FHE

Family Home Evening is our Monday night family time. We are trying our best to make it a habit. We read one small story out of the kids Book of Mormon Stories book. Then Calvin and Oliver decided it was a good time to make a tent. We did.

Idaho Ride

Our 2005, 4th annual "boys street ride" took us touring through the north part of Idaho. It was an absolutely beautiful ride. We were able to ride down in Hells Canyon and up through a portion of Oregon and Washington. Dan was able to show us his old stomping grounds in Moscow at the University of Idaho. We rode into Montana and turned south through Missoula. That is a beautiful place!!! Aaron had heard of an interesting place to "camp" It was a series of caves not too far out of Salmon. Some guy had been mining these caves and hand dug them each. The pictures tell a thousand words.

Oatmeal anyone?

"Yikes, you caught me!?!"

Sometimes Oliver enjoys his meal more than others.

These two really love each other.

Stormy Homecoming

We returned on Wednesday night to find that a storm was coming in. On Friday we woke up to a some downed trees in our own yard. The winds were the highest the area has seen in 15 years. The rains were heavy and continue to come. We lost power for a while but are safe and sound in our LITTLE house.

Upon our return, however, the kids felt like they had another Christmas returning to their old toys. They couldn't get enough of their toy basket and the train table.

St. Croix

Here we go, Dallas airport.

A little bit of play time here while we wait for our food to be served.
This is at "Off the Wall",Cane Bay, just over the hill from Grandpa's house.

The boys with Grandpa and Jeanette.

This would be Oliver's first ever beach experience. It was actually just a sandy spot amongst some rocks at a restaurant where we were eating lunch. They had a blast.

Two days into our trip and Grandpa treated us to an incredible "slow down dining" experience.
We did spend a good bit of time with our friends Gordon and Erin. We sure love you guys!! Thanks for taking the time you two.

This is one of the two beautiful views from Gordon and Erin's house. They really have it going on. We are so happy for them. They are both real assets to the company.

Christmas Eve and we made cookies for Santa. The boys did a little testing and as it turns out the cookies were good enough for Santa. Apparently he ate quite a few.

Christi is awesome. She brings flavor into our otherwise bland lives. She decided that we needed to have a little Christmas eve presentation. Christi read us a few poems, I joined in on maybe one song and my Grandpa read "The Night Before Christmas". It was really nice.

Calvin is really fond of singing Santa Clause is coming to town. So he had no problem contributing to the program.



Christmas day was great. We all opened gifts early, Calvin made sure of that.
We were invited to a brunch put on by a couple of the crew, Steve and Lindsey
This is in their yard. Oliver played with some other big boys.

Oliver was quite fond of his fire engine from Grandpa

We enjoyed a little local music in deep in the rain forest at an eco-lodge that was putting on a fund raiser.

Christi, Oliver and I found ourselves shaking our groove thing.

Dan and Sarah arrived on island a couple of days after Christmas. First day had Dan and I on the golf course.

This day we found ourselves doing some sight seeing on our way to west for some beach time. One of the stops that Dan and Sarah didn't get to see on their first trip was here a Creque damn in the heart of the rain forest. It is quite a drop. Oliver was asleep in the car again.

Uncle Dan can do no wrong in Calvins eyes.

We made our way out to the north-west corner of the island known as Hamms Bluff.
This place is crazy when the weather gets rough. Christi and I once went out here right after a hurricane and the waves would crash up and drench our car.

Christi is not too impressed with this shot but I think the picture is pretty cool. Sorry Christi and Sarah.

It doesn't get much better than this. Poking things in tidal pools with a stick!

We had a relaxing afternoon/evening in Fredericksted after seeing the rocks at a Hamms Bluff. We watched the sunset at Rainbow Beach. Uncle Dan helped make tunnels in the sand. Very Fun!

This kid had to wear his life jacket as he was absolutely fearless. He loved to just charge the water. No he can't swim. It was scary.

Calvin and Oliver both really love their Grandpa. It was nice to have him meet us out on the west end and hang out for a while.

Our friends Todd and Tracy Green recently moved down with their kids, Logan, Croix, and Seven. Todd and family moved down to St. Croix only a few months prior We only got to see them for a couple of hours the entire trip but this night we got to visit over a dinner that had us looking over the harbor in Christiansted.

On the next to last day of the trip we were able to put the new Beard Mobile (98 Trooper) in 4 wheel drive and get down to Annaly Bay for some remote sight seeing. Here Christi, Sarah and Calvin were finding all sorts of different shells at one of the tidal pools.

Annaly is on the north shore and is definitely among my favorite spots on the island.

On the last day I was able to Captain the Renegade to Buck Island for a full day trip. Unfortunately the boat was full, Christi, Calvin and Oliver met us at the bar-b-que instead of riding along. I seemed to have failed to take any pictures of that day. We were on a plane the next morning very early with Dan and Sarah.

Friends

Friends, if you couldn't tell already are very important to us. Gordon (left) and Rik (right) are two more very important people in our lives. Unfortunately this picture is missing our very good friend Todd Green. He didn't make this particular trip. I will be sure to get some good photos with him this next week.

Here is Rik with his wonderful wife Jamie. We love you guys!

Happy Birthday DAN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROTHER!!!

Today my brother, Daniel is 28 years old. He has one final left before he receives his Bachelors's Degree in Construction Management. He will be walking on Friday and only a few days later, he and his wife Sarah will be joining us in St. Croix for the New Year.