Nine Months Later!

August 2008

Myles Mercier still picks us up each morning for school. He has a new car, he's off to the University of Maine in the fall, and he's a lot bigger, but his smile and good humor are still the same. Thanks for the rides, Buddy!

Happy Graduation, Myles!!!

May 2009

Dear Luiz & Yago: Two reasons to take in Exchange Students: Grass & Snow! :-) Rich

Yago, my brother, the raking is all yours!

(click photos to enlarge)

Luiz, my brother, I'm turning over the lawn mowing to you!

Seventeen members of Connie's family gathered  for a Mother's Day meal. Peter served as the hash brown potato chef. 

Aunt Connie's parents, Pips and Mims. 

We're back together again!

Saying good-bye to Newport Beach & the Kent's

On Sunday we packed up the fancy car and took one more trip around Newport Beach. Then, we sat around the airport for a few hours before jumping on the red eye back to reality. 

Now, the furnace is on warming up our old house that sat vacant for 11 days. We have great memories of a fun trip. 

Our thanks to the Kent's. Their generous hospitality and easy-going way makes visiting a pure joy. Thank you Anne, Rob, Victoria, and Tyler... and Hi to Ryan. 

The Kent's Home in Newport Beach, California

Rob, Tyler, Alex, and Rich in Muldoon's Irish Pub in Newport Beach. 

Like father like son. 

Rich & Jason in Laguna Beach.  

Alex and Rich's former student, now friend, Jason Carrier, in Laguna Beach.

Saturday in Newport Beach

Rich's brother Rob giving Alex a lesson in how to wash a car.  For an extra $100 Rich rented a Mercedes C Class for the 10 day road trip. 

Eight-hour drive through the desert

After two days in Sedona, Arizona, we headed back west to Anne and Rob Kent's home in Newport Beach, California. We hit temperatures ranging from 95 degrees F to 110 degrees F (35 C to 43 C). We decided to test the walking at 100 degrees--those walks didn't last long. 

Hiking Sedona, Arizona (western USA)

On an incredibly sunny, warm spring day we hiked trails around Sedona, Arizona. The temperatures hit 95 degrees F, however the heat was dry.  

This picture is taken from Sedona, Arizona's Red Rock High School.

Muscle boy.

Alex studying in Sedona, Arizona. 

Rich on trail

Cactus

Desert Flower

Evening in Sedona, Arizona

Singing poolside in Sedona. 

Evening in Sedona, Arizona

Geek boy. 

The Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon, Arizona, after a four-hour drive from Las Vegas. 

Six-pack boy at the Grand Canyon.

Paris in Las Vegas.

Water show.

Las Vegas city lights. 

Alex in front of the Baligio Resort and Casino.

The Hoover Dam

We drove from Las Vegas to the Hoover Dam. Just beyond the dam they are building an expansion bridge over the Colorado River. AMAZING! We didn't even take pictures of the dam. The bridge construction is impressive. 

Alex on the Las Vegas strip. 

Dinner in Newport Beach.

Lunch in Hollywood.

Lunch at Newport Harbor.  

Rich, Anne & Rob Kent, Katie, and Victoria Kent