Pioneer-Day Week

On Tuesday, two days before Pioneer Day, we had a quick visit from some of the cousins. They were here for various reasons, including a kids camp for their offspring at Hank and Colette's cabin. That same day Anna and kids were in town for some swimming at Emily's. She was joined by Jennette Smith Fennimore who popped in for a short visit after the swim. Probably because of the swim, the binkers were STARVING! So we whipped up a big batch of pancakes, which were devoured instantly (they each ate at least six), necessitating a second batch.

Matt, Michelle, Katy, Megan and Bronwen (sp.?)

Jennette and Anna

On Wednesday, the day before Pioneer Day, Debby and Alison flew back into town. They were anxious for supper at La Casita, and we are not ones to complain about that. We were joined by Hilary's mother-in-law, Chris Brown, who is here caring for her son James who is recovering from an accident. Katie Brown, Hilary's sister-in-law also joined us.

Alison, Chris, Kris, Katy, Katie, and Debby

On Thursday, 24 July, Pioneer day, we hung the British flag to celebrate our British pioneer ancestors -- they were, after all, leaving the USA behind, and the US flag didn't seem quite right. We had a late pancake breakfast before heading to SLC with the Gibbs to see Moon at the Broadway. The movie was good and we topped the outing off with supper at Greek Souvlaki. Katy and Alison headed to Logan to do some organizing in Alison's room there. Debby, Kris, and I returned to Provo. Arriving home, we found all the chilluns waiting for us in the front yard, and the rest of the evening was spent visiting with them and inspecting the chickens at Millie and Colton's house.

Pancakes twice in one week

Debby and Kris ready to roll

The Broadway Theater in SLC

I liked this film

A lovely Pioneer-Day evening

Checking out and feeding the chickens

Saturday afternoon we drove to Perry (Brigham City) to meet Katy and Alison for supper at Maddox after their organization project. The food was very delicious, especially the rolls and corn pones. After supper we swapped car contents: we loaded Alison's discards (destined for DI) into our car and transferred luggage to Debby's rental car as we parted company. Deb and Alison were headed north to Boise for a gathering of Debby's family, and we returned home to Provo via Ogden. We stopped to have a look at Ogden's temple square. The temple is almost like Provo's, and the Tabernacle looks more like a temple. The tabernacle, designed by Fred L. Markham, was dedicated in 1956. Fred was father's lifelong missionary friend, school friend, and back-door relative as he married father's cousin.

Ready to head north and south

Ogden Temple: Provo's twin

Ogden Tabernacle looks more like a temple
than the temple

Sunday the family gathered at Phillip and Meagan's house for dinner. It was delicious with chicken penne pesto and shrimp scampi. At 7:00 we dashed off before their home teachers arrived. After all, who wants more than one home teaching message in a month?

Meagan was much happier than she appears

The binkers enjoying the Sunday meal

All things considered, it was a pretty fun week. Things should be slower now, but I will keep you posted.

That's all for now.

OXO,

D.

Oquirrh Mountain Temple

It hasn't been that long since we went to the Draper Temple open house, but last Monday we traveled once more to the Salt Lake Valley to see the Oquirrh Mountain temple prior to its dedication in a couple of weeks. We arranged to go with the Ostergars again and were joined by Anna and Emily and their kids. The interior is similar in feeling to the Draper Temple, yet it seems smaller in some ways. It is very nice, nonetheless.

Later in the afternoon we went to the Mi La-Cai Noodle House for supper with Anna and family. Rob was to have joined us, but sadly he was detained at work and had to eat his noodles later from a Styrofoam box at home.

The east façade

I wish the Provo Temple had murals

The photo doesn't do the room justice -- it was
a favorite

The cypresses didn't end up in the
final design of the Celestial Room

Moroni was actually struck by lightening
the week the open house began -- his
inner arm is still dark

Anna's photo of the valley view -- with a wide-angle
and telephoto lens, you would see the Jordan
River and Draper Temples

Tucker, Max, Anders, Madeline, Lizzie,
Lucy, and Clara at the fountain

Katy, Anna, Kris, David, Emily, Nancy, and Allen
after the tour

With the Hastings at La-Cai

It was an enjoyable afternoon and evening. Thank to all who participated. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Mid July 2009

Last Tuesday, 14 July, the Hastings blew into town for some swim time at Auntie Em's. So, Katy and I popped over for a visit. On Wednesday, the Gibbs ladies flew (entirely different from "blew") into town for Allison Duncan's wedding. They were coming next week for a memorial gathering for Debby's mom, but when Allison announced her wedding plans, they had to make the trip twice. That means we will see them again next week (except for Hilary who will be too near delivery to travel). We made a birthday dinner for Hilary on Wednesday and then went to see the newest Harry Potter that evening. The production was nice, but if, like me, you haven't read the books, there isn't much story there.

Thursday was Allison's wedding and the gathering afterward at Nunn's Park in Provo Canyon. It was a perfect way to informally celebrate a wedding without a huge reception. We were happy to be included and enjoyed the great barbeque lunch. That evening we ate supper at Chadders and subsequently watched Wives and Daughters until the wee hours of the morning. Friday included some shopping (not me, man!) and a couple of exhibits at the MOA. We finished the evening at the Bombay House and then watched North and South. Saturday was Debby's birthday and the Gibbs girls regaled her with splendid coreography set to ABBA's Super Trooper, and I made pancakes for breakfast. Before they flew away that afternoon, we had lunch at P712.

A bit of time out in the shade

Reading by the pool -- note the reading
glasses and sun glasses: clever

Anders adrift in a sea of flailing swimmers

Mmmm, sponge cake -- happy birthday Hilary!

It was OK

Alison Gibbs, Paris Aguirre, Allison Duncan Aguirre,
Debby Gibbs, Hilary Gibbs Brown, and Katy Kathryn

The Sangria was good but blowing the
bottle is even better

Cheeseburgers at Chadders

A MOA visit to see Walter Wick and
Dan Steinhilber

Supper cooked by the Bombay House

Happy birthday, Deb!

Colton and Joseph (seen in background) made
Debby's tasty birthday lunch

It has been a pretty fun week and we are now looking forward to the second half of the Gibbs' visit later this week. That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Family Dinners of Various Sorts

Saturday, Rod called to invite us to ride with them to Heber for dinner at the Hub Cafe. The Hub serves good diner-type fare and we were well fed. The company was incomparable and the whole outing was punctuated with hearty laughter. I hope we do it again soon.

Sunday the family gathered for dinner. For a needed change from roast, potatoes, and gravy, I decided to fix Brazilian food (with Katy's help because it is a very labor-intensive meal). The gathering was fun, as always, with animated discussions on a wide range of topics. I recently missed pulling one of Anders' teeth because it wasn't quite ready when we were last together, but Tucker's was very loose and it was extracted in a trice. The capstone of the evening was a traditional footrace with the Hastings as they departed.

Katy, Kris, Rod, Vic, Tom, and Carrie

Good grub

Summer-evening view of "mighty Timpanogos,
mountain that I love" from the Boyntons
(note the tin hut on the summit in the enlarged view)

Sunday dinner estilo Brasileiro:
feijoada, arroz, vinagrete, salada de palmito e

tomate, maionese, cove, pão de agua, and guaranã

The binkers dodging the rain

The adults fine and dry inside

Joined by Millie for "pumdim" (pudim de leite)
and rollicking conversation

Tucker with a new hole in his smile

Katy Kathryn and Dickie "running" with the Hastings:
a traditional farewell with the cousins et al.

The Gibbs ladies arrive on Wednesday so things will be lively going forward this week. That, however, is all for now.

OXO

D.

The Founders Would Have Had a Good Time

The 4th-of-July weekend was great fun. We did the founding fathers proud.

The Hastings came down on Friday to stay over and we went to dinner with the Ensigns at Terra Mia. They gave it weak reviews. They said the pizza is comparably-priced with Colton's but not nearly as good. I agree. After dinner we finally broke in our fire pit (more accurately, a brazier) by roasting marshmallows and making s'mores. On the morning of the 4th we caught a bit of the balloon launch from the front yard, ate breakfast, the kids went to the parade, and Kris and I did laundry. I am not a fan of the parade as I have explained in previous posts. The afternoon was spent in Emily's pool. When everyone gathered around 5:00, we grilled and ate. The evening was filled with a tribute Michael Jackson by the binkers, traditional foot races, and a spririted game of red rover. Emily served delicious homemade ice cream with Kris's chocolate-chip bars and cookies. The jets flew over (one of my favorite bits) and Phillip and Emily provided pyrotechnics. It sounds exactly like last year and most years before, but obviously we love it that way - at least for the time being. One can never be sure when a new wrinkle will be inserted into long-standing tradition; ten years ago, the present tradition was non-existent.

Robert did the honors

Excellent fire, dude

S'mores coming right up

Clara and Anna enjoying the balloon launch

Pop Pop's pancakes and/or Grammy's sweet rolls
don't sound all that healthy, but they are good

Lucy, Anders, Tucker, and Clara ready for the Parade

They enjoyed the water

Patient Uncle Phillip tossed the cousins endlessly

The food included satay this year

Anders featured prominently in the MJ tribute, though
his costume was always somewhat of a mystery

The traditional foot races

Red rover, red rover, send Tucker right over

A great finish to a great day

We missed Katy Kathryn who is in Houston, the Youngs who were in Arizona, and the Taylors who were in North Carolina. We hope everyone had a nice day.

OXO

D.