FFA Conference Indianapolis, Indiana 2010

Vania recently went to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend the 83rd National FFA Convention.  She went with her group from Gilroy High.  She is Presently the President of the Gilroy High School chapter.  Her main purpose of attending was to accept an award for her Brother, Jared who is presently serving a mission in France.  Jared was receiving his American FFA Degree for "Outstanding Achievement in Agriculture Leadership and Career Preparation".  This is the highest honor that you can achieve in FFA in the United States.  Vania accepted the award for Jared and spent 4 days in Indianapolis attending leadership workshops.  There were 54,000 FFA members in attendance. Vania met members from all 50 states including Puerto Rico.  She has a book with signatures from members from all 50 states.  She said the people that were the most fun were from Alabama. She made several friends that she plans keeping in contact with. She also went to the Indianapolis Zoo and around the exciting city of "Indianapolis?"

At the Airport

At the convention with the Gilroy High Officers

Convention Center Indianapolis, Indiana

Full Convention Center

(Vania lower center).  She got to sit on the floor because she was accepting the award for Jared.

Vania accepting the award.

African Millipede

Signatures from all 50 states

FFA Chapters throughout the United States (Marked by the pins)
 

Aaahhhhhh the rewards for a busy 4 days

Jared's Heard

Packing Heat

We Rutmans are known for "Packing Heat".  Notice the intimidating way of dressing, The body language, The choice of weapons. All is very individualistic and very personal to the bearer of arms.  Danger is our way of life and we are always prepared.

Nick Rutman prefers the automatic pistol in the diaper look.  It is a front draw mode. Fast yes, but too exposed for the assailant.  You have to be a gutsy guy to pack this way.  Not to mention collateral damage to self encase of miss fire.

Seth Rutman is a blade man.  He prefers to be more stealthy with drawing his weapon from his underpants.  This will catch your assailant off guard, but can be a hazard if not cautious with the draw.  Yes Seth, this can be eye candy for the chicks, but one crack is enough.  The chicks dig a guy with an impressive walk away.

Seth Rutman, "Man of Action"

Seth was watching, "The Jungle Book 2" on my computer and felt he needed a little extra protection.  He decided to change from Dracula to Mowgli from the Jungle Book while watching it.  (See further below for an explanation on the Dracula reference) Every time Shere Khan the tiger came into the picture, Seth was ready for him.  Seth is, "The Man of Action"  The only problem was that Seth didn't understand that trying to stab Shere Kahn on the computer screen would do nothing to Shere Kahn, but would do some damage to the screen.  After my request to abstain from striking the screen, Seth was satisfied with a more passive "waving of the sword" to scare Shere Kahn.  Notice Seth has now assumed the costume attire of Mowgli.

At the ready

Shere Kahn Approaches

The battle commences

Seth Rutman's Halloween Visit

Uncle Jared 1993

Seth 2010

Seth 2010

Aaron Rutman 1986

Aaron 1987 (Dracula)


All these costumes were created and 
hand made by Grandma Rutman for her
own kids many years ago.  As you can tell
Jeannine does not throw away anything.
Seth recently came up for a visit during
Halloween.  He found a box with all these 
old costumes and felt it his duty to try on 
them "ALL" As you can see these were 
used in Halloweens long past. Seth made this
a Halloween fashion show.  He spent most 
of the day in the Dracula costume because 
he is a Rutman and Rutmans wear capes.
Seth wanted to wear the appropriate makeup,
but due to time constraints and availability 
we were unable to accommodate his request.  
Seth wanted to have dark eyebrows after 
seeing the photo of Uncle Nick as Dracula as 
seen below. Circa 1990

Seth 2010 (Same Dracula Costume)

Happy Ghosts

Well it is that time of year.  The time when mom goes all out for Halloween.  For some of you who are not familiar with, "Happy Ghosts" these have been around for about 20 years.  You can see them in the background if you go back to the "Cape" post.  Mom loves her Halloween.  You might think it was Christmas if it weren't for the color.  You might think she does it for the kids.  I think she just loves Halloween.  Good thing she doesn't live in Salem, Massachusetts during 1662.  She would have been surly burnt at the stake.  Since we no longer have kids around that enjoy Halloween, we did this in memory of them and good holiday's past.

Yes! they're back from a long absent.  Mom made these about 20 years ago.  While the kids were growing up, these were our "Scary Decorations" for Halloween.  She was made fun of by the kids for making, "Happy Ghosts".  These were made from the bed sheets of Tyler and Aaron's bed.  It has been a while due to protest of Happy Ghost.  We put them up again this year to remember all the fun Halloweens from years past. 

After so many years they are still happy and fairly white. 

 

The Nightmare Before Christmas.  What would Halloween be without mom's collection of Halloween Nutcrackers?

Yes, Mom does get into it. I think mom is the eternal kid.  

                                               Happy Halloween 2010

The Rutman Family Rock at high tide.

Rich & Jeannine's 31st

Well, we cleared 31 years and are still in love.  We went to Carmel and had lunch at Porta Bella's and window shopped.   We had our traditional walk down by the ocean to "Our Rock".  It was high tide so we couldn't make it all the way.  The Lunch was fantastic and the conversation heart warming.  We reminisced about the past 31 years.  We named the best things we remember for each phase of our life.   It seems there was always a kid in the picture for the best memories of life.  In 31 years of marriage we have only had one year without a kid.  That was 30 years ago.  We had fun going over our first year of marriage.  Our life in Provo was simple, poor and some of the best times in our lives.  Next year will begin our being a couple again.  You know we were suppose to go to Paris on our 15th wedding anniversary.  As you can remember that never happened.  If it wasn't for Aaron going to France on his mission we still would never have gone.  We have plans.

We went cheap this year because of an up coming trip to Brazil and then Europe in April of 2011.  Below is an idea of how our day went today.

Porta Bella's Italian Restaurant

Here comes the bread

From our table to the sweet shop

The Bruschetta Pomadoro.  This was the best we have had.  There was more, but I took the picture too late.  French Bread baked with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, Parmesan, Kalamata olives and goat cheese.  

Again I took the picture too late, but I had a Tuscan style Fillet Mignon and Jeannine had the Grilled Salmon.  This was a superb lunch.  If you don't mind spending a lot for lunch, this is the place to go. 

I had the Creme Brulee

Jeannine had the Apple Tart

This was a fantastic finish to a perfect lunch.  We sat for about an hour and a half just talking about family and our future plans.  It was a good time together.

Oh yeah,  We took the Jag and went in style.  If I was a more sociable guy having the jag in Carmel is the thing to have.  When I parked here, some people wanted to talk to me about the car.  When I parked at the beach a couple were just staring like it was a flying saucer.  When I parked up by the park so Jeannine and I could read, some guy started taking pictures of the car.  I really should work on my social skills.  It's a conversation starter.  I'm just not a conversation type guy.   OK on to the beach

Everyone in our family will recognize this view.  On the top of Carmel Beach looking over to Pebble Beach Golf Course.  It was about 80 degrees, but the water was cold.  Sorry Aaron, this beats San Diego even with the cold water. 

The surf was very large today.  You can't really tell by this, but I missed the real big waves.  Hard taking good pics with a phone camera.  All these pics were taken with my Droid. 

Looking back towards Carmel Beach

Pebble Beach Golf Course

Pebble Beach Golf Course From, "The Rutman Family Rock".  Mom and I finished our day at the park in Carmel reading on a bench.  Well it's not Europe, but it was a good day.

P Day in Bruges, Belgium

Jared's Mishap in Charleroi, Belgium

Recently Jared went back to Charleroi, Belgium to do splits with the missionaries in that ville.  On his way home his car blew a tire.  Unfortunately his spare had no air in it.  Luckily he knew people in Charleroi that helped him with road side service.  Notice that in two of the pictures Patrick Natus came to the rescue.  Patrick stayed at our house this past summer, so he is a friend of the family.  Notice the license plate of Jared's zone car.

Jared and Patrick