THE WALKERS: Catching Up

It has been one year since I set this blog up. The problem was. . . Jessica doesn't live here to show me how to do it. She is teaching me today, and we'll see how I do.

In the last year:

I went to school at Pima Medical and became a Phlebotomist (vampire).

I took a job at Summit Health Care--which i LOVE!!

Kevin married Faith (who we all love!)

We have a new grandbaby - - - Ellery Lynn Walker

Addie turned 3

Callie turned 1

Mark graduated from ASU--Woo Hoo!

Jessica is her wonderful, talented, crafty self!!!!! (her blogspot: http://mhig36.blogspot.com/)

Jeff and I visited Seattle, Vancouver Island, Victoria, Palmyra, Kirtland, and Niagra Falls

I visited more of my "birth" family that I had not met yet.

Kyle moved to Huntington Beach, California and is working at a debt consolidation firm.

And. . . . .

Jeff sold the business and then had to take half of it back. So much for retiring :)

Here are some pics of our trip to NY:

Leaving the valley. . . I hate flying, but the view is amazing!

We landed in Buffalo and drove to the Canada side of Niagra Falls.

We decided to stay at a Bed and Breakfast -- never have before--It was o.k. but I don't think we will do it again. We are not huge breakfast eaters, and they fed us an enormous amount of food!

This is my Uncle Ron and my Aunt Vinnie. Ron is my birth mom's older brother. We had such a nice visit with them. Vinnie has more energy than the Energizer Bunny!!!!

Vinnie makes these Banana Peppers and cans them. She pulled a jar out to have with lunch, and Jeff could not get enough. It was embarassing :) He just loved them! She gave me the recipe and I came home and bought all the stuff I need to make them. I think I will stick a jar in Jeff's stocking for Christmas! ho ho

My Uncle Ronnie is such a sweet man! He has been through so much with his health, but he is in good spirits and is a delight.

Ron and Vinnie took us to a Pumpkin Farm. It was fun. There were lots of interesting things to see--animals, pumpkins galore, and some pretty interesting squash too. . . .

Yep. . . it's a Butternut!

This is the store that Uncle Ronnie used to work at. It is very nice. Kind of like an A.J.'s in Arizona--but bigger.

Niagra Falls. SOOOOO Cold!!!! The weather was bad (sleet and rain). If we got close enough to really see down, we would get soaked. The spirit was willing but the body just couldn't do it! We found a road that gave us a pretty good view out of the way of the mist. Kind of frightening to hear and see it.

We went to dinner with Ron and Vinnie, and my cousin Bill and his girlfriend. It was a great place with huge fish aquariums. It was a wonderful night. Bill is a musician and works at a historical production theatre in Buffalo.

This is Ron and Vinnies daughter (my other cousin) Mary Kay and her husband Paul. We visited them for a day. What a wonderful time we had! They are WONDERFUL! They are AMAZING! They are huge hunters. Mary Kay hunts with a bow. They have two boys; Ronnie and Paulie. They live on 40 wooded acres and Paul built their home. They were married on Halloween and they dress up every year and go to a party. I hated to leave. I felt like I had known Mary Kay all of my life. I do wish I lived closer to her--we would have a great time!

So easy to talk to. So easy to be with.

Mary Kay grows these fun flower pods in her yard. She calls them Jackolanterns! She gave me some cuttings to bring home---I hope they grow!

This was the B&B we stayed at near there home--- it is very old, and very awesome!

The Kirtland Temple. Just in awe to be where the church began!

Jeff inside the Newel K. Whitney store.

The fall view from the window of the upstairs room used for the "school of the prophets".

The kitchen that Emma used. This was here favorite China!

In Palmyra-- this was the upstairs bedroom of the prophet Joseph Smith, where he was visited three times by the angel moroni and shown where the ancient record was buried nearby.