Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

It had been almost 25 years since we had been to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, so we decided to take Emily, Quil, Micah, and Joanna there on April 11 afternoon, while Randy and Joy were in a meeting.  Janet's favorite part was the Sky Line that took us up the mountain.  There wasn't much to do after we got up there, a play area for kids, but the ride up and back was relaxing and enjoyable.  We rode it up and down two times, first thing and last thing.  There were lots of things to look down on and talk about with Quil and Micah on the way.

One of the trips, we only had Micah with us, and Quil went with the girls.

                               This is one of the sights we saw from above!

This picture was taken up on top.  You could look out and see Colorado Springs!

This is not a real giraffe, but a fun one to take pictures with!

The giraffes are one of the main animal attractions of Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.  There are a lot of them, and they are very used to people feeding them romaine lettuce, so they hang out where the people are, hoping to get fed.

Micah was really scared of them, because their tongues are very long and they take the food right out of your hand!

This picture is the same time as the one above, with a different person's camera.

Giraffes' tongues are purple-blue.

This is not a real elephant, either, but Quil wanted to sit on it.  At the admission gate, Quil asked if there were elephant rides available.   He was told that the elephants here are African, not Asian, and they are not used to people, so there are no elephant rides.

We only saw these two that were out in the yard.  We elected not to go in their house, in case it was stinky, and there were so many other animals to see (and miles to walk before we were done....)

                               I thought this peacock's tail was pretty.

                               These were obviously "love birds."

                               Here is the same tiger that we had seen from above.

                                Such neat poses Emily caught!

We have pictures with Randy and Tim on this same carousel 25 years ago, so we had to take Quil and Micah on it with Grandpa standing by, as Grandpa Albertson had for Randy. (Sometime we will scan that picture and add it on to this post.)

The boys had a fun time at the zoo.  Grandpa and Grandma were tired at the end of it! :)

Arms Around the World Conference April 10-12

We decided to go down to Colorado Springs and stay in a motel so we could get in on all of the services of the Arms Around the World Thursday night through Saturday night.  We did come home late Saturday night to be in our regular Sunday services.  There were workshops in the mornings, with different missionaries speaking.   Below are Randy and Sharona Dimmitt and a couple of Navajo ladies who sang How Great Thou Art in Navajo before Randy Dimmitt spoke about ministering to the Navajo, and also their plans to go to Papua New Guinea later this year.  The angle of the picture does not show the other lady.

 Emily sneaked this picture during the singing of Uncle Alvin, Rowen's cousin Katie, and Ralph and Eunice Gault, dear friends of ours.

 Another workshop service where Jonathan Lucas spoke about his construction trips with Mission Helps.  His family sang a song together before he spoke.

 Our son, Randy Albertson, spoke about outreach to inner cities, using a prayer stand and tracts, and sketchboard messages.  This is his family.  We are expecting a little girl to join their family any day now...

 A picture of Katie and Janet together.  Katie is very dear to us.  We had a meal with her and Uncle Alvin on Friday evening.

                                 Emily and Katie

 Pastor Marvin and Cheryl Mosley, Michael and Charisse. They have been in Colorado for nearly two years, but are moving back to Pennsylvania to pastor there.  We will miss them.

 John and Karen McDonald.  Brother McDonald spoke in a workshop and every evening service.  They sang every evening, and he skillfully played his guitar for offertories.

We felt the conference was very refreshing to our souls and were thankful we got to attend.

Emily's end of semester concert April 3, 2014

Emily was in the Advanced Ensemble again this semester.  She was challenged by and grew because of the music she learned to play.  Mrs. Teri Ong is directing the group as they played at the beginning of the concert.

 Close up of Emily behind Evangeline Nelson.

 Our friends Mike, Carmen, and Michaela Durkee who made a special effort to come to the concert.  About four years ago, Mike gave Emily her blue bow that she enjoys using.

 After the ensemble, the choir came up to sing.  Emily is on the extreme right side, second row.  There were two songs in Hebrew and a couple in Latin also, so the songs were challenging.

 A close up of Emily, flanked by her dear friends, Natalie Heppner on the left, and Jenny Bell on the right of the picture.  Emily was a teacher's assistant to Jenny this semester.  Jenny is not a student but sings in the choir because she enjoys doing it.

 On one song, the instruments accompanied.

 Our friends, the Strubhars came down from Wyoming for the concert.  They surprised Emily!  We were sitting up in the balcony, because you can see so much better up there, and get better pictures. Last semester, Emily was teacher's assistant for the lady in the red at the left of the picture.  She has enjoyed helping in the younger children's classes.

 Randy, Joy, Quil, Micah, Jonathan, and Joanna also came to hear Emily perform.

 Another picture of the Durkees and Randy and Joy

 This shows all of our group except Rowen, who was taking the picture.

The Lord helped the young people to play and sing very well.  It was a nice concert.

Here is the link to the ensemble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60OiaXxs6HA
Here is the link to the choir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-m3-KxcnXk&feature=youtu.be

Rowen and Janet portraits 3-22-14

Pictures from Emily's 16th birthday

We celebrated Emily's birthday at Randy and Joy's house on March 16.  Quil and Micah helped decorate Emily's chair and the walls to honor her.  

 Emily loved having her dear friend Joanna to celebrate with her!

 We had mint dirt cake for dessert!

 This was on an evening walk around Johnstown Reservoir.  It was a beautiful sunset.

 The jacket Emily is wearing was one of her birthday gifts.

 She also got a very nice journal and a big box of Hershey's Cookies 'n Cream candy bars.  It should last her quite awhile!

We had plans for another family to join us for Emily's birthday supper, but the plans fell through.  So we played Mexican train and had a fun evening together.

We ate strawberry cupcakes.  They were yummy!

 The girls had a look-alike picture made.  It was special for Emily to match with Joanna and Mother for her birthday.

 On March 21, Emily had her 4th orthodontic appointment.  Now she has to wear two rubber bands.  Her teeth are making excellent progress.

We feel very blessed to have a sweet sixteen year old in our family again.  This is our last one!  How did time fly by so quickly?  Emily is a blessing in our home.  She is helpful, cheerful, fun-loving, a good friend, and desirous of pleasing the Lord most of all.  We love you, Emily!

Baby Emily pictures in honor of her Sweet Sixteen birthday!

This pictures are scanned from our albums--not the same quality as we get digitally now, but they will definitely show how especially we were blessed by Emily being added to our family!

 Emily joined brothers Randy, Timmy, Jeffrey, and Jason, and sister, Beth a few minutes after midnight on March 17, 1998.  We went home later that morning--before lunchtime if I remember correctly.

 We were waiting for Rowen to bring the van around, but he had to take a picture first.  Beth remembers that the sun was really bright that day!

 Hanging out, watching the baby was the main activity!

Our big kids made "0" birthday brownies for Emily, complete with candles in the shape of 0.

 This was the first Sunday after Emily was born.  Everybody loved her so much!

Daddy and his girls in July 1998

This picture is from October 1998:  Mommy and her sweet girls!

 These two pictures are after Emily is a year old, but they are too sweet not to share!  Beth and Emily in matching dresses, sitting on the changing table.

A couple months later, Jason and Emily on the changing table.  It was a good place for a picture right after getting hair combed!

We have been blessed with all of our children being added to our family one by one.  God knew Emily would be our last one, so He made her extra special!  Happy 16th birthday, Emily!  We all love you!