Jacob leaves for Japan

I had a wonderful call from Jacob today during his layover in Los Angeles on his way to Japan. He sounded happy, healthy, and excited to be on his way - what a thrill it was to hear from him! He may not feel as chipper by the time his plane lands, some 16 hours after leaving Salt Lake City, but then again, this is pretty exciting stuff, to be sure.

This is his mailing address in Japan:

Elder Jacob Robert Petersen
Japan Tokyo Mission
4-25-12 Nishi-Ochiai
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to
161-0031 JAPAN

First-Class Mail International to Japan

Weight not over (ozs.)	Price
1	$0.94
2	1.74
3	2.54
3.5	3.34

Wondering what Jacob is probably doing right now? Check out the World Clock Time Zone Converter

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

It's a Guy Thing

It is true that our behavior is influenced by those around us. Without signal these three: Jacob, David, and Ben, posed with an identical position. This was the family gathering on a Sunday in August.
Jacob is leaving the USA for Japan early Tuesday morning. Though there will be distance in miles, we have never felt closer to him, than we do now.

Happy Birthday Kemp!

Happy Birthday big brother!! I hope you have a fabulous day!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEMP!!!

Climb! Climb! Always climbing. This is a tent platform that your Dad was building in the woods.
Spring, warm sun and pussy willows calling you outside.Cub Scouts was only the beginning of the scouting adventures which you continued in your adult life as a leader to your son......who became an Eagle Scout and a summer camp leader himself.
What a legacy!

Climbing some more. This was taken on Mt. Rainier when 16 years old. Of course you made it to the summit. Today you are still climbing mountains of one kind or another. And today, you are still reaching the summit.

May this day be focused on your birthday and may there be many bright tomorrows.

Idaho Halloween

I am taking the liberty of using Alicia's pictures from Halloween. She makes a great Tinker Bell.

(I just got that.) And I can see how they will stay warm through the cold Idaho winter.

Jack-O-Lanterns

Brooke's creation has hair!

Let's see who is the winner this year!

Since Brooke was five years old, she and Grandpa have carved pumpkins together. Once the most misshapen pumpkins are selected, comes the process of finding the carving tools from last year, covering the dinning room table with newspaper, getting a big dishpan for the innards and then going to work. Soon this years creations become alive, and as soon as it is dark, they are given the candle test.

Each year, brings a new creation, but most of all a renewed tradition of Brooke sharing time with her Grandpa. She understands him and he loves it!

Kindergartners at the Pumpkin Patch

Grace went on her first field trip, which included her first ride on a school bus. The girls on both sides of her are little friends. I went along for the ride and had a great time.

Red Skies At Night

Of course I couldn't do the real sunset justice, but it was absolutely beautiful! The water was a deep pinkish/reddish color. This was just about the best sunset I've seen over Sequim Bay.

Go Dino!

David, Grace & I attended the GOP governor rally, and as timing had it, had front row seats. Dino shook all of our hands as he came in, and then referred to us during his speech by pointing at us and saying that young people are getting involved, (Young? We're pushing 40). We were the youngest people there, though, which was pretty sad. About 150 people turned out, which isn't bad for Port Angeles. Remember: Vote GOP, and vote often!

Lattin's Cider Mill

I was actually able to get Brooke and Phil to come out to Lattin's Cider Mill with me for some fresh apple fritters and cider.

While we were there, we found a great, squishy pumpkin for Grandpa to carve, because he always liked the "interesting" ones. It was a beautiful Fall day.

Carving pumpkins with Grandpa

Dad always picks the pumpkins with the most unusual defects. They make the best Jack-o-Lanterns. This was the creations of a few years ago. Click on it so you can see all of the details. I can't wait to see what these 2 come up with next!!

THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Joel is ready to go!

Dad & Joel heading toward the pumpkins

Joel searched and searched for the perfect pumpkin.................

Look Mom I think I see one......

Doesn't this pumpkin look good?

PLEASE!!! Can we get this one??

Joel had so much fun picking out the perfect big, round, and very dirty pumpkin.

Joel even met some friends. He would have left with them if we would have let him.

We had such a fun time taking Joel to the pumpkin patch. We ended up with three pumpkins, some dirty shoes, and a day we will always remember.

Kitchen Windows

OK, since Joleen started it with the view from her kitchen window in Virginia, I have decided to follow suit with a couple of shots of the view of recent sunsets from mine. Isn't the world a glorious place?

Fairy Circles

Ahh, nothing like a few fall rains to encourage the 'shrooms to "bloom." It's gutter-cleaning day, and this was the view from above. Boy, I sure do miss Jacob!

Another Opening, Another Roadshow

I stole (?), saved(?) this photo from the Ward bulletin board. ( You can still see the thumbtack holes.) Ross had a great talent for creating the best and most fun Roadshows. He won the "Best Show" It is a lost art form now, I don't think I've seen anything near as good since his time.

Fall In Virgina

There are very few things I miss about Virgina, but this is one of them. This was the view from my kitchen window in Front Royal, VA. A few weeks later, as the leaves disappeared, I discovered this hill was covered with homes.

A Very Happy Birthday to Jay!

Birthdays are a happy time to take a look back from whence we came as well as to look to the future. Jay was so full of "doing things", there was never a dull moment. And with that smile, he could get most anything he wanted. I believe it was during this period of time, that he had to be secured to his bed during naptime, to keep him from climbing out the window to "escape".

Hmm. One white sock and one dark sock. And this happy boy doesn't seem to care. Who is he cheering? Perhaps it is life itself! Here's hoping that your birthday is a wonderful day. Thank you, Jay, for what you mean to this family!

The Compost Bucket!

It must have been Dad's turn to dump the compost bucket. He probably had to fight off all of you to get to do this favored duty. Wasn't this Jacob's favorite thing to do when he came to our house? I know that you all loved this part of the garden process.

The Newspaper Route

Last night, Shannon asked me if Dad's arm was healed enough to do the paper route. His current success is to lift the hand to the mouth to eat. It is the best incentive!
However, her question did strike thoughts of the "route" which consumed our life for 20 years. I had this clipping from the letters to the editor in The Olympian. It was nice that one of our customers noticed.......

October General Conference Weekend 2008

Grace sings with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! Sleepy Joel taking a quick shut-eye nap on Grandpa's lap.

Ben and Joel

The weather was wet and wet some more. Frogs loved it and Ben found one to show to Joel and Grace.

Kemp is anticipating the Saturday night session with a chance to hear/see the Provo MTC Choir. Jacob was so happy when he realized he would be in the MTC during October Conference with the chance he could be in the choir for Conference.

Shannon came to stay for the weekend, and Joleen was in and out. With the love and support of all of the kids for their dad, he continues to mend from his shoulder surgery.

At 14 months