Homecoming 2007

USS Enterprise Homecoming

December 19, 2007
Nellysa & Kelby watching the ship pull in.
Now mind you, it was December and the temperature was about 45 degrees or even colder on the pier. We were all bundled up, but this picture just goes to prove that you can see almost anything on a pier at a Navy Homecoming.
"Please take another picture of us Mom"
The tug and the port operations boat assisting with the mooring of the ship. A sight we like to see... a dropped anchor.
The last section of the brow going up.
Kirk's last homecoming! What a welcome sight!
Welcome Home!

Kirk standing on the flight deck during their transit through the Suez Canal
The ship turned the watch over to the replacement carrier and after a job well done, are headed home. Below is a view of soldiers guardimg the shores of the canal.

Hurry Home!

Music Video CodesMyspace Music

Fall Photo's

FALL Pictures

Kelby ~ Age 13

Our annual fall trip to Yorktown didn't quite work out this year, so we went out in back of the church and took our fall pictures.

Nellysa ~ Age 15 Nelladee ~ Age ??

Nellysa got a hold of my camera and thought that I needed a "close-up". I guess I should keep a closer watch on that camera.

Halloween

The Young Men put together a haunted house and this is what Kelby dressed as to scare the kids.

On Halloween just as Kelby left the house to trick-or-treat for his last legal time, I snapped this picture. I couldn't help but notice the sign by the door. Maybe this should say "Leave" with honor.
Nellysa saying "I am NOT dressing up and going out in public".
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Soccer Champions

Kelby played on a new team this soccer season.

He was the smallest and youngest on the team, but held his own pretty well.

Their team lost the first game, but went undefeated the rest of the season. Coach Chris & Coach Morgan really taught the boys how to play as a team and work together. It worked.
Half-time pep talk
Kelby receiving his championship medal.
The 2007 Champions
Team Revolution!

Idaho Water Park

On a warm August day, the kids head for the water park.

I guess you might not think of this as a typical water park.
This is what some might call "redneck fun".
Nellysa showing us her "WHAT" look.

This is a canal that narrows into a "flume" (Half pipe) that carries the water over the road. The kids ride the swift water through the flume to the other side of the road.

Once they get to the other side, they walk on those narrow boards back across the flume.
I stood up at the beginning of the flume, but it made me too nervous and I had to get down. I don't know how the kids do it without falling.
Kelby throwing "sea weed" into the canal. I guess us East-coast beach goers need to learn the difference between sea weed and moss. What we do for entertainment!

More Vacation Pics.

One of my favorite pictures from our trip to Idaho. This is taken from my parent's driveway. Look at the storm clouds moving up the valley.

My Aunt Dorothy & Uncle Stephen with Kelby and Nellysa.

The view of the valley from the bottom of the driveway. My Aunt Lenna with Nellysa.

Exploring up by the pond ... the cat was following me, but got distracted.

Nellysa with Aunt Thelma. (She was trying her hardest to avoid getting her picture taken)

The moon rising across the valley. It was so pretty.

Temple Square

When we went to Idaho in August to visit family, we flew in to Salt Lake City where my parents met us at the airport. That night we stayed in Salt Lake and the next morning we went and saw some of the sights. One of them was Temple Square. In the above picture of the Salt Lake City Temple, the flag is at half mast because President Faust had just passed away.
This is in the Conference Center. I am looking up at a skylight display. This is the auditorium where they hold General Conference. They were testing the lighting when we were there.
Up one the roof there are gardens and this etched marble wall. It was pretty neat.
Another view of the temple.

Kelby and Nellysa sitting in front of the Conference Center.
A view of the temple from the top of the conference center.
Looking accross the reflecting pool at Kelby, Nellysa, Dad & Mom.

Papa Spud's Blog

Just to let you know, Papa Spud's Adventures blog is up and running again. You can see his blog at www.papaspud.blogspot.com

Youth Conference

Thursday morning we arrived at the Stake Center at 4:00 a.m. to board charter buses and begin our 12 hour jaunt to Palmyra, New York. There were 109 youth and adult leaders aboard the two buses. We had devotionals and watched church videos during the 12 hour ride. Finally, at 5:00 p.m., we arrived at the KOA Campground in upper-state New York.

Just as we started setting up the camp, it started to thunder and shortly after that, we were soaked by rain. After dinner, we boarded the bus and went over to the Hill Cummorah Pageant. We were so stylish with our garbage bags (took everything but the rain poncho). Despite the pouring rain, it was an impressive production. It rained (poured) all night long. We found out that our tents are not completely waterproof and most everything that we had was wet by Friday morning. The sun finally broke through the clouds as we were taking down our tents. We ate breakfast and then had our morning devotional under the shelter. Our next stop on the tour was The Hill Cummorah. We were able to go through the Visitor's Center and then we climbed to the top of the Hill Cummorah. It was quite a steep trail, but well worth it. The Angel Moroni monument. Half of our group on top of the Hill Cummorah. A few of our ward young women at the Visitor's Center. T The Grandin Print Shop. Where the first Book of Mormon was printed. It was quite a tedious project in 1829. Nellysa at the Smith Farm with the Palmyra Temple in the background. The home where Joseph Smith was raised. There were 11 people that lived in this small home. The staircase that lead up to the kids bedrooms (1 small room, and 1 smaller room).

The workshop where the Smith family crafted barrels.

The dining room in the "newer" Smith home .

Bedroom with spinning wheel.

Inside the Sacred Grove where Joseph Smith knelt to pray in order to find out which church he should join.

Testimony meeting in the Sacred Grove.

After the testimony meeting, we boarded the bus and started our trip home. We rode all night and arrived home 12 hours later. We finished the youth conference with a youth dance Saturday evening. I think everybody enjoyed the trip.