Back to blogging

Well, my son has left on his mission and I am starting a mission blog for him, so I thought I'd might as well keep up on my personal blog.  I am horrible at keeping a journal, so this is something that is important for me to do.  I will try to update on Sundays, I hope that is a realistic goal I can keep.  Wish me luck!

The Annual Rasmussen Family Reunion

Every year Jay's parents host a Rasmussen Family reunion. We hardly ever make it to the reunion since we are the only one of Jay's siblings not living in Utah, but we were fortunate to be there this year. It was a lot of fun seeing everyone and being with the family. There were a lot of people there, but this little guy is the only person I took pictures of!

Grandpa sure loves his boy!

Back To Utah

Lucky me! I was fortunate enough to make the drive out to Utah twice in one summer! I had flown back to Virginia to go to Jake's Eagle Scout court of honor and to take care of some things with the apartment, so I was able to make the drive out to Utah with Jay and Jake. Three of us in the cab of a U-Haul that couldn't go much over 60 mph! Too much fun! We rented the U-Haul so that we could take Jordan all his childhood possessions now that he has a house with an unfinished basement (his wife is so excited to see his Star Wars collections). We also took out Julie's piano and some other things for Jake and Julie. It was a long, uneventful trip, and we were so glad to finally reach Utah.

Along the way we stopped in Grinnell, Iowa, the cutest little midwestern town ever!

Eagle Scout

I flew back to Virginia to attend Jake's Eagle Scout court of honor. It was a really nice event and we are really proud of Jake and all his hard work during scouting.

Saying a few words about his experiences with scouting

Dad putting on his Eagle Scout neckerchief

We're so proud of our Eagle Scout

They Will Always Be My Little Girls

Jessie and I went to the PX on Hill Air Force Base one day to do some shopping. I was thinking maybe I would get her a new outfit, maybe a piece of jewelry. What do you think caught her eye and caused her to squeal with excitement.....

That's right, a dollhouse! As we were in the toy section looking for a toy for Kaden she came across this dollhouse in the clearance aisle. It was originally $70 marked down to $15. When she saw it this is what I heard, "Please, please please, please." Now remember this is my 24-year-old daughter. She also added that she and Julie would have so much fun making it together (since children know that parents like it when they play nice together). Well, of course I bought it and when we took it back to Jordan's house and showed Julie she was so excited she could hardly contain herself. Now remember, she is my 20-year-old daughter. I have to say they did have lots of fun building, decorating, and painting their new dollhouse which is now in Jordan's basement waiting patiently for a granddaughter to play with it, or for Jessie and Julie to get it out and play with it again!

Deciding the color scheme for the new house

Working hard on their project

I love my girls!

Best Friends

I spent a lot of time with these two cuties over the summer in Utah. Kaden loves bouncing in his chair and Toby just hangs out underneath him.

Off To Utah

Well, we needed to move into the apartment a little sooner than I really wanted because Jake and Julie hadn't left for school yet and I didn't want to move until they were gone. Our renters needed to move in before school started, so we moved out. Life in a one bedroom/one bath apartment doesn't work so well with four people, so after a week or so Jay had the idea that Julie and I should head out to Utah early. Julie could get settled and find a job before all the other students got back and I could spend more time with Jessica and Justin while they were in Utah for the summer for Justin's internship. Jake had a summer internship with the Army National Guard doing some statistical work, so he needed to stay in Virginia. So Julie and I packed up her little car and made the trek west. We made it in four days. We listened to two Harry Potter books on the way. It was a good trip!