What Have I Been Doing Lately?

I went to the Nauvoo Temple and also stopped at various favorite spots.


The end of Parley Street. Some of you reading this will remember walking here after the prophet suggested we do it following the dedication of the Nauvoo Temple. This is where the pioneers crossed the frozen Mississippi to escape.


Well, I'm not quite sitting in the rocking chair yet, but I'm loving the role of grandmother!
I love the statues in the garden behind the Visitor's Center.

Joseph and Hyrum statues. The background of the Mississippi River is very pretty and unobstructed by buildings now.



I also bought a new car! I know, I know, it looks a lot like my Caravan - exactly the same color, but it is a Honda CRV. I didn't really need the 7 passenger vehicle, but I like to sit up high, so this seemed perfect. It gets good mileage and has great safety ratings, so I'm happy:)

The weather is so beautiful right now. It cools off at night and we have been having lots of sunny days. My garden is still producing tomatoes and cucumbers - I have to give most of them away or I would be overrun! School is going well, so anyway, life is good:)

St. Louis Zoo

I was able to spend a few days with Michael, Lea, and Mazy when I flew in to St. Louis from Salt Lake City last week. We braved the HOT weather and went to the zoo one morning. It really is a wonderful place to go especially with Mazy who, at about 15months old, loved all the animals!


Wish I could go in there and touch him!


These monkeys/chimps were right next to the window eating lunch:)


The penguins were really cute as you can see by Mazy's reaction!


Plus, the exhibit was really cool - literally - the penguins were so cute marching around!



Chillin' with Grandma - I was holding the camera with one hand - not the best shot.

So my travels are over - it was so fun visiting kids and grandkids!!

When I turn the calendar over to August, I will have 12 days until school starts - pffffft!

Jack's Blessing & Visiting in Provo

My "cross country "trip in the Caravan wasn't too bad! I drove 10 hours the first day then 11 hours the second day and made it to Salt Lake where I stopped off at the Church Distribution Center. Then I joined Brian and Megan and her family for dinner at her uncle's house in Alpine, UT. I had never been to Alpine before. My GPS took me over a mountain which turned out to be the scenic route:)

Jack continues to be a very happy baby. One night he slept for 6 hours straight!



Jack is all dressed up and on his way to church for his blessing:)

Brian gave Jack a beautiful blessing on Sunday, July 11, 2010. Also in the circle were Rob, 2 of Megan's uncles, and her brother Brian. Megan's Aunt Angie invited us all to Alpine again for lunch after the blessing.



Claire is always fun. Here she is enjoying Grandpa McEwan's favorite ice cream from the Creamery at BYU:)



Playing peek-a-boo with Grandma at the jungle gym in a park near her new home in Provo

Trying on Grandma's reading glasses:)

Putting on "lips" - Grandma had way too many lip glosses and Claire knew where all of them were.

Going through Grandma's purse - always an adventure!



Today is Saturday already! We went to the Bean Museum and saw all the animals. There was even a reptile show. Then we enjoyed Red Lobster for a late lunch. Yummm...

I love summer vacation!!

Bermuda / Bahama cruise

We enjoyed our cruise, which left from Cape Liberty, NJ going to Bermuda, Bahamas, and Coco Cay. This one was more relaxing, more sea days, and beautiful weather.
I had never seen the Statue of Liberty so I was pretty excited when we sailed by it even though it wasn't close up!


Every night there was a new towel animal to make us laugh:)

This one was wearing my reading glasses!

These are the homes in Bermuda with white roofs. Supposedly the residents collect the rain water that comes off the roof, which is made more base (instead of acid) from the material the roof is made of.

We are at the top of an old lighthouse at the very northern tip of Bermuda.

Evening on deck is a favorite time - warm with a little wind - so pleasant!

We did lots of snorkeling and sailed a small Hobie Cat one day. I don't take the camera with me when we go out on excursions and to the beaches etc. so no pictures, only the ones in our memories!

Jack Allen McEwan is born!

JACK ALLEN MCEWAN
Born at 6:18 am
On 6-18-10
8 lbs. 15 oz.
21 inches
Born at home:)
Megan held him first; Brian cut the cord
Welcome to the family!

Isn't he handsome? Brian said he didn't cry at all - just looked around:)

Megan did great! Brian was the coach!



Jack being weighed by the midwife.


Claire got a new baby too!

Everyone is doing well:)
They are moving from Sequim, WA to Provo, UT around the 4th of July. We'll be going out for the baby blessing. Can't wait to see them in person!!

Thanks to Megan's mom, Susie, for the pictures!

Spring in Henderson

Our first strawberry picking from the new patch yielded these beauties - Rob prepared the plot last year and I planted the whopper variety. Yummy!

The clematis come back faithfully every year!
We have a number of flowering bushes in our back yard.


One lonely peony.
This is the third year for our fruit trees and the first time we have seen any fruit. We're excited to see if they mature.
These iris grow and multiply and are so pretty in May.


Wish this was in my front yard, but I can enjoy it while I'm mowing that big back yard!

Mazy is One Year Old!

We drove to St. Louis (Kirkwood) to celebrate Lea and Mazy's birthdays and Mother's Day. Lea and Mike had a party for Mazy with many of their ward friends and children attending.


Isn't Mazy's cake beautiful? It was made with love by Lea!


Grandma and Grandpa enjoying Mazy's company:)

Mazy loves playing with balloons!

She's good at discovering presents:)



Grandpa and Mazy playing