Birthday Weekend

On Friday, 27 March, the binkers were out of school and gathered at our house to help me celebrate my birthday. We lunched at La Casita. The moms wanted Indian food and the binkers wanted to go to La Casita; mine was the tie-breaking vote. After lunch we went to the BYU MOA to see Walter Wick's exhibit. Katy Kathryn was our docent and we had a great time.

On Sunday (since it was a 5th Sunday) the family gathered for dinner here. We ate pasta, salad, and bread. For dessert I made a bienestich kuchen and we celebrated my birthday in style.

Lunch at La Casita

Why yes, it is a #39 with verde sauce

Everyone looks pretty pleased

Katy pointing out the secrets of Walter Wick

The gang at the BYU MOA

Blowing out a symbolic number of candles

That's it for now.

OXO

D.

The Wais Made Dinner

Meagan's parents, Bob Wai and Lenore Kuhaupio, were in town for the BYU Luau where Mia and Robby performed. They were kind enough to invite us for supper on Thursday (26 March). It is always nice to see them and the food was delicious, of course.

Thursday was a chilly but beautiful spring evening

Phillip is the grillmeister

Bob making "Banarama" for dessert

Meg and Grammy

Garlic steak, rice, and salad: delicious!

What a great way to start the weekend.

OXO

D.

Happy Birthday to Maryleborn

My, doesn't time fly! It has just been a couple of days since you were a small lass and I was significantly younger.


I hope your birthday is special -- I am confident that Gavin will do his usual spectacular job. We love you and miss you and are looking forward to seeing you and your family in person very soon. Happy birthday Maren dear.

OXO

Dad

Oh, No!

As if I couldn't waste hours looking at satellite images on Google maps, now they have street view in London, and as you can see the images are nearly perfect. It almost makes me weep.

27 and 29 Palace Court

St. Dunstan's in-the-East

Here is a quick link, or you can just go to Google Maps and zoom down into London and drag the little street-view guy into the street you want to see.

I hope you will waste less time than I do looking at London -- or maybe you should waste a little time.

OXO

D.

What a Fun Weekend!

Alison and Chelsea Gibbs came to stay this weekend. Alison came down from Logan and Chelsea came all the way from Helaman Halls. Katy came home to sleep and the three of them appeared to have a rip-roaring good time. Saturday we went to Janet's for supper, joined by Stephen and Ann. Today (Sunday) the family gathered here for dinner provided by Phillip and Meagan. Phillip made fish and chips; they were excellent. Fred Axelgard, who works with Kris in the mailroom, joined us for dinner and stayed to get some advice on traveling in Europe this summer.

The three were very good to get their homework done

Stephen points out celebrity photos on Janet's wall

Rogues' gallery

Wonderful Wor Wonton Soup

A bit of drawing before the other cousins arrive

The girlies playing a few hands of something

Tucker reading Harold and the Purple Crayon

Kris and Anna editing her manuscript

They are all currently very drawn to The Sound of Music

Phillip batter frying cod

Anna serving fish and chips

This captures the mood of the weekend

Fred and Kris looking at Katy's London scrapbook

The week ahead should be relatively uneventful with little to report. So that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Always Welcome

The Gibbs/Browns have been here. Mike and Linda spent Monday night before returning to NY. Debby and Hilary have also been visiting for a couple of days. Ian, whose airline connections were messed up, even spent a night. They all joined us after the completion of their family gathering in the mountains above Heber. On Tuesday evening when Debby, Hilary, and Ian arrived, they hosted an impromptu birthday celebration here for Ian's younger brother, Brian. Wednesday evening we dined at the Bombay House and, if you can believe it, we actually tried some new dishes. Last night, Thursday, we ate at La Casita . Shopping was minimal, at least for me. That's always a plus.

A yummy Indian nosh

A pretty spring evening in Provo

I didn't try anything new here - why would I?

Luis runs the credit card

Debby, Hilary, and Kris

Today Deb and Hilary are on their way back to Houston, but Alison is coming from Logan today to spend the weekend. The fun never ends. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Here Comes a Flood: First Wave

There are suddenly lots of things I want to record in this electronic memory book, so watch out for a flood of blog posts.

The first wave of activity made landfall on Friday evening at the Taylor-Woodbury home. We gathered there with the "Dinner Group" for a delicious meal of chicken saltimbocca, brown rice, and baked asparagus prepared by Stephen and Ann and salads, breads, dessert, drinks, etcetera, provided by everyone else. It was delicious, as always, and the company was excellent. With daylight savings and a lighter evening, we didn't break up until 9:30! Now that is a miracle. Vern and Jerry, sintimos sua falta.

Is Rod feeling amorous or is he a blood sucker?

Good eats!

Stephen explaining the evolution of Diane Turner's work

More to come, all posted in reverse order so they will be in chronological order as you read them (I hope).

OXO

D.

Birthday Breakfast: Second Wave

With so many family birthdays in March (Anna has declared June a month of abstinence in the family), it has proven very difficult to properly celebrate. In an effort to kill two birds with one stone, and in a burst of creativity, Anna and Emily decided to have a family breakfast on Saturday morning to celebrate Lizzy and Clara's birthdays. They served breakfast casseroles, fruit, juice, hash browns, and donuts. That was followed by birthday cake and ice cream. The mandatory theme was Disney princess (specifically Belle). The little birthday girls were ravishing in their gowns.

Jayson tends the hash browns

Anders and Meg working on eating breakfast

Oh yes, it was also the only chance to wish Jayson
a happy birthday (15 March)

The old folks (thanks for the photo, Anna)

SOOOOO exciting!

The kek

Each princess did her part

Lizzie with a fist full of dollars

Clara tears into a gift

The party was great fun and a novel solution to a thorny problem, even if cake and ice cream for breakfast seemed like drinking a cocktail before 5:00 (as if I would know anything about that).

OXO

D.

A Splendid Reunion: Third Wave

Both the New York and Texas Gibbs families have been in Utah for a short winter retreat in the mountains above Heber, near the church's new girls camp. They were kind enough to invite us to join them on Saturday. We did our favorite things: eat good food, talk, and play cards.

Deer Creek and Timpanogos on the way to Heber

Alison, Katy, and Chelsea - the cilantro
was for tortilla soup

Katy, Michael, Chelsea, and Linda

Dickie with Debra Sue Darling Gibbs

The cabin belongs to Deb's friends in Texas

Debby and Hilary returning from a walk

The same two on the porch

Phillip, Meg, and Ollie enjoying snacks

A rousing game of Hearts

The Gibbs/Brown girls

Phillip and Rob who refused to pose with
fingers in noses

It feels like family and we had a great time! Thanks for inviting us.

OXO

D.