Thank Goodness September is Half Over

Most people don't know the significance of my title, because who cares about September anyway? Well I do. I had to pull out a picture of my wife to remind me what she looked like. I thought it was really "cool" that she was so willing to put everything aside and go to Brad and Amber's house to help out with the new born. In my mind I am thinking a week gone at the most. ( Of course my mind is very small ) In Judy's mind it meant spending a few days at each Colorado child's house. After all, "I am not going to travel all that way and come straight home", Judy said. ( If coming staight home is one week, then what is a weekend visit? "Might as well not even go" was the answer ). I soon discovered that the first week went by pretty quick because I was busy at work, had some evening meetings, and I had the pool tile cleaning to keep me busy. But then the second weekend hit and it was getting to be a long time. I was so bored at home that I went to all the ward church meetings I could find. ( After all, I was desperate and lonely and I figured I wouldn't into trouble doing that. ) My meal choices were running out too. How many times can you eat at IN & OUT anyway. Finally Monday night came and there she was pulling her luggage out of the airport because her plane got in early and I wasn't at the baggage site to meet her. Life got a lot brighter.

Judy had lots of stories to share with me about all the Colorado grandchildren. Everyone of them are precious to her. I guess that it is only fair that I share grandma with her grandchildren. I suppose that there will be quite a few more loney weeks ahead while grandma makes sure that the "treasure fairy" visits each of her grandchildren.

Jim's fishing holiday and Judy's Texas holiday

The first week in August was a real exciting one for both of us. Grandma went to Texas to be with the McDowell boys and parents. After spending a few days with the family, Jenny and Jeremy left for Arizona. It took a few days for Cody to warm up to Grandma, but then they became "best buddies". Screaming Cooper was fun to be with once Grandma got used to the screaming. Good news-screams, Bad news-screams, no news-screams. I think that Jenny's genes are playing a roll in Cooper. Caden was Mr. perfect. Willing to help Grandma any way he could. Of course the "Treasure Fairy" would always reward the boys for good behavior and Caden mastered that idea immediately. Grandma was really tired when she got back home on Saturday night, but she sure misses the boys.

While Judy was in Texas, Jim went to Canada's Queen Charlotte Island for 3 days of fishing. Canada was selected over Alaska because of the promise of many king salmon. However, that promise was proved to be unfounded. The salmon fishing was the worst it had been all year, even though 50 miles to the North the salmon fishing was "out of this world", according to the newspaper. Oh well. That's fishing. There were still fish to be caught. I brought home one large king salmon, two coho salmon, one snapper, one halibut and a bunch of cod. The trip was very scenic. The forests were very dense and multiple shades of green trees everywhere. Eagles were plentiful. We got in the middle of a pod of Killer Whales. The ocean varied from hugh swells to perfectly flat. The temps were cool to cold on the ocean. Much of the day I was in a heavy winter coat over multiple layers. The lodge was great. Wonderful food. One night we had fresh crab that we caught-all you could eat. All in all a wonderful time was had by all.

Grandma's Camp

It is summer in Las Vegas and that can only mean on thing -(not that it is hot) it is time for the "chosen" grand kids to come and visit Grandma's Camp. This year it was Kaylee and Brianne who got to come.

Grandma made sure that they would be worn out everyday. It started in the pool of course.

The first day included hours in the water, an afternoon movie and dinner with grandpa.

Day two was the 4th of July- more pool time, movie, party in the evening with fireworks and then back home for our own personal fireworks show. That night, the girls barely got to bed and they were fast asleep.

The next day it was off to ST George, Utah . Yes there was more swimming, dinner at a restaurant with the Cannons and then off to Touachan out door theatre for Les Mis. What a great production. We got to bed at 1 am . The next day it was riding "Quads" in Pine Valley. We got back to Las Vegas about 9 pm and everyone went straight to bed. Remember what I said about being worn out every day? All 4 of us were beat.

Monday, poor Grandpa had to go to work, but everyone else slept until 10 a.m. Can you believe it? Monday started with the pool (of course), another movie and then Circus Circus at night. Those girls are real gamers. I could not believe how good they were on the circus games. They won all kinds of stuffed animals.

Tues was the last full day and they were whipped. I think grandma was too. Another day of sleeping in and then a full day in (you guessed it) the pool and one last dinner out for Brianne's birthday dinner.

What a great time we had. It was really lonely around here after they left. We loved having them here. Who will it be at Grandma's Camp next Year?

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.