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.

What We Do For Entertainment

I guess you could say that the start of the deployment is official now. How can I tell? Well, on every deployment, the guys do something to entertain themselves. Last cruise it was "funny moustaches". (Below)

This cruise ..........

What do you think??

Nat's Visit - Day 3

We took Nat to the beach. The first part of the beach that we went to was at Ft. Story and so it was peaceful and quiet.

We thought that we'd break him in easy before we exposed him to the tourist section of the beach. The picture below is of a "Mermaid's Purse". It is actually a skate (like a stingray) egg.

They recently built a memorial to Naval Aviation near the boardwalk. In the background between the flags, is a statue of a woman. She represents the women who wait and watch for their sailor to come home.

Some of the signs posted at the oceanfront.
I think Nat was kind of surprised at everything that can be seen on the beach. We call it "the zoo".

I probably shouldn't post this photo, but I will anyway, with an explanation....

Nat wanted to get his picture taken with some good-lookin' girls on the beach. We saw these two girls and Nat just randomly asked if he could get his picture taken with them. (Didn't realize how young they were until after it was already done)

MEANWHILE.... what you don't see in the background is a woman watching the whole thing and then when I was taking the picture, apparently this woman was kicking at her husband who was sitting in his beach chair. She was furious and trying to get her husband to do something. I would guess that the woman had a word with her two daughters about getting their pictures taken with strange men on the beach.

Ya'll come back now!!

Nat's Visit Day 2

Jamestown, VA

Colleen & Kim posing with Pocahontas

Nat in the Jamestown Chapel

Captain John Smith

The Glass House

Magnolia tree

Nat's Visit

In the middle of June, we drove up to Petersburg, VA where we met Kirk's brother Nat. He and three of his students drove down from Washington D.C. where they were attending an FFA Conference.

Nat and his students live in Oregon. The girls couldn't get over the tree's and greenery. I guess it is something that we kind of take for granted.

Colleen, Nat, Kim, & Allen at the Petersburg Battlefield.

The entrance to the tunnel that was built during one of the famous Civil War battles.
Kelby resting on a cannon.
This is the start of a basket like the ones that colonists made to carry various items.
Yorktown, VA"What do you see Kelby?"

Colleen, Nat, Alan and Kim at the lake in Yorktown.

Levi
The kid's favorite creek at Yorktown.
Kirk & Nat cooling their feet


How many turtles can you see?