Old 'n Bloggin'

Brent, Jordan, Steve and Scott just got back from an intensive four day course at Front Sight firearms training school in Pahrump, Nevada. The name Pahrump really evokes images of a classy little town, does it not? Front Sight teaches you how to use a variety of guns (pistols, shotguns, rifles, automatic assault weapons, etc.) in a variety of situations (self-defense, family protection, etc.) Brent brought home one of the targets that they used during training to show me how they could save me in a hostage situation. Note how they've blown away my "abductors" while missing my face entirely, with inches to spare. Now that would bring peace of mind to ANY girl, would it not?

While the guys were away, the girls did play. We did a shopping day at the outlets in Park City, ate some good food, watched movies (mostly Tarzan and Tangled which are Lucy's current favorites), went for walks, and did lots of visiting. The only thing that we were shooting was the breeze (and the occassional photo).

A lazy Sunday afternoon, visiting out in the courtyard.

Rachel, Adelaide, Lucy, Kalli and Laura.

Til next time.

Oh my . . . has it really been two months since I posted? Big mistake. A lot happens around here in two months. Could be a very long post. Grab yourself a snack and kick back. Here we go:

Blessing day for Scott and Rachel's baby, Adelaide. They had her blessed at Rachel's parents' home and it was a truly sweet experience. Lots of family and friends, a beautiful blessing, lots of love and lots of good food. It doesn't get much better than that. My traditional photo of our trees in blossom. This was taken between snowstorms. Quite a spring in Utah, was it not?
This is my sister, Elaine, with Lucy. The Cervos came for a week long visit at the beginning of April. We had a great time.
Scott and Erin Terry, Elaine, Len and David. This was taken in front of the LDS conference center after Sunday morning session of general conference. Nice thing about company from out of town. They usually have tickets! We took a trip to Moab and Arches while the Cervos were here. Great company and gorgeous scenery. Here's Brent getting his shot lined up. That would be one of perhaps six thousand shots! Prolific photographer.
This photo isn't as dangerous as it looks HOWEVER the photo above it, in my opinion, IS!
Moving right along, we had a visit from Mike, Erin and kids for the week before Easter. The above photo was taken at breakfast on Easter morning. The traditional dyeing of the Easter eggs. This is the first time I've been able to do this with Mike and Erin's kids. They've never been with us for Easter, before.Arts and crafts afternoon.
Laura with Noah and Lucy. They may be cousins but they don't look a thing alike. All three of my granddaughters . . . Adelaide, Abbie and Lucy. When Annie gets home from her mission and we're all together, I'll have an Annie, Addie and Abbie (although, Scott and Rach prefer to call their baby by her full name, Adelaide).
Brent and I spent the week-end with our friends, Bob and Julie May, at their cabin. This is Bob and Brent hanging a big plush moose head on the big stone fireplace. Somehow this photo makes me laugh!
Bob and Brent about to install the moose. The moose is the one in the middle. Here is something you don't see every day. This is my mother-in-law, Ruth with all seven of her daughters and daughters-in-law at BYU women's conference. L to R: me, Kristen Giatras, Ann Packer, Ruth Hale, Lisa Wells, Beth Hale, Kathy Pettey, and Jamie Hale. Lisa lives in San Diego and Jamie in Tennessee so we don't often get all of us together. We had a fun time together. This is a great bunch of girls.
Moving along again, I was able to take another trip up to Canada to visit with my family, from May 9th to the 18th. Here are two rabid Canucks hockey fans celebrating during one of the semi-final series. The Canucks have had a great run this year and made it to the finals with the Boston Bruins. The last couple of games have been disastrous for the Canucks but the series is tied 2-2. We were in Boston when the last game was played and the cheering from the sports bars was thunderous. We saw a couple of t-shirts that said "Puck the 'Nucks"! Kalli thought it was hilarious. Brent wasn't amused.
I was able to go to my nephew's (Matteo) ball game while I was in Canada. They killed the other team, so it was a great game for me to go to. This is a photo of Matteo with his coach on the left and his dad (my brother Mike) on the right. This may be the ONLY photo I have of Mike that he's posed for willingly and where he's looking at the camera and actually smiling (as opposed to sticking his finger up his nose, sticking his tongue out, or mooning me). I guess he decided that dignity may finally be in order since he's turning FIFTY this year (in five days, actually). Whatever the case, I love this photo.
A walk at White Rock beach with my mom and dad. My parents used to walk for hours on end at this beach, sometimes clear to the U.S. border. This is such a familiar sight to me.
Moving on to our annual Memorial Day week-end trip with the May family . . . this was our 23rd year! We camped at Kodochrome Basin State Park. We started these vacations with five kids each for a grand total of fourteen people. Now there are 31 of us with our kid's spouses and our grandchildren! This year Bob and Julie's whole family was able to be with them and two of our kids and their families were able to come. I'm hoping that with Mike and Steve both taking jobs in Denver that maybe they'll be able to be part of the Memorial Day trips in the future, again. The above photo is Lucy having a grand ole time playing in a little stream. Below is Adelaide on her very first southern Utah hike! I'm sure it won't be the last. Brent and I stopped at Bryce Canyon on the way home from Kodachrome to take in the magnificent views. I'll never get tired of that place. Which brings me to our latest adventure . . .
A week in Boston to attend Steve's graduation from MIT, celebrate Kalli's recent graduation from Emerson and to help them get ready to move. Brent and Steve together after the graduation ceremonies.
Steve and Kalli with the Charles River and downtown Boston in the background.
On Sunday after church, Steve and Kalli both donned their grad robes again and we did a photo shoot by the Charles River.
We're so happy for these two. It's been a challenging couple of years for them, both working on post graduate degrees. We can't help but be very proud (yes, proud) of them.
A very happy day. We loved our time in Boston with these kids. Along with the grad ceremonies, receptions, etc. , Steve and Kalli took us whale watching, to a qualifying soccer game between the national teams of Spain and the U.S. and to several great food spots including a couple of great Italian restaurants on the north side of Boston. Yum! We had cannolis from Mike's Bakery (famous) and genuine Boston Cream pie. We ate lobster sandwiches, Thai food, East Indian food and more! It was like a Boston food tour. Still dreaming about the pasta with fresh plum tomato sauce, Italian sausage and goat cheese! Congratulations Steve and Kalli and thanks for a great visit!