Pictures from Florida

I know I have been bad about blogging. Partially b/c I use facebook all the time. But I will continue to post pictures here as well, especially for Granny K. (I love you, Sugar!)

This is Jason and Lauren posing with an ATV.

Much to my dismay, we rented jet skis for a half hour. Needless to say, I was freaked out most of the time. (Especially when I saw Jason's flip!) Lauren was nice enough to go "wussy" speed for me the whole time.

This is a captured sea turtle. Basically, they have a nuclear power plant down there and they suck in water from the ocean to make it run. However, sometimes turtles and other marine life get sucked in too! So they capture the turtles take them back to the ocean. This one weighed over 200lbs!!!

This is another captured sea turtle returning to sea. However, this is a juvenile. Since he was so small and cute, I decided to name him 'George'. (You can't tell the sex of a turtle until it reaches adulthood, but I decided to guess!) Anyway, it appeared that this was not a very bright turtle. Since they tag and microchip them when they are captured, they could tell that he had been there before. Oops! I have a feeling that he will be back...at least they have a real name for him!!

A series of unfortunate events occurred in Florida. While we were there, Jason's grandfather (the rocket scientist) went into the hospital with a racing heart. The good news is that it was just the MSG's in the pizza he ate and nothing serious. A byproduct of this was that Jason's uncle Mark, came down from South Carolina to help out. I had never met him, except at our wedding, so it was fun to get to know him. He is a funny guy and very sarcastic!!

Badger VS Ella

Here is the story of Ella, Greg and Christy's cat. Actually, to save time, let's just say that Jason isn't a big fan. He tries to chase her and calls her "phantom face." However, he has recently decided she looks like a badger. So this is a comparison. Hmmmmm.

Uncle Meeshach, Aunt Ella and Cousin Ketch

Jason and I went to Michigan this week to spend time with his dad on Father's Day. (I really didn't want to sit around here, it would have been depressing!) We were up there for five days and had a good time. However, I REALLY missed Jewel. (I even dyed my hair to remind me of her!) Anyway, I thought I would take pictures of the cat relatives for the "kids." So, here they are! Meeshach is the tabby (who is my favorite out of the three), Ella is the fat, badger looking cat, and Ketch is the one that looks like she laid in a puddle of bleach.

Meeshach

Ketch

Ella, not looking very lady like

Ella and Meeshach getting ready for dinner.

Updated pictures of the "kids"

Although my "kids" are full grown, their relationship with each other continues to grow all the time. Jewel used to hate Shadrack. She still gets mad at him from time to time (and runs to Momma for rescue), but deep down she loves her Shadrack. Just last week I took these photos. Need I say more? (And for all the "non-cat" people, grooming is a sign of affection.)

Zoo Trip 2008

Several times a year, Jennifer brings up Becka and Neleh and we have a day at the zoo. The nice part is that "Uncle Jason" was able to join us. Enjoy!

Neleh is getting so big!

Here is our inspiration for not mowing our grass for two weeks! (And the fact that our mower was in the shop!)

Mints Video 4

Mints Video part 3

Mints video part 2

Mints videos part 1

The mint taste testing

For all you who are not family, this will not be funny. You will probably think this is the stupidest thing you have ever witnessed. However, my family will roll over laughing to their grave!

Background: All my life, my Granny K has had out little mints in a pretty glass candy dish. They are very tasty and she always has plenty in the living room. Years ago, maybe when I was 10, my family got into an argument over which mint tasted the best. Some insisted green, white....etc. I could care less since I think they all taste the same. BUT, us Kemps are stubborn scientists so we had to settle it scientifically with a "blind taste test." Of course, at the time, Poppy insisted they all tasted the same no matter which one he got.

Fast forward 15 years later. We now how "new" men in the family (Jason, Bill, Corey and Brian) to give us their opinion. It was a whole elaborate thing this Christmas. But, since I didn't care, I decided to get as many video clips as possible. Six months later, now that I have time, I am posting them on the web. It is also so my cousin, Katie, in California, can see these videos.

The next several posts will be just videos. I have had a hard time just trying to post them.

In honor of my Pond Pal

My older sister, Jennifer, wanted me to take this little quiz. Since she posted hers on her blog, I will do the same! I would like to use my "pride" and say I have come a long way from 5 years ago! (My wrath would have been high!)

Greed:	Medium
Gluttony:	Low
Wrath:	Very Low
Sloth:	Medium
Envy:	Very Low
Lust:	Very Low
Pride:	Medium

Take the Seven Deadly Sins Quiz

NEW color!

I recently realized that I have had my blog for a year. The funny part is that I can't STAND the ugly lime green header. But during the school year I really don't have time to mess with it. Now that school is out and my silly test is over, I can concentrate on more important things.....like my blog! So, I decided to change the template to the blue. No, it is not UK blue!!!!! (Try Michigan blue or anything besides UK blue!) I will put up new pictures of my felines soon.

My darling "children"

So, I have recently been receiving flack about calling Jewel and Shadrack my children. My older sister says she gets confused b/w my cats and students when I say "my kids." My cats are my kids. period. Enough of that! Here are new pictures!

Jewel curled up on my coat.

Jewel decided to pose for the camera! What a cat!

Brother and sister....notice how Shadrack's leg is wrapped around her head!

Shadrack giving his sister a "bath".

One last normal pose. For any that have cats, you know you DO NOT pose cats. They pose themselves and you just have to be lucky enough to catch it on film. (or digital media since it is the 21st century.) They did a very nice job for their Momma.

My cousin's wedding

My 2nd cousin, Chuck Kemp, finally got married this weekend. It was a beautiful wedding in a pioneer log cabin and a nice reception outside. Anyway, I've known Chuck for 15 years and he has been to Jennifer and my weddings. Ok, enough about "up-chuck," here are the pictures. To be honest, it is basically my family since none of my readers know Chuck.
Here the bride (Stephanie) and the groom (Chuck) with the Geek's on parade.
Granny K and Poppy
Sandy, Chuck's cousin (who is our second cousin once removed) and Jennifer
Jason and I on a free carriage ride...the lady didn't know how to include both faces at the same time!
The Cinds and Sands picture!

More Salt Lake City Pictures

These pictures were taken at the Olympic park outside of Salt Lake City.

So I thought if I uploaded smaller pictures, it wouldn't take as long. I was wrong! Next time I will be going back to my regular size pictures.

Salt Lake City

As a dork, sometimes math teachers get the shaft. However, this is not the case. I was forunate to come to Salt Lake City, Utah for a national math teacher conference. As dorky as it may sound, it is quite interesting. Besides getting a lot of free pens, text books and tote bags, I was also able to hear several different speakers. I have to admit, I wasn't thrilled about going somewhere cold for Spring Break either. BUT, the city is beautiful. I do have more respect for the Mormon faith........but naturally still disagree. I was able to visit Temple Square and hear the Mormon Tabernacle choir as well as an organ recital. Everything is free....except you have to hear about the Mormon faith over and over and over. I don't think it is legal for me to post the video I took, but I will post my pictures. We also went to Park City, which I have re-named "Really stinkin' rich people City" It is VERY pretty. Enjoy the pictures.

The Snow FINALLY stopped

After 10 inches, God has decided that we have enough snow. So what did I do, I PLAYED!! It was so much fun. I jumped around a bunch, made a snow-cat, and scraped the snow off my car so the sun could finish the job. Overall, I felt like a kid again. I even considered shoving snow onto the sidewalk, the decided not to. :-) So, here are more pictures!