Memorial Day

I know my last couple of posts have been really long, I'm sorry! This is also another long one, I promise to keep it short after this! We went to visit the Salt Lake Cemetery with Grandma and Grandpa Blattner. They have had a great tradition of visiting the graves of close family as well as our ancestors every year, to make sure the graves are well maintained, and have set goals of placing proper headstones on the graves of ancestors who are not properly marked. It has made a deep impression on me on how important genealogy is. They do their genealogy research all year long, and travel the country collecting stories, and pictures... I admire them so much, they are great examples. Grandpa gave us a folder with the pictures, stories, and genealogical information about those whose graves we visited. Memorial day means to actually remember and learn about our family history. How wonderful! I want to keep this tradition alive and well for the many years to come.

My Grandmother's grandmother: Maria Katharina Schuhkraft Trost, Gerlach
born November 20, 1884 Stuttgart, Baden-wtbg, Germany died June 25, 1974, SLC, Utah

My grandmother's mother: Hildegard Ingeborg Trost Hill

Born June 17, 1911 Stuttgart, W. Germany Died Dec. 1986 Bountiful, Utah

Elizabeth and Christian Geisseler (it is spelled wrong on the tombstone)

Christian Geisseler and family left from liverpool, England June 28, 1876 on the ship "Idaho" and arrived in New York July 10, 1876. The family continued their journey by rail. Captain Nils C. Flygare in charge. They arrived in Ogden, Utah July 18, 1876.

Baby Robert, and Grandpa Robert

Grandma and Grandpa were then so kind as to take little Robert and me out to lunch. It was wonderful, since Robert doesn't get to see them very much. We laughed, and chatted, little Robert ate bread sticks and bananas, and was cute as always. When we got back to our car after lunch, we said our goodbyes, and I thanked them for the wonderful memories they had created. Before I could leave the cemetery though, I had to pay a visit to the military memorial.

We are so blessed to live in America. Those who despise their own great America should be thankful they are even allowed to protest. I challenge those same people to live in North Korea, Turkey, or Darfur for a week. Life in this country is not that bad, and I am grateful. When I pass by the memorials left to the soldiers who nobly gave up their lives to protect our freedoms, I am overcome. There is a spirit there that is powerful and humbling. I realized that I want my children to be grateful for the leisurely lives they will be able to enjoy because of the sacrifices made by those before us. Watching the hundreds of tiny flags waving in the breeze next to hundreds of small white tombstones, I thanked all of them, with all my heart. Praise to all those who have served, and who are currently serving in the United States military. You are all true heroes.

The Living Planet Aquarium

Today was so much fun! We went to the Aquarium in Sandy with Robert, and loved it! (There was some drama, and that story is down by the picture) It wasn't very crowded in the morning, and there were lots of fun things to do. Robert loved looking at all the brightly lit displays with all the swimming creatures. It was funny because he hasn't learned about transparent materials, like glass.... so he would get really excited when he was looking at the fish, lunge to try and grab them, and then bonk his head on the glass. (Not hard, just a little tap! He also crawls straight into the sliding glass door at our apartment, we are hoping he learns to stop doing that soon!) He couldn't figure out why there was a barrier between the fishies and himself. So cute! His favorites were the octopus, and the stingray. After the Aquarium, we were of course in the mood for fish. ;) So we went to Summerhays' Halibut N' Chips on highland drive west of macy's. If you haven't been there, you HAVE to go! They have the best fish and chips in Utah. Seriously, no joke, the best. It was a great ending to our day.

Here are some of the fun pictures:


Robert looking at some trout: (Daddy says they will catch some when he's old enough)








Robert trying to grab the giant octopus' suction cups



The giant octopus





MoOOom, why can't I get the fishies?





Okay, here is the Drama:
Touching the Stingrays! It was so awesome, we had never done it before! A couple of minutes after we had already enjoyed the experience, a large group of children and teens started to come in. A couple of children were well-minded by their mom and dad, but there were so many kids at the stingray exhibit without their parents, it was dangerous. They were poking the stingrays in the eyes, grabbing their tails, and splashing each other. I'm sure they weren't purposefully intending to impose harm, but a parent could have kept them from getting out of hand. There were signs everywhere saying to only touch the rays on their wings, with only TWO fingers, and that children were not to be left unattended. Wes and I were very uncomfortable, and were upset that they were being so abusive to these poor animals. When a boy about 14 started to pick up a stingray out of the water, Wesley intervened, and in his certified "river voice" called out as he walked towards the young man, "YOU! Stop that right now! Read the sign, follow the rules!" Looking him dead in the eye. Everyone around the exhibit froze. The kid looked absolutely shocked, and mad, but didn't argue. We then found someone who worked there and informed them of the lack of parental presence. A man hurried over and gave a stern lecture. After the lecture, the boy's parents suddenly appeared, and there were pointing fingers, glares in our direction, and looks from his parents. We were just glad that nothing worse happened.


Robert and Mommy Touching the stingray



The South America Display

red tails


Pihrahna


Jellyfish



Summerhays' Halibut N' Chips
YUM

For all Dog-lovers:

I don't know if you have heard of Chai's story, but you need to check it out. It is heartbreaking. Please E-mail this company to recall all of it's products, and tell all the Dog-owners, dog-lovers you know. There is a link on this page under "my blog list", or you can copy and paste this URL:

http://thechaistory.blogspot.com/

Remembering Honey 06/24/2008

It's been almost a year, Puppy girl, since you've been gone. I miss you more every day. Every time I go for a run, it doesn't feel right to not have you by my side, looking up at me with a look like, "so where are we going today, pal?" You were always wanting to go farther, to enjoy every flower and bush along the way, enjoying every minute of life. I miss the way you would wait up by the door until I got home, the way you would jump up and down in excitement with your tail wagging wildly when I would go to the garage to get your leash. How you would sleep at the foot of my bed at night, and wake me up with your sloppy wet kisses. I miss my best friend, who always knew when I was sad, and always knew how to make me feel better. I miss rubbing your ears with your head resting in my lap. I loved how patient, and loving, and loyal you were. I remember you walking around the house with little new puppy Rusty hanging from your lip. I remember how sad you were when your lab-friend Simba died, and how you didn't play with your ball for weeks. I remember when one of the neighbors chickens had somehow flown over the fence into our yard...and how there was no evidence, except the feathers strewn all over the yard, and stuck to your exhilarated face. You were the family protector, friendly to all friends, menacing to all ill-intentioned beings, who tried to open windows in the night. I remember how you would be getting tired on our way back from a run, but then once home was in view, you would always outrace me to the door. I remember telling you all of my secrets, all of my problems, all of my joys, lying out in the shade of the willow tree. You loved the winter, especially substituting snowballs for real ones. (You can EAT the snowballs when you catch them!) I always laughed when you tried to eat every snowflake that was falling, like it was the most exciting new thing, even though we get snow every year. You had so many talents: bee-eating, spider-chaser, rodent exterminator, always returning adventurer, the fastest bone-eater I've ever seen, champion of fetch, fence-racing, giving kisses, barreling down the stairs at mach speed, and most of all being the eternal optimist. Even when your beautiful brown eyes started getting cloudy, and your old hips could no longer support you, you never let it phase you. When I cried into your soft fur when you couldn't run to the door to greet me, you wagged your tail, and smiled telling me everything would be okay. You were always my Puppy, young and playful at heart, happy even to the end. I always try to be more like you. You were the best dog a girl could ever hope for, no dog could ever replace you. I will always remember you. We love you.

Sweet Nothings

Wesley was working late last night, we are adjusting to his new schedule. I've been really spoiled to have had him home at 1:00 in the afternoon every day, with every saturday and sunday off for the past few months. Since he was working late, I decided I would surprise him with a nice treat to enjoy once he got home, I knew he would be tired. When he got home, He had brought me flowers. (They smelled AMAZING, I'm trying to figure out what they are.) When he then saw that I had made cookies, we just laughed. It was fun that we had both done a sweet nothing for each other at the same time. It was a great day.

Yuck!

So I was doing dishes the other day, and Robert was crawling around exploring (the "wide open spaces" of our apartment..haha) and then I heard splashing.... from the bathroom....so I ran in to see what was happening. When I got to the bathroom, Robert was standing up, splashing in the toilet water, absolutely THRILLED with his new accomplishment. AHHHHHH! needless to say, he was promptly sanitized and bathed. (Yes, I did take a picture... it was just too disgustingly hilarious to pass up.) Time for the toilet lock...

Gorgeous 3-forks Hot Springs

We hiked spanish fork canyon on Tuesday, and it was absolutely amazing! It's a 4.6 mile hike (total distance there and back) the scenery was breathtaking. The trail went right alongside the river, with about 4 different beautiful waterfalls. At the top of the trail, there are hot springs that run into the river, and someone cemented pools to become some pretty amazing hot tubs! It was dusk when we finally got to the hot-tubs and started to soak it up, just perfect! Robert loved splashing in the warm water, and we are so glad he enjoys coming along on our adventures. Oh! I have to mention, we had our own personal waterfall right next to the pools. It felt like a free five-star resort! We are definitely going to go back!


the first waterfall on the hike.


Robert loving every minute!


our own personal spa! The hot-tubs are the very bottom of the picture


Wes and Robert soakin' it up!


Sunset...ahhh.....

A lovely garden stroll...

We love our backyard! Thanks Larry and Bonnie, and truly, we don't mind the yardwork!







Wes and Robert look at periwinkle

Hooray for Spring!

Robert enjoyed his first beautiful springtime day in our backyard, pulling out clumps of grass and screaming with glee. Who knew that grass could be so exciting?! :)

Someone Exactly Like You...

Wesley constantly amazes me with how sweet and romantic he is. I came home from teaching last night, and he had the most wonderful surprise for me! He had set up our new family-size tent in the living room, and put the coffee table and two fold-out chairs in the tent with a lantern, and a gorgeous meal prepared for us to enjoy together. It was so sweet, and so fun, and Robert loved rolling around in the tent while we enjoyed our dinner. Not only did he take the time to set-up a thoughtful surprise, but he also found the cell-phone I had lost over the weekend at rehearsal, and drove all the way to the music building, to the piano professor who had found it, to get it, and even left a romantic voicemail for me to listen to once I got home and got my phone back. Our little indoor campout will be a treasured memory forever. I love you, Wes.

He really is our child...

Robert has just recently started making the cutest angry face!! It is absolutely adorable! And what is so crazy is that my mom and dad have pictures of me at his age making the exact same face! It is pretty funny, and my mom and dad are just loving it! It is amazing to see those little elements of mom and dad and grandma and grandpa in the little ones, and yet they have their own completely individual traits and personality at the same time, what a miracle it is!

Rust and Realization

I've been going to rehearsals this week for a Navajo Oratorio by a modern composer, and I realized during the 3 1/2 hour operetta with pages filled with torrents of notes--I'm rusty.

I then remembered that it's been an entire year that I've been out of school, (and rehearsals, and studying, and the orchestra's tour of the coast...) and I couldn't help but wish to have everything that I've missed. Tackling a new and daunting piece with my 3 friends that we call a quartet...the masterclasses with world-reknown artists, the hard work, the compliments, and the criticism, the satisfaction of applause after a semester of 5-day a week late-night rehearsals, arguing, laughing, playing until our fingers cracked and bled, and then putting bandaids on them and continuing, ... enlightenment when suddenly the music means more to you than just ink on a page, knowing without having to even think what the music needs, what it means, and everyone playing it that way all at the same time, and then-seeing tears on the faces of your colleagues... the music is real.

I've missed the opera, the Gala, the goofy halloween concert, with cider, and pictures and friends, and hitting your stand-partners wig off accidentally with your bow, Dr. Baldwin's baton flying loose into the audience because he was wearing gloves, but continued on anyways, stifling laughter as hard as he could. Absence really had made my heart grow fonder, and I was angry at myself. I entirely regretted not going to school, for being rusty, for being behind, why did I do this to myself?

Then suddenly I had a realization. During those long 3 hours of rehearsal, the thought came to me- I can go back to school, but I could never have my baby's first smile back if I missed it... and even though I am standing by watching all of my friends accomplish what I could be too this very day,... (graduation) buying the gowns, and taking the well-earned walk to get their diplomas,... I know I've gotten to enjoy a different kind of graduation,... into motherhood, with no credit hours, tours of the coast, or applause for my efforts, (except for the clapping together of two very sticky little hands, and a one-toothed grin) but when I look into that little chubby face that giggles when I walk in the door, and looks to me for all comfort, and well-being, I know... it was worth it.

First Family Campout!

We decided to head out on a cold weekend in march for sunnier skies. Off to Moab we went, for a short little getaway. We were worried that Robert would have trouble being in the car for so long, but with mommy in the back with him, not a complaint the whole way!! The weather was fabulous! In the 70's, and beautiful! We went to canyonlands national park, hiked to delicate arch, and camped out under the stars. Wes made amazing campfire chili and cornbread, and Robert slept all the way through the night in the tent, NOT NORMAL, but SO great! He loved camping, and we can't wait to go again!