Relax Pops!

I wanted to take a little time and call some attention to Dad/Husband/Uncle/Grandpa George for the recent change in his life. He has decided to retire at 74 years old! I don't know what it is like to have lived and worked that long... but I can imagine it wasn't always easy to keep going as long as he did. As one of his sons I can personally say that I am forever grateful for supporting me financially through life with always having a meal on the table, clothes to wear, Christmas presents, vacations, a warm house, school, my mission, and just for the occasional 20 bucks or a surprise gas take fill up or even a quick trip out to lunch ALWAYS on Pops, even if I really wanted to buy. This list could go on forever, but it overwhelms me to think of all the ways he supported me... and that is just me. He had 7 of us!

We all know I was the spoiled one though... haha

I am probably not the one to speak of this, as I wasn't really around for a huge chunk of it, but his employment has been broad, extensive, and all around impressive. I can't believe how many skills he has developed and knowledge he has acquired because of all of the different carrier paths he's gone down. Whenever people ask me what my Dad does or has done, I don't know where to start! And it's hard for people to believe it when I go through the list of things he's taken on at full bore.  I'm sure he would be the first to say that not all of them were successful, or proved to be very fruitful or however he'd say it, but he was always trying, and trying hard, and ALWAYS provided for us and did whatever he could. But more important than the financial stuff, he never let his work get in the way of spending time with us whenever we needed him. I could always talk to him, always ask him questions, and when I had a problem he would drop everything to help. Even if it was to epoxy one of my ghostbuster toys or something. :) 

I guess what I am saying is no money in the world would ever replace the feelings that came from that. Just good old parenting and unconditional love. 

Sappy sap sap sap. 

Dad, I'm so glad these last 8 years or so at the airport were so great. You seemed so happy there, and your boss and co-workers were so happy to have you working with them. It always made me smile to see how much those guys respected and treated you.  

Congratulations Pops! Enjoy yourself! Keep golfing and walking Bruce and playing Plants vs Zombies! LOVE!

Can you do something with these Dingoes?

Haha. Inside joke from the super, happy, fun, giggly, trip of greatness to Phoenix.

An Idiot Abroad

Ok, so we have only seen a few episodes of this show but it seriously is so funny. My brother and sister in law, Nia and Skipper recommended it to us. Marcus and I both laugh out loud the entire episode. Ricky Gervais  and Stephen Merchant are the creators and they basically send Karl, a really miserable, hesitant, and cranky Brit, around the world doing crazy things. They just laugh and laugh at him and make him do the things they know he will hate the most. Karl is so funny and his reactions and perspectives are just so funny. You must check it out if you have not seen it. There is some language because they seriously torture this guy and he gets so mad, but they bleep most of it out. Here is our favorite scene so far. The premise is he is in Uganda and his task is to prepare dinner for the King of this tribe and his attendants. Here you go:

RIP, Davy Jones

RIP Davy Jones.  You were a big part of many a member of this family's childhood, and we will miss you!

 

If you haven't heard, Davy Jones died today of a heart attack, at 66.  

Way too young.

Crows

Who knew they were this awesome?

http://www.collegehumor.com/video/6696881/crow-goes-skiing

Heat Miser

Here is some family awkwardness for ya!

School Guys

Just wanted to give a shout out to the 3 guys in the family who are currently in school. Rob, Dave, and Marcus ALL got 4.0's last semester! Woot! Great job to all of them! I know Alex is in school too but don't know his grades but I'm sure he did great as well.


Long live TKWAW!

A new standard in baby announcement videos has been set.

So Matt and B- we expect something more spectacular next time. The bar has been raised.

R.I.P.

The Day the World Came to Town

I just finished reading this book. My book club read it a few months ago before I moved here but they let me borrow a copy because they all loved it so much. It really sheds light on how 9/11 effected so many people, people I never even thought of before reading this. It tells the story of a little town in Newfoundland, Canada (the town is about the same population of Riverton) and how they pulled together to help roughly 7,000 passengers of diverted flights from around the world. Some 300 planes were forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland the morning of 9/11 because the air space was closed over US. This book follows a few of the passengers on their backgrounds, why they were flying that day, what happened to them while they were in Gander, and how they got home. Some notable stories are of an African Princess, a couple traveling back from Russia after adopting a child, and a couple whose son was a missing FDNY. The people of Newfoundland went above and beyond to help these passengers, and since most of the flights were International a lot of the people didn't even speak English. The logistics of accommodating that many people is incredible.This story is really uplifting and gives you a new sense of hope in humanity and I think every one of you would love this book. It is not long at all, a very easy read. I give it a solid 4 stars.

"We're all Americans tonight." 

-Lieutenant Colonel McKeage, Canadian Air Force, Newfie