Las Vegas
Roger and I spent a day in Las Vegas celebrating our 56th Wedding Anniversary - over 3 months late! December gets so busy, so we had decided take a little day trip (we live less than 2 hours from LV) down the road. Finally, this was it! Our daughter, Mindy, lived in NYC for 3 years and she always raved about Eataly there. The concept is a collection of restaurants featuring imported Italian foods and shops with other Italian products. Some are walk-ups and some, sit downs within the restaurant. We shared a Caesar salad and a plate of freshly-made tagliatelle with fruits de la mer in a cute restaurant, followed by sour cherry and the best pistachio gelato we'd ever tasted from a walk-up!
We spent the rest of the day shopping, not buying much, but just having fun together.
We have probably the most generous son in the world! To celebrate Roger's upcoming 80th birthday (August 27), our oldest son, Rick, hosted a trip to the Masters Golf Tournament, inviting his dad, his brother, his son, Josh, and his son-in-law, Joe. On April 8, we drove up north for Roger to fly to Atlanta with them, first leg of the journey.
That story will continue further down. I stayed with Jodie and Blake while he was gone. I've shared how wonderful Jodie is on this blog before. I've told her mom, Kathie, that she has to share, because she's my daughter, too! Jodie drove me to Ogden for Jessica to do my hair, went to her mom's, then picked me up after and took us to dinner at a fun Mexican restaurant in Ogden, Maria's. She took this pic outside as we were leaving - two grandmas with Blake. We love this little guy!
Next day, she arranged for her daughters, Sadie (lives in SLC) and Katie (attends BYU and lives in Provo) and Josh's wife, Jaylene, and granddaughter, Lydia (they temporarily live next door in SLC), and Jaylene's mom, Sally (lives in Orem), to meet up with us at Gourmandise in SLC for lunch. So yummy and so fun!
On Thursday while Blake was at school, she told me to pick a place to go to lunch, and we tried, Cucina in the Avenues. Tasty food, and I especially enjoyed being with Jodie. She then took me shopping to a couple of our favorite stores. I do adore this delightful girl!
Now, let's go on to, "one of the biggest highlights of my (Roger's) life!"
The Masters Golf Tournament. 2024
I begin with this pic of Rick and Roger, on this iconic golf course in Augusta, Georgia. Rick had every detail planned a year ahead of this grand adventure, and many unforgettable memories were made! I had Roger label all of the pics, so he shares some of those memories in his words.
We are looking down a four par hole with sand traps all around. We watched Tiger chip out of the sand on this hole to within three feet of the pin.
After we landed in Atlanta, we drove to Truist Park to watch a Braves game with the Mets, accompanied by a little rain.
This A would light up every time the Braves got a hit.
I was the ketchup guy. Rick bought us Southern fried chicken and fries at the concession stand.
The Braves beat them, 6-5.
We spent 2 days there, the first watching pre-tournament happenings - the pros practicing in the morning, then playing a 9-hole, 3 par tournament in the afternoon. Several of them were with their family members, walking with them in white jump suits. This is the only day you are allowed to take pictures, and they must be taken on cameras, not cell phones. Cell phones are not allowed on any days of the tournament.
Thursday is the first day of the Masters.
This picture is taken for us at the Augusta National Golf Course at the end of Magnolia Lane and entrance to the famous club house.
This is Butler Cabin, where they have the Green Jacket Ceremony for the winner of the Masters.
This is the main leader board at the Masters with all the golfers' names as you enter and it is close to the 18th green.
When we got there early and lined up to be let in after the thunderstorm stopped (2 1/2-hour delay) the first morning of the tournament, with our chairs loaned to us by the owners of the VRBO where we stayed, we speed-walked to Amen Corner. It is a great vantage point to view part of the 11th, 12th and 13th holes, where historically the Masters is won or lost because of their difficulty.
Beautiful Amen Corner
The grounds are immaculate! During TV commercials, ground crews with equipment come out from everywhere, cleaning off every pine needle and leaf, replacing every divot with turf and grass seed and removing any debris. Augusta National Golf Course is spectacularly beautiful!
Here's our line-up of lucky spectators -
Father, Rick and son, Josh
Tee box for number 13th hole
Vijay Singh
John Rahm (in the white)
Victor Hovland, who is from Norway
Rory Mcilroy, practicing the putting green
Dustin Johnson, getting some water after finishing putting on hole number 2
Dustin Johnson, walking to hole number 3 tee box
This is Cameron Smith, just after hitting his tee shot.
We followed Tony Finau and his kids for several holes. He is such a great family man!
The prices of the food served at the golf course are kept very low and the food with the Master's logo on the menu are iconic. In the 2 days, we tried almost everything (with the exception of the beverages - the lemonade was great), and we loved the pimento cheese and all of the sandwiches and the Georgia peach ice cream sandwiches!
The azaleas throughout the golf course are gorgeous, and they weren't even in full bloom!
We are watching the pros at one of the greens at the Masters. You can sit in empty chairs at any spot until the owners show up, then you just move. No one takes or moves your seats. When the golfers tee off or putt, it is deadly silence. There is no loud, raucous cheering. It is a Gentleman's Game.
This is a bunker on the right we watched Tiger Woods hit out of to within three feet of the pin.
This is me with my other wonderful son, Ryan. We all loved being together!
Beautiful 18th green at the Masters with the homes behind
Wednesday evening after a full day at the Masters, we ate at a recommended taco shop.
I had a mixture of veggies, shrimp and chicken over a bed of rice, the we all shared.
This is my bedroom at the VRBO, checking our my rain gear for Thursday at the Masters.
This is the VRBO Rick booked, which was close to the Masters course.
Friday we drove from Augusta to Atlanta and half-way to the airport, we stopped at Great Waters Golf Course on Lake Oconee and golfed 18 holes, which Rick had pre-arranged. It was a beautiful course on a lake.
This is the entrance to Great Waters Golf Course. It was gated and a pass was needed to enter.
Here we are in front of Great Waters Golf Club House
Layout of Great Waters golf course on Lake Oconee
Brothers
Looking down the fairway at Lake Oconee
Looking down the fairway from the tee box of a par four with water almost around the complete green and Lake Oconee in the background
A par three over the water to the green - Josh and Joe
Rick checking the distance on the tough par three with water and bunkers all around the green
Rick going for the green to make it a short hole and he puts it on the green!
It was a beautiful golf course; it was cart path only so it was a lot of walking.
Roger hitting on a par three with a creek and bunkers in front of the green
The golfers flew home Friday night. I'm not sure I've ever seen Rick, Josh and Roger so excited, talking over each other in Rick's kitchen about the trip.
Here is a text that Joe sent to Rick after he got home, responding to how everyone was raving to each other about the great time they had.
"Absolutely agree. Thanks Rick so much! I enjoyed every second of it. Words can’t do it justice. Sadie could tell I loved it so much that she jokingly asked if it was better than our wedding! Loved being with all of you."
Saturday we said goodbye and left to go to Patty and Hal's to catch up with them and stay overnight and go to church with them on Sunday. Patty fixed wonderful meals for us, and after a delicious Sunday dinner, we drove home to St. George.
Saying goodbye to our precious Blake
We took a pic in Patty and Hal's living room on Sunday after church.
A Name and a Blessing for Lydia
We drove back up north again on Sunday, April 21, for Lydia's blessing. Josh and Jaylene hosted it in their home (they live in Rick and Jodie's pool house next door until they leave for Cornell in New York in August for Josh to work on his MBA). They held it Sunday evening so many of Jaylene's siblings, spouses and cousins could attend.
Jaylene's mom, Sally, led the opening song and Jodie offered a prayer.
These men were invited to stand in the circle - Josh's grandpa, Jaylene's and Josh's dads, their ward's Bishopbric member, Sadie's husband and Katie's boyfriend and Jaylene's brothers and brother-in-laws.
The Josh Stratford family - Jaylene, Josh, Caleb and Lydia
Jodie, Jaylene, Lydia and Josh and our son, Rick
Rick's family - Joe, Sadie, Katie and Caleb, Jaylene, Lydia, Josh, Jodie, Blake and Rick
This beautiful little baby is our 6th great-grandchild.
Lydia with her great-grandparents, adding great-grandma, Kathie
Jaylene's dad, Maynard. and her mom, Sally, with their 56th grandchild. (Jaylene is the 12th of 12 children.)
We had the BYU graduation and our granddaughter, Addie's, musical to go to the following Thursday, so we stayed with Rick until then. (Jodie went with her mom on a mother/daughter retreat to Scottsdale.)
Monday night we got to see Blake play in a softball game with his special needs team.
Blake's talking to the coaches and getting pumped up for the game.
Blake is the only team member who hit a pitched ball, not one off the tee, and he hit the first pitch (can you see it in the air?). His hit rolled into the outfield and he ran hard for first base! What a wonderful program that is! The kids were so fun to watch!
Tuesday night Roger's siblings and spouses met us at the Mandarin in Bountiful for dinner (his brother, Scott, and wife, Sherie, couldn't come). We had a yummy, family-style dinner and gave them copies of our history books, Pam & Roger. When we lived in Ogden for 20+ years, we got together often, and we miss that. It was fun to catch up!
Wednesday we got together for a long-overdue lunch with our dear friend, Karleen, at Schmitt's Bakery and Cafe. We always look forward to being with her - we have many years of friendship and lots of water under the bridge!
Two Grandkids and their Spouses Graduate from BYU
The BYU Commencement was at 10:00 AM Thursday morning. Having two grandkids and both of their spouses walking to receive their diplomas, we were excited to meet up with them and be there for this important occasion they had worked so hard to earn. Apostle Gerrit W. Gong was the keynote speaker and he delivered an excellent talk.
We met the graduates and families afterward for photos.
Our 2nd son, Ryan and his wife, Emily's son, Peter, and daughter, Anna, graduated, and, how lucky is that that their spouses, Izzy and Jack, finished their degrees and graduated at the same time!
Jack, Anna, Pam, Roger, Peter and Izzy
Peter has a great job in Dallas in marketing they headed for right after graduation.
Jack is planning to be a medical doctor and Anna is in marketing and has a job waiting for them in NYC, where they are moving.
It was so great to catch up with our wonderful son, Ryan; in his busy medical practice, he is stacked up in surgeries for months and he's in his 4th year serving as a bishop of their large ward.
Emily's parents, Paul and Susan Gilbert, also had a son's daughter graduating, so we made a large gathering of proud in-laws, including Izzy's and Jack's families. Great to see everyone!
We had lunch with Ryan, Emily, Becca and Sarah (Pete and Anna were with the Vincents and the Clydes), and we had a leisurely chat, catching up. We sent our presents with Ryan and Emily to give to the graduating couples.
Ryan videoed them opening up their BYU embroidered pillows, which is traditionally what we give to our BYU graduates. (The company needs to make a USU one for upcoming graduating Aggies!)
We hung out the rest of the afternoon at Mindy and Jeff's and Charlie had his best buddy over, and I had Rog take a pic of those two cute faces! They were hilarious, listening to them interact with each other.
Mindy and Jeff took us for sushi at Tsunami. Little Fi absolutely loves sushi, and she and Mindy were having fun stuffing themselves with it. They both like it spicy!
They caught us in the same position, waiting for our sushi!
So fun to be with this cute family!
Addie Stars in Musical Rock of Ages
Addie played Helga Klinemann, the antagonist in the story.
Her role was like a harsh Nazi mother to a young boy, and she played it to the hilt! Her"child" was a great physical comedy actor, and they were so funny!
Addie and her "son."
We are so proud of Addie. She sang beautifully and she could probably play anyone!
We drove home to St. George after the play and got to bed about 2 AM. What a busy week!
Saturday night we were invited to a surprise 80th Birthday Party for a college friend who lives in our branch, Steve Whitmer. Most of his kids and grandkids were there, as well as many members of our branch. It's hard to believe Roger's and my 80th are almost here!
Steve Whitmer
I'll end with a pretty shot Roger took outside the Crystal Lakes Clubhouse after the party.
Lots of action for us this April! And it doesn't look as if May will slow down. We're just glad we can support these special occasions of our loved ones and hope it continues!
