Miscellaneous Family Fun in Denver

There is nothing I love more than being with family. Here are some photos of some of the fun we had while most of us were together in Colorado for JC's graduation and Trinity's baptism.

We met up at Fast Freddie's at JC's request after his graduation. (Clockwise from bottom: Cole, Sarah, me, Ian, Craig, Lisa, Vanessa, Curt, Todd, Trinity, Mila, and JC. Lukie is hidden behind Cole's head!)

Carmen made a Texas sheet cake and white chocolate raspberry cake for lunch after Trinity's baptism. I hear they were delicious! (Craig, me, Pat, Carmen.)

Lisa taught us how to play hearts. (Sarah, me, Lisa, Carmen.)

Blue loved us all! (Blue, me, Mila.)

Ian hero-worshipped JC and followed him all over the place. JC was so patient with him!

Lukie being bounced by Boompa.

Lukie and Vanessa.

Uncle Cole tries to nap with Mila.

Trinity gives Lukie a ride. (Sarah broke her ankle and the wheelchair was for the graduation.

Ian and Titan watch a movie Sunday afternoon.

Cambria and Aunt Vanessa cuddle during the movie.

Trinity and JC.

All too soon we all had to head to our respective homes, but it sure was fun while it lasted!

Trinity's Baptism

Trinity was baptized on Saturday, May 25. It was a wonderful day!

Mother and daughter.

Siblings.

Craig baptized her, and while all the people were pouring into the Relief Society room to view the baptism, someone snapped a picture before the ordinance and sent it to Sarah.

The first time Craig performed the ordinance, a bit of Trinity's knuckle remained above water, so he had to do it twice. (JC and Jaren Riley were the witnesses.)

Sarah had made two hallways displays, one at each entrance to the chapel.

Such a big day for her!

She got new scriptures from her parents.

The ribbons represent accomplishments in Young Women.

Titan helped me take photos of the display tables.

This photo appeared on Trinity's baptismal announcement.

A picture of Trinity's that shows the Savior looking up at the heavens.

After we got home, Cambria, Ian, Titan, and Mila helped her open her gifts.

Craig baptized Trin and Curt confirmed her. I spoke on temples and Jessica on baptism. Lisa, Cole, and Jessie Riley bore their testimonies, and a trip of girls sang a song.

It was a big day, and the chapel was full despite it being Memorial Day and graduation weekend with many people traveling. I am so happy for Trinity, and proud of her, too.

JC's Graduation and Party

JC graduated from high school and seminary on Thursday, May 23.

Me, JC (when did he get so tall??), and Craig.

Curt, JC, Lisa, Cole, and Sarah. 

Nine hundred kids graduated and the graduation took place in the University of Denver ice hockey arena. Needless to say, my photos did not turn out well - our seats were way up near the top of the arena.

Friday there was a joint party with seven other graduates from church at a local clubhouse.

The graduates' kindergarten pictures were posted for us all to see.

Todd's dad, Pat, put them on posts after Sarah made the pictures and put them into plastic sleeves to protect them.

JC's high school photo.

Cole, me, and Craig.

Matchey, matchey Aunt Lisa and Cambria! (With Cole in the background.)

There were not enough seats for everyone so we spread out on the playground.

Cole, Curt, Titan, Andrew, Jessica, Cambria, Lukie, and Lisa.

Vanessa.

Sarah.

Trinity (in black on the right) with some friends.

Lisa watches Lukie come down the left chute of the slide.

All eight graduates made shoeboxes for cards from well wishers.

I was so touched when I saw that, instead of a shoebox, JC had used a trinket box that he'd made with me one summer at Groompa Camp.

He kept it all these years!

An award that JC won his junior year - Most Valuable Lineman on the football team!

After JC's graduation on Thursday and the party on Friday, next up was Trinity's baptism on Saturday morning.

The Kansas Honeywell Graves

Finally! Craig and I made it to the Honeywell graves near Leoti, Kansas.

The last time we tried to visit, the roads (which are unpaved) were a muddy mess and a heavy rain was falling. There was a little mud this time, but the roads were mostly dry and so we were able to make it all the way to the cemetery.

The grave was easy to find as it was near the entrance and is one of the first you see.

Such a lonely pillar, way out in the middle of nowhere. It marks the grave of my great-grandfather, Frederick Robert Honeywell, who homesteaded this area of Kansas.

 His headstone faces into the prevailing wind and is weathering and becoming hard to read. This is the top portion.

 The middle section.

And the bottom.

 An infant son is buried with his father. The baby was never named, and apparently was born and died on the same day, October 13, 1900.

 It feels a little less lonely knowing that the two are together in this isolated prairie cemetery.

 Because it is not facing the prevailing winds, the baby's information is not nearly as worn as the words on my great grandfather's side.

I found myself emotional at being in their "presence."

 I laid an iris blossom at the base of each grave

 as a token of my love and respect for them along with the hope that I will meet them in the next life.

 After visiting the graves, Craig and I drove back down the lane to visit the Carwood Church.

 It was the church that my great grandparents attended, and used to be a large white clapboard building.

 I don't know when it was replaced with the new building - the 1960s, maybe?

Seeing as it's Kansas, there was an underground tornado shelter behind the church.

Visiting the Carwood Cemetery and Church took us about three extra hours in time, but it was most definitely worth it. While I don't have a bucket list, coming here and paying my respects was something I really wanted to do.

And now I have.

Tornadoes in Kansas!

Craig and I traveled west to Denver for JC's high school graduation at the end of May. This year the plains states have had the highest number of tornadoes in recent years, and more storms were forecast the day we were to drive through Kansas.

Well, it was our lucky day (depending on your point of view.) As we crested a hill in Junction City, I spied a tornado coming at us over the hill.

 We pulled off at the next exit and waited the storm out in a restaurant. The sirens were blaring and we had hail and rain, but the storm passed on and we hit the road again.

Unfortunately, more storms were approaching us.

 We kept an eye on these clouds for a while, unsure if they were anything dangerous or not.

Suddenly, a tornado dropped down into the fields to the right of us.

 It was moving away from us, so we actually pulled over the watch it.

As it intensified, another one began forming alongside of the first one. It thickened very suddenly and became wedge shaped

And then together they both began to lift and dissipate.

While seeing so many tornadoes in such a short span of time was thrilling, we decided that, since the storms were still coming, it would be wise to stop for the night and not chance running into any more, so we pulled over in Salinas and got a motel room.

What a way to start our trip!