God Bless America

When I was in 4th grade our class presented a patriotic program with skits and songs. Wearing a shirt with silver stars attached, I was one of the narrators. I remember that Betsy Ross's story and the 1st Thanksgiving were depicted in the show. We were proud of our country and proud to be Americans.

I was thrilled when I learned that Isabella's 2nd grade class would also be presenting a patriotic program. 

First we all stood to sing the Star Spangled Banner.  Truthfully it made me a bit teary to see a gym full of people, many of whom had their hands on their hearts, singing loudly.

I enjoyed listening to Isabella and the other 2nd graders singing the songs about our country that I sang as a child and still love.

God Bless America

You're A Grand Old Flag

This Land Is Your Land

My Country Tis of Thee

Isabella had a speaking part representing the Coast Guard.

She did a great job.

I was delighted to see the enthusiasm as they sang.

And glad she was on the back row so 'orange hat guy' didn't block her!

Afterwards we took a few photos.

Isabella and her best friend Madison.

Proud Grandma and Grandpa enjoying Pepper Ridge Elementary.

So happy we live close and can share these fun school moments.

 

Eagle Family Fun

 While Mary, Jackson and I were driving to Eagle from Salt Lake, Isabella was very busy trick-or-treating!

I definitely think she needed to share some of her haul with Grandma - at least the Reese's Cups!

I just love having my family together.

We enjoyed a 'make your own pizza' night.

Everyone is happier when they can add exactly the topping they like!

I love seeing my two cuties playing together.

Jackson warmed up to George this time.  

Helping him make the race cars go through the loop helped.

Carrying our shoeless boy from the store to the car was fun too!

Just like a sack of potatoes!

George's sister Karen came to visit again.

She spent lots of time with Jackson.  

He decided that his Great-Aunt was pretty 'great.'

We all agree!

Karen treated all of us to a wonderful dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant.

Delicious food and great company!

Jackson decided he loved my big bath tub....

and the hot tub!

The falls leaves were entertaining as well!

All too soon, we took them to the airport for the flight home.

I think both Mary and Jackson were glad not to be driving back to West Virginia!

Mary and Jackson's Epic Adventure

Mary told me several months ago that she had planned a trip so that she and Jackson could drive from West Virginia to Boise.  Her itinerary was so thorough,  that she even knew where she wanted to eat lunch each day.  I love her spirit!  3000+ miles alone with a 5 year old.  Lots of memories made!

Here they are starting out from Harper's Ferry, West Virginia. 

First stop was a safari park in Virginia.

Everyone got a basket of food for the animals to have in their cars as they drove along.

The llama was very interested!

A yak actually stuck his whole head in the car.  No photo of that!  I think it was kind of scary.

Finally an aggressive ostrich just reached in and took the whole basket of food.

I think feeding the giraffes was a lot more tame!

First night was in Gatlinburg, Tennessee which is a big resort town.

Mary and Jackson enjoyed the aquarium there.

Next night was in Jackson, Tennessee before spending a few hours driving around my little hometown of Lonoke, Arkansas.

I loved watching her on 'Find my Friends' as she explored.  First by my mother's house, by the school, Aunt Mary's house....the park, the church, and finally a lunch at the Grumpy Rabbit, which is a new and very popular restaurant in town.

Here's Jackson on the steps of the Presbyterian Church where his 4th Great Grandparents were the 1st couple married and where his great grandparents were also married. It's the church that I attended every single Sunday of all my growing up years.   They are about to tear it down.  That breaks my heart.

Next a trip to the cemetery where he played horsey on my parents grave.  

I hope they were amused watching their great-grandson!

I think they were.

The next few nights were spent with his cousins, aunt and uncle in the Fort Worth area in a town called Burleson.

With Aunt Amanda at the children's museum.

Exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards with cousin Izzy.

Hanging out at home with cousin Lilly.

I know the break to play with cousins and not drive hours and hours each day was a welcome change before the push to Albuquerque and Monticello.

Mary found some really child friendly places to explore along the way. 

Have you heard of Cadillac Ranch?

30 years ago 10 cars were partially buried in the sand.

Now you can go and see them but best of all, spray paint them.

What kid wouldn't enjoy that??

After a night in Albuquerque and a quick and very cold stop at Mesa Verde National Park, they joined us in Monticello.

I think Mary is already planning another cross country drive to see us, this time taking the northern route and stopping by Chicago.

Maybe I should fly back to West Virginia and join them!

 

 

Provo and Salt Lake

 An overnight stop at Tammy and Richard's home in Provo was perfect!  Jackson got to meet more family. 

 He loved playing with the race track and with Tammy's dollhouse.

For so long, Jackson was not a fan of having his picture taken.  I am glad that he finally decided he likes to pose.  These are in Tammy's neighbor's yard.  They really go all out for Halloween.

We made a quick stop at the Bean Museum on the BYU campus.

Jackson explored the 'cave' and even met the scary bear.

And posed with the tall, tall giraffes!

So handy that the museum is close to the Creamery....naturally we had to get some mint brownies for the road!  Delicious!   These were a favorite when we were at BYU and we even had them at our wedding reception.

George headed off to Boise while Mary, Jackson and I visited the Salt Lake Temple construction site.

An amazing project as they renovate this pioneer era temple with all the latest in earthquake protection.

Jackson could have watched all day.

There were lots of cranes moving equipment around.

Elevators taking the construction workers up and down!

Trucks and all kinds of heavy equipment.

Jackson was totally fascinated. 

On our way north to Boise, Mary did a little walk down memory lane as we drove around her alma mater, Weber State University.  I don't think she had been back since she got married in 2000.

A lot had changed!

Then it was 5 hours in the car with Jackson who had been spending multiple hours in the car for about a week.  Lots of songs and games entertained him pretty well.  We only had one melt down!

I have a lot of admiration for Mary.  

3000+ miles by herself driving with Jackson

What a woman!

What a mom!

Delicate Arch

 On one of our summer trips to Monticello when I was a young teenager, we drove to Arches National Monument (now Arches National Park) and attempted to hike to Delicate Arch.  I have a clear picture in my mind of the area where I decided that I couldn't finish the hike.  If I were to guess, I would assume that I was probably dehydrated.  I remember that I felt sick and just couldn't continue.  A very helpful hiker, who was practically running along the trail, suggested that we walk over to a shaded area.  It looked miles away to me so my mother and I turned around and hiked back down to the car.  For years I have thought about this and wanted to finally see Delicate Arch.  As we were talking about our trip to southern Utah, I came across this photo of Daddy.  He did finish the hike and I wanted to do the same.  George agreed that we could add an extra couple of days, go to Monticello and finally see Delicate Arch.  Extra fun that Mary and Jackson would tag along.  If Jackson was too tired to continue, they could just go back to the car and meet us in Provo. We had a plan!

Jackson was a trooper.

First we took a short little walk and got some good shots of the appropriately named, 'Balanced Rock'.

I highly recommend this camera to any little photographer.  He loved it and actually got some good shots. 

The hike to Delicate Arch and back is only 1 1/2 miles each way and it climbs  480 feet.  Most of the climb is on what is called 'slick rock', although I am happy to report that it wasn't slick!

This is exactly the area that was so clear in my memory from my teenaged attempt.

See those trees way to the left of the photo?  That is the shade mentioned by the helpful hiker all those years ago.

Every now and then, Jackson would stretch out on the rock and, in his words, 'recharge'!

George and I decided that we loved hiking with a 5 year old.  He stopped a lot and that gave us plenty of time to rest!

Mission accomplished!  

George was not a fan of the drop-offs at the side but he survived.  He might not have survived if Mary, Jackson and I had gone down for the perfect photo op, standing in the arch.  Lots of people do however but not us.   It added to his stress level to have his little grandson running around.  I know he was glad when we started hiking down to the car.

I was happy to finally, after probably 56 years, complete the hike,

I'm a better, more experienced hiker at 70 that I was at 14.

Super mom Mary had carried Jackson's construction vehicles all the way up so that he could play in the soft, fine sand on the way down.  

Our construction obsessed boy loved this break.

Jackson is a tough little guy!

No complaints from him at all on the entire hike.

Way to go Jackson!

Quite a kid!