Visit to Grandma and Papa's- Spring Break 2009

Grandma Sandy is always planning ways to surprise us all. We decided it was time for her to get a taste of her own medicine. So, spring break came and we headed off to Colorado, without her knowledge. We, of course, let Glenn in on our little plan. To his credit, and our surprise, he didn't let it slip a bit! We didn't even tell our kids until we were driving out of the driveway. Once we arrived, Sandy and Glenn we downstairs watching the NCAA tournament when we came up behind her. Harrison put his hands on her shoulders and said, "Grandma" . Her reaction was priceless. She couldn't stop shaking and for the first time in a long time--she was speachless. LOL It was great! We love you Grandma Sandy!

China...We miss you already.

Here are a few pics from our recent (March 08) trip to China. As my good wife (Shirlene that is) can attest, I have wanted to travel to China for the last 10 years. In the mean time we have been to Europe and South America, but I told her a couple years back that before we went anywhere else I wanted to go to China. Well, fortune smiled on us and Shirlene's parents took a teaching position in China for one year. That was all I needed and with a little prodding to get Shane and TeAnn (Shirlene's brother and his wife) to go along we booked the tickets and spent 10 days in the Middle Kingdom.

It was everything we hoped it would be and then some. We spent the first week in Jinan, a city of 3+ million and the home of the university where Shirlene's parents are teaching. It was exactly what I wanted. Namely, not on the tourist beat and a legitimate slice of China. We hit the weather and pollution just right and had clear skies and decent temperatures the entire time we were there. Each day was amazing. On the first day we visited three elementary schools and I would have to say it was probably the travel highlight of my life. The students were ecstatic to meet Westerners and we were treated like celebrities at each stop. The first school was home to 2800 students and I think we probably high fived, said hello or played rock, paper, scissor with two thirds of them. It was really great and the kind of experience that involves your cheeks hurting from smiling and laughing so much. That really set the tone for the rest of our time in Jinan.

We spent the final four days in Beijing. Beijing was great too, but definitely had its touristy aspects and it was hard to get away from the crowds. That being said, we had great experience there too, such as spending a morning in Jinsheng Park with thousands of elderly people singing old revolutionary songs, attending church (see picture of non-descript high rise below), and visiting the Great Wall. Of course, I had the best spot for eating Beijing Duck well mapped out and that was quite and experience too.

All in all it was a fantastic experience and I can't wait to go back. China is the country that will dominate world headlines for the next 20-30 years and if you are not familiar with it now, you had better be soon.

This is a little pic I put together for the staff members that "Beaverified" my office on the day before the Civil War game. They put that flag up over the office window and now it is in "enemy" hands.

Old Places and Old Friends

Ricks Days - One is a pic from good ole Greenbrier apartments in Rexburg, Idaho. Home to Dan, Steve, Shirlene, Caleb, John Harwood, me and probably some others. Its also where I met Shirlene and fell in love. In the other pic you get Steve Hogan and me enjoying some great Mexican food at Rigobertos, the best dang tacos in America, or Redmond at least.

I'm dreaming of a white Madras...

Who said it never snows in Madras. Top two pics are getting christmas tree last year and the other is a nice snow sitting on our house in December.

In The Mountains

Here are some pics from a couple summers ago. On the left, this is about 12,000 feet with my dad up in the Flat Fops Wilderness where he works as the District Ranger. On the right, Ally, Harry, Camille and myself hiked up in the Jefferson Wilderness. With the exception of Allison cutting her leg, two wasp bites to Harrison and Camille and a guy drowning in the lake next to us it went great :)

Glutony Illustrated

Okay - Here are a couple more pictures of good food I have made recently to stoke your appetite. We Adams love good food and love making good food. Check back more for posts on what tastes great.

Picture 1: Greek Lamb and Potatoes (actually looked better than it tasted, nasty New Zealand Lamb!).

Picture 2: Hot Pastrami Sandwich. We fell in love with these in NY a couple summers ago and now love to make them if we can get out hands on good fatty pastrami. I even ordered some overnight from a deli in NY one time.

Picture 3: My attempt at Grandma Sandy's famous valentine cookies. They were great and were about a foot across. Hard to pick up, but fun to eat!