The ward had a bike ride around Grafham Water. It's about 10 miles around the lake on good trails. Everyone made it including Brittany. Sunday, September 20, 2009
Ward Bike Ride
The ward had a bike ride around Grafham Water. It's about 10 miles around the lake on good trails. Everyone made it including Brittany. 
Steve
Our house came with a very large hedge named Steve. We thought that Steve was looking a little ragged and he needed a hair cut.
Steve is so large that Stuart had to stand on top of him to give him a trim. Funny thing is that Steve apparently thought Stuart might taste good. So about half way down the hedge, Steve swallowed Stuart. One minute Stuarts was there and the next he was gone. You could here him screaming though. Must have upset Steve because he spit him back out.
Steve is so large that Stuart had to stand on top of him to give him a trim. Funny thing is that Steve apparently thought Stuart might taste good. So about half way down the hedge, Steve swallowed Stuart. One minute Stuarts was there and the next he was gone. You could here him screaming though. Must have upset Steve because he spit him back out.Saturday, September 19, 2009
Stuart's ROTC class
Stuart is taking an ROTC class this year at the suggestion of his counselor. The curriculum is aerospace science, which is perfect since he wants to be an aerospace engineer for NASA. He has gotten very involved and is having a great time with it. He is part of the ROTC drill team and color guard and is also in the rocket club. Today he is doing the flag ceremony for the football game and is part of the ceremony at a wedding.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Newsflash
We are Grandparents! Benjamin Nathan was born on September 12, 2009 to Kenny and Rachel. He was born at 7:04, weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz and is 20" tall. This is one grandma that is really wishing she was in Pullman, Washington right now holding that little guy.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
School has started
The kids started at their new schools this week - Brittany at the Elementary school and Madison and Stuart next door at the Middle/High school. They are finding it different from what they are used to, but seem to be settling in. They all ride the same bus - a charter bus - or coach as they call it here. The bus stop is at the end of the village next to us, so we have to drive them and pick them up every day. We don't mind however, since the base is a half hour drive from our house.
The schools are much smaller than what they are used to. There is about one class for each grade at the elementary school and the middle/high school is very small. I don't know how many students are in the middle school part, but the high school has about 400 students total. Last year's graduating class had 25 :) That being said though, we are finding some very positive things that come with being in a small school.
They have a good offering of honors/AP classes and since the classes tend to be smaller, the students don't get lost in the crowd. The teachers can adapt to each student's needs and pay attention if they aren't doing their best work. When we met with the school counselor to set up schedules, she ended up spending an hour!! with us to try to work out the best schedule for Stuart. The principal even took the time to come in for a few minutes. The counselor and principal had some excellent suggestions to help Stuart get ready for a career as an aerospace engineer at NASA. They suggested some classes we hadn't considered before that would be helpful in getting a scholarship. All in all we were very pleased.
I do have to say though, that I'm finding the adjustment back into military life a bit interesting. The first day of school it was MANDATORY that both Ken and I be there most of the day (it was like a back to school night). That is something I always go to anyway, but somehow being told that it is mandatory brings out the rebellious side in me :) Everywhere we go, something is mandatory. I'm getting really tired of that word.
Enough complaining. Life is good. We are enjoying it here. We like our ward and are making friends. We miss our friends back home terribly, but know we are supposed to be here, for whatever reason.
The schools are much smaller than what they are used to. There is about one class for each grade at the elementary school and the middle/high school is very small. I don't know how many students are in the middle school part, but the high school has about 400 students total. Last year's graduating class had 25 :) That being said though, we are finding some very positive things that come with being in a small school.
They have a good offering of honors/AP classes and since the classes tend to be smaller, the students don't get lost in the crowd. The teachers can adapt to each student's needs and pay attention if they aren't doing their best work. When we met with the school counselor to set up schedules, she ended up spending an hour!! with us to try to work out the best schedule for Stuart. The principal even took the time to come in for a few minutes. The counselor and principal had some excellent suggestions to help Stuart get ready for a career as an aerospace engineer at NASA. They suggested some classes we hadn't considered before that would be helpful in getting a scholarship. All in all we were very pleased.
I do have to say though, that I'm finding the adjustment back into military life a bit interesting. The first day of school it was MANDATORY that both Ken and I be there most of the day (it was like a back to school night). That is something I always go to anyway, but somehow being told that it is mandatory brings out the rebellious side in me :) Everywhere we go, something is mandatory. I'm getting really tired of that word.
Enough complaining. Life is good. We are enjoying it here. We like our ward and are making friends. We miss our friends back home terribly, but know we are supposed to be here, for whatever reason.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Trip to Wales in August
Well, I'm back again. Sorry, the pictures are in reverse order. But I'm probably the only one that knew that.
So in August we went to North Wales. The kids wanted to see castles. And they had to be big castles and not the pretty little things they had seen so far. So off to Wales we went.
This is Harlech Castle. It was made famous in the song "Men of Harlech". I bet Tom is the only one to know that.
North Wales has some pretty scenery. This is a waterfall we found in the south part of Snowdonia.
On the path up to the waterfall we found some caves and a few mine shafts. Most had flooded but this one wasn't to bad.
This is a World War II crash site. The plane was a P-47 that was on a training mission to RAF Valley in 1943. The pilot was caught in low cloud and flew into the mountain and was killed. The site is rather remote so the wreckage was not recovered.
This is the mountain above the bunkhouse we stayed at. Mid Wales is very different from the north. It has hedges and no stone walls. Apparently they just started getting TV reception in the 1980's.
This is the village of Beddgelert. It is the site of the grave of Gelert the dog. If you don't know then Wikipedia. It is a very pretty village. You can guess what the next stop is...
This is the bridge in Beddgelert. The hotel on the other side has a meteor inside that crashed through the roof in 1949. No one was hurt but I might think twice about staying there.
No one in a castle was ever in a hurry. If they were they would break their necks running down these stairs.
The inside of Caernarfon Castle. Most of the large castles in Wales were built by Edward I(Longshanks) to subdue the Welsh. This is where the Prince of Wales is invested so the castle is in pretty good shape. This is to follow the tradition of Edward I making sure his son was born here so the Welsh would have a prince.
This is outside Caernarfon Castle in the town. See the signs, they are all in Welsh and English. Most people in North Wales speak Welsh as their primary language. You will hear it everywhere you go. This is amazing considering not too long ago it was almost lost like the Cornish language.
Love those bakeries. Unfortunately in Northamptonshire we don't seem to have too many good bakeries. But Wales has some wonderful places to get your sugar fix.
Some of the scenery on the south side of Mount Snowdon.
Stuart hoping he's going to get to drive down this little road.
Some wonderful scenery in North Wales. It's no wonder it has so many legends like
King Arthur and Branwen, Daughter of Llyr.
This is on the Isle of Anglesey at South Stack. These flowers went as far as you could see.
These are flowers that came from South Africa called crocosmia. They grow all over Wales and Cornwall. We tried growing them in Idaho and got blooms one year but that was it. They grow wild on the sides of the roads here.
This is South Stack Lighthouse or in Welsh Ynys Lawd. The light house was completed in 1809. Not far from here was a Roman sentry station and and a iron age settlement.
Us at South Stack.
Lots of pretty flowers.
In Conwy we found this shop selling armour and swords among other things. So if you decide to go on crusade or go viking, after you stop at the "Ole Trip to Jerusalem" pub you need to talk to this guy. He can kit you out in anything you need from early greek to late medieval.
Here we are down at the harbour in Conwy. Lots of boats here. We saw a bunch of kids trying to catch crabs on the side of the dock.
OK, try to figure this out. The average size of a house in England is about the size of your shed back home. (and you think I'm kidding) So what do we have, some morbid competition to be the smallest of the small. I know of at least two other "Smallest House in Britian" houses. Of course the other end of the spectrum is equally as entertaining. Most large houses would be larger than a warehouse. But what the heck are you going to see in the smallest house? "Here is the bedroom, and if you just squeeze past the Loo you will pop out the backdoor".
Stuart on the dock on Conwy
No, not a troll or a gremlin. It's Madison at one of the doors to the towers at the city walls around Conwy. Conwy has most of its city wall still in place. The only thing I can figure out is that this part of Wales has enough rocks on the ground that no one felt inclined to pull down the walls to build their house.
Us on the city wall at Conwy. You can see Conwy castle behind us.
So in August we went to North Wales. The kids wanted to see castles. And they had to be big castles and not the pretty little things they had seen so far. So off to Wales we went.This is Harlech Castle. It was made famous in the song "Men of Harlech". I bet Tom is the only one to know that.
North Wales has some pretty scenery. This is a waterfall we found in the south part of Snowdonia.
On the path up to the waterfall we found some caves and a few mine shafts. Most had flooded but this one wasn't to bad.
This is a World War II crash site. The plane was a P-47 that was on a training mission to RAF Valley in 1943. The pilot was caught in low cloud and flew into the mountain and was killed. The site is rather remote so the wreckage was not recovered.
This is the mountain above the bunkhouse we stayed at. Mid Wales is very different from the north. It has hedges and no stone walls. Apparently they just started getting TV reception in the 1980's.
This is the village of Beddgelert. It is the site of the grave of Gelert the dog. If you don't know then Wikipedia. It is a very pretty village. You can guess what the next stop is...
This is the bridge in Beddgelert. The hotel on the other side has a meteor inside that crashed through the roof in 1949. No one was hurt but I might think twice about staying there.
No one in a castle was ever in a hurry. If they were they would break their necks running down these stairs.
The inside of Caernarfon Castle. Most of the large castles in Wales were built by Edward I(Longshanks) to subdue the Welsh. This is where the Prince of Wales is invested so the castle is in pretty good shape. This is to follow the tradition of Edward I making sure his son was born here so the Welsh would have a prince.
This is outside Caernarfon Castle in the town. See the signs, they are all in Welsh and English. Most people in North Wales speak Welsh as their primary language. You will hear it everywhere you go. This is amazing considering not too long ago it was almost lost like the Cornish language.
Love those bakeries. Unfortunately in Northamptonshire we don't seem to have too many good bakeries. But Wales has some wonderful places to get your sugar fix.
Some of the scenery on the south side of Mount Snowdon.
Stuart hoping he's going to get to drive down this little road.
Some wonderful scenery in North Wales. It's no wonder it has so many legends likeKing Arthur and Branwen, Daughter of Llyr.
This is on the Isle of Anglesey at South Stack. These flowers went as far as you could see. 
These are flowers that came from South Africa called crocosmia. They grow all over Wales and Cornwall. We tried growing them in Idaho and got blooms one year but that was it. They grow wild on the sides of the roads here.
This is South Stack Lighthouse or in Welsh Ynys Lawd. The light house was completed in 1809. Not far from here was a Roman sentry station and and a iron age settlement.
Us at South Stack.
Lots of pretty flowers.
In Conwy we found this shop selling armour and swords among other things. So if you decide to go on crusade or go viking, after you stop at the "Ole Trip to Jerusalem" pub you need to talk to this guy. He can kit you out in anything you need from early greek to late medieval.
Here we are down at the harbour in Conwy. Lots of boats here. We saw a bunch of kids trying to catch crabs on the side of the dock. 
OK, try to figure this out. The average size of a house in England is about the size of your shed back home. (and you think I'm kidding) So what do we have, some morbid competition to be the smallest of the small. I know of at least two other "Smallest House in Britian" houses. Of course the other end of the spectrum is equally as entertaining. Most large houses would be larger than a warehouse. But what the heck are you going to see in the smallest house? "Here is the bedroom, and if you just squeeze past the Loo you will pop out the backdoor". Don't get me going on the water pressure.
Stuart on the dock on Conwy
No, not a troll or a gremlin. It's Madison at one of the doors to the towers at the city walls around Conwy. Conwy has most of its city wall still in place. The only thing I can figure out is that this part of Wales has enough rocks on the ground that no one felt inclined to pull down the walls to build their house.
Us on the city wall at Conwy. You can see Conwy castle behind us.Friday, July 31, 2009
London in July
Howdy, so I'm taking over the blog for a bit to get us caught up. It's been a busy summer and Julie is still pretty busy doing some canning. So you're stuck with me ;-)
Back at the end of July Madison and Stuart went away to Young Mens Camp. While they were gone the rest of us traveled to London for the day.
We made it to Buck house (Buckingham Palace) just in time to see the backs of a million Japanese tourists heads. I can never figure out why they all come to England but you see them everywhere in the summer. I wonder if the English people go to Japan? Maybe it is some sort of cultural exchange program.
Anyway, we did manage to see the guard leaving as they went back to the barracks.
These guys might look the same but, surprise surprise, they are not. These are Irish Guardsmen. They have blue plumes and their buttons are in groups of 4.
Look Tom, no bagpipes. Not a Scotsman in sight.
Here are the girls with Ben who is very big indeed.
This fellow is from the Life Guards and is at Horse Guards. Like all the ceremonial guards they are here 24 hours a day. I used to have a little fun with these guys on previous trips. They are in a passageway at night and it is not too difficult to sneak up on them. And since all the Japanese tourists have gone home for the night it is also the best time to get pictures of them. So you sneak up on them and take a picture before they know you are there. I startled a Blues and Royals trooper doing this one night. I thought he was going to tip over when the flash went off. 
This is down on the strand next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliment. Across the Thames you can see the National Aquarium and the London Eye. Just to the left and behind the Aquarium is the Hospital that Florence Nightingale, The Lady of the Lamp, worked at.
This is Horse Guards Parade. The fellow above is on the other side of the passage way that goes through the building in the center. The Parade is where Henry VIII used to come for some jousting when he was bored of cutting off his wive's heads. Which really is not entirely a fair assesment of Henry since he only did that twice.
The train trip back home. Trains are really nice. When you totally wiped out you just hop on the train and in a hour your back home. Or at least close.
Back at the end of July Madison and Stuart went away to Young Mens Camp. While they were gone the rest of us traveled to London for the day.
We made it to Buck house (Buckingham Palace) just in time to see the backs of a million Japanese tourists heads. I can never figure out why they all come to England but you see them everywhere in the summer. I wonder if the English people go to Japan? Maybe it is some sort of cultural exchange program.
Anyway, we did manage to see the guard leaving as they went back to the barracks.
These are soldiers from the Grenedier Guards. Notice the white plume in the bear skin hat and the evenly spaced buttons. From what I understand ceremonial guard duty is horrible duty. So I assume these guys are looking forward to going back to Afghanistan in October.
These guys might look the same but, surprise surprise, they are not. These are Irish Guardsmen. They have blue plumes and their buttons are in groups of 4.
Look Tom, no bagpipes. Not a Scotsman in sight.
Here are the girls with Ben who is very big indeed.
This fellow is from the Life Guards and is at Horse Guards. Like all the ceremonial guards they are here 24 hours a day. I used to have a little fun with these guys on previous trips. They are in a passageway at night and it is not too difficult to sneak up on them. And since all the Japanese tourists have gone home for the night it is also the best time to get pictures of them. So you sneak up on them and take a picture before they know you are there. I startled a Blues and Royals trooper doing this one night. I thought he was going to tip over when the flash went off. 
This is down on the strand next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliment. Across the Thames you can see the National Aquarium and the London Eye. Just to the left and behind the Aquarium is the Hospital that Florence Nightingale, The Lady of the Lamp, worked at.
This is Horse Guards Parade. The fellow above is on the other side of the passage way that goes through the building in the center. The Parade is where Henry VIII used to come for some jousting when he was bored of cutting off his wive's heads. Which really is not entirely a fair assesment of Henry since he only did that twice.
The train trip back home. Trains are really nice. When you totally wiped out you just hop on the train and in a hour your back home. Or at least close.
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