The Homestead

Today we went from Craig, Colorado to Midway, Utah.

Here is Reg, the Photo Dude! Since today was an easy day, we made lots of photo stops..the scenery went from dull to spectacular and back. As we were getting near to Midway, we came down a canyon with incredible fall colors.

We are staying at The Homestead Resort. My family stayed here in 1968. I was looking through the AAA Tour Book for Utah to see if it was listed. I had no idea if it was still in operation. It still is and it is fantastic. I don't remember a lot of specifics, except for the pool. I was only 10 when we were here. I remember it being a lot of fun. The pool HAD a diving board and also a ladder that you jumped from onto a trampoline and into the water..It's not there anymore..gotta love liability insurance!
It was about 80 degrees here! It's such a pleasant place to be!
This is a picture of the main building. I remember it being all white. I have some of our trip in 1968 on video, so I want to take a look again..

This is the patio outside of our room.

This is our room..it's small but very quaint..

Focus on the Family..Adventures in Odyssey...12,050 Foot Elevations..oh my

Ok..this update has a couple of days and since there are so many pictures, I'll give them to you in 2 links. We arrived in Colorado Springs Friday night..Sept. 26th..Saturday morning we started our day with a really good free breakfast at our hotel..then off to visit Focus on the Family. This is a ministry that is 32 years old..I think..it has grown from Dr. Dobson and 2 employees to a whole lot more..As a family when we traveled, we listened to "Adventures in Odyssey." It was a radio show that put different collections together on tape/cd..It was wonderful..At Focus on the Family, their whole downstairs area in the Welcome Center is dedicated to children and most of it is Odyssey stuff..It was really neat. Reg and I wandered around quite a bit, and then had lunch at Whit's End. We both got emotional..it was cool to be there..because this show has played an important role in our lives. Click here to see the pictures...

Today, Sunday Sept. 28th, we left Colorado Springs and headed north to Denver to have brunch with our niece, Meredith. She is going to school in Denver. Meredith suggested as we travel, to go to Boulder, which we did..we drove around a bit and toured the town. We decided to continue that path and head over the Rockies (which we would have gone over somewhere). We kept climbing and climbing and climbing...the highest point we reached before going back down was 12,050 feet above sea level..Let me back up a bit..We have been at higher elevations than we are used to..we live at sea level. So, both Reg and I have noticed the higher elevations..less breath..feeling like we're more out of shape than what we really are..well, at the 12000 level, let me tell you! WOW..out of breath, nauseous, light headed..you name it..but it was so beautiful..and so worth the trip. The fall colors are really beautiful...Here is a link to these pictures..

We are on the homeward stretch of our trip..Both Reg and I are ready to be back at sea level, that's for sure. We do have 2 more stops on our journey. One is to spend a couple of days in Boise with my Mom's cousin and then we'll have dinner with our dear friends, Glenn and Cindy..

So, until the next update...

More Rushmore..Wed. September 24, 2008

We spent several hours at Mt. Rushmore...it is spectacular..incredible..I could go on and on..

There are so many views that you see depending on where you stand. Here we're at the base of the monument.
Some views have more of a focus on Washington and others on Lincoln. Jefferson and Roosevelt are seen head on.

This is the Hallway of Flags. Each state is listed with the date they were admitted to the Union.
Reg and a steam locomotive. There is a train that runs between Keystone, which is where Mt. Rushmore is located and Hill City, 10 miles away..

Reg!!

Each night, during the summer season, there is a lighting ceremony. It starts with a ranger talk, then a video. Then they had us rise to sing the National Anthem and the lights went up on the monument..another awesome moment. Afterwards, all military personnel, past and present are invited up to the stage. The flag is lowered and folded. The ranger then went from person to person and had them place their hand on the flag, say their name and what branch of the military they had served..or were serving..it was a touching moment.

Today we are heading for Colorado Springs!

Roadtrip!!

Here is the hotel we stayed at in Billings, Mt...it was a Best Western..see the bears on the balconies..it was cute. We left there around 10AM and arrived at Keystone, SD around 5PM..

We drove up to the monument, but the park was closing..so we found this area that shows Washington's profile..Tomorrow starts the real fun!!!

George, up close and personal!!
We had dinner tonight at the Powder House Lodge. It was yummy..More later! Good night!!

Greetings From.....

Billings, Montana. We have finished day 2 of our roadtrip. If I've read the maps right, tomorrow should be an easy drive to Mt. Rushmore..I don't have pictures yet, but figure they'll be plenty tomorrow.

We left Monday around noon and went to Spokane. We stayed at the Comfort Inn on Division..right near our favorite breakfast spot..The European Breakfast House..yummy...

Then it was a long drive to Billings...since we had a huge breakfast, we didn't stop for lunch..but had several bathroom breaks, oh, and an ice cream break! Dinner at McDonalds (whatever) in Bozeman and we arrived in Billings around 9PM..Mountain Time..I'd forgotten about time changes..

More updates later..

The Reluctant Flower Girl

Saturday, September 13th, Anthony's sister, Robin, was married and Tillie was a flower girl..well..a reluctant flower girl. According to Emily and others, she was a terror before the wedding and wouldn't take part in the pictures and everytime she was put down, she ran! (That's my Tillie!) When it came time to go down the aisle, she got about 5 steps, sat down and cried..it was too funny! I have it on video and while it's not a good video as I was trying to help, it sure is funny..

Here's Tillie with Reg after the "walk" down the aisle..

With Reg and puppy at the reception..oh yes, and the beloved sippy..

Later that night in her beautiful dress

The dress fluffed when she stooped down..it's so pretty! Love those curls Tillie Girl!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Last week was my first week of retirement! IT WAS BUSY!!! The week included Reg's and my 25th anniversary on September 10th and Reg's 60th birthday on the 11th...it was a week of surprises which included deceptions to make the surprises..IT WAS FUN!!! On our anniversary Reg took me to Falls Terrace in Tumwater. He gave me a beautiful necklace with 3 diamonds representing the past, present and future. I'll post a picture later..I gave Reg a new wedding band..Here we are..

The day after our anniversary celebration was Reg's 60th birthday..more deception..I planned a surprise party for him..hahaha...here is the cake with a picture of his airplane, Juliet. There were about 25 people at his party and he was surprised!
Dennis and Diane Teague found this train set at a garage sale and thought of Reg. Dennis got it all set up ready to go when Reg came through the gate..the train has a remote control and....

Dennis hid behind our fence, just waiting for Reg!!!!

Here are Linda (Reg's Mom), Emily and Diane blowing up punching bag type balloons..some of the men had a competition to see how could punch the longest..Reg won!!

It was a fun 2 days!!!

25 years ago.....

We were married! September 10, 1983!

As of today I have been a Hearn as long as I was a Hagopian!

Tonight we went to Falls Terrace in Tumwater. Reg got me a beautiful necklace with the 3 diamonds representing the past, present and the future. I got Reg a new, white gold wedding band..it's beautiful, but doesn't fit..we'll get that taken care of..

Happy 2nd Birthday Tillie Anne

Yesterday we celebrated Tillie's 2nd birthday! Wow has time flown by so quickly. Here is Tillie with her ponytail!

Auntie Eliza helping Tillie opening her presents.

This book was a big hit!

More help..

Do you think we have enough video cameras?

Kathryn, Emily and David

Finally, a decent picture of Anthony!