Birthday September Shout Outs & Roger's Mom & Two Sisters Visit

Happy Birthday Shout Outs go to:

Our beautiful Rebecca!

Clearly, she IS a lovely dancer, 

AND so much more!

Becca has a vivid imagination that creates amazing stories

for playtime, for games and even self-created books.

Just turning eight, she will soon be baptized, 

and Grandma Pam and Grandpa Roger will be there 

for the special event with bells on!

We LOVE our Becca!

Her little sister, Sarah Kate!

A pixie a sprite, a sweet and adorable little thing 

with winsome ways,

Grandma Pam and Grandpa Roger are reminded of her Daddy, Ryan, every time we look at her cute little face.  

We LOVE our Sarah Kate!

And a GREAT BIG Birthday Shout Out goes to 

this beautiful lady, Roger's Mom, Lois,

for her 89th birthday!

Yes, you read that right,

she just turned 89 - 

doesn't she look fabulous?

I have posted many times about how very much we love 

and respect her for the life of service and love she has led.

She has shown us all how to live and be happy - 

six children and spouses, 26 grandchildren, 

73 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren!

She visited us last weekend, with Roger's sisters, Chyrrl, 

and Susie, so they could attend our niece, Shaylee, 

and her new husband, Paden's, Open House 

in his Grandma and Grandpa Staheli's backyard.

  

They arrived Friday night, and we all went to have a hamburger, fries, 

onion rings and an Oreo banana shake at Marv's.

Roger and I were also celebrating our deceased nephew, Adam's, birthday (a day early) with a burger and fries, 

which we do on his birthday every year.

We shared the fries, onion rings and shake, 

but they are so good, we could have each inhaled our own!

Saturday morning, I made smoothies and Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Toast the Right Way. 

For lunch we all went for a wedge salad at Player's Grill, 

then some went shopping 

and some returned home to watch the ball games.

BYU beat Virginia and Utah beat Michigan - both good games!

The USU Aggies were beat in overtime - Bummer!

Another Big Bummer, it rained on the first hour of the reception, and Paden's Mom, family and friends, had worked so hard to make it lovely, but everyone just rolled with it, bringing things in 

out of the rain, then putting them back out after it stopped.

Shaylee and Paden were aglow with happiness,

after their Honeymoon to Cancun!

Sunday morning, Chyrrl and Lois attended 

the Dedication of the Ogden Temple with us, 

which was broadcast in meeting houses all over Utah.  

Susie left early that morning, because she had tickets 

to attend the Dedication in the Ogden Temple.

What a beautiful meeting, with talks 

by the new Temple President and his wife, Buck and Kathy Froerer,

L. Whitney Clayton, of the Preidency of the Seventy and Elder David A. Bednar. 

President Thomas S. Monson spoke 

and gave the Dedicatory Prayer. 

I feel gratitude for each temple, as we dedicate them, 

but it was with even more magnitude with this one. 

Roger and I lived in the Ogden area for 31 years 

and have fond memories of the sessions in the previous temple.

After attending the Ogden Temple Open House,

we are happy for the beautiful new one!

We returned back home for a Sunday dinner of chicken Florentine with linguini, Caprece salad with the wonderful tomatoes Chyrrl brought from her garden, tossed salad, garlic toast and 

Nielsen's chocolate almond malt custard for dessert.

We love our visitors from Up North!

Princess Shaylee and Prince Paden Wed

Roger's niece, Shaylee, is as lovely as a Disney Princess.

And she found her tall, dark and handsome Prince 

at Dixie State University - St. George native, Paden.

Roger and I were lucky to be present at their sealing in the Salt Lake Temple, and Paden's grandfather's 

childhood chum, Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, performed the sealing, for time and all eternity.

It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony, filled with laughter and tears.  

Everyone in that sealing room felt the Spirit in abundance.

The following are pics taken on the temple grounds 

on Roger's iPhone.

Todd and Shellie, parents of the bride

Shaylee's siblings, parents, grandparents and nieces

Shaylee and Grandma Stratford have a special bond.

Doesn't Grandma look so pretty and so happy?

We all treasure this wonderful woman!

Pics taken in the shade look a little better.

We took a pic of the girls, (Roger's sisters/sister-in-law/mother/wife) minus Shellie, who was busy being photographed by the wedding photographer.

 Roger's siblings, minus Shellie, and, of course, Gordie

We attended a beautiful wedding luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, 

then later that evening, we attended 

the reception at the WSU Alumni Center.

Everything was done up in true Princess fashion. with shining lights, draped chiffon and crystals everywhere.  Sparkling chandeliers hung from the trees. 

The food buffet tables were laden with savory delicacies and sweet delights.  

Rick, Jodie and Blake walked through the reception line 

with us to greet the wedding party.

On a happy side note, Blakey is now walking again, 

recovered from his hip surgery.

Roger and I agreed that this wedding was picture perfect, from start to finish, and we were so glad that we got to be there to celebrate this sweet new couple's beginning.

Next morning, we attended Peter DeFries's Funeral.

Peter and Annie were Roger's Mom and Dad's best friends 

through all of their married years.

They were/are both one of a kind- 

such lively, fun, warm-hearted friends.  

Grandma went over to see Annie after Peter died.  

Annie threw her arms around her and tearfully said,

"I can't believe it. We're both widows now."

I'm sure they will watch out for each other.

It was a sweet funeral, and Roger got to see many friends and neighbors 

from his growing-up years in Wilson.

Saturday afternoon, we headed for home, stopping off in Highland to visit Mindy, Jeff and kids. 

Mindy proudly showed us the baby crib she painted for the darling baby nursery she is putting together for their soon-to-arrive little girl.

The excitement, along with her tummy, is growing!

Can't wait!

Our Adventure That Just Kept On Going . . .

It all started with a quick click on the internet.

Roger and I travel about once a month to Las Vegas for 

Mac lessons, car repair and highly desired (by us) 
groceries from Trader Joe's.

We have found our favorite places to eat, and we return home with contented, full tummies 
from these day trips.

But I, always the bargain hunter and thrill-seeker in food adventures, regularly scan Vegas bargain websites.

Wow! What's this?

"Hot Feel" - Serving fresh seafood - 

crab, lobster, mussels, clams, calamari -  

all my favorite things!

Check!

51% off - a $50 value for two for less than $25.

Check!

It is conveniently located on Spring Mountain Road,

which I knew to be our exit road for Las Vegas Blvd.

Check!

It had a generous window before the expiration date.

Check!

On closer examination, after i clicked to buy, I saw that it is on West Spring Mountain Road, 

which, I found out, is in China Town.

O-kaaay, well, it will be an adventure!

Everyone who knows me knows that I love to try new foods -
new textures, new flavor combinations and and new ethnic tastes. And I love Chinese food!
But I have to say, I do know that it is more American Chinese than authentic Chinese that I love.
When we traveled to interior China a few years ago, we were served many authentic Chinese foods and neither one of us developed a taste for the hot, unfamiliar spices and the rustically-prepared foods.  At all!  That being said, we were game to try it again - Las Vegas style!

So the summer zoomed by, and we hadn't used our Groupon.

Checking our calendar, we determined that we could slip in a quick day trip on Monday, September 8, 

to shop for some needed items and have this seafood dinner before it expires.

As we pull up to the restaurant, located next to a gigantic massage parlor, we think, well, it doesn't look too bad . . .

We arrive at 5 PM, 6 PM body time, and not a soul is in the restaurant but a small, young Chinese girl, 
who is cleaning the tables - that's a hopeful sign (the cleaning part, I mean), right?
After trying to figure out the menu, noting that the only explanation next to the itemized listing of various seafood and meat, is the cost per pound of each, we ask her questions - 
how is the seafood prepared, do you have any veggies, etc.
After her answers in her broken English, all that we understand is that we can get veggies in a hot pot and we need to choose whether we want mild, medium, hot or super hot.
We choose mild, I go to choose the veggies, some familiar, but mostly not, then she brings the hot pot.
Saying the first slurp blew the roof off our heads is stating it mildly!  Then the crab legs came  - cooked in a really horrible-tasting sauce (we both agreed!) and Roger and I (mostly, my wonderful, good sport husband, Roger) grabbed ahold of a gooey crab leg in its shell and started cracking.  
The only tasty part was where the sauce hadn't penetrated into the crab.
As Roger was cracking away, he said we would probably 
head to In 'n Out Burger on the way home!

And I have to add that it looks way better than it tasted.

You be the judge.

About mid-way through our dining experience, we start laughing and say, well, we'll have a story to tell and 

we are having an adventure.

Oh, my, little did we know the meaning of that word!

We do stop to get a vanilla shake at In 'N Out to tame the fire in our tummies, then get on I-15 

to head north to St. George.

About 25 minutes out of Vegas, we come to a dead stop on the freeway.

A big rain storm had been in Vegas all day, putting down lots of water, and tapered off about when we arrived and it was heading north, but we have certainly seen those before.

We think maybe there has been an accident ahead.

After inching forward, one car at a time, for about 40 minutes, we  see a trooper talking to each car, one at a time, explaining that a bridge has washed out on the freeway ahead, an alternate side road is also washed out, and our options are to A. - turn back to and stay in Las Vegas overnight, B.- go back south and get off the next exit, which leads to Hwy. 93, which winds through the mountains to Caliente, hooks up with another road through Panaka, to Beryl Juntion, Enterprise then down to St. George -- normally about a 3 1/2 hour drive (from where we are stopped on the freeway, it normally takes about an hour and 20 minutes to get to St. George), or C. - Pull over, off the exit, and sleep in your car.  

We choose B.

We turn and get on I-15 South, get off the next exit, then see that traffic is backed up, with a giant pearl chain of red tail lights as far as you can see, at a dead stop.  Ryan calls and we have a nice little chat with him. Roger hops out of the car, I get in the driver's seat and wait for the pearl chain to start up, and he talks to stranded drivers, including a truck driver who hears on his CB that the bridge won't be fixed for at least three days.  So we sit and sit, waiting for the traffic that had been going south on I-15 and was diverted to 93, to have their turn on the two lane road (one lane is washed out)- then we hear that that route further up north was also washed out!

Very, very long story short - we drove, many times, stop and go, through blinding rain, zig-zagged on two lane roads, desperately sought potty stops along the way and we finally pulled into our drive-way at 2:50 AM, 

SO grateful to be safely home.

At this writing two days later, the freeway, major artery through Utah and points south, is not open.

Now that was an adventure!

Birthday Shout Outs for August & The Linds Visit Labor Day Weekend

Here are the better-late-than-never

August BIRTHDAY Shout Outs!

Our sweet Sydney brings sunshine everywhere she goes.

She adores little kids and little kids adore her.

The BYU Young Ambassadors' judges evidently saw 

what we have seen for years - she sings beautifully and 

she lights up the stage!

Our oldest granddaughter is the real deal 

and, oh, how we love her!

I have enjoyed celebrating 47 birthdays 
with this wonderful man - my husband, Roger!

His high energy level and his upbeat take on life 

have brought countless adventures to our lives.
He has such a marvelous zest for living!

There is no finer, funner father and grandfather.

He is a spiritual giant . . .

. . . an ace pilot . . .

. . . and a fit and happy companion to me.

I feel so blessed!

Oh. my. goodness!

This adorable little dolly, Miss Claire, was born just one year ago, and oh what happiness 

she has brought into so many lives!

Everyone in her family, immediate and extended ones,

can't believe the joy that her beautiful smile 
and happy giggle bring!

We all love our gorgeous little Claire!

To finish out our August, Mindy, Jeff, Jack, Addie and Charlie came to St. George for Labor Day Weekend 

and for Addie and Mindy to go see, 

The Little Mermaid, at Tuacahn together.

Next day, Jeff, his brother, Matt, whose girlfriend lives 

in St. George and he was visiting, Roger and Jack went golfing at Sunbrook.  Jack drove the cart - loved it!

Later, Jeff took the kids swimming and Mindy and I went shopping.

After Sacrament meeting on Sunday, we took pics on the couch.

We changed clothes, then grilled fresh salmon and summer squash.

Mindy and Jeff brought us wonderful squash, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes from Grit's garden Up North 
and corn on the cob from their neighbor. 
We also had Kay's summer tomato recipe with bruschetta 
and mashed potatoes.
I love the summer bounty of produce! 

The Linds left Sunday night and, on Labor Day, Roger and I 

got a hamburger at Marv's,

then changed our sports wall in the work-out room 

to a family gallery wall.

It makes us happy to look at those pictures of our loved ones 

every day when we work out - we should have done it sooner!

The Ogden Temple, From Old to New; Roger, Not 70 Years Old, but Young

Roger and I tended four of Rick and Jodie's kids 

the final four days while they were on their trip to Spain with Josh.

We rose at 6:30 for scripture study, breakfast 

and making lunches, then each kid left 
in different carpools or school bus.

Blake is in the first grade and is recovering 

from hip surgery, but he gets in his stroller at school 

and seems to be getting along just fine.

He walks around, holding on to things now,

but I don't think it will be long 

until he is walking and running again.

We took advantage of being Up North to attend the

Ogden LDS Temple Open House.

They literally renovated from the foundation up 

to build a gorgeous temple, inside and out.

Below is the Before and After.

The interiors were lovely, with beautiful stained glass everywhere.

Grandma Stratford watched Blake; Mindy, Jeff and kids met us 

at her home, and we drove to the temple.

Many people were there, 

but they accommodated the crowds very efficiently.

Mindy and Jeff wanted Jack, Addie and Charlie 

to see inside a temple so they could talk about it.

On Wednesday, our last day at Rick and Jodie's, August 27, 

Roger turned 70!

Of course, we had to celebrate the changing decade 

of this amazing guy's life!

Stacy was in Provo, having driven with Sydney 

to help her move in at BYU. 

I invited them, Mindy, Jeff and kids, and, 

Rick, Jodie and Josh got home that evening, 

 for a celebration dinner.

Roger wanted Sloppy Joes

(he said he really likes them 

and kind of missed my making them, 

like I did when all of the kids were home).

70 years young!

His mom told me weeks ago that she was going to make him 

a German chocolate cake. Just like old times!

The Stratford kids we tended (Sadie was at a tennis match),

before Roger picked up the rest of their family at the airport 

and the rest of the company came

It has been a fun and wild ride with this good man!

We had Sloppy Joes, shrimp and macaroni salad, 

cut up watermelon and cantaloupe and 

Grandma's yummy cake and ice cream.

We lit the candles, Stacy took the pic . . .

. . . then I took one with Stacy in it.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,  . . ."

Grandpa blew all of the candles out in one try!

He said he wished that 
all of his kids and grandkids could have been there, 

but that there is nowhere he would rather be 

on his birthday than with his family.

The two new BYU cousin coeds had their heads together,

planning their upcoming exciting year on campus.

Roger and I drove back to St. George the next day, 
arriving a day before Mindy, Jeff and kids came 
to spend the Labor Day Weekend with us.  
Such it is with Life in the Fast Lane.  
I guess that is what keeps you young when you turn 70!