20th Anniversary!

Noble playing "Dark Horse" at the talent show at the high school.

As soon as we got off the plane, there was Michelle clapping that we had arrived. As you can see,...her cardboard of a husband is behind her.

Sara Palin was there to say "Hello" too.

Couldn't resist taking a picture of a Washington, D.C. plate. Notice the "taxation without representation"?

Todd and the White House. Boy they don't let you get very close and we would have to write our senator to get permission for a tour on the inside of the White House.

As close as my zoom lens could take us.
Trying to put our automatic shutter on and holding the camera. I was telling Todd, "smile" and he is saying "I don't think it is going to work". My head was right in front of the Lincoln Memorial I was trying to picture.

Todd with the Lincoln Memorial. You can see a high school band playing beautiful patriotic peices at the end of the reflection pool.

I am showing you how big the Washington Monument is at the other end of the mall.

The Lincoln stature was so impressive and so very large. It was a beautiful tribute. Downstairs it showed pictures of Martin Luther King where he made his "I have a dream" speech at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Todd said "It might take this country that long to get used to Obamacare." He was talking about the years from Lincoln to equal rights for all. I was filled with such deep appreciation for our country when I heard the patriotic music and saw the impressive Lincoln statue.

The highschool band laid out all of their instruments on the grass and had a picnic lunch under the trees by the reflecting pool.

The World War II monument was very beautiful with all of the states surrounding the fountains. We found Nevada.We went to the Smithsonian Museums and this was the sculpture garden. This is a massive spider.

This tree was about 20 feet high and made of aluminum.

This marble sculpture was intricate and fine. The marble book had individualized pages. I said to the museum helper , "Oh yes! Everytime I read a book I expose one breast." Without skipping a beat he said "Yes and notice the intricacy of her necklace." The sculptures were all done in the 15th century.

This looks like it could be George Washington, but it just said "Man facing a storm. This was a bronze about 18" high. I love how the horse is bowed and the cape is flying behind.

This was my favorite piece. It was called "The Adoration of the Shepherds". I loved that even the cow and donkey are adoring the Christ Child. This artwork was about 4 feet tall.

This is the bed that Lincoln died in. It is a little house across from the Ford theater where he was shot. They took him to the house across the street and he died the following morning. This room was so tiny that Todd and I's 4 poster log bed would not fit in this room.

This was the room Lincoln's wife waited in.

A silly rendition of Manny and friends for the talent show while the judges tallied the finals.

Well Todd and I were married for 20 years on April 29th. I arranged for us to fly to Washington, D.C. Todd had been there years before and wanted me to see it. I was so thrilled to find a good deal. We enjoyed the beautiful sights, history and weather. Everyone was so kind and answered our questions. We tried to find a nice restaurant for dinner on Friday night and a kind cab driver had us follow him about 7 miles to this wonderful conglomeration of restaurants. We chose a little steak place called M&S and it was probably the finest meal that Todd and I have ever eaten. What a wonderful memory of a kind cab driver.

The next day our plane did not leave until mid afternoon so we traveled to the temple. It was wonderful to see and do a few sealings. I loved the style and it reminded me of the Portland one and the LA one a bit.

Kalene, Cody and Carson came this weekend too. It was sad that we had already planned to go to D.C. but wonderful that they could stay at our home and attend Bill's Baby Boy's First Birthday. (Say that 3 times fast.) We loved having them and the kids hated to see them go because they were so fun. Alas Todd and I only saw them for a few hours before we flew out and when we arrived back home.

Todd's 45th Birthday

Devree with what she calls her "Frankenstien feet". She had knee socks on under her braces with big white socks, that Todd gave her, to put over her braces so she could match her Sunday outfit.

Dane was too far away to get a non blurry picture. He is at his "Earth Day" music concert.

Breakfast in Bed for Todd's birthday. This was at 5:30AM

I finished my "Pursuit of Excellence" and at our Stake Relief Society Conference, they presented me with a bag.

So our week was filled with a music concert for Dane, Todd's birthday, soccer, baseball and pole vaulting. Todd was trying to go to all three sports yesterday while I went to the Women's conference.

We had an awesome almost all day date on Thursday, Todd's birthday. He decided to go to a half day of work and then he came home and we went to the temple. It was a great way to celebrate. Dane said something funny about Todd. Todd asked Dane if he would take care of Todd when he got old. Dane started giggling. Todd asked "Why are you laughing?" Dane replied "You are already old, Dad."

So as we all get older, I hope you are making the most of this life. Are you enjoying it to the fullest? Yes! We are too!

Baseball to Scouting to Cuba

Shay at his Piano recital. He did very well. He had to get up early to go to a soccer game first, then the recital at 10am.

Dane had his first baseball game. He was getting ready to bat.

Here is "the lefty". He is the biggest and oldest of his team. He did awesome in he batting cage, but alas he didn't connect in the first game.

Shay trying his casting before he goes on his campout. He only had a rubbery octopus on the end. No hook. I had to tell him the story of the "Hooked Scout" so he would be careful.

He climbed the tree and said he was "learning to fish from a tree."

Dane with his team at opening day of baseball.

Devree and Beth (Noble's girlfriend) did a Spanish class project together. They did a poster about Cuba and had to find some clean phrases and their favorite is "The hair of the mango" which means it is too much. They are going to make some empanadas for their class on Wednesday. I told them they have to make extra so our family can enjoy them too

This video clip is of Noble doing his pole vaulting. He now has gotten to 9 feet. Todd and I were able to see him in Dayton when they had a track meet on Wednesday. A boy from Fernley won by getting over 15 feet. This is really the first year that Noble has been able to pole vault a few times. He should've started when he was a freshman but didn't think about it till now.

Today Dane did awesome at his game. He finally was able to connect and he hit the ball FAR! It was amazing and all of the coaches and myself thought it was awesome! I have twisted my ankle badly today during the opening day parade before Dane's baseball game. I am going to stay home from teaching my lesson tomorrow because I can hardly stand on it. Driving home from the game and pushing on the clutch just about killed me. Todd was gone with his scouts "Caving" and Noble was gone to a track meet all day, so no one to drive me to the emergency room.

But I have looked at it and I just think it is sprained, so no going to the doctor.

We are doing well and loving this spring weather we have. I started singing to myself driving down Carson street yesterday with trees in bloom down the center and on the sides, "Spring is bustin out all over". Which really should be "June is bustin out all over" from Carousel. I hope your week is beautifully "Springy".

Easter Break

Devree doing the "Little Rascals" wave.

Singing the National Anthem with the Advanced Choir.

Noble and his cheesy grin before he plays with the concert band.

Dane with his Pinewood Derby car that he carved and painted mostly himself.

Tanner and Danny getting his final weights in his car.

Sister Neumeister the cub master giving Dne his "Wolf" badge.

Noble and Spencer with Easter lunch.

Shay, Teara, Devree and Skyla with her ice cream birthday cake. Skyla turned 10!

Granny Lynn (Tammie's Mom) and her fiance.

Megan and Tammie trying not to get their picture taken.

Noble, Locey and Shay just out of the pool.

Busy finding Easter eggs.

Noble says "I never want to grow up so bring on the Easter baskets and the egg hunt".

What kind of egg is this? Dane asked.

My basket is getting full.

My hands are getting full.

Teara's beautiful smile.

Skyla found a few.

Having fun by the pool.

Muscle Men!

Ryland, Troy and Coy came for a visit.

Doug and Echael came for some games and dinner. Thanks for coming it was a lot of fun.

Dane and Ryland.

Grandpa and Troy. She got a little crown to put in her hair from kindergarten.

Having seafood at Laguna Beach.

Manny, Noble, Andria hiding her face, and Kyle. They came to pick up Noble and take him to Long Beach and then all of them will fly back.

Grandma, Grandpa with the towel so he doesn't get too sunburned and Devree.

Grandpa got too tired the first day so he stayed in the car for the second day of beach. We found the Presbyterian church that Grandpa went to bible school at 72 years ago when he spent his summers in Laguna Beach.

Devree and Grandma watching the waves.

Todd, Shay and Dane facing the powerful short waves. They pummeled Dane so badly he lost his shorts one time and the next the life guard came to see if Dane was okay.

Coming out of the beating of the waves.

Dane said "I am tougher than the waves!"

We got to see all of the General Conference sessions and had so much fun visiting family and seeing all of the beautiful spring of California. The beach was perfect and beautiful. What a wonderful Easter break all of us had.

Thanks to Ky, Tammie, Grandma and Grandpa for our wonderful stay. We love all of you and can't wait to get together again soon. Probably for EFY in June.