It's All About Laura.

This has been a memorable Senior year in high school for Laura. She has been involved in a lot of activities that have opened the door to many more opportunities. This last week has been especially busy, full of award banquets and graduations from Seminary and High School.





Thursday, May 15th, as member of the Rigby FFA Chapter Presidency she helped plan and put on the yearly awards banquet for over 100 people. It was a fine steak and potato event. Awards were given to the students with Laura receiving several for individual and team competitions. Roger and I also received an Honorary Chapter Degree. They tell me it is for our support of the chapter and the three children we've put through the program. I personally think it has to do with all the potatoes we've donated; baked and dutch ovened. This is a picture of Mr. Hale, one of Rigby's FFA advisers, praising Laura for her achievements before presenting her with The Star Agribusiness Award.

Sunday, May 18th, was Seminary Graduation. There were about 45 youth from the Menan Stake that graduated. Six from our Menan 3rd Ward. It was a nice and short graduation with some outstanding speakers. Did I mention that Laura was one of the two speakers? She did a fabulous job. She made her mom and dad proud.

Left to right: Melissa Mortensen, Laura, Kaitlin Gunderson, Jessica Gunderson, Jared Miller and Dan Crandall

On Wednesday, May 21st, was finally the big day. Graduation! Whoo hoo! The ceremony was held in the Hart Auditorium at BYU-I. We are so proud of Laura and excited to see her start the rest of her life. You go girl!!

Branding Calves

We branded the last batch of calves today. There were 150 in this group. Roger and Alan branded two smaller batches that were in different pastures last week while I was in Washington. Today was a perfect day for branding. The weather was nice, about 60 with a light breeze. We almost cancelled after yesterday's rain and snow. We had some good help today with Laura, Derek Gohr, Rhett Miller and my Dad, Dale Armstrong. Also Tyler Gohr and even Rachel and I helped for a minute. You might notice Alan is missing from these pictures. He was welding on the branding chute the other day and kinked his back. He is walking kind of crooked and hunched over like Quasimodo. He did supervise the branding set up and helped chase the cattle into the corral in his pickup but had gone home to rest by time I took these pictures. We hope he is better soon.

Laura, Derek, Rhett, Dad

Sorting the cows from the calves.

Roger watching the gate so the calves don't get out.

Derek and Rhett keeping the calves pushed up and ready to load into branding chute.

Dad pushing calves into branding chute which straps calf to one wall that then folds out to a table so they can work on the calf; which includes marking, vaccinating, castrating with green cheerios and branding.

Roger branding a calf. It doesn't smell so good.

Tyler marking a calf's ear.

Calves waiting for their turn

Cows waiting for their calves.

I love it when the help is this happy!

Trip to Renton, Washington

On May first Rachel and I drove with my parents to Renton, Washington to visit my youngest sister Kathi, brother-in-law, Brian and their family. We went there for the blessing of their newest baby, Sawyer Brett. Friday they took us sight seeing in Seattle. On our last visit we toured the Space Needle, the Seattle Aquarium and took a boat tour of the harbor. This time we spent the day touring the Pike Street Market. The Market is built on the edge of a steep hill. It has several lower levels below the main level, featuring a variety of unique shops, such as antique dealers, comic book sellers, and small family-owned restaurants. The upper street level features fishmongers, fresh produce stands, and craft stalls operating in the covered arcades. It was fun to see. I think my favorite stands were the flower booths with tons of beautiful flowers for not very much money. The tulips were especially beautiful. I told Kathi if I were her I would go down there once a week to buy seafood and flowers. The oysters and asparagus looked especially tempting.

Brian, Kathi, Baby Sawyer, Steven & Rachel
Steven & Rachel

On Saturday we went and watched Samantha play soccer and Sean play baseball. Sam was a pink & red butterfly all over the field right behind the ball. She scored several times. Sean took his game very serious and made some good hits and runs. It was hard to believe his team was made up of only 9 and 10 year-olds. I even got to use my umbrella that has been in my trunk for two years. First time it's gotten wet.

Samantha
Sean

Sunday we attended their church. I love attending other wards on fast and testimony day. It gives an insight to the personality of that ward. Brian gave baby Sawyer a wonderful blessing. Dad, my brother Brandon and some of Brian and Kathi's dear friends stood in the circle. Brian and Kathi also took us to this fancy restaurant called Salty's on Alki Beach with sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Seattle city skyline. Wouldn't you know I left my camera at the house, but wow, what a view. The food was really good too. Monday, May 5th, we headed home. We drove it all in one day. The Perry's deserve a medal for driving that trip as much as they do. All in all it was a really great trip with lots of wonderful memories made. Kathi and Brian are fantastic hosts.

Cute but not so happy Sawyer
Brian, Kathi & Sawyer