BYU Education Week and Two Summer Parties

The older I get, the more I realize that I am addicted to learning.

When I was a student in school, I don't think I realized it.

I know I didn't appreciate it, as I do now.

For the third year in a row, Roger and I were able to attend 

BYU Education Week together on the campus in Provo.

I took a quick iPhone pic of Roger in the Marriott Center,

where we heard Brother David A. Bednar's Devotional Address,

which was about the importance of understanding, regulating 

and using the forms of media technology in our lives.  

All of the General Authorities are on Facebook, 

and three of them even tweet! 

And Robert Millet's class throughout the week on, 

"Life on a Paradisiacal Earth," was excellent.

Jack S. Marshall's, "Principles of Peace from the Parables of Jesus," each day in the Ballroom was so good.

We heard an excellent lecture on, "The Old and New Testament Brought to Life: Teachings of Faith," 

by Ronald Bartholomew. 

He said he wanted us to iPhone pic his lecture notes 

so as to help anyone who wanted to read them.

We tried some BYU ice cream to see if it was as good as 

Aggie ice cream.

It was good, but nothing beats the Aggie pralines 'n cream!

On Wednesday, Mindy borrowed a friend's ticket, 

attended an Anthony Sweat class (one we loved last year), 

then met us for lunch in the Museum of Art.

There is a fabulous exhibit in the museum containing 

gorgeous costumes on loan from many blockbuster movies.

We loved it!

That evening, Mindy and Jeff took us to dinner at, 
"La Jolla Groves,"

a restaurant with really delicious food in The Shops at Riverwoods.

We then attended an outstanding piano concert

of William Joseph, who is a discovery of Hitman David Foster.

He had a violinist and a cellist accompany him, 

and they made music, much of which he had written!

We had gotten our tickets early,

and we were on the front row!

The next evening, we had tickets to this wonderful concert of  music sung by familiar LDS vocalists, 

performers and instrumentalists.

I marvel at all of the fine talent in the Church!

We stayed with Mindy and Jeff,

and we got lots of love from the Lind kids!

Hold on tight!

We actually missed the last day of Education Week

so we wouldn't miss our two biggest summer parties of the year.

We drove to Bryce Canyon on Friday, where NAI, 

the commercial real estate firm where Roger works,

put all of the employees up overnight at Ruby's Inn

and we attended Ebenezer's Dinner Show

and heard the Bar G Wranglers perform.

It was so fun to chat with the other employees and spouses.

The Walters, the owners of NAI, 

are such generous and nice people.

Next morning, we drove through Bryce Canyon 

and marveled again at its beauty!

We drove to the very end of the park,

climbing to 9,115 feet.

This guy took some absolutely gorgeous pics!

Well, I took a few, too!

We drove to St. George, changed clothes and headed to the Ence summer home in Pine Valley 

for our annual Branch Summer Party.

Lots of non-LDS friends and neighbors come 

to this party every year;

everyone is invited and it is always such fun!

Heather King, who has played the cello for our INSTA-CHOIR, 

fiddled for us, including, Orange Blossom Special.

Pattie Haynes always snaps so many pics for our branch,

then emails them to everyone,

and here are a few.

Such a fun week!

Next morning, we were on the road again 

to go Up North to tend grandkids.

Rick and Jodie took Josh to Spain, before he checked in 

at BYU for his freshman year.

Next post!

"King Charlie," Two of Our Kids Visit & Blakey Is Cast-Free!

When our Mindy asked if we would tend this cute little guy 

while her family went to Lake Powell with Jeff's family,

how could we say no?

Just look at that face.

King Charlie (AKA Prince Charles) is sitting on his throne.

He truly did rule things around here for five days.

He loved Grandma's mango smoothie!

Grandpa Roger's sore arms can attest to lots of Charlie aerials!

"Don't go to work, Grandpa!"

Rick's family came to visit on Wednesday in time 
for a chicken taco salad dinner.

Charlie was tickled to play with his cousins 

and Aunt Jodie and Uncle Rick.

Bright and early the next morning, 

We were all out at Sand Hollow on Rick's boat.

Time is getting short before this cute guy heads to BYU.

Josh is a great slolom water skier,

and from the way he skis, 

you would never know that he doesn't really like to do it.  

He says he would much rather snow ski.

Then it was Grandpa's turn.

With ten of us loaded into the small 20 foot boat,

it couldn't quite pop him on top of the water.
This was Charlie's very first time on a boat.

He soon decided he wanted to be a sailor!

Sadie loves to ski,

and she put on a great show!

Two cuties!

Two more cuties!

A cutie and a happy Grandma!

Jodie is a pro skiier -

I love to watch her.

Water skiing makes you hungry!

We made sandwiches right on the boat - 

quite a juggling feat!

It was killin' Blakey!

He wanted to get in that warm water!

After we got home from skiing, 

Roger, Rick and Josh went golfing at The Point at Sunbrook

and Jodie took her other kids shopping.

We grilled fresh tilapia for dinner and had it with bruschetta spread with Kay's summer tomatoes that Jodie had made and brought down, fresh corn on the cob they also brought, pickled cucumbers and onions 

and roasted potatoes with homemade ranch sauce.

Sadie made a run for Nielsen's custard for dessert.

Next morning, I did the first step in the process 

to have my cataracts removed.

Roger and Charlie came to my eye appointment with me, 

and Charlie was a little angel boy 

in the three and a half hours that it took!

Rick and Jodie had left early again for Sand Hollow

and Abby was first up!

Jodie took some good pics.

Then it was Sadie's turn.

Rick got a shot of his cute wife.

Boating and skiing are Jodie's Happy Place!

Sadie and Katie are beautiful divers and 

they are like fish in the water.

Next up is their dad.

Rick's a great skier!

Last we saw Katie, she was on two skis.

Now just look at her!

The three guys met up that afternoon 

to go golfing at Woodbridge at Sunbrook.

Jodie and the kids went swimming in the pool, 

then again headed to do some back-to-school shopping.

Mindy, Jeff and kids arrived from Lake Powell,

we all went to Marv's Diner for burgers and fries

and the cousins had fun playing together inside and outside.

They also played some tennis and hunted for golf balls.

Saturday morning, Rick's family packed up and cleaned up. 

 my kids are all so nice to put clean sheets on the beds, 

vacuum and clean before they leave.

What an awesome crew!

We had to get a shot of Rick's family in front of their boat.

When they pulled away, there was one of their tennis balls 

under the car.

Jeff went running after the car (he's on the right)

and he attempted to throw it in the boat.

It gave all of us a good laugh!

Mindy's family left late afternoon, 

after they went back-to-school shopping,

but not before we had a little tea party with Addie.

Grandpa Roger got invited this time.

And here is the latest happening - 

we got a text from Jodie today with this pic.

Blakey is cast-free!

After three long months,

he can now begin learning to walk again!

Hooray and Hallelujah!