More Memories in Mesa

JANUARY, 2016

Isn't life all about contrasts?

January puts on the brakes to life, at least in our experience.

There is a new normal that emerges, after the breakneck speed of the holidays.

And, isn't that good, to get a breather after so much celebrating?

Our January was spent catching up, cleaning up and hunkering down.

Roger and I were both busy with church activities.

Roger taught Priesthood for Branch Conference 

and I led the INSTA-CHOIR in, "The Lord Is My Shepherd."

We enjoyed each week of Brickey's D & C classes and have gotten together with friends for lunches and dinners. 

I enjoyed volunteering at the Chamber of Commerce this month, but am sad that my long-time volunteer partner, Bob, retired from the Chamber. 
With concerns about his eyesight, he isn't going to drive anymore.
In the day, he was an editor at the Salt Lake News Tribune, an avid hiker 
and he knows every nook and cranny in these parts. 
He is a Catholic with 13 children, a voracious reader and he has a quick wit 
that reminds me of my dad.
We had lots of lively and interesting discussions 
and I will miss him!

Mid-January we headed back to Mesa for our grandson, Ben's, ordination to the Priesthood.

When a boy turns twelve, it's good reason to celebrate!

We arrived in Mesa Friday night, cheered loud at Pete's high school basketball game,

then Roger and Ryan's family got up early to run.

All of their family had signed up for, "The Running with the Bulls,"

a fundraiser for their high school 

and is a 5k or a 10k run for all categorized ages.

Emily signed Roger up for the 10k in the 70's category.

He had gotten wind of it a couple of weeks before, but thought it was a 5k, which would be no big deal for him 

because he runs 3 miles almost every morning.

Hooray for the Mountain View Bulls!

Roger placed 2nd in the 10k in his age category!

Ryan placed 7th in the 10k in his age category . . . 

. . . Anna placed 2nd in the 10k in her category 

and Emily placed 2nd in the 10k in Women Over All!

The only woman that beat her runs on the high school track team!

Peter had to hurry off to basketball practice, 

but he placed 5th in the 10k in his age category. 

They all did awesome!

I just went on my usual walk that morning,

as my running days are long over,

but I am so proud of all of them!

As a huge treat for Ben's birthday,

Ryan and Emily took the two sets of grandparents, Ben and Peter to dinner at a wonderful restaurant.

Mastro's has a restaurant, Oceans, in Vegas, where Roger and I have celebrated a couple of times.

We all enjoyed a delicious gourmet meal including different steaks, Chilean sea bass, rack of lamb and amazing sides, which included lobster gnocchi.

They brought Ben this wonderful dessert.

The lucky diners from Ryan's family

The lucky grandparents

After we got back from dinner, Ben had a birthday party at their home with his friends.

One of the Bishop's counselors came over after the block meetings on Sunday 
and Ryan ordained Ben to the Priesthood. 

The Youngs and the Gilbert grandparents came for this special occasion.

Father and son

 Son and mom

Ben with best (and only) bro, Pete

What a wonderful family they are!

Proud grandparents - 

Ben with Grandma Pam and Grandpa Roger . . . 

. . . and Grandma Susan and Grandpa Paul

Emily and Ryan prepared a tasty grilled chicken dinner for us and the Youngs that evening.

Monday, as we were pulling out of their driveway,

I spied these little cuties playing in the sand with their Fairy House they "built."

What creative imaginations they have!

Oh, to be a little girl again!

Granddaughters Becca and Sarah Kate with their friend, Addie

Stacy treated us to lunch at hers and Tom's favorite sushi place

and it was amazing! 

We hopefully will be going back there 

on the next memory-making trip to Mesa!

After lunch, we hit the road for home.

Our car seems to have a magnet that pulls us to Mesa!

After Christmas and New Year's Eve

After returning from Mesa Saturday night, 

we attended our church meetings in our branch on Sunday,

finally home, but just for one day!

Monday morning we were off to travel Up North.

We met our dear friend, Karleen, 

for a nice dinner of soup and salads.

We always look forward to catching up with her.

Some of our other visits - 

stayed at Rick and Jodie's, got my hair done at Jessica's hair salon, visited Roger's mom,

had lunch at Oasis in SLC, then shopped at City Creek.

Silly selfie at Oasis

My sister, Patty, fixed us a yummy lunch at their home in Elkridge on Wednesday 

and we caught up with Patty and Hal 

and we talked about Preston's book script that I read (he is very talented!).

Then we drove home on scary, snowy roads.

They invited us to stay over, but we had previously been away from home so long,

we wanted to hunker down in our own home.

Kathy and Lorin Nielsen had their fabulous New Year's Eve Party for the neighborhoods and the Branch and Roger and I went over that afternoon to help.

They basically feed the world on New Year's Eve with homemade soups, 
salads, appetizers, ham, veggies, breads, desserts, etc. etc., 
and never really ask for help; 

it's just on a volunteer basis the day of the Open House. 
Kathy also sets beautifully-decorated tables 

and it is a wonderful party 
with everyone chatting and mingling and getting to know one another better. 

Over 100 people come.

I just have a couple of pics that were taken by our branch photographer that night.

That's Jackie Fullmer, a branch member,  in the middle. 

She is a fellow Aggie who started the Aggiettes and I actually had a volleyball class from her when I was a freshman at USU.

This lovely party really did cap off a great Holiday Season for us,

and we look forward to a new year.

We hope 2016 will be as filled with happiness and joy 

with family and friends as 2015 has been.

We count our many blessings,

counting them one by one . . . 

Christmas in Mesa

Our entire family, in Mesa for Sydney and Jake's wedding, 
got to spend two or three days together 
and have our own Christmas celebration 
before they returned to their homes for Christmas.

We were really pleased that, because Peter's confirmation 
to become a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood came on the Sunday 
after Sydney's wedding on Saturday, 
all of the Priesthood holders in our family could be there for it. 

Bishop Eb Rose, with our Priesthood holders, minus Josh

Emily and Ryan had a lovely turkey dinner in their home Sunday night.

What's a large family gathering without some drama, right?

Uncle Ryan and Uncle Tom fixed little Charlie right up.

Next day, all of the kids had fun at the Train Park.

Grandma and Grandpa even took a ride!

That night we all had tasty fast food together, then went to a performance of  

Michael McLean's, The Forgotten Carols in Mesa.

Tuesday night was our last night together and so we held our talent show, 

and we exchanged gifts and "Santa" and "Mrs. Claus" came with gifts 

for each child from Grandma Pam and Grandpa Roger.

We had Jalapeño Buck's burritos, quesadillas and Aunt Stacy made Italian ices. . . 

. . . we unwrapped cousin and brother/sister gifts,





. . . had a magnificent talent show,

then, one by one, Grandma and Grandpa loved and gifted each grandkid -

well, 23 of them. 

Josh was in Hong Kong on his mission and Sydney was off on her honeymoon!

Fiona

Claire

Charlie

Adelaide

Anderson

Sarah Kate

Blake

Max

Luke

Jack

Becca

Ellie

Maddy

Abby

Ben

Sam

Anna

Londyn

Jared

Katie

Pete

Jake

Sadie

While we were just hangin' out together,

Roger shot these cute pics of little Claire 

showing to the older kids, stuff on the iPhone.

It's a new world!

Rick's family was there an extra day and he hadn't seen his brother's new office.

We all took a tour. What an amazing job he did designing it and now, 

he has a fine facility to see and take care of his patients.

Downtown Mesa has an ice rink this winter.

The cousins couldn't wait to get their skates on!

After they skated, we walked through the gorgeous Mesa Temple grounds,

all lit up for Christmas, then we hurried to see Creed, a continuation of the Rocky story.

On Christmas Eve, the Youngs have the tradition of going to Benihana, 
 or Benny Ho Ho's, as they call it.

I love to watch their cute little faces when the show starts with the chef, 

his knives and the fire.

The food tasted extra delicious!

We next headed to Ryan and Emily's for the reenactment of the Nativity. 

Their tradition is to make empanadas, because both Ryan and Emily went to South America on their missions.

Ryan played Christmas carols for us to sing along, then he played Pachelbel's Canon in D.

I guess you can tell how I feel about that beautiful piece.

Christmas morning, they all lined up at the Young house, from the smallest to the tallest,

ready to go see what Santa brought for them!

We didn't snap any pics, but we had such a happy morning being with this cute family, 

enjoying their delight.

Luke following in the footsteps of his grandpa, dad and uncle

Stacy set a beautiful table for Christmas dinner.

Ryan and Emily and family came over for bone-in ham, ham sauce, candied yams, 

mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, salad and rolls.

And we each had our very own Ben and Jerry's or Haagen Daz individual ice cream containers 

for dessert!

Roger and I left for St. George the next day and the Young's flew to Hawaii on Sunday morning.

Roger and I spent 13 days in Mesa in the Young home,

and we were treated with so much kindness and love.

Nothing makes us happier than being with our kids,

and this trip offered up that joy in spades!