Hawaii -- December 2007 - Mahalo

Polynesian Cultural Center Friday December 7th, 2007


We spent Friday December 7th at the Polynesian Cultural Center. They had lots of shows and fun activities. Don't you think Rich would have made an awesome dancer?



Tap was a Samoan that did the Fire Dance at the evening show. His bi's weren't that much bigger than Rich's. :):):)



On Saturday we went to the temple. After the session we went over to the BYU Hawaii cafeteria and had lunch. Reminded me of the galley days with Daija and Michael. Rich watched the BYU-Michigan game on the TV although it was pretty blurry. I bought a book at the bookstore and was very content to read.


Sunday evening we took a walk on Sunset beach. It was a beautiful sight.



Monday morning we went on a hike to Waimea Falls. The park was closed, but we had met some locals and they told us to just walk up anyway and pay on our way out. Good plan, but we got busted and they park lady wasn't very happy with us. It was a beautiful park though and there weren't many people there. Only us and a couple of other "locals."



Helicopter Tour Monday December 10
On Monday we also went for a helicopter ride of the Island. It was awesome, although it took a while for my heart to stop racing. We were at least able to see Pearl Harbor from the sky because I hadn't looked into seeing what time they closed and when we got there Tuesday they were closing and so we didn't really get to tour Pearl Harbor.




The falls is over 1000 foot drop. A few years back 7 hikers were killed trying to hike to it. The falls is closed and you can only see it from the helicopter. Rich and I both had the thought that before they closed it -- this would have been a great Gutzman adventure





Dolphin Swim -- Sea Life Park





One of the highlights of the week was the Royal Dolphin Swim. It was at a Sea Park. We have a video of it and sometime if you are interested you will be able to see the Dolphins pull us and give us what is known as a foot push. It was amazing. Thanks to Trent and Jen Eckmen who took some pictures of us, we have a couple of shots of us in the pool with the Dolphins. Grandkids - get ready -- because Grandma thought this was so much fun that everyone should have a chance.

Philosophical Observations: It is amazing what you can grow when there is plenty of water. The shades of green are innumerable. The flowers are plentiful. The colors are brilliant everywhere - flowers, birds, fish.... This reminded me that we really do live in a desert.
The Hawaiin people are always saying Mahalo which means thank you. Are we too busy to thank people? When you are in a group it is expected that when someone says Aloha that you respond back with that greeting. Are we too busy to greet our neighbor?
The north shore is very country, the top speed limit is 45 mph (and yes Rich did go the speed limit) and you don't pass. People are very friendly, even to the tourists. The Polynesians seem to be gentle giants, ever ready with a beautiful smile and a warm handshake. The locals take your orders on paper, you wait in line and aren't wondering why they won't hurry(even if you do wonder -- it won't help)

The church is still a 3 hour block and they start on time even at 8:00 a.m. Brown skin, white skin, long hair, no hair, old, and young all come to worship and be grateful for our Savior and for this time of year when we get to celebrate his birthday and hopefully be a little kinder, a little gentler, and little more like HIM. Mahalo

Going White

Everybody talks about going "green" these days. In an effort to be PC, Rich and I are doing our part to be kind to the environment. We will no longer shovel the snow on our driveway. We want nature to do her part. We will shovel the sidewalk because if you should come visit us before Mother Nature does her part we don't want you to get hurt.



I didn't get these pictures taken before someone had walked on our lawn, but these are the views out of my new office location. I love looking out and seeing the mountains. I am extremely grateful for the snow.

I spent a couple of hours today at the dinosaur museum with James, Sam, Luke and their cousins Steven and Andrew. I don't think we learned much, but we made some awesome dams, castles, pools, and lakes in the play area. We missed you Mike L., I don't have much of an imagination, but the boys seemed to do pretty well on their own. We uncovered bones and had dinosaur bites for dinner. (For all those that wonder -- NO I didn't do it alone, I took along Felicia Jones to help me - she was awesome and then there were enough hands and laps to go around for the little guys)

Festival of Trees

Better Pictures to follow ( well maybe -- if I could get Alisa to take them)

Each year The Festival of Trees is a fund raising event for Primary Children's medical center. People donate trees, and then they are sold. All proceeds go to Primary's medical center. Valcom donated a tree last year and this year. Tonya Steel had great ideas, did all the work and put together a wonderful tree this year. Rich's and my part is to actually put up the tree. You have to put pvc or rebarr down the middle and then rebar the tree to the stand. Since we had just been to Nevada, we found a great piece of copper pipe that we used. We did a fine job of getting the tree up and getting all the ornaments ready for the "decorators."

My other job was to get a mantle that looked like Grandma's house. I had our "garden worker" Sam construct the mantle and Emmalee Glauser painted a beautiful fire for our mantle. My last job was to get a rocking chair, which I did at the very last minute. (Sorry Tonya for making you worry) Thankfully Vintage Oak had just what we needed and they gave us a great price for the festival.


Melanie and Sue came from work to help decorate. They didn't know that part of a decorators job was to put together an end table. We only ended up with a few extra screws. After a few last minute dashes to the store the tree was complete. Thanks to all that helped.

Thanksgiving 2007 - Fallon, Nevada

Even though none of our children were able to travel to Nevada for our annual Thanksgiving Celebration we made the "Fallon Trek." We picked up Adam, Leanna, and Dakota and drove to Fallon on Wednesday.

We had a great dinner in the "barn" and then the little kids got to break the pinata at Jean Lattin's home.

There were lots of babies and so the "playing" part of Thanksgiving was taken over by changing diapers and putting children to bed. Rich finally won at "nurstz" thanks to Lynda's capable partnership. Even though LauraLee was in Idaho for the holiday we enjoyed playing games in her new home. Thanks LauraLee for being a good host. Christmas tree hunting was beautiful. We left early and made a quick side trip to the old Anaconda copper mine, near Yerington, Nevada. There was huge lake in the bottom of the pit and then there were some moon like dirt formations on the other side of the mine -- maybe some sort of reclamation project.


Kevin took care of getting the BYU-UTAH game for us by ordering an upgrade to Jill and Jeff's cable. Rich happily watched the game while I spent time with Mom and Dad looking though some of Dad's old prison stuff, which was extremely interesting. I kept asking myself -- would Brooke and Alisa throw this out? Probably, but I will need some hand holding with a waste basket near by to actually throw anything out. I read Playing for Pizza by John Grisham I was expecting it to be a thriller like some of his other books, but alas it was a book about football in Italy. It was an easy, mindless read so I actually enjoyed it.

Super Saturday Nov 17, 2007

I've never understood crafts and so to do them as an organized activity is beyond my capabilities. But thanks to a great enrichment committee we had a successful "Super Saturday."

I've decided that I will leave the crafts to those that are good at it and actually enjoy it, and I will stay close to my yard which I actually enjoy.


We also did some baby knit hats for newborns in Africa.


Sister Taylor and her very talented young apprentices helped us learn how to braid bread.

Book Review

I just finished "A Train to Potevka" by Mike Ramsdell. I loved it. Thanks to Daija for having me buy it. I think that I finally realized how big Russia is. I'm not sure I'd ever thought about it. I related to his remark that he never thought in his lifetime that the Communist government would allow its people to be free. I also never could believe that it would happen. But what about the prophecies that the gospel would be taken to all the world? Yes, but again not in my lifetime. July of 1992, Ashkii and Josh participated in a 3 week folk festival dance tour in France and Spain. I went along as a chaperone. There were dancers and muscians from Poland, Ukraine, Spain, France, Indonesia, and a few other countries. I have a picture of Josh in front of the American flag that I have framed. It reminds me of how thankful I am for my freedom. I remember one evening after rehersals the musicians from the different countries showing each other their instruments. Our banjo player was admiring the instrument from one of the "soviet" countries. They started playing music together. Words can't express the feeling I had that evening as I beheld a prophecy being fulfilled. Not only did it happen in my lifetime, but I witnessed in part the joy that these performers had from their new found freedom.

Flashback: Circa 1988 BYU dance competition. The floor show was a Russian couple. They had their security guards around them all the time, watching and making sure they didn't defect during their performance. Hard to believe that we now have the best dancers representing the US with names like Olga Foraponova and Maxim Kozhevnikov.

Editorial

If you don't like editorials then skip this entry. Every time I want to write a letter to the editor I chicken out and don't do it and then my blood pressure just rises internally and Rich get to put up with my irritability. ( Thanks Rich for putting up with me!!)

I know how to solve the money crisis in the school system. If we put up photo cop in the school zones and collected $100 for every person that went over the posted speed limit we would have surplus money for the schools.

Out of the 5 people in the intersection today only two of us actually slowed down to 2o miles per hour. Everyone else zipped by and completely ignored the speed limit. I have always wondered who they think they are? Dr.'s going to an emergency? Now that I would understand. But I do believe that it is just people who think they are very important, who haven't planned far enough ahead to get where they need to get at the time they are supposed to be there.

Do they think that the sign only means 20 miles an hour if the crossing guards have children in the cross walk? Maybe if you see children in the cross walk then you must keep going 40-50 miles an hour and then slam on your brakes. Because you had to slow down when they are in the cross walk you then must gun your car as if you were in an indy 500 race to make up those precious lost seconds. I could never be a crossing guard, I would die from high blood pressure from being mad at all the numskulls who think they don't need to obey the law.

The next Vicki editorial will be on barking dogs.

Cedar City Sheep Festival

For those that know Leanna this is how she spent last weekend. It was the "Sheep Festival" in Cedar City and her(Adam's) family herded these sheep down main street on Saturday. If you want to see more awesome pictures of this family event go to http://nycfoodphotos.com/portfolio.php?c=utah&i=1. Some professional photographer was there taking pictures. It is a sight to behold. It looks very fun to me.

Hot Air Balloon

I seldom take pictures when Alisa is around because hers are so wonderful and I am lucky to get any part of it centered. But she wasn't able to "chase" the balloon and watch it land. I have always been fascinated with the beauty of a hot air balloon in the sky and can only imagine what the ride would be like -- but alas the thought of being that high without some kind of protection is too frightening for me therefore I will stay firmly on the ground and enjoy the beauty from afar.

I was first grateful to be on the ground when I saw how he attached the balloon to the bucket. It was only a big T with the rope around it.


Josh and James look happy at the prospect of the impending ride.


I couldn't quite get the effect I wanted but it was an awesome sight to see the jet and the hot air balloon in the same sky.


Chasing the balloon becomes a game of hide and seek. You can see it, but all roads do not lead to the empty field. Brian Kelly was the "chase" guy. In real life he is a "writer" and he was the editor for the New Era ( youth church magazine) for many years. He and his partner started the balloon races at the Provo Freedom festival. It was a pleasure to share the "chase" with him. I learned alot about Hot Air Balloons.




Everyone is still smiling a the landing.


Amazing to think that whole balloon fits in the bag the boys are sitting on.


Sam keeps reminding me that he "bought" the hot air balloon ride at the auction. It was Sam holding our auction number up that won this awesome experience for the boys. Thanks to Rich for letting me have a great time at the PTA auction.

Fun at Strawberry

On one of our trips to Strawberry Leanna and Family went with us. Adam helped Rich make a "ropes course" for his young men's group. It was a good think Adam was there to help us. Dakota had a great time.



The homeowners association has "Christmas in July." We had taken the boys to the cabin with us and it just happened to be the "holiday" weekend. Since there weren't that many children James and Sam were treated to lots of crafts and then a visit from Santa. They decorated the 4 wheeler and were in a parade.



We went up again last week and it was a little cold outside. Luke and I spent most of our time in the cabin and Rich "supervised" James and Sam. It's a good thing I belong to the Fruitland Wildland Fire Council because I think we have a family of "fire bugs"

BOSTON

The Boston Adventure
After driving to Boston, we were supposed to get to Daija's apartment, unpack, and then meet Daija and Jonathan downtown to have dinner. As travel luck would have it-- it took us what seemed like an hour to drive 10 miles. Ashkii got directions from Jonathan on how to catch the bus by their apartment and then change to the "T" and ride the subway to the restaurant. We did ok with the bus other than not having the right change. We got to the T and bought some fare cards. Things were going well, but while we were buying the cards we heard some guy yelling at the top of his voice. Someone goes to investigate and there is a major problem. We are supposed to take the red line but there happens to be a fire at the next stop. They have buses outside to take us where we need to go-- The only problem is -- WE DON'T KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING. We try to hail a taxi, but of course they are all busy and who wants to take 8 people! We are determined to get to our destination. "Daija -- you stay put -- somehow we will make it to you" While Ashkii is on the phone, madly trying to coordinate with Daija, Rich suggests that we go back down and hope the red line is running. They say it is!!!! We are excited as we get to the red line -- it is leaving in just a few minutes. We think our problems are solved. Off we go -- we make it one stop and there is a medical emergency now at the next stop. The guys gets on the loud speaker and keeps us updated that there is an emergency - "the emergency people have been called -- now they are on the site -- now they are transporting that person out of the subway -- now we can go". Meanwhile Brooke is telling us that it is "Goldy" luck to have these things happen. We finally get to our destination and have a wonderful reunion with Daija and Jonathan. We had a great dinner.

Richard and Ashkii both loved their lobster!!!









Boston Saturday
We went on a "Boston Duck Tour" It was a tour of Boston that was on land and sea. They were old WWII amphibious vehicles. Trevor drove the "duck" out in the Charles river. Savannah didn't want to go on a "duck" but was soon having a great time.






















TUFTS DENTAL SCHOOL

After the duck tour we had a tour of Jonathan's school. We always knew he was smart, we didn't realize how "artistic" you have to be to be a dentist. He showed us his tools, his "mouth" and the labs and classrooms where he spends most of his time.



























Farewell to Boston

After a wonderful weekend and yes we did listen to some of conference we drove to the Boston Temple and enjoyed it's beauty and then returned home.

White House Tour

t
Auction: You know when I said in an earlier blog that I didn't get the tickets to the White House Tour? The real buyer had buyers remorse and off course could I say no to tickets to the West Wing. Rich and I flew into DC on our way to Boston and met up with Ashkii and Brooke, Trevor, and Savannah. We almost didn't get our tour because they were having an event at the White House and our tour was only when they weren't busy and after hours. We got to see the Oval Office, the Rose Garden, and the Press Briefing room. We didn't get to see the situation room since they were having an event and it like the staging area.


The Press Briefing room is much smaller than I had imagined. The Oval Office never has a piece of paper on the desk. They have people that just take care of paper flow. The desk is intricately carved and very beautiful. I think we saw a few more rooms, but those were the ones that stood out in my mind. We then drove somewhere and since I was a bit tired, I am not sure where we ended up but we slept at a Marriott and Ashkii has the art of negotiating a good price down. We got up Friday morning and drove to Boston. It was a very cool tour and we enjoyed it very much. I also felt a greater appreciation for our freedom and the ability to walk where the president walks without fear.

Hide and Seek

It's a new game that the Josh Linton family will have to play for a while. After having Lehi's own version of extreme home makeover, Josh and Alisa will be left with the job of trying to figure out where things have been put away. This morning Josh asks me where the flyswatter is. I don't know == where would someone put a fly swatter? Good luck finding things Josh.

When Josh and Alisa left for Disneyland I decided that I would deal with the news of Alisa's cancer by doing what any sane Lattin would do -- work -- physical labor work -- what better place than Josh's basement. I didn't end up working that hard, because I had a army full or willing workers ready to do anything needed. Here are a few of the fun pictures.


Being tall has it's advantages.

The stories and blessings for me personally have been overwhelming. I have listened to the stories of how Josh and Alisa have touched someone's lives. I have heard how they are so grateful for her beautiful photography or how she was so friendly to someone new in the ward. Sorry Josh your photography isn't inspiring but I heard you were great to have around and boys don't share quite as many reasons for helping -- they just help. I can't thank the people that rearranged their schedules to accommodate mine. Thanks to the Larabee's for coming when it wasn't convenient. I was touched by the father and son working together for a common purpose.

Brother's, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles all had a helping hand and willing heart. Kari tackled the lizard window without any fear.













John and Julie Peterson
Who said dancers are not handy guys? Julie said that touching the ironing board must count for helping. But she is keeping Amy company.













Since these aren't the real electricians we were hoping for no mixed wires. We had wonderful light at the end of the evening.









What is it about a closet that could make so many ladies smile? Thanks neighbors and friends

Thanks to Tracie for helping out in the organizing department. New friends were instantly made and smiles filled the house for days.










Even the littlest helper is on the job











I know that anyone who reads this and isn't in this valley would have come to help. Just knowing of your willing heart has been uplifting for me. Your prayers are appreciated. This was a fun project.