Easter

There were just five of us at our Easter dinner this year. It was not our typical fifteen plus but it was lovely. Because of the smaller numbers I chose to forgo the ham in favor of a standing rib roast. I must say it was perfectly cooked. I couldn't believe I could do that so well. Luck I think.
It was accompanied by mashed potatoes, hot rolls, broccoli and cheese and salad.
For dessert I served a favorite of my mother's. Strawberry Short Cake. Here is what it is: hot biscuits just out of the oven with butter melting into the biscuit. Top with sugared strawberries and whipping cream. If you add vanilla ice cream before the whipping cream it makes it even better. As you can see, Lindsay found it to be Yummy. So did the rest of us.

The Final Sleepover with Sarah

As the grandchildren were growing up, we had them for a sleepovers quite often. As the girls became busier as teenagers the sleepovers just disappeared until this final day.
Sarah was just about to leave on a mission to Managua, Nicaragua so we requested this last sleepover. This is the morning after as we had breakfast together.
We are proud of her but also lonely for her happy face and personality. We miss her so much but so happy that we had her all to ourselves for a few hours this day.

A Happy Birthday

 The Birthday Girl - Lindsay

 The birth day was on the day of General Conference. Here we are relaxing as we watch it on TV.

 Claudia is the family expert in baking beautiful layer cakes. It was so yummy.

 A few of the celebrating people: top to bottom: Brett, John, Chris, Katherine, Mallory (a friend) Joseph, Samuel, Matthew, Lindsay and Abigail.
New flip flops among other gifts.

Abby and Alison relaxing as we wait for the others to arrive.

CATCHING UP

With Facebook becoming more and more popular and a place to check on the doings of my children and grandchildren I have reluctantly joined. Call me crazy but I am uncomfortable with throwing my life out to the world on that format. As a result, I have neglected to even blog for a long time. So here is a brief catch up on the events of the past several months.

*June was Father's Day, a HS Graduation, a Trip to Idaho.

Analisa's High School Graduation day

FATHER'S DAY

 

*July A wonderful trip to Orlando with John and Alison and Abby, and Carrie's family which was a highlight for all of us. Lots of laughs and fun together. Then a visit from Gabrielle, and a Motorcycle trip which was cut short due to an accident which put our friends in the hospital. Celebrated birthdays.

Orlando...here we come!

Best Buds at Downtown Disney

Mr. Cool in his funny car

The Family outside our lovely condo

The happy pair of 9 year olds

Enjoying the show at Sea World

The Very Entertaining Entertainment Committee

Bathing Beauties

 

John and Abby celebrating their July Birthdays!

Cousins enjoying their Cheese cake from their dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.



The day we left for the trip to Canada on the motorcycles.

Jean and Ross, David and Judith, Kathleen and Sheldon, Nola and Paul

 

On our way to Canada

 Before and After  UGH!!!!

 

*September we went to Las Vegas to check on our friends who were in the accident and we went to see the traveling company of WICKED.  Jean is now out of the wheelchair and getting along ok. Still some healing to do.


*October we took a 2200+ mile trip to Atlanta and on the way stopped in Texarkana, TX to see the Mayo factory which makes the furniture that David sells. We celebrated his birthday in Atlanta with Carrie and family.

Ready to take off for the adventure.

Colorado mountains

Windmills everywhere in Kansas

Tour through the Mayo Factory in Texas

States we went through were Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.  David went on through Georgia, South and North Carolina.

David's Happy Birthday at La Parilla, a favorite place.

 

Eliza was Grampa'a greatest fan! She was so happy when he came back from his trip to North Carolina 

 

A memorable month to be sure.

It Was a Happy Mother's Day

This is the Sunday group who came to celebrate Mother's Day. The Saturday group is at the end of this post because I don't know how to move the pictures around to make them in order. So Sorry. Anyway the Sunday group consisted of Christopher and Uyanga (his girlfriend) Sarah and Carlos (her boyfriend) Lindsay, Joseph, Melanie and Eddie (the dog) Me Judith, Samuel in front of me, Claudia, David, Brett, Matthew, Analisa and Katherine.

I was the center of attention, a place I usually hide from but it was Mother's Day after all. Many thoughtful gifts and cards came my way.

As tradition has it, we enjoy a neighborhood walk after dinner. We went through the "richie" neighborhood this time.

This is David with Eddie the dog who lives next door and we all love.

These are the cooks that provided a wonderful dinner. Lindsay, Christopher, Uanga and Melanie

David the Chef Supreme of the yummy steaks.

My lovely plate of delicious food.

Saturday morning we went to Abby's play which was adorable. I sat too far to get the close ups. She did a great job and all the kids were excellent.

The John Nielson family treated us to a fun lunch at the Blue Lemon then we went to Baskin Robbins for ice cream and ended the day at the skating rink where Abby was rehearsing for a skating show. Very fun.
I feel so blessed by my family and wish that the Atlanta group were with us for this fun weekend. Thanks to all of them for being the people who make me so proud to be the Mom/ Grammy!

Easter Birthday

 Happy Birthday to Lindsay

I very fun day celebrating Easter and Lindsay's birthday with family and friends. We had the Snider's from Georgia with us. They are serving a mission here. Melanie, our friend from downstairs, John R (Lindsay's boyfriend) and Chris' girlfriend Uki and the John and Brett families et al. Twenty two for dinner. It was a great day.