More Fall Doings

Every fall season, as it gets nearer to the Holiday Season, I feel the gears change. 

Kinda like a choo choo train, as it gradually pulls away from the station, 

then gathers momentum with every chug until it's in full steam, 

the fall, after laid-back summer, is soon racing into winter, full steam ahead. 

Roger and I enjoyed Halloween this year with his sister, Chyrrl, and her husband, Glynn, 

and they stayed with us a couple of nights. 

Their grandson played in a two-day baseball tournament in St. George, 

and they came with his family to watch.

After the ballgames, we enjoyed a Halloween dinner together at Player's Grill.

I'm tellin' ya, that wedge salad has become famous!

Chyrrl had it with us on a previous visit, and now it has won more fans!

Sunday, they attended church with us (where we took a quick pic, 'cause we hadn't remembered to take any), 

then they left for home Up North.

A couple of months ago, my friend, Anne, invited me to attend Time Out for Women, held at the Dixie Center . . . 

. . . with her and her daughter-in-law, Kristi, and Kristi's mother, Janine.

What uplifting messages and beautiful music we experienced!

Jenny Oaks Baker performed with her four children - 

one daughter on piano, one on cello, one on violin, as was she, and her son was on guitar.

The speakers, each with different personalities and messages, were inspiring.

Anne and I, Janine, Kristi, some of Kristi's girls, their friends and Beth Tolbert and her granddaughters 

all reserved a table at Players and walked there from the Dixie Center for a soup and wedge lunch.

While I was enjoying TOFW, our youngest daughter, Mindy, was running the Snow Canyon Half Marathon.

I am amazed, in a way, being the non-runner/not-so-great-at-sports/physical wimp that I am, 

that now each of my children and each of their spouses and my husband have run marathons, 

half-marathons, Ragnars, triathalons, etc. 

Good on them!

Roger was with Mindy's family to watch her cross the Finish Line.

That bright St. George sun is brutal on blue eyes!

(Well, Charlie's eyes are definitely brown!)

Sunday was a big day!

INSTA-CHOIR's rehearsal was at 8:10 AM.

But previous to that, so early in the morning to be singing, I rehearsed with a sextet 

for a special musical number in Relief Society. 

We then sang in Sacrament meeting.

Mindy's husband, Jeff, sang in our choir and we had over 40.

We sang a special tribute, "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good," 

to our three apostles who have recently passed away, 
Elders Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott. 

The choir sounded beautiful, feeling the love for these men and for all of our special friends.

After church, we all changed clothes, got comfortable and fixed this Sunday dinner.

(Charlie was asleep!)

This cute little thing will turn one-year's-old this month.

I'll say it again - how time flies!

Roger and I are really looking forward to our week-long trip to
 Ko Olina, Hawaii, 

at the end of this month, with his mom and sisters, brother, and spouses.

It will be kind of weird to not have our traditional home-cooked turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, 

but hey, we'll be with family

and that's the best part!

Fall Break Fun in St. George

Does it get any cuter than these girls?

These five cousins had a blast together during their fall breaks (SLC and Mesa),  

which just happened to be the same week this year. 

Rick, Jodie and kids (minus missionary, Josh, who we missed mightily!) 

and Maddy and Londyn came to St. George to play with us!

Stacy stayed Up North a couple more days to work with Syd on bridal plans, 

and the twins hung out with cousins up there.

They arrived in time for dinner, and I had fixed a big batch of summer tomatoes out of Grit's tomatoes 

that Sherry brought me when she came to Syd's shower. 

We had it on bruschetta . . . 

. . . and I made a big shrimp and pasta salad.

Rick's family went to see Beauty and the Beast at Tuacahn on Wednesday night

and Maddy, Londyn and Blake stayed home with us.

Thursday night Jeff, Mindy and kids arrived and it was a Cousin Fest, 

made especially fun with Uncle Jeff!

Charlie and Blake loved hangin' out together.

They were iPad Best Buds.

Addie had looked forward to playing with Grandma's little soaps, as she has done each time she visits us. 

There's no end to this little girl's creativity!

Addie's mommy took her to The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn last year, and she LOVED it!

So Mindy got tickets for the two of them to go to Beauty and the Beast together on Saturday night.

And before that happened, she got to go to When You Wish with her family, Rick's family, Stacy and kids 

and Grandma and Grandpa!

We got a babysitter for Blake, Charlie and Fiona.

The younger kids . . .

. . . and the older kids all loved it!

We don't ever have to worry about entertaining the kids when the cousins are together!

They just pick up from where they left off the last time they were together.

Fiona was hot property the entire time!

Oh, my goodness, this pretty girl is a high school senior this year!

Where does the time go?

Rick, Jodie and kids left for home Saturday morning.

They fit in lots of activity in the three days they were with us - hiking, biking, playing in the park with the kids, shopping golfing with Roger, etc.

The other cousins hated to see them go.

Before Stacy left for Mesa with her kids, we had lunch together at The Habit.

The Linds stayed through 'til Monday morning, 

and Addie had reminded me that we needed to have a tea party together from the moment she arrived.

So . . . we had a tea party on Sunday after church.

Our menu always includes chocolate milk in the teapot . . . 

. . . and strawberry shredded mini-wheats.

Addie loves pink!

Cheers!

Little Miss Fi had a surprise for us!

She pulled up on our coffee table, then stood there and grinned, pleased as punch with herself!

Another fun family gathering

is in the books!

Our home has been full of merriment and laughter and houseguests throughout October. 

For a few days, it's been kind of quiet around here. 

But we will close out the month as it began.

Roger's sister, Chyrrl and her husband, Glynn, arrive tomorrow . . .

Bridal Shower for Sweet Sydney

What!

We have a grandchild getting married?

Are we old enough?!!

Our oldest granddaughter, Sydney, got engaged on her birthday 

to a great guy she met at BYU, Jake Walker.

He is a Brit, from a town north of Cambridge 

and he is an RM from the Baltic States, a scholar, a great soccer player 

and he will graduate from BYU in December. 

They plan to be married in the Gilbert Temple on December 19, 2015.

Syd's Aunt Jodie volunteered to have a bridal shower for Sydney in Rick and Jodie's lovely home

and her Aunt Mindy sent out cute invitations and helped make yummy food.

They invited the Stratfords and the Youngs who live Up North.

Of course, Grandma Pam couldn't miss that!

Stacy drove Maddy, Londyn, Luke, Max and herself from Mesa to meet up with Roger and I south of Beaver, 

then I got in Stacy's van and Max and Londyn rode with Grandpa.

If you read this blog,

you know that we are on the road a lot.

On I-15 past Beaver, 

this literal milestone flipped over (Londyn took a pic) . . . 

. . . in our trusty Black Beast!
It has made countless trips to visit grandkids and we have done so in much-appreciated comfort.

Jodie had decked the halls, using Syd's wedding colors . . . 

. . . and it would be difficult to find a more gracious, more full-of-fun hostess!

Syd loves her Utah Stratford aunts, Jodie and Mindy,

who have both been so very supportive while she has been a BYU student in Provo - 
homes away from home!

Addie was excited that she got to come to her cousin Syd's girl party with her mommy, Mindy.

This mom and daughter are somewhat attached at the hip;
Each is the other's biggest fan.

 There will be new adjustments to be made by both 

with these upcoming nuptials,

but each member of the family loves Jake.

He has won his way into their hearts!

The shower guests are, from top left to right:

Noel Candland, Syd's best friend from high school and her roommate at BYU; Grandma Sherry Young; 

Aunt Melissa (Young) Fromm; Mom Stacy; Aunt Mindy (Stratford) Lind; Cousin Sadie Stratford; 

Aunt Jodie Stratford and Grandma Pam.

From left to right, bottom, are:

Great-Aunt Susie (Stratford) Haslam, Great-Grandma Lois Stratford; Syd holding Cousin Addie (Stratford) Lind; Great-Aunt Chyrrl (Stratford) Wayment; Cousin Katie Stratford, Sister Londyn, Sister Maddy and Cousin Abby Stratford.

(Not pictured are Great-Aunt Sherie Stratford, her daughter, Lexie, Aunt Shayne Young and her daughters, Andie and Taryn and her little baby, Macie, who all left before we took this pic.)

Stacy put together a wonderful recipe book with favorite recipes of not only hers and Syd's, 

but many of the attendees at the shower, and other family members.

It is a complete treasure, and Syd was overjoyed!

Great-Grandma Lois made Syd a pretty crocheted doily and washcloths

and also gave her nice pieces of tupperware.

This Betty Crocker's, Dinner for Two was my Bible the first year of marriage.
I gave it to Syd with notes and notations marked throughout of Roger and my favorite recipes.
Hopefully, she can try them, discover her favorites, then pass the book on to the next grandkid who is married.

Syd received many lovely gifts - some she had registered for and some great surprises.

Her aunts and uncles went in on a Bosche mixer (she loves to make bread) and Roger and I 

went in with Stacy on some All-Clad pots and pans.

A video had been made of Jake answering questions about Sydney, then Sydney was asked the same questions at the shower.

They matched on all but one (which Disney princess would Syd be?)!

Jodie made many delicious things to eat . . .

. . . an Asian pasta, chicken, fruit salad, fresh fruit and yogurt cups  . . .

. . . crunchy veggies and dip (not pictured Mindy made) . . . 

. . . homemade bread sticks that she whipped up just before the shower . . .

. . . and homemade ice cream-filled crepes with topping choices of homemade caramel, chocolate, 

lemon and berry sauces, coconut and raspberries.

Syd invited Sadie to be one of her bridesmaids . . .

. . . along with Noelle Candland and Haley Peterson.

Her other bridesmaids are Rachel Walker (Jake's sister-in-law), and her sisters, Londyn and Maddy.

The Stratford Great-Aunts and Grandmas

Grandma Lois with Scott's wife, Sherie, and their daughter, Lexie

Me with my girls

Syd with her sister, Londyn, and her cousin, Katie

Two proud grandmas with our sweet Syd

Three generations

Jodie put together these cute favors for each guest.

What a lovely shower it was - 

such a pleasant afternoon spent together with loved ones!

Now back up to about 2 PM that afternoon, as I was getting ready for the shower, 

Roger was getting ready to take the twins, Max and Luke, to the BYU Homecoming Game. 

Stacy had secured tickets for four - Roger, Max, Luke and Syd's fiancee, Jake

to be up in the loge box at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

With his face animated the way it still gets on Christmas and his voice at an excited pitch,

Roger said, "I think I'll take the boys to the game early. They will love all of the hoopla before the game!"

Somebody could hardly wait!

The twins carefully went over all the stats before the game started.

Roger said Luke wore his helmet that he had brought from home throughout the game.

I think a comment about the apple not falling too far from the tree is in order ;)

They were fed all kinds of food, then at half time, banana splits.

The Cougs played for a packed stadium and beat East Carolina in an exciting finish.

Jodie fixed a delicious dinner for us on Sunday after church, and Jake and Sydney were the guests of honor.

Just a couple of last pics of the twins playing a sports game together on the iPad - 

they are the ultimate of Best Buddy Bros!

It was such an enjoyable weekend, being with family, friends and fun - 

and lots of laughter!