Cousin Party

A week and a half ago we went to a party for Melinda's cousins.  Extended family can be a source of great strength.  This is less than half of them.  Their grandpa would be so proud to see them all together.

Cousins.

Cousins, spouses and second cousins.  

Strolling Cousins

Last Saturday afternoon we went to my niece Elizabeth's baptismal service.  She was so pretty in white.  It was really nice to visit with family.  After the service we drove to Buhl Idaho and stayed overnight with my brother James and his family.

Sunday morning they blessed their new baby, Maddison.  She is such a beautiful baby.  Sunday afternoon we had lunch with Brooke and James and Brooke's family in Hagerman.  It was a really nice afternoon and it was so nice to spend it with family.  I didn't do too well taking pictures, but Nigel was really cute playing with his cousin Jaydaka and I did get a short video clip.  Here they are strolling around the driveway.

Back to the Butte

For many years we maintained a family membership to Red Butte Garden.  We haven't had one for the last two or three years, but Monday night we joined up again.

We read that the Salt Lake Scots Pipe Band were playing for family night, so we thought we'd check it out.

They were great!  We enjoyed the stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.  They talked about the history of bagpipes and tartans and they took audience questions.  They were very personable.

Melinda saw one of her home school friends there.  Their family makes kettle corn for events.  It was excellent, salty, sweet and very tasty!

Saffy and Nigel had fun marching in the fountain to the sound of bagpipes.

The kids loved playing on these lizards when they were small.  It's funny how things don't seem as big as they once did as you grow up.

We had forgotten how much we loved to walk the paths and enjoy the foliage and flowers.  Nigel discovered the children's garden and was in heaven running around among the plants. Saffy and Nigel had fun hiding under this tree.

We enjoyed seeing how much the garden has grown since we started going many years ago.  The trees are more mature, there is more plant diversity, and they have developed new areas.  We will definitely be going back again soon.  

Here is the schedule for their family nights in July:

MONDAY, JULY 9 - Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art)

MONDAY, JULY 16 - Bien Flamenco

MONDAY, JULY 23 - Kenshin Taiko

Sunday at Grandma’s

Mom, Dad, Ruth and the twins are visiting from Alaska so we go together to have a family get-together.  We had fresh red salmon and grilled halibut with mango salsa.  The halibut with salsa was crazy delicious!

We ate under the awning and on the back porch.

  

Leonard and Kit came to visit (pictured with Brent) and I snuck a picture of my Grandma when she wasn’t looking.  Melanie and Heidi (not pictured) were able to come, too.

Saffron and Makenna had fun on the trampoline, and the boys enjoyed the swing set.

Hope and Elizabeth. 

 

It was pretty hot, but it cooled off quite nicely later in the day and we had fun hanging out on the trampoline.  I even got Zak to smile!

 

Here’s Ben.  Saffy tries valiantly to push Ben and his car through the grass.  We all had a fun time.  All of my parent’s grandkids were there together; fifteen cute kids!

This is the Place

A few weeks ago I took the day off and we all went to This is the Place Monument.  Here is one of Brigham Young’s homes and a view of the grass field, apple orchard and the Wasatch mountains.

We enjoyed the printing press demonstration.

   

Ian was talking in the class room and had to be reprimanded.  Nose to the wall and holding books behind him.  At least he didn’t have to wear the dunce cap like the other boy in class.

Miles learned how to card wool in preparation for it to be spun into thread

  

Ian scrubbed clothes on a washboard and then hung them out to dry.  The weather wasn’t too hot, but we were all ready for a break.

We were hungry so we headed to the Chilean Deli.  We had baked empanadas, fried cheese empanadas, a lomo palta sandwich (pork and avocado) and alfajores (pastries with dulce de leche).  ¡Qué rico!  Very delicious!

 

Celebrate good times

Melinda and Saffy came home today!  Yeeaah!!  They had a good time in California, enjoying the beach and the pool and the sunny weather and spending time with family.  Saffron had so much fun playing with her cousins, but she was very glad to be back home and see her Daddy and siblings again.

Many thanks go to Sunny, Dejah, and Marsha for babysitting the kids, to Arden for keeping us on track (and sane) during the remodel, and Kevin, Scott, and Lorraine for driving safely on those dangerous California freeways.

As well as celebrating their safe return, we also celebrated Independence day with family a few days ago.  Here are some pictures of us with family at South Salt Lake’s firework show, which is held and Granite High School (which is now closed for good.)

 

Melinda enjoying an orange popsicle in the crowd.  Karen and Miles hanging out on the grass.

Lisette always love fireworks.  Here’s a big group enjoying hanging out.  Connie found us a great spot, as usual.

 

Here’s Joy!  A little oldies band named “Crash Pontiac” played for us.

 

Ooohhhh!

Aaaaahhhh!

Disneyland morning – day four

For our last day of Disneyland we entered in under the train station, strolled through Main Street USA, and then passed the castle into Fantasyland.

Miles, Lisette, Ian and I love riding the Matterhorn in the morning.

   

We made sure to ride Dumbo and the Carousel again for Saffron.  

 

 

Ian tries valiantly to pull the sword of the stone.

Beautiful weather, lovely blue sky, light crowds, happy kids; it was a perfect morning at Disneyland.