Bristol, Rhode Island

We had to pass over the Mt. Hope Bridge to cross Narragansett Bay and get off the island. We decided to venture off and see the little town of Bristol on the other side. We loved this little two lane suspension bridge because it reminded us of a mini Golden Gate painted forest green. One of Jim's objectives while touring was to stay off the freeways as much as possible. A worthy goal and sometimes brought us to places like you see below. It definitely added to the adventure and we saw things we would have missed entirely otherwise.

It was from just past this vantage point
that we got the photo of the bridge.

Bristol is known as the most patriotic town in America! The dividing line on the street tends to support that. They say they are known for the best 4th of July celebration in the country. Boston also claims the same distinction, but I think I'd rather come here. Tiny, quaint and full of heart, we loved Bristol.

The tree lined streets are so beautiful!

This is the Blithwold Mansion and is supposed to be THE place to go at Christmas time for a lovely, spirited holiday display of Victorian decorations and charm. I really hope Laura will get to do this while so near.

This is a gazebo near the mansion in
one of the gardens on the estate.

Bristol's Visitors' Center and
Burnside Memorial Garden

The Garden has the monument of two Civil War soldiers. It has individual markers for some and a large monument, not unlike the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C. listing all of soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom dating back as far as the Revolutionary War. This monument tracks all the dead of Bristol to the present day, one soldier from Afghanistan so far. It was very sobering to see how very many they have lost.

Looking back through the garden to the street
and clock tower across the street.

Here is the church.

The interior of a portion of the church.
We love it when they open the doors to these
historic churches to the public.
We sat a while and enjoyed its quiet beauty.
We enjoy doing this in places we
visit to get a feel for life there.
We also spent some time in their public library.
Kind of weird but we do it all the time.

This historic home has been converted
into Lindon Museum.
Not sure what is inside.

A neighborhood home.

Just about every place we visited was in some way

connected to a body of water. It was very choppy while we there.

It started pouring just as we went into Aidan's Irish Pub for our first seafood treat~fish and chips with malt vinegar and cole slaw. Very delicious. This place was a lot of fun! Nice people, lots of windows looking out to the water and it was warm and cozy inside. We lingered and talked to some locals and when we were ready to leave it was nice again.

One last little chapel we saw on our way home. Beautiful day, lovely place. Oh, and I forgot to mention, fantastic shopping. I went into a few little shops while Jim checked out the wharf and I was impressed. All in all...a perfect day!

Life on the Island

Once we got settled in, life on the island was really fun. It is so green, uncrowded, uncomplicated there. They are just off the beach by about a block and a half. A nice friend of theirs lent Jim his bike and that made it really nice for Jim and the boys. Each morning they would get up at 6:00 for a bike ride with their destination being the beach, before breakfast and school. They go with Laura normally but this became a special time for a Grampa and his grandboys and gave Laura a little break.

The beaches seemed pretty rocky~ a little boy's paradise!

They love searching for sea glass and shells
and have an on going rock collection.

Jim caught some beautiful sunrises on the camera.

The surf was unpredictable, some days calm,
others quite wild.
The weather was also unpredictable
but one thing you could count on,
sea breezes, everyday.

In the basement they have their school room. It is so perfect for home school and they are really blessed to have such a good teacher. The one to two ratio has its definite advantages, one of them being so much more can be accomplished, in less time. Also they can work at an accelerated pace and have chunks of time off school. That really was nice during our stay. It is just perfect for them to be near all the historical sites in New England as they are studying US history this year. It is just an ideal situation, albeit a lot of work for Laura, it is worth it for them.

This is one corner of the classroom~love the wall words.
They also have a nice table, a big white board
and lots of books and a computer.

During school, the kitchen becomes
the break room for the boys!

The boys come up from the basement school
room for a little treat and a break each day.
Most days they brought up a book to read for pleasure.
Both love reading.

A typical road on the island.

A typical home on the island.

A quaint Inn on the island.

The LDS Chapel on the island

War College Museum

War College Yacht Harbor

Jim by the mighty Anchor
near the Museum

So there are a fraction of the fun things to see and do on the island. The kids can enjoy it for the next several months before they get their new assignment and move on. Military life is not easy for all the relocating, but it sure keeps things interesting. It also gives us a new and exciting destination every couple of years. Every challenge has its upside! And they make such a lovely home for their family no matter where they go. You'd think they've been here for years instead of less than three months.

Arriving in Rhode Island

Just about to land in Providence~ We were getting so excited to see the kids!

I was just telling my friends today..."Rhode Island is not a good name for the state. First of all, it is not an island at all, and second of all, it does have some islands, one of which is Goat Island. So it is Goat Island, Rhode Island. To me it sounds totally redundant and quite frankly a little weird.

Our kids live on a bigger island and it is one beautiful place. There is just something so cool about being so near the sea. With beaches just blocks away it feel like you are on vacation all the time. The best part is it is a vacation with a very limited number of people in your way. There is no hustle bustle and a lot of peace. We spent all of our time there except for the middle of our trip when we traveled to the other five states. It was in a word...heaven. We took several day trips to close by places, always returning at night to this wonderful place and many days we stayed home and enjoyed to beauty of the island.

Laura has not been happy with the house they rented, sight unseen, via the Internet, but it was so delightful. She doesn't like the little things like the size, lack of storage, things that need repairs, tacky base boards, etc. But she did the quintessential home staging project in this place and it is adorable. It was love at first sight for me. I was reminded of how good she is at decorating and how much I missed the time when we worked together in our design business.

This is their cute living room.

They gave us their room with the adjoining sitting room and bath. They are too sweet and I can tell you they were glad to get their room back by the time they left. They said they were comfy in the basement exercise room but nothing compared to this great room we had. Thanks, kids!

This is a high bed. I was laughing this morning thinking of Robert's tiny mom that is visiting right now. She must have to take a running leap to get up on it!

The best part was just being there with them and enjoying the boys and Laura and Robert. If you didn't click over the other day to this crazy YouTube of the boys, you just have to see it so I am putting it here. These boys are so silly and cute and funny and brilliant. Tell me, do you know the elements on the periodic table by heart? Can you sing this song? Not me, I was clueless. What I love about this video is it so displays their cute little personalities to a T. Spence, a deacon in training, Ross, a no holds barred, out there kinda guy! We love them to death and miss them so much now that we are home!

This was one of the first things out of their mouths when we arrived. I made them do it over for the video before we left.

Utah Family Fall Fest 2010

Autumn is in the air!

While in Utah we stayed exclusively with Chris and Missy. Ideally we like to stay with everyone if we are there long enough but the past three years it has been very heavy on the Jen and Lowell side so we could help out more with Hazie. Chris and Missy have been very understanding but it has been hard on their kids. We feel better now that things have evened out a little more.

They worked like dogs to get as much of the basement remodel done before we came and bought a nice trundle bed for Aynslee's room so we stayed in there. Thanks Aynslee! It was great being with all of you! Jim had the opportunity to go to see Chris in action with his engineering students. He sure loved that! Missy and I did some shopping with Owen while the other kids were all in school. My favorite clothing stores, Christopher Banks and CJ Banks are there so I bought some things to take back east. Missy was kind to wait for me. I don't like having people wait but she didn't complain. She is a very gracious and giving person.

Our main reason for stopping over there was to enjoy Aynslee's baptism and party and to celebrate Hazie's birthday. We also got to go to a fun Harvest Festival at the kids' school and had a super fun BBQ at the Canyon with family and friends for Hazie's birthday. Here are a few photos of those fast four days.

This is Aynslee on her baptism day in the beautiful white dress her other Grandmother made for her. Barbara did a beautiful job and Miss Aynslee looked so sweet. What a wonderful day for us all to share.

Chris is all prepared in his white jumpsuit, to baptism his only daughter. What a blessing and a cherished memory. When the little children are baptized the other kids are invited to come up to the edge of the font and watch. It was so joyous to see seven siblings and cousins all gather around sitting on the floor seeing Aynslee take this important step. Oh, I do love being a grandparent!

The boys helped me finish up some mini-cherry cheese cakes Missy was serving as one of several desserts she made for the dinner after the baptism. She is a fab cook and very creative in the kitchen. Great menu!

Chloe, Owen and Hazie!

I love how after dinner the kids all played outside together. Hazie sits out in the yard and they all make sure to include her. To me that is the sweetest thing of all. They are so aware of her and her special needs.

The Harvest Festival at school

This was a big deal for the kids and their families, lots of fun things for the kids to do, face painting, hair styling and painting, lots of games with prizes, pizza, desserts, a silent action to raise money for the school, a DJ, it was a fun time.

Julia with some sort of face paint and a fancy hairdo.

Chris and Missy and Connor and Zach with their fancy hair.

Connor had a flag football game that Grampa and Chris and Owen went to see.

Chris and Owie at the game!

We were so excited about the fall foliage tour we were planning in New England that we had Jen drive us out to the canyon one afternoon in hopes of getting a glimpse. There was excitement in the air after last year when we hit it just right. Wanted Jim to see it first hand! (I think this looks just like part of our street without the houses on it!)

But we did not get there at prime time, still a little too early.

Last year in the canyon on a peak day.

JJ 'Whippin' Her Hair' (Google this) in the canyon! It probably looks just like this right now. Does it get any prettier than this. Not really!

Fishing on the river at Hazie's party!

Lowell was in charge of the fire for cooking and
warmth and marshmallows!
Shelby watches!

Hot dogs for the family and core friends,
all celebrating Hazie turning 3!

Hazie loved her new baby.

She was so adorable with her. She kept hugging her and saying, "Grampa, she's soooo tiny!" She could not be more adorable I promise you! She loved this birthday present so much!

She loved this doggie too but already had her baby stripped
down getting ready for bed!

Morgan and Piper and Mitrian getting ready for a little cooking.

Mesmerized by the camp fire,
snuggling with Aunt Missy and waiting for
marshmallows and birthday cake.

Finally it was nearly dark and time to sing to our baby!

She loved it.

It was a wonderful four days and the next morning came pretty early for our flight to Rhode Island! We are so blessed to have these wonderful sweet people as our family members and good friends. God is so good to us all!