Sunday, January 4, 2015

LET'S CELEBRATE! - Our 47th Wedding Anniversary in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a wonderland at Christmastime!



Roger and I have kind of made it a tradition to slip off to Las Vegas during the second week of December 
to celebrate our wedding anniversary, since we moved to St. George. 
The crowds are relatively smaller, and the hotels are decorated like fairylands. 


In the Cosmopolitan is a wonderful Greek/Mediterranean restaurant
that offers a week-day prix fixe 3 course lunch that had a lot of positive comments on the internet 
for its value and its deliciousness. 
I have talked about my quest to find gourmet food at reasonable prices in Vegas, 
and sometimes I have struck out 
(as attested to in my post about the Hot Feel Seafood Restaurant in China Town),
and sometimes, we score!
We had to try it!




One of their signature dishes is their grilled octopus.
I had it for my appetizer, and it was delicious.


Roger tried their fresh tomato (this time of year, really?) and cheese salad.
The tomatoes were sweet and tasted like they were right off of the vine.



This is one of the best fresh fish entrees we have ever had - grilled sea bass.


The dessert was Greek yogurt made from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk, which doesn't sound that good 
to someone who doesn't like goat cheese, but the flavor was full and rich. 
Our waiter knew that it was our anniversary, so he brought ours like this.  
We rate this restaurant - SCORE!


Roger had booked our one-night stay at the Aria a couple months ago at a great price, 
including $50 resort credit, which we used for their buffet that night.
It offers good sushi, seafood, Indian food with fresh baked naan bread, and, of course, Jean Philippe desserts. Yum! 
We have stayed at several different places in Vegas, 
and you can't beat the Aria for lovely, modern rooms at good deal prices.



Housed in the Aria is the Jean Philippe chocolate shoppe,
and we had to take a selfie.


The Grinch is made almost entirely out of chocolate.



We always check out the Bellagio on these get-aways; 
their terrarium area is always gorgeous!




Next day, before we headed to Primm to Christmas shop at the outlets,
we had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants,
Mon Ami Gabi in the Paris.


Every year, when Roger tells them it is our anniversary,
the waiter brings us this delicious, free profiterole.


Can you blame us for having lunch here every anniversary?


So, after this great get-away,
we will chalk up #47 - well celebrated!

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Birthday Shout Outs for December

These two great guys in our family had birthdays in December.
So a big BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT to each is in order!

Brand new Eagle Scout, Peter, exemplifies and yes, even personifies all of the qualities of a good scout:
"trust-worthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent."
Really - every single one of these. 
A lover of sports, Pete just made the 9th grade basketball team and he also played on the football team.  
He has great, great heart, always giving 100% effort. 
Everyone likes Pete! (We love him!)


Where fun/funny is happening in our family, 
there will you find Jeff!
 Another Eagle Scout, by the way, who excels mightily in every thing he does, 
Jeff is one of those who people gravitate towards.
He oozes charisma, kindness, good manners and talent.
It was the Stratfords' lucky day when Jeff joined our family!


That completes my BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS for 2014. 

It has been fun to focus on each one of my kids, 
spouses and grandkids 
and talk about some of the things that we love about each one.
  
WE ARE BLESSED!



Mesa Mega-Magnificent Memories!

Peter Becomes an Eagle Scout, 

Ben Performs in, "A Christmas Carol,"

 Londyn and Maddy Perform in a Christmas Recital 

and We Attend One of My Favorite Christmas Concerts EVER!


Our three-day trip to Mesa, with a day to get ready after arriving home from helping Mindy, 
was so worth the 7 hour drive! 

We arrived in time, Friday, December 5, to grab a bite with Ryan . . .


. . . then see Ben in a wonderful production of Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol."


Ben is a natural on stage. He has so much personality! 
He had a speaking part and he sang a solo. 
Flash pics weren't allowed, but we got a couple of quick ones as they took their bows.



Ben was actually signing autographs backstage!


We were so proud of our little Cockney lad!


Best Bud cousins Ben and Maddy!


Ben's proud Family


Following in the tradition of his Dad, Granddads and Great Granddad,

Peter Ryan Stratford became an Eagle Scout on December 6, 2014. 

Great Grandpa Gabe must have been looking down on him with a proud and happy heart!


Pete presented his dad, Ryan, with the Eagle Mentor Award.  



With tears in his eyes, he explained why he chose his dad for this honor.



He gave a big time hug to his major supporter and fan, Mom.


These Eagle's Nest members were present for Peter's Court of Honor.


Both Eagle grandpas spoke in the Court of Honor,
each expressing learned lessons in being a Boy Scout and pride and love for Pete.




Eagles Paul Gilbert, Mike Ord (Emily's sister, Liz's, husband), Ryan, Peter and Roger



These are the family members who came to Pete's Court of Honor.


When we got back to their home, we presented Pete with a silver dollar with an Eagle on it that had been owned by his Great-Great-Great Grandpa George Stratford. 
Roger shined it up and got a special box for it.





As a bonus for us on this trip to Mesa,
Maddy and Londyn performed in their Christmas violin and piano recital, which was that afternoon 
in their teacher's home.





We videoed them, and didn't get a pic, but Maddy played the piano, also.
This little guy had an up-front seat for the recital.


Their teacher was so proud of these two, and all of her students.  She was such a sweet teacher.


Pics taken out front of Deena Heap's home in the Arizona December sunshine




That evening, Ryan and Emily took Paul and Susan, his new medical partner and his wife and Roger and I 
out for yummy Mexican food.  
Wish we had taken a pic! 
What followed for us was one of the musical treats of our lives - 
a Christmas concert by the East Valley Millenial Choirs and Orchestras.
Wow! 
Here's the info about the choirs, orchestras and the two brothers who are the directors:





We took a quick pic after the finale.


We had seats on about the fourth row, 
and the dynamics these choirs and orchestras achieved 
truly nearly blew the hair back from our faces.
The music was magnificent! 
Everyone in the lobby afterwards was exhilarated
and in the Christmas Spirit!





Emily and Ryan invited Stacy, Tom and family over after church for a yummy dinner together.


What an mega-magnificent, event-packed time we had 
with loved ones in Mesa!