What Was That???

One day I walked into my bedroom and sat down on the end of the bed. I heard something rustling up by the headboard. I turned around to look and......NOTHING!
Then THIS popped out!
Then it disappeared and returned with a friend and TOYS!
The toys gave it away who the hands belonged to. I called his name, and low and behold...
THERE HE IS! What a silly boy!

Golden Spike National Monument

Another stop on the way home from Declo Days....was the Golden Spike National Monument. Jim was reading a family history about his Grandfather and it mentioned that he was there when they drove the last spike. We were just about 10 miles from the exit when he read that, and I asked, "Do you want to go there? We never have, I think we should!" He said "Sure, it sounds like a good idea." So off we went.
It's quite a drive from the freeway, and I have to say when I thought of Promontory Point, I always thought it meant a point on the Great Salt Lake. But the lake is several miles from here. So it must mean something else....Hummmm, something to research.
We were very fortunate with our timing. I guess three times a day they actually MOVE the trains and re-enact the "meeting". We arrived there just 20 minutes before one of the times, so we were able to go watch the big trains actually operate.
Here is the 119 from the East and it operates on coal.
And here is the Jupiter from the West and it operates on wood. Well, actually they BOTH operate on STEAM, it just what they burn to build up the heat to produce the steam. I didn't realize that they engines were painted such bright colors back then, but they wanted to attract attention, so they were very bright and boldly painted at the time. It wasn't until later that they mostly went to black.
Here comes the 119! It's almost there.........
....and there it is!
And here is the special tie and plaque where the last spike was driven. The spike isn't actually there.
And a closeup of the plaque.
It was a very educational visit. Then it was time to head for home.

ATK Rocket Display

On the way home from Idaho, we decided to stop and see some of the "sights" that we usually fly on past. We were headed out to Promontory Point to see the Golden Spike site, but we saw a sign that mentioned a Rocket Display. We figured a BOY would LOVE that and we were right. Here's Jim and Xander in front of one of the rockets.
First he found a rocket that he felt looked like the rockets that Lightning McQueen had when he was "Rocket Chow" (Xander calls Lightning McQueen, "Chow" as in Ka Chow). He was very excited about that. [If you look closely you can see that he is wearing a "Chow" shirt and he has "Chow" shoes!]
Then he found THIS! And what is this you ask? This is one of the aft sections of a solid booster rocket used by the Space Shuttle. He LOVED it in there! Did you know that if you clap your hands in there, it echos?
And here he is trying to climb up the sides.
Here's a shot of a complete booster rocket from the back end. They are HUGE! In the first picture up top, you can see this booster rocket in the background. It might help give you some sense of scale.
Utah's "little" contribution to the Space Program.
It was a fun little stop out in the middle of no where. It was a very nice display of many of the things that they have built out there.

A Boy and his Buddy

Xander and his cat are the best buddies. They are almost the same age. The cat is actually a few months older than Xander. Weebie is the cat's name. There's a story there....Ashley was looking through a baby name book for names for her baby, and came across the name of Weebie...for a BOY! Shortly after that, she was given permission to get a cat and lucky for us, Tuinei's had kittens...we had a new kitten that night! So she was trying to think of a name for the cat, and she jokingly said she would name it Weebie. I told her NO! She said it was either her cat or her baby that would get that name....I opted for the cat! Hopefully Xander will thank me some day...LOL.

Okay, back to the Buddies. Ever since Xander was born, this cat has been fascinated with him. When he started to scoot and crawl, Weebie was right there with him. Xander loved the cat as well, and was always rolling up on the cat and Weebie would just let him. If it got to be too much Weebie would run off, but she is VERY tolerant of Xander.
From the very beginning....I know people worry about cats suffocating babies, but that was never a concern, Weebie always stayed at the bottom....away from Xander's neck.
It's almost like Weebie is staking her claim... "Um, This is MINE!"
Xander, rolling up on Weebie. It was okay until Xander got to big.
Just playing...but don't worry, Weebie has been declawed. I know some people think that is awful, but my furniture and grandkids look much better this way.
I LOVE this picture. They were ACTUALLY playing together. Weebie kept hitting the sides of the tunnel and Xander would just laugh and try to get it.
Xander would tackle Weebie....Weebie doesn't look very happy about it, but she could get away if she really wanted to. She never did.

The other day we had a visitor and we were sitting on the back deck and Xander and Weebie were playing in the backyard. YES! Actually PLAYING together in the backyard. Xander would chase Weebie, and Weebie would run. Then Xander would start walking away, and now Weebie would chase Xander. I wish I would have taken pictures. They have always been that way, but even I was surprised to see this outside. There is a special bond between them. So much so, that they sleep together...which isn't all that strange, but it's funny the positions I find them in. I started to take pictures of this as I find it quite humorous. I hope you enjoy them as well.

Xander and Weebie asleep.
I'm not sure WHO'S idea this one was, but Xander is sound asleep.
And this one made me laugh out loud to find Xander sleeping crosswise in the bed. Weebie was just fine.

A Boy and his Buddy...a truly special bond.

Declo Days - Darrington Canal Float

Yep, in the big metropolis called Declo, one has to try hard to come up with exciting activities. Thus the Darrington Canal Float. This is where all branches of the Darrington family meet at a predetermined time and float along in the irrigation canal for about a mile. This year is was July 11th, 2009 @ 3:00 PM.

Many float, some come to watch, and a hay wagon is even provided for the non floaters...this is where Jim was. Xander and I drove along the canal bank on a 4 wheeler, but Denae, Bailey and Laira all floated. And just think....ALL of these people are somehow tied to the DARRINGTONS!
Preparing to get in....
...still getting started....
...and they're off...Denae, Laira and Bailey are there in the back.
That's a LOT of Darringtons!
Xander and I on the 4 wheeler.
The non floaters on the hay wagon...Jim is there in the blue.
Even the dogs got in the act.
Xander throwing rocks in the water.
We even saw "Frank" from the Pixar movie Cars! At least that's what Xander thought!
Here's Xander at the end of the float....waiting on the bridge, throwing rocks and waiting for the floaters to arrive.
End of the line...Denae (with the two green noodles) and cousins getting out of the canal.

Everyone seems to have a great time, I know I did. Next time.....I may just have to float.

Declo Days.....in the Park

It started with a flag raising....
then visiting with long time friends. This is Tim Preston with Jim. They have been friends since they were VERY little and they lived "next door" to one another. But "next door" in Declo mean a half a mile a way.
The WallE bounce house that Xander just LOVED! I couldn't get him out of there!
Here's Bailey in the bounce house.
More visiting with people....mostly cousins....there were Darringtons EVERYWHERE!
There was entertainment...
...and other activities...like this big slide that Xander went on all by himself.
And down he comes....it was a bit wet, but he loved it. Too bad the lines were so long as to make it so we didn't want to stand in line again.
LOTS of people...
More than Jim ever remembered being there....and a lot of them related.
The fish pond....Grandpa helping Xander FISH. Xander thought this was just the neatest thing, he kept wanting to go back.
This pool was left over from a different fishing activity, but Xander was very happy to play with the spoons in the water. He played like this for quite some time.

After all of this fun...we went to our neice's house to "rest up" before the big Darrington Canal Float....stay tuned!