Warning:  More vacation highlights!


After Lyla's blessing and Hannah's graduation we headed north into New York.


We spent a fun day at Niagara Falls.  Bryan and I have discovered the world of tours - pay someone else to purchase tickets for all activities, plan the route, drive and not get lost or waste time trying to figure out what do to next.  It was great and the falls are beautiful.

We spent the morning touring the

American side of the falls.

A walk down this amazing deck to the Cave of the Winds 

(spoiler alert - there is actually no cave

I think it was eroding and destroyed for safety reasons)

We received these nifty souvenir ponchos and 

very stylish sandals for our wet adventure ending

on Hurricane Deck.  This is the closest you can

get to Bridal Veil Falls.

Another must do when visiting Niagara - The Maid of the Mist tour at the base of the falls.

A view of the Canadian Falls or Horseshoe Falls

A view of the American Falls - including Bridal Veil Falls on the far right.

In the afternoon/evening we took a tour on the Canadian side of the Falls.  When the sun went down we were able to take an elevator to the observation deck of Skylon Tower on the Canadian side to see the falls lit up.

The Canadian Falls

American Falls with Buffalo, NY in the background.

What did you do on 

your summer vacation?

Thought you'd never ask.

First stop:

St. Louis, Missouri 

and the Gateway Arch

We were so glad we stopped and spent a couple of hours here at the arch.  Below the plaza under the arch is a large visitor's center with museums, a gift shop and theaters - we watched a movie about the building of the arch and were totally amazed at the process of the construction.   


There's Bryan standing at the corner of the arch.

Here's the doorway to the car we rode to the top of the arch.  Good thing neither of us has claustrophobia because the 5 people inside sit knee to knee.
Because the arch curves, the cars on the tram ride like a ferris wheel car. Here is look inside one of the cars.  (Not our actual family, these are actors in a dramatization of our group who traveled together to the top)

Here we are at the top of the arch. See the small windows behind us.

Looking east towards the city

 Looking down to the park and the arch's shadow

Looking west across the Missouri River

This is what Bryan and I did Tuesday night:

After 11 miles we found this sweet spot in Layton - YUMMY!

After filling our stomachs with wonderful

slow roasted, shredded, peach barbecue chicken

and wonderful english chips,

 we headed north back to Roy 

11 more miles back to the car in a

head wind made for slow going.

But we got a workout!

What a wonderful honor it was for me and Bryan to travel to Columbus, Ohio for the graduation of these two great kids!!

We stand in awe at their accomplishments and the support they gave to each other as they achieved their goals.

The Ohio State University

College of Dentistry

Graduation, June 3, 2012

HANNAH BEUS, DDS 

Hannah carried 9 week old Lyla Louise across the stage with her!  

Yep - that was a hit with the audience.

The very proud husband, 

and Hannah never even asked him to call her "Doctor" for the
three days Daniel had to wait for his honors!!

The proud parents, in-laws and daughter!

Oh, sweet Hannah, we are so proud

of you.  You are truly amazing!!


And did we mention that Hannah graduated
Cum Laude
and received three individual awards 
and served as the 2012 Dental Class president
for the first three years of school.
(Lyla trumped the fourth year!)

Lyla wore her true colors - 

including her Buckeye bow!

The Ohio State University

College of Medicine

Graduation, June 7, 2012

Daniel Bryan Van Bibber, MD

Lined up for the processional. 

Hannah's father was able to place the 

doctoral hood on Daniel.  

We were so happy to have Daniel

receive this honor from someone so close to him.

The very proud wife and daughter! 


Son - we are so proud of you, we watched you
sacrifice and discipline yourself over 
many long years to achieve this goal!
You are amazing!

At home after Daniel's graduation, 

the three doctors show their colors!

FYI:

The Academic Regalia (hood, tam and gown) 

inter-collegiate colors represent the

specific degree or discipline.

Doctor of Dental Surgery is lilac

Doctor of Medicine is kelly green.

The satin field and chevron (the hood lining colors)

represent the individual university or college 

school colors .

Hannah's father wears the colors of the

University of Utah - crimson and white

Hannah and Daniel wear the colors of

Ohio State University - scarlet and grey.

Next adventure:  Off to Akron, Ohio for Daniel's Emergency Medicine residency.

Hannah will begin practicing dentistry there in the Akron/Cincinnati area.