The Latest

After eighteen years - our Maytag washer and dryer gasped their last breath last week. We are the proud owners of a new HE frontloader washer & dryer set. I didn't think I'd be so giddy about doing laundry, and watching the loads turn around and around, and seeing how different the clothes look when they are out of the dryer. The Loews people who carried out our old models said they were so old school they didn't even thing the parts could be salvaged for anything. Now I'm thinking about some land fill that's going to be even bigger with our washer and dryer.
Even bigger news than the washer and dryer is that Rhett was not picked up for the next promotion in the Air Force (Colonel) which he thought he night get, so that door is completely closed. We went for a walk yesterday and talked about the pros and cons of staying in the Air Force if he was promoted, but now that door is closed and Rhett is free to pursue all kinds of avenues. We're not limiting ourselves to staying in the D.C. area, but since we have the house and jobs are more plentiful here, we are probably going to get to stay, at least for a few more years. We love Virginia, so its just fine if we stay here.
Livi is getting braces - yes - all because she stuck two fingers in her mouth at two hours old and wouldn't stop for eight years! She's excited, and it looks like they will be on a long time. I told her the story of Aunt Joni having braces for a long time, and how straight her teeth are now!
Garrett leaves for Arabic Camp on Sunday, and we are going to be spending most of the next few weeks at the Water Park.

Graduation 09

Everyone knows about graduations - they are so important, but they can be the longest three years of your life! This is the first year that graduation was outside in the football stadium, which was packed to the gills. Highlights were the weather, which was breezy with a light cloud cover, and thehe principal, who kept his remarks to singing a Garth Brooks song "The River" - man that guy can sing! We stood and cheered for the ones we knew, and screamed like banchees when Madison walked up.

Kudos to Madison & Garrett!

Senior year is almost over....tomorrow in fact! Madison was "auctioned" off to a friend and had to dress like a baby today. Because it's the end of the year, there are lots of awards and scholarships awarded. Madison received two scholarships from school - a drama scholarship and one from the PTSA. She won "best actress" for Romeo and Juliet at the drama awards, and was given her honors stoles. She'll be graduating Summa Cumme Laude with a 4.1. I remember being happy to graduate with a much lower g.p.a. I think I have Rhett's math/science genes and those of extremely talented grandparents to thank, plus Madison just works very hard. We hardly see her these days as the car rolls in and out of the driveway, but it's all good things she is up to. This Sunday she graduates from Seminary, and then next week the actual ceremony.
Garrett also has some good news for the summer. He was accepted to the "Star Talk" program for Arabic, and will be going three weeks in the summer to a language immersion program. He also has never tried out for choir, and made Chamber Singers! The Choir director liked his big deep voice. We're proud of our kids!

Old Rag Adventure

On Saturday, the young women went on a hike before Girl's Camp. I (Livi) am not 12 yet, so I had to go with my mom. Girl's Camp also starts at the end of June, so I will also not be going to camp either. Anyway, our hike was 8 miles long up a huge mountain in Virginia called Old Rag. Everyone was all packed up with CameBaks and hiking stuff. I was listening to Brother Richardson's rules when Dad comes in and said all I needed was lots of water, good shoes, pancho, and trail mix. I probably had the lightest backpack there which was good...I guess. We had to hike up the mountain in a wooded area, then we stopped at a huge, flat rock in the middle of the moutain to eat lunch. We sang camp songs and played different games to keep us from stopping and being bored. The only problem was...going to the bathroom and...Poison Ivy! Centipedes and fuzzy bugs were everywhere!!!! After lunch, we kept on going and I heard there was a rock scramble up ahead. It was more like a boulder scramble with holes and gaps between rocks that you had to jump over and use a friend to boost you up. My friend thought it was like Aragon's quest in Lord of the Rings. We all of a sudden had the song stuck in our head and chose the characters and acted like them. At one time, the rocks were so steep that we had to use a rope to climb up it. Kristen, our YCL said, "Use your arm strength." I thought my leg was going to fall that I let her pull me up. I said thanks but there was still more to climb. Once we got to the summit, it was really windy and everyone was screaming, "We made it!" It was cool when a rain cloud passed by us and then went away. The YW said that the downhill part was where the most accidents were. We couldn't really stop ourselves and my feet were killing me. Of course, the CamelBak just has to run out of water and I have to wait until we get to the stream to fill it up. We had a water fight and then finally they said we only have one mile left. Once everyone got to the end of the path, we all jumped up in the air. It's over.

I'm so strong! I'll stay behind and you go!

IT'S OVER!

The Summit view.