December wrap up

This Christmas my camera was inactive.  I received an iphone 6 plus for my birthday in November and discovered the ease of Instagram.  Yesterday my daughter showed me how to download the photos from my phone to my computer.  Easy peasy, so I decided to do one last post for 2014 before it slips away.

I decorated the Utah home for Christmas but spent Christmas week in Arizona.  Crazy, huh?  However, it meant some Christmas fun with all the grandchildren.

Each year I give each family a new Christmas book and ornaments for their tree.  This year I gave them autographed copies of Jan Brett's latest picture book, "The Animals' Santa."  My sister Lynette joined me at the Provo City Library where Jan was sharing her book in person.  The Library ballroom was full and we waited in line for quite some time.  They announced one book signed per person.  A lovely family behind us in line took my extra books to be signed without my asking.  They overheard my conversation about not having every one's Christmas book with the author's signature and offered on their own.  Aren't people wonderful?  I decided long ago that the majority of those on this planet are so good.

Jan Brett was traveling across the country with her husband and a little white rabbit in a decorated bus.  I received my signed poster yesterday for adding a photo to her FB page.  Lynette and I crossed University Avenue to get this shot with the old Academy Building which is now part of the Provo City Library in the background.  My mom used to attend classes in that building.  I'm so glad they managed to save and re purpose it.

I tried to get tickets for the Muppets and Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert this year.  They are always free but given out via lottery which I did not win.  Lynette and I decided to try the standby line which was also a fail.  However, we did get seated inside the Tabernacle and saw part of it on the big screen.  It will be worth watching for next December on PBS.

On our way out of town, we drove by my son's new house.  His Christmas light display really lit up his neighborhood.

We also exited the freeway and drove to Draper City Park.  Many are calling this "The Tree of Life."  It truly was spectacular.

Lynette gave me an amaryllis bulb and pot for my birthday.  It bloomed before Christmas, graced Lynette's table for Christmas, came back to me after, and is still blooming. There has been a total of 8 blooms so far.  So beautiful!

Before Christmas, my Utah children and their families joined us for a Christmas ham dinner and there were presents under that tree for them.  We had a great evening and they took home their presents and new Christmas book and ornaments.  I purchased woodland animal ornaments from Pier One which reminded me of the animals in "The Animals' Santa."

 

We have two December birthdays in the family so had a birthday steak and baked potato dinner when we arrived in Arizona.  We were able to take some Idaho potatoes with us.  I'm an Idaho girl and these potatoes are the best!

Of course, I served them salad first! My son took this great picture of my oldest granddaughter in our outdoor dining room.  We love to entertain in our Arizona backyard and often miss it when away.

But, when I'm in Arizona I miss the beautiful Utah mountains just out my window.

We also celebrated birthday night with the bubble machine.

A granddaughter yelled out, "It's snowing bubbles!"  I understand that they are getting snow in parts of the Valley of the Sun today.

I participated in two doughnuts days, one at each son's house.  This is a family tradition now having been enjoyed by four generations.  They each do their own doughnuts at their own homes now that they deliver to all their friends and neighbors.  To learn more about this tradition and the recipe, go here.  I borrowed this picture collage from my oldest son.

My sons and their families hosted us at their homes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  We held our little nativity complete with a real baby Jesus born this year.  He was a great sport.

They pulled this and that from the Nativity box to get ready.

My oldest grandson, now 16 (yes, I just typed 16 and I can barely believe it!), read Luke 2 for us this year.

There was much joy and happiness on Christmas morning.  We were served breakfast at one home and brunch at the other.  Our newest grandson was thrilled with the cars given him by Grandpa Glen and kept the Diamondbacks hat on that was given to him by his dad who is really enjoying his only baby boy born in 2014.

Several new bikes arrived via Mr. Claus including this beautiful red one which I loved!  There were also two more pets added to the grand pets list, a very sweet black and white puppy who may be called "Oreo" and a little black cat named "Scratch."  There are now seven total, 5 dogs and 2 cats, plus a tortoise or two I may have forgotten :)

We enjoyed a beautiful drive back to Utah on the Saturday following Christmas with this guy as a passenger.  He really rode in the back but I just had to strap him in front to show his size.  There is now a happy little boy in Utah.

We drove between snow storms so have enjoyed the snow without the stress of driving in freshly fallen snow.  This is a picture taken out my window on Monday.  It snowed all day and my nieces couldn't land in Provo and had to fly back to Arizona to try again the next day (Alligiant from Mesa to Provo) and Glen didn't make it to his office in SLC until late afternoon.

My older Utah grandsons had a great time on Tuesday sledding down the hill across the street.  Most of those trails were made by them during their 2 hour sledding adventure.

All of our Utah grands are staying overnight with us on this last day of 2014.  We were invited over to my sister's home for her hedgehogs earlier in the evening.

I so enjoy having her live nearby since her move in 2014.  Definitely a good thing.  That is her new grandson in the background and mine in front with his handsome face.

"Hedgehogs" look like a hedgehog but are actually a yummy dessert which takes many hours to make.  Go here to watch the process at an earlier time. 

The ball is about to drop in Times Square . . .

and I hope that this little one will soon be asleep.  I also hope that 2015 will be full of many good things for everyone!

24th of July exploratory outing

This weekend has been the quietest weekend of the summer for us, but a year from now it will be one of our busiest.  The National Foote Family Association will be coming to Salt Lake City for their annual meeting.  It will be their chance to meet descendants of the Footes who moved out West during the mid 1800's. Glen and I have been serving on the planning committee and the Plaza Hotel on the corner of West and South Temple streets will be the meeting place.  On Thursday, the 24th of July which is also a state holiday, we traveled north to check things out in anticipation of a year from now.

We knew that the parade would be forming right in front of the Plaza.  When planning dates, we thought the Pioneer Day weekend would be a great time to visit SLC and learn about the pioneer legacy, but were concerned what that meant in terms of crowds and traffic.

The news is good.   Floats, bands, horses, antique cars, and a clown or two were lining up but it was orderly and quiet and half of the street was open for traffic of which there was little because it was a holiday and not a work day.  We had to stop a bit behind a horse and carriage, but drove right to the Plaza parking garage.

It was very enjoyable to walk up and down the street looking at the floats before they were on the move.

It was amiable and fun to hear the bands doing a bit of last minute practice before they were off.

This float was my favorite because I am a sunflower kind of girl.  We thought the Plaza would be a good walkable location.  City Creek shopping is across the street to the southeast and Temple Square
is directly east.  The Family History Library is directly north.  Downtown SLC is a very compact and fun downtown.

More floats.  Cherry pie anyone?

My alma mater's float with the Salt Lake Temple in the background.  Unfortunately, the float blocks out the statue of the university's namesake, Brigham Young.

We also found that it would be possible to rent bicycles to ride.

The beginning of the parade was peaceful with just a few spectators.  There would be many more at the main parade route, South Temple at State Street to 200 East then south to 900 South and then east to Liberty Park.  We sat and watched awhile at the fountain on the North side of City Creek.

Then we were off to see how crowded Pioneer Village at This is the Place would be.  It was crowded.  We then explored Millcreek Canyon.  It is a beautiful little canyon and very forested.  And then we were off to Little Cottonwood Canyon and Snowbird.

We took the tram to the top and it was beautiful.

One feels like they are on the top of the world and there were trails in every direction.

That is the Salt Lake Valley in the background in the west.

I look south towards home.  After the ride down, we enjoyed a late lunch at The Forklift while we discussed possible bus option tours for the group next year.  Honestly, if you were coming from back East, wouldn't you like to go to Snowbird in the beautiful Wasatch Mountains and ride the tram?

Photos courtesy of Glen's cell phone.  I forgot to charge my batteries.

Waiting for Fireworks

4th of July evening we moved camp to the lawn in front of the Provo Temple.  This a great spot for fireworks viewing and eating.  My son, Eric, began talking about a fruit pizza days earlier so I obliged in honor of our nation's birthday.  By nightfall every crumb was gone.

Uncle Lowell holds baby Opal who is giving us her puzzled look.

Her brothers gave their best smiles.

Aunt Lynette is less puzzling.

Grandpa Glen, as always, has enlisted help in keeping the granchildren engaged and happy.

Rocket balloons are pretty much like fireworks.  They go high in the sky and make lots of noise.

Bookworm Heather seems to have outgrown rocket balloons.  A seat next to the snack table and a good book is now her style.

Caught me Grandma!

By dark, that grass will be covered with people looking west.

More balloons.

Jason was great help.

"Thanks Jason, my buddy!"

Oscar was a great balloon retriever.

Eric, Susan (also with a book - must be genetic) and Eveline.  See Rock Canyon in the background.  It will echo back all the booms for the double the noise at firework time.

Lynette, Opal, and her momma Janae.

Andrew and Farrell.

Glen bought himself a new red, white, and blue checked shirt for the big day.  He came down the stairs after showering and dressing and commented, "I think I will have the flashiest shirt."  I didn't have the heart to tell him that Nathan had just exited the house in his new thrift shop shirt courtesy of Nichelle.

I love my family and missed the ones who spent the day in New Mexico and California.

Lowell told me later that the rocket balloons were probably his favorite part of the day.

We patiently waited for the sun to go down and fireworks to light up the sky above the Stadium of Fire.  Last year we were inside watching the Beach Boys.

This year there were still beach balls, but we were playing at the park.

 

The kids enjoyed a great time. So did the adults and the fireworks were beautiful.