Friends, Family, Golf . . .and Food!

YAHOO! 

Bob and Mary are back from their Church mission to Kenya and we resumed Aggie Night at Anne and Jay's. 

They have beautiful stories to tell of their experiences with the sweet Kenyans, whom they learned to love. 

We had a German dinner (Jay served his mission as a young man in Germany), with barbecued bratwurst, 

German potato salad, and watermelon. I brought a blueberry cornbread panzanella salad 

with blueberry vinaigrette and Mary brought some yummy brownies and ice cream.

Roger is going to give a quick description of his golf getaway with our friend, Jim Jensen.

The first day, we golfed the Eagle Vail Golf Course just a couple

 miles from Beaver Creer Resort in Colorado.

I took a picture of these lilacs because my mother likes them so much.  

They were just blooming in the high country.

The second day we played Lakota golf Course in the mountains just South of New Castle, Colorado.

On our drive back to Beaver Creek we decided to go the mountain route to Aspen and over Independence Pass 

on the Top of the Rockies Byway. 

It was a beautiful drive though the high mountains.

The final day we played Beaver Creek Golf Course which is a Robert Trent Jones design. 

It is very beautiful but difficult.

We are teeing off at an altitude of 7,860 feet at this tee box.

I had a great time golfing these three courses with long-time friend, Jim, and meeting some other golfers 

from all over the country, even some from Canada and Ireland.

Okay, back to Pam. I have a silly confession to make.

I don't like to stay in a house alone at night. In fact, before we moved to St. George, 

I can recall only one time I was ever completely alone overnight. 

I was in high school, had a summer job and my family (Mom, Dad, and four younger siblings) 

left on a day/night excursion without me because I had to stay and work. 

I was terrified to stay alone in our big house 

and I had asked different girlfriends to stay over and none could that night. 

I went to a Friday night party and a boy in our ward and good friend, Bill Hull, said, 

"I'll come and sit in your living room until you fall asleep and you'll never hear me leave." 

I remember lying in my dark bedroom, freaking out that I would hear our front door close 

and then know that I was ALL ALONE for the night! 

But true to his word, I didn't hear a thing and I survived to tell the tale!

I've just never lived alone. 

I lived in a sorority house in college, then married Roger 

and if he had to go out of town, 

I stayed at his Mom and Dad's. 

Then we had our babies and he often had to go on overnights and out of town flights in the Air Force, 

but I had my kid(s) with me. 

You see, as long as there is someone else in the house, be it only a baby, I'm fine. 

I know, it totally makes no sense - it's not like the baby can protect me, in fact, quite the opposite, 

but so be it - that's my irrational fear!

Skip to what brought on this rant - our good friend, Jim Jensen invited Roger 

to go on a 4 day 4 night golf junket with him. 

He has been going annually for 25 years with a group from his past and this year 

they went to golf three courses in and around Beaver Creek, Colorado. 

I really wanted him to go, so I beat the bushes for someone to come stay with me 

or maybe go visit one of my kids, the closest one being 3 1/2 hours away. 

Nothing worked out, so I determined - I CAN DO THIS!

I knew the secret was to Keep Busy!

So I called and invited a cool girl I wanted to get to know better to lunch in our home. 

We spent a lovely afternoon visiting and sharing together.

I went to the dentist, went to Chamber, planned and bought stuff for a Father's Day feast 

and just kept moving during the day.

I took some food over to Jim's wife, Kathy, who is recovering from some surgery and had a nice visit 

and I visited Kay and her daughters, Shonna and Michelle and Michelle's husband, Brian, and their kids, 

who were staying with her.

At night? 

Well, I did set up booby traps at every door and window entrance. 

I did leave on extra lights and close all shutters. 

I did lock my bedroom door and wedge a folding chair against it.

Guess it all worked - I slept every night and lived to carry on the next day!

Oh, and grandson Josh stayed with me on Friday night (a last minute bonus) 

on his way to his summer internship in California. Yay!

For my new friend's lunch, I made my shrimp and macaroni salad, marinated bean salad, pickled beets I prepared with fresh beets Roger brought home from a client friend's garden and I served a lemon raspberry cake I made.

I took a selfie after church on Father's Day and texted it to Roger, saying HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 

and he got home Sunday afternoon. 

We grilled steaks and had baked potatoes and fresh broccoli from Roger's friend's garden, 

but Roger's favorite part of Father's Day is the phone calls he receives from our kids.

Stacy was even able to call from Fiji, where she and Londyn were there on an FYI humanitarian mission 

to build a school.

Roger gets  choked up when his kids express their love to him.

The following Tuesday I had Kay over for lunch for chicken enchiladas to celebrate her birthday. 

I always love to hang out with my sister, Kay! 

Can't say that I like staying alone for very long, but I can say that I can do it!

2019 Merry Month of May

Happy Mother's Day!

After church, Roger fixed me a delicious cracked crab dinner, 
beginning with this yummy Mexican shrimp cocktail.
I am a lucky mom to have five great kids with five great spouses 
and 25 amazing grandkids!
A-a-a-nd an amazingly great husband!

Jared's Mountain View High School Graduation in Boise

 We drove half way to Boise for Jared's graduation on May 22 and stayed overnight with Lois in Ogden. 

Next morning she took us to breakfast at Criddle's and we got a to-go box for the cinnamon roll we ordered 

that was bigger than our head to take to the Smith kids from Grandma Great.

As they arrived home from school, each kid had some and there was plenty to feed five!

We love to visit the Smiths! They make us feel so welcome! 

Claire had welcome signs and cards she drew and colored waiting on our bed.

That evening, Sam took Claire and Anderson to the elementary school carnival . . .

 . . . and Roger and I went with Missy and Jedd to go through an endowment session in the Boise Temple. 

Jared's good friend was going through for his endowments and Missy and Jedd are friends with his parents.

Next day we met my sister, Joan, for lunch at Kona Grill in The Village for sushi. 

I love her and it's always fun to catch up with her and her kids and grandkids.

Friday night was a party in honor of the four graduating seniors in Jared's ward, 

which was held at one of their parent's homes. 

We had to take a pic of Claire wearing the headgear in Jared's gift bucket!

Isn't she a cute little Rainbow Brite?

Saturday morning at 11 AM in the Taco Bell Arena downtown was graduation ceremonies.

As each senior received his diploma, the jumbo screen showed his senior pic, which was really cool. 
We are so proud of this really fine young man. 
He has been Seminary President this year and he was a major player in the Boise Area Robotics Team, which competed regionally and won second place. 
Jared was accepted at BYU and at USU and had a hard time choosing where to go. 
He plans to major in electrical engineering, and they both have good departments in that. 
He said Aggie ice cream won him over!
We adore this kind, spiritually mature and outstanding boy!

His other grandparents, Pam and Wendell Smith, drove up from Malad for the festivities.
Jared had already shed his robe and cap when we took pics.

They have such a cute family!

Sam's going to miss Jared next year!

We were treated to a yummy meal at the Cottonwood Grille.
Claire plays a mean game of tic tac toe!

After lunch we hurried to Claire's dance recital.
She's a natural!

And what's a celebration day without ice cream? 
Reed's ice cream is almost as good as Aggie ice cream - the ultimate ice cream compliment!

Jared and Sam's birthdays are very soon, so we brought presents. When we were in Las Vegas last, 
we came up with the idea of shopping at the four-story M&M Store and creating personalized M & Ms 
for all of the Smith kids' upcoming birthdays and giving them to them at the same time 
when we came to Boise, which we're not able to do very often. 
Funny story. After we had created four messages each for each kids' cupful on the computer 
to be printed on the M & Ms, I was at the giant machine, dumping in each cup, one by one. 
A huge line had formed behind me, each tourist holding his one little cup of candy, 
waiting for his turn at the machine. 
We had also made one for granddaughter, Abby, whose birthday was in May. 
As the sales gal keyed up our sixth cup, she said, "This is the last one." Everyone in the line clapped and cheered. 
I stepped out in front of them and said, "Hey, we only made six. We have 25 grandchildren!" They all laughed!

Sunday, Jared spoke in church, after being up at the senior all night party. His talk was outstanding! 
We took pics afterwards on Smiths' front porch.

We wanted pics of him in his cap and gown.

Missy and Jedd made a delicious grilled salmon and chicken dinner. 

We took a quick pic after we had pretty well devoured it!

Ellie made delicious homemade chocolate mint (mint from their garden) and vanilla ice cream. 

Missy helped her made homemade waffle cones. 

She is thinking of having a little business this summer making and delivering ice cream.

Sunday night we so enjoyed getting to be in on a Come Follow Me lesson about some of Christ's parables 

with their wonderful family. 

They wanted to hear Grandpa tell some of his war stories 

from when he flew in the Air Force and we talked about Patriotism.

Monday morning, Veteran's Day, we attended a ward pancake breakfast with their family. 

Claire really got into the spirit of it!

Knowing we were going to drive to Logan to go to the Logan Cemetery, Missy wanted to send flowers 
from her yard to place on Grandma and Grandpa Gabe's graves.
She said the first time she ever paid attention to what fresh basil is was when she, Jedd and baby Jared 
lived with Grandpa for a few months while their first house in Boise was being built.
So she put some fresh basil from her garden in with the flowers. 

There has been so much rain this spring and it had rained in Logan all morning, but when we arrived around 3, 
it was beautiful and the cemetery looked so pretty.

We got some Bluebird chocolates, including an O'Aggie bar for Lois (her favorite), 

and headed to Ogden, then drove out to the West Weber Cemetery with her.

Chyrrl and Glynn came and met us there.

Next day, we had lunch with Chyrrl and Glynn and Lois at her favorite place, Chuck O'Rama, 

then drove to Rick's in North Salt Lake.

Katie's Woods Cross High School Graduation in SLC

This lovely girl has been such a ray of sunshine and personality plus ever since she was born. 
One of my Katie cuteness memories is of her doing the chicken dance with such darling facials and cute moves. 
She is a Student Body Officer this year and is graduating with a 4.0, one of only five in her senior class. 
She is a spiritual giant with lots of friends and dates.
She is planning to attend BYU next fall, along with sister, Sadie, and brother, Josh.
We adore this beautiful, spiritually mature bundle of happiness!

Woods Cross High School held their graduation ceremonies at WSU in Ogden, 
in order to have a large enough facility for all family and friends.

Josh is on a Church history study tour and Sadie was at BYU, but dad, Rick, mom, Jodie 

and sister, Abby were there to see Katie graduate.

Katie loves and is loved by the Polynesian kids - they call themselves Pollies and they call her, Little Ma. 

They have the custom at graduations of loading up the graduate with homemade leis, 

many made out of candy, snacks and money.

Rick treated us to dinner at the Senora Grill in Ogden afterwards.

Grandpa Bart with Katie - Kathie was home recovering from an operation.

We had a lot of fun playing with Blake while we were staying with Rick and Jodie. 

He just keeps getting cuter!

The Pollies loaded Katie up, too!

Roger and I had great cause to celebrate this May.
So it was merry - very!