Blue Nettles

Happy Turkey Day to everyone where you are.

We are always thankful for our family and are thinking of you today.

Have a safe one and know you are loved!!!

Max and Whitey

This weekend, we stayed overnight at the Phoenix Zoo (all four of us). We arrived at 6:30pm and left on Sunday morning at 9:00am. It was a great event with James' Cubscout Den. About nine adults and 15 children. We had great service. They showed us lots of animals up close. We feed stingrays. We took a night hike to see some of the night animals and a morning hike showed lots of animals out in the early morning hours. Very little sleep on a concrete floor in a room with everyone. I can't remember the last time that I was up until midnight. It really was a great presentation.

Boy, are we tired today.
Ellie

Mom just called me from Brigham City. Dick Werling is sick. He is having tests and they won't have all results until towards the end of the week. Mom said that she thinks he is in his "final chapter". She is going to stay the week to help. She wants everyone to say prayers for all of the family. She said not to call the Werlings because too much is going on- she'll call me as they know more and I'll post to all of you.
Get the prayers going...

Love, Kay

Mom/dad support the Concord Coalition.org. I was talking to her about their views.

The Concord Coalition is a nationwide, non-partisan, grassroots organization advocating fiscal responsibility while ensuring Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are secure for all generations. The Concord Coalition was founded in 1992 by the late former Senator Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.), former Senator Warren Rudman (R-N.H.), and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Peter Peterson.

The Concord Coalition is dedicated to educating the public about the causes and consequences of federal budget deficits, the long-term challenges facing America's unsustainable entitlement programs, and how to build a sound economy for future generations. The Concord Coalition's national field staff and loyal group of volunteers cover the country, holding lectures, interactive exercises, conducting classes, giving media interviews, and briefing elected officials and their staffs.

Interesting.
Ellie

I Ilove Halloween. I get to sew original costumes for my children. They are a big hit. The boys don't do much dress up any more, but they love giving me their input on the costumes. A lot of work for three hours on Halloween night. But it was fun to run around with friends. We don't get many visitors at our door.
James is Hans Solo (Star Wars) and Davis is a black grizzly bear.
What fun!
Love,
Ellie

Very cool pictures, Larry. Such a historical city you are in. We'll get there to visit one day - promise.

The boys are looking great, Ellie. If he thinks it's cool to have glasses - great! And good pic's of the family from you, Kay.

So - I was having a conversation with Kay the other night. She brought up something she remembered about Dad which was something I was remembering just a few weeks before. When in Brigham City, Dad would get up at 5:30 a.m. and go to the Junior High Gym to run - shoot basketballs - excercise. And how we kids would frequently go with him. It was probably not as much as he would have liked but we did do it some.

Kay relayed this to Megan and her friend and described how we didn't feel pressure from Dad, he just said 'lets go exercise at a crazy time in the morning in the cold at a dark and dingey gymnasium'. And we did because it was Dad.

I was remembering the same thing when I debate lately going to my Curves at 6 in the morning because it's cold and dark out side. But I'm sure that the cold and dark here doesn't compare to the cold in BC. So that thought and thinking of Dad helps keep me motivated to do that early morning exercise - or any exercise.

So if you are putting off that important 30 minutes a day exercise (whatever it is) then think of Dad and smile while you sweat and groan!

P.S. Stay posted to how many inches and pounds I will have lost before Thanksgiving.

The day has come. James got his glasses last week. His parents, all his grandparents and all his blood aunts and uncles wear glasses. He is VERY excited. I think he is soooo cute.

Love, Ellie

Kay with running group- AFTER the 1/2 marathon in Moab.
Kay with running friends; Julie and Janet in front of the finish for 1/2 marathon (day before the race).
UEA weekend in Ashton, Idaho
Marisa and Duane eating their "catch" of the day.
Megan-fishing with her friend Maria
Megan- Judge Cross Country
Halloween
Marisa-volleyball

Hey everyone- here are a few photos-a day(many days) in the Bushes' lives...
Love to everyone- Kay

I finally took my camera to work to get some pictures of the staturary and the strange mural in F's lobby. To explain this very belligerant mural (in the lobby of the Director of Foriegn Assistance), this building had originally been the War Department, before the Pentagon was buildt and it became the Defense Department. The two statues are in the building's courtyards.

Max-
I wish we would be better about sitting down to play games here. In the summer, we got into playing poker with the girls for several evenings (for the purpose of trying to keep up the math skills a little, of course). We've played chess occasionally- but not much. The girls were in an afterschool chess club a few years ago. Both Megan and Marisa learned how to play cribbage from Dad and they seemed to like it. I never really got into it. Maybe you could play with them when you come at Christmas- keep up the tradition of cribbage?
Love, Kay