10 October 2013

Fall is here and in full bloom. The leaves on all the trees have changed color. Our neighborhood is full of old growth hardwood trees, therefore coming home from the YMCA each morning is a treat. First we enjoyed the colors of green to yellow and now orange, now we are driving through piles of leaves on the streets.

We took a day and drove to Palisades Lake and on up to Alpine, Wyoming. There was a light dusting of snow on all the mountain foliage.  The Snake River running through the canyon made the landscape beautiful.

At home we are preparing for the winter months. I have put away the camp trailer and the little VW for the winter. Also, in the back yard we have planted many strawberry plants and put them away for the winter.

The month has been unusually warm and beautiful. We have had a chance to golf several times at Cedar Park, Shelley and Heise.  I sneak away and Woody and I have golfed at Sage Lake and Sand Creek. I also golfed one day at Pinecrest in Idaho Falls but it was very, very windy that day.

The flowers have hung on to the bitter end. Now that all the days are below freezing at night there are no survivors. No more having to mow the grass but there are still plenty of leaves to pick up.

We had our eyes examined this month. It has been two years since we had them last examined. Not much change but a slight increase in cataracts. We also had our teeth cleaned. That is about it for medical treatment. We continue to frequent the YMCA nearly every week day and often on Saturday. We also get a chance to ride our bikes while the weather is still permitting.

I must say Woody has been incredibly creative in remodeling his basement. He finished the upstairs bedroom with remarkable style. New bed and furniture he built himself. Now he is finishing the downstairs. I had to include the Capapella head board.

Now the trip we have all been waiting for: Santa Cruz family vacation. Julia, Dawn and I packed up the Toyota with the bikes racked behind and headed for Salt Lake City. We met with Josh and Danielle and visited with Angie Byetheway while in Layton. Then we visited Holly and Jon and kids in their new home. The first night we went to dinner at Taco Loco. It was so nice to stay with them in their new home.

The next day (15 October) we were on our way at 6:00am meeting up with Josh and his family on our way to California. Caravanning together we traded kids whenever we stopped. Our first stop was in Wendover where we had breakfast at McDonalds, then Elko, NV for a quick hike while Josh slept a bit. We found a hobo camp along the railroad tracks. Lastly, that day we stayed in Reno at the Sands Regency Casino Resort. The first time any of the kids had stayed in a hotel. We went to Circus Circus that night after dinner and played at the arcade. Wow, what fun. Josh broke the bank with his jackpot doing the “Light Jump” . They cashed in their tickets for their prizes. Daz got a stuffed tiger he calls “Stripes”. We watched the floor show from Argentina areal act and the hula act from China. Fun times.

The next morning we arrived at the Lau’s home at 10:30am. Shortly after that we drove to Santa Cruz. That was tough fighting traffic but fortunately we all made it at the same time. Wayne, Josh and I all driving separately.

The Santa Cruz house was comfortable and the weather was terrific. Dawn and I got to ride our bikes to Cal Univ Santa Cruz and also from the home we stayed at to Capitola with Robyn. It was great. The meals were great and I kids were having so much fun they collapsed at night. Then up early to start over again. On Thursday we went to Monterrey, CA and spent the day at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. We had a great day of fun and another great dinner with dancing to “The Rubber Band Man”.

Our big day came on Friday when we went to the beach to surf. Wayne had wetsuits for all. Dawn and I, Josh and the kids got into the ocean on boogie boards and surf boards attacking the waves. The dolphins were everywhere in the surf. The girls and little kids picked up sea shells along the beach. Julia walked along with them in the sand. What a day! Everybody had fun that day!

It was hard to leave but traveling back to Reno was again difficult through the congested corridor of San Jose and then Hwy 80 all the way to Reno. We stayed at the Days Inn motel, not quite so nice but had a nice meal at Carrols. The next day we caravanned home with Danielle, Josh and the kids. We left them at Wells, NV and we made it all the way back to Idaho Falls, Id at 9:00PM. Julia had to help me drive from Rupert since I have a hard time at night driving. She has had cataracts removed from both lens and does fine driving at night.

The last week of October has been extremely nice weather so we played golf at Cedar Park free of charge. It is such a delight playing there because we always get apples off the Macintosh tree on the 7^th hole.

Today it is raining and getting much colder. We are looking forward to our cruise in November back to the Western Caribbean. 

VW away for the winter.

Strawberry plants away for the winter

Camper away for the winter

Last of the fall plants

Fall color at Palasades

Snake River Canyon

Moose tracks on Cedar Park GC

Fall golfing

Dinner at Reno with the Russells

Hobo Junction in Elko, NV

Josh's jackpot jump!

Circus Circus areal act

China girl twirling hoops

Now we are at the ocean in Santa Cruz

Wayne and Kesler surfing

Dax on the boogie board

Shore birds

Kids at Butterfly park

Grandma and grand daughter Robyn

The boys

Butterflies everywhere

The beach house and the boys

A day at the aquarium

Sage in the water! 

Hanging out at the Monterrey Bay Aquarium

Surfer Dudes

Lunch is always good at the beach

Three generations!

Having too much fun!

Dawn riding up to CUSC

09 September 2013

The  beginning of the end of summer. September began as a warm and wonderful fall season and ended as a cold and wet fall month. In between the beginning and the end we had quite and enjoyable time.

The Nash kids were still here and Tara was on her way to pick them up. Gussie, Fran and Ami spent the summer with granny Julia and grandpa Woody and grandma Val. They were kept busy with the grand kids. Now that they are gone there is time to recover but now we are missing those little kids.

Dawn and I spent time at the Eastern Idaho State Fair selling tickets for an ATV sponsored by the YMCA as a fund raiser. We joined Julia and Woody for fun and food. I particularly liked the heavy pull competition of the draft horses. Wandering through the Art Barn and Antique Barn is always enjoyable.

Then the rains came! We had a few very wet days but no complaints we need moisture. The temperature was warm and no need to irrigate the grass. This gave us time to put in a strawberry bed in place of an overgrown garden spot. Also, time to pick up the last of the apples from under the tree. This year was a bumper crop and I had to pick up huge piles of apples. Now that the weather is changing I put away the hot tub and camp trailer for the winter. We are still enjoying the last of the fall flowers since we have not had a hard freeze yet. (I have insulated all the big windows with plastic anticipating the temperature dropping below freezing).

We were able to golf a few times before the fall changes to winter. While we were at Cedar Park near Ririe we picked McIntosh apples off the tree near the 8^th green. Along with the apples we got from Julia’s back yard, we have canned apple sauce, apple butter and dehydrated bags of apple slices. This was a bid apple year.

Some of the other projects we completed were: worked at the Community Soup Kitchen, caulked the downstairs shower, Woody completed remodel of his basement and finally finished his jeep (looks good!), the VW brakes finally adjusted, continue to do Indexing for family history, we now have a 4:30am shift at the Idaho Falls temple for September and October.

We are now planning a family reunion in California the middle of October.  More to come!!

 

Nash Kids at Tautphus Park Zoo

Golfing at Cedar Park

Making apple sauce

Potato harvest at Taylorview farms

Woody finishes his US Mail - Army jeep

Draft horse pull competition at the EISF

Dawn with Robot Man EISF

Cake decorating at EISF

Soup Kitchen workers

Rain in September

More apples to dehydrate

The new strawberry patch

Winter is coming so cover up!

The last of the apples under the tree

Fall flowers

August 2013

We are on the downside of summer in Idaho. The winding down began with taking the Kurowski kids home to their parents in Kirkland, Washington. We spent the night and then drove to Whistler, BC to meet with Stephanie for two days mountain biking. She was on the downhill bike and we did single track. It was a beautiful place to meet.

Our trip home took us through Vancouver, WA to meet up with the Hodgsons. We visited with Mike and Louise for lunch and then drove over to Camus, WA to visit with Natalie and to see her new baby, Brennen. Following our visit we drove to Pendleton, Oregon for the night.

The next day we arrived home just in time to pick up our registration packed for the Color Vibe 5K on Saturday the 10^th of August. Early Saturday morning we met at Freeman park in Idaho Falls to begin a very COLORFUL foot race around Freeman Park and part of the green belt on the Snake River. There were four waves of runners (We were in the first wave) and hundreds of color powdered folks both young and old.

After washing out all the color from the run, it took us several days to rest up and get organized following a month of grandkids and travel. Dawn quickly began to catch up on her visiting teaching assignments. I began to change gears with my church responsibilities since I was called to serve as the High Priest group leader in the 3^rd ward. To date there has not been called anyone to replace me as Stake Executive Secretary so I am doing double duty.

Now, Woody and his family are taking care of grandkids. Tara and Ian are moving to Georgia from Arizona and needed care for their three young kids (Fran, Gus and Amir). They have been here for three weeks in August and will be here until into September while the folks move to Georgia.

To mention a few things involved with caring for the Nash children, Bar B Ques, pool in Woody’s back yard, trip to the zoo, not to mention busy times at Julia’s home each night putting them to bed. Val has been a trooper staying with the kids and helping out.

We have managed to drag Julia and Woody off  to golf at Heise and Cedar Park on occasion. Both have also been busy with gardening. It is in high production cranking out beets, carrots, onion, lettuce, radishes, peppers, potatoes, peas, and now wonderful tomatoes. This has been a good year by missing the early frost and having such a warm summer.

Fortunately, we have been blessed with rain lately. The last few days the weather has been wet and warm The monsoon moisture is coming up from the south. It has not kept us from road riding. Dawn and I have done a few 20 mile rides as the weather has been nice.

Lastly, we are planning two trips in the future. In October we plan to take our bikes and family to Santa Cruz, CA to visit with the Laus and Ben. Then in November we have scheduled a cruise to the western Caribbean with the Crofts (a ward family). Maybe we will slow down but not likely.

Color Vibe w Color Man!

Dawn in the middle of the 5K

I am powdered!

    The Garden!

Whistler, BC

 Dawn look out behind you at Whistler Village!

















Ouch! Single track accident!

Franny loves chocolate!

Summer golf!

The Nash kids at the zoo!

Tallya! 

07 July 2013

Midsummer and the month we had grandchildren stay with us. To begin with, Dawn and I drove to Utah the first of the month be at Dax’s baptism and celebrate Tate’s birthday. We also rode our bikes with Dawn’s cousin, Angie Bytheway.  Josh has a beautiful garden. Tate also had an unusual birthday cake made from a watermelon. Tate and I golfed at Swan Lake golf course. We had a great time in Utah.

We drove back home with Tate and Baya who stayed a week with us before Josh and Danielle came up for a fishing trip we had planned on the South Fork of the Snake River.

The fishing trip was a highlight of the summer. Josh, Tate and I floated down the South Fork of the Snake with AJ our guide from Heise Expeditions. The day was spent catching beautiful brown trout and one cut-throat trout. We say eagles, moose and many other birds. Good time had by all.

We also hiked the Cress Creek trail near Heise, attended the outdoor concert at the river in IF. It was a full week with the Russells.

It just does not stop there with the grandchildren. Dawn and I drove to Coeur da lene to meet with Brian and Katie Kurowski and their three kids. We arrived a day early after spending the night at the KOA campground in Deer Lodge, MT. The day before they arrived Dawn and I rode the famous Coeur da lene bike trail from Kelloge to Cataldo (some 15 mines and returned). It was a beautiful ride. Then spending the night at the Coeur da lene Resort campground we met up with the Kurowski’s.

While in Northern Idaho we took the Kurowski family to Silverwood Amusement Park near Sand Point, Idaho. All day long we had fun, in the water and on the rides. It was a full day of excitement. 

The next day early we drove all the way to Idaho with our three grand kids in the back seat. Orion (11), Makelae (10), and Elenore (5) spent the next two weeks with us. During their stay we did many things with them. To mention a few: played golf, went to the library, farmers market, walked the green belt, loaded shells and shot guns in Rexburg, Tautphaus park, BBQ at Julia’s house, Orange Leaf frozen yogurt, Guitar exhibit at the IF museum, mowed the lawn, picked up apples, played games, Chucker’s ball game, hiked Cress Creek, swam at YMCA pool, not to mention drove back to Kirkland, WA in one day to take them home! We believe they were ready to go home!

Once we got the kids home, Dawn and I drove up to Whistler, BC in Canada to stay with Stephanie. She invited us to mountain bike with her for a couple of days. Dawn and I rode the Valley Trail and Tin Pants single track while Steph was on the ski lift and speed down hill.

All in all this was a very busy month for a couple of old grand parents.

Tate's Fishing Trip

Tate's Fish

South Fork of the Snake

Tate's Birthday CAKE!

Hiking at Cress Creek

Beya fishing 

Granny at the Concert in the Park

Boe in Woody's Rat Rod

Wow! Ben and Julie at the finish line (their first Marathon!)

Granny and Elanore at Silverwood Park

Silverwood 

Fun in the sun at Silverwood 

More Fun!

Sand Creek Golf CourseOrion at Sand Creek

A night at the Chucker's game! 

Orion with dead aim!

Three in the target at 100 yards!

Elle at Tautphus Park

Whee!

Elle and Red Robin

Kids in the pool!