Weekly happenings.

 

I had been wanting to go to the top of the Conference Center and finally made it up there this past week.

 

 

 I had been up there the first year it was dedicated, but I wanted to see how much the trees had grown.  The view from up there was fantastic.  There are still so many things I want to do before we move out of the city.  I am going to try to cram in as much as I can.

Later this week we had a baby shower for Erika.  She is my oldest niece and I am so happy for her. she is going to be a great mom!

One day when both Roo and Alex were here we ate sushi over at the City Creek Center.  The people who own the sushi place are Korean and the boys love to converse with them in Korean.

 I got these twos pictures of Shad from an e-mail that Steph sent me.  They are  blurry but so darn cute that I have to put them on here.

 

 

 

Pioneer Day 2013

This was a meaningful Pioneer Day as we spent it in Salt Lake City, right where the pioneers of 1847 arrived. 

  Roo had slept over and he and Jared came with Dave and I to our stake Pioneer day breakfast.  It was right on 2nd Ave., probably pretty close to where a lot of the first Utah pioneers set up camp when they first arrived.  We are part of the Ensign Stake.  This has been the home stake of all of the prophets of the church from Brigham Young to Pres. Monson.

Then we picked up Alex from the train so he could join us for the day.  We stepped outside of our apartment building to watch the Days of 47 Parade roll past.  This is the first time we have ever seen it.  It was a true parade, in every sense of the word.  I loved it.   The only time I have seen more floats is at the Rose Parade in Pasadena.

 There were also marching bands, clowns, magnificent Clydesdales and miniature horses.  (Bye Bye, Lil Sebastian)  We really enjoyed it and what made it even better was the overcast sky that kept the temperatures bearable.  It was so pleasant.

Right after the parade ended, we took Trax over to the airport to watch Dallin arrive from his mission to San Antonio.  He returned with honor.  Jeff and Fran were very proud parents.

 Cousins.  The first three of my parent's grandchildren to return from their missions.  Two more (Sheldon and Bryson) are still serving.  What a good bunch of kids!

Later in the afternoon we got sushi and then watched a dvd back at the apartment with Alex and Roo.  We had seen fireworks earlier this summer and didn't feel like fighting the crowds again, so we skipped that part of our usual pioneer day celebration.  But it was a pretty fun day, I would have to say.

Alex's Birthday

 Since Alex didn't sleep over at our apartment I couldn't give him breakfast in bed.  So the next best thing was going to the Belgian Waffle joint here in town.

 Best. Waffles. Ever.

That night we went to a Bees baseball game. 

 They were celebrating the 20th anniversary of the movie, The Sandlot, which was filmed in Utah.

Many of the cast members were there.  Here is Ham, famous for such quotes as "You play ball like a girl" and "First you take the mallow".  He still looks the same.

 Here is a blurry picture of Squints, famous for such lines as "for-ev-er, for-ev-er".

 The Bee's may have lost the game, but we had a great time anyway.

A few days later we had a little birthday dinner for Al at Dave's dad's house.  Tiramisu was Alex's birthday cake that night.

Happy Birthday to an amazing son!  I love you, Alex!

A visit with our Smedleys

Jared had to come to the University of Utah to complete a rotation and research.  Stephanie works nights in Michigan and couldn't get off work for an entire month.  So Jared brought Shad with him to Utah.  I had the privilege of spending watching him and spending time with this adorable grandson for a week until Steph could come.  I loved every minute of it.

Shad got to hang out with his cousins.  They all love him!

 These two were happy to be reunited.

All of my beautiful grandchildren.  Heaven on earth.

 

 Alex joined us for an afternoon at a splash pad in Harrisville.

 This was Shad's first splash pad experience.

Lils knows how to cool off when the temperature is over 100!

Brigham worked on his bathing suit figure.  His thighs still need to get a little more chub.

Olivia didn't feel well that day.  She had a fever.  Poor kid.

 Logan has such a happy life!

 James is a pro at the splash pad.

 Right on the count of three, Jack spits water.  What a goof!

 Another night Holly, Ashley, and Roo drove down to our apartment in Salt Lake to spend some time with Steph.  Alex had to work.

I so love these daughters of mine!

 

 Olivia wanted to show me the hat her Aunt Carrie gave her.

 

The cutest babies ever!

It is very rare to get a picture of Logan actually looking at the camera.

 Pace bars! 

James' Birthday Date

Our oldest Grandson, James, turned 6 this past week.

 

I took Frontrunner up to Ogden and picked him up.  We then rode the train back down to SLC.

 

Dave met us at the Gateway.  James wanted to go to Build A Bear to pick out his birthday gift from Dave and I.  He named it "Batdog"

 

 

 Lunch was McDonald's at the Food Court.  Dave and I chose Japanese food.  The beauty of a food court is "choice", I suppose.

We put Batman stickers in this book and had some great conversation on the train back to Ogden.

A few days later he celebrated his big day at home with cake and ice cream.

 

 

I sure do love this guy.  Happy Birthday, James!