Although I know you can't really see the details of my village, you can see its size and scope. This year we used 3 long tables and one other piece of furniture. It covered 1 and 3/4 walls and the corner. On top of the "mountain" which Garth built, is the North Pole. The village is one of my favorite decorations for the holidays and I've been collecting its pieces for over five years ever since my beloved twin sister bought my first house for me in a hardware store in The Dalles.

I don't think many people appreciate "villaging" and certainly do not understand. I've deliberately involved my whole family for many years. This year our favorite Scrooge got much more involved than usual and even called it "our"! He actually bought some wonderful pieces so we could construct a wharf. The village is basically Victorian with just a little modern here and there. It has a train station and no train. It has a mountain church and a brewery (Jennie bought it one year not knowing what a brewery is) and it has a popcorn vendor--a piece which enchanted DJ. People buy pieces for me to add. Cynthia and Derlyn gave me a wonderful quilt shop this year. Our former bishop suggested that I give it a name because it's getting so big. When I told our neighbor how little kids love it, he said: "It's their kind of place!" It's a nuisance to create and it's agony to take it down and put everything away, but, when all its lights are on, it does look like a happy place where everyone would like to be. It brings out the best in us.

Once again everything is in place in the Christmas closet which contains our decorations and village--a daunting task at best. We're happy to put it away and this time it will have to stay for nearly two years. Will I want to send it to Goodwill when I return? Or will I find some new pieces for it in faraway places with strange sounding names? I hope so.

Gingerbread Houses

Sorry I didn't get my blog done sooner! You missed the gingerbread house party yesterday. We warmed up the inside while the snow continued unabated. Here's what you missed:

Ready for the party. The houses were put together by Julirae with help from a holiday "engineer".

A little sustenance before the good stuff!
Some houses took a joint effort.
Some took more concentration than others.
Baby needed entertainment, too.

Hail, Hail the gang's all here except the ones who are camera shy!
Our own little village!

We'll see that invitations get out earlier next year! See you there!

TOYS

Big boy toys without much snow:

Big boy toy with a lot of snow:

Mom's toys taking over the front room:

Little girls toy causing delight:

HAPPY HANUKKAH

A Christmas Survey

I uploaded this picture for Joe. I found it while I was getting some of my many pictures transferred from clogging my hard drive to a CD. It's Darby in 1999. We do miss these babies.
I recently encountered this Christmas survey and accepted the blogger's challenge. Here goes:
Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate, hands down. One bout of egg nog is enough for me. Our favorite is Swiss Miss.
Does Santa wrap presents or put them under the tree? I wish Santa did wrap the presents because I'm terrible at it. Most presents are wrapped.
Colored lights on tree or white? An elderly gentleman recently asked me this question. When I told him colored lights, he gave me the thumbs up. I put colored lights because that's what I have, but I don't mind the others.
When do you put your decorations up? I usually begin with my village right after Thanksgiving. The village takes almost a week. It gets bigger and bigger. Every year someone (including myself) adds more pieces. Cynthia and Derlyn gave me a cute, cute quilt shop this year. This year we started way early, but I think it's because we probably won't be doing much decorating next year.
What is your favorite dish (excluding dessert)? No contest, turkey! I love turkey.
When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm not sure since I'm now so old! But I think it was when Julia spilled the beans to my brother Joe because she had just found out herself.
Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not usually. When the kids were little and we had pajamas they were allowed to open those for pictures the next day.
How do you decorate your tree? With as much help as I can. This year our tree is loaded with ornaments and balls. I usually have someone else do it if I can talk them into it. Grandpa did help with the lights this year and helped get Santa to go forward around the top instead of flying by the seat of his pants.
Snow! Love it or Dread it? I dread it and I definitely don't like playing in it. I don't mind watching it fall or even enjoying its beauty as long as I'm inside and warm. I keep fearing that we'll be in some place like Buffalo, NY next winter.
Can you ice skate? No. I never had the opportunity to learn. I went with a roommate once in Provo, but I was a real klutz at it. No sense of balance. I remember that Arlo often talked about how much he loved ice skating.
Do you remember your favorite gift? I wasn't sure if this meant as a child. My favorite gift as a child was a Bible. My sweet Mother made many, many gifts for me over the years. I particularly remember some aprons she made for me from some well-worn gathered skirts she'd made for me as a teenager.
What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Another easy question to answer--family. I love having our family and friends here. We especially miss Janeen and her family when they can't be here. Family is why I like nativities so much because they're the reminder that a tiny, holy baby came to Earth to intercede for us and to be our Savior. My family is the reminder that I need to try to be as kind and loving as I can because they are all so good to me.
What's your favorite holiday dessert? Fudge. My mother never was able to make fudge very well (nor do I) and we most often ate it with a spoon. When I was visiting Julia recently she was going to attend a recipe exchange luncheon and I suggested we make fudge and take them all spoons. Recently, we've enjoyed the trifle (spelling?) that Steve has made for us. I also like chocolate covered cherries. My dad always gave his mother a boxful for Christmas.
Which do you prefer: Giving or Receiving? Giving. We often chuckled at some of the gifts my mother made for us or gave us from The Big Store (inside joke. My mother's boyfriend was a garbage collector and items were rescued from his collections. Thus, the Big Store) Remember the flowered pajamas, Jeff? The fact is that we loved Mother so much for her sweet giving. She never missed giving everyone a present. From her, I received the need to make presents for my family.
What is your favorite Christmas song? I don't have just one favorite: O Holy Night, I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, Silent Night
Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I like them. I gave them for so many years to students that I like to have them around. I'm not crazy about all the new flavors.

Now I challenge you to blog this or if you don't have a blog--send us an e-mail.

Unscrooged

For years, I've had a village which has become quite extensive. I usually put it up right after Thanksgiving with help from the grandkids and kids. This year I had a new helper to my great surprise. In case, you're wondering, he's building the North Pole and telling me not to take his picture. In fact, he's becoming quite vocal about me not putting him on the blog all the time.

We bought a rather big Christmas tree earlier than usual. Normally, the tree is my bailiwick--even the grandkids get tired of doing that. But look at this--

The village is up, but the gifts aren't finished yet. I'm always so perverse because I take real pleasure in making gifts for my family. That means Santa's workshop is open for days on end and Santa's helper is working at gifts and not doing other things. This year has been especially perverse! Ah well. Tis' the season and I adore it!

LIFE IN A WHIRLWIND

Our last week was a whirlwind of activity. Here are some images:

This is Angie at her science fair. She and her partner did over 60 presentations that day. They froze goldfish--you'll have to ask her. Isn't she beautiful?

The favorite activity at Thanksgiving was the Wii and Andrew's Scene It game.

Here we all are in our garage. Not an ideal setting but no one went away hungry.

Jennie and Ty weren't able to make it until the next day. Isn't this a cute picture?

I, unfortunately, forgot my camera for the last two activities. On Friday, we had an extended Gunter family skating party at the Rollarena in Richland arranged by our niece Wendy. What a fun redo of an old family favorite. We finished off our weekend with the annual Othello Choral Society Christmas cantata which was beautiful. They perform the cantata in the Mormon Church, the Catholic Church and, on the final weekend, at the Presbyterian Church in Moses. It's an amazing production for such a small group.

TWINSHIP

People are very funny sometimes. This week I spent a few days with my sister working with her on Christmas projects. When we went to Church, a lady said, "You don't even have to look in the mirror to put on your makeup, you can just look at your sister!" So many people ask us what it's like to have a twin--we don't know what it's like not to have a twin. Our husbands proved this time once again what good sports they are. They know that we need to visit with each other from time to time so they provide that time for us. Tom worked on his yard which is just beautiful. Garth equiped our upstairs bedroom closet with new shelves. The doors are next. Life is good and so is everyone.

Birthdays and Blowhards and Bravery

I didn't realize until this moment what my title implied for this picture of Brandt blowing out his candles! We have some November birthdays--Brandt, Dawniella, Greg, and Kat. Did I forget anyone? On Saturday we celebrated the big 50 for Brandt and the first birthday for Dawniella. Julirae's family has a tradition of giving the children a cake of their own on their first birthday. They take off their clothing and then let them eat the cake any way they want. Dawniella was very conservative about hers. Dawniella just starting taking a few steps about three days before, but wouldn't perform for us while we were there. It was a loud, but fun party.

On to the real blowhards! I hated this election! I hated listening to lies, inuendos, mud-slinging and putdowns. Obama was not my personal choice for President because he's inexperienced and a non-Christian and, to me, un-American. However and to avoid any nasty replies, he is the President and I will support him in that. Perhaps he will prove himself to me and I won't have to avoid listening to him by muting the TV when he's on. I hated that billions of dollars which could have been used to alleviate suffering worldwide was used on this campaign-- $150, 000 for a wardrobe? Excuse me?

I couldn't help but think about my first experience at voting for President. My dad was a dyed-in-the-wool Nixon fan. He hated JFK's youth and inexperience. He coached me carefully about Nixon. That year I went to BYU and my roommate was from Massachusetts. She'd spent her summer working on JFK's campaign. Together we went to political rallies on campus and helped make signs for the campus locations. JFK was going to represent the young. Other than that, I knew nothing about his politics. I always figured I cancelled out my dad's vote. The point is that there was no way JFK would not be elected just as there was no way Obama would not be elected. People voted with their hearts in both instances. I will have to pray fervently that the man has what it takes to lead this country and will remember the American values.



Today is Veteran's Day. I'm proud of those in my family who have served our country. Our ancestors have fought in many wars on both sides. Some have made the supreme sacrifice like my brother Joe. Besides teaching me about Nixon (and many other things, of course), my Dad made me a loyal American. I believe in America and her values. I get teary-eyed about our flag, our Pledge of Allegiance, our armed forces, patriotic displays. I'm grateful for my nephews Steve, Ben and Jacob who are presently in the military. Thanks to you all. God bless America and may He keep her safe.

QUIRKS

My niece Shannon, whom I love dearly, has tagged me to write six quirks about myself. It’s interesting to determine what your quirks are and what, exactly, is a quirk? Is it something you dislike? A prejudice? A bad habit? Anyway—here goes. These are my quirks especially ala my eternal companion who is quick to point them out.

1. I have to sleep on “my” side of the bed. Normally, I sleep on my left side and if it’s the wrong side of the bed, I just can’t get my shoulder in the right place. I’m really trying to learn to sleep on my back, but it’s not happening. Since I’m an insomniac what sleep I do get is important.


2. I am a patsy, an easy mark, an old softie. It doesn’t matter what it is, someone can easily convince me to support a cause, buy a product, or do it “their” way. When I resist, I feel terrible. I buy things that I don’t need just because someone else thinks I should or my conscience nags me. Case in point: the Paralyzed Veterans’ of America! In 2002, my Uncle Willis sent them my address and they’ve sent me address labels all these years with the wrong address! Do I send them back? No. Have I asked them to correct the address? Many times, but it’s never quite right. Do I send the money for them? Every single time! Do I use them? I can’t. They have the wrong address.


3. I am obsessed with buying “gadgets” for my hobbies most notably quilting. Here’s a picture all of the things that I have just for marking fabric. I’m like the Little Mermaid. “You need a freeesfkj? I have ten!” Need I say more? Thank goodness I have an indulgent husband. The dumb thing is that I get offended when he makes comments like “The kids are going to have a ball when they clean out the sewing closet after you die!” He’s right, of course.

4. Since I am a bibliomaniac, I read several books at a time. I always have a book at the table (Garth and I both read when we eat). I have a book on tape in the sewing room. I have an audiobook on my MP3 player and one on my iPod. And I have some kind of reading material in the upstairs bathroom. We always have a book on tape in the car. The weird thing is that I can still keep track of all these plots.

5. I like raw potatoes with lots of salt and I also like boiled potatoes (like the ones you prepare for potato salads). In the past couple of years, I haven’t done this as much lately because potatoes don’t have as good a flavor as they used to.

6. I am totally addicted to caffeine. My addiction started when I was in college and my newly baptized roommate bought us Cokes and peanuts to put in them. She called them Word of Wisdom parties. I’ve tried off and on for years to “kick” the habit, unsuccessfully. Honestly, I keep trying. Unfortunately, I don’t like anything diet. Anyone with any good suggestions to help, I would be grateful.

There, I’ve bared my soul. Now I tag Julia, Joe, Jeff, Julirae, Darla, and Jennie.

An important week

This is an important week for our nation. I hope everyone will vote according to your conscience, but the important thing is to vote. I saw a blurb on MSN about churches all over the country praying and fasting about the election. I'm doing the same. We're having our own hotly contested race for Grant County Commissioner as well as governor. Personally, I'm really tired of the mudslinging in both races. I'm rooting for the underdog in these two races--or, as in the commissioner race, the poorest. Actually, I've already voted because rural Grant County votes by absentee ballot.

Now the answers to last blog's pictures. Julirae had most of it right, of course, she lives here. And Steve got one right, too.

1. What you're not seeing in this picture is important--the old Farm Labor Housing is missing. Those buildings were torn down in a day practically. Some charitable group is building more low cost housing on that location.
2. Is indeed that closet in the dining room. Years ago Uncle Jay gave this to us and since it spent most of its years in the utility room as a broom closet, it had no shelves in it. I'd put a portable plastic shelf in there for its contents. One day when Dad was bored stiff, I suggested he make some permanent shelves and, by darn, he did.
3. Again, what you're not seeing is important. This is the huge, old Skone & Connors orchard on Hwy 262 just above the turn-off to Frenchman Hills Road. It, too, disappeared in an instant. We're assuming they're going to put in another one.
4. The old Dave's Rec Hall building had a recent facelift. This is Casa Miguel's (Dave's) and there's a matching Barra next door. Is Barra a Spanish word?
5. This is, indeed, Spud's. It is literally cut off because of construction of Royal Road. You can't get to Spud's in town, you have to go out to the highway. A lot of beautification is going in Royal City.

Tomorrow we go to the cardiologist again. We were very optimistic, but Dad's been having some breathing problems again. We'll see what happens. We love you all. Take care of yourselves in this impending "hard" winter.

Where on the Royal Slope Are You?

We have noticed many changes in our little part of the world. I apologize to those who haven't been to the Royal Slope. This blog is my own little guessing game. I've numbered each picture. As you look at them, consider that the clue may be not what you're seeing as much as what you're not seeing. All are somewhere on the Slope.

#1

#2

#3

#4 #5

Have fun guessing. I'll put the answers on my next blog or you can send me an e-mail with your guesses. Or you can put your guesses in the Comments.

We're in a holding pattern here until Monday when Dad goes back to the cardiologist. I'm working on Christmas gifts and Dad's been feeling quite good and has been a busy little beaver. He's now working on the upstairs bedroom closet. He's going to put in more doors like the Christmas closet. He wants to paint them a color. Any suggestions?

A Week without Doctors

Well, hopefully, we have a week without any scheduled visits to doctors or the hospital. Garth's been doing much better since we went last Tuesday and had the water removed which was preventing his lung from expanding properly. The cardiologist suggested it on Monday. When he told Garth that he wanted it done in the hospital in Wenatchee (our old stomping grounds!), he nearly came unglued. The doctor suggested it would take four hours and alerted us to some possible scenarios "in case of the worst". Apprehensively, we entered the doors of Wenatchee hospital (to whom we owe, presently, every possession we own) and we waited longer for the lab results than the procedure. Since then he's breathing easier and every day feels a little stronger. This morning I mentioned that he didn't seem in much of a hurry to get going and he said, "You forget. I'm convalescing." I think he has in mind me helping him with leaves and lawn mowing today. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Not much else is happening in our part of the planet. In fact, the favorite pastime lately is:

DANGEROUS READING

My sister calls them bathroom books--books which you leave in the bathroom and read only when you have lengthy business on the "throne". She keeps a well-stocked magazine rack in her bathroom. I just finished this mystery which took me several months because it was my bathroom book in the upstairs bathroom. The upstairs bathroom has a separate "throne" room (don't ask me why) which has no light so you can only read during the day; thus, a bathroom book can take weeks to read. Anyway. My DH (dear husband) is a "throne" reader from way back and rarely goes into the bathroom without a book or magazine. We've been known to have gun magazines, the Reader's Digest and the Ensign in our bathroom for purusal. I, for some reason, don't read very often in the downstairs bathroom any more since I had a discussion with our Relief Society president about her husband's "throne" reading. Paul reads literally for hours on the throne and it has led to a high incidence and much, much pain from hemorrhoids, but he continues the practice. Please tell me wise readers--does "throne" reading cause hemorrhoids? PS: I don't have hemorrhoids but someone I know and love well does.

IF YOU WERE A CATHOLIC. . .

This is a running joke between us and our cardiologist, Dr. Gorham. At first he mentioned that he'd never known of anyone who voluntarily came in to have a treadmill test done. We patiently explained the process for serving a mission. He keeps assuring us that he will be able to "get us ready" for our mission. One visit, his nurse made the statement that if we were Catholic we wouldn't be going through all of this so it's become a running joke. He mentions it every visit. I told him that if Garth were Catholic, he'd probably be dead.

We've had another week from hell! Tuesday we spent the morning at the coumadin clinic and doctor's office on what we thought was a routine visit. Dr. Hourigan did a "heart trace" and we went home. We had a great day. On Wednesday morning, Garth felt really great and we were just making plans for our day and our future when the phone rang. Dr. Hourigan wanted Garth in Wenatchee as soon as we could get there because he needed to immediately have a pacemaker implanted because the nerve which receives the signal from his natural pacemaker had been compromised because of the surgery and was in danger of severing. It was very, very scary. With great fear and trepidation, we gathered up our things, Julirae and Dawniella, and hurried to Wenatchee. Jeff met us there and everyone was on pins and needles again. Because heart attack victims were filling up the emergency room, the device wasn't implanted until the next day.




Garth has responded very well to it and is doing just fine. Having a pacemaker installed, apparently, is nothing compared to what he'd already been through.

It's certainly been an adjustment--all of this. It's rather interesting to face your own mortality every time you go to the doctor. We're finding some interesting results of all this. One is that, for both of us, our internal thermometers have changed. Or maybe we've just synchronized. We've become much, much closer and we are always asking if the other's all right. I'm still having blood pressure problems, but we're making adjustments in my medication. We have become very aware of our health! Please, please look after yours as well.

MINI MIRACLES

Today was a red letter day for me! After nearly four weeks of non-stop worrying, the cardiologist gave me a clean bill of health. After getting the horrendous report on the first treadmill, he changed one of my medicines and that, apparently, has done the trick now that I've had 2 treadmills, an electrocaridogram, and an angiogram. Don't even mention how much this is all going to cost! Hopefully, Medicare and our insurances will stem the tide. He gave me a lecture on my blood pressure (which, apparently, skyrockets during doctor visits and medical procedures) and a strong warning to change my lifestyle. I'm working on it.

Garth is doing better each day. He really gets exasperated that he's not healing faster and wants to be well now! We also learned that Ty and Jennie's little girl Marcie who will be four on Monday was the recipient of a mini miracle as well. She's struggled with her hearing for some time now and an astute physician (actually a pre-med student) found a small piece of metal in her ear which has caused her hearing problems. So life is progressing again. As soon as Garth gets his clearance from all these doctors, we'll have the bishop send our papers in.

Just in case you need some ideas for Halloween--let your child put on his/her own makeup!

BEFORE SEPTEMBER ENDS

My sister-in-law reminded me that I hadn't posted in September so even though I have book club in a half hour, I'm going to hurry and get a posting done. I also realized that summer has fled and autumn is upon us. We've had such a summer that I can only describe it in one word--challenging! We had our trip, reunions, and then we began to get our papers together for our mission! Whew! We're not sure yet if what happened next was a blessing or a curse. Actually, I shouldn't say that--as several people mentioned our mission has already blessed us and we haven't even left yet.

We both failed our required treadmill test and had to take an angiogram. Some time if you're overly curious, I'll tell you the whole gruesome story. I waved goodbye to Garth in his little hospital room as they took me to have the procedure. I got to go home that night (Sept. 11) but he didn't. They operated on him the next day for a quadruple bypass and a valve replacement. We were totally shocked. He's had his ups and downs in his recovery, but I think he's weathering well and will be up and about soon.

We're so eternally grateful for our good family, good neighbors, old friends, community members and on and on. Everyone has been so wonderful. We're grateful for each other. Just to show you how unprepared we were for the operation this is what Garth did the day before the angiogram.

Hopefully we'll get this made into rhubarb syrup for pancakes!

OUR SUMMER

Somehow August seemed to pass by without me noticing! It's been a month of reunions, family, and friendships. On this its last day, we pushed the button to electronically send our information to our bishop. He will review everything, add his own thoughts, and send it on to the Stake president who will do the same. They will both interview us for our worthiness to serve a mission and President Leavitt will forward everything to Salt Lake. Then, we're informed, we'll receive our call in due time. We'll keep you posted as things proceed. We believe it will be a few months before this all happens.
Some have wondered why we are going on this mission and to some we could never fully explain, but we're anxious to give our time and talents to serve the Lord. Truthfully we'd like to go on a genealogy mission, but we've agreed to go where we're called whether it's Potsdam or Portland. We've planned this mission since we first met and we're grateful that the Lord has given us this opportunity. We want you all to know that we will miss each of you terribly and realize that some (the babies) will not know us when we return, but we'll be only an e-mail or phone call away. I'll keep my blog and, hopefully, update it as often as I can. We hope our mission will serve as an example to our grandchildren to help them know the importance of serving the Lord.
Our plan of right now is to leave our house empty. All the kids have agreed to help care for it. Jaime has agreed to be the caregiver of the cat! We are so appreciative of our wonderful family and hope everyone remembers to write to us!
Until we leave, we're planning to carry on as usual. We'll appreciate your visits and kind wishes. We're grateful for each other. It's been a wonderful summer for us. I didn't even miss school one bit when it started. Keep in touch.

PURSES AND MORE PURSES

Our house was full of girls on Sunday. We'd been trying to have a granddaughter/Grandma party all summer and finally did it. We had a ball! Marissa and Lyra made little purses and the older girls made tote bags. They made a great bag for me which I'll treasure. Grandpa retreated to the upstairs, but came down to admire their work and have a Smoothie. Enjoy the pictures.





Adara's handiwork is hard to see in the picture. She had used embellishments to make a dragon.

Angie and Meagan went for splashes of color!

Samantha and Nicole preferred the bright pink bags and made them prettier.

Marissa and Lyra were twins.

A REUNION WORTH REMEMBERING

Don't we have cute grandkids? This is DJ (Jaime & David's) and Kylee (Joe & Kat's). Kylee's fishing pole was a great source of fun, although, it appears that most of the fish were high up in the trees because that's where the bobber was most of the time!

We had a wonderful time at Ensign Ranch this past weekend. We really missed those who weren't there--Janeen and Greg in far off Ohio; Jennie & Ty who had to work; and Cynthia and Derlyn who were on baby watch as well as Lisa, Kjerstin, Nicole, Meagan and Andrew. We also sorely missed being able to have a campfire because of the statewide burn ban. And we missed the really good weather that we usually have although cool and cloudy beat rain hands down. Friday was nice and warm until evening and Sunday warmed up nicely as we were leaving! The campfire has always been an Ensign tradition--lots of great generational conversation plus hot dogs, S'mores and popcorn. We did plenty of talking but not around the campfire. We enjoyed a wonderful visit from our niece Wendy (Alan & Linda) and her family who were on their way to Leavenworth and points north into Canada. Sorry I didn't get a picture.

I think this hat was worn by every single Castleton (This is Dawniella) except Julirae.

Holding Dawniella ( in her eggplant hat), was a favorite pasttime. Here she and Dylan are waiting for breakfast.

Schmoozing with cousins was always fun. Lyra (Julirae & Brandt), Dawniella (hatless), and Marissa (Jaime & David)

Lyra and all of us were happy to see Steven. Here's he's engaging in the favorite pasttime of some of the adults--cellphone "fiddling".

Our craft this year was small birdhouses. Everyone wanted to paint birdhouses including the adults.

Jeff, Steve and Kat. Kat and I share a special bond--we're both always cold in such situations and we hate cold!

Julirae taught the kids the "candy" game which caused some cutthroat competition and which Aunt Julirae won a couple of times but assures us that she shared the candy. They played by lantern light for quite awhile. Then some of the teenagers who were close to Grandpa and I talked until the wee hours. The next night it was their parents who talked until the wee hours. Oh how we love to talk!

I included this picture of the waterslides so you can see how popular they are. Our kids are the ones with the light colored tubes. There was a very large Samoan group there who were very fun to watch.

Ensign was especially poignant this year because Garth and I probably won't be there next year so we spent some time talking about that. If you don't know already, we're preparing our papers to go on a mission soon. We'll be there in spirit, though. Jeff has many other great pictures on his blog. Other family members have promised to blog as well. We had a great, great time. Ensign is always a happy place for us. A great tradition.