Memorial Day 2014

I know we are behind on posting, but we are trying. Lots more to share.

 

While in Utah we celebrated Memorial Day, the same way we do every year. We visited the graves of America's Fallen and other related places. Since we were in Utah, we visited places we have not seen for a few years.

 

Unknown Soldier at the Fort Douglas Military Cemetery. He is buried in the old Calvary section.

The historical Calvary section at Fort Douglas Military Cemetery.

If you search way back in the blog, we have a picture of Christopher on this cannon when he was just a few months old.

Christopher and Mommy with a tank.

Soldiers through the ages displayed at the Fort Douglas Museum.

Salt Lake cemetery's veteran section.

Gold Star Mother's Stone.

A visitor in the cemetery.

Grand Army of the Republic Section one of Salt Lake's Cemetery (Civil War Veterans)

 

It was a good Memorial Day and respects were paid. It was our last day in Salt Lake and the next day we headed north.

Cousin Mark and his dogs

We got a chance to visit with Cousin Mark in Cottonwood. He is Daddy first cousin and his only first cousin in Utah. I really like his house, he has three dogs. The two nice ones and the other one. So I made two new friends. Just like people, Daddy can not remember their names either.

 

Me and the nicest dog.

Me and the two nice dogs.

Me and the nicest dog.

Daddy, me and Mark.

Daddy and Mark....

Mark and his not so nice dog on the front lawn. He has some great views from his house.

 

It is always good catching up with family. And since he had dogs I was not totally bored listening to Daddy and Mark talk. We will see  you next time we are in town.

Visiting with Sister Cook and Family

Our second stop in Utah was with Sister Cook and family. She lives really close to where we used to live. So we drove by our old house, looks the same. It was nice visiting with old friends and seeing the familiar sights. Of course Sister Cook invited all the family over and we enjoy a great Bar-B.Q. I should add, since Daddy is doing the posting, he can not remember names and their were a lot of them.

 

Learning how to drive a John Deer tractor with the big kids.

Playing down stairs.... lot of cool toys.

Daddy and Sister Cook.

Me and one of the big kids.

Me playing baseball.

Sister Cook, Mommy and me.....

 

Visiting with Sister Cook was great. We had fun and got to catch up on everyone. Next time we are in town, Daddy will write everyone's names down so we can put them with the pictures.

A visit with Nicole's mom in Utah

Our first stop in Utah too us to Nicole's mom. Nicole is Mommy's college friend and they live in the southern part of the valley. Needless to say the weather changed from Nevada. They still had snow in the mountains when we got there.

 

Me and Mommy posing with the snow in the background.

Me and Mommy playing.

Me with all of Nicole's kids.

Riding in the all terrain vehicle.

Daddy and all the kids.

The group shot at the end....

 

It was a short, but great start to our Utah visit. Hopefully we can get some of them to visit us in Florida. Hint, hint.

Mini-vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada

We enjoyed the drive to Nevada, but were really glad to get there and just relax. We stayed at our time share and enjoyed the pool and the activities Vegas has to offer. We got to visit with one of Mommy's friends who she served in Afghanistan with and see the home of the Thunderbirds. How is that for cool. We also played games and got to watch Knights battle in the "Tournament of Kings."

 

Me and Mommy after a really long drive.

Me and Daddy making quick work of the wild life (Video Game Only).

Me and Mommy at the  "Tournament of Kings". I got a light lance. I am so cool.

 Thunderbirds through the ages.

Me sitting in a real MIG-29. No really, it is real and I am way cool.

I can not tell you where this is at, because honestly, I do not know. Just know, it is not a tourist destination. It is one of those places that is members only.

Me and Mommy checking out a T-34.

Me and Mommy driving the T-34. Move Daddy....

Me and Mommy in a Hind-D, this one was captured in Iraq.

Me and Daddy on a ZU-23, Anti-Aircraft Gun, it spins 360 and goes up and down.

Mother and son activities. This is not a typical family vacation.

Mommy with her friend Tiesha.

Me and Mommy on the world largest Ferris Wheel.

The three of us, going up. It is a 30 minute round trip and it never stops.

Me and Mommy almost at the top.

That is the very top. How cool is that....

The view on the way down.

 

Our time in Las Vegas was well spent. We played, rested and enjoyed some family time. From here we headed further north east. Utah watch out, here we come.

Finding family and paying respects

During our visit with my Grandpa and Grandma Young, we wanted to find Daddy's Grandma and Grandpa Young and Great Grandma Geisbauer. Daddy figured he better try to find them while he is here. Otherwise, it is a really long drive to come back.

 

Maude M. Geisbauer, 1880- 1947, buried in Inglewood Cemetery.

Me and Daddy visiting grave side.

Margaret D. Young, 1908-2001, Oakwood Cemetery, Ca.

 

Newton Willard Young, 1897-1973, He is buried showing his home state and unit of service in which he served in during World War I. 

We put flowers on Grandma Young's grave and a American Flag and rose on Grandpa Young's grave.

Daddy and I visiting with his Grandparents.

 

Daddy was happy he was able to find all the graves he was looking for. It took a little work, but we got it done.

 

From California we headed North East on I-15 to Nevada.

Now that was a long vacation!

We are finally home. It has been a very long, but good vacation. We got to visit with family, friends and others and to see familiar places and a lot of new ones. The trip began on 5 May 2014 and we arrived home on 6 June 2014.  Of course, once home, we slept for two days. Then we had a lot of work to do and a lot of mail to check, this the delay in posting. The good news is we have a week to rest after our vacation. Of course those days have been filled with yard work and other fun.

 

The whole trip covered a lot of ground. We started in Florida and crossed into Alabama and on to Mississippi for our first stop. From Mississippi across Louisiana and into Texas and it all gets foggy from there. From Texas we went North to Oklahoma, then passed through the Texas handle and into New Mexico. From New Mexico we traveled to Arizona and California. After a week in California we traveled north east and visited Nevada and Utah. Then we continued north into Wyoming and turned east for Nebraska and Colorado. From Colorado we headed east and crossed Kansas and made it to Missouri. Our plans changed there and we continued east into Southern Illinois and Southern Indiana, before turning south for Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. We drove from the top of Alabama due south back into Florida and home.

 

In all we drove over 6400 miles. Our car crossed from 59,000 something to 60,000 miles shortly after we started and when we got home it was over 65,000. The whole trip was mapped at 5,500 miles, the other 900 miles came from all our visits and sight seeing.

 

So would we do it again, sure would. Just next time, we would break it up. 32 days living out of a suit case is a bit much. But, we did get to see a lot of the USA and our family and friends. I will begin posting pictures from each stop.  As you know, I was able to post up to California on the trip and what follows will be the remainder of the trip.