Thanksgiving Washington DC Style -Monday and Tuesday

November 21 and 22

Sara picked us up from the airport. She did a great job driving since she is still new to the airport drive. It was a little rainy and overcast. Once we got home she made a great dinner. Then we decided to go to the grocery store and buy the last few things for our Thanksgiving dinner.

Tuesday we started our day at a cute little restaurant then we were off to explore Washington DC.

We walked past the White House. There was a moving van in front. I wonder what that means.

We walked past the Treasury building.

Our first real stop was at the Newseum. It is rather new. It is a museum all about the news. Sara is standing in front of a piece of the Berlin Wall. (This picture is out of place. I got ahead of myself. I still can't figure out how to move pictures around.)

Occupy Washington DC. I just don't get it. Why would you want to spend months in a tent? And it is raining.

We stopped at the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. You aren't allowed to take pictures of these documents.

Back at the Newseum. Here is Wayne trying to be a gangster.

Sara and Mike tried to be gangsters also.

Just outside the doors I got a great view of the capital. As you can see the day was a little gloomy but it didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves.

This is the top of the twin towers from New York.

Veternan's Day

A Grand Canyon Veteran's Day

School has been in session for one whole quarter. It is the only quarter when we don't get any days off. Everyone at school was ready for a long weekend. When I told Wayne that I had a four day weekend we decided to take advantage. I saw an advertisement in the travel section of the newspaper of a train ride to the Grand Canyon. I thought it sounded fun. I booked a ride and a two night stay in the Grand Canyon Railroad Hotel. The train ride starts in the small city of Williams Arizona. Yes, it is small, maybe 1,000 people live there. There isn't a stop light.

The first night there we were trying to find something to do and noticed that a train was approaching the station. We decided to watch. The train from the Grand Canyon comes back at 5:45, it was only a little after 5:00. As we watched we noticed Christmas decorations on the train cars. One of the cars had the words "Polar Express." We asked a few questions. It was the employees night to take the Polar Express. The next night was opening night for the season. Families were dressed in their pajamas. There was excitement in the air. I'm sorry I don't have a picture. We only had Wayne's phone and I haven't download his pictures. We are told the train goes to the North Pole and back. The story Polar Expess is read and hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies are handed out. They reach the North Pole and Santa gets on and gives everyone a bell. They actually have two sessions each night. The workers were dressed as the cooks in the book. They had the cook chef's hats and white shirts. We were told that Friday night they had 16 train cars with over 1,500 people. I just wish we had grandkids with us. We will have to go another time and bring grandkids.

Friday morning at 9:00 there is a Wild West Shootout. It was pretty funny. We watched and then got on the train. The ride wasn't as scenic as I thought it might be but we were kept entertained. A cowboy played an accordion and different size harmonicas on our trip to the canyon. On the way back we had an Indian sing to us. He sang songs in at least 5 different languages.

These are the characters in the shootout.

There was several times on the trip that you could see the rest of the train. We were in the cheap seats. Some of the cars had sky windows.The first view of the canyon is truly amazing. You almost think it is just a painting. At the South Rim it is 12 miles across. There are a few areas where it is 18 miles. Down to the canyon floor and the river is 1 mile, however to actually walk it, it is about 18 miles. This is what we missed 28 years ago at Thanksgiving time. The snow was coming down so hard we couldn't see the canyon then. We thought we might have the same experience this time. Luckily it was just overcast. The canyon was beautiful.

The views are unbelievable.

If you look closely you can see a trail zig-zagging. This just takes you to a plateau.

This is the plateau. If you look you can see where the trail drops off to the next level. Wayne claims he took this Bright Angel's Trail to the bottom and spent a night or two at Phantom Ranch. He was a teenager. He thinks I wouldn't make it back up once I made it to the bottom. I probably could if I had a mule. But then I was sore with the short horse ride we took in Steamboat Springs.

I had fun taking pictures. The view changes every few steps.

Believe it or not Wayne is really on the edge. I don't think his hands were sweating.

He was sitting on a ledge. I caught him with is eyes closed. We joked that he was too scared to look down.

On the ride home we had train robbers get on. If you look at the very first picture in this blog you will notice it is the same characters as the shoot out.

The sheriff saved us.

I I don't think I have ever seen a prettier sunset. The sky just kept getting redder and redder. It was a great way to end our train ride.

Lisa's Baby Shower

Can you believe that Lisa is going to have a baby. She has always been so good to all of our little kids I know she will be a great mother.

Angie gave a really nice party. Lisa looked so cute and happy.

It was amazing how many presents she received. I'm sure her place in San Diego will have to be bigger to fit all the new things.

This was a silly game. We had to guess the size of Lisa's stomach. We measured it by how many piece of toilet paper she was around.

It was a fun day. I got to spend time with Carol and Martha and visit with Lisa, Kaitlin, and Natalie. It was so nice to be included in this party.

October

October is one of our birthday months. There are 5 birthdays in our family in October. June is now the only month that has more birthdays even if Kari said she was going to be the only one with a birthday in June. I have loved October because of birthdays, the changing of leaves and Halloween. This year was kind of a big birthday for me. I have been trying not to grow older, but nothing has stopped it from happening. Our kids decided I needed to have a party. It was easier for Wayne and me to go to Colorado then all of them to come to California. So Wayne and I took off after work. Luke picked us up and we spent the first night at the Lee's. When we woke up in the morning we found that it was snowing. This canceled games for the Lees and Garners. Tanner's team still played. It was rain instead of snow at their place. We tried watching the game but ended up watching from the car.

Shortly after the game everyone arrived at the Calls. We had a wonderful meal Cafe' Rio style. Then we played some games. I appreciated learning about what prices were like in 1951 and some of the important events that happened that year. The family feud game about my favorite things was fun. It is amazing how many right or close to right answers the family came up with. The highlight of the night was the book the family put together. I have looked at it many times.

We had a family sleepover. Kari and Matt were wonderful hosts. Everyone had a good place to sleep. It was fun having everyone around.

I just want my family to know how much I love them. I am so glad I am a mother to five wonderful children, and 16 terrific grandchildren. I would do anything I possibly could for each of them. I'm so grateful I know that families are forever.

Tanner and Conference

Wayne and I were very concerned when we heard about Tanner being hit by a car. We are so grateful that he has only minor injuries. He is such a determined soul that I have always thought he will do something great. I know he had angels watching over him.

October is one of my favorite times of the year, Conference is one reasons I like October. It is always so good to hear from our Prophet and other church leaders. President Monson always seems to talk right to me. I love his sense of humor and his many stories. He makes me want to try harder to do what I should. I want to go out and rescue, however, it is harder then it sounds.


Conference has been a time when I could get together with my family. This year is a new adventure for me. I am by myself, all by myself. Wayne is with his mom and brothers on the houseboat, and the children that use to live here have moved to distant places. They live too far away to come for Sunday morning breakfast of scones. Tanya asked for the recipe, maybe she will make some.
Just the same, by myself or with loved ones, I love listening to conference. I feel the spirit and this helps me remember that I know the church is true. I am so lucky to live at this time when I can here the Prophet's voice right in my own home.

In Loving Memory

Today was James Brown's funeral. It was very nice. We learned a lot about his life. It was interesting to hear about his childhood. It was his mother who encouraged his testimony. He came from very humble beginnings. If you read his "What I know," you will realize he truly lived what he believed.