THEY CALL HIM "MR. GEORGE"

A couple of days before we were leaving for Education Week, a gentleman came into the store. He wore and EA shirt and said that he was here to do some recruiting. George told him that he was the only one there, and the gentleman told him,"You are the one I am here to recruit."
Well, that started a whirlwind of activity. He wanted George to teach vocational classes at the state prison at Ft. Grant. They were looking for someone that could teach HVAC and basic electrical to the inmates. George said he needed to think about it and talk it over with his wife (what a guy). It took the wife all of 3 minutes to say yes, yes, yes!!!
This is something that George has wanted to do for a long time. When he lived in Mesa he taught HVAC at RSI, but had to give that up when his full time job demanded more attention. He is happy to have this opportunity.
It has been a busy time since we got back from Utah. He teaches on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He leaves just after 6 am to catch a ride and gets home about 6:30. It makes for a long day for him. He spent the first couple of weeks getting the room set up and going over the materials. Now he is officially having class.
He and his lunch and his brief case get searched every time he goes out to the prison. He has a list of rules a mile long, and for those of you who know him well, rules can be especially hard for him. But he is loving it. He says the hardest thing is that the students don't want to leave after class and they take up all his prep time.
I am so proud of him. He looked so handsome (aka cute) heading out for the first day of class. His students are lucky to have someone that really cares that they learn and wants them to have the skills to succeed in life.

PHANTOM, SPOKEN WORD, & EDUCATION WEEK

We just returned from our trip to Education Week - with side trips to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City. Grandpa & Grandma Robinson went with us and it was great.
We stopped on the way up to see the dam and the new bridge. The bridge looks so high - I don't know if I will be able to cross it and breath at the same time.
We spent a couple of days in Las Vegas. On Friday night we went to see "The Phantom of the Opera." It was fantastic. I couldn't believe all of the special effects that were used inside. George got us seats that were down in the bottom section. We were right under the chandelier. It was great.
Saturday we drove up to Provo. We settled into our "deluxe" dorm accomadations. After we made up our little twin beds (at least George's bed had 4 legs this year)we took out our class schedules and planned our week. This year we were lucky and had rooms on the bottom floor and were just across the street from the campus. We also had about 20 teenagers staying in the same building. I have decided that I am older than I thought, cuz noise after 11:00 is really annoying. Sunday morning we got up early and went into Salt Lake to see and hear the Spoken Word. It was great. I loved the music and the message was about Michelangeo's David. Really inspirational.After the program we went over to Tempe Square. I just love walking around there. When George was about 14 his mother took him to the visitors center. He says he remembers how moved his mother was by the Christus statue. It is amazing to me that some of his first exposer to the Church was by his Catholic mother. We took some classes this week on the Pearl of Great Price. It really puts the setting of this statue in perspective.

We had such a great time and can't wait to go next year. I just wished that the feeling we have would last longer.

MAKING SUSCRINES (I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SPELL THIS WORD - LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO)

A visit home would not be complete without making "suscrines". Dad mixes the dough - after properly making the well (swimming pool) in the center.














Janet helps with the kneading ---

and the tasting

and McKay is in charge of frying - real team work.

Janet tastes her first suscrine -

MASTER PASTRY CHEFS !!!

After all that hard work, a little relaxing is in order.

I think George has the relaxing part perfected.





McKay and Janet left yesterday and the house it already to quiet. Thanks for coming - we had such a good time and are so looking forward to your next visit.

McKay & Janet come for a visit

The weekend after the 24th we had tickets for the Antiques Roadshow. We took some of Grandpa Rocha's disney pictures and shadow box pictures that we had. We waited in line for over two hours to find out that the appraser didn't know what they were. It was fun though, we met some interesting people, saw some really cool stuff, and watched a television show being filmed.

That evening we had a pool party at the hotel to celebrate McKay & Janet coming to visit. This was the first time Janet had met this side of the family. I think she had "how many kids" shock. Everyone was on their best, be impressive behavior, even the grandkids. Sweet Charly even suggested that we draw a heart on the cake,"Because we love each other." Thanks Laura for the cake and everyone for coming. It was great!!!

These are my little water babies. They are so fun. I am without a doubt the richest woman in the world.

24TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

This year for the 24th we had a FULL house!!! It was great we wouldn't have had it any other way. The only two missing were Leslie and Gavin, they were both sick. It was hetic and tiring and loud and the best

This is the whole gang just before we left for the parade.

This was our little section of the trailor - we looked good.

We had such a full house that the kids HAD to sleep in Grandpa & Grandma's room. We stayed up late, watched movies and still woke up early. Life doesn't get any better than this.

COUSIN CAMP - WALKING IN PIONEER FOOTSTEPS - 2009

This year's cousin camp was the best yet. The kids were so good and so fun. We took the 9 greatest kids in the whole world - Katlyn, Becca, Rocko, Charly, Quinn, Carter, Gage, Maverik, & Parker. It was Maverik and Parker's first year and for only being 3 they did really good. Katlyn, Becca, & Rocko were our oldest campers and we couldn't do it without their help.

Everyday was filled with activities and play. Raising and lowering the flag was one of the best times. Even the littlest ones helped and you really should hear them sing "God Bless the U.S.A."

Pioneers kept their spirits up by singing and dancing at the end of each day. Check out the Hokey Pokey of our modern day pioneers - Put you elbow in.



"That's what it's all about!!!"

Arts and Crafts were a part of everyday. We all made our own covered wagons while Grandpa read the directions.

The best time at cousin camp is when the parents come and we show them what we have learned. Here we are doing the Virginia Reel with the parents.

Even though it was cold - everyone was excited to help make ice cream for dessert.

We love Cousin Camp. Yes, it is a lot of work and at the end we are dirty, tired, and sore. Is it worth it? If it was a hundred times more work it would still be worth it. We love how the kids are excited, we love how they laugh and play together, we love how they want to help, we love how the simple things make them so happy, but most of all we love being with them. We love being there when they figure out that they can do something new. We love seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they get recognized for doing a good deed. We love sitting around the campfire and listening to what they are thinking about. We love listening to their wishes as they see the first star. We love how they still want to sit on our laps or next to us and watch the fire.

Thank you for letting us have this time with our grandchildren. You do not know how much it means to us.

Jill wanted to do surprise John on their anniversary - so surprise - the kids came to stay with us. I think we got the better anniversary present. Even Paisley came to stay - I think that must have been John's biggest surprise.

Every day the kids went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Robinson next door. And everyday Grandma had a popcycle for them of course.

Quinn stayed busy helping Grandpa George
put in new water lines.

Parker climbed all the way to the
top of the porch - she is becoming such a little adventurer !!!

Paisley loved the swing - as long as there

as long as there was someone there to give

her attention - typical princess!!!

Grandpa George believes you are never too
young or old to be fascinated by trains.