I <3 SWA

Yes I do - I LOVE Southwest Airlines. It isn't often in this day and age when you hear someone say they love ANYTHING about an airline.I know some people hate the cattle call of standing in your "assigned" place in line - and we sure hated the fact that we were up in the High Uintahs when we were supposed to be getting our boarding passes online last Friday. We ended up in the dreaded C line and knew our fate - middle seats on the first leg of the flight home.

We begged to be bumped in SLC and eke one more day out of our "vacation" (I use that term loosely) but it was a no go - there was ONE empty seat on the plane so we got on the plane nearly dead last - but to our surprise both got aisle seats.

Then in Phoenix (is that really on the way home?) we heard the call for those willing to get bumped. Checking it out we learned we wouldn't get home until the next afternoon and the bump included no hotel room. We held our ground and got ready to take our place in the dreaded C line. They kept asking for 2 volunteers, but we accepted the fact that I had to get home for seminary graduation, so we were getting on the plane. At the last minute, I asked a new lady behind the desk what they could do for us, and she found a way to get us home the next morning - AND promised a hotel room! Score! Enough SWA credit for two or more tickets - a free night in a hotel, AND home in time for graduation!

The plan was to fly us to Baltimore, put us up for the night, and we would catch the first flight home in the morning. As it turned out - after the door closed on our flight - that they couldn't get us on the Baltimore flight. Larish in his wisdom requested a flight to Philly - and not only did we score all that credit - we got to visit these two delightful young'uns along with their mom and pop!And that my friends, is why I <3 SWA!

Choo Choo Train

Ever since moving to Philly, Alexander has admired a tour book of the area that was in the back pocket by his car seat. He always turned to the picture of the train and asked when he could go there. We decided to make it a fun family outing to the Strasbourg Railroad - a 45 minute train ride through the Amish country in Lancaster County PA. It was a beautiful day and we had an awesome time.

The train was a little intimidating up close.

We rode the open coach car for fun.
Lil rode the whole way with the wind in her hair, hanging onto the rail and watching the sites! She is a lot like her Grammie!
The scenery was beautiful with rolling hills - cows grazing, amish buggies on side roads, people waving as we rolled by.
Amish boys working on the farm alongside the tracks.
Xander LOVED his train ride!On our way out we had to stop at the car from the "Boston and Maine Railroad" for a picture.

Any day the sun is shining and we are with the grandkids - is a BEAUTIFUL day!

Dr. Boston

I am so glad we made a last minute decision to trek to Pennsylvania a few weekends ago. It was the white coat ceremony at the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University where Kel's hubby Brian is a student. He has completed 2 years of study and was honored by being "coated" before he actually treats live patients - his first patient was today!Apparently even good photographers have a hard time getting good indoor shots - but my shaky hand makes it even more difficult.

The ceremony was held in the Great Court in Mitten Hall. It was a beautiful setting with this amazing ceiling - and beautiful windows at the front of the room (making it more difficult to get good pics!)The line up of white coats before the ceremony begins.There was a giant 2011 in the foyer with student names and pictures from their class.There are a few familiar names on the "two"

It was so difficult to get a "live" shot of Kelley coating Brian - this is the best I could do. I guess it wouldn't have been appropriate to ask the school's Dean to move so I could get a better shot. Brian is bent over a bit and Kelley is in a blue dress, see her there? The Dean is smack dab in the middle of them :-)
A re-creation for the blog!
The students reciting the oath.
A few good looking students and their wives/families. The future of dentistry - right here.
Kel got a few congrats kisses in.
The Dr. and his Mrs.
Maybe not quite yet a Doctor of Dentistry - but he sure looks impressive!

Brian kept referring to this ceremony as "no big deal" - but it really was! Congratulations Brian! We love you and are very proud of you.

Trip to the zooooooooooo!

Alexander and I needed a break from babies, so we headed to the zoo one day this summer. We had so much fun!
Alexander loved the snakes, but I loved the tigers! They were VERY close. They are such a beautiful animal, powerful, colorful. We had a most excellent day!





















Look at this guy!

Time Out for Women, Philly style

This trip was awesome! A most excellent weekend! So fun! Here's a couple of pics, but they just don't tell the whole exciting story.


It was a LOOOONG car ride down (think forgotten items, construction delays, lots of holiday traffic) and an even longer ride home (think breaking down in NYC!) Still it was all worth it! An inspirational and motivational day, lots of attention for sweet baby Lillian, and Chubby's Cheesesteaks. Family and friends rounded out the trip and we had a ball.

The Rubber Band

A few days before Kelley was due with Lillian, I was sitting in Sacrament Meeting with my phone close by in case I got "the call". So when the phone started vibrating, I jumped up and raced outside to hear those magical words:
K: Hi Mom
Me: Is it time!?!?!?!?!?!?!
K: No but you know that fireside I am going to tonight with the youth?
Me: Are you kidding me? You aren't in L A B O R ?????
K: Listen Mom, you know that fireside? I just found out what it is about.
Me: No B A B Y yet?
K: Mom it is going to be RYAN SHUPE AND THE RUBBERBAND!
Me: WHAT TIME DOES IT START?

So, I jumped in the car, raced home, threw clothes in a suitcase, and FLEW to Pennsylvania. (OK I drove quickly)

I made it for the opening song.

I'm in love.

With the music of course.

Cause there is only ONE TRUE LOVE in my life.

But Ryan Shupe comes in a close second.And that is why I wore the same clothes over and over again all summer - since I never came back home for 7 whole weeks!

I love this song, DREAM BIG:

Just a teaser

Alexander and Lil...
Honestly, a picture says a thousand words! Here's Liv...
Buddy and his beautiful granddaughters...
These kids love their Buddy...Lil did have her moments of happiness in these pictures, but we never caught them on camera! I know it has been a long time since I have posted, but I promise to get caught up one of these days. For now, this will have to do!

Lyme Disease

What do you think? The Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Dermatologists, and Janitors at U Penn think this might be what Larish has. Do you concur?
He has had a blood test, and is now on his third antibiotic.
My guess is it is Lyme Disease, and the headache is what tips "Precious" off. (Anyone read the Ladies #1 Detective Agency"? I AM Precious) Mind you, I am making my diagnosis from 2000+ miles away.
I would post the pic, which almost matches the internet pics I have found, but frankly, it is too gross for the general blogosphere!

Here is the CDC scoop:

Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans by the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Lyme disease is diagnosed based on symptoms, physical findings (e.g., rash), and the possibility of exposure to infected ticks; laboratory testing is helpful in the later stages of disease. Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics.

And this is the part that freaks me out the most:

Most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics, especially if treatment is begun early in the course of illness. However, a small percentage of patients with Lyme disease have symptoms that last months to years after treatment with antibiotics. These symptoms can include muscle and joint pains, arthritis, cognitive defects, sleep disturbance, or fatigue. The cause of these symptoms is not known. There is some evidence that they result from an autoimmune response, in which a person's immune system continues to respond even after the infection has been cleared.