Peach pickin', pig peeping, Pittsburgh

We went to Simmons Farm today outside Pittsburgh for some peach picking. They will still be available to pick for a couple of weeks. The kids really enjoyed the excursion as they have never seen a peach tree. They really loved the pickin' part.




The peach orchard was just above the apple orchard.


















A view of the lower apple orchard and the PA countryside.


A few pictures of Goat and Pig harassment, not legal in all states...That was as close as they ever got to the pig.

Kittens are alot like kids....

They look adorable....asleep.





They beat on each other.



















The genetic requirement that they sleep in a pile.

Sunday Smiles

Just some pictures of Julia and Joey on Sunday August 9th. They looked so cute in their dresses and bows. Don't let the looks deceive you though, they are equal parts Sunday dress, good manners, howling at the moon werewolves and under bridge living trolls.
We just don't usually document the latter.
Truthfully if they are kept well fed, allowed to run and put to bed by seven every night they remain quite amiable.



Here is a picture of most of the family in Allen's classroom right before Sunday School. We all look fresh and happy because we skipped Sacrament Meeting. In case you wondered.

Japan

I recently returned from a week business trip to Japan. The 2009 Japanese World Dinosaur Expo located just outside of Tokyo, borrowed several dinosaur specimens from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and I was sent to help with the unloading and installing of the borrowed specimens. The expo was enormous-the largest dinosaur exhibition in the world. It was quite spectacular. I love visiting Japan. Japan is exceptionally clean and the Japanese are very considerate, polite and accommodating. From the first day we were there to the last, we had an interpreter that translated for us and helped us. The only drawback to going to Japan is the flight. Sitting in an airplane chair for 13 1/2 to 14 hours one way makes for a aching hind end and a lot of sleep deprivation. I was lucky enough on my return trip to have a guy from first class come back to my seat row and ask me if he could trade me seats so that he could sit by his family in my row. At first I thought it was a joke and it wasn't until we actually took off that I believed it was real. First class is so different from coach and I never realized how much different until experiencing it for my self. From the first minute you are wined and dined. The chair your in has at least 5 different controls that recline (until you are almost horizontal), work the lumbar region in two different areas, and extend and lift the footstool. You have your own large flat screen monitor with lots of games, movies and tv shows. It made the long trip back to the States so much easier but my butt still hurt. I still can't imagine paying the exorbitant amount of money that flying first class requires though. It was a memorable experience.

The poster for the Japanese Dinosaur World Expo 2009 and me with the mascot of the expo.



Earl Douglas, the founder of the Carnegie Quarry (Dinosaur National Monument) and I hanging out in Japan. On the right, my favorite dinosaurs, the ankylosaurs.



One of the big exhibits was a dinosaur 'mummy'. On the left is the skin covered arm and on the right, a fine pattern of skin around the arm pit of the dinosaur, Edmontosaurus.



Skin around the base of the tail showing medium-sized hexagonal scales. On the right is a vertebra from the back of Argentinosaurus (vert is about 6 feet tall).

The other big draws to this expo were the skeletons of Mamenchisaurus (left) and Spinosaurus (right). Mamenchisaurus is from China and has a disproportinately long neck. This specimen was over 100 feet long. Spinosaurus is not known from a lot of fossil material but the fossils they have for Spinosaurus were very large. This reconstruction is based on those remains and creates a skeleton that is 15 feet longer than the largest Tyrannosaurus skeleton.

It wasn't all work-I did get to eat a lot of sushi and sushimi. Here I am with a nice plate of various forms of sushi. I watched as they caught a fish out of the fish tank behind the counter and made the sushi right in front of us. It was very fresh. With me during my week in Japan was Azusa, a japanese interpreter. Here we are standing in front of the life-size model of Spinosaurus.



Matt Lamanna, Carnegie Museum of Natural History paleontologist extraordinaire, was one of the main collaborators for the dinosaur expo. I had to take this picture of him standing next to himself while a video of him was showing. On the right, sometimes he got too serious and I had to lighten the mood a bit.

A picture of me, Ken Carpenter and Matt Lamanna at the grand opening ceremony. Ken is a world renowned paleontologis and good friend of mine.

Harry Potter Premier Day!

It's finally here. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Jake and I went to see it this afternoon and we LOVED it.

(Here is Harry and Darth Vader from last Halloween)

Jake thought the part with the inferi was creepy and I cried when they killed Dumbledore. It was very satisfying, like seeing your old friends again after a long absence. We really had a good though Jake and I were disgusted about paying $4.50 for a small blue raspberry iceee which we shared.

What a joke~

Here are some favorite photos of mine of Allen with each of the kids.

Julie and Jo enjoyed the afternoon at home with the Buttons, playing in the sandbox and with the kitties and in the pool. Everyone is well entertained and tired. Yay for early bedtimes tonight.

Tuesday

Well, the day is half over and I am tired. We had the same merry go round in the bedroom last night. Jacob fell out of bed AGAIN. I told him tonight it was his bed, for sure. Julia made a few trips between rooms, she'd come in then not be able to get comfortable and go back to her room then come back some time later. Jo was just Jo.

Today we went to play group at Frick but it was so crowded we didn't stay long. We brought Finley home with us and got this great picture. Jake and I are really excited about tomorrow at 1pm. Harry Potter.

Monday

Today was a busy day for us. Julia loaded her first dishwasher and managed to spray the cupboards, microwave and air conditioner. Who knew we had a fire hose hooked to the sink?

Jake and I taught Julie and Jo to play dominoes but they were much more interested in making trains than actually playing so we only played two games.

We cleaned off the desk and took the kitties outside where they were all good and came when we called them. I think they are getting the hang of it.

Last night was crazy with all of us in one bed. Jacob managed to fall out and get a good lump on his head. Jora woke up at midnight and was awake a good hour or more just talking to herself. Julie slept straight through.

Tomorrow is playgroup and playing with Eli and Finley. I predict an eary bedtime for all of them tomorrow night.