Texas with Max (and parents)

I just finished watching the Christmas Devotional.  It is nice to open the Christmas season with thoughts of the Savior.  I am really enjoying this Christmas season so far, especially because Roy is doing most of the Christmas shopping for us. 

Roy and I also got to enjoy a lovely concert by the Davis Youth Symphony this past Tuesday night.  Caitlyn did a great job.  Roy commented, “Wow, they rival the Utah Symphony.”

Isn't Caitlyn darling!  She's becoming quite the violinist

We are in Texas getting to know our grandson Max a little bit better.  We got here Thursday afternoon and have been having fun eating at some Texas restaurants, taking Max on a train and going to the zoo lights. 

 The zoo lights were pretty fantastic.  I think every tree was covered.  They had an old fashioned car all covered in lights and the lights coincided to the Christmas songs.

One thing we’ve found out about Max is that he’s a little like Yuna except more so-- “Don’t stop till you drop” is his motto.   I decided I wasn’t getting enough exercise—we’ve been sitting around too much, so I thought, “if I just do what Max does for a few minutes, I’ll burn plenty of calories.”  We were at a Barbeque food truck waiting for our food, so I started following Max.  He not only runs, he jumps every other step.  I got dizzy running in circles (literally)  behind him.  I gave up after a few minutes.  He is a very busy boy. 

Luckily, he likes his toys—especially his cars and his play dough. 

We have taken a couple of walks to the park.  I was assigned to follow Max so he wouldn’t fall backward while climbing.  He found a spot on the playground equipment that he thought would be fun to jump off.  It was at least 4 feet off the ground.  He didn’t want me to catch him, so I had to be quick. I caught him three or four times, however, I started watching a lady doing Tai Chi and he got a chance to jump while I wasn’t watching.  I think it hurt him, but after fussing and limping for a couple of seconds, he was up and running again. 

Turtles sunning on bank of the culvert.  Part of the walk we've been taking daily

Sara sent me a cute picture of Ori and Ruby.  They were together on Friday night for the big Malouf Sale.

We get to stay here with Elise another day and a half, then we'll be heading back to a very busy week.  Book Club at our house (with spouses) on Wednesday night, and Roy's work party, at our house, on Thursday night.  Friday night both Caitlyn and I are in the Ice Skating show at the rink.  I get to be one of the two grandmas doing a solo. You can count on a picture—of Caitlyn!

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the season.  

Thanksgiving 2015

This Thanksgiving week was all about spending time with some of those who I am most thankful for.  Roy went down to Utah County on Tuesday night and visited with Denise Rasband and all her kids.  They were all in town for the holiday.  I had a previous book club commitment, so I didn't go with him.  After dad visited with Denise, he went and saw his mom in rehab, and then helped his dad hang Christmas lights.  Wednesday the holiday weekend began.  Jieun, Caitlyn and I took Hyeji, Doyeon, Gunnar and Ollie ice skating.  They all did a really good job and we had a great time.  Afterwards, Jieun took all the kids to McDonalds to warm up and get something to eat.  Caitlyn and I went home and I had a great afternoon shopping with Roy.  We went to World Market, TJ Max, and the new health food store in Bountiful that recently opened.  That evening we watched "The Cokeville Miracle" with Eric and Lonette Anderson and their son Derrick (their daughter Annika went with our daughter to The Hunger Games).  This replaced his normal home teaching visit and was a lot more fun.  After they left, we spent  a couple  of hours getting food ready for Thanksgiving dinner.  I made my mom's shrimp cocktail drink recipe (one sip and you can't help thinking about her), and our traditional pomegranate salad.  Dad worked on the turkey and the dressing.  We finally got to bed at about 11:30. 

Thanksgiving was wonderful.  We started out the day with a nice hike up the Kenny Creek trail.  Dan and Jieun and Caitlyn came with us.  Nick didn't see the invite text until we were halfway up the trail, and Adrienne and her family were already skiing at Snow Basin.  I'm really glad we got a hike in because that was the warmest it was all weekend, and it wasn't exactly warm.  It was a great way to start the day. 

Kenny Creek Trail hike with Dan and Jieun

We definitely felt an emptiness during the day on Thanksgiving, because for most of the last 16 years, since we moved to Utah, my dad was with us (my mom, too before 2004).  We will also really miss him on Christmas Eve (and we'll never forget the time he cracked open his crab leg and sent it flying onto Lisa Green's plate).  We had everyone in the family for dinner except Elise, Andy and Max and we also really missed them.  We had one extra guest.  Nick's friend John.  Dad invited him when he was at our house last week and he was a little vague in his answer, but he showed up and I think he had a nice time.

Elise had Thanksgiving dinner with her mother and father-in-law and Andy's grandmother.

Friday, we went ice skating again.  It's fun to share my hobby with my grandkids.  They all did great and we got everyone on ice skates except Ruby and Finn. (and Nick, Sara, and Ori because they weren't there).  It's nice that the Rec center allows strollers.  I was glad we went skating again because the first time I didn't get any pictures.  The most amazing ice skater was Yuna.  She's not even 2 and she progressed to where she could go at least 10 feet before falling on her bottom.  You could see her start to get wobbly and she'd catch herself and rebalance.  That's pretty amazing for a child that age.

Ice skating with the family

  

After ice skating, we went home for Thanksgiving leftovers, and then we went downtown and shared Roy's hobby with the grandkids--the annual trip to the Train Shoppe.  The trains on display were even more amazing this year.  They'd redone the large train and set it on a terraced terrain with real water running through it.  They had Santa (a creepy one, according to Adrienne), and a new little shooting gallery as well as a horse and wagon for the kids to ride (they loved it).  All the kids and several of the adults got a ride on the 1 1/2 inch scale electric powered steam engine.  Ori loved it so much she asked for another ride, so all the grandchildren got to go again.

Train Shoppe train ride

There are several activities at the Train Shoppe.  This is a shooting game

Ruby

Doyeon, Ollie, Ori, Nick, Hyeji, Ruby and Matt

And Santa was there (Hyeji and Doyeon)

Crista treated us to homemade pizza Friday evening, then Matt and Roy spent the rest of the evening helping Nick get his new oversized couch into their home.  It wouldn't have taken so long, but it required a lot of ingenuity to get it into the house--since Nick didn't think to measure the door frame.   Crista and I enjoyed playing the violin and the piano together.  Sara made Ricotta pancakes for Crista and Matt and Dan and his kids Saturday as a thank you for the help.  Dad and I were invited but we stayed home with Ruby so she could nap. 

It barely fits in his house let alone through the door :)

Saturday night was wonderful.  We had Messiah tickets for those who expressed an interest in going (Nick and Sara).  We had dinner first and then proceeded to the Sing Along.  It is hard music and a lot of fun following along and trying to sing the choruses.  It's also a great way to begin the Holiday season, with music completely focused on the Savior.   Crista and Matt ate with us before they headed back to Logan so they could be home for church Sunday. 

Nick and Sara

Crista and Matt

Roy and Catharine

Nick and Ruby

To end the week, Jieun accompanied Caitlyn and I in our ward as we played, "I know that my Redeemer Lives."  It's a lot of fun to play music with my family and to have the opportunity to perform it.   Roy and I admittedly didn't get a lot out of the talks, since we were a little distracted by four of our granddaughters. 

Right now, Roy and I are on our way down to visit grandma and grandpa.  We stopped for a half hour at the Care Center in Salt Lake to see Noel.  He has a good attitude, but is still in pretty rough shape.  He can't put any weight on his leg and though he has his turtle shell off, he has to be really careful and can't bend, twist or lift.  Lori was there visiting with him when we arrived.  She says she is pretty lonely with him in the care center all the time. 

We gave her a dog so she won't be so lonely.  One that won't make any messes!

We're leaving Thursday morning to go and spend a little time with Elise, Andy and Max.  Andy will probably be spending a lot of time studying, but it will be nice to see them.