114 degrees and holding
It was so hot that we burned our feet just taking a few steps to the pool at Abbey Inn. I have never walked on hot coals before this.

Tuacahn preshow stage

The play was cirque du soleil with all the acrobatic aerial apes from top to bottom, left to right, and front to back. Even Tarzan and Jane had a swinging good time. Life in the jungle is good!

TRIP TO RICHMOND JUNE 9-JUNE 16

Luana in Washington D.C. Even Grandma Jenkins would be proud of her(One more Capital building to Visit.)

Watching Grandpa Jay sucking ketchup out of the little cups with a straw was a real treat. Even the grand kids went, ugh.


The girls crossing the D.C. mall that connects many of the museums, the Capital, and the Washington Monument.

At the end of the Civil war the soldiers in Lee's army were required to surrendered their rifles before returning home. The war was finally over and it was time to start the healing process. The joy of victory by the North was short lived because President Lincoln was shot and killed only two weeks after the war ended. Even to this day, more than 150 years later, many southerners have not given up hope of someday being their own Nation.






The Cemetery at Appomattox is a living reminder of just how deep the conflict between the South and the North effected so many families and lives. Brother against Brother, Father against Son, This war was not only fought on the battle Field but in hearts and souls of those involved in the conflict.

Appomattox: Listening to the words and feelings of a Union Soldier was a real eye opener. Through out each day, Actors representing both sides of the conflict describe their feeling about the war, and how hard it was on them and on their families back home.

Civil War site at Petersburg

Sorry Jay, they won't allow you to fire the cannon, besides, there is nothing to shoot where you are at.




In order to keep the Northern Armies from crossing into the area held by the South, wooden stake barriers like these were placed around areas of strategic importance to slow the enemy down enough so the Southern Army could more easily shoot the advancing Northern Army personnel.

Sunday, we went to the St. John's church to listen to a reenactment of Patrick Henry speech, 'Give me Liberty or Give me Death.' The St. Johns church was a very important site in the Freedom movement. This church was where many of the delegates from the Southern States met to discuss the possibility of breaking with England and creating a new nation which is now know as the United States.




This Vacation was a lot of fun, we not only got to see Laura graduate from High School, be we were also able to enlighten our understanding of History and to see and hear first hand the circumstances that caused the events we all read about in school. All in all, I would give our trip an A+.

We stayed at Abbey Inn just like always. We went to Tuachan and saw Big River and Les Miz. Big River made me think of Missouri and Hannibal since it is about Huck Finn. They flooded the stage just like I thought they would. It's been 9 years since I've seen Les Miz and I really liked seeing it again at Tuachan.

Swiss Days in Santa Clara are not as much fun as Midway.
For one thing it was too hot and they don't have as many booths. We did not get a Swiss taco but went to Del Taco instead since it is a lot cheaper.

The one picture we did not take while were were at Swiss Days is the one of President Uchtdorf. We shook his hand while we were at the Del Parson's booth, but I was so surprised seeing him there that I never took a picture of him, so just imagine this sentence is a picture.

McDonald's new menu (New Zealand only)

The Kiwiburger comes with egg and beets. Check out the prices.

yum-yum.