I have been blogging on blogspot for 12 years, beginning in January, 2010, on Stratford Scoop, then I started a blog of my own, Pipes of Pam in 2012. For some reason unbeknownst to me, my yearly, hard copy book in 2022 would not publish on blog2print, so I stopped blogging, not knowing if this website was at fault and did I want to continue writing my history on it. A web expert at my husband's work has had a similar experience, resolved it and has assured us he can get it published.
So here goes, in the next 2 posts, a catch-up, condensed version of some highlights of our first 5 months.
January 6, our dear friend from when we lived in Ogden, Kent Peterson (to the right of Roger), and his sweet wife, Lynene (whom he married after Nyla died), hosted us, his daughter, Kylie, and husband, Mark, and some other friends, for dinner at Cliffside in St. George. Every time he comes to St. George, he takes us out to dinner to catch up. He and Roger have both been the bishop of our Ogden ward.
Our first great-grandchild, Caleb, continues to thrive in his world of being adored by us, his parents, grandparents and aunts next door and everyone else around him. What a cutie pie!
On January 10, Poppy Jane and Rosie Kate joined their mom, Sydney and dad, Jake and brothers Charlie and Henry. That's a houseful of 4 kids under 5. They could not be more precious!
We met with our HOA dinner group at Pork Belly on January 19. They have been a fun and lively group!
We had Aggie Dinner in our home on January 31. We enjoyed (my mom's recipe) ham loaf, scalloped fennel and potatoes, asparagus, green salad and cinnamon streusel cake and ice cream.
Every year we get together with Jane and Dan Madsen to celebrate mine and Jane's birthdays. Hers is February 13 and mine is February 14. We have known them since we lived in the married housing at USU and Jane and I commuted back and forth to Hyrum to do our first year of teaching together.
Granddaughter Claire made this cute box to receive her valentines. That family comes up with the cleverest art projects for holidays.
I had a great birthday that we spent home this year. Roger sent me these beautiful salmon-colored roses and we had a delicious dinner at Rib and Chop House.
Granddaughter Abby opened up her Church mission call on Valentine's Day and we watched online.
None of us guessed the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mission - she is thrilled! But cute Abby would have been thrilled wherever she had been called!
I like to make muffins to send for Roger and his golf buddies on Monday mornings. I made extras and sent around to neighbors and friends for Valentines.
Our dear friends from Ogden, Jan and Dave Noyes, who now live in Texas, stayed with us for 3 nights and we loved catching up with them. They both are so much fun and we have a big history with them and they make us laugh - a lot! Jan's sister, Marcene, 92, lived in a nursing home in St. George, passed away and they flew in for her funeral.
We met with our next HOA neighbor group at Cappelletti's Italian restaurant. We are getting to know some great people being a part of this fun program..
On March 3, we got to go through the Bountiful Temple with Abby for her to receive her endowments. It was a great family occasion with her sister, Sadie, and husband, Joe, her brother Josh and wife, Jaylene, her parents, Rick and Jodie and Jodie's parents, Kathie and Bart also in attendance. Katie was still in Jerusalem. We had a yummy Mandarin meal afterward.
Our branch celebrated the Relief Society Birthday Party early in March with a tea party luncheon. I am sitting with my sweet friend, Mary, and next-door neighbor, Lillian.
We traveled up north again for a bridal shower for grandson Pete's fiancee, Izzy, held at Pete's Aunt Christine and Uncle Clark Gilbert's home in North Salt Lake.
They are such a cute couple and we are excited to get Izzy into our family!
Roger's sisters, Susie and Chyrrl, are always so supportive, coming to every family gathering!
The Ryan Stratford girls
Pete's and Izzy's grandmas
Stratfords all - cousins, sisters, moms and a grandma
Rick and Jodie hosted us and Ryan's family with a delicious Sunday dinner.
A quick turn-around, we headed for Las Vegas with Ryan, Emily, Becca and Sarah the following Thursday to watch Sarah play in a 2-day soccer tournament. They treated us to overnight in a hotel and some yummy meals together. We enjoyed the famous lasagna at The Bootlegger in Las Vegas . . .
. . . and the girls picked California Pizza Kitchen the next day.
It was chillier than normal in Las Vegas in March.
It was fun being with Ryan's family and watching our cute and zippy Sarah play soccer.
Our grandson Jake brought a visiting friend from Sweden, Alexander, to stay with us overnight on March24, after touring Zion National Park that day. Roger took them golfing the next day at Sunbrook. We enjoyed chatting with A. about life in Sweden and asked lots of questions. We fed them some good American meals and loved having them stay with us.
That Sunday, we drove to Mesa to stay with the Youngs for a few days. Here we are having lunch with Stacy and Londyn at Londyn's favorite place for lunch.
Ever since I made BBQed ribs for the twins when we tended them a long time ago, they have talked about them. So I told them I wanted to make ribs for them. I made the sauce and the rub and baked them in the oven, then Roger put them on their outdoor grill. The boys were very happy!
Coming next will be a quick report on our April and May.
