The Week of the 24th

Last week was busy. Hank and Colette are staying at their cabin and they invited us up for supper at the beginning of the week. It was a delicious meal and the company and surroundings were wonderful. It has been hot here, and the canyon is many degrees cooler than the valley. On Thursday 22 July, the Ringers hosted a get together prior to Kelsey's wedding so that the various extended families could mingle informally. Friday was Kelsey's wedding at the Draper Temple followed by a luncheon nearby. The reception was that evening at Kevin and Tessa Santiago's. They fixed up their yard for the occasion and it was a great party. Everyone stayed until the last dog was hung: a real fomo fest.

Saturday was the 24th and we went to the farmers' market for lunch prior to the kids swimming at Emily's. Everyone met back here for hot dogs and fireworks. Maren spent much of the day washing and packing for their departure on Sunday. They went as far as Las Vegas yesterday and should be back in the Valley of the Sun this evening

Sunday the family, much reduced in size, met at Phillip and Meagan's for a delicious dinner. Jayson captured the feeling when he said it just didn't feel right.

Grammy making cookies with the Finn and Harry

Colette serving up some good enchiladas
and chile-relleno casserole

On the porch of the H&C's cabin

Millie doing the flowers for Kelsey's reception

The pre-wedding nosh at the cabin

The Ringers at the Draper Temple

The Taylor brothers at the wedding breakfast

Some of our gang at the breakfast

There was time between all the festivities for yet
another extraction

Katy, Brad, and Ann at the reception

Kelsey and Matt waiting to try the lettuce wraps

Lunch at the farmers' market on the 24th

Maren, Beckham, and Kris with the flag of
our pioneer ancestors; we should get a
Danish flag, too

Gavin put on a great show for us and the neighbors

Finn and Harry ready for take off on Sunday morning

Katy running with the Youngs as they depart

Sunday dinner at the Taylors

The house is empty and will be emptier still on Friday when Katy returns to Texas. We miss everybody!

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Summer Fun

It has been a long time since the last post and the time has come to catch up. We left off on the third of July with fireworks. The holiday seemed to go on forever with patriotic testimonies and hymns on Sunday the fourth, and then it was time to celebrate all over again on Monday the fifth. Rob, Anna, Phillip, and Emily all decided to run the 5K. Katy and I got up early to join them at the start and finish.

The week following the 4th was filled with cousins, food, and fun. There was even a balloon launch at the park one morning. Even without reservations, the kids all managed to go up. On the 12th I dropped the Hastings at the airport and they are now in Virginia. On the 13th I dropped Katy at the airport and she flew to NY to spend some time with the Michael Gibbs family. I know they have been to Massachusetts and today she is in NYC for a matinee of Promises, Promises and some lunch at Pret. Beyond that I'm not sure what all she has done.

This has been a fun and busy month with the family here. It is good to have Phillip and family back; they returned from Hawaii yesterday (another airport run through I 15 construction). I have been teaching, doing text-revision stuff, as well as creating a whole series of Powerpoint presentations to take the place of my slide lectures. I will be glad when the text is finally put to bed; it's not much fun. But the Powerpoints have been very fun. Gavin and Phillip have tutored me along the way and I am a whiz now. So those will continue for the rest of the summer.

The July 5th balloon launch

Four finishers

I have tried forever to catch Winnie in her yoga position
and Katy finally got this shot of "downward facing dog"

Older cousins visit while younger cousins
play in Millie's sprinkler

Patriotic fruit bowl!

Winnie and her "sisters"

Waiting for coals to make s'mores

Auntie Em keeps everyone entertained with camp songs:
"The Princess Pat," if I remember correctly

Finally the coals are ready

More visiting

Balloon rides in the park

Turned away without a reservation

"Will they get on?"

YES! Persistence pays!

The Young boys rolled straight out of bed for the event

The sad day of departure

It has been a fantastically fun few weeks and when everyone has returned to real life, we will be very lonely here.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

The Gathering of the Clan

The family (except for Meagan, Ollie, and Meg) are all here in Provo for various reasons. It feels like sort of a loosely organized reunion. We have spent some good time with Phillip while his family is in Hawaii, Maren and family have been here while Gavin was in France on Honeywell business, Katy is here for a month for weddings and family fun, and Anna and family are here because they have packed and shipped all their belongings to Virginia and are more or less homeless for a few days. It has been lively and fun.

Everyone gathered at Emily's for the 4th of July (actually the 3rd). We were joined by Steve and Family, Millie and family, Amy and family, George and family, and Stephen and Ann (for a few minutes). It was as much fun as always, though 15 degrees cooler than usual, and somewhat sad because it will probably be the last time at Emily's; she intends to move on within a year. And who knows when the Hastings will be here again on the 4th?

Sunday dinner with the cousins

Harry joined in on the weekly shopping trip

Extractions Are Us: Finn's first tooth

The boys from the desert enjoy a summer shower

Katy Kathryn captures young Beckham

Everyone gathered to help the Hastings
pack, load, and clean

Rob is the packingmeister

How many Taylor girls does it take
to wrap and pack an ottoman?

Lizzie is a contortionist

Kris loves her Kindle; Dickie loved his nap

Emily spinning a yarn

Breaking it down

More good conversation

The races have begun

The charming hostess

It appears to have been Pippy and Max by a mile

Happy Independence Day to all!

The blog posts have been slow because I am working on the index for Ed 5 of our text and have been creating tons of Powerpoints for my classes, but I will try to keep abreast, nonetheless.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.