Evening at the beach in July!!!

We decided it was high time we get over to the beach! So we packed the truck and were out the door in 15 min. Picked up Thomas who had just gotten back from a trip to Canada and was all to happy to get to the beach. The weather was sunny as we drove over. Until we reached Mt. Pleasant where it was over cast. By the time we got to the connector we could see that there was something brewing off shore and it was super windy! The guys wanted to go in anyway and they surfed the nasty chop and caught a few good size waves! We are going to have to check the weather next time!! I could only get one pic' too much sand blowing! It was still warm and the water was very pleasant according to the boy's. Yes we stopped at the Bell on the way home, it's tradition!

Church House Rock & Birdie Ball

Tonight we invited the Relief society to join us for our activity!

Darren in Beijing

Here are the pictures that Darren took while visiting Beijing. He said that Beijing is decorated in preperation for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

iPhone gets run overby a truck!

Yesterday I put my iPhone on the back of my car while I was walking, thinking Darren might call me. I usually put it in my pocket, but the shorts I was wearing did not have pockets. I also was outside a little longer then I had planned to be so I hurried in with out picking up my phone. Darren called on the home phone and I said, my cell is in the Garage. I thought to my self don't forget to get it before you go to Target. Sooo you can guess what happened. After grabbing some breakfast, a shower, checking out the pictures Darren sent via e-mail. I was ready to go to Target. I completely forgot about the phone until I was on the next street over. I slowed down and pulled off ran around back and it was not there!!!! I turned back looking on the opposite side of the road while going back towards the house. Nick helped me look all over the driveway and road. No iPhone Yikes I was sick to my stomach. I just finally got the hang of all the cool features and was loving my iPhone. I drove to the At&t store told them my issue and they were very helpful. We have a few old cell phones around here so I had a new sim card in about 10 min. so I could continue using my same number.

I received a voice message from a kind neighbor while my phone was off during church. He said he had my iPhone. I called and he told me that he had seen it on the road as he was turning onto the road from his street. He could not stop in time to pick it up and turned around, but it was run over by a truck just before he could get across the road to pick it up. He tried to answer when we where calling. It just would not work, his son came and they put the sim card in his phone to get my name and number out of the info. I am very grateful that he called even though the phone is really not usable. At least I know what happened to it! I hope you learn from my experience and won't let this happen to you!

Darren goes to Beijing

Today Darren flew on Air China to Beijing the capital city of China. He was able to do some site seeing as it was Saturday and he did not have meetings. He and Kyle decided it was time for some American food so they ate McDonalds for dinner.

Darren with the palace of the Forbidden City in the background.

Tiananmen Square

Street scene in Beijing. Darren said, "Everything is all getting decorated for the Olympics"

Darren's first day in China

Darren left our house at 12:30 pm on Tue. drove to Atlanta to catch his flight to Chicago on Wed. morning. He arrived in Atlanta around 6:00pm central time. He left Atlanta early on Wed. morning for Chicago where he met up with Kyle. They left Chicago on American Airlines for China at 10:30 in the morning.

The flight over is 14 hours. So they had the luxury compliments of Johnson-northwest Inc. to fly first class. Darren said, "that is the only way to fly on a long overseas flight."The first class cabin on this 777 was not full so they switched seats and sat in the middle seats next to each other so they could work. They arrived in Shanghai a little early around 2:00 pm on Thursday (2:00am est Wed.) Darren said that it took about 2 hrs to get from the airport to their hotel. He took some pictures from his room and the elevator.

His room and view from the window.

He has sliding screens that divide his sleeping area from his bathroom.

I got the tour via webcam this morning. That window is huge!

They are staying at the:

Hyatt on the Bund

199 Huangpu Road

Shanghai 200080 CHINA

Hotel Phone Number: 86 21 63931234.

The Bund River and Shanghai skyline.

Day & Evening

Darren worked out in the awesome facility at the hotel. He said, "There is a Olympic size pool with starting blocks and everything" He ate dinner at the buffet downstairs and called me:) He then went to bed. 8:30am our time this morning 8:30pm Thur night China.

We are able to stay in contact using IM and e-mail so that we don't have to have lengthy conversations on the phone! Computers are good for something:)

All photos taken with an iPhone

YM/YW Pool Party

Trip to the Columbia LDS Cannery!

Today was my second trip to the Cannery in Columbia this summer. It takes about 2 hours to get there. I went with some friends and we ate lunch afterward at Chili's. I am adding a link to the Provident Living page on LDS.Org where you will find the order form with all of the products that are available at the cannery's. The Columbia cannery is small and they don't always have everything. The Cannery is a non profit service offered to Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and their friends. There is more info on the Provident Living page.

Patty:)

Emily, Brother Trapp & Patty:)

Thanks girls for a productive and wonderful morning. Thanks Brother & Sister Trapp for all the help you give at the cannery!

These were sooo good. If you are planning a lunch at Chili's I recommend them to you!

SOUTHWESTERN EGGROLLS
Smoked chicken, black beans, corn, jalapeño Jack cheese, red peppers and spinach wrapped inside a crispy flour tortilla. We serve it with our avocado-ranch dipping sauce.

Happy Birthday July Babies!

Marilyn Mc Guire

Patty Daniel

Heather Flowers

Boston Taylor

Marianne Garner

Sherri Branham

Sarah Thurson

Kris Lewis

Larry Bagley

Elliott Bagley

Savannah Pennington

Melanie Mc Donald

Kaytee Church

Rose Ellis

Thomas's Eagle Scout Project!

The boys and the Paint sprayer!

YW Beach night!

We stopped at Jack's Cosmic Dog in Mt. Pleasent on the way for a quik bit to eat.

Cosmic Dog: Blue cheese slaw, our own sweet potato mustard

Orbit City Dog: Chile, cheese, onion, spicy mustard

Galactic Dog: Chile, cheese, slaw, spicy mustard

Morph Slaw Dog: Cole slaw, spicy mustard

Omega Dog: Cheddar cheese, spicy mustard

Atomic Dog: Chile, onion, spicy mustardKypt
Astro Dog: Zippy onion relish, spicy mustardo Krout: Sauerkraut, spicy mustard

Johnny Dog: Onions, pickle, spicy mustard

Sky Dog: Blue cheese slaw, pickle, yellow mustard

Planet Dog: Jamaican relish, yellow mustard

Earth Dog: Order it plain or w/ yellow mustard+/- ketchup

Rocket Corn Dog: Deep fried on a stick

Vegeriod: Morning Star tofu dog, yellow mustard, ketchup,onion

Neutron Dog: Jack's mango peppa ketchup & jalapeño slaw

Alternatives include: Biff Buffalo Chicken, Bunny in a bun,

Mercury Meat Loaf, Rover Pork RollVegetarian: Black Beancakes ,Veggie Maxx & Tofu Dogs

Awesome Fresh Cut Fries - Cooked in Peanut Oil

Soft Serve Ice Cream Custard - Vanilla, Chocolate, Swirl

A selection of Shakes, Malts and Sundaes

Drinks: Fountain, Vintage Long Necks & Draft Root Beer

Happy Independence Day

Independence Day
Function: noun
Date: 1791
: a civil holiday for the celebration of the anniversary of the beginnings of national independence; specifically : July 4 observed as a legal holiday in the United States in commemoration of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The Fireworks and safety equipment are ready.

Tanks and firecrackers first.

The noise

The sparks

The mess

Pictures from the Trip to Cali for the Funeral