HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOIS! - 91!

Who knew 91 could look so good!

Happy

 

Lois!

And part of the reason she does 

and is so young at heart 

is she continues her lifetime good habits of hard work, positive attitude and serving others.

Roger and I headed up north on Saturday and when we arrived, 

we went to have pizza and a salad at Ogden Pizzaria.

Grandpa didn't much like pizza and Grandma never got enough of it, 

and this is her favorite pizza place.

After dinner, we drove out to the Wayment farm to pick some tomatoes from their garden.

Look who jumped right in to help!

Like mother, like son

There is nothing like fresh tomatoes from right out of the garden to take back home.

Thanks, Chyrrl and Glynn, for sharing!

We stayed with Lois, and on Sunday, Lois's birthday, we went to church with her, 

then started setting up for her over 80 kids, grandkids and great-grandkids 

who came over for a hamburger cookout in her backyard.

It was so pleasant sitting under her giant tree, enjoying the last summer weather, before everyone came.

Her pretty daughters, Chyrrl, Susie and Shellie planned a wonderful celebration.

The apples don't fall far from the tree.

Roger took some fun panorama shots of the backyard as everyone gathered 

to celebrate this beloved lady's life.

A cotton candy machine was rented again because it went over so big at her 90th birthday party.

Little Fiona loved her Great Aunt Susie!

. . . and Fi loved Grandma's tree swing!

. . . and she loved every bite of food she tasted!

These two cute cousins, Mindy and Angie, have lots of happy memories of growing up together, 

hanging out together at Grandma's every Sunday night and they had lots of sleepovers at each other's houses.

Okay, Grandma, now it's time for birthday cake and presents!

There are 91 candles on that cake!

Gift time!

She was so tickled that so many grandkids and great-grandkids could be there!

Mindy, Jeff, Jack, Adelaide, Charlie and Fiona came from Highland, 

and Jodie came with Abby and Blake, then Rick came late in his suit after Bishop meetings.

She truly has a special relationship with every one of the kids - they each adore her 

and she adores each of them!

These are the grandkids who could be there.

All of her kids and spouses were there except, of course, Gordie, and his wife, JaNae (out of town).

Her kids, Roger, Chyrrl, Scott, Shellie and Susie

Roger took a shot of the two of us late that evening.

Big day!

Monday we drove out to Willard to get peaches to take home,

then again celebrated Lois's birthday at her favorite place.

We are so grateful for this shining light in our lives,

and grateful that we could get to celebrate her 91st birthday with her!

She's not really 91, but 18 with 73 years experience!

Cool Company

In the last couple of weeks, two visits occurred at our house that we look forward to every year - 

Rick's family came, then my friend, Karleen, came.
Our oldest child, Rick, and our youngest, Mindy, both live up north, 
so we get visits from them more often than from the other three.

On September 8, Rick, Jodie, Katie, Abby and Blake came to St. George for Katie to play 

for WCHS's tennis team in a big tournament.

She played two doubles matches on Friday and two on Saturday.

What a fun player she was to watch, 

hitting straight returns, both fore-hand and back-hand strokes.
We saw a lot of good volleys.

She and her partner, Kaili, are good friends, as are their parents - Rick and Jodie have known Tibi and Chris 
for a long time, so that makes it even more fun to watch them 

high five and encourage each other.

They won 3 out of their 4 matches, and probably would have won the last one if they had gone to bed earlier. 

Their tennis team all stayed in a house with a home theater and pool and they stayed up late both nights. 

I remember those slumber? party days!

On Friday night, we had both families over for dinner before we all went to Tuacahn to see Peter Pan.

I fixed Italian beef/French dip sandwiches on toasted ciabotta rolls 

with provolone cheese. 

We love having this great kid and his family come visit!

Katie's friend, Sarah (foreground), also ate with us, and she is a granddaughter to my "little sister" in the sorority 

that I was in in college. Small world!

  

Rick and Jodie try to take their kids to Tuacahn every year.

It's always a treat to see these professional Disney productions with the kids.

Rick and Jodie left Saturday afternoon, then Monday morning Karleen arrived from Salt Lake on the shuttle.

Yahoo!

We look forward to going to the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City with Karleen every year. 

She is such a dear friend!

On Tuesday night, we saw this classic musical featuring the Marx Brothers, 

Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo, and music by Irving Berlin.

It was fast-paced slapstick and loads of fun!

There is much new to see on the "Shakespeare" campus at Southern Utah University.

There are two new theaters, including a huge, new "Globe" outdoor theater 

and a more intimate "blackbox" theater, 

to add to the already-existing large indoor Randall Jones Theater.

Oh, and there is a wonderful new art museum.

The surrounding landscaping is lovely and we were very impressed with it all.

On Wednesday we returned to CC and spent the day, had a tasty lunch 

and attended a matinee of "Julius Caesar,"

which was costumed in modern times but none of Shakespeare's words were changed.  

It was  graphic, with lots of blood and ak47 rifles instead of swords and very dark.

Hmmm.

Jim and Kathy Jensen, also friends from Ogden but moved to St. George, joined us for a delicious dinner 

at The Depot (wish we had taken a pic),

then we saw a hilarious version of "The Odd Couple!"

It was performed by two very gifted physical comics who we have seen in many productions, 

and they can be anybody.

In fact, they trade roles of Felix and Oscar, depending on which day you see the play. 

On Saturdays, they let the audience pick!

We had such fun together!

Karleen left about noon Thursday on the shuttle, and we can chalk up another great experience together.

In fact, our house was filled with good company for the last two weeks, 

and tomorrow we head up north to stay with Lois and celebrate her 91st birthday.