Happy Birthday Samuel

Yes, Samuel was born 14 years ago, on Father's Day, June 18, 1995.

Since then he has been everything anyone could wish for in a son. He is, at times, funny, dedicated, caring, thoughtful, fair-minded, forgiving, humble, etc. Of course, he does have a few faults too, like... well, like everyone else does too.

We celebrated with Fetuchini Alfredo, his favorite dinner and lemon pie. On Friday we will have a few friends over for more pie, this time with merangue, tacos, and a new bicycle.

Thank you, Samuel, for being who you are, a righteous son of God. Stay as long as you'd like (or until called on a mission by the prophet of God, which ever comes first. Void where prohibited. This offer may not be combined with other offerd. No monetary value. Certain other restrictions apply, including requirements to clean your bedroom regularly, or as often as required by management.)

Itinerary

The time draws near for the first opportunity for a big vacation for the Simpson family. We have made short trips to different places around the province, but now we will get away for a few days.

Our Itinerary:

We plan to visit Amy, and our friends in Concord and surrounding areas for about a week starting on June 23rd. Alan and the boys will be available to help with gardening projects, cleaning garages or bedrooms, or other chores you don't want to do. That way they won't get into much trouble. Otherwise they think they are going to lay around and be treated like kings. HA!

We then have travel plans to see family for a few days in El Paso, Texas - Michelle's family. All her siblings will be there to to celebrate her father's birthday. The boys have been begging to go to Huaco Tanques, a very famous rock climbing destination near El Paso.

We will also see Alan's family in New Mexico for a few days. All of his siblings will be there too. (This starting to sound like a reunion tour.) This will be the first time in a long time the cousins will be together at one place. There will be plenty of good Mexican food in both places.

Since Ashley just had a new baby, and we have not been able to get down to see them yet, we will take the opportunity to visit SLC too. We are hoping Jacob will be able to drive down from Rexburg for the blessing of Oliver (the new baby). Within a couple of days of our leaving SLC, Ashley and Drue are moving to Lincoln, Nebraska where he will begin his doctorate program.

Then we will return to Canada, to our home and normal life. Summer will be in full swing then, and there are many festivals and celebrations planned. And of course it will be back to work to plan for another year and another trip.

See you soon.

Alan and Michelle

Celebrations

Michelle had a party last week with a few friends. Check out the goodies. The boys and I were out of the house for the evening, but we did get to "clean up" afterwards and we did a delicious job.

Choose the best answer from the options below:

a) Samuel cut himself shaving for the last day of school classes before exams.

b) Sam is learning to apply make-up, but is having issues with the eyeshadow.

c) Sam is on the Blue Team.

d) Sam does the Timberlea Hakka.

Samuel and Hunter, good friends, and biking buddies.

Masters of Ceremonies: Lyndi and Samuel.

"It is not a graduation, he is moving from Grade 8 to Grade 9. Yes, it is a ceremony. It is psychotic. They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity."

We did, in the words of Mr. Incredible, celebrate as Samuel moves from Grade 8 to Grade 9. It was everything but mediocre.

The students each decorated a surf board. Samuel designed the one above and right of the black and white geometric pattern. However, Samuel's surf board is the powder blue one, on the bottom, just off the shoulder of the guy to the right. (?)

Hunter gets a bite.

Javairia and Zeel with Samuel.

Bailey, Edmonton; Samuel, California; Ruan, South Africa; Reid, Fort McMurray. In the gymnasium, there is a flag from each province, territory, or foreign country from which a student hails. There are 36 flags on display.

"Crikey! Here's a real beauty1! The cobra is a very rare find in these parts, and not just any Cobra, but a Shelby GT500 to boot. Blimey! I'm going to sneak up on it and try not to get bitten as I try to grab a picture of her." -that crazy guy on the animal planet.

or:

"Crouching Joseph, Hidden Shelby"

After the party, Jaden got caught in the clutches of the revelers. He smiled his best defences, but it was no use, they hugged him anyway.

We had another Temple trip yesterday, with 19 youth. In the opening prayer, thankfulness was offered for the Temple that was "so close" that trips like these are easy and accessible. It is over 500 kilometers away, or 5 hours one way. It becomes an all day affair, but the drive is well worth the small sacrifice.

Front Row: David, Marcus, Joseph, Joseph, Ryan, Scott, Samuel.

Kneeling: Jamie, Isaac.

Back Row: Dayna, Bailey, Kyliena, Jazzmyne, Brooke, Jezzy, Selina, Savanah, Nikita.

Not shown: Jenny.

The three Amigos

The "Fun-mobile" coughs up the last two passengers from a great day in the service of the Lord.

The Fork and the Garberator (disposal)

The famous picture spot in the full glory of summer. As we were taking pics today, a couple came hiking up the trail from the right. In the background, the trees are magnificent, and will be for another week or two. Then we will have the last installment of the caterpillar infestation. If you remember from last year, the caterpillars show up, eat every leaf off of every tree, and then move along looking for the next morsel of nourishment. This is a 10 year cycle, 3 devastating all the trees, then 7 years of nada. But the grass is going to be green all summer long, it's all good.

"You point your right toe in, you point your..." There was a whole lot of shakin here too.

Some of the beautiful people and Alan. The bike in the back is for Jim Matson, so he will know that there is civilization this far away from the Bay Area. Jim, there are Democrats here also.

The beginning of a good game of King of the Mountain, or the beginning of a bad joke of "Let's knock down the old guy."

As the Peruvian Army closed in, Butch looked steadfastly at his partner, the Sundance Kid, and said, "I can't swim." Butch shot a glance at his buddy and shot back (no pun intended), "This is not the time to tell me. -JUMP!" "Aughhhhhhhhhh!" (the old guy won)

The new dance revolution sweeping the nation, or at least one small corner of it in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Watch for my favorite parts, Joseph's face, and Samuel's shrug.

"Youth is Wasted on Youth" - anon.

Combined Activity. It is to give the youth a chance to bond together. In May we performed a bit of service. In June it was the annual game of Ultimate Frisbee. This year we also added a pizza bake. Next year perhaps a lobster boil. I have people that know people. Have your people call mine...

First we have to pick teams, so everyone puts in one shoe. Then one person randomly picks shoes for each side and tosses the shoes to the areas for the teams. After all shoes are firmly back in place, the games begin...

After we make pizzas for later.

You choose it, You eat it. Some are fancy, and some simpler, but all were top shelf delicious.

Mugging for the cam.

Great catch. Samuel reaches for one, and makes the catch after a near catastrophic fumble near the end zone.

"Mine! Mine! Mine!"

Chicken Ultimate? Not real practical, but too much fun not to try.

Me too! Can I get a ride too?

Remember when you could do this without barfing? Me neither. That was too long ago, and I have slept since then.

Broken Joe. Actually just a sprained ankle, and a pretty good sprain at that. After one day on crutches, he wanted off them. Sorry Charlie, stay off the ankle means to really stay off of it.

The YW completed a quilt for another of their ranks who is graduating high school this summer.

Jessica makes a basket.

Selina makes another one.

"He is sooooo cute when he does that. I lllllooooooove it!" she whispered as inconspicuously as a nun in a Victoria's Secret catalog.

Happy, Busy, and Pure Joy

Samuel and his friends, Ryan and Taylor, performing in the school talent show.

Leading the guitar class with Ryan

Sam and Thing (remember the Addams Family?) making music.

Joseph playing Box Lacrosse. We went to a game, and the smaller kids would not guard him after about 10 minutes because they could not get the ball away from him. He loves the game.

Joseph and a few friends completing seminary make-up work for days missed due to other school activities. The legos were not required, but fun anyway. Samuel is just off camera providing commentary for the activity.

This is pure joy.

I wish our sons were as excited and happy about doing a little yard and garden work.

Speaking of the gloomy brothers...

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety-Jig

Sundays are good days. This one especially because I am home again after 2 weeks away from Fort McMurray on course. I attended a program for Executive Business Development at the Richard Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario. It is a mini MBA program teaching an overview on all aspects of business, from strategy, to accounting, to finance, to communication, to corporate social responsibility, to etc... Ivey uses the case syudy method, and the class investigated, in depth, over 30 business cases.

It was fantastic, and I have many many more things to learn to be a better manager and business leader.


Upon returning home, I attended a concert in the park presented by the high school bands. I was very pleased to hear Joseph and Samuel play, and was also pleased to see signs of spring and summer. The trees are green, and the grass too, but I was really pleased to see blossoms on many fruit trees around town, like this apple tree in the park at the concert.

Los boys in a favorite picture place. See how green it is on the hill in the background?

This is what we mean by smile.

That is better. This is on the side of the road from the church to home. The Clearwater river is in the valley below. The path right behind us is a walking/bike path that runs all the way through town.

Here is the view on the way to the golf course. The course itself is also quite beautiful, running along the Athabasca River Valley.

The wind only blows the hair of the beautiful people.

Last year there were 2 lodges on this little path of muskeg, and this year there are 3. We have yet to see the local inhabitants, but perhaps we have to camp out and wait. I like the dam in the foreground, engineering at its finest.