The Black Hills of South Dakota

The first week of June found Judy and I in Keystone, South Dakota. It just so happened that the Ogdens and Harpers were there also with the cutest kids in all of the Black Hills.Our trip was timed perfectly with the weather. It had rained everyday before we got there. We landed and the rains stopped. We left, and the rains started the same day. It was very cool, in the 60's every day.

This is a place for kids of all ages. Mt. Rushmore is incredible. The walking tour gave the story of our nation through the lives of the presidents, whose faces are carved into the mountain. Very moving and patriotic. One fact that I learned and found very intersting. The artist who designed the monument, Borglund, was born in Bear Lake, Utah. The son of a polygamist Mormon who migrated from Sweden to Salt Lake. I never found out if he remained an active member of the church. His family moved to the mid west when he was young and his mother left the family once they were out of Utah.

We drove the wildlife loup in Custer State Park and found ourselves in the middle of buf

falo herds. We also saw, deer, turkeys and antlope up close. Up close. Did I say up close, then try wild donkeys sticking their heads right inside the car window. It was thrilling for kids and adults. 

From Custer Park we went to the Crazy Horse mountain carving. A mountain 5 times as big as Rushmore being carved into the Indian Chief made famous at the battle of the Little Big Horn. 

Then it was off to the Reptile Farm, Bear Country (free roving bears and other animals in a drive thru park) and a dig site for prehistoric mammoths. With all these man made and natural wonders it had to end with a theme park atmosphere. We spent the last day in a covered water park. What little energy we had left, we spent it in the water.Needless to say, the kids slept well at night. By days end, everyone was bone tired. It was truly a family event to remember for a long time to come.
Next weekend we are off the the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. Why? you might ask would two 60 something adults go to Disneyland. It is the Western Podiatry Congress meeting. It is a really good annual meeting that gives me the chance to reconnect with all the people that I used to associate with on a daily basis when we lived in California. It is also the same weekend of the marriage of Patrick O'Brien, a good friend of Brad when he grew up in Lake Forest. We are looking forward to our visit and a chance to spend some time with Brad and Amber too.

Early Father's Day Gift

Can you believe this? all these blog enteries by your dad, 3 new enteries on the same day. Something must be wrong with him you must be thinking. Well let me tell you that I finally have some time to myself and I am listening to old records tonight. I figured I may as well blog while I listen.

Yes I said listening to old records. How old you might ask? Some are from the 40's, some from the 50's, and 60's and 70's. Then you might wonder, how is he listening to these records? That is where the early Father's Day gift comes in . Your mother bought me the record player that she gave me at Christmas (of course I didn't ever get it because they were sold out when we got home from Colorado to buy it. I think that I got gyped out of a Christmas present.) and is calling it a Father's Day gift. Anyway, listening to these old records takes me back to my high school days. It is really cool. It has the ability to record records on CD's. I got a lot of old records from my mother and I will enjoy listening to them too.

Lori and Gavin's Visit

May was an exciting month for us because Lori and Gavin visited us twice. The first time was with Tyson too, but the second was without Tyson because he was on a business trip to Mexico. We got to know Gavin a lot better. He loves to sit by our toy that has spinning turntables that moves rolling things around and plays a song. He learned how to stop and start it. He could sit by that toy for hours and laugh and play it.

Lori thought she was coming to play in the pool everyday because it was 108 degrees when she arrived. However, 2 days later it was only 69 degrees for the high. One night I took Gavin out on the patio furniture when it was windy. He loved watching the trees bend and the wind chime make its noise. We sat out in the wind for about 11/2 hours before his mom came to get him for bed.

One night I watched Gavin while Lori and mom went to a movie. I was a little bit nervous about it, but we played with the toys all night until it was time for his bed. He went down without a peep. I was quite proud of myself. I changed his diapers and fed him dinner too. No problems at all.

On Friday Lori and Gavin and I went to Bonnie Springs. When we got there it started to rain and then changed to snow. We never even got out of the car. Well that is not entirely true because I took some pictures of the snow in May, just for the record. Since we couldn't do Bonnie Springs, we decided to go to Shark Reef at Mandaly Bay. I am not sure how much Gavin liked it, but Lori said he did. I got some good pictures, but you know me and the computer. If pictures show up with this addition, you will know that I did not do it, because so far it hasn't worked, even with Lori's written instructions.
We put Lori on the plane early Saturday am and left for Pine Valley. It was really a nice visit.

Reed's Memorial Service

Saturday was the day selected for the memorial service at the cemetary. I was surprised at how many people came to the service. By far, most of the people were from the Furness family. I think all of Carl's family was there. My aunt Margaret, cousin Mike Perterson and cousin Jim Monsen came representing the Monsen family. Mom and Reed's neighbors came too. It was exactly the same hour as a funeral for my cousin Barbara's husband, who died from cancer. Some of the Monsen family went to that funeral.

I conducted the service which started by Joni reading the Lord's Prayer and followed by the Utah Honor Guard playing Taps and displaying the flag. It was very moving. Carl provided a eulogy, Rob Furness spoke about "grandpa" and I closed the service with a benediction prayer. The entire service lasted about 25 minutes. It was just right.

After the service, we all gathered at a restaraunt at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. It was a fun gathering. Lori and Tyson, Rob , Tracy and two of their kids, plus my sisters and partners were there. It was a good lunch.

After all was done, Mom and I went to Lori and Tyson's house to play with Gavin until we left for the airport. That was actually the best part of the day.