Avery and Davis are only 6 days apart in age. Yesterday Avery was 4 months old. You'd never guess by looking at these photos that Avery is the older of the two.

Welcome Spring

Every since I was a child, here in Utah we really look forward to Spring. One of the first signs that Spring had really arrived was the first sighting of a Robin Red Breast. Nearly every spring I come in and happily announce to Jeanne when I spot the first Robin, Usually in April or May. I love spring. I think it must have been the change to Daylight Savings Time. This fellow thought that since we had changed to Daylight Savings Time it must be Spring and so he showed up. Imagine his surprise when he woke up this morning to snow in his nest. I sure hope he makes it through the next few days and weeks to enjoy the real Spring and then the Summer. Welcome Spring ~ I'm glad you're here.

Friends

It's good to have friends. In 1972 I was stationed in Korea. I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Seoul, at a U.S. Army base, Headquarters of 8th Army in Yongsan. I began to attend the LDS servicemen's branch there and met lots of wonderful people. One of which became our bishop some 20 years later in San Antonio. His name was Larry Neuberger and he was one of the few that was over there with his wife and family. But that is not what this post is about. This is a post about some other friends I met. One young lady who was so friendly and outgoing you couldn't help but be friends with her was an Army nurse. A Lieutenant at the time, I believe. Her name was Linda LaRock. Another was a young Army specialist, who happened to be a Chaplains' assistant. His name was Dean Bishop. The three of us became pretty good friends and would quite often go eat together after church and just do things together. I was married, but my wife, and baby were back in the U.S. but Linda and Dean were both young and single. Well, it wasn't long and I think Linda and Dean, I believe it was mostly Dean, at least at the beginning, started becoming more than just friends. At some point they fell in love and not too awfully long after returning to the U.S. sealed that love with an eternal marriage. I still had a few years commitment to the Army, but it wasn't long before Linda's and Dean's commitments on active duty were completed and they returned to civilian life. Linda to her nursing both in a hospital and in the Army Reserves. Dean finished his degree and then went on to Pharmacy school at U of U. While he was at school I was stationed at Ft. Douglas, Utah, which was practically, now is, part of the U of U campus. Because of this we only lived a couple miles apart and again saw each other often. Jeanne and Linda also became good friends and in the process they discovered that it was Jeanne's cousin who tracted out Linda, taught her the Gospel and baptized her. We did lots together including having Salt Water aquariums, playing games, fishing in the Uintahs and so on. Well as things go . . . children came along, careers took us further apart, life got busy and we saw less and less of each other. However, at least a couple of our children remember visits to their house in Sandy and thier big doberman (big loving doberman). We stayed in touch and invited each other to Weddings when that time in our lives came, and when we could make it we'd attend. The last time we saw Linda and Dean was at their son's wedding some 4 + years ago. We couldn't make it to thier daughter's. Two days ago, Friday, Jeanne got a call and Linda and Dean said they would be up our way Saturday morning (yesterday) and wondered if they could stop in and visit. Of course we were excited to see them. Jeanne fixed a wonderful breakfast and we spent a couple or three hours finding out what had been happening in each other's lives. They have been ordinance workers in the Jordan River Temple every Saturday for the past 3 1/2 years and are now going to be working at the new Draper Temple. It was a wonderful visit and we are so glad they came to see us.

I Love My Grandkids

February's family party was held at our house. I love it when the grandkids come over and we get to spend a little time together. I got some photos of some of the fun they were having.



Colt and Riley are at the age when just jumping down the stairs to see how much air time they can get is entertaining. I don't know which one finally ended up jumping the farthest but I stopped it before one of them broke a leg or something. It's hard to tell but in this photo Riley is flying through the air as Colt Watches.

The kids also love to play air hockey. This looks like a close game as Cody and Taydon are having fun.

Problem

I've got a problem. It seems lately that this blog has been heavily weighted towards Avery. Even though I love that little sweety pie, I love all my grandchildren just as much. Maybe the little teeny ones are the only ones that will hold still long enough to let me get good photos of them.

The rest of 2009 will be dedicated to trying to get more photos of every member of my family on this blog. Of course, with some of them living in distant locations I'll tend to get more of them when we visit them or they come and visit us, but I hope you will all cooperate when I'm around and have my camera in hand.

Avery's Blessing Day

Today was a special day for Avery. We were honored to be part of it. Here are a few of the photos I took to remember the day by. The beautiful blessing dress was made by her Grandma Law.

I love this widget . . Isn't it cool!?!?

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