There is a lot of cool stuff...

...in the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum out by Dulles airport.  Like:

The Space Shuttle Enterprise

A Concorde Jet

 Lots of Cool Helicopters

The Flying Cloud (should be called the flying mirror)

And the Blackbird

Yet Tait's favorite part is the open space for running around, and Tenny's favorite part is the astronaut diaper.  Kids.

Happy Birthday to Sue!

Still getting better with age.

We love you momma!

Our Cuddly Little Taiter Bear

Don't grow up!  We just want to hug you and squeeze you and kiss those chubby cheeks forever!

DC Earthquake - 5.9 and Feeling Fine

DC is a city of drama and discord, and today was no exception.  We haven't reached agreement yet on whether it was a "major earthquake" or a "small earthquake."  Personally, I like Tennyson's description:

It was like a 250-foot elephant lifting the whole world!  First, we were in Target eating.  Then we were in the toilet paper aisle.  I was hiding in the toilet paper.  Suddenly, something shook and then the ceiling started falling down and some things started falling off the shelves.  Everyone was getting out as fast as they could.  I didn't know what to do.  But we ran out too and made a plan.  It was annoying.  It was an annoying earthquake.

 (We're all OK -- thanks for all the calls, texts, emails, etc.)

Breaking: Exclusive Interview with Tennyson Jay

Q:  What is your favorite color?  

A:  All of the colors.

Q:  What is your favorite food?  

A:  Hey, get away spider.  Get away!  Get away!  Um, corn.

Q:  Where is your favorite place to go on vacation?  

A:  I like to go to Lake Powell.

Q:  What do you like doing at Lake Powell?  

A: Lizards.  

Q: Lizards what?  

A:  Lizards on the rocks, remember?  Remember dad?  I like catching lizards.

Q:  What is your favorite toy?  

A:  Um, I like you.  

Q:  But what is your favorite toy?  

A:  Um, um, bristle blocks.

Q:  What do you like building with your bristle blocks?  

A:  Anything that I like to build.  Anything that I want.

Q:  When do you start school?  

A:  I’m not starting school.  

Q:  Ever?  

A:  No.  I’m not going to go to Chinese immersion school.  

Q:  Why not?  

A:  Because, I don’t think it’s fun.

Q:  What is your position with regard to nuclear waste disposal at Yucca Mountain?  

A:  What’s that question?

Q:  Nevermind.  What is your favorite book?  

A:  Curious George and the New Nephites.

Q:  What is your favorite movie?  

A:  Not Matilda.  I don’t like the baseball one [The Sandlot] or the witch one [Matilda].

Q:  If you could be any animal, what animal would you be?  

A:  Are dinosaurs animals?  

Q:  Yes.  

A:  I would be a T-Rex.  

Q:  Why?  

A:  Because they’re big.

Q:  Who is the current President of the United States?  

A:  Um, that’s not a fun thing for kids.

Q:  Who is stronger....?  

A:  Daddy.  

Q:  Wait, let me finish my question. Ok, who is stronger:  an elephant or a lion?  

A:  Elephant.

Q:  What is faster:  Tennyson or a rhinoceros?  

A:  Tenny.

Q:  What is your favorite animal in the zoo?  

A:  Um, the hippopotamus pooping.

Q:  What is scarier:  a komodo dragon or a crocodile?  

A:  Both of them.

Q:  Who are you going to marry?  

A:  Alexa.  

Q:  When?  

A:  When we’re older.  

Q:  Where?  

A:  In the temple.

Q:  Which would you rather eat:  stinky socks or pigeon feet?  

A:  None of them.

Q:  Who is better looking:  mommy or daddy?  

A:  I would say both of you.

Q:  Which is better:  baseball or soccer?  

A:  Soccer.

Q:  Would you rather meet Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny?  

A:  The Easter Bunny.

Q:  What is the scariest thing in the whole world?  

A:  I know - spiders.

Q:  What should we name your new baby sister?  

A:  Um, Spider Rain Stewart.

Q:  If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be?  

A:  A puffer fish.

Q:  What do you want to be when you grow up?  

A:  Like you.  

Q:  What job do you want to have?  

A:  I want to help you do your work.  

Q:  Do you want to be a lawyer?  

A:  Yea.

Q:  Do you like this picture of you?


A:  No way.

We're having a . . .

!

A Perfect Night at Lake Powell

Spectacular landscape, beautiful sunset, desert storm -- it was a photography enthusiast's dream.  I'm still sorting through about 200 photos from this night alone.  Unfortunately I missed the best light (yes, it got even better) because that storm eventually hit us and snapped the ropes holding our houseboat in place, and I was forced to make myself useful.  It was great while it lasted.

Summer Vacation Part III - Grand Tetons/Yellowstone

As part of our summer vacation, I got to meet up with my good friend Marc Gillet, le petit Suisse.  Marc and I were missionary companions in Repentigny, Quebec, in 1998.  Marc was visiting from his home in Geneva and everything fell into place for us to take a short trip to Grand Teton NP and Yellowstone NP for some hiking, rafting, touring and eating.

We had a great time exploring the backcountry and taking in the solitude, but it was also fun to participate in the more touristy parts that I had neglected for many years, like:

 Old Faithful, playing for the paparazzi. 

Stewart Family Reunion 2011 - Heber City

Our annual Stewart Family Reunion was a blast, as always.  This year we met up in beautiful Heber City, Utah.

We had so much fun that we forgot to pull out our camera.  We only have two shots of the action:  one of Holl taking a picture of the crazy kids on Deer Creek Reservoir,

and one of the fearless pirates returning from a great sea battle.

Thanks, mom!

Goodbye, Grandpa

Lynn William Stewart

January 15, 1916 - July 14, 2011

Grandpa Stewart passed away while we were in Utah.  We were glad to be there to attend and participate in his funeral, but we sure will miss him.  We've expressed a lot of our feelings here, but we also like this selection from his obituary (much of which Grandpa wrote himself starting in the 1960s):

Lynn was born on January 15, 1916 in Ogden, the son of John Franklin and Mary Belle Wayment Stewart. 

On December 17, 1936, Lynn married the love of his life, Reta Almira Maw in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They were married nearly 75 years. 

Except for the four years he lived in Plain City, Utah, he was a lifelong resident of Warren. He graduated from Weber High School in 1934. Lynn was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served in numerous positions including the presidency of the high priest group, president and counselor of the M.I.A and a teacher in various capacities. 

Lynn worked and ran a dairy farm from his earliest years until 1969. He also worked at the Amalgamated Sugar Company, the Union Pacific Railroad and was a Weber County School District bus driver for 28 years. He was active with the Agriculture & Soil Conservation Committee for 14 years and was always admired for being an extremely reliable, committed and hard worker at everything he did, the greatest legacy he passed on to his family. 

He loved sports and played baseball for many years in the Farm Bureau League and the semi-pro Utah-Idaho League. After playing, he continued in baseball activities as President of the Farm Bureau League and an Athletic Advisor on the North Weber Stake Board for 23 years. He loved hunting and fishing with his family and friends, which he did throughout his life. 

Lynn was an avid reader of all types of books, such as history, church, gardening and biographies. He will be remembered for the magnificent flower and vegetable gardens that he and Reta nurtured for many years to the benefit of their family.

I've said it before, but I think Grandpa's greatest legacy is the way he loved and cared for Grandma for 75 years.

Last Goodbyes 

Grandma with her four boys (from left to right):  Gary (Camille), Pops (Pat), Ted, and Kelly (Becky). 

Not even going to try to name all these grandkids, great-grandkids, etc., but Grandma has a lot of people who love her.

I just liked this picture of Grandma and Tammie at the cemetery.

Three is a magic number!

For those who haven't heard, we're expecting our magic number three in January!  Tenny wants a sister, Jeremy is scared of girls, Tait is agnostic, and Suzy just wants the morning sickness to end already.  So much to do before the big day:  picking names, getting rid of our kitchen to make room for another bed, and figuring out how to play zone defense.  Stay tuned in the next month or so for gender news.

Lovin' Lake Powell

Not to be repetitive, but Lake Powell is pretty much heaven on earth.  Seriously, look at that.  To start off our summer vacation, Ye Stewart Clan spent a couple wonderful days alone on "The Rebel" (the Hurst houseboat, in the picture above), followed by a few more days with most of the Hurst family.  We started in Gunsight Bay (above), followed by a few days in a gorgeous little cove up Face Canyon.

Tennyson was a great tour guide and enjoyed driving us around the lake in "Grandpa's Toy," a little fishing boat we used before the Hursts showed up with the ski boat.

We spent a lot of time relaxing and playing on the beaches.

And the boys ate a lot of sand.

Daddy became an instant hero to his sons when he dove off the back of the houseboat and caught a fish in a net...

...and renewed that status by teaching Tenny how to catch lizards and horny toads (Tenny later caught dozens on his own).

Of course, he instantly lost all respect once he got the family stranded on an island (nicknamed "Shipwreck Island") way up Warm Creek and had to be rescued by a strapping young Park Ranger (note Grandpa's Toy being left at sea for the night - a single replacement bolt made her sea-worthy again).

Tenny practiced and practiced his casting and got pretty good at getting his line out from the boat or the shore.  He was a persistent, tenacious fisherman, and he really hopes to catch a fish next trip.  

Tait mostly liked playing in the sand, getting sweaty and dirty, taking a dip to cool/clean off, and then repeating the cycle.

We're not sure if it's the heat melting away stress or the water washing it away, but we always feel better after a trip to Lake Powell.  If you've never been, go now.  If you have been, we're sure you'll agree that it's time to go back.