Week 8

In Denmark the weeks are numbered.  I think think this is week 8, but since the American calendars don't note it.....Whatever, these are the main events:

Tuesday, arrived home from California,

Wednesday went on diets to loose the vacation weight......

Friday went to Dillard's President Day Sale....love this.

 Saturday, I missed the most important picture of the week....Kay and Dee Jacobs stopped to visit.  They have moved to Provo and were up for a reception.  This was taken this summer in Denmark, but they both look just as terrific and are loving living in Provo close to family.

Tonight we hosted our family's monthly birthday dinner.  There are 25 of us in town.  I need to buy another fold-up table....Always fun to get together.

On The Way Home

It was 12 hours drive from Clovis to our home in Holladay.  We had beautiful weather.  Pictures don't do the landscape justice, but just to give an idea...

 California has been in a drought , but the last month they have received more water than they have had for years.  It is standing everywhere. Around Fresno and Clovis they grow acres and acres of nuts, grapes and fruit.

Love the palm trees with the mountains in the back, in this case covered by clouds.

Through Nevada, the expanse was amazing and coming into St. George is always beautiful.

We stopped for dinner in Beaver at....

A great trip and so much fun with everyone...

A Full President's Day

Since it was a holiday today, Chris was home and we did all sorts of fun things:

 played games

 visited Hannah's middle school campus,

admired Chris' beautiful office,

 enjoyed another fabulous meal prepared by Ange,

 participated in Family Night...sharing memorabilia from Chris' youth and mission.

and topped it off with a visit to Creamistry ,,the ice cream is made ,while you watch, with liquid nitrogen.
    We are driving back to Utah tomorrow after a super trip!

A Blast From The Past

Mary Lou Royle (Wells) grew up on Flamingo Drive.  Her parents, Helen and Lou Wells were the bedrock of the street.  She is the Stake Relief Society President here in Clovis and has been for 8 years.  They came by to visit tonight and it was so fun to catch up with her and her husband, Mac.

She moved back with her folks for a few years while Mac went to medical school and taught Primary.  Our daughters loved her.

More Partying

Ella had a rock-climbing birthday party.  I was a little dubious at first how it would work with 10 year olds, but it was a great success and lots of fun.

Hannah made it to the top. Interesting to see them all get a little braver each time they had a turn.

Ange did her usual clever preparations

Tonight we went to dinner at Sweet Tomatoes.  They have closed up in Utah so it was fun to go again.

Happy Birthday Ella Jane

Ella celebrated her 10th birthday with the family tonight.

Lots of hugs and Lego sets,00

Changing Places

We left warm, sunny Indian Wells and drove 4 hours to meet our son, Chris, at one of his housing developments near Bakersfield.  He named the streets after his Children and extended family. Christensen Court is the cul de sac. There is Graham Peak Dr.0, Hannah Lyn Ave., Ella Jane Way and Jacob Creek Dr, all in Jacob Creek Subdivision.

Some beautiful open floor-plans

 Talk about bib bathrooms....

We saw 7 different models in these Woodside Homes...

Palm Springs Living

 Palm Springs and the surrounding area are populated mostly by retired folk.  Because of the terrific warm weather in the winter it also hosts many tournaments and activities.  Today we went to lunch at the restaurant in one of the beautiful condominium communities.

 Luxury living.....

 I am so enjoying all the flowers and green.

This afternoon we went to see "Hidden Figures", an excellent movie.

Happy Valentine's Day...at the temple

Had a lovely trip to the Redlands Temple today with my sister, Carol and her husband, and several members from their ward.  Went to a fun.lunch afterward....Mexican.

 The temple  is in a lovely area not too far from orange groves.

 Since this is the desert, there is a lot of "desertscape"; rocks, small shrubs and lots of sand/dirt.

Moving on....'

After saying goodbye to Becky and family we drove to Indian Wells out by Palm Desert, to continue our sunny vacation at my sister, Carol's.

loved the palm trees and snow.

Lots of wind farms in this part of California.

We enjoyed church and then a lovely dinner with Nikki and Niel (son and daughter-in-law.)

Disneyland - Last Day

The weather cooperated and we had a terrific, long day in the Disney Parks.  The parks opened at 8 am but we didn't make it quite that early but early enough to get on a lot of the rides in Fantasyland first thing. With Jim being able to park the car at the same place he picked up the electric wheelchair which was a shorter walk than the parking spaces at Disney, it was a fabulous deal.

We gave the kids money for Christmas and they used it to go to Goofy's Kitchen for an excellent brunch and to meet Disney characters.  It was a great success and we all ate breakfast,,,,, and lunch....and several desserts.

WE saw the Electric Parade and Fireworks and finally got home about 11 pm.  The three youngest didn't quite make it.  These pictures will have to come tomorrow when I can figure out how to get them off my phone.....Loved the Electric Parade.

Disneyland DAY 2

WE started the day in California Adventure and did all the major rides once or twice, thanks to good Fast Passes.  Having Jim in handicapped status, also has it's perks.  They often let him and his entire party come in close to the beginning of the line or scan our tickets and tell us when to come back.

Character stops were a super fun part of the day again.

 Snow White was especially adorable.

Having everyone in their "Incredibles" shirts made it easy to keep track of them.  The rain came in about 5.30, but we hung on until 8.00

Disneyland - DAY 1

What a fun, fast day.  Renting Jim an electric scooter was a brilliant idea,

We opened the park at 9 am and closed it a 9 pm. Thanks to Matt's planning and walking 13 miles for Fast Passes, and using stroller passes and handicap considerations, we manged about 30 rides between most of us.
     

We stop;ped for characters to sign Macey's autograph book...

 Moana was adorable and so nice.

Jim rode a fair number of rides....

 and managed very well.

col

We finished the night with The World of Color.  Fabulous!