Back Touring at Christmas

Our house (er.. neighbor's)

The Grandma who puts it all together

Church-goin elves

The Tamale-man frantic at work

What's this?

Pretty Christmas Eve women

Reading Christmas Eve books

Man in red hat reading book

Not that common calm

Hanyawn

Max n Bo

What? how'd that get in here?

I need a new camera

A quartet of brotherhood

The semi-annual tradition was bolstered by the presence of Canyon. Here we're standing in front of our stake's missionary pictures -- that's Hayley on the second row just left of Canyon's head! She's slowly making her way to the top. Elder Christofferson's talk was something I had contemplated. Check it out.

Looking East towards Sanibel Island from Fort Myers.

These 2 little kindergartners ran all over Max's party -- Auri Fackrell and Cole.

No one seemed more content to ride all the little vehicles than Vince!

B-day boy Max and Bo being attended to by Aunt Cassie.

Melon Tours Fort Myers

Coming October 1, 2012 "Back To The Future!"

Melon in Londinium

Londinium is a great place. With a birthdate of 43 (or thereabouts) AD its got some history. Meet Matt (our purchasing guy), and my travelling companion for much of the melon tour.

Right after the melon tour arrived we were greeted by the cavalry at Trafalgar Square

Here you see St. Peter's from a side street coming from the west.

Here's what is left of a Roman turret on the earliest wall -- about 47AD.  Before the Romanizing? -- maybe rolling hills and a bunch of different tribes like the Trinovantes.

Here you see post-classical, neo-western civilization and the new Greco-Londinium tower bridge and it's Olympic-sized coat of arms!

Melon tour guide explaining about the east entrance to the Tower of London.

There has been a lot of rain in Southwest England.  Here Robert and I are returning from Bridport on the coast.

OK back to work -- with Tony Stark and the military contractors!

Can you see Big Ben back there?

Found a fabulous Pizza place called Haymarket -- or Hay! for short I guess

Here are the happy travelers somewhere in London.

Had lunch one day with a key supplier of parts in their chalet near the airplanes -- see rear of the A380.

Got into a bit of a bind -- needed Sherlock, but no one was home at 221 Baker Street, dang.

W

Melon's iPhone Quiz

Turns out that I just figured out how to download my iPhone photos to this computer.  It was not difficult but necessity is the mother of invention!  So, I thought I'd throw up... a couple of photographs (had you for a moment).  Plus, just to ensure that my readership has not tapered off since the last time I whined about it, I'll be asking some questions.  The person with the most right answers will win a $5.00 bill! Yes, you read that correctly -- $5.00!

In what building was the above photo taken?

Where was the above photo taken?

What do these 3 missionaries have in common?

Here's my Bad Brother Ben looking Bad at Budd's Creek. Who is sitting next to him?

So, I went right through Quantico on a train to Baltimore, which branch of the service trains the presidential helicopter squadron here?

This Congregational Church was once attended by George Washington and is the center piece of what New England town?

This is Shauna, my wife, at the end of one of her favorite hikes.  What is the name of these often visited Cascades?

Melon's Father's Day Homecoming

On Father's Day Ben and Drake put me on a train in Fredricksburg (after almost getting ran over by a huge freight train) and I chugged up the coast through Quantico, DC, and various towns then boarded a plane to SLC in Baltimore. After a long day I arrived back at the townhouse about 6:00 only to find all the grands and all the kids (minus Hayley).  Clint had the place full of smoke and smelling of fried fish.

So, these kids fed me baja fish tacos, chips and salsa fresco, brownies, home made ice cream and watermelon.  Thanks to Clint, Cassie, Luke, Ashlie, Hannah, Canyon.  It seems we had a very nice time -- eating, socializing, playing in the sprinklers, and catching bees.

Bo was first to get soaked in the "walo."  Max, Vince, and Cole were quick to follow.  Although Cole was mostly busy catching bees.

Once the parents lost track of the children (talking among themselves)...

The clothes came off

Melon's Moto-X Moment

When I arrived into the Norfolk Airport I was greeted by Zoa and Ben with this sign! I've come a long way since Jeff and Linc made a similar sign that said, "We hate Nate!"

So, they took me to their home in Suffolk where Zoa and I jumped on the tramp out back and  had a little uncle/niece talk about stuff like losing your stomach, the neighbors, the fuddy duddy mom and dad...  Then we went for a walk in the woods and picked up a few ticks.  Zoa stepped through a little hole in a wood bridge and skinned her shin -- ouch!

While Drake was at a triple A baseball game (where the Toledo Mud Hens beat the Norfolk Tide) the rest of us went out to eat.

Walking into the Budd's Creek AMA National Motocross we came upon this nice 1969 CZ motocrosser -- those were the days.

Voila! Roger DeCoster! Still managing -- the KTM American Motocross team and current points leader -- Ryan Dungey.

As long as we kept Drake fed we all got along swimmingly! Great weather, racing, company, and food.

W