Camels and Parties

Grandma Smith celebrated her 80th birthday in December. Here I am with my dad and mom. Nice family, don't you think?

In the photo below, I'm with Grandpa, looking at Grandma Smith's camel collection ... at the same party.

Abby and Great Grandma

Here Abby is enjoying having her great grandmother share a pop-up book with her. It was at Great Grandmother's 80th birthday party at the end of December 2007.

Michelle and John

L–R: Michelle Kogure and John Whipple, visiting from Hawaii during Christmas vacation 2007. The photo was taken at the condo of grandmother Donnette Stringham Smith in Lindon, UT.

Christmas Recital at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City

The photo below was taken on Christmas--25 December 2007--following a recital by Walter Whipple (second from right) at the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Pictured are (left to right) Barbara, Weldon, Walter and John. (The photo was taken by Michelle Kogure, visiting from Hawaii.)

Christmas Recital at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City

The photo below was taken on Christmas–25 December 2007–following a recital by my brother Walter (second from right) at the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Pictured are (left to right) Barbara, Weldon, Walter and John. (The photo was taken by Michelle Kogure, visiting from Hawaii.)

Santa's Surprise Visit, Christmas Eve 2007

I had almost forgotten what happened on Christmas Eve 2007 ... until I was looking through some of the photos on my camera. Cameron and his brothers, sister and cousins were just starting to gather on the evening of December 24th when we heard a knock on the door. Most of Cameron's siblings and cousins were afraid of the person who was at the door, but not Cameron! He sat on Santa's knee for the duration of the visit and had a great time. Yes, his siblings and cousins sat on Santa's other knee with some coaxing and some tears of fright, but they all wiggled and squirmed and tried to get away from Santa. This is one of many photos showing Cameron grinning from ear to ear as he sits on Santa's knee.

Abby, 23 Dec 2007

I snapped this photo of Abby two days before Christmas 2007, at a party at our house. I wonder what she was thinking?

Fun!

At our house, 23 Dec 2007.

Abby in the Glovers' Yard, 16 Nov 2007

Abby went for a walk around the neighborhood on 16 Nov 2007. As she walked by the Glovers' house, she spied a big rock and had to climb on it. This is the result. What a happy smile she has! (See, I told you I would make up for not having photos taken at the museum turn out very well!)

New Roof

In August 2007 my insurance company wrote to inform me that they were canceling my homeowner's insurance on October 20, because we hadn't re-roofed our house. (They said that they had notified us the previous October. My assertions about not receiving the notice fell on deaf ears.) I telephoned my cousin the roofer, who sold me a new roof. This photo--taken on October 8-- was 12 days before the deadline. Fortunately, the insurance company didn't cancel our insurance!

Actually, I don't mind getting a new roof. We've needed one for at least 15 years--since we moved into the house. I guess it was good to have a reason to quit procrastinating. The roof looks nice, don't you think! BTW, that is my Toyota Tacoma pickup in the driveway.

Rhine Cruise 2007 via Manhattan

In 2007 we took a cruise on the Rhine and other rivers in the area of Frankfurt am Main (sometime referred to at "Mainhattan" because of its skyscrapers. The cruise embarked from the Frankfurt airport. We decided to spend a day or two in Manhattan (New York City) on our want to "Mainhattan"

New York City, September 5, 2007

Our hotel (the Red Roof Inn) was across the street from the Empire State Building, so we walked to  that building on our first evening in New York City.

Barbara in the first-floor foyer of the Empire State Building

Visiting Thomas

Last Saturday we went to visit Thomas the Train. Besides the train ride, there were food, balloons, and fun entertainment. Here are Jaxon, Katie, Cameron and Bella.