Barbara's Visit June 2012

Because David is studying to take the Dental Boards, Barbara and her children shipped out Monday to stay for ten days.  The first day, just being here was a novelty.  The second day, we set up the wading pool and the water table toy.

They found the Dress-Up Box, full of old clothes.

The kids marched around the "circle" of our yard: up the hill by the rose bushes, along the fenceline, down via the kumquats, up across the front door and duck in between the bushes on the far side of the house, and enter back again to the back yard, where Barbara and I sat chatting after dinner.  Summer nights are the best.

Today, the fourth day, we went to the beach.  Maddy's first impressions: She appeared to be pulled off balance by the receding water.  She soon got her sea legs.  Barbara thinks this is the first time that she has really interacted with the ocean; I couldn't remember any other time.  Here's some more photos of our day:

Riley seems transfixed by the wave action.  I did tell them to keep their eyes on the water.  About a billion times.

Off-balance Maddy.

Keagan is in awe.  She thinks we should come back again and go boogie boarding.  Agreed.

Sand castles are being built.

 Back home, Barbara had the brilliant idea they should wash out their shells in the water table.

I'm still prepping for the YW Camp luncheon for 70 which is coming up on Monday.  Here Riley helps take snickerdoodles off of the cookie sheets.  He did this three times.  I'm pretty impressed with how helpful Barbara's children are.  Keagan usually takes the lead on getting the table set up for dinner every night out on the patio, and they all clear their dishes cheerfully.  And with a little reminder, they do their "zones," blitzing a room or two, picking up toys.

Keagan is trying out one of the drawing programs on my iPad.

I'm wondering what else I can pull out of a hat to keep the kids entertained.  We have introduced them to two new movies, of Japanese cartoon origin: Totoro, and The Secret World of Arrietty.  I was surprised to look over and see a scene where the two little girls jumped into a Japanese bath with their father (very chaste and traditional Japanese experience, really), but didn't say anything and the scene quickly ended.  The old aunties seem to be such crones.  But the stories are lovely, the music exquisite and so far, both have had a 9-ish-year old girl in them, which is great for Keagan.  Multi-culturalism here at our house.

Tomorrow Barbara and I will be sewing more curtains for their house (she brought the fabric).  She's doing the sewing and I help with planning it all out.  We still have 3 giant batches of pasta salad to make; prepping (chopping) will go on during the day on Saturday, with final cooking and assembling shortly before we pack them up to go off on Monday morning at 7 a.m.  It's busy, tiring (we go to bed very early around here), but always fun to have the grandchildren come!

Alex is Baptized • May 26, 2012

On Memorial Day weekend, Chad baptized Alexander Sterling, his firstborn son.  I'm not going to get all weepy on you, but it was a very touching day, as have been all the other baptisms of my grandchildren.  Such a lovely moment! There were good talks, one by Kristen and one by the other mother, and the Bishop gave nice remarks.

Afterwards.

Kristen and the other mother had really set out a lovely array of refreshments, with all of Alex's favorites for him.

 

A close-up of the Baptism Boy.

Kristen and Alex.

We were well represented on the family front.  Along with Dave and I, Dave's sister Becky and her husband Bob (on the left, with his hand on Christopher's shoulder) were visiting her son Jim (far right, blue shirt).  His two children are in front by Alex.  Congratulations Alex!

Zion Family Campout May 2012, Part 2

Dave has some help setting up the air mattress.

Our home away from home for the next few days.

All of sudden, Anna Clare stops on the walk back down the trail to talk to someone.  I figure it's a couple from her ward, or something.  After a few minutes, she mentions to us that it's Cynthia, and her husband Eric.  I didn't recognize Cynthia at all, having not seen her since she was a teenager.  Good thing we have these campouts once in a while!

The contrast of these spikey grasses was interesting against the vivid greens and ochres of the canyon.

These next few shots are from the area above the tunnel, one early morning.

I loved the monochromatic stillness of this natural arrangement.

We were exploring places to view the eclipse, so headed over to Grafton Cemetery, where we found the driest cemetery we've ever seen.  The inscription reads:

A Kind Mother.  A Dutiful and Affectionate WIFE.  A Faithful Saint.  Awaits a RESURRECTION with the Just.

A literal burial mound in the dry red dirt.  Now back to the campground!

A great shot of us at the eclipse.  Thanks again to Lisa and Anna Clare for the glasses. 

A final image--that of a tree of shoes on the road out.  We stopped in St. George to visit Superior Threads and pick up some supplies, as well as a food stop at Kneader's Bakery, a favorite Utah eatery of ours.  Then drive drive drive home across the desert, arriving many hours later.  See you all next time!