Ode to a Beloved Tree

Some two weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our beloved 130 year old tree.  He was a white oak and was being eaten from the inside out by nasty carpenter ants.  Couldn't they just go and destroy somebody else's tree?  Oh dear.  After a huge limb broke and fell into the street, we had to contact a tree "take it down" company; the next day they were here "bingo bango" with chainsaw in hand.  It was interesting to see and made me sad to have our big tree gone.

TREK PIX

Cole and Brock participated in our stake's trek last week up at the chruch owned Deseret Land & Livestock property near Evanston. This is Coles second time and Brocks first. Both said it was hard but that they had a great time. Hopefully, they have a little better appreciation for our pioneer ancestors. It is quite emotional to see them pulling their handcarts and walking in with their "families". It is an extremely small taste of what the pioneers had to endure and makes you realize all they had to sacrifice and go through for what they believed. Thank you Niels Larsen, George Brown and many, many others.

Here are quite a few pix of them before they left and as they arrived to their final destination after trekking for 4 days.

Cole, Merri, Maddi & Brock

Cole is the big guy in the middle of this pix.

Grandma's Marathon

Scenes from the site of the 2010 Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota

Roger & Kirk

Lindsey & Kirk/Poppie




Galloway Family regrouping



Kirk thrilled to be at the finish

Marathon Buddies and Finishers


Leigh & Lindsey


Justin, Ashleigh & Braden at the edge of Lake Superior

Roger's finishing time was:  4:02:25  Roger's goal was around 3:45, so this was wonderful!
Kirk's finishing time was:  4:33:39.  Kirk's goal was 4:30 and he, too, came "right" in at his goal.
They both declare that they are going to go for it again next year and learn from the mistakes of this year's race and apply them to next year's race.  Crazy how one wants to torture oneself all over again, but that's the challenge and so I'll have more to report next year.  Stayed tuned.  Same channel.  Same place!

HAPPY GRADUATION COLE

Cole graduated from high school last week. It is unbelievable how fast time goes by. It seems like yesterday he was going off to kindergarten (he liked to hold my hand then!) and now he is off to college! We are so proud of him and all he has accomplished so far. He graduated with high honors, received department awards and was awarded the Seth Fraughton Memorial Scholarship.

Great adventures lay ahead of him for sure. We love you Cole and are excited for the next chapter in your life!

Brock, Cole & McKenzie


Proud parents & Cole

Cole & the "gang"

"Yes! I did it!"

"Welcome to the Jungle"...................and Prom

So what is Cole doing when he's not playing football or basketball? He's dancing...................He danced in the spring concert in a sort of Tarzan meets Jane number. He was hilarious.............and has a lot of rhythmn too!

Cole did a different kind of dancin' at the Prom. Here are some pics with his date and the group of friends he went with.