Pancakes, Bar B Que's, and Fireworks...

What else do you do on the 4th of July, right? Every year on the 4th of July there is a pancake breakfast at the Cherry building in San Jose, where we used to live. We thought about going this year but decided we would have to get up too early to get down there by 8:00 (It also wasn't a very practical use of gas to drive down there for breakfast, back to our own ward party in Fremont, and back down to Kelsey's parents for dinner). So we slept in and had our own pancake breakfast at our apartment.

Another building in our stake has a full baseball field and picnic area so the various wards took turns having activities out there. Ours was at 2:00. We were only able to stay for lunch, but it was good to visit with and get to know some more people from the ward.

After that we headed down to Kelsey's parents for dinner. Her dad bar-b-qued various types of meat and we visited with everyone.

Her siblings YSA ward had a bar-b-que there for lunch and some people from that stayed around. After dinner we went with them to see fireworks at the San Jose Giants stadium. They shoot the fireworks off from the parking lot right behind the outfield wall. They rope off about 50 yards or so, but you can go and sit at that point. It pretty cool to be that close and to see them light off the fireworks and then see them go off literally right over your head. Kelsey's family has been going there since she was little. This was my second year going now, so I guess we can say it's our family tradition. Since the city of San Jose didn't do fireworks this year that was the only place to go so there was tons of traffic getting out. But from listening to the radio that was a problem all over the place.

So, that was our 4th. Pretty traditional, but I guess that's what the 4th is all about, tradition. I'm grateful for the opportunities that we have to look back and celebrate the great men and women who helped form our country.

Books

Lately I've been reminded by a few different things that I love to read.  Unfortunately, I don't take the time to read very often.  Sunday School yesterday gave me a renewed determination, so I'm asking for your help.  D & C 88:118 tells us to study out of the best books.  So what are some of the best books you know of?  They can be religious, classics, historical, poetic, biographical. . . anything you think would be educational or uplifting or just a good read.  I'll take whatever suggestions you can give me.  Thanks!

Memorial Day Picnic

For Memorial Day, Sam took me on a little outing.  We drove down some windy streets in Sanol to this quite park where there were picnic areas and trails.  I had packed a simple lunch and some books and games and we had a very enjoyable quiet afternoon to ourselves.

Poetry Month

I just learned that April is Poetry Month!  I've been collecting poems for about four years now so I have lots of favorites.  Since I've been working in the funeral business I have a lot of funeral poems.  And even more recently I started collecting Dr. Seuss quotes.

My two favorite poems are written by my Grandpa Tilton:  "Bubble Jum" and "Lamentation of a Squirt Gun."  They are both long so I'll spear you but let me know if you're curious.  

I would like to share this one with you.  It's called "A Smile for You" but I don't know the author.

Smiling is infectious, you can catch it like the flu, 

When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too. 

I passed around the corner and someone saw me grin.  

When he smiled I realized I'd passed it on to him.

I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth,

A single smile, just like mine, could travel around the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected.

Let's start an epidemic quick and get the wold infected.  

1st Beach Trip of the Season

   

I LOVE THE BEACH!  When I got off of  work Saturday, I had a voice message from Angie saying that she, Seth, JD, Trek and Breeanne were at the beach if we wanted to join them.  So we did.  We also added Rachel and Brandon to the group.  We stopped for Jack in the Box on the way and got to Twin Lakes Beach at about 6:30.  Sam and I went down to the water and got our legs wets.  Then we had fun roasting marshmallows and hanging out.  Sam's favorite part was burning things (something he has in common with my family).  My favorite part was being with famiy.  I even got to hold little JD!  

We finally remembered to take the camera and we took a lot of pictures before it ran out of batteries before the sun even set.  Here is a little sample.  There are more on Facebook and scrapbooking all 50 will be my project for this week.