Trevor's best friend Jed tied the knot!

Trevor and Robert in DC

Happy Memorial Day!

Remembering, with supreme and reverent gratitude, those whose lives have been changed by their service to country -- and the families of those who never returned. May God bless and assist those (and their families) who are honorably serving now.

We had an enjoyable weekend...

Weston graduated from high school on Thursday - well done son! A wet and rainy ceremony - but what does that matter when you're finally done with school !?! ...at least for the moment. He's looking for career suggestions. He has the Stake Youth Pioneer Trek in Prescott, later this week. ...and then we have the annual Orme Brother's hike up in Utah this year next month.

Trevor surprised us all by secretly flying in from Columbus, OH for Weston's graduation. And coincidentally (or not so,) Trevor's girlfriend (Jasmine) came to town with her roommate for the holiday weekend. Jason (nephew) and his lovely wife were also in town. So we called Jenny (niece) and got together for an afternoon. Sorry no photos -- we were too busy visiting and grilling Jasmine.
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Bridget had a great year at school – tennis team, track (won City) and friends-o-plenty. She is 'coming into her own' as they say, and looking forward to high school next year. She will be running in the Wasatch Back (180 mile, 24-hour relay race from Logan to Park City) June 18 & 19 with Lana’s sister, Lori, and a team of runners from her office. 8-person teams, each person runs 4 legs of 4~8 miles each, taking naps in the team van between turns. I hear that it’s a blast (if you’re a runner of course.) Then she is going to EFY (in Flagstaff) with friends the following week.

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Lana completed her Certified Nursing Assistant class, but has discovered that she can't bring herself to enjoy changing adult diapers, giving sponge baths to perfect strangers and some of the other tasks that are typical CNA duties. She has also postponed her phlebotomy course, hoping that she will be offered a full time teaching position for the upcoming school year.

Oh, and the chihuahuas returned home to Florida (thank goodness!)

Pat's Run

Weston, Bridget and I did Pat’s Run yesterday -- 4.2 mile run/walk to commemorate Pat Tillman – a football player who played for ASU (his number was ‘42’ – thus 4.2 miles) and the AZ Cardinals. After the events of 9/11, he was offered a multi-million dollar contract with the Cardinals, but turned it down in order to join the Army and was killed in Afghanistan.

The run started on a street outside the stadium, went around town for a bit then ended on the 42 yard line in Sun Devil Stadium. 20,000 signed up to run (or walk.) Bridget beat both of us by a long shot and she was taking it easy since she has two track meets next week. …but I beat my goal of coming in 6,800th place (I came in 6,799th place.) Actually, my goal was just to finish under an hour and my time was 43:35. Not great I know, but I didn’t collapse and my knee didn’t swell up, so I’m pleased.

Where's Weston?? Can you find him at the finish line?

March / April

Track, Easter Pageant, Chihuahuas and Medical studies have been the happenings around here.

Lana has started her certified nursing assistant course and is liking this new direction of energy. We are her guinea pigs, but draw the line at enema practice. She'll then take a phlebotomy course over the summer.

Bridget and Rob joined the cast of the Mesa Easter Pageant this year (a good excuse for Rob to grow his hair out.) Did not play any principle characters, but had fun – a great daddy-daughter activity. The two weeks of performances ended last night. Clip from newscast below (we're not in any of the shots -- just a li'l description of what it is.) http://www.easterpageant.org/Fox10/Fox10.asp


Bridget seems to be overcoming her shin splint issues as she is returning to form on her 9th-grade track team with a win in the 4x800 relay and individual 800. We all (Rob, Lana, Weston and Bridget) signed up to run (or walk) in a local 4.2-mile commemorative race. Doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re not a runner…

And then there are the Chihuahua puppies. We are “baby sitting them” while they (both males) grow a bit and get to “know” our (female) poodle which will presumably bring about a “Chi-Poo” or two. Cute as can be, but 4 dogs is a bit much. We keep our carpet cleaner in business – he’s like family now!





Oh, and a word to the wise --
Face prints in the sand don't work very well.

A visit to Zuma Beach on a quick trip to Gra'Mas last month.

We're number One! ...in the "multi-family builders" category of the annual Ranking Arizona magazine. Mark-Taylor is the Development company I work with. Who is that handsome devil in red on the far left? We won't be building much this year. Nobody will around here! Gotta find a way to get at some of that stimulus money. If only we were builders of bridges to nowhere!

Bridget has been teaching herself to play the guitar over the last month or two. She's pretty good - except when she practices at 5 in the morning!!! (I don't get up that early.)

I took a step back in time this past weekend at the NHRA National drag races in Phoenix. I felt like a teenager again. I noticed there were lots of us middle-aged men there feeling (and some acting) like teenagers again! Kept my eyes open for Orme Brothers' stickers or other paraphernalia, didn't see any. Click on the photo to enlarge it and look at all the guys in the background with their hands over their ears. Raw horse power - gotta love it!

And lastly, this is my simulation of Trevor's finger (which Lana mentioned below) - at least the way I interpreted his description of it. Eeeeeww! (it only goes to that angle if Trevor pulls it over there - and maybe this is a little exaggerated.) We don't have any pictures of the real thing (yet.) Chipped bone and torn tendon. Orthopedic surgeon said to give it a shot at healing on it's own and if it doesn't heal satisfactorily -- we can operate.

I ,for one, have enjoyed browsing through the blogs and partaking of all the fun info and photos. Everyone is looking FINE! I certainly hope that all are happy and healthy. Trevor did something to his pinky finger while playing basketball that allows him pretty much to rotate into a full circle at the first knuckle! He is working at the Marriott and doing studies, too. Weston is prying his finger from the computer to go over to his friends house to play more computer games! Bridget has her first track meet this week: triple jump, mile, 2 mile relay, and the 800. I quoted her several Steve Prefontaine quotes today, as she has been ordered to not run today due to shin splints. My sister Lori runs Marathons, and has invited Bridget to participate in the Wasatch 24 hour Marathan and the St. George one, too. I will keep everyone posted if it happens that she runs. Rob is ironing all his shirts currently, as I sit and type this blog. I have enrolled and paid my fee for Phlebotomy school to start up on July 20 and last for 11 weeeks, in the meantime the sub jobs filter in a little at a time...less than last year, anywho!
The pool leak has been fixed $900.00 later! But we don't lose 2 inches of water a day now. Ellie will reveal to us if she is having puppies by the end of 10 days. Hope so! She was bred with a Cavalier Cocker Spaniel, they call the hybred Cavapoos. It's possible, a puppy chihuahua will join our pet clan, if I get my way! (usually happens). My sister 's chihuahua had pup and she is offering me one. They are SOoooo cute!...right Rob?

Out with the old - In with the new

A little cookin'





A lotta eatin'...



Some raquetball soccer...

(at the movie theater -- saw 'Bedtime Stories' -- liked it.)

Some paint ballin'...

(no, Lana didn't really go -- she just wanted her picture taken with the soldiers.)






...and some skiin' and boardin'.




Enjoy Trevor's Beginner Blues
That, along with the Christmas/New Years observances (which included a whole lotta sleepin', YES!) was the sum total of our relaxing, travel-less, guest-less holiday activities. OK, we did a little more than that, but don't have pictures -- and what fun would it be to tell you without pictures???

Trevor is now back up at school, Weston has started his final semester of high school, and Bridget her final semester of jr. high.

Here's to a wildly interesting, and hopefully happy new year for all.

Cheers !