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.