Richard continually expressed the idea that it really wasn’t raining and cold and we could go hiking again, but we couldn’t elude the dreary skies. Good thing we weren’t there just for the weather. Here are some memories of the trip:
S’mores in the oven~Tim was sick~Lego Batman Movie~Cousins~Long talks~Superhero movies on tv~Scooby Doo laughter~ Archie comics~Alexa, what will the weather be tomorrow?~Joke Shop~Hospitality~Russ and Nancy’s view!~Krispy Kreme doughnuts
Richard reminds me each year that one gift we give to each child should keep their hands busy on Christmas day. We gave these to the older boys who are no longer asking for Legos. I found these at Deseret Book. They were challenging and fun. They are not Lego brand, so I held my breath and waited for the complaints. There were a few grumbles about the instructions and that they are harder to fit together than Lego brand. Since we don’t plan to use the blocks for other projects, they are fine for building a model to display. I think they are charming.
Daniel’s choir performed at the Assembly Hall at Temple Square. The music was inspiring and beautiful. Daniel accompanied the choir on the piano for I Saw Three Ships arranged by Mack Wilberg on a Steinway. He loved that piano!
My cousin came and she brought my Great-uncle Dwight. I was so touched that both of them came.
Halloween feels different when teens are at parties and there is only one child at home to go trick or treating with. Mark is tremendously fun company and we enjoyed our walk through the neighborhood.
Have you read Bram Stoker’s Dracula? The description of Dracula includes the usual things you see in a classic costume, but one horrible detail is that he had hairy palms. Eww.
Timothy had no words to describe what he was dressed up to be, and neither have I. But the costume had the funny factor for sure.
Mark and I are pretty proud of the jack-o’-lantern we created.
The morning light of November 1 finds my shelves adorned with Pilgrims and Indians and expressions of thanks. Let the celebration of gratitude begin!
I realized the following:
I am thinking in lists these days. Paragraphs are too much work. Here is what I will remember about our weekend.
Apple harvest and preparation
A Poldark episode with a happy ending
Solar salesmen with long presentations
Gladys Knight, Vocal Point, And Lexie Walker at the BYU Homecoming Spectacular
Mark’s Primary program at church and his piano duet with Richard
Mark and I took a trip with my parents to California to visit my Grandma Ruth. Mark wasn’t sure if he would have a good time spending lots of time in a car to be with his grandparents, mom, and great-grandmother, but he did. For real.
He explored the Delta with Grandpa.
He bought doughnuts with Grandpa
He played with Fisher Price toys from the late 1960’s with his cousin who stopped by.
We drove the scenic route on the way home, along the Sacramento river. We stopped at a little diner and had the best lunch with big mugs of milk.
He got a hat at the Donner Memorial gift shop.
He enjoyed a breakfast buffet at our hotel.
He stayed up late watching The Lord of the Rings.
He made and served dinner with Grandma, which he said was a true highlight.
He rewired a lamp with Grandpa, also a highlight.
He crawled under Great-grandma’s furniture to replace electrical cords and loved it.
He met a new dog friend.
He didn’t have to share Pop Tarts with his siblings.
He packed a bag full of Archie comics to enjoy with Grandpa. It was time well shared.
He and Grandma watched movies in the back seat of the car on the drive home.
He grew in admiration for his grandparents and cheered his great-grandmother with his presence. He tried a few funny lines and people laughed. He got to be independent and not compared with older siblings. He soared.
We traveled to Sparks, Nevada for a party hosted by my aunt and uncle. They invited all of Grandma Stewart’s friends and family for a luncheon to honor her. It was happy and upbeat, and gave us all a sense of closure that we didn’t have after her death because there was no funeral. They held the party in my aunt and uncle’s yard on the week of my grandmother’s birthday. The weather was perfect. My mom read aloud tributes written by family members. I was able to meet my grandmother’s friends and see my cousins.
Richard and I took the kids to grandma’s old house to walk around the yard one last time. That was really hard for me, but it made me feel better to tell myself that tears aren’t such a bad thing if they come when you are reminded of sweet times and dear people.
My tribute to my grandmother is written here.
We were reading the Bible as a family on Monday night and Mark was using my childhood scriptures. He found this note in the pages, written to my friend Thora when I was his age.
This note is one of the earliest surviving documents of the first time I decided to change my name to Angela. Back and forth, Angie and Angela have taken turns my whole life.
It also shows how I had an early interest in animals, which promptly disappeared after I finished a degree in Biology with a Zoology emphasis.
It shows the development of my handwriting style. I think I was imitating someone popular, who was actually very mean.
When Mark found this note he just laughed and handed it to Richard. I cringed and laughed and sent a picture of it to my friend Thora, who still has cute hair, while I still wonder if anyone likes mine. It awakened all sorts of preadolescent demons in my mind.
Be careful what you leave in your scriptures. You never know who will find it.
😉
