WOA WHAT A VACATION

We had such a great time on our Vacation to Nauvoo. Dennis and I have not gotten away just the two of us for that long in years. and it was marvelous. We flew into ST Louis and Mom and Dad came down and picked us up ( which was super sweet and very nice of them I think)
It is a 3 hour drive from St Louis to Nauvoo and we chatted all the way. Well Dennis slept most of the way but he had a bad flight. Mom and Dad had a Missionary dinner that Monday and we were blessed to be able to join them and meet a lot of their friends that we hear so much about. Everyone was most kind and made us feel very welcome. And THEY LOVE MOM AND DAD :D Everywhere we went they had to tell us how much they love our parents. That was so nice to hear.

We were able to attend the temple every day that we were there and we did all the touristy things that you do when you go to Nauvoo. We made some rope and got some prairie diamonds and took a carriage ride and walked to the river. We took in the show in the evenings and laughed and sang and had a wonderful time. We even borrowed the car and drove to Independence and saw Far west and those sites. We ate dinner in Kansas city at this great little rib place where the computers had gone down and they were only taking cash. The place was nearly empty and they had the best ribs, I am glad we found them. We are still sorting out the pictures so I will have to add some of those later.

When we got back to Seattle Dennis surprised me with a trip to the beach for a couple of days.
On the way there we had a very close encounter with the wildlife that caused us to acquire a new windshield.

But we had such a great time I told him I might even be willing to come back again. although not for my birthday. We had a cute hotel next to the beach and the weather was so nice. SUN EVERY DAY! We were able to walk on the beach and to go down to the tide pools and even enjoy the aquarium.



I love eating at the small shops in towns. You get much better food most of the time and the service is always sure to bring a smile. We had breakfast at the pirates cove, I think was the name of the place, It was off the side of the road one morning and it had the jolly Rodger flying along side of the stars and stripes. so we said how bad can that be and went in this was the parking sign LOL The Food was really great and the waitress was Fantastic.



The drive home was lovely and we stopped at all the waterfalls along the river getting home. To get to most of them you have to take the old highway and drive very slow as most of it is still 30 miles an hour. But the sun was out and it was warm and we had our windows down for almost all of it. How can you go wrong though if you are anywhere with the people that you love the most.
I love how our beautiful earth changes her clothes each season and each outfit is just as glorious as the last.

We love you all and wish the best for all of our family.


Love

The B's

Yay for New our new Grandson.

This has been a great couple of weeks. Our newest grandson Gary Allen Buchanan,arrived on July 15 and I was so blessed to be able to go up and help with Isaac. So that means I got to help with our new little Gary too. I love the wat new babies make everyone feel so wonderful. And wonder what is it about holding them when they are sleeping that makes you want to fall asleep. Gary is such a great baby, He sleeps all day and talks all night LOL not really but he does do a great deal of sleeping. Isaac and I had so much fun giving kisses and hugs and helping with the dishes and sweeping the floor. I love my little helper Isaac. I know that is is so hard for the first few months and I am really gratful to Sonya and Greg for letting me come and take over their home for nearly 3 weeks.

I am going to miss all of the smiling faces at their house. When Isaac and I went to the hospital the first day the nurse gave his a sticker that said "Big Brother" he was so cute with it on his shirt. When we went back the day before Sonya and Gary came home, There was a different girl. When we asked for Isaac's big brother tag she just put sonya's room on it like all the rest of us were wearing. I should have asked her to change it as the other was much cuter. But Isaac is so wonderful with Gary he hugs and kisses his head and pats his back when he need to be burped. Sonya will have her hands full for a few years but they are going to be great friends. How blessed we feel as Parents and Grandparents to have such a wondeful family. To see it starting to grow and to be able to interact with our grandsons is truly the joy of our lives. WE love ALL our FAMILY :D

Camping and Scout Camp

Well Dennis Finally talked me into going up to the cabin and hanging out with him at the blazer scout camp overnighter ! SO after two days of river fun we took off for the blue mountains and the cabin. It belongs to a great friend of ours who uses his property for the scouts every year. He was Dereks scout master for a few years and served in the YSA Branch so our kids have been there and Dennis has been there but this was my first time. We arrived on thurs morning and what a wonderful setting. we had a small cabin set on the side of mountain and two ponds below. Above us are acres and acres of untouched forest. I am sorry that it took me so long to take Our good friend up on his offer and most likely will be found resting up there again.

On Friday morning we headed out to hike the trail. we found all kinds of animal tracks and even a small bear who had come down for a look see.

The scouts arrived on Friday evening and we had great fun helping them get their gear set up. I thought I packed a lot for 3 days and these guys were only coming for overnight and WOW Dennis says he will never complain about my overpacking again. We were treated to an evening of campfire and smores and cubscout jokes. On saturday Dennis taught the first aid class and the fire building class and the knife and axe class.

I sat in my chair and watched and read a good book. LOL I LOVE CAMPING. I did clean up and mop the dirt off the floor before we left much to the dismay of our friend who claims that the dirt is what makes it a camping cabin and not a house. But he also said we were welcome to come back anytime. We just might have to take him up on that.

A little bit of sun

So Dad talked me into going out to the river with him today to watch as he persuaded two of some of the rivers finest bottom feeders to go home with us. I pack my lawn chair and my good book and my great hat and forget to pick up the camera on the way out. That is the saddest part. I wish I could share his face as he reels them in. but I do feel sorry for them every time. The little bass we did put back but the squaw fish have to stay on the bank as they do not belong in our river I am told.
So when we get home I get these great shots of dad with his new friends.
Tomorrow we are heading up into the mountains for a couple of days. He knows a guy with a cabin and off we go. Look at me go really camping this summer who knew I was such an outdoor enthusiast.

A Good Day Fishing

Today I Went fishing and this is my story.
It was a nice day, the sun was shining and it was not too hot.
I went to the river and stood there fishing and didn't catch anything. *Makes a sad face* :( So I went to another location on the river and I caught 2 small bass. *Makes the thats ok face* :/

So I went to another place on the river and I caught a couple of nice trout...
The first one was 15inches , the second was over 25inches. *Makes the whoo hoo face* =D Both fish jumped clear out of the water fighting and splashing. It was a great. I think I will go again tommrow, as soon as I pick the berries for Nettie

Blogging Bits

This is a story about two people. See when two people really love each other.....( this is where all my children run from the room screaming NO MOM Make it stop ) They date. Then they date some more and then they decide to do some permanent dating. Benny and I met so long ago pluto was still a planet and computers were only owned by that part of the goverment that still believes that aliens landed in area 51. ok so maybe not quite that long ago. The point is we met. Then we dated. There was this great little place that sold the best hambugers. We danced and we went for long walks on the beach and felt that certain something across the crowded room and the music played and the stars twinkled and well the rest as they say is history.
Some time later this story included some kids and some dogs and some water and two mini vans that made lots of trips over the mountians and through the woods to grandmas houses, and well just good family fun. Those kids learned to drive those mini vans and soon were all gone to have grand adventures of their own. That is were most of this story will pick up. with all the adventures we now have as Grandparents but still parents and most of all still two people who love to date and dance and fall in love across the crowded room with the stars twinkling and the music playing. and for anyone who cares to know, Mars twinkles.