We were invited to come back to Virginia to see London baptised and to be there for hers and Jonas' birthdays. So Bobbie, Great Grandma Putnam and myself flew back and spent 9 days visiting Dave, Sunny and the kids.

While we were back there we got to travel around and see alot of fun, interesting things. We spent a few days just driving through the Shanandoa National Park, the Blue Ridge Mountains and West Virginia. It was beautiful and GREEEEEEEEEN. We had a ball.

While we were there Sunny asked if I would help Dave put Shutters on their house. I had no idea how much of a difference shutters could make!

Dave and Sunnys house BEFORE shutters

Dave and Sunnys house AFTER shutters.








One of the interesting things we got to see was Thomas Jeffersons home Montecello. I was really surprised and excited to see a very large collection of Lewis and Clark items in the entrance foyer.





Bobbie, Sunny, Zeke, Jonas, and Great Grandma Putnam on Jeffersons "back porch".













These guys are English Woods dancers. They only dance on May 1st of each year. This tradition goes back to the 1300s in England. The tradition has never been broken in that entire time.

It was actually kind of funny to watch but the guys doing it were laughing and having a good time.



Of course the real reason we were there was for Londons Baptism. She was a real sweety to us and Great Grandma Putnam. Grandma slept on Londons bottom bunk. London was worried that something was wrong with Grandam because of the "strange noises" that Grandma made while she was sleeping. London would also turn down Grandmas bed every night for her.





London in her Baptism dress.











We had a great time and saw an amazing amount of beautiful scenery and countryside.

Thaks Dave, Sunny and kids for putting us up.

Hanging African Trophies

Tyler and Lissy were kind enough to come over after work and help us put up our African tropies and souvenirs. I promised I would post some pictures of them hanging up.

Now we've just got to figure out where to put all of the other stuff we took down.

African Trophys

Black Wildebeest tail made into African King Fly Swatter.




African Porcupine Quills.

















We finally got our trophys from our African Safari. We are really happy with the way they all turned out. John and Cathy Peacock of Taxidermy Africa did a great job of taxidermy and with the shipping. Thanks John and Cathy.
This is a Blesbok. It's an African antelope that weighs about 200 pounds.
















This is the Black Wildebeest. It scored high enough for the Safari Club International record book. He is a dandy.
















This is a male and female Springbok. I think the plaque in the shape of Africa is way cool.
















This is the Zebra. It's a lot bigger than it looks. Tyler is going to help me mount this and the other trophies in a couple of days. I'll post pictures when we get it done.
















This is the female Springbok hide. These are beautiful little animals (and they taste good).


I'm going again next year (March, 2009) with the Leavitt brothers from Kamas. I can hardly wait to get back there.

Sportsmans Expo

I had my friend Dwaine Starr come out to Utah to set up his booth for the Sportsmans Expo. Dwaine is a Professional Hunter for Richard Holmes Safaris in South Africa and a general all-around "International Man of Mystery

Dwaine works for the same place Bobbie and I went last March on Safari. He allowed me to tag along and hang out with him at the booth for 4 days. I had a great time and I thought he did too until he sent me this picture. I know it's hard to tell us apart, but just take a guess which one I am.

Pictures by Karen & Ed at Christmas

Karen and Ed were kind enough to come up and take pictures of our family. It was, and very well may be, the only time we are ever going to be all together at the same time. Thank you Karen and Ed.






Dee and Bobbie




Sunny, Dave, Teancum, Jonas, Ezekiel, London




Zach, Amy, Tyger, and Tatum




Tyler and Lissie

Grouting Update

You have to admit, Tyler did an amazing job of cutting tiles. Look at the great cutting job around the toilet and vent. Bobbie was so impressed that she wants to change his name to "Tiler"!!






















Bobbies new heater vent she picked out.


Zach asked me to send some pictures with the grout dry.

Having a "grout time".

Tyler and I got the tiles set on Saturday. When I got home from work today, Bobbie picked out the grout color and I spent the afternoon grouting and then cleaning tiles. It appears that everything went fairly smooth.

I now have to cure the grout for 3 days and then seal it. The grout should dry out to be about the same color as the tile.

In a couple of weeks Tyler and I are going to tackle the other bathroom.

Adventures in tiling

Well, Bobbie and I have been trying to get up the courage to update our house. We finally broke down and bought a tile saw and decided to try our remodeling skills on our bathroom.

Tyler came up and spent the day helping me. He did a great job cutting the granite tiles with the saw.

Bobbie bought new brushed nickel cabinet handles. She is going to refinish the cabinets and replace the old old antique bronze handles.

I wish I would have taken pictures of the old bathroom and Tyler and I laying tile as well as the new counter top and fixtures.

Next week we start on the bathroom floor.

Hawaii a couple of months late

Bobbie in front of the Dole Plantation. This is what her hair looks like normally if she doesn't curl it straight every day.

Dee and Bobbie on the beach.

Bobbie went surfing. she rode the board all the way into the beach.

Dave, Sunny, London, Tank, Zeke, and Jonas on the beach.

January in Kamas

We've had a good amount of snow this year with quite a bit more to come. This is the most snow we've seen since the winter of 1993. We're not there yet but getting close.

Dee and Bobbie Simpson

Tyler and Lissy helped Bobbie and I create our "Simpson" selves. Bobbie's still a hottie even as a cartoon character.

Oh Boy !!!

You ought to see our weather today. Absolute blizzard. I spent 2 1/2 hours on the tractor moving snow so we can use the driveway.

The kids have been getting on us for not posting any pictures so here are a few.

Here are a few pictures of our trip to Africa. Lissy helped me put them on.

We had so much fun I'm going back in March 2009

Dee,LaLase,John,and Black Wildebeest
Dee and Burchells Zebra. 7 1/2 hour stalk 250 yard shot
Bobbie and LaLase study the Ant and Termite heads in Aardwolf dung.

LaLase Maso and his "old lady" Bobbie

Old Lady and Old Man are terms of enderment.

LaLase and Bobbie almost got bitten by a highly venomous Puff Adder. LaLase was still shaking after 2 days.

Elvis

This is Elvis the Elk, it's really cool. Dee will blog in detail about when he hunted it later. We (Zach and Amy) are posting for my parents so they can get things going. This was Christmas time, we all had a good time. It's the first time in a long time we all could get together as a family.