NFU (Nature Friends United)

Ellie is with her friends Shaylan & Michael, at the end-of-school celebration their class put on for the parents. Together with Faryal (who's not in the picture) they created their own club, called Nature Friends United. The want everyone to take care of our earth and to recycle. Ellie has been really good about reminding us to use the recycling bins we put in our kitchen, and loves to help take them to the recycling center each weekend.

Spoiled

These are the two hotels I've stayed at on my trips to New York. If I was visiting on my own, I probably couldn't afford to buy a pack of gum in the lobbies of these places. The beds at the St. Regis are the only hotel beds I've ever liked better than my own bed at home - it was like sleeping in a cloud. I'm so glad my job gives me the chance to visit NY and stay at these places.

Ground Zero

I took another trip to New York for a business conference. On the second day, my friend Laura and I braved the subway to visit the memorial at Ground Zero. It was very sobering, and interesting to see all the construction and rebuilding that's being done there.

Canoe Trip

Ben got a bunch of fancy new equipment for his Boy Scout canoe trip. Unfortunately, in our excitement of packing all the new stuff, we neglected to pack him a bathing suit or swim shoes, but he didn't care - shorts and tennis shoes worked fine. He cooked his own dinner of chicken noodle soup and set up his personal tent. He also claimed that the glasses he's wearing in this photo were broken when he borrowed them from his dad. I think the photo shows otherwise, but it was worth a try, right Ben?

Grasshopper

Ben did an excellent job on his belt test to move from Green Belt to Green Stripe. Don't mess with him or he'll mess you up.