Time Experience Thoughts

Scott Serves now as first counselor in the bishopric. Works for a competitor to his last company. Finalized move of three wards into a new chapel—including ours. Drove to Kansas to spend Christmas with mother and sister—just got home. http://scottvanatter.blogspot.com/ Becky Serves as the shift coordinator every Thursday evening at the Washington D.C. Temple (with President and Sister Tingey—Scott’s former mission president!). Teaches the Adult Gospel Doctrine Sunday School class. 8th year working for BYU—Coordinating the Washington D.C. Student Teaching Program. Sydney Moved to Arlington (Crystal City) this year. Now in the Colonial Ward. Works in the Washington D.C. Temple on Thursday evenings on Becky’s shift. Traveled to Greece this fall. Is dating Mike! (“Love is in the air!”) http://photogal98.blogspot.com/ Carrie and Scott (along with Ryan, Sean, and Kyle) Summer and Thanksgiving in Virginia. Bough...

FOOTBALL. Love it! Even though I only watch a handful of games. (Hardly any from beginning to end. Good to know it is there if I want it.) I won bragging rights last year -- if not a little respect from the small group I competed against in ESPN's Pigskin Pick 'Em game -- by picking the most winners for the entire year. We shall see what this year brings. (Though I am hoping against hope that the Raiders will not embarrass themselves yet again. Blast.)

On the way home from work I snapped a few pictures of what appeared to be a snow-capped mountain hovering above Northern Virginia -- our own version of an ephemeral Mt. Rainier.

Sydney dropped by for a quick visit today. I took these pics out in the sunlight. (Well, one turned out a little dark.) Beautiful.

Sean remembered that we hadn't done any computer drawing yet this trip. First Ryan drew his picture. Then Sean thought what he could draw. He chose to draw the rear tail light of a 55 Chevy. MY 55 Chevy. So, I drew the curved chrome (gray) part, and he drew he red tail light line and filled in the red, green, and gray parts all by himself. We thought we might end with just the chrome part with the red light. Ryan suggested we draw the actual green part of the car. Sean said, "If we draw the car you'll be more impressed!" How could we not?

Ryan chose to draw from scratch and from memory Mace Windoo's purple lightsaber. He designed and drew it 100% all by himself. Including the red button, and the yellow light (which, he says, if on, signifies how much damage the lightsaber can do). Note the two colors of the actual lightsaber; the outer/lighter color being the "glow" of the inner/actual lightsaber itself. Ryan's idea, design, and accomplishment. Ryan further informs me that the tan color is part of Luke's Obi-Wan's cloak/robe on the Jedi's arm.

Tonight Becky and I experienced the Fourth of July fireworks show in DC with grandsons Ryan, Sean, and Kyle (and their parents and Sydney). As usual, the show was over-the-top fabulous. All three boys were transfixed. Though, about 3/4 the way through the show, Sean (4 years old) got a little distracted, maybe even a bit bored with the constant flow of color and light and sound. However, he could not keep from being drawn back into the drama of the "Finale." Always a crowd pleaser. This year was no exception. As it got going, he re-engaged and could not help from dancing and bopping to the sight and sound of beat of the constantly exploding fireworks. I caught him on video in a freeform joyous dance. Towards the end of it all, he was so excited he let loose with a spontaneous sommersaut. Enjoy. We sure did!

[NOTE: Double-click on the arrow in the center of the movie immediately below.] Dear Scott, We are so glad we met you. So glad we know you. So glad we know you and your heart so well. So glad you love and respect Carrie. So glad you love your boys. So glad you are who you are. So glad you are part of us. So glad you love and honor the Lord. We are SO glad. With all our love, Scott & Becky

[NOTE: Double-click on the arrow in the center of the movie immediately below.] Dear Ryan, 'What a wonderful world' it is because you're in it. Happy birthday. See you next month! With love, Grandma Becky & Grandpa Scott

Sean pulling funny faces Ryan pulling funny faces Both boys pulling funny faces, plus (Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes pulling funny faces.)

Within seconds of Carrie getting down onto the floor to play, the boys jumped onto her back playing horsey, etc. (with light sabers)! They are full-on boys, rough-housing, and having fun, fun, fun whenever feasible. (Always a good thing!) Grandma Becky reminds me that the boys are as quick to play horsey, etc. with their dear ol' Mom when she gets down on the floor with them, as they are with their Dad. The boys love love LOVE their Mother. They tell her so; they tell her she's pretty; they follow her; and respect her. She is -- along with her dear hubby -- raising a team of righteous sons. A sight to behold (their interaction, their eyes, their council, their nightly prayers, their Family Home Evenings, etc.). Happy Mother's Day Carrie. (And Grandma Becky, and Grandma Lee, and Grandma Dot, and all.)

The boys have MOVES! A little bit of Kung Fu Panda, add in some Star Wars lore, and a lotta BOY, and you get excellent martial arts moves. See the movie for a long strectch of Ryan's improvisational Kung Fu moves. Loved being with and watching and admiring and loving these boys.

[During the last half of April Becky and I visited Carrie and all the Motley Boys: Kyle, Sean, Ryan, and Scott Motley. Of the 1,000 stories I could tell of the experience, here's one.] Well. I missed shooting Part I. (And boy did I miss something.) After spending a Saturday afternoon walking up and down a river in Auburn, CA, skipping stones, and taking in the blue sky and mountain air, we stopped by McDonalds for a soft ice cream cone. It was a pretty hot day. Everyone got their own one, except Kyle. He was just turning one year old. I ate the top portion of my cone, then handed the cone and a short mound of ice cream to Kyle. He was sitting wedged in the corner next to Grandma Becky. So, he puts the cone up to his mouth, and begins tasting, then eating it. After a few seconds of getting the full measure of the vanilla taste, he suddenly realizes how REALLY good this ice cream stuff REALLY is. He raises both his hands (cone still in one hand), and with a wide-eyed, big wide smile ...