Walt's Inspiration

SK and I spent some time today working on forms to be turned into the government before we return home.  They were for the U.S. Government, so they were in English.  But they weren't real easy to understand.....it is interesting to puzzle through some of the language of official forms.

While SK and I were doing such tasks, (and other mundane chores - like ironing a few thousand white shirts - ok, so that may have been an exaggeration), Erin, Ethan and the kids were at Tivoli.

It is a 10 minute walk from our home, and is a lovely place (the inspiration for Disneyland so many years ago --- Walt Disney walked through and thought to himself that he could surely do something similar in America).  Besides being charming with flower gardens everywhere, blooming their little hearts out, there are enjoyable rides.   AND there are thrill rides.  I have it on good authority from more than a few that those thrill rides are hair-raising.

They were there this morning as soon as it opened.  They stayed until it closed.  Erin was pretty much done by then, and we happened to be going right by Tivoli in the car at 11:30, so we brought her, Ben and Anna home.  It is a great place, and despite being small, an easy-to-spend-the-entire-day-there place.

SK and I have been at the center since early afternoon.  We had a marvelous turnout for Family Home  Evening.  Ulrik gave an excellent lesson about "Words of Wisdom" which turned out to be the words of the ten commandments.  I love it when many participate with answers to some of the great questions asked.

After the lesson, we had a really funny activity of charades.  We all (about 25) put several names on pieces of paper and put them in a bowl, and one member of a team went up and tried to get his team to guess who it was....without the one in front saying the name.  After the first round, they acted out the name without speaking.

That is when it got hilarious.  Some of the funniest ones were the young elders, who made us all laugh out loud.  We love those guys.

It was fun to sit around the table at midnight with Erin, Ethan and kids and talk about their day.  They saw it all and rode on everything they wanted to.  They marveled that on July 20, they were walking around outside with jackets on!  The temperatures were in the lower 60's and there was a cool breeze. That is pretty amazing for someone from Gilbert, Arizona.  We ate Danish pastry and strawberry taertes from Theresa's bakery.

Ethan took some great pictures of their adventures today:

Everything now is silent.  Everyone has gone to bed, and probably everyone fell asleep the moment their heads hit their pillows.  Outside, there is no one walking the lake path, no dogs barking, no rumble of vehicles on the roads, no laughter or loud talking from passers-by.  I think everyone must be in their beds, slumbering.

That is what I will be doing very soon.