Beading and Stamping

Before we left Germany Tricia sent ahead of her several boxes of beading and stamping materials to put on a few demonstrations for family and friends. She has been very successful at both and has earned some cash back to cover the expense of our trip and to be able to get something nice for her self.

A Man Day Out

I went with Phil and Jeff to the shooting range with their pistols to celebrate a man day out. What is more manly than a morning spent shooting a gun.

Even though it was really just a few feet away all of my rounds were far from the center target I was aiming at. It was a reminder to me that you cannot just tuck a pistol under your pillow and expect that you can pull it out one night when a dangerous theif has entered your home and take a dead eye shot. Shooting, like any other skill - and it is a skill - takes a lot of practice.

Doughnut On a String

The Brown family came over to meet Tricia after their years apart and to celebrate the way only the Brown family can.

After catch up chat we had a great dinner that we had prepared together.

And after that I was introduced to the doughnut on a string.

The family was split into fair and equal groups to compete in bobbing for suspended doughnuts.

Even the youngest got to participate.

Now this is a fun family.

I think that it is fun things like this that make a family more than just some people that happen to know each other.

After the family sleep over all of the kids played shoes the next morning. Everyone tried on a pair of heels far to big and clomped around on the hard wood floor. Aunt Tricia came up stairs from her slumber shortly after.

Dinosaur Museum

Thanksgiving Point also has an awesome dinosaur museum that we visited with the Whittakers.

I liked the museum because there were things that were set out purposely for children to touch and hold.

We took turns keeping watch of Jeffrey as he ran around to each new thing that caught his attention.

I did not read any of the information signs. I think that next time I will so that I can appreciate better what I am photgraphing.

After playing for a few moments in the sand pit it was time to wash hands. We tried to get Jeffrey to play some more digging up bones with the other kids already there, but he was determinedly not interested.

I was amazed at how huge some of the dinosaurs are. Reading about them in a book or seeing a picture does not quite capture the sense of awe as when looking up directly into the skelatol face suspended above you.

There is quite a lot to see at this museum and would be a place that I would gladly return to in a few years.

He is definitely facinated by things that push, pull, bend and twist.

Jeffrey leaving the museum in his yellow rain coat and wellies.

Taking Care of the Car

I found my self so busy in Germany with the NCO Academy, school and family that taking care of the car fell to the bottom of the list. I kept it free of trash inside and would give it a quick wash at the car wash once in a great while, but I did not get around to giving it much detail work and care. Now that I have some relaxing time I took advantage of a stop at Walmart to get some supplies to give some care to the car. I even bought some fine steel wool to put some shine on my rims.

I do not want to spend all morning cleaning it just to drive it one afternoon and collect dust again. I have decided to do just a little bit each day so that not too much time is taken up, and it will allow me to really take some time to do a thorough and careful job on each part that I work on each day.

Petting Farm at Thanksgiving Point

We went to the petting farm at Thanksgiving point with the Whittakers. Jeffrey loves animals so this was the place for him.

Our ticket included a ride for Jeffrey on the poneys. He held on himself very well, but we were next to him walking along the whole time.

He also spent a long time exploring this cow.

Of course there were dispensers for gaining a hand full of feed to help the animals become your friend.

John Adams

Several years ago I purchased the audio recording of David McCullough’s “John Adams.” I have listened to its eight CDs several times and was excited to hear that HBO made a television miniseries based upon it. I noticed the DVD collection of the series on Paige’s shelf and am now taking time to watch it through. It is interesting to watch a reenactment of a carefully studied historical event to which helps to put many of the small but important facts into perspective.

The Blessings of the Temple

The Salt Lake Temple

No visit to the Salt Lake area is complete until you have stoped by to see the great land mark of the Salt Lake Temple. This is the first time I saw the new shiny roof of the Tabernacle in person after hearing about its renovation several years ago. It looks like the first of the spring time plants are being put in around the grounds.

Though it was snowing at the time, I was able to get this photo of a statue of Joseph Smith in front of the temple. I had a very good time walking around the grounds as the mild winter conditions kept most people away and gave me a chance to walk around nearly alone.

Lunch at the Park

We visited with Mistee and her son in the park for lunch.

More Disney Land Adventure

Cory: We had to balance our fun with allowing, and even encouraging the kids to stay some what on their regular schedule. When one would fall asleep it was usually time to pull over to some shade and take a break while the rest of the group moved on to other rides.

Cory: Addy and Lizzy take turns at everything. As soon as one identifies that the other has a possesion, is engaged in an activity or has found something of interest the other will say, "siser, is my turn."

Cory: Tricia, the kids and I were able to get into Sea World on a military discount. It is nice that there are some places that show appreciation to military members.

Cory: Tricia braved the shark exhibit with me where we traveled through a plexiglass tunnel through the shark tank.

Cory: Addy and Lizzy always call Jeffrey baby Jeffrey, but I do not know how long they will keep that up with how fast he is growing.