Hoover Dam Bridge Tour

Before my surgery, Akiko had been trying to get us to go out to the Hoover Dam Bridge before they did the last couple pours on the deck so we could still go into the girders. I thought I would miss it, but the day I got back, they were planning it for the next day.

I was pretty sad cuz I thought they wouldn't let me go cuz of my arm, but I decided to be a man and ask if I could go. They said of course, if you feel up to it.

Oh yes, I felt up to it!

So off we went.

This was the second to last pour all covered up...They were tying the steel for the last pour..(Some big boss people who think they know everything are proud of their fat feet that allow them to navigate freely over tied reinforcement)We got to climb down into the girder (Akiko's husband is in the orange shirt behind Arvid)and step inside.We walked down until we found this portal.Everyone crowded around to have a look.Can you imaging crawling between girders on that grating so high up?Of course, in order to get into the first girder, you would already have been suspending in this cage over the edge...looking down at the river far below.After you, my fair Akiko! Of course I can climb back up on my own, I got down OK.We also got to see the huge Bidwell they use to finish the deck,the big cranes,(Later we saw the cranes packing this tractor!)the forms for the barrier rails at the side (you won't be able to see over those as you drive through),

and big piles of reinforcement ready to be put into the barrier rail.Then we took the obligatory girls picture...One of these pictures represents bad luck cuz we look like the Japanese character for tombstone. After learning that, I stayed away from the edge.At the end, I might have milked it just a little bit so I could go home early...But what do you expect? I had just had surgery a week before!

(Thank you to Doug (big boss man that thinks he knows everything), Tandra, and Akiko for the pictures!)

(Oh yes, and I won't be getting any more tours of the bridge cuz Akiko's husband got sent on to his next assignment in San Diego and Akiko's gone with him. I'm gonna miss her!)

4th of July

Before I get to my pictures, just want to send those who are looking for more Family Reunion pictures (of Me!), look at Helm HQ, Jenny's, and Sunshine Helm's blogs (Update.. Aaron has lots of good pictures too). They've done an good job and have lots of picture (of ME!). The problem with being single is that ur always on the other side of the camera!

So, I headed to NM for the 4th of July, my FAVORITE holiday. This year it was a little different since we had the ward parade and carnival on Saturday and the County fireworks on Sunday night.

Here is the parade. Jacob and Samuel (Heidi's son) went by in the wagon we decorated... and then I snapped a picture. Yup.. I shore know how to time it.

Here's a couple shots of the watchers.Once we got back to the carnival I realized how boring it can be when you don't paint faces. So I went around with Jacob to a couple of the activities.This is the wind up to the shot that hit the target which pushed the pin which broke the water balloon that fell on one of the little Parker boy's heads. Oh yes, it was totally worth waiting in line for what felt like FOREVER.

After Jacob ditched me because I kept stopping to talk to people, I went over to hang with the family. I was kinda bored... and kinda sad I didn't paint faces, especially after seeing this fire breathing dragon,Alec's patriotic yin and yang masterpiece,And... a USA.Aaron mentioned that the YA said I could paint when they saw me but they had plenty of people, I hadn't brought my brushes, and I really didn't want to but in.

So I watched the other bored kiddo's play karate. Megan wins!

Jenny was nice enough to take me up town and go shopping with me while Grandma got her hair done cuz I was bored and had forgotten a blouse to wear on Sunday.

I shore remember the parade and carnival being much more fun. Tons of preparations with getting costumes together, decorating bikes and/or wagons, practice the music we were going to play in the band and looking ALL over the house for the 4th of July painting stuff. Then, depending on age, we would march, ride, play, or paint.

One of my most favorite memories is painting the faces of all my nieces and nephews before the parade while other little kids looked on enviously. "You have to wait until after the parade to get your face painted. We're just practicing on our relations."

Next year I'm going to set up my own booth under the tree and sell crocheted 4th of July doilies. Do you think the church would mind?

Family Reunion

I was going to blog about this earlier but then Dad got me tickets to fly home for the 4th of July. I think Mom and Dad just needed someone else to help entertain Jenny and kids :-) but that's a whole nuther story.

So I was in charge of this years Family Reunion in Zions National Park and truth be told I was pretty stressed about it. I know, surprise surprise. But I was so stressed, I didn't take hardly any pictures! I'm hoping the others of our family will post there's. Emily did a great job so far.

My theme was the Olympics.Everyone had to sign in and get their bib, schedule, their shirt (Emily did an AWESOME job. I love yellow!) and grab bag. Every Event Coordinator got their own printout of all the participants. I will have to do a separate post on the grab bags because they took a long time but turned out pretty nice if I do say so myself :-).

So no pictures from that first evening and the next long day but go to Emily's blog and u'll see a good synopsis of the opening ceremonies (Helm HQ, Me, Bethanie and kids (who were riding in my car), and Aaron were late because none of us had printed out the direction so we drove around aimlessly for a while. I might have been a little upset when we finally got there but once we got some food I was OK :-). I'm still waiting for someone to post about the first daywhere we hiked all three Emerald Pools in 100 degree weather without enough water for everyone (should have just stayed at the second pool.. it was a long HOT walk up to the third which just about did the grandparents in. I blame management). Amy did a too kind of job.
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After the opening ceremonies that first night, the next two nights were full of Olympic activities such as the 100ft dash, the discus (a Frisbee), shotput (water balloons), a biathlon (holding onto ski poles while going around and shooting at targets), the standing long jump, shoe throwing, volleyball (with a towel and water balloon), hula hooping, and others that I can't remember now. I had a bunch of other activities that we could have done but there was no grass.

During the days we went to Zions, but all I got pictures of is the second day when everyone did their own thing and the third when we went to do the Narrows.

Day 2 - I was going to stay at the vacation home and maybe run a few swimming competitions but then Mom, Dad, and Emily told me to go with them since we had missed the hanging gardens the day before.Amy and Gage came too.Trying to catch those drips!It was nice and cool with the water dripping around us. I don't think Dad appreciated me taking his picture.Bethanie and Andrew were there too.We ate lunch there. The grab bags were nice cuz everyone could pack their own lunch and that way no adults ended up with all the weight.
Day 3 -The next day we went to hike the narrows. Unfortunately Dad fainted before we got there so Mom, Bethanie and kids, and Jenny stayed at the lodge while the rest of us set off.

Here we are where we turned around.Emily had gotten us all some pretty good sticks to help hike the river.This is a hike Emily and I have made definite planes to try again later this year.

Here we are on our way back. "Do you want me to take ur picture?"No.. Carly can do it. See why I'm hoping I'll be able to steal some from others?

Aaron had some great pictures and movies that I hope he posts.

All in all I think it was a great success. During the closing ceremonies we all got medals and a lei (thanks Emily!). It was really sad to leave everyone.

I'll probably post more details later, but right now I just wanted to get SOMETHING out. I shore dew love my family!

There's A Spider on the Wall

Another post from BBE (Before Broken Elbow):

(missing picture of the spider being thrown in the neighbors yard)

The end.

(You can tell this is from before the accident because of the ring on my finger. Yup, they cut it off and I don't know what happened to it after that. Makes me sad cuz that was my ring from the Los Alamos Country Fair many years ago)