Wow! What a Week!

We have had quite a week! It started last Friday when Ron, L and I hitched up the trailer and went to Lava Hot Springs for Memorial weekend. Grandma and Grandpa came along with us. Poor M had to stay home and work most of the time, but did drive up and stay over one night with us.

On Saturday, we drove to Burley to decorate graves. After three cemeteries and a bunch of mums, things looked pretty good.

We hooked up with Grandma Nanny and took her out to lunch. She had her regular meal of fried shrimp. We tried to get the waiter to bring her a beer, but she didn't have her i.d. and he didn't want to sell to a minor.

On Sunday, we headed for the swimming pool. It was a blistering 57* that day. My pool attire consisted of street clothes, two beach towels and L's fleece-lined sweatshirt.

The cold didn't seem to bother L. There is a new water slide at the pool. I think L went down about 20 times.

On Tuesday, Ron and I joined the sixth grade on their annual bike trip to Lagoon Trail (about 32 miles round trip). Of course it rained on us most of the time. But...with the exception of a few kids, we all made it!

With a police escort, the kids rode their bikes to the Lagoon Trail where we turned around and headed back to Centerville Park.

At the park, the sixth grade from another elementary school joined us. They had been pen pals with L's class all year round and they finally met each other and had lunch.

L already knew his pen pals. Two of them play in the same soccer club as L.

And finally, today was L's big graduation day from Sixth Grade. M bought him balloons and put them outside for everyone to see.

L has had the greatest teacher this year. Mrs. Watkins is a really fun person, but can also keep L in line (which isn't the easiest thing to do).

Of course I cried during the ceremony. This is the last time I will have to deal with elementary school. I think I cried because I was thinking of what lies ahead of us.

L + 7 classes + Jr. High School teachers = ???

I guess we will wait to see how that plays out! Does anyone know a good tutor?

Grandma came to the ceremony while Grandpa was at Hannah's ceremony at her school. Do you think they drew straws to see who had to sit by the crier?

Congratulations for making it through elementary school (with only a few trips to the principal's office). We are super proud of you L!

Chalk Walk

Every year the city has a chalk art "festival" on Main Street. After dinner tonight, Ron, L, and I took a walk down Main to see the works. The sad thing this year was that it has been raining and so most of the really good pieces had been covered up with plastic to keep the rain off.

Earlier in the day, L's class took a walking field trip to see the art. There is a place along Main where they have sidewalk chalk out for you to make your own piece. Here is the masterpiece that L and his friends put together. Sadly, a cloud burst this afternoon washed it out a little bit.

Maybe we'll have to walk back by tomorrow and see if they uncover the rest...

Jacksonville Florida

I went to Jacksonville Florida this week for work. What an adventure! We flew through Atlanta on the way there and back. It really made me appreciate the fact that I live in the desert! With 81 degrees (not too bad) and 76% humidity (really bad), I felt less than fresh even though we were only there for a short time. Florida wasn't quite as humid, but still a little too sticky for me.

Here is the view from my hotel window looking out across the St. John river:

After dinner the first night, Brian and I walked down to the river walk for a few minutes.

The next day in our meetings, they told us that the river walk was nice in the day, but told us that it wasn't any where you wanted to be at night. I guess it was a good thing that we went back to our hotel before it got too dark! um...scary!

So...let me share the scariest part of the trip. It wasn't the new foods I tried like grits, clam bellies, conch fritters, etc. It wasn't the fact that when we walked to our car the second night you could hear the alligators "quacking." It wasn't even the fact that we barely made our connecting flight from Atlanta to Salt Lake City. What was the scariest part of the entire trip was sitting in a meeting and wondering if this guy was going to fly across the room and land on my head!

I'm thinking this is their state bird!

Quilt #2

I made it through my second quilt. This one went to Miss Hannah for her birthday last week. I have three other quilt tops ready to quilt, but I think I will be taking a little break so that I can get some OUTSIDE things done. I love that I can say that! I'm so sick of being stuck inside watching it rain outside.

Alright...here is the Hannah quilt.

This is the fabric label on the back.

Front side...

Back side...

I chose these colors because not only are they the colors of the Red Rocks, the are the colors of Hannah's gym too. Happy birthday, Hannah!

School's Out!!

Last Friday was a big day for Grandma. She finally graduated from school. After 24+ years of school lunch, she is finally done! You all know how she doesn't like attention. She wanted to slide out the back door on her last day without anyone making a big deal about it. Things don't quite work that way though!

A week ago, we had a dinner to celebrate. The whole family showed up. It was a surprise, until Jakson met Grandma and Grandpa out in the parking lot!

We had a great dinner at Sego Lily (thanks dad!). Dad told us all about mom's work history and all of the places she has worked. She worked in school lunch for over 24 years and was at Viewmont with me, Jason, Mckinsey and McKell. Too bad for Jakson and Hannah. They will have to survive Viewmont without grandma.

Dad got a little tipsy or maybe just silly. I never can tell...

Then on Friday, mom was surprised again when they had a retirement party at work where she was recognized for her hard work by the district ladies, the principal and her boss.

The art department made her a banner and put it over her workstation (even if they did spell her name wrong). The kids were sad to see her leave. They asked her if they could get a picture taken with her. She has made a lot of friends with the kids over the years. A few years ago, they awarded her the Valkyrie award at the school.

After her going-away party, she had to finish out the day. At the end of lunch, she closed out her cash register and when she was walking into the kitchen, all of the kids in the lunchroom stood and gave her a standing ovation as she walked out. How great is that?

Great job mom! We are proud of you! I just hope dad knows what he is in for now!

My Dad

This is my dad when he was a little boy... Cute huh?

Red Rocks!

Each year the girls in the family go to the Red Rocks (Utes) Gymnastics season. We have a lot of fun together and sometimes get a little silly - like this...

You can't blame her when her mother acts like this...

iFly...aka Saturday Fun

L got a gift certificate for Christmas to a place in Ogden called iFly. It is a vertical wind tunnel that simulates skydiving. L has had soccer most Saturdays since Christmas, so we finally got to try it out!

When we showed up, we had to schedule a time in the "beginner's group" which gave a little bit of time to kill so we went to Sonora Grill for lunch.

Sonora Grill has chips the size of your head...

We still had a few minutes so we lounged in the sun that we haven't seen for months and enjoyed the "warm" temperatures.

Back at iFly, the kids had to go through a training to show them how to hold their body, what the hand signals meant, and how to tie your shoes on really tight so that they don't fly off and end up shredded in the fans at the top of the tunnel.

Getting geared up:

There was some sibling love and encouragement for those who were uneasy about it. I thought someone might blow chunks in the wind tunnel.

The group lined up and took turns flying. They got two one-minute flights which actually is a long time when you are flying around in a tunnel. (It was hard to take pictures through the plexiglass.)

Finally...it was time to soar! M had so much fun that when we left, she told them she would be back again next weekend.

L was uncertain at first, but once he was up there, he was in love with it.

The instructor takes you up the last 20 seconds or so high into the tunnel.

The drawbacks to flying is that it does funny things to your face...

and if you smile too much, it makes you drool...

Fun times!