Harper's Ferry, Cookout, and Good bye's

Saturday was mom and dad's P-day, so they took us down to Harper's Ferry. Harper's Ferry is where John Brown tried to start an armed slave revolt by seizing a United States Arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859. Brown's raid was defeated by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Col. Robert E. Lee. We had a great time. The weather was pouring down rain the whole way there and for about the first half hour. We were pretty much drenched and then a few minutes later we were dying of heat it was so hot and humid! Crazy weather. I am officially grateful for the dry heat we have out west and won't complain about it being too hot!


Black smith shop


Crossing the Potomac River. Tricia and I swear we crossed that river on our way to W. Virginia, but on our way back to the airport we went a different way. Same thing happened in the fall when Hayley and I went back there. We went two different ways too. There are way too many highways and freeways back there, I don't know how people get anywhere with out GPS. Mom says they don't! She says the people don't know how to get to Baltimore, or D.C. back there in W. Virgina, and it is only 2 1/2 hours away! They never go anywhere!


This is Jefferson's Rock. Thomas Jefferson said when he came to this rock that the view from here was worth the trek across the Atlantic.

This is the view from here. I can imagine in the fall it would be beautiful!

Dad stayed down below. He had already been here and it is a little hike to get up there. So much fun to go with mom and dad, whenever a member of the church recognizes them, they stop and talk to them. That day they talked to two women from Utah, a girl who had just returned home from a mission to Brazil, and a scout group.

Monday night we had a cookout with all of mom and dad's neighbors. It turned out to be a great success and they were able to get to know some of their neighbors better. They kids all had a great time playing with all the other kids.

Evie and a cute little girl. I forgot her name

Tuesday we woke up bright and early so we could leave to head back to the airport. Mom wouldn't get in the picture since she didn't have her hair done yet!



But, I caught some of her...

I love this picture with Cooper and Chase trying to give her a hug too.

Mom is going to kill me, but I love it! Tricia and mom Boohooing!

We cried when we arrived and we cried when we left. Luckily they don't have any pictures of me! We are so grateful for mom and dad's sacrifice to serve the Lord and the people of W. Virginia. They are the being great missionaries! We were not surprised to hear from everyone back there how much they love mom and dad. They think they are the best! It doesn't surprise anyone back home, everyone knew they would be great missionaries.

Relay for Life

While we were in W.V. we were able to participate in the local Relay for Life.


Dad wore a purple survivor shirt.







Dad talking to a friend. Everywhere we turned mom and dad knew someone. They are making the rounds around the community.





There was a purse auction. I convinced mom to bid and she won two! After that I had to glue mom's hand to her pocket. She was getting a little too quick with the wave motion! I know mom hasn't been purse shopping in a while and I think the excitement of a new purse or purses was getting to her! The purses were filled with all sorts of stuff. That was the high light for the night. Evie and Allie loooved all the treasures inside the purses.




We had such a fun night supporting a great cause. My dad is a two time cancer survivor! Go dad!

Mission Field

The middle of June Cooper and I headed on a jet plane out to the mission field to see Grandma and Grandpa. Coop had been asking for months and months when he was going to see Grandma and Papa on their mission. He was soooo excited to finally go. Tricia and her kids decided to go with us. We had blast with all of them. Thank heavens they came because little Coop would have been really bored with all us old people. Tricia has most of the good pics, so I am waiting for her to post...

All the kids at the Cookie Tin, a yummy, yummy cookie place. That was first on my list of things to do!

Grandma and the kids walking.

The kids had so much fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa and seeing what they do everyday. Everyday was packed with things to do and people to visit.

They loved finding bugs. Grandma may be on her mission, but she still has stuff stowed away in the back closet, thanks to having a dollar store on every corner.

And at the end of the day, somehow the kids all eventually ended up looking like this!

It's back!

Hayley has been telling me for awhile now that wall paper is back. How could wall paper be back? I mean, it finally left and now it is back? That dreaded stuff everyone would rather kill over than take off. I put my dues in taking that stuff down with Tricia, and it was brutal! Finally I asked her to tell me what website she was looking at and I took a look for myself. I was smitten the moment I laid my eyes on it and could not stop thinking about all the places it could go in my house! I finally ordered some for my office. That was the first room I wanted to do. When it came in the mail I was very disappointed because I thought it was more gold than green. I decided to put it in my powder room instead. And now I kinda wish I would have put it in the office I love the print so much!


I really wish the "wall paper queen" (my mom) would have been here to help me out. I needed some expert help!

Stayed tuned for more wall paper adventures to come...