Category: Extended family

Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies

The destination

We took a drive around Fish Creek near Cove Fort to see the damage from last year’s fire. This was a place where Richard’s family memories are richer than their mine ever was. We wanted to see where the fire had been. It was sad to see so much land burned. There were enormous mushrooms which looked like boulders and the little oaks are making progress in some areas. In the places where the fire had not destroyed everything, it was so green and the wildflowers and birds were rich in variety and vivid color. Richard’s dad identified every one for us when we asked.

 

Our guide
Russell samples the iron rich spring

 

 

The explorers
The dog watcher
My man at the old homestead site
Area above the cabin site was saved from fire
Fire damage
contrast
Our outfit
Doggy sniffing heaven
The end

 

 

Auntie Kathy visits

My Aunt Kate (aka “Auntie Kathy”) stopped by for a visit yesterday. I didn’t take a picture, but this is what she looked like a few years ago. She is holding me. I didn’t crop the picture so you could enjoy that warm seventies feeling. You have to be my age or older to appreciate that warm glow that is associated with cash registers which weren’t computerized, shag carpet, and everything enrobed in earth tones. I’m not mocking. I truly, truly, love that warmth.

Kate and Mike came down for the funeral of her mission president who lived in Gilbert. They took several hours to drive way down to our place. It was a good visit and I was able to get all the news. Kate and Mike are about to become grandparents, which feels a little surreal since it doesn’t seem that long ago that we were neighbors and we’d get together to watch our babies play.

I love my aunt Kate. Someday I will post some crazy pictures of us from the 80’s. We have had some good times. I smile when I think of the adventure of her car overheating in San Francisco as we drove down Lombard Street or when we drove around all summer singing Kokomo at the top of our voices.

She’s still very fun and so nice to take the time to come and see us. Next time you come, Kate: Sonoran Hot Dogs are on the menu!

The Folks

We’ve been entertaining guests. Since we are not very good at conversation or selling ourselves as interesting (I’m convinced it’s all in the selling… ), we compensate by eating interesting food when company comes. Richard smoked some ribs and chicken. We feasted on various things and ate a few pounds of Utah candy. It was nice to have Richard’s parents at our place.

We celebrated our 16th anniversary by having our portrait taken. It’s one of our best. I fell asleep as I was putting Mark to bed and didn’t find my anniversary gift on my bedside table until the day after, confirming that I am just as awesome a wife as this picture portrays.

 

A picnic and truffles

Sarah and Bryan came to our house for the afternoon. We packed a picnic, loaded it into a basket and Mark’s jeep and we made our way to the park by our house. We ate big sandwiches, fresh strawberries and raspberries, chips, and snickerdoodles. YUM. Some of us played frisbee…

And some of us ran through the sprinklers.

And one of us just took pictures, which is all she wanted to do anyway.

Mark, as driver, learned the inherent privileges of driving with food in the front seat. Sampling!

Sarah taught us how to make truffles. We made milk chocolate truffles and raspberry truffles; some we decorated with white chocolate and drizzles; others we rolled in sprinkles, making them less edible, but very colorful.

And yes, they do taste *THAT* good.

Thanks for a fun visit, Sarah and Bryan. Come again soon!

Piano Ensemble 2011

It’s our springtime tradition: a new suit or dress and the big ensemble concert at Centennial Hall. This was Paige and Daniel’s 4th year to participate in this concert.

We invited some friends to join us. Daniel didn’t hang out with us in line because he was with his piano duet partner. Yes, Paige is taller than I am in this picture. We’re both wearing heels. I’m posting this even though I look old.

We saw some Family at the concert! Bryan’s sister was in the concert, too.

Paige and her piano partner played one of the big Steinway concert grand pianos in the front. They played the Liebeslieder Waltz by Johannes Brahms.

Paige is wearing my formal concert skirt with a shimmery silver top from her own closet.

Daniel, always the brave and independent one, went up to the conductor to thank him when it was over. He played the Russian Sailors’ Dance which was just incredible.

Sneaking sweets, surfing, and poking around allowed

Angie, messing up Grandma Stewart's kitchen

 

The kids have been writing about their grandparents. I’ve noticed a common theme in their writing and it is that grandparents are a lot more lenient about rules.

“Grandpa always sneaks cookies to me.”

“Grandma and Grandpa let us go mattress surfing down their stairs.”

“They let us poke through their house and mess up the bricks in the backyard.”

How great is that?

 

Sweetie

Richard has been going through pictures this week and he asked that I cull oh, about most of them. This one survived the cut because it shows Timothy really enjoying his time on the bumper cars with Daniel and his cousin Ray.

Timothy will jam his tongue into his cheek to suppress a smile if he thinks he is the only one smiling. He’s a soft-spoken sweetheart of a boy. He is very funny when he feels comfortable. I am glad that he has so many cousins whom he calls friends.

Look out, Timothy. I’m coming to hug and kiss you for no reason.

Happy New Year: revisited

I was feeling guilt for posting this picture earlier today with no accompanying text, so here’s a quick post from a little bit frazzled and trunky Angie:

We’re all very, very cold in this picture. If you look carefully, you might see shadows of coats flying midair; we had just torn them off so we wouldn’t look puffy. This is the photo of Dale and Lorraine Ross and their posterity gathered for the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

We then moved to Rebecca’s home where we tried to eat 50 pounds of roast beef. We failed, but we’ll keep at it until it’s gone.

We’re home. It feels like Christmas all over again as we unpack well-thought gifts and generous donations for our warmth in mind. Texas and Arizona have poorly tempered us for cold weather. Thermostats were pushed to their limits; every hat and scarf available was shared in pity and kindness.

There was rain, snow, slush, a melted cargo carrier, drenched gifts and subsequent re-wrapping (dismay!), timely mugs of hot cocoa, a Christmas pageant, a ski resort, laser tag, sledding, more timely mugs of hot cocoa, a movie, frozen freeways, many doggies under one roof (sorry), a trip INSIDE the Missionary Training Center for church, and a lot of food.

Name a food. (Did you do it?) I’m pretty sure I ate whatever it was that you said at some time on this trip.

Now name another food… BINGO! I’m telling you. We were served one of everything and two of anything else.

It was a long time to be away, but already my memories of time with family are growing hazy and golden-hued. Eventually, even the dog will develop a halo in the halls of memory. Here’s hoping it’s the same for everyone else, too, when you think about us. We know two weeks was a long time to entertain us.

We’re unpacking and taking down Christmas decorations at the same time. Now and then I sit down and watch Richard’s movie about his parents and then I page through a book of paintings. I lack focus, but focus will eventually return and the memories will get pushed aside. Until then, I’m just enjoying it. I think you know what I mean.

Happy New Year!