Newseum

Today we went into DC, and picnicked on the mall with the Garver's. It was a great day for it. A little humid, but otherwise great weather. We hate and tossed around a football (o.k., I didn't). Rachel jammed her finger, poor thing. Then we walked to the newseum. Had never been. It was a fun, interactive museum. Very up to date. There were displays with yesterdays VP picks. Then there was a fun game area for the kids, and they can pretend to be newscasters too. We also went to a 4-D movie. That was pretty interesting.  There were parts that were just cool, because you remember them happening. Or were close to it at the time it happened. Like the sniper. Chris knew someone in one of the pictures from Waco. 

Concert

Heart playing

More Heart

Journey Revolution

The new singer of Journey

On Wednesday, Chris and I went to the concert that I had won tickets to a while back to Journey, Cheap Trick, and Heart. It was fun. It would have been a lot better if I had actually felt better. But, of course I had to go and get sick.  Got there at the very end of Cheap Trick, but heard them in the parking lot on the way in. Not a big fan. Then came Heart, they were our favorite. Knew most of their songs. Then came Journey, which we also enjoyed.  Didn't feel their new singer (Arnel Pineda) fit in with the band though. First, he was too young. And, he was way to bouncy. Was the original singer bouncy??

Seminary

Wow, hard to believe school starts next week. Both Kyle and Brandon will both be in high school. Along with that is seminary. Here, they go early morning which kind of stinks. But it's good for them. Anyway, tonight was the seminary fireside. Sounds like they'll have a fun year. At the fireside they showed a short film of Christ's life. I loved the pictures. I highly recommend it, it is awesome.  (If you click on "Christ" above, it will take you to the pictures)

Lisa's Birthday Fun

Lisa Gonzalez having fun for her birthday dinner at On the Border

Denise doesn't like getting her picture taken, so is being difficult. She gave us a peek.

Andrea trying to help me out.

Guess this is the best we'll get, but don't think she was expecting this either.

Andrea, presents for Rob? Are you sure those are the right size? Got glue?

As you can tell we had a fun girls night out for Lisa's Birthday. I don't remember which birthday, seemed irrelevant since I was the oldest one there. The advantage to being the one with the camera is I didn't have to have my picture taken. Love you Denise!! (even though you wouldn't let me take your picture)

Kyle's 16!!!

16 things about Kyle...

1. My shortest delivery. 3 hours start to finish.

2. He use to translate what Brandon would say, when Brandon had speech problems.

3. Very laid back

4. Sarcastic

5. Loveable

6. Cute (at least that's what the girl's say (I'm not allowed to))

7. Good self control

8. Self motivated

9. Responsible, most of the time.

10. Good student, when he tries.

11. Loves church

12. Loves seminary

13. Likes to let you know if he's good at something.

14. He is pretty good at most things.

15. Loves Mountain Biking (which makes Dad happy)

16. He's sensitive to other's feelings.

Kyle, we love you and are glad you came to be part of our family. We love your willingness to serve and to make people happy. We enjoy your love of the gospel and ability to share it with others.  Love you!!

It's about time!!

Well, as you know I haven't posted in a LONG time. So, figured I would try to catch everyone up on our lives. July, Chris and I were almost empty nesters. With Ryan on a mission, that leaves only Kyle and Brandon at home. So, when they're gone, it's very strange. Late June, they spent a few days at their cousins house before they (Chris' brothers family) left for Malaysia. They arrived home on Wed. then the following Monday, they had High Adventure, canoeing down the James River. Sorry, no photos to post as I couldn't even get them to take a camera. They arrived home on Thurs. the 4th. Then 10 days later they were off again, for EFY. They had a blast, they came home saying "it was the best week of the whole year" and begged to go again next year. Glad they enjoyed it so much. They arrived home that Saturday, the same day that their cousins arrived in town. One of them was staying with us and the other stayed in DC with his mom. he had won an essay contest for Utah and got to come out and do some fun things. While they were here we did some fun things. We went to the Battlefield, where we saw a cool looking insect and couldn't figure out what it was. It looked like a giant fuzzy ant. So the next day we went to the zoo, and then to the Natural History Museum and in the gift shop there was a book on insects and found the insect is actually a wingless wasp, but called a "velvet ant". Saturday, we had to take Robyn and Scott to the airport, but were able to convince her to let her other son Christian stay with us another week.  I think he had a fun filled week of X-Box and we got him hooked on Settlers of Catan. I've never won that game as much as I did when he was here. Guess I need him here for luck. Sure my winning streak is over now.  Oh, I forgot Kyle and Brandon had left again that Thursday, before taking Robyn and Scott to the airport for Youth Conference. They didn't think that was as much fun. Not sure if it really wasn't or if they were spoiled from EFY. So, you would think while they were gone so much that Chris and I would have done something. But, we didn't. Went out a few times, but that's about it. Kept busy. Chris worked on bikes and it seemed like I always had something going on, even though I have no idea what now. Last Sunday, I started the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers. I was really enjoying them a lot. I read the first three by Wed. night. Started the 4th one on Thurs. morning. For some reason it was harder for me to get into. It didn't help that I had a readers headache. Teach me to read without my glasses. But, it took me longer to read it. I finished it last night. I'm not going to say what I thought here for those who haven't read it yet. So, if you want to discuss, just ask me. Last week was also Kyle's 16th birthday. He went on two dates on Thursday. One in the afternoon and then another one late that night. They went to see the premier of the Star Wars Clone Wars at midnight with some other people. We threw a surprise party for him on Sat. night. Not too many people came. Most people out of town. Oh well. Think he had fun anyway.  Can you believe he's 16? I'll do another post on Kyle. So, that's about it. The pictures go with this, so I'm not going to label them. That never works for me too well.