New Family Photo

We just had this photo taken a couple of weeks ago...

Travis has some news

No pictures for this one yet, but Travis had his first date last week, they had a group of kids get together to go on a hike and go out to dinner.  Travis not realizing the in's and out's of dating wanted to go on a 10 mile hike, like it wouldn't be a big deal for the girls.I said that with some it might not be but just to play it safe, he might want to cut it down a bit.  Table Rock up above the Boise Foothills was the location...I couldn't tell who was more visibly taken back by the whole experience, cause Mama couldn't stop talking about it, how our baby was on his first date....This last weekend Travis got his first job, he is now going to be working at a golf course (where he golfs now for the Mt. View Golf Team). He is way excited about it and so am I;   I hope they work him many hours and he has the chance with many blisters to build his character, just kidding. It is a good thing.  He is also doing his lawns so many we will start charging him rent, or at a minimum his milk bill.

This was our last day in Ft. Lauderdale; we went on a tour "The Duck Tour" because they took you on both land and sea. They showed us around the city and through some waterways where there are some extremely expensive homes... I think I'll go put some money down on one next week. We saw where Spock (Leonard Nemoy) lives and where Wendy of Wendy’s Hamburgers lives... boy they have really small homes right on the waterfront, with massive yachts. Must be really hard to live there. Overall a great vacation, got to see some things we hadn't, did some things we hadn't done before and met some people along the way. Note to self, eggs a second time up do not taste as good.

 

South Beach Miami

This is South Beach Miami, we thought we were prepared for the sights but there was a little more revealed that what I was even prepared for... I just have to laugh cause I couldn't believe it myself. Just to give you an idea of what was happening down here was this. A rather well built young lady was taking a picture of a group of Spring Break kids (maybe 12-15 people). Everyone was smiling like they were having a great time, then I see that she was topless. No wonder the guys were focused and smiling. Amazing, we should have known better... Keep focused boys and eyes straight ahead. That was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.

So, have to tell you about our diving the day before yesterday, we went down to the Key's (Key Largo). That morning it was pretty blustery, it took us a while longer to get down to the dive area. We get out on the boat and after at least 30 minutes we get to the first dive site. The water is 4-6 foot swells and is pretty rough. Everyone is excited to get in and then felt the shock of the cold water. Bottom line was... everyone got sick (except Natalie), kids really didn't feel good, meaning they threw up their breakfast and then some. I took 1st place for throwing up... I was throwing up under water and above water, but could keep on going. The kids were wimps (bless their hearts). The result was no one wanted to go again for the next day as we it had scheduled... kind of a bust. It ended up Ryan probably had food poisoning from the eggs we traveled with from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale because that was the only difference in what he ate and everyone else ate. And he spent the next day sick in bed.

The two on the right were waiting for girls to walk by, the one on the left was waiting for me to walk by in my Speedo.... I on the other hand was just watching the ocean, the beautiful ocean...

Look at this cutie, she just loves to be on the beach just soakin up the sun... next time its just going to be me and her on a trip.

Orlando Temple

Sunday, we went to the Orlando Temple, they have full time security riding around in a golf course, beautiful area and day. It was a little overcast and a bit windy but the temperature was perfect. We went to church basically just across the road. Funny thing about the area, the Ward house and Temple would be in Tiger Woods ward (when he becomes a member-- positive thinking). There were city police at the various entrances of the gated subdivisions around the temple... And I thought it was about us? Ha.

Looks like they are all on vacation... how sweet.

Look to the East and the rising Sun...

Epcot

Saturday, Epcot-- this was what Natalie has been wanting to do for...ever.... Bless her heart:). Funny thing about memories they sometimes don't measure up to the expectations of reality. But in reality it was a nice place, lots to see and do. We did a lot of walking around to the areas that were around the world, some were more interesting than others. We were there all day because of some advice to stay for the fireworks. Now I like fireworks but I just don’t think there are many ways to shoot off fireworks that make it worthwhile to stay ALL DAY.... expectations I suppose.

We went to some rides, more excursions than fast rides but two that were interesting to me was the space ship rides. It simulated a shooting rocket and thru either visual trickery or perception, it really felt like you were going out the roof. It sucked you too your chair. The best exhibit was the "Finding Nemo" area. The aquarium was way cool. Lots of fish and the biggest salt water aquarium I have ever seen. Sharks, rays, tarpon, eels, lion fish, angel fish, etc... Then they had sushi bar with nemo inside of one of the sushi rolls, tasty.. just kidding.

This was the Chinese exhibits, they had a lot of traditional pictures and woodwork, but the coolest was the scaled models of the terra-cotta warriors.

Kennedy Space Center today, very nice day as far as weather is concerned. Sunny warm a little humid-- perfect if you ask me. We saw the Saturn program rockets and the Shuttle programs as well as what it took to get men on the moon--In fact there has only been 12 people to walk on the moon, quite an exclusive club. Now growing up with the space program the "astronauts", as well as the start of the Shuttle Program, these guys actually walked on the moon, Natalie and I found it very interesting and amazing... the kids so-so. However it got me thinking-- here something so technologically daunting and extraordinary as putting men on the moon was treated as more common place thing by those growing up with it. Our kids are no different than any other kids who see this and really have no idea of what it took. Maybe they see it toda, like "Oh just another space shuttle going up."

Rub a dub tub three men in a tub, there are three guys who fit into this Saturn space capsule. Saturn 5 capsule, again this thing is coming from outer space thru the atmosphere and if it came in too shallow it would bounce off the atmosphere and keep on going thru space. Too deep of an angle, it goes too fast and burns up over the atmosphere. All I can say is WOW.

Saturn Space rocket, these guys were sitting on a bomb basically. One of the bus drivers on the tour who took us around was a funny guy, he kept on addressing us "ladies and gentlemen, gentlemen and ladies, boys and girls and girls and boys".. it was a bit much. But the funniest thing was he kept on saying the "alligators clam fences" we kept on saying, "what?, is that a new clam species???, but what he was really trying to say was that "alligators CLIMB fences" when he was saying CLAM....a very thick accent.

These are three actual astronauts, leaving their space ships. One of the more interesting talks we had with one of the hosts was at the international space center area. He never specifically said that Obama is at fault-- because as a NASA government employee he was to refrain from opinion but instead told us to address our Senators and Congressmen about the latest budget proposal concerning the Space program budget. Basically he told us when the last shuttle goes up then the current space program will be disbanded, meaning around 7000-10000 jobs will be lost and any of the technical advancements that NASA comes up or the brain power will be lost as well, then the domino effect that happens due to the loss of the core jobs will kick up the loss to possibley 20-35k eventually--so if you have plans to go to Kennedy Space Center you might want to get there soon. Go Obama, I guess NASA will get a proper "change", just as he promised....

Gatorland

After an interesting flight and the loss of two of our bags we made it to Orlando, always an interesting thing losing you bags.
The next day we got up and went to Gatorland, there are a lot of alligators and a lot of fun birds and fun animals.

Nice fruit loop birds--they most definitely did not want a cracker because we kept on asking them!

This is a very disturbed albino alligator, he did not like me getting too close to it because his eyes got mean and wanted to probably eat me.

This is Chester.  He is reported to eat dogs off their leashes.  He doesnt like other alligators so he has is own bachelor pad.  One of the workers was going along the fence to clean his tank and Chester started hissing and growling... I was hoping that guy could move faster than Chester could-- but then maybe it would have been great sports entertainment to see the chase..

Travis's 16th Birthday

Travis had his Birthday yesterday, Sweet 16, how nice, only problem was he kept on telling dear ol Dad that he was going to "take me on" when he turned 16. Well we kept it a secret about just how he was going to take me on.

We sang Happy Birthday just after Mutual, my cousin, Robert Dowdle's, wife Tia made this very creative cake, she really pulled out the stops on the design

Now the Beat Down
commenced,
he didnt
know anything
about the big pillow gloves.
He has been sweating
bullets for months
And as you can
see Dad prevails..
There is a full album on the web album

Teachers Q. food night

Natalie and her friend Karol ran the Teacher's thru a missionary basics cooking class.
Simple foods and what to do with them when they go out. Hamburger, chicken, rice, potatoes and some soups.



Then they ate the product of their labors
Meatloaf, at some point you have to get your hands dirty!








Fried potatoes, the hit of the skillet.

1st Contact

New Foray into uncharted territory. With a little help maybe you will see what we are up too from time to time