Barricaded inside our house for 2 hours while a felon suspect was hiding on our neighbors roof. They didn't know he was hiding on the roof, they were checking our backyards and houses.
Looking out our front window we counted 13 cop cars. There were more but from our view that's all we could see. We had police/swat members in our driveway behind a vehicle with guns aimed, ready to shoot. This tile on our neighbors house moved and the swat members heard it, drawing their attention to the roof and that's how they found the suspect hiding behind this big bush on top of the roof.


The suspect left something behind in the bush.


A little excitement for the night. I wanted to take pictures of the happenings outside, but was afraid that any flash would draw fire. There were a lot of pistols and rifles surrounding our house and our neighbors houses.

Wednesday, July 27, 2011
San Diego California - My 50th Birthday Present (trip)
We took a trip to cool San Diego for my 50th birthday present.
Kenny, Tyler and Jen at Sea World.
(The Dolphin Show)




In front of the Shark Tank - we just got drenched on the "Atlantis Ride"




Jen and Tyler boogie boarding at Mission Beach.






Year ago - we used to stay at a little hotel on Mission Beach and behind the hotel was a couple of food/shops we used to visit. We had to visit our little taco shop on the beach. We felt a little Gordo after eating here. I had to take a picture of the bean and cheese burro I ordered. It was huge and tasty. Jennifer didn't like the whole pinto beans, she is used to them being refried. I thought it was tasty.








What is a trip to the beach without some yummy ice cream. The little shop was next to Tacos El Gordo. They make their own ice cream and have different specials each day. Yummy!!!!



We went to Beaumont Park on Mission Bay. The kids had me ride this ride that you spin around, both forwards and backwards as the ride goes in a circle. Fun times. I can still ride the rides at 50!



This ride is a little too scarry for me, but I can say I did it. I'm sitting next to Tyler, my hair is in my face and I'm kind of glad that I couldn't see, because it took you way high in the air, spinning and then like a pendulum it would swing down, and take you high up the other side.




Fantastic Trip for my 50th!

NEW YORK, NEW YORK!!!!

Kenny and I took a very last minute trip to New York to watch the NIT championship basketball game.
We had a fabulous trip.

This is my journal, since I don't journal like I should.

There are sooo many things to do and see in New York. Here are pictures of some of the sites we visited.

Empire State Building. It was raining and the visibility was "0" so we went up at 12:30 at night and saw the beautiful lights of New York City.



Neither picture is very flattering of me - but this is me on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building at 12:30 at night. It was VERY windy and COLD!



Rockefeller Center. Ice Skating in the rain?!

One of our favorite stores was the 3 story M & M store.

We took a harbor tour. This is our little yellow harbor tour boat. We were glad we could be inside because it was cold and rainy. Our tour was about the history of New York.

Time Square. WOW! Tons of people until all hours of the night and lots of lights


NBC Studios


This picture is either Time Square or just a picture of downtown New York. The signs were all lit up.


Kenny and John Hatch waiting for the subway. We took the subway to Chinatown and had some very authentic Chinese food. We were careful of what we ordered. We chose foods that we didn't have to worry about what was in them. We literally couldn't understand our waitress, so John asked to see what she had written down for our order, she showed us what she had written down and it was written in Chinese - no help at all.

The Statue of Liberty. It was alot smaller than I thought it would be. It was neat to see.

The reason we came - the NIT in the Madison Square Garden arena. It was sooo awesome. The feeling you felt when you walked in that arena was overwhelming. They had many pictures of historical events that took place in that arena on the walls as you entered. All I can say is AWESOME.
It also helped that we saw an exciting game in which Wichita won NIT champs.

Madison Square Garden again. We forgot our camera when we went to the game so I don't have pictures of things that we experienced inside.

I had to take a picture of all the cab cars that were whizzing by. We actually took one and it was terrifying. They drive fast and furious.

Outside of Grand Central Station Kenny found a street vendor and got himself a hot dog and some yummy nuts they cook right on the street.



The 3 famous bridges are behind us. I can only remember the name of the Brooklyn bridge which is directly behind us. The initials of the 3 bridges are BMW, but I don't remember what M & W stand for.



Kenny inside Grand Central Station. It was huge. Besides being a train/subway center, it was full of shops, food markets and food courts.

We visited most of the sites on foot - and our feet let un know about it. We did tons of walking in the cold/rain. Luckily they have a Starbucks on every corner where we visited for hot chocolate.
We also saw Central Park. No pictures - it was raining pretty hard so we didn't spend much time at Central Park. It is huge. A big city park in the middle of the city - thus the name Central Park.
We absolutely loved taking this trip. We feel very blessed to be able to go.
The End.

We went to St. Louis
1) to see the Archway to the West - we're underneath looking straight up.



We rode up in a little car inside this arch. At the top, Jess and I looking out at the city of St. Louis.



This is what we saw - the city of St. Louis, Missouri.




2) We also watched Graham's basketball tournament.






I love this team photo.






Hustling for the ball.




While we were gone Tyler accompanied the Mesa High Basketball team to the State Playoffs. Doug and Patty sent us this picture of Tyler at the Glendale Arena. Sounded like an ugly game for Mesa.



We've enjoyed following the "shockers men's basketball team". We will miss watching them. We don't want this season to end. Graham is a senior and is finishing this years season by playing in the NIT. He has a great work ethic - he works really hard at basketball and puts in extra time shooting after practice. He has been a good example to his teammates - now some of them stay and shoot after practice also. He has also been honored academically.

We stayed in the neatest little hotel. It had the feel of a bed and breakfast because it felt so homey/cozy, but it wasn't. They had delicious hot, homemade chocolate chip cookies every afternoon for us to enjoy after being gone most of the day to basketball games.
I wish I had a picture of it, but I don't.

I made some "worms" for my grandsons to eat. I thought they would really like them. Jaxon was not going to touch them. Jaxon agreed to taste them only if Boston and Jason would taste them. We all had to show Jaxon they were ok to eat, then he was a good sport and tasted them. They actually liked them.



3/12/2011

Tyler getting ready for his first date. Studly. We were gone so Jen helped him spruce up. So glad he brushed his teeth! (He is actually really good about brushing his teeth - so I shouldn't worry - but I do).

16 on the 16th

Tyler turned 16 on 1/16, and we held his Eagle Court of Honor on 1/29.
We were busy celebrating him. Tyler is very obedient. He never complains about serving others. He is quiet, yet he is heard.


Tyler in his 1st Suit. (Sorry we cut the top of your head off - in the picture)

McKay Angle, Jeremy Skelton and Tyler sang "Armies of Helaman" at their Court of Honor. I teared up a little. These are 3 very good, obedient kids and when they sang the words "we are as the armies of Helaman", I couldn't help but think that they really are.

Receiving their Cow Skull because they each went on the Mormon Battalion outing.

Sitting in the "holding" Eagle's Nest.

Wonderful grandparents attended the Eagle Court.

Tyler's family and future Eagle Scouts.

The Eagle Scouts.

They played a game that Tyler was so excited for. He wrapped up a jar of pennies with layers of newspaper and duct tape. The boys would roll the dice and whoever rolled doubles would get to try to open the wrapped present. The boys didn't know what was inside. Jen and I had put dollar bills in the jar, but Tyler (penny pincher) replaced the dollars with pennies. The kids went a little wild, tearing that thing open. It was fun to watch.


Kenny and Brother Stahle (one of Tyler's wonderful leaders) enjoying some cake and ice cream.

Tyler's Display table at the Eagle Court.

Tyler and Edward looking at McKay Angle's display table.

Tyler, McKay and Jeremy meeting with the man representing the Mormon Battalion.

McKay and Jake working on their gum art. They softened up their bubble gum then had to make a picture on an index card and then the adults had to guess what their picture was. Only boys could have fun with this.

Tyler D.J. & Rome working on their gum art.

Thank you to all who supported Tyler in his celebrations!