It's A Mad, mad, MaD, mAd World!!

A preview of the madness that is:

More fun to come. . . stay tuned folks!

Nauvoo the Beautiful

We spent Saturday at Nauvoo and enjoyed every minute of it. Here are a few pictures from the day:

The Nauvoo Temple

King Follett's Well

Joseph's Creek

Ready for a Carriage Ride

Petting 'Rocky'

worn out from a long day

Terrific

"But, Charlotte," said Wilbur, "I'm not terrific."

"That doesn't make a particle of difference," replied Charlotte. "Not a particle. People believe almost anything they see in print."

-E. B. White from Charlotte's Web

Do you believe you are terrific?
I think you are.

Happy Fall, dear friends!

From the desk of Colton Calaway

Colton: "Mom!!!!!!!!! I half hair on my arms, so dat means I am gwo-in up! Den I will get hair all over! [calmly:] I got it fwum Dad"

Me: "Yes. Yes honey you did."

From Colton:

"Once upon of a time, Dare-ick an Coe-ton wode on duh black tube an day saw somepin behine them. It was a snowmobile! An on duh snowmobile was Janosh an all of the names and that's all the names I have so AMEN!"

"Once upon of a time Janosh an Coe-Ton lived on a boat an den Janosh an Coe-ton rode on Gwan-pa's boat by demself. An then day played toys in da cabin but dare were no toys in duh cabin--jus games. An den dare were no toys an bye."

"Once upon of a time, Coe-tun and Gwan-pa Fun-ess dwived duh gween twactor an Gwan-ma dwived duh twuck an den day dwoved da baler an day picked up all duh bales they had an AMEN! Deese are all duh stow-ies I half!"

(I love my job.)

Conversations with Colt

We'll title this installment: For the Record

Amid building a fort the following conversation ensued:

Colt: For the record Mom, this cave is being cwazie (crazy)!

Mom: Oh yeah?

Colt: Yeah, and for the record, these pid-ows (pillows) are being cwazie!

and

a little bow-tie beauty for your Sunday viewing pleasure:

"Dis is da tem-powel, (This is the Temple)
dis is da steep-ul, (This is the Steeple)
Open da dowrs, (Open the Doors)
See all da PEOPLES!" (See all the People)

Five Stars

While we were waiting in St. Louis to meet up with Grandma Calaway, Uncle Kip and Aunt Gigi who were driving through the area on their way to drop Grandma off in New Orleans for her mission (did any of that make sense? probably not. five stars for run-on sentences!), we ventured to the arch and caught an awesome view from the air. A few pics for your perusal:

The famous arch

The Capitol Building(hair + makeup) x humidity = maybe not my best look.
[sigh]

(TEA and Crumpets! Sorry, inside joke)

Kentucky Fried Chickens

The little guy and I joined Dad in Kentucky for a business trip.

Just so you know, the 'red-neck yacht club' ain't a joke. (where was my camera when I needed it!?)

Also, sunscreen should be applied liberally before spending five hours on the lake. (post-facto. OUCH!)

A to Z

Across the country we drove this July
So many miles we wanted to cry (Colt actually did, frequently)
To see our families whom we dearly miss
For you I've made an A-Z snapshot of this:

A is for Animals
We saw a few
B is for Bike
Shiny and new
C is for Claire
Whom we love to Kiss
D is for Dallin
Whose muscles we'll miss (haha)
F is for Family
and the joy that they are
G is for Great Grandma
and her New Orleans mission afar
H is for Aunt 'Hah-yee'
playing with me
I is for Icky
Baiting the hook is yucky!
J is for 'Janosh'
Who felt the same way
K is for Kisses
Everyday
L is for Lupine
Purple and free
M is for Mount Rushmore
A great place to see
N is for Nature
and the beauty it holds
O is for an Ordinary
Event that unfolds
P is for Priest Lake
Our yearly lake bed
Q is for Quitting
While you're ahead
R is for Resting
In a beautiful place
S is for Smiles
On a beautiful face
T is for Trampolines
Temples and Toes


U is for Useful
Messages under your nose
V is for Veterans
Of the red, white and blue
W is for Water
Fishy treasures for you
X, Y and Z
are for finishing the set
Thanks Family for memories we'll never forget!