Life's Treasures

Vivian Park

Kalee and Jaisha giving the thumbs up.

Don't walk behind me. Walk beside me,

because I may not follow.
Kalee, Marissa, Brooklyn, and Jaisha Walking toward Brady and Kaiden.
After going to Jake and Sariah's baby Sydney's blessing we went up Provo Canyon for a picnic.

Garrad in one of his modeling shots

SFC Garrad Jay Johnston


Were so proud of our son Garrad. He returned in April from spending 11 months in Iraq serving our country. This is something Garrad wanted to do. While there he received the Bronze Star Medal from President Bush. One of the highest awards in the Army that can only be received during combat. This is given when you have been in a very very dangerous situation and came out on top. (I'm sure there's a better way to describe this but I done my best). None the less we love Garrad and can't express enough to him how proud we are of him.

We're so sad for our Grandson Trey, this last Saturday he was riding his brother Nash's bike (he's new at bike riding) and fell off and broke his arm. It's even sadder because Trey and his family our leaving for Disneyland this Saturday and also to spend some time at the beach. So it will be a little harder for him to ride the rides and swim. But he's a tough boy. Make the best of it Trey and I'm sure you will make some great memories.

Gary trying to hold up the leaning Tower of Pisa

Gary and I on a Gondola ride

Gary and I at Sultans Palace

On June 27, 2008 Gary and I returned from spending 27 days in Europe. It was an adventure of a lifetime. We flew into Paris then on to Italy it took about 24 hour time during the flights and airports. We choose to do back to back cruising. That way we could enjoy being catered to along with nightly entertainment. We arrived at the airport in Rome, Italy and got a taxi to take us to a hotel for the night. We made arrangement with the taxi driver to take us to the ship the next day. We started our first cruise in Civitavecchia the port of Rome, Italy where we boarded the ship Carnival Freedom. The first port of call was in Naples, Italy where we visited the Island of Capri, Sorrento, and the ruins of Pompeii. After departing from Naples we had a day at sea. The next port of call was Dubrovnik, Croatia where we toured the old city of Dubrovnik. The next port of call was Venice, Italy where we spend 2 days and rode the evening Gondola ride. Upon leaving Venice, Italy we had another day at sea before arriving at your next port of call in Messina, Sicily where we did a city tour. Upon leaving Messina we had another day at sea before arriving at our next port of call Barcelona, Spain where we did a Barcelona highlights and shopping. We found Barcelona to be a very beautiful and clean city. Our next port of call was Cannes in the South of France where we motor coach a sightseeing tour. The next port of call was Livorno, Italy where we toured the Leaning Tower of Pisa. What an adventure we had in Pisa when we got lost and couldn’t find our way back to our tour bus. We walked and walked but all the buildings looked the same. We finally had to get a taxi to take us back to the ship, and boy was that fun trying to communicate with people that couldn't speak English and we couldn't speak Italian. Anyway we found a girl in one of the shops that understood when we said taxi and called a taxi for us. That was an experience that neither of us will soon forget. The next day we were back in Civitavecchia port of Rome where we started the second cruise. The neat thing here was we didn’t even have to leave the ship and we stay right in the same cabin. The first port of call was in Naples, Italy again and we just stayed on the ship and relaxed. After departing from Naples we had a day at sea before arriving at the next port of call in Marmaris, Turkey where we did panoramic tour in an air conditioned motor coach, but the air conditioning didn’t really work and it was 100 degrees with about 80 percent humidity which made it not very enjoyable. The next port of call was Izmir, Turkey where we did a discover Izmir tour and again it was very hot. The next port of call was Istanbul, Turkey that sits on 2 continents of Europe and Asia. In Istanbul we toured the Blue Mosque and Palace of the Sultans. We also when to the Grand Bazaar and bought 3 Turkish rugs. That was an experience as the guy would take no for an answer. He wanted 30 euros each which is about $45 US. We told him no but he finally came down to $20 US and we bought 1 rug. Then he kept trying to sale us the other 2 rugs he had. We kept telling him no and finally he came down to $20 US for both rugs and we bought them. However, this means that we got ripped off on the first one we bought. Upon departing from Istanbul we had a day at sea before arriving in our next port of call Athens, Greece where we did panoramic Athens and Plaka tour including the Olympic Stadium and Acropolis. The next port of call Katakolon, Greece where we toured the Ancient Olympia Village and Temple of Zeus. Upon departing Katakolon we had day at sea before arriving back in Livorno, Italy where we just stay on board the ship and relaxed. The next port of call was back in Civitavecchia the port of Rome, Italy where we toured St. Peters Square, the Vatican, and Sistine Chapel. The next morning we had to be up at 3:00 AM to get to the airport for our flight home departing at 7:00 AM. We had previously made arrangement with the same taxi driver to pick us up at the ship and take us to the airport. Amazingly enough with the communication issues he was at the ship at 4:00 AM. The taxi ride was really expensive $160 euros each way which totals about $480 US, but it was the best way for us to get to and from the ship. We thought the shore excursions would be the best way to go, and let someone else drive us to our destinations, but believe me the way they drive in Italy is very, very scary.

Sydney Lynn Mattinson

This is Baby Sydney she is so sweet. She was Given a name and a blessing on Sunday by her Daddy Jake Mattinson our nephew. What a cutie

In February we like to go to St. George to visit our dear friends Lynn & Lynda and also to get away from the cold. Three of our Grandchilden Bailee, Kalee, and Kaiden think that Lynn & Lynda our their Grandparents also, so we took them with us . This is a picture of all of them plus Grandpa Lynn headed out side to catch some snipes. If you look real close you will see that they have toothpaste on there faces, snipes like the smell of toothpaste so this will help them to find the snipes easier. Did they have any luck catching the snipes? You'll have to ask them.

I saw this on Jake and Sariah's blog and thought this would be a good bucket list for me.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
To participate, just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London, No but I have in Washington DC & The Dominican Republic.
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book I make my own cook book and give it to family and friends those that count?
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

There you have it. I've done 55 out of 101 I guess I need to stick around for awhile so I can finish the list.