Catching up

I've been neglecting the blog lately, so here's a little catch-up of some of our exploits over the past few months.  Of course, there was more, but I can't blog everything.  After all, what would we talk about when we get together...YOU?  I don't think so!

Cody thinks this is his own personal feeder.  Poor Pandora wonders when she gets hers.

When the truck is dead, you gotta make do.  What else is a Lincoln for?

The Lincoln rolls over 100,000 miles during my early morning commute to the Valley.

How to rid yourself of a good-for-nothing rooster.

The girls are still crazy about sports.  Klara is especially fond of Volleyball and played on a club team as well as playing in quite a few summer tournaments and attending volleyball camp.  Here she is making a bump.

Charlotte played club ball too, but she'd prefer Cross Country and Soccer.  She's number 5.

We met with family up in St. George, Utah to attend the sealing of Scott and Kari's little ones.  While there we took in the Aladdin show at the Tuachan.

We also did some wheelin' at Sand Hollow State Park while we were in St. George.  Eric brought the truggy he built and we brought our Jeep.

Eric crawling up a 4 foot ledge as Scott spots him.

Charlotte gives her first 4H judging oral.  She did great!

Charlotte and her lamb (closest to camera) getting some showing tips at a 4H meeting.

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Rodeo Time

A couple of weekends ago we went to the spring rodeo here in Payson.  It was a lot of fun and we went both Friday and Saturday nights.  

Charlotte wanted to do Mutton Busting, but we didn't know about it so we didn't get her pre-registered.  Saturday night she really had her heart set on it so Peggy took her down to the announcer's stand and got her wait-listed in case any of the registered kids didn't show up.

 

A few minutes after that the gal running the Mutton Busting came running after Charlotte and told her she'd get her in somehow.  Charlotte was stoked.  She's been hitting me up to buy her some cowgirl boots for at least a month, but they're quite pricey so I've been resisting.  She immediately asked if I would buy her some boots if she won the Mutton Busting.  I agreed.

Well...she didn't quite win and was crazy upset that she couldn't get boots.  I caved and got them for her anyway.  I hope they last a really long time!  Here she is with her boots and the Mutton Busting belt buckle she won.

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Washington DC, Day 4

Today Peggy took the afternoon off and we cruised down the river for visit to Mount Vernon, George Washington's Plantation.  It was a gorgeous bit of property (and by 'bit', I mean 8000 acres).  We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the mansion, so you'll just have to Google them.

We came back to the hotel for a rest while Peggy attended an evening lecture, then had a late Birthday supper for Klara at the steakhouse.  It was fabulous and Klara chowed down a 24oz. porterhouse!

Across the bowling Green in front of the Mansion

Washington's Tomb

Peggy and Friends

Exploring some of Washington's out-buildings

Klara rescues a kid

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Washington DC, Day 3

Today we ditched Peggy again and went on an all day tour of DC.  We hit most of the best spots.  It was a long day, but very educational.  We'll have to come back for more in-depth tours of the White House and Capitol building.

Capitol Building

World War II Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

Martin Luther King Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

White House

Old Post Office

Air Force Memorial

Marine Corps Memorial

Tomb of the Unknowns

John  F. Kennedy's Grave

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Washington DC, Day 2

Today while Peggy was in class the girls and I took a water taxi across the Potomac River to Alexandria, Virginia.  Alexandria used to be part of the District of Columbia until it was returned to VA by congress in 1847.

We wandered around the old part of town, read historical markers, shopped and ate lunch.  It threatened to rain the whole time, but I guess the clouds rained themselves out earlier in the day.

Water Taxi ride, Alexandria in the background

Big flag!

We went to the Temple!  ( The George Washington Masonic Memorial, actually)

I love George and that quote!

Waiting for the water taxi to take us back.

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Washington DC!

We're in DC for a Vet conference and brought the kids along to check out some of our nation's history.  We arrived yesterday afternoon, checked into the hotel then walked around National Harbor.  We had supper at a fun restaurant called Ketchup, then walked down to the riverfront to enjoy the sunset.

Peggy and Ketchup

Charlotte and her huge burger

Peeps Store!

The atrium inside our hotel

Night view of our hotel

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First time skiers

Yesterday we had a family outing to Sunrise Park for a day of spring snow skiing.  It was Klara and Charlotte's first time, so we put them in ski school in the morning.  They came out with the basics and had a blast the rest of the day.  I think they're pretty stoked to go again.
I forgot to take pictures, but here's a snap of Charlotte finishing up at ski school.

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Leap Day Adventures

We did some Geocaching on Leap Day to try and help set a new global record for Leap Day finds logged.  Since Peggy had to work, it was sundown before we got started.  By 8:00pm we had made 4 finds and were suddenly greeted by the Payson Police while looking for #5.  They had us surrounded!

We were in a wooded area within the city on public land.  Apparently some Nervous Nellies with homes nearby saw us walking around with flash lights and thought we were bad guys.  Don't they know if bad guys are sneaking up on you in the dark they won't all have flashlights turned on and be talking loudly? DUH!

We had a nice talk and a laugh with the cops.  They were using some $18,000 military night vision goggles and let us have a look. Those things are ridiculously awesome!  The contrast was so good I could see things better than in daylight!  I looked at a hilltop a half mile away and could make out every tree and rock.

I totally want some of those, so if you'd like to donate to the "Buy Ron some completely awesome military style night vision goggles" fund just let me know and I'll tell you where to send the $$.

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25th Anniversary Trip, Day 9

After we disembarked our ship and went through customs we checked in at our hotel and then spent the afternoon walking around Old San Juan.  We had lunch at a nice restaurant, The Parrot Club, that we found years ago when we were in Puerto Rico.

Supper was at a funky little restaurant called Dragonfly.  One description we read described the decor as a cross between an old San Francisco bordello and a Chinese opium den.  They were right on the money, but it was cozy and fun.  The restaurant features Asian-Latin fusion cuisine.  We enjoyed Peking Duck Nachos, Crispy Fried Baso Sweet & Sour (fish) and Tempura Dragon Roll.  We finished up with an Asian flavored creme brulee and a lemon-infused white chocolate napoleon.  So yummy!!

Fountain near El Morro

Some of the Southern wall of El Morro

Nice street in Old San Juan

A protest blocked the path back to our hotel.  They were against a new gas pipeline.

More pretty Buildings

Uggh!  The toilet in our hotel room is right up against the leg of the wash stand.  It digs into your hip while seated.  This and a few other reasons will prevent us from returning to The Hotel Sofo Casablanca.

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