Heaven part 4 (or the end of heaven)

Things we LOVED on our cruise...

Breakfast on our balcony - beautiful!

The ice skating show, they were fantastic!

Carved fruit!  Fruit and ice sculptures!  It was crazy!

Shuffleboard.  We usually played after dinner.  It's quite fun.

  The belly flop contest.  Large people + alcohol = FUN

Jose (from Columbia) our waiter.  WE LOVED HIM

Sorrentos.  Pizza 24/7

Looking down in the elevator to see what day it was

 Ping pong.  Jay and Jake had a rousing game every night

Our cruise director, Richard, a hilarious Brit

Mini golf at night

THE END (please can I go back?)

Congratulations Colonel Rasmussen

Jay spent the last year attending the National War College in Washington D.C.  It was a great experience for him and we are so glad that he was given that opportunity.  About a week before graduation he was promoted to Colonel.  We had a really nice ceremony at the War College.  We were excited to have General Carpenter come to promote Jay.  He and Jay have worked together many times, and Jay greatly admires and respects him.

I guess since this is my personal blog I can take a minute to express my love and appreciation for Jay.  He is everything to me.  He loves his family, he is a worthy priesthood holder, and he loves his country.   I don't think the kids or I will ever know all the sacrifices he has made for us.  He truly puts us first in every career decision he has to make.  I am grateful every day that of all those girls on campus in 1981 he chose me.

General Carpenter saying a few words about Jay   

Promotion orders are read to the audience

Changing his rank

Julie and Jake changing his rank on his shirt

Oath of office

Jay giving a few remarks

Receiving line (Julie's comment "I am not doing this at my wedding!")

My guys outside the War College back when Jordan was here

Kronik Robot

We are sad to say you missed a great performance by Kronik Robot at the ward talent show.  Jake plays guitar in this band, and I must say I don't think the old meetinghouse has ever shook like that!!  It was a memorable performance- little children covering their ears, devout christians fleeing the building, and lots of heads shaking (probably thinking "those Rasmussens...").  It didn't help that they were followed by a little girl singing "Families Can Be Together Forever" (her dad is deployed to Iraq).  But in our opinion they were the highlight of the night and it was crazy fun with our friends holding up their cell phones and swaying back and forth.  

Rock Star

Out with the old, in with the new

 One thing our family loves to do is go to sporting events.  While most families may seek out interesting historical sites while traveling cross country, we have always mapped out stadiums that we might pass, and we have always managed to take a tour (or at least sneak in).  We had the opportunity this summer to enjoy two great baseball games and be part of history also.  We attended a Yankees game in the last year for its stadium, and we attended a Nationals game in the first year of their new stadium.

These were both fun, but really different experiences.  When we were in New York we took a long subway ride out to the Bronx to get to Yankee Stadium.  It is surrounded by tons of bars and taverns and sports shops.  Very noisy and crowded, but lots of excitement everywhere!  Another thing we do (well, not WE, just JAY and the BOYS) is buy cheap seats and then move around during the game to better seats.  So there we sat in our cheap bleacher seats and when it came time for the boys to want to move we discovered that if you have bleacher seats it is a separate entrance and you cannot leave that section in less you are leaving the stadium.  And you cannot get in at another entrance with a bleacher seat ticket.  No seat hopping for the boys! Sadly, they had to stay put, but they still had a great time, especially seeing the famous Yankee players.

A couple of days later the boys went to a Nationals game.  The stadium is not a far drive for us.  We park at Ft. McNair (since we have military stickers on our car) and then we have about a 5 minute walk to the stadium.  There isn't really anything by the stadium, it is on the Potomac and has a beautiful view of the Capitol through center field.  You can walk around the whole stadium and there are lots of fun games and restaurants everywhere.  You don't even have to watch the game to have a fun time, there's so much to do.  Of course my boys watched the game, although they did have some fun in the batting cages.  It is a beautiful stadium and we are looking forward to many more fun evenings there.

Outside Yankee Stadium

Yankee Stadium

Our great bleacher seats... and it was raining!

Inside Yankee Stadium

All the famous guys!

Nationals Stadium

Jay and Jake at the stadium

It's beautiful inside - all red, white, and blue

The night we were there they had a tribute to Tim Russert who had just passed away.  He was involved with getting the stadium built for the Nationals

There is always the race of the Presidents at every game

The boys with the Presidents

My boys at the game

Julie's Graduation

Julie graduated from North Stafford High School on June 14, 2008. I still can't believe she is finished with high school!  Jake and Julie have always been the "little ones" in our family, so I have had a hard time adjusting to them growing up.  The ceremony was really nice.  For the first time in the school's history, the graduation was held outside on the football field.  I was worried that it was going to be miserably hot, but it was not too bad.  All in all a great day.  We are really proud of Julie and her accomplishments during her high school years.  She is a beautiful young lady inside and out.  Love you Julie!

Waiting for the grads to come out

Julie receiving her diploma

The class of '08 is excited to graduate!

The graduate

Julie is so glad her brother could be here to celebrate with her!

Jake, Julie, and Aubrey

Here we are with our graduate

Congrats Julie!

Fun in New York

We took a quick side trip to NYC for a couple of days.  It's always fun to take people there who have never been.  We hit all the spots you have to see- Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, top of the Empire State Building, Times Square, too many stores to count, and we even caught a Broadway show (Phantom, Aubrey's favorite).  One of our biggest thrills was shopping on Canal Street in Chinatown and getting our Coach purses and Rolex watches! I have to say, I LOVE New York.

The gang and Lady Liberty

Aubrey at Ellis Island

Jake and Julie have been to Ellis Island too many times.  The thrill is gone for them!

Jordan had to have a hot dog from a street vendor

Central Park

So many subway rides.....

We're excited for the show!

The theater was beautiful

Times Square at night