AUGUST TRIPPING

Happpy to be there

August has gone by so fast that I haven’t even written one entry so I will have to try and remember from my journal.  It has been as full as July and we are very tired but happy and feeling much love for our family.  They are amazing people and we love them so much.  David left on the 2^nd for Aspen, Colorado and giving his first presentation.  He was well prepared. 

August 3^rd I had a malignant skin cancer removed.  We love our dermatologist.  All is great.

August 6^th Erik drove us to the airport for our North Carolina trip to see David hooded as a doctorate candidate in music composition.  We got to Columbia at midnight and David met us.  We fell into bed.  The next morning, Baylie and Jalen were so excited to see us.

This huge spider is why we don't live in SC.  The zig zag thing is the web.

  I don’t know if they were excited to see us or David graduate or a trip to Savannah, Georgia we had planned.  (They had no idea we were then going on to Disney World)  Kristin had everything planned for the events and was already to go.  We just had a fun day preparing for everything.

David’s hooding was so remarkable.  It was very well done and he looked marvelous.  We were so proud of him. 

His head of the music dept. said that no one had ever finished a composition doctorate faster than David.  We thought it took forever.  The whole thing was just wonderful.  The kids were so proud and so good.

Afterwards we headed for Savannah.  It was a pleasant ride with plenty of room because of their van.  Savanah is so beautiful.  I had been there with Kristin and Tiffani but Dad never had.  The first thing we did was check in and then headed to Tybee Island Lighthouse and museum.

 Batchelors' room

 Tybee Island Light Station

 Civil War Battlement Museum

 The Batchelors climbed all the way to the top of the lighthouse and Dad and I went to the museum.  No steps for us.  There were 175 or more steps.  July had done us in so we voted no.  We walked out to the ocean and got our feet wet and collected shells and rocks. 

We then went to the Savanah River front.  It is a beautiful, historical place.  The kids couldn’t wait to spend the money they had saved for the trip on the best candy store ever, but Kristin and I talked them into saving their money for this really amazing souvenir shop that I thought was on the way home.  (Not a lie; just a mislead)  They didn’t mind because David bought them some candy.  Never have I seen better caramel apples.

By this time we were hungry and ate at a great place called The Pirate’s House.

 dinner

the hole to the water

 It is a true pirate house where the pirates would capture men and put them in this hole that led to a tunnel to the Savannah River and on to the ocean.  It was an interesting place and full of excitement.  The kids were petrified that a pirate would capture them.  The food was amazing.  It was a wonderful way to top off David’s graduation.

The next morning we headed for what the kids thought was home.  They were so very good but several times asked, “Are you sure you know of this place where we can spend our money?”  Kristin was like a little child herself; she was so excited for the surprise.

Hours later, in Orlando, Baylie said “Why does that sign say Orlando Disneyworld?”  There was silence and then screaming.  At the end of this post I will send you to Kristin’s blog about this marvelous time.  I think hers takes several blogs because she blogged every day.  Hers is filled with pictures and much more info.(the announcement is on video)

We went right to our resort, The Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas.  They were so much more than we had expected. 

laundry

Batchelor bedroom

kitchen

dining room

patio

master bedroom

master jetted tub

The price included a 3 day park hopper pass for all of us.  It was amazing. 

Lego Land

Our passes started the next day so we took the kids to Downtown Disney where they could finally spend the money they had saved.  They were so fun to watch.  It took forever for them to decide but it was worth it.

Kristin had the entire trip all planned out so we did everything we wanted and did not have to wait any longer that 40 minutes for a ride.  Many rides we did twice.  Magic Kingdom was the first day and we loved everything.  Kristin had ordered shirts from a friend for every day we were in the Park.  This day was red Mickey shirts. 

We got so many comments on them.  They made it easier to find everyone.  The log ride got us wet but we didn’t care.  We did it again the last day. 

jungle ride

Ariel ride

Dumbo

Look at Kristin’s post for more detail.  We were so tired but didn’t want to miss a thing.  We ended with the Electrical Parade.  We love that parade. 

Kristin had a frozen banana every day because of the nostalgia it caused when she was little and we lived in LA County and went to Disneyland often.  She was more fun to watch than the kids.  She rode every ride and laughed the day long.  We go back to the resort around 11:00.  These kids way out did Riley and Parker.

The next day we went to Animal Kingdom.  This day was blue Olaf shirts. 

We did the Safari ride.    

 Mt. Everest (minus me) river rapids (Dad and I were soaked) and everything we wanted.  We then went to Disney Studios.  At the end of the entrance they had an Olaf show that was okay but the best show was Frozen.  They had live actors and the movie combined and it was a sing-a-long.  At the end it even snowed.  It is a must see.  Kristin and Baylie went on Tower of Terror

and David and Jalen went to a car stunt show.  Dad and I spent much time in stores so we could get cool.  It was so hot.  We also had a frozen lemonade.  Later Kristin and Baylie went on Tower again.  It was just so much fun.  We did other things that I can’t remember.  You must go on Kristin’s posts.

We went to the Epcot Center but the kids were not real thrilled with that one.  Soaring had a 2 hour wait so we just skipped that one.  It started pouring and we were tired so at 9:00 we headed back to the resort.  Another incredible day.  We rode the monorail to the parking lot which was also fun.

We hated to see the last day come. 

We got to the parks every day when they opened and with Kristin’s fast passes and good planning we were able to do everything we wanted.  This day we wore neon yellow shirts.  

It was our favorite, Magic Kingdom again. 

 Everyone commented on the yellow shirts.  They were so bright and cute.  The Seven Dwarfs Mine Ride was always a 2 hour line so we decided to do it first.  We were about the 15^th ones in line and wouldn’t you know it was closed for repairs.  Dad and I stood in line hoping the repairs wouldn’t take too long and the Batchelors headed off to do rides. 

 people mover

It was very hot but after more than an hour it was fixed.  Just as they opened it up the kids came walking by so it turned out perfectly.  They had ridden everything they wanted and some rides they had already done before.  Baylie expressed that she wasn’t going home until the Park closed.  We said that would be fine.  At 9:00 we headed for the Main Street by way of the train.  We waited for the parade on the balcony of the train station.  Great view.

 After the parade they do a show with lazers on the castle.  Both kids fell asleep during that.  It was around 11:00 so we woke Baylie and asked if she wanted to watch the fireworks.  She was so tired she just wanted to go back.  Whew!!!  When we got to the resort Baylie asked if they could watch TV and eat popcorn.  Kristin shocked me by saying, “Of course!”  When I went in their bedroom Jalen was sound asleep with one hand in his popcorn bowl. 

What a great ending to a great time.

The next morning we thought check out was at noon but when I looked at 9 it said 10:00.  David hurried the kids to the pool while we hurried and pack up.  We picked up the swimmers on the way out.  The resort had 4 pools but we knew where they were. We decided to go home by way of HWY A1A.  It follows the Florida coast.  Just as we got on the road an incredible rain storm hit and David could hardly see the road.  A little later we could see the ocean and enjoyed a great road trip.  We even stopped to put our feet in the ocean again. 

The beach was so different and so easy to walk on.  It was flat and packed sand so you didn’t sink in sand.

When we got to St. Augustine we decided to go into the town and see where Tiffani and Dave spent their honeymoon.  What a place.  It was amazing. 

There is so much history in that town and so much beauty.  We want to go back.  It’s on our bucket list. 

It took way longer to go that way but it was worth it.  We got back to Columbia around 10:30 and packed to get to the airport at 4:00 AM.  There was nothing we could have done to make it a better trip.

We got up at 4:00 the next morning so Kristin could take us to the airport.  Bethany met us in SLC at 11:00 and we headed home.  We had so much to do inn the yard and garden and so much laundry and cleaning.  We were exhausted.  George picked 3 huge boxes of tomatoes, some corn, peppers, cucumbers and beans.  Our garden is flourishing.

Saturday we were so tired we did as little as possible.  We took produce from the garden to many of our neighbors.  The rest we saved to take to Relief Society.  It was gone the minute the meeting was over.  We love sharing from the garden.

Monday was our regular day with the boys mowing and Scott’s kids coming.  We were still tired but it was fun to be with more family.  Dad and I had dental appts. With Dr. McKell and we took him a big box of tomatoes.  He loves our tomatoes.  I had Dad measure the corn because I thought it must be 8 ft. tall and it was 12 ft. tall. 

Boy, do we ever have a great garden this year.

The Lord has blessed us so much and we are so grateful.  Our family means everything to us and we are so blessed to have them sealed to us for eternity.  We continually thank the Lord for this blessing.  Our prayers are filed with our children and grandchildren.  The restored gospel is so true.

 The 18th found us back in the temple where we love to be.  It is so refreshing and peaceful there.  We are getting ready for our cruise to Alaska Friday.  We hope we get some rest there.

YEAH ALASKA!

  August 21st we flew to Alaska.  Shanelle took us to the airport.  We stayed the night at the Fairfield by the airport.  We thought we would do some touring but were so tired we just went to bed.

The 22nd was also Nixon's birthday.  We missed 2 birthday's while we were gone.  I guess we didn't check the calendar very well.  Nixon is filled with energy.  It's a good thing he has the parents he does.  He loves his family and Ava is his best friend.  He loves doing anything with her.  He loves being any of the action heroes and even on hot days you will find him fully dressed as one, and sweating like crazy.  Green is his favorite color because of the Hulk.  He loves playing with cousins.  He has a very tender heart and we love having him in our eternal family.

That morning we boarded our ship, The Norwegian Jewel.

 front

back

our stateroom

 The They had lunch ready for us.  We took a nap as we sailed and did go to the evening show. We were at sea that evening and all the next day.  Dad was either sea sick or had a bit of the flu.  We went to another performance that evening.
The 24th we docked at Ketchikan all ready to go fishing.

breakfast at the Tzar Restaurant

 After breakfast a bus took us to the pier and we fished for 4 hours.  It was great.  We didn't even have to bait our hooks.

  We were with a honeymoon couple.  Dad and I each caught a fish and they only caught one so we gave ours to them and they shipped them to their home.  

 our Skipper, Charlie.

We saw some sea lions resting on our way in.

 When we went ashore I bought a warm hat to wear at the BYU football games.

The 25th we started early for a whale watch in Juneau.  A bus took us to our viewing boat.  It was absolutely incredible.  We saw so much.  There were several pods with 7 or more in each one.  We also saw seals and sea lions.  The captain put the underwater speaker on and we could hear the whales talk to each other.  It reminded us of the movie "Up Periscope" It's one of our favorites.

A lighthouse we saw on the way back

We stayed so long with the whales that there was no time to hike to the Mendenhall Glacier.  NO way.  Dad and I ran to the glacier and back.  

view of the glacier from the bus

It is the one my dad used to go when I was a little girl and lived there.  He and a friend would chip ice for the bars in town for extra money.  One day they got on ice that was too thin and the truck went down.  It stayed there until a few years ago when the lake lowered.  I don't know how we made it in time to the bus but we were not even last.  We did not even get into Juneau to see the sites because by the time we got in town it was time for the ship to leave.  We hurried, ate and saw another show.  This one was when people do incredible things in the air on ropes and cloth.  Like the Vegas Circle something

Skagway was next.  We took an early train ride on the White Pass and Yukon RR up pver White Pass.  It is the trail the gold miners used to get rich.  No gold was ever found.  The cruise trip guide highly suggested we take the VIP private car.  It had only 12 people and a private guide.  He served any beverage we wanted, fresh salmon on crackers, chocolate and little sandwiches.  We were the last car so we got such wonderful views.  It was  worth our childrens' inheritance to take it.  We sat on leather couches or swivel chairs so we had every view.  It even had its own bathroom; very important for me.

 another glacier

a trestle trains used to use

Trails the miners used.  They killed 3,000 horses in 2 years because they didn't properly take care of them.  The little fine gold line in the trail.

The rest of the day we spent in Skagway just having a fun time.  We did buy some little trinkets for the grands and soaked in the atmosphere.

This building is built with   pieces of driftwood

wooden sidewalks

dessert
The next day was a day at sea and we thoroughly relaxed.  We had breakfast outside.

                                         

We passed a tiny lighthouse on our way to the Sawyer Iceberg

We got as close to it as the ship could go.

a chip off the iceberg

It was a wonderful thing to enjoy and to see all the beauty Alaska has to offer.  This world was not made by hit and miss.  It was created by a divine Creator and has a purpose in His eternal plan for us.  How blessed we are.

August 28th was a special day because it was Erik's birthday.  What a great man he is.  He honors his priesthood and has recently been called as 1st counselor in his ward.  He loves his family deeply and tries to help them understand the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ in a warm and loving way.  He has a loving wife by his side to encourage him in all he does.  He is so involved in the things his sons do and is a great support for them.  He loves people and can make anyone feel good.  We love him so much.  He just may be 40.

On to Alaska:  We were able to see the Northern Lights for two evenings.  One of them I got up at 2:30 and just had to wake up granddad, they were so beautiful.

We sailed through the night and into the next day and landed in Victoria, Canada.

                                                 who knew?

 Empress Hotel: Uncle Del took Tiffani here for lunch long ago

 Victoria harbor where Del would dock his sail boat

Two deep sea divers welding something on the ship right above our balcony.  Made us feel real safe.

Norwegian Jewel

towels are always fun on a cruise
It was an absolutely perfect cruise.  We loved being together.

We disembarked and headed for the airport.  Scott and family met us at the SLC airport.  It was good to be home.  It was around 6 when we got home and the garden needed attention so we worked.  George worked until after 9.

We picked this to take to PG where Scott and family and Clark and family will be for Granddad to ordain Erik a high priest.  We all headed to Erik's for dinner and the celebration of Erik's and Clark's birthdays.

 such excitement

 women workin'

 jumpin'

 my men

 family priesthood holders

 cousins

buddies

 It was a great day and wonderful visiting by all.  I love it when we get together at one of their homes.

We love that families are forever and that all our children are doing their best to live to be forever families.  So grateful they all have the power of the priesthood in their homes to guide and bless them.  The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is so true.