Chris and Brittany's Wedding

The principal reason for our Arizona detour was to attend Chris and Brittany's wedding in Mesa. So on Thursday we left a flu-ridden Maren in Peoria and headed to Mesa where we checked into the the Hampton Inn (you may remember we stayed there for the grandparent's 50th) before heading to the airport to collect Rod. We spent the afternoon with Grandmother and then had supper at Tia Rosa's.

Friday we met at the temple for the sealing which was performed by Grant Gunnell, an old family friend. A nice lunch of soups of various kinds with salad and rolls was provided by Sandy and others at a church near Adam's house. The afternoon featured a trip to Gilbert to fill the tank at Costco and have a look at the nearby Gilbert Temple project.

The reception in Adams backyard was fun with lots and lots of stuff decorating every possible spot. It made me tired just to think about setting it all up and taking it all down. The food was yummy: pasta, grilled pizza, salad, and approximately eight different kinds of cake. For Mesaites, it was a pleasant evening. For us northern types, it was warmish. Poor uncle Chip (with the Boynton sweat gene) was soaked through; he looked like he had been thrown in the pool. It was, nevertheless, a fun evening.

Saturday morning we headed home. The drive is long but beautiful.

 Kris, Carol, and Rod at Tia Rosa's

 Beef quesadilla

 Resourceful Grandmother uses Grandad's jewelry-making

specs to read the microscopic genealogy sheet Rod gave her

 Mesa Temple on a warm September morning

 Sandy, Brittany, Chris, Chip, Melanie,

Adam, Jon, and Ryan

 Jon and Sheridan; Randy and Melanie Brower, with Sydney;

and Adam's wife Jenny

 Rod (and Vicki by phone), Nancy, and Kris

 Ammon (Tyler's friend and roomate: they are staying with 

Grandmother), Tyler, and Mark

 Sandy, Carol, Bonnie, Kris, and Nancy

 The luncheon, joined by Raye

 The Gilbert Temple

 Nancy and Mark with Jocelyn and her fiance,

Corey Gadsby (English [mostly] lad), at the reception

The trip home is always filled with spectacular scenery

Now we have a couple of weeks to get ready for our trip to England with Grandmother, Rod and Vic.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Peoria

Sunday morning after checking out of the hotel, we headed east on Interstate 10 to Peoria, Arizona to spend a few days with Maren and the boys; Gavin left for France the morning after we arrived. We have just spent time hanging out, grocery shopping, washing and gassing the car at Costco, running the "school bus," attending soccer practice, and eating (of course). The hot days in CA prepared us for AZ and it hasn't seemed half-bad.

 Emily and Carla Sue with one of Em's thank-you presents

for all her work and planning

 The final morning at the Garden Grove Hampton Inn

 Harry and Finn headed to school

 Candeo School

The Phoenix Temple is near the boys' school

 Beckham and wassie

 Harry tries a smile (of sorts) before his practice

 This little guy can kick and dribble like a pro -- with

his left foot, no less

 Supper at the Cheesecake Factory

 Pretty yummy

 The whole crew

A beautiful Arizona evening

Today we will pick up Uncle Rod at the airport and head for Mesa where we will attend Chris Boynton's wedding tomorrow.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Disneyland 2012 Day Four

Saturday was the day to revisit favorite rides and ride those we hadn't yet. Emily, Max, and I started just after 7:00 A.M. to be on hand when the gates opened at 8:00. While we waited for opening in California Adventure, a cast member asked Disney-trivia questions to keep us entertained. Emily was in top form and won a "major award" for her correct answer. As the day progressed groups kept shifting and changing as everyone chose the rides they most wanted to revisit. We seemed to move back and forth between parks eventually gathering to see the Alladin show in Hollywood Land. By supper time we were back in Disneyland at the Jolly Holiday Bakery for supper. We stayed in our seats and watched the Soundsational parade pass by. There were more rides before meeting once again on the River Belle Terrace to watch Fantasmic (which was fantastic). That was followed by the fireworks display that served as a finale for the day (at least for us -- the die hards kept on riding).

The new CA gates are patterned after the Pan Pacific Auditorium

that I still remember vividly from my LA youth

Emily's major award!

The Red Car Line on Buena Vista Street

More great architectural reproductions on 

Buena Vista Street

s

The attention to detail is SO impressive

The trolley stop near the CA entrance on 

Buena Vista Street

Stores on Carthay Circle at the top of 

Buena Vista Street

Radiator Springs sign at the Cars Land entrance

As single riders we walked right on Radiator Springs Racers

This little gem is patterned after a Texas gas station

that is still standing -- these designs are so impressive

The Disney designers must have a great time

The Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land

Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

Sarge's Army Surplus

One more go on Soarin'

Back to Disneyland

Main Street USA decked out for Halloween

Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Fantasyland

Clara loved Small World

Maxwell, et al.

It IS a small, small world

Freshly repainted Matterhorn

"Rob and Tucker, over here!"

What did we do before cell phones?

Back to CA and Hollywood Land

The big finale of the Alladin show

This talking turtle is unbelievable

This turned out to be a fun ride

She does a great imitation of Madeline --

or is it the other way around?

Clara insisted on one more visit here -- we didn't 

resist because it is fun, COOL, and dark

Ursula speaks for herself

The Silly Symphony Swings turned out to be a great hit

especially with the Hastings clan who rode it at least six times

Turns out that the Hastings are die-hard riders and we

went back for a few more thrilling drops

Tucker, Dickie, and Rob (back row left) love the scary stuff

Dinner with a parade, what could be finer?

One more run through the Haunted Mansion 

with Clara safely wedged between me and Anna

The fantastic Fantasmic show

It was great to be at Disneyland with the whole family and perhaps if the stars align, we can do it again.

That's all for now.

OXO

D