Diane's Family Adventures

2011-04-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

Some random photos from our cruise to Mexico. Rich loved to watch Fox News with his Diet Coke. I loved to swim in the pool. The first few days the heater in the pool was broken so I had the pool to myself. It was like a Polar Bear plunge! And once my hands actually went spastic. But the hot tub was right there to warm me up.

We drove to San Diego and were able to see Ben, Mandi and Ryker on the way down, and the way back.

2011-04-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

In Puerto Vallarta I decided to try parasailing. It was "only" $35 dollars, and what a thrill it was. They hooked me up to a harness and attached a rope to me that was attached to a boat out in the water and screaming all the way up I went. The views were awesome, and once I got up not scary at all. And Rich was wondering where the boys got their love of crazy and adventurous things. The rest of that afternoon we spent laying on the beach. Well, Rich did. I swam in the ocean! Then we headed for a short walk back to the cruise ship for more good food!

2011-04-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Rich and I took a cruise out of San Diego for Spring Break. We cruised on Holland for a week and went to Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. Cruising is the way to go! All you can eat, someone takes care of everything for you. Fun!

Christmas photos

2011-01-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

Kevin got to spend two weeks at home. Nellie got to come and visit us too!

Basic Training photos

2011-01-21T18:28:00.001-08:00

A few photos from Kevin's basic training.

Kevin's graduation from Basic Training

2011-01-21T18:19:00.000-08:00

Wild Animal Park

2011-01-21T18:14:00.000-08:00

One of the fun things we did on graduation day was to go to the Wild Animal Park. The animals would come up to the car and slobber all over the windows and stick their heads in if the windows were open. It was so funny! I have so really good photos on the iphone. Darn it having 2 cameras. I should stick to one! We loved driving thru the park and feeding them.

We had a yummy dinner at Red Lobster before taking Kevin back to post.

2011-01-21T18:11:00.000-08:00

Kevin's graduation from Basic Training

2011-01-21T18:01:00.001-08:00

Rich and I were able to travel to Ft. Benning, Georgia for Kevin's graduation from Basic. Family Day was January 20, and graduation was the 21st. We stayed on base in some rustic cabins in a beautiful campground.
For family day they had a ceremony and marching. It was awesome to hear the guys sing the army song at the end. We then got to spend the rest of the day with our soldier. We did some fun things like shopping at an Army store, eating out, and going to a movie. We even played a game of Monopoly Deal. Kevin had to be back at 8:45 that night.

The graduation was awesome. Because of Rich's rank we had front row seats and got to meet the commander of the base and his wife. They started out the ceremony with smoke and machine gun fire and soldiers marching out in full gear. Then was an awesome Army band. They had the platoons march out and one soldier got to be in the front running. And it was Kevin! I wish I had known and I would have filmed it.

There was more music, and then the commander spoke. The soldiers repeated the soldier creed, and then sang the soldier song along with the band. My eyes kept tearing! It was so awesome! It was freezing too! When they dismissed us Kevin was so cold, and had been standing in the cold for a long time. We went into the National Infantry Museum to warm up and enjoy the sights. It is a great museum. We are so proud of Kevin!

Christmas Letter

2010-12-17T20:42:00.000-08:00

C – Christ is the most important reason for the season, and we are grateful for the many blessing we have received this year, and for his atoning sacrifice so that we might someday return to live with him again.
H – Home in Utah. Yes, we have made the move to Utah from Alaska this summer. New address, new adventures, family togetherness, bed bugs, car accident, new jobs, painful new house discoveries, and warm weather!
R – Ryker (2), Ben, and Mandi are continuing to live in Cedar City Utah, where Ben is still the senior crewmember on the wild land helicopter crew. Mandi is expecting their second in June, and is working as a dental assistant.
I- In Utah, lives Amanda and Dustin and their 3 daughters Cami (5) Addison (2) and Brielle (9 months). They have just built a new home in Saratoga Springs.
S- Special Education at Shelley Elementary School in American Fork is what Diane is teaching this year. Hardest job she has ever had, and the paperwork is endless. She had some great adventures this summer including traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands to see the Herberts, and driving from Miami to Washington DC to see the sights, and spending time in Dallas and Cedar City with the kids.
T- Tying up loose ends was Rich who had to help the movers pack up the house, clean it up, build his cabin in Ninilchik, Alaska, make the long drive to Utah, and fix all the surprises at the new house. His plans are to spend May-September in Alaska fishing and working on his cabin, and enjoying retirement.
M – Military duty for Kevin (18) who is in basic training with the Alaska National Guard at Ft. Benning, Georgia. After his graduation in January he will be heading straight to Ft. Jackson, GA to complete his training as a (25 Quebec) Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer, who works directly on communication devices and equipment. He will be home in May to begin college in Utah.
A – Adam, Mindy, Caden (6), Ambree (2) live in Dallas where Adam is now working as an under-cover police officer with lots of exciting experiences, like a recent recovery of over $200,000 worth of meth in a traffic stop. Mindy is taking great care of the home-front.
S – Savoring our memories of our many friends and loved ones, and wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Drop a line to our new address:
3983 Centennial
Cedar Hills, Utah 84062
Thayer.Diane@yahoo.com or rwthayer@gci.net

My family together again!

2010-10-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

It was so fun to have the Jonsson family together. Mom, Dad, and the five kids together again!

Fun visit with family

2010-10-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ben, Mandi, and Ryker came up for my birthday, for a family party, and to visit. We were able to have a fun family dinner with the Jonsson family. We went to a BYU football game and cheered for BYU. One of the few games they won! Kevin, Ben, and Rich had a fun time golfing. It's so nice to have family nearby!

Ridgefield Washington

2010-10-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

I flew to Portland, Oregon for the UEA weekend and spent some time with Barb White and her family. Barb and I went and picked blackberries and made yummy tarts. Boy were they prickly!

Erin Rivard and her kids came over too, and we had so much fun. We played with the kids, ate, and went to the Portland Zoo.

Busy

2010-09-07T21:06:00.001-07:00

Started teaching Special Education at Shelley Elementary School! That's keeping me plenty busy, then I come home and help out my parents. I'm enjoying spending some time with family at various gatherings. Looking forward to seeing Kevin and Rich in a week!

Graduation Day!

2010-08-27T23:19:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful day we had today! After 22 weeks of in-residence training, including academic studies, vocational instruction, life skills, military skills and self-discipline, Kevin graduated with his high school diploma a year early. He earned a 3.5 GPA. Out of over 160 cadets he was one of 15 to earn a diploma and was also recognized as one of the "Directors Top Performers". We were blessed with many good friends who attended the graduation. And we were so happy to see them, and many more friends at the get together at our house this evening.

It was also nice to know that family from across the country watched the graduation live on the computer!

I was able to fly in last night for this special occasion and will be heading back to work on Sunday morning! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful son, and for all his hard work and accomplishments! He is going to do great things in the future too!

Bear Lake Jonsson Reunion

2010-08-14T20:41:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful time at our Jonsson Family Reunion! We spent August 9-13 making and reliving memories! The food was fabulous! We played games, got a jet boat and did water activities, and went to a cave. It was so fun to be with family! We did miss all those who couldn't make it. Hopefully next time!

Kanarraville Falls with the family

2010-08-05T16:43:00.001-07:00

Adam and his family, and Ben and his family and I are down in Cedar having a mini family reunion! Today we did an awesome hike to Kanarraville Falls where we hiked a lot in the creek. It felt so good to walk in the water during the hot weather. There was a fun rock slide into a pond which Adam, Ben, and Caden did several times. We had to climb a ladder made of a huge log which was scary. We hiked in the middle of a beautiful canyon with steep cliff walls surrounding us! (Would not be a good place to be in a flash flood) It is a totally different kind of beautiful compared to Alaska. I was thinking at one point that this was what heaven will be like, hanging with family and enjoying the beauty!

Fun in Cedar

2010-07-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful time visiting with Ben, Mandi, and Ryker in Cedar last week. I got to spoil Ryker for a couple of days while I was babysitting. He is the cutest kid! I have never seen anyone run faster at his age than him! He loves to go for walks in the park with me in the morning, and I can get him to sleep by just holding him for a few minutes at nap time! Mandi and I have fun together too! Ben was able to spend a little time at home even though he was on a fire. It was great to see him!

A special day!

2010-07-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

UPS delivered a beautiful bunch of roses today from Kevin. He had a day out on Saturday with Jason Rampton and he must have ordered them then. There was a card that said, "Thanks for everything you have ever done for me mom." I'm so proud of him, and so happy for being his mom!

We put an offer on 2 different houses today. And I got offered a job at Shelly Elementary in American Fork.

Next week Adam, Mindy, Caden, and Ambree are coming and we are doing a mini reunion in Cedar City with Mandi, Ben, and Ryker. We are planning on seeing Tarzan at Tuachaun, and doing some adventures in Zion.

Then the Jonsson Family reunion in coming up the 2nd week of August.

So many good things are happening right now.

Family

2010-07-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

Family Time

2010-07-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

We have had a fun time together! We have been swimming everyday. Adam and Mindy have cooked some yummy food. I watched the kids so Adam and Mindy could go to the movie together, and we made cookies while they were gone. We went shopping at Costco and pet stores, watched movies, and I have killed over a thousand bad guys with Caden. He sets up all these action figures and we knock them down! His favorite game!
I really do have the cutest grandkids in the world! I'm so blessed to be able to spend time with Ryker, Ambree, and Caden. They bring such joy into my life.
It has been over 110 degrees here, and walking outside is like opening an oven, but I'm loving the blue skies everyday!
Couldn't ask for better daughters in laws either!

More camping photos

2010-07-18T15:35:00.000-07:00

Texas

2010-07-18T15:17:00.000-07:00

We went camping at the lake. It was over a hundred degrees, but cooling off in the lake was nice. Adam fixed us a nice dinner of shrimp and beef. We went for a walk and while we were gone these raccoons came into the camp and made a huge mess. Even when Adam was throwing logs at them they weren't scared of us. They were really creepy!

We spent the night, and then got up and swam some more in the lake with the fish and turtles. It was a fun trip!

Baldy

2010-07-08T12:49:00.000-07:00

I dragged Rich up Baldy this morning for a little hike. 1 hour and 40 minutes top to bottom! It was a partly sunny day, so really nice. We saw a mother ptarmigan and her 6 babies. Luckily, we saw no bears. I'm going to miss hiking in Alaska!

More cabin photos

2010-06-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Cabin in Ninilchic

2010-06-25T00:05:00.000-07:00

Rich was down in Ninilchic for 2 days helping dig the hole and get the cabin started! Finally a beginning!

Arctic Valley

2010-06-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

A lovely hike with Lisa Weight! Not as pretty as Mile HIgh yet because there is still snow and the flowers haven't come out yet. But it is great seeing new scenery! 1st sunny day after 20 days of clouds and rain!

Thayer Family Photo

2010-06-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for a family reunion and tried to get all the families to participate, just couldn't get us all! But this is a really cute photo anyway!

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-20T21:08:00.000-07:00

We got to see Kevin for a couple of hours today. Everytime I see him I think he is getting more and more mature! He has a great plan for his future and I'm so proud of him!

I asked him what he disliked about the Academy the most and it was the lack of sleep. And the thing he likes best is all the opportunities he has had. He talked about a great paintball place on Ft. Rich that he would love to take his brothers and friends to when he gets his guard badge. He is so excited for the opportunity to go to basic training and then on to the training for his new carreer.

I miss him so much, and hate being an empty nester, but I'm so happy that he has found his niche in life. Go Kevin!

Kevin's job description

2010-06-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Basic Job Description

A Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer works directly on communication devices and equipment that communicate through more than one channel. They are responsible for installation, repair, operation and maintenance check of these devices, antennae and associated equipment.

Duties performed by Soldiers in this MOS include:

Installs, operates, and performs unit level maintenance on multichannel line-of-site and tropospheric scatter communications systems, antennas and associated equipment. Analyzes BIT/BITE diagnostics to isolate faults to the Line Replaceable Unit. Installs, operates, performs strapping, restrapping, preventive maintenance checks and services, and unit level maintenance on communication security devices. Operates and performs Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services on assigned vehicles. Installs, operates, and performs preventive maintenance checks and services on assigned power generators.

Supervises operations and assists team members in the installation and operation of multichannel line-of-site and tropospheric scatter communications systems. Supervises, performs and assists team members in the performance of unit level maintenance on assigned communications equipment. Requests logistical support. Prepares input for statistical and other operational reports.

http://www.goarmy.com/JobDetail.do?id=67#civilian

Training Information

16 weeks, 2 days at at Fort Gordon, GA

ASVAB Score Required: 100 in aptitude area EL and 100 in aptitude area SC

Security Clearance: Secret

Strength Requirement: heavy

Rich loves fishins

2010-06-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

Rich was able to go on a drift boat fishing trip on Saturday morning. The weather was beautiful and he was lucky to catch this nice salmon. We are eating some for dinner tonight.

HIking Photos

2010-06-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

Mile High

2010-06-12T16:02:00.000-07:00

June 12

Went hiking with Trevor and Patrica. The beautiful spring flowers are out!

Kevin and the National Guard

2010-06-11T18:49:00.001-07:00

New Fact! The military accounts for less than 1% of the population! And Kevin is now one of the elite!

It happened so quick! Yesterday Rich and I went into the National Guard office to fill out some paperwork for Kevin. He had chosen to join the guard and things moved fast after that.
It was quite a shock when the recruiter told us that Kevin could use the money to help his girlfriend and his new baby that was coming. Needless to say that was quite a shock to us! We were floored and kept telling him it was a mistake, but he kept saying, no, I'm sure it was Kevin. We went home feeling really sick.
Thank goodness 2 hours later Kevin called us and told us the recruiter made a horrible mistake and it was another kid. Those were a couple of really long hours for us!

Anyway, Kevin spent today taking tests and filling out medical papers. And then! He made it in! $5000 bonus, and another bonus of $200 a month on top of his pay. Full scholarship, and when he joins the ROTC, which he is doing, free room and board! He will be in training, first at Ft. Benning, in October, and will be training for 30 weeks!
It was awesome watching him sworn in! Logan and Chase were able to come and see it. And his mentor was there too!

I'm so proud of his decision! He has grown up so much! Only sad part is that I am now an official empty nester! Where did the years go?

Military Potluck Day

2010-06-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful visit with Kevin. Sadly he wasn't feeling well, and didn't eat much of the wonderful food that was there! And there was a ton of food there! Nate had brought a yummy chocolate cake for Kevin and he didn't even eat any of it. We had even brought him his favorite California rolls and he only ate a few of them. But he seems happy and is still doing well!

Washington DC

2010-06-03T17:08:00.000-07:00

What a day! Can you say exhausted? I have done walking like this before, like in China! And the temperatures are like China too!

We began our day with a breakfast at the hotel, and then a shuttle over to the train station. We met some really nice ladies on the shuttle who helped us buy our tickets and get on the train. They were teachers too.

We got off at the Smithsonian stop and headed for the museums. We got lost, but it was a good lost because we found a cool bell tower with a great view, and a food court for later.

There is so many musuems within the museums that you can't possibly see everything! We tried, but petered out. Really we saw a ton. And it was so cool!

After the musuems we walked a few miles down to the Washington Monument, and Lincoln Memorial. I'm sure it was several miles! But is was awesome to be there. I have a bucket list, and can cross this off the list!

Mt. Vernon

2010-06-02T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today we drove the rest of the way into Virginia and spent most the day at Mt. Vernon. What an awesome place to visit! We met "Martha Washington", and learned about her life. Did you know both her children died, and she ended up raising her grandchildren. She and George had a 40 year long love affair. After he died from a virus that closed off his throat, she died of what was probably a broken heart a couple of years later.

It was interesting to see all the working farms and buildings. There was a neat learning center and museum. Needless to say, we were exhausted at the end of the trip.

What an awesome leader George Washington was. A true inspiration. And Martha is an inspiration too. One of the quotes she gave today was:

I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.
Martha Washington

Botanical Gardens

2010-06-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely hour walking thru a lovely botanical garden near Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. I have never seen such beautiful flowers! And luckily the rain stayed away until we got finished.

Tybee Island Georgia

2010-05-31T17:33:00.000-07:00

Walked on the beach this morning, and then climbed 178 steps up the Tybee Lighthouse for a magnificant view of Tybee Island. We then drove thru North and South Carolina and ended up in Fayetteville, North Carolina staying at Ft. Bragg. It rained and poured most the day!

Oh, and we found Krispie Cream. It was cheaper to buy a dozen donuts instead of 1/2 dozen. No wonder there are so many big people around here! I'm getting there myself.

Oh, and we ate at Golden Coral for lunch. $7....way cheaper than Alaska!

Savannah

2010-05-30T18:40:00.002-07:00

We headed into Savannah today. We took a river boat cruise on the Savannah River and a trolley tour of historic old Savannah. We saw so many wonderful old buildings and learned a lot of history. We saw the spot where Forest Gump sat. We ate some yummy seafood at an outdoor cafe. We tasted pralines. I wanted to buy some, but they were soooooo expensive! We also went to visit Old Fort Jackson. It was used during the Revolutionary War. I really enjoyed the interesting privy. The "waste" would go into the moat, and when the tide would come up it would be washed out into the river. Hmmm. Bet they didn't use toilet paper either! it was a good time to visit especially at this time of the year and remembering all those who fought for our freedom. Happy Memorial Day!

Trip to North and Middle Caicos Islands

2010-05-28T18:54:00.001-07:00

We took a ferry over to the North Caicos Island, rented and car, and spent the day touring. We saw beautiful beaches, Indian caves, and the Wade's Green Plantation that used to be run in the 1800's. The day started out with torrential rains. At the plantation we were trying to get out of the rain by standing in the ruins under the door frames and in the windows. We also spent the day running and swatting mosquitoes! They were horrible. We had lunch at a beach in the car because it was raining so hard, but it let up, and we headed to the beach. It turned out to be beautiful. There were a couple of caves, and the rock formations were awesome. We were the only ones there. The sand was a beautiful color, one was white, and a few feet away it turned pink. Awesome. The sand felt like cornmeal. Lots of sea glass was found.
http://www.tcmuseum.org/slavery/02d2_wades_green_plantation/ Here is some info on the plantation

We also saw a lot of buildings that had been started and never finished. The economy...or the hurricanes!

LDS church in Turks and Caicos

2010-05-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

This is where Mike and Bonnie spend a lot of time! It used to be a house for several families.

The poor

2010-05-26T13:01:00.001-07:00

These houses are something else. Many of them start to build and then quit until they get more money. There are built of bricks and some of them cover them in more cement. There is garbage everywhere. They just throw all the trash on the ground. Bonnie saw a man leaning once against a garbage can. He opened a wrapper and thru it on the ground. She asked him about it and he said he just forgot. Brave Bonnie!
They eat a ton of rice and chicken here because they are so poor. I don't see anything growing here. The ground is covered with coral. I wish they could grow something, or make something for jobs.

The Rich and Famous

2010-05-26T12:56:00.000-07:00

This is how the rich live. A moving moat to get into their house. Beachfront. Their own dock. A huge house. $40 million

Lunch

2010-05-26T12:47:00.001-07:00

I feel terrible about eating here because it is so expensive. You can't believe the prices at the grocery stores! Today we drove by this fast food place, the chicken stop. Every time we drove by it was crowded. You go to the window and say $2, $3. $4, or $5 dollar chicken and fries. They pour catsup and hot sauce all over it, if you want it. Evelyn got a bunch of it for $5. It was so yummy! Or maybe I just thought it was because I was so hungry. But Mike and Bonnie wouldn't eat it, but Evelyn and I ate it all up!

Prices at grocery store:
Aluminum Foil $13
Loaf of bread $3
can of soup $4.75
one steak $15
can opener $22
batteries $27 for a 4 pack
small can of mixed nuts $8
box of cereal $8

We brought Mike and Bonnie a bunch of stuff. It was like Christmas for them! We brought lots of chocolate, razors for Mike, mangos, jerky, nuts,

Wednesday May 26 Turks

2010-05-26T12:46:00.001-07:00

Today Bonnie and Mike played tour guides. They ran us all over the island for all the highlights. We went from the richest areas to the poorest ones. And there is a huge difference. It is heartbreaking to see and hear about all the poor people here, and the suffering that goes on. There are people that live in the bushes. We were in the middle of nowhere coming back from a beach when we passed a mother and son on the road walking. Mike stopped and Bonnie hopped out and offered them a ride. We put the woman in the back seat with Evelyn and I and the 14 year old son in the back trunk area. The woman started crying and was so greatful for the ride. She was on her way to work and had to walk probably about 4-5 miles to find a jettney (a illegal taxi run by anyone that wants to drive around). Of course I was crying too. She said that they lived in a house, but the government had given it too them and it is too far away from work.

One of the fun places we went was to the pirate caves. It was also out in the middle of nowwhere. We climbed down the ladder into the caves. I took my shoes off and walked in the ocean to cool off. I'm telling you, it is hot, hot, hot! It feels like China.

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit with Kevin today, Mother's Day! We were able to meet with him from 2:30-5:00. We had to sign in and then they would call the cadet out. Big hugs! I miss that kid.

He gave us a schedule of his activities.
4:50 AM out of bed. Shave, teeth, and waiting for PT to start at 6:00.
PT starts, They run 6 miles.
7:00 Breakfast- eggs, hash browns, oatmeal, sasauge, fruit
Shower in the Tree Of Life. Meaning 6 to a shower. And anywhere from 45 seconds to 2 minutes.
Dress in BDU's. Sweatshirt, blue pants, and boots.
9:30-11:30 Leave for Jobs. Kevin is working in a warehouse for Napa Auto. He says it is boring. But they do get credit for working. No pay, but credit.

12:00 lunch

After lunch is school. He is taking 4 classes. Science, Social Studies, Math, Language Arts, work experience, PT counts as PE.

6:30 Dinner

After dinner is homework, reading, letter writing.

On weekends they get to do community service. And they have gotten to go on the repelling tower. They also went out and saw a bunch of military airplanes. Bryce Weight was there guarding the planes. Kevin says he would like a job like that.

His platoon got a new leader who is really hard core. The boys were talking and he took them out and made them do pushups, sit ups, and leg lifts in the mud. Kevin said they were totally dirty and their clothes have never been the same again.

Thanks to everyone that has been writing him. He really appreciates the letters. They are getting him through.

I am so proud of Kevin.

Heard from my other boys today too! And my daughter-in-laws have been wonderful on this Mother's Day!

Finished

2010-04-25T18:33:00.000-07:00

The finished lawn!

Ryker and Grandma "ma"

2010-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

I love Ryker. He and I love to go see the "Baa" (sheep down the road). He also loves to go to the park down the street and play on the jungle gym. I just have to say park or Baa and he is ready to go!

Putting in a lawn

2010-04-25T16:40:00.000-07:00

Rich and I came down to Cedar to help Ben and Mandi put in a lawn. When we got there we saw piles of sand and dirt. But after lots of hard work from everyone we got it finished! It looks great! So glad we were here to help.

Kolob Canyon

2010-04-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

We took a drive down to Kolob Canyon with Mandi, Ben, and Ryker, on Sunday. We had a picnic and took a mile long hike to see some awesome scenery.
On the way home we took a back road home and crossed about 5 streams. One of them was really deep and Ben went airborn going thru one crossing. Mandi and I jumped out of the truck because we were freaked out, but we left Ryker in the truck in our haste to get out. After we got going again Ryker covered his eyes with his hat. Think we freaked him out!

Alaska Military Academy

2010-04-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

We were able to go and spend 3 hours with Kevin today! It was wonderful. I was so worried that he would be begging to come home, or wanting to quit, but that was NOT the case! He seemed very happy to be there and full of hope for the future.

They had them all march into the gym with everyone clapping. They were very prescise in their movement. Military style. Kevin is the spitting image of Adam! I couldn't believe how much they look alike. They stood at attention while Mr. Jones, the deputy director (I had his son in 4th grade), did introductions and opened with prayer. He gave a speech. There was another speech by a guy who looked pretty important. Then the woman who did the leading of the plattons gave a speech. Mr. Jones gave the closing prayer, and then we were able to go and meet with our Cadet.

I had been worrying for such a long time that it would be hard, but Kevin has already grown so much. He looks so good. Told us all about it.
The strip searches, the marching and pushups, the group showers, lack of food, sleeping in a tent on the ground. They don't even get any mayo or catsup or salt. They have to earn it. I had brought some chocolate chip cookies, but they were not allowed to have them. I asked Kevin if he wanted one and he said no way, I want my bed. There aren't enough beds and I don't want to lose mine.

He is looking forward to the next few weeks and told us of the things that are planned for them. This week they get to go to the jump tower. They will also go rappelling, and ride in a Black Hawk.

We had to say good bye and I got in lots of hugs. But I feel so much better now that I know he is doing so well.
I am so proud of him.

Ryker's 2nd Birthday

2010-03-15T22:19:00.000-07:00

I was able to travel to Cedar City for Ryker's 2nd birthday party. It was a Hawaiian theme. We had a barbecue, opened presents, and had cake and ice-cream. Ryker was so cute opening presents. He would open them and then say, "More?"

Pineapples

2010-03-10T00:10:00.000-08:00

After checking out of our cabin on the beach today we drove around the island. We found these pineapple fields, and then the Dole factory, but it was closed.

We also checked out a bunch of beaches on the way there!

Poynesian Culture Center

2010-03-07T19:49:00.000-08:00

We had a great day at the Polynesian Culture Center. We visited all the different villiages, had a yummy buffet dinner, and watched the fantastic evening show!

Hawaii fun

2010-03-07T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hanging out on the beaches of Hawaii! We were staying on the Marine Corps Base, then we moved to Bellows where we got a cabin 20 feet from the ocean. Spent some time swimming, surfing, and building sand castles.

Hawaii

2010-03-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Went to the Temple, Polynesian Culture Center, and a beach.

More family photos

2009-12-30T16:47:00.000-08:00

3 generations!

Family Fun

2009-12-30T16:42:00.001-08:00

We have been hanging out in Cedar with Ben, Mandi, and Ryker. We've been playing games, eating, going to movies, and eating. Rich is fixing deep fried halibut at the moment.
Ryker keeps us all entertained! He never stops for a moment.

Christmas Cruise

2009-12-28T20:52:00.000-08:00

Kevin, Rich, and I flew down to Los Angeles and took a Carnival cruise to Mexico. We visited Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan. We went snorkeling in Mazatlan. Rich went fishing in Puerto Vallarta, but came up with nothing but a good trip with some friends we met on the boat. I got stung by jelly fish in two different ports and don't know why they liked me so much!

Being on the boat was so relaxing and fun. We ate all day long, swam in the pool, watched movies and shows, read books, and generally just did whatever we wanted to!

We saw Kevin for dinner, and then other than that he was off with all the new friends he made on board. He would stay out until 3 am, but we didn't worry about him. It was interesting that he "forgot" to pack any shorts, so he wore his swim suit and jeans most the time! Silly boy!

Wedding Day

2009-10-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

Catherine and Derek were married today in the Timpanogos Temple. It was a beautiful fall day. They will make a wonderful couple and Derek's children are so in love with Catherine. Congratulations to the new couple, and the best of wishes for a happy life together.

Kevin and Homecoming

2009-09-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

Kevin and some friends when to Chugiak Homecoming. His current girlfriend is Brittany. She is a really nice girl. This past week she even cut Kevin's hair. Saved me some money! I can't believe how much he looks like Adam when his hair is short. They could be twins.

Going to miss her!

2009-09-20T22:21:00.001-07:00

Bonnie and I took our last hike up Mile Hi on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day. Beautiful sunshine and nice temperatures. Bonnie and Mike leave for their mission to Jamica tonight and I'm going to miss them so much. We have such a wonderful friendship and so many memories. I am so proud of their faithfulness in going on a mission, but I'll miss them.

Seward

2009-09-05T23:17:00.000-07:00

A student from last year invited us and Herberts (the twin was in Bonnie's class) to go out fishing with them in Seward. They have a big boat so there was lots of room. We stayed Friday night in Seward and met them the next morning. It was a georgous day with clear skies and warm weather. We caught 11 silvers. We ate tons of junk food, and had a great time. Scot Herbert was up visiting his family and was able to join us too.

It was Kevin's 17 birthday, and although he really didn't want to go, he seemed to have a good time and even brought in several fish.

More Bryce

2009-08-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Bryce Canyon National Park

2009-08-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

We spent the day on Sunday, yes, on Sunday at Bryce. The weather wasn't too hot. It was really beautiful but we didn't do much hiking because we didn't come prepared with hiking shoes, and we had Ryker.

There were tons of foreigners but Kevin still wasn't impressed and said it was boring! Teenagers!

Tuachaun

2009-08-09T18:17:00.000-07:00

Mandi, Kevin, Ryker, and I headed to St. George to see Footloose at Tuachaun. The weather was perfect. Not too hot! We ate at Golden Coral first, but had to have some frozen lemonade at the show. It was a great musical! Ryker was a great kid. He even slept thru the second half!

Flower of Yellowstone

2009-07-30T22:26:00.000-07:00

It was so beautiful and green in the park. I should have gotten more photos of the flowers, but this is it!

Yellowstone

2009-07-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

Random shots of Yellowstone. We got into Salt Lake at 3 on Tuesday, rented a car and drove to Pocatello and stayed the night. We got up early on Wednesday and drove to Yellowstone, spent the day touring and then stayed in a rustic cabin at Mammoth Hot Springs. Today we got up and toured the rest of the park and headed back to Utah. Over 700 miles of driving, and it wasn't back and forth to Seward or Homer! We got to see something new!

Kevin and I had a great time! We made some good memories. I think he will always remember the good times.

Yellowstone Animals

2009-07-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

We were able to see bison, a fox, deer, elk, squirrel, and some rat looking animal.. Can't think of the name. We missed seeing the bear near our cabin by five minutes!

Winner's Creek Trail

2009-07-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

Winners Creek

2009-07-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

Child Abuse according to Kevin....Drive to Alyeska, take the tram up for a yummy lunch, hike a total of 5 miles round trip to the Winner's Creek hand tram thru the forest...with your parents!

Arctic Valley

2009-07-24T19:55:00.000-07:00

A group of us hiked up Arctic Valley this morning. It was cloudy and cool, but good for hiking. There was Kevin and I, Logan, Lisa and her sister from Utah and her three daughters, and Heather, Bonnie, and Karen.

The boys stayed way ahead of us, then got cold and headed back to the car before they made it to the top. The girls enjoyed making it all the way to the top of the mountain with beautiful views of Eagle River and Anchorage.

Mile Hi Again!

2009-07-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Fishing

2009-07-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

Rich went dipnetting and caught over 69 fish. That was the fun part, he spent the next two days cleaning and packaging them, and he thinks it's fun!

Hiking Rock Canyon

2009-07-03T14:02:00.000-07:00

I went hiking with a friend this morning up Rock Caynon just 5 minutes from my parents. I had forgotten about this hike and so glad we went. My friend's knee was bothering her, so we went really slow, but it was a nice visit. We sat and had some cherries and bread for brekfast.

I'm planning on going tomorrow alone and seeing how far back I can get. Totally different from Alaska hiking!

Family Gathering

2009-07-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Mindy, Caden, and Ambree came into town because Mindy's grandfather passed away, so we stole her away for a while. We met at Karen's house for some yummy food, and also to celebrate Catherines birthday. The kids had a wonderful time. Caden ran with his cousins the whole time.

Thanks Karen for hosting the fun evening.

We were sorry that Grandpa couldn't join us. He had some cancer removed from his ear, face, and back, and was resting.

Ryker

2009-07-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

Ryker and I get a little grandma and me time this morning while Ben and Mandi are at work. We took a long walk and then spent some time at the park at the school. Ryker loves to slide down the slide, but his favorite thing this morning was to open and shut the gate that seperates the playground from the street. He could have probably done that all morning!

We all went out for Japanese food last night for dinner. Ryker was such a good little boy, and ate a lot of rice and chicken. Ben loved his sushi, and Mandi and I had terrikki Chicken. I know I spelled it wrong.

Ben and I hung out yesterday while Mandi worked. I loved playing with Ryker, and watching Ben work on his day off!!

Cedar City is a nice town with beautiful mountains all around. Mandi and Ben have a beautiful home with tons of upgrades. The bathroom sinks are so cool with designs in them. They did a great job picking it!

Cedar City

2009-06-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

Ben, Ryker, and I went out to see where Ben works. I got a tour of the helicopters. The big one costs $16,000 a day to run! It was amazing. They don't make them like this anymore.

Ryker is a doll, and came to grandma pretty quickly!

More fun in Texas

2009-06-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

We have been having a ball. Adam took the week off when I came so we could do lots of fun things. We went camping at a Joe Pool Lake, and had fun swimming in it. I'll tell you that camping in Texas is not the same as camping in Alaska. Texas camping: Hot Hot weather, air conditioning on in the tent trailer all night, and if it was off we were dying! There were flush toilets, yes no outhouses, and hot showers. Okay, there were lots of bugs though...so it isn't all perfect!

We went swimming in the pool everyday! I went on long walks with Caden and we loved climbing on the rocks at the pond. I loved holding and playing with Ambree who started pulling herself up to a standing position while I was there, and I babysat so Adam and Mindy could go on a date to see Transformers.

I also found a beautiful home with 2 2-car garages, 2 acres, 3000 square feet house, with a mother-in-law apartment, and a swimming pool for only $250,000! Half the price of our house. Hmm... I might just be interested in moving to Texas.

Grandchildren in Texas

2009-06-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Having fun with the family!

Texas!!

2009-06-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Having a great time in Texas! We have been swimming and walking, and eating.

Kevin's Adventures

2009-06-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Logan joined the scout group from the other ward for a weekend camping trip. They hiked out to Symphony Lakes and had a great time. Kevin slept most of Saturday when he got home! Must have been tired!

Women's Run

2009-06-16T13:40:00.000-07:00

Lisa, Michele and I decided to do the Alaska Women's Run that raised money for breast cancer. We joined over 5,000 other women for the 5 mile jaunt thru Anchorage and on the Coastal Trail. It was lots of fun! And great exercise.

Mt. Baldy

2009-06-11T21:01:00.000-07:00

It is usually not my favorite hike, but Christie loves it. She talked me into it this morning because it was quick and we didn't have a lot of time. We actually saw the only sun for the day at the very top. But, it was fleeting! Very short!

Ninilchick

2009-06-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend with the Bechtolds. They brought a four-wheeler and Kevin and Robbie were gone most the time. We played a few games of Air Soft, and Kevin won. HMMMM! I really tried, but I'm getting old. We went on walks, ate a lot, played Phase 10, and fished....but there really wasn't many fish in the river. The weather was fantastic! The best ever! Warm and sunny.

Moose in the neighborhood!

2009-06-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

On the way to hiking Christie and I came upon a mother and her baby! So cool!

Symphony Lakes Hiking

2009-06-04T22:29:00.000-07:00

Some great advice while hiking the Symphony Lakes trail. Follow the Cairns (piles of rocks that help you find a trail), and you can save hours. Christie and I got a little off the trail and went bushwacking for a while. Thank goodness there weren't any bears, that we saw, because we were in the thick of it.

After a 18 mile trip we were so happy to make it back safe and sound to our car! It sure felt good to sit down.

Symphony Lakes is a lovely trail, not too difficult, but long. You end up at two lakes called the Black and Blue Lakes. One is as blue and the Kenai Lake and the other is darker.

What a great day! Cloudy, light rain for a couple of minutes, but perfect for strenuous hiking!!

Spring Flowers

2009-06-04T22:16:00.000-07:00

There are just so many beautiful Spring flowers. These are some from the Symphony Lakes Hike.

2009-06-02T23:46:00.000-07:00

Kevin attended Youth Conference this past week and had a great time. They stayed at the Boy Scout Camp for two nights. There was a dance and tons of other activities. The last dance was held on Saturday night after they came home and got all cleaned up. Kevin is such a handsome guy! He is pictured with Logan and Danny.

Rendezvous Peak

2009-06-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

Another hike in the Alaska spring. It was beautiful all day, but the clouds moved in right before the evening hike. Rendezvous Peak is up Arctic Valley. We took the steep trail up, and it was steep!

I could have caught the ptamigan! It was so close. I'm sure he thought he was camoflauged, but he stuck out because his color hasn't changed yet! Silly bird!

There is just no place like Alaska to hike!

2009-05-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

2009-05-30T18:53:00.000-07:00

It was beautiful hiking Mile Hi today. No snow! The sun was out at times, and the company good. Lisa, Bonnie, and I spent a couple of hours enjoying the Alaska beauty.

At the top it was windy and probably 30 degrees! Brrrrrrrr.. I love hiking in Alaska!

Another Hike

2009-05-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Today it was hiking with Bonnie and Lisa up Mile Hi again. A much better day with the weather. I love hiking in Alaska when the weather is good!

2009-05-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day...not...in Alaska. Christie, her dog, some bear spray, and I went hiking up Mile Hi. I think it is my favorite hike in Alaska...so far. Only 10 minutes from home and hardly anyone goes there.

We got rained and snowed on, and the visibility was only 20 feet, but we had a great visit, lots of exercise, and made good memories. Christie is heading to China soon, and I'm so excited for her. Wish I was going too!

2009-05-29T23:58:00.001-07:00

2009-05-25T23:30:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Friends

2009-05-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

Kevin and some friends had a wonderful time in Ninilchick. It was a boy's paradise. They had the pop-up to themselves and all the area around it. They played airsoft, started building a cabin, ate junk food, stayed up all night, and who knows what else. It is a perfect place for boys to be!

Summer in Alaska with good weather is the best!

2009-05-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

There were a ton of people there, but lots of fun! Some people went claming on Saturday and then the Ramptons made a big pot of clam chowder to share. Yummy!

This will be the Herberts last summer in Alaska for 18 months because they are going on a mission!

Memorial Day at Ninilchick

2009-05-25T22:54:00.000-07:00