Happy New Year!
Grand Canyon Addendum
Family members who have seen this video have requested that I post it. A kind of Grand Canyon addendum to our recent trip. I about fall over laughing every time I watch Jill’s little stumble.
.
Model Railroad Festival
One of the several rooms with layouts at the Ogden Union Station
Today we visited the Ogden Union Station to attend The Hostlers Model Railroad 2011 Festival. There were HO, N, G, O and S scale layouts in several rooms. During the three day show over 8,000 people will visit (it seemed like all of them were there right at the time we arrived).
The Hostlers Model Railroad Club was founded in February 1988 in Ogden and has now grown to over 180 members.
We headed straight for the model railroad layouts. There was a lot of them to see.
Watching the trains: Bryson, Sarah, Adelaide, Cassandra, Jill, and Aurora
There was even a large Lego Layout
Watching Trains
.
.
Climbing on Trains
At the Union Station are locomotives that were designed to pull large trains over steep Western terrain. The 833 steam engine (at left in the photo below) is a Union Pacific Northern. This 4-8-4 saw both freight and passenger service between Utah and Wyoming. Also featured is a restored Red Cross Hospital Car, Railroad Post Office Car and the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Cauldron Car.
The Ogden railyard has trains that you can climb on
Here is what it looks like on board a steam engine
They'll let anybody drive a train
Riding a Train
It is fun watching the model trains and climbing on some old full-size trains. But there is nothing like a ride in a train.
All aboard the train
Riding in the train even if it is just around in circles
.
The Long Train Movie
If you don’t have a movie for the evening then perhaps you could try this video. It doesn’t have much of a plot but there is one exciting part where one of the guard posts is knocked over. You can then watch it being put back in place. This video can also be used in place of a sleeping pill — no prescription needed. They way it works is to count the rail cars instead of sheep.
Sledding Near Miss
Sarah, Bryson, and Aurora ready to sled
There was snow on the ground so Adelaide, Sarah, the grandchildren, Jill, and I went sledding. We picked a very small hill for the grandchildren and took our cameras. Click on the images to enlarge. The videos are usually not visible in a feed reader. In the screencap below I have circled a girl in pink at the bottom of the hill. Keep your eye on her when you play the accompanying video of Bryson and I sledding.
Sledding near miss
Adelaide took the photograph below as we narrowly missed the little girl in pink. You can see how close we came. I still had the camera rolling.
The near miss, taken from a different angle
Aurora in the snow
Bryson with a snowball
Cassandra
Adelaide, Aurora, and Cassandra sledding
Sarah and Bryson sledding
Jake and Rachel’s Wedding Gift Opening Gathering
Yesterday Jake and Rachel opened their presents at their Wedding Gift Opening Gathering. It was hosted by Rachel’s mother and family were invited to attend. Jill and I took photographs of Jake and Rachel opening their gifts. Later I emailed the photographs to the givers with a short message. If you are thinking of trying this you could write something like this in your email:
Jake and Rachel received many wedding presents. When they were opened yesterday evening we kept track of who gave what so that we could send to the giver a photograph of the gift being opened. We hope that we matched the right gift with you. Jake and Rachel will be sending a traditional “thank you” presently.
It worked well when I tried this the first time at Steven and Adelaide’s gift gathering. But this time, with four grandchildren adding a significant distraction, our list of gift givers was not very easy to interpret at evening’s end and so far I have only sent out five emails.
From a male perspective the coolest gifts were tools and camping equipment. A local author gave a copy of her book, along with other gifts. Very cool.
Adelaide and Sarah at the wedding gift opening gathering
Of note was a personalized hymn book and a framed copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Jake and Rachel also received a lot of gift cards and cash which will be very helpful indeed.
Money, the ultimate gift card
Thank you to all who gave to help Jake and Rachel start their new life together. Your kindness and generosity was highly appreciated.
Wasatch Mountain State Park
I wanted to take my grandchildren camping so I made reservations for two campsites. I then invited the parents to go and before the day was out they were ready for the trip. So last weekend we went to Wasatch Mountain State Park. We camped overnight at Little Deer Creek Campground.
Here are a few of the photographs and videos taken by Steven, Jill, and Rick. Click on the images to enlarge. If you cannot see the videos, click here.
We unloaded and pitched the tents. We were only staying overnight but it seemed like we had food for a week. That’s Jill by the picnic table. The campsites were large, had running water, and some had shade. We had quite a view.
I brought plenty of wood for a fire to cook our hot-dogs.
Aurora was ready to eat…
…just about anything.
After we ate Bryson and Aurora put to good use the local materials that were lying around. Aurora used her truck to level the ground.
We had lots of adults to go around when the grandchildren needed to be held. Here is Sarah with Aurora.
Steven with Cassandra. Steven is the one on the right.
Derek with Bryson.
And me.
We retired to our tents while Jake slept out in the open.
In the morning, before breakfast, Derek took Bryson for a walk.
Jake is a handy guy to have around when you are hungry for some ham.
Sarah appears to be enjoying her breakfast.
Any left for me?
Before noon we broke camp and drove a few miles onto federal land to visit Cascade Springs in Uinta National Forest. The trail through Cascade Springs consists primarily of a raised boardwalk which crosses over a series of clear shallow pools. Calcite mineral deposits accumulated and formed terraces over which the water cascades.
Adelaide holds Cassandra, who didn’t really want to see running water just right now.
Jill loves the outdoors…
…while Cassandra has yet to make up her mind.
I do believe we will go camping again. There is no better way to spend the weekend than with family.
The water coming from the springs has made a long journey from limestone caverns deep within the earth. Forced through cracks and fissures, the water emerges here as “travertine”. The deposits have gradually accumulated to make the terraces for the pools at Cascade Springs. Approximately seven and one-half million gallons flow from the springs each day.
Independence Day Kaysville Rotary Run For Reading 5K
Davis High School Flag
This morning was the Independence Day Kaysville Rotary 12th Annual 10K and 5K Run / 5K Walk “Run for Reading” at the Davis High School Stadium. In 2009 there were 873 participants who entered, beating the previous year by over 200 runners. The proceeds of the $15 race registration will go towards the purchase of “I Like Me” reading books for Kaysville area elementary school children.
I was there to take a few photographs. Click on the images to enlarge.
Before the race
Sarah's with her friend Jennifer and her husband
Sarah, Derek, Jill, and Bryson
Bryson was not too thrilled at the early morning start to the race
Start of the 5K segment
Jill at the finish (39:25:00)
Derek, Sarah, and Bryson at the finish
Return From Texas Exile
Derek, Bryson, and Sarah
Perhaps the title of my post is somewhat over done but to me it seems like Derek, Sarah, and Bryson have been in exile. However, the part that says return is right on. Yes, Derek, Sarah, and Bryson are returning to Utah. Derek has found work in Salt Lake City and the family will be here by Memorial Day.
When Jill heard the news she was just ecstatic. Jill is not an emotional women (sounds contradictory, I know) but this once she was a whoopin’ and a hollerin’ all over the house. You could not find a happier woman in all of creation.
I am just glad it has finally happened, a lot sooner than I supposed. I admit the last month I have been praying every morning for them to return. Why am I then surprised when prayers are answered? Lack of faith I suppose.
One thing is known for sure. We won’t be letting them get away so easily the next time, if there ever is a next time.
Welcome home!
Photograph by Adelaide
Caption Competition #8
Sarah at Fort Worth Zoo
This photograph of Sarah was taken in April at the Fort Worth Zoo. You are invited to write a caption for the photograph.
Usually the prize is limited to Kaysville and environs but this time it is open to all. The prize is a One Hundred Trillion Dollar banknote. It is not worth anything except that to hold it is very worrying when you realize that your own currency could also end up hyperinflated. Especially with government borrowing at record levels. This 2008 uncirculated Zimbabwe banknote was part of the annual inflation rate of 89,700,000,000,000,000,000,000%.
Rachel holding Zimbabwe banknote
When you submit your caption include your email in the comment form. That way I can contact the winner for their address to mail the banknote. If you are reading my Facebook page, click on “View Original Post” to come on over to my blog. If I cannot obtain your address the prize will go to the second place winner.
Only myself and the judge are not eligible to win. Sharpen your keyboards and good luck with your captions. One hundred trillion dollars awaits you. Rachel not included.