Thursday, July 6, 2023

June + the 4th of July

Our June was probably the quietest it's been for us since Covid shut-down. 
Roger has golfed 2 or 3 times a week, I have tried several new recipes and read several books. And we have both been preparing both mentally and physically for our upcoming trip to the land of our ancestors, Norway and Sweden, with my siblings and spouses. We soon leave to go up north for a couple of days, then off we fly to  Copenhagen to catch our ship to cruise Norway's fjords, then visit villages in both countries where our ancestors were from. This trip has been 20 years in the making and it was all set up to go a couple years ago, then Covid struck. We plan to take lots of scenic pics with all of us in our "native" countries, so I thought I had better catch up my blog before we leave.

We enjoyed another fun and delicious Aggie dinner at Anne and Jay's.


Missy and Jedd's family sent us some great pics while visiting the Sawtooths. All of our kids and grandkids are recently on the move throughout the world, including trips to England, France, Italy, India, the Maldives, Nicaragua (on a service mission), Bolivia (Church mission), Sun Valley, Australia, Africa, Israel, Scandinavia, California, Oklahoma (Church mission), Germany, rafting in Oregon, Ireland, Estonia, Canada and Lake Powell. On a given day, someone or someones are far away from home!


Sydney, who lives in Watercolor, Florida, is visiting her parental home with her 4 kids - twins with twins - Brothers Luke and Max holding her baby girls, Poppy and Rosie.


On Father's Day, we enjoyed Roger's favorites  -  wedge salads with homemade blue cheese dressing and Balsamic reduction dressing . . . 


 Alaskan crab, barbecued steak, smashed potatoes, asparagus . . .


. . . and my Key lime pie.


Roger enjoys golfing with his buddies, Karl, Derral and Dave every Monday and Thursday mornings, and he's also enjoyed going with his friend from Ogden, Jim, and his friend from Aggie days, Jay, and also others in our branch.


I begin my report on our 4th of July doings with a pic of adorable great-grandson, Caleb, waving Old Glory!



Stacy, Tom and family had been on Jerry's houseboats with the Youngs - (they filled up 4 houseboats!) the week before the 4th. Steve and Barb's oldest boy, Braedon, is acting in 2 Shakespeare plays this summer at the Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, and we drove up on the 4th to be with Tom, Stacy, Max, Luke, and Sydney and kids, who were visiting from Florida. We hadn't seen her twins, Poppy and Rosie, and we were so excited to meet them and spend the day with the family. 


Steve bought tickets for all family members who were there to the matinee of a fun comedy, "The Play That Goes Wrong".


After the play, Steve and Barb treated us all to a delicious pizza dinner at Centro.

Grandpa Tom holding Henry


Rog and I babysat the twins in the motel room while Syd and the Youngs went to see Braedon in Romeo and Juliet. We got to see him last year in King Lear. We were tickled to get to hold and cuddle these adorable little girls!


Next day, preceding their long drive back to Mesa, we met up with Stacy's family for lunch at Zupas (Charlie's and Henry's favorite!)


We were so happy to get to be with Sydney, our oldest granddaughter, and her darling kids and, also, to be with part of Stacy's family. We are lucky grandparents!