August 26th-September 2nd---Cruisin' with the Mays Family

On Saturday, August 25th, Rob and Laurie flew from Phoenix, Arizona to San Juan, Puerto Rico. We barely made our connection in Philadelphia, but our luggage did not. We met up with our kids, who had flown from Salt Lake City, Utah, in the San Juan airport that night and stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel. On Sunday, some of us went to church in San Juan. Since we didn't have our luggage, we had to wear our travel clothes, but the members of the ward were so friendly and happy to have us there. Fortunately our luggage made it to the cruise ship by Sunday evening before we sailed out of port. On Monday, we had a "formal night" for dinner and it was fun to dress up.
Erika, Marcus, and Olivia.

Jessica and AJ. Monica and John.

After eating a wonderful meal and putting Olivia down for the night, the rest of us gathered in the library to have a rousing game of "Imagine If...."

Cruisin' with the Mays Family in Barbados

TUESDAY. One of the highlights of our trip was chartering a catamaran on Barbados. They took us to a snorkeling place with a ship wreck and beautiful fish. Then we sailed to the north side of the island. On the way back, they took us to a snorkeling place where there were sea turtles. It was here that Erika took Olivia out in the ocean. She loved it. The first picture is of the boat, "Good Times." The next picture is of Erika and AJ. The third picture is of Jessica, AJ, Monica, and John. The next picture is of Marcus, Jessica, and Erika. The fifth picture is of Rob.

Laurie, Rob, Jessica, AJ, Erika, and Marcus. The newlyweds, Monica and John.

The last two pictures are of Erika and Oliva; then Laurie and Rob with the family behind them.

Cruisin' with the Mays Family in St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas

WEDNESDAY. It was fun walking around and looking in the many shops in Castries, St. Lucia. Rob, Marcus, and AJ went to the airport while the rest of us took a water taxi back to the ship.

Rob had fun playing with Olivia. The cabin steward created a bat which is "flying" from the ceiling.

THURSDAY. On the island of Antigua, Laurie, Erika, and Olivia stayed on the ship while Rob, Marcus, Jessica, AJ, Monica and John went on a kayak/snorkeling excursion. In the afternoon we walked around St. John's. Later, Marcus, AJ, Erika, and Jessica geared up for some rock climbing .

FRIDAY. On St. Maarten, all of us went on a Treetop Adventure except for Erika and Olivia. It involved zip lines, bridges, and rope swings. We had a great time.

Monica is on the bridge; while Jessica is on the zip line.

SATURDAY. Rob and Laurie went parasailing on St. Thomas. It was fantastic! We all went shopping that afternoon and Grandma Laurie couldn't resist buying a shirt for Olivia.

The shirt says, "Help, mom's having a bad day, call 1-800-Grandma"

August 18, 2007-Monica and John's wedding day

On the eve of Monica's wedding, the Mays family pitched in and helped Monica clean her old apartment to get it ready for "clean-check" the next morning. Grandpa Rob had the pleasant task of playing with Olivia, while the rest of us cleaned.

The morning of the wedding was a bit hectic as we were all getting ready for the luncheon and the wedding. John's sister Michelle, helped Monica get beautiful for the big day.

Monica and John had a wedding luncheon at "The Old Spaghetti Factory" in Orem. We were happy to have so many family members attend. We were suprised to have Rob's parents come as they were camping. We were glad to see many of Monica's aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also, John had many family members attend.

Monica and John were married in the LDS Mount Timpanogas temple near Lehi, Utah. We are thrilled to have John as a new member of the Mays clan.

Monica and John decided to not have a wedding reception. So, after the wedding and the pictures, they drove off in their decorated car (courtesy of the Williams clan). Rob and Laurie gave each other a "high-five" as they walked to their car relieved there was not a reception and the day's festivities were over. It was a wonderful day!

August 2007 Family Reunions

Laurie flew to Salt Lake City the night of August 1st. The next day she played at the playground with Erika and Olivia. Laurie likes this grandma gig. It's the greatest!

On Friday, August 3rd, Laurie rode to Bear Lake with Erika, Marcus, and Olivia. We played at the lake while some of the Bridges family members went boating and water skiing.

Erika, Marcus, and Ashleigh rode on the banana boat. Grandma Laurie got to take care of Olivia while her mom and dad were playing.

At the Dingle house we had an obstacle course for the children and relay races. We finished with a game of tug-of-war.
Melissa and Julia were in charge of the Bridges reunion and did a great job. We finished the day's activities with a program honoring Zenna Mae Schmid Bridges.

After the Bridges family members left for the night, Laurie visited with her kids at the Dingle house. We had fun telling stories about Monica to her fiance John. AJ serenaded us on his ukelele.

On Saturday, August 4th, we all went back to Bear Lake for the Schmid reunion. The Schmid brothers and sisters on the front row: Alice, Zenna, Emma Lou. On the back row: Marvin, David, Connie, Ivins. Uncle Bobby was unable to come. Deceased: Anna, Julia, and Dorothy.

Fort Ticonderoga

Friday was cold and wet day in Canada. After waking up early, we headed out into a rainstorm to leave Quebec and return to the USA. It was raining solid all the way through Montreal and on to the border. There was a long line of cars to enter the USA where we did, mostly Canadians heading into the USA for the weekend. We made the border by Noon, but it was more than an hour to get across. But at least the rain stopped!

After a beautiful drive through the Adirondack Mountains in New York (our 8th state or province on this trek), we found our motel in Ticonderoga, New York. I've always wanted to see Fort Ticonderoga because of the remarkable military history of the area. Today was my chance!

Here is a picture of me on the lower wall at Fort Ticonderoga, looking south, getting ready to aim the cannon and fire on a sailboat anchored in the bay. This is Lake Champlain, near the inlet of La Chutes River from Lake George upstream.

This is a photo of a reenactment of the military parade grounds at Fort Ticonderoga. This is inside the fort looking toward the south barracks. As you can see, the actors were dressed in appropriate Continental dress.

Now the artillery regiment is taking aim at the sailboat! It looks like they may actually hit something! There were many cannons on the walls. After Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold took Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 (first battle fought and won in the Revolutionary War), General Washington ordered 69 cannons moved from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, MA. There were still arms available in the fort to guard the way.

This is Fort Ticonderoga from the top of Mount Defiance, across the La Chutes River. The British put cannons on top of this mountain at one point to seige the fort. No one ever challenged the fort straight on, but it changed hands often during a 30 year period. Seige was the big enemy. I guess the soldiers never stored their year's supply of rations!