Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving is just a memory now. Anna and the kids left early this morning for Reno and empty-house syndrome is beginning to set in. Katy is still here until Wednesday, so we are not completely alone.

Thanksgiving was splendid with everyone helping to provide a bountiful feast. The crowd was relatively small with just our family minus the Youngs, who remained in Arizona. After dinner there were several rounds of Bananagrams and that evening the whole family went to see The Muppets. Overall it reviewed well.

The day after Thanksgiving, Rob had to leave for Saturday work in Reno. Prior to his departure, we went to the Museum of Art for a photo session and a quick tour of the current exhibits. That evening everyone gathered here for hamburgers. Afterward, several attended a showing of Hugo, which they liked very much but were quite sure it was not a kids' movie.

Yesterday, the girls all went to SLC to the newly-opened H&M store and the boys went for an exhilarating hike to the Y and Eagle Pass, beyond. Rod and Vic dropped in with Carrie, Grant, and Tom for a great visit. The Ensigns returned from visiting their cousins and we all met at Max's favorite restaurant, Dickie's, for some pretty good barbeque.

There were many good walks, including this one
Thanksgiving morning

Katy Kathryn captures the Ringers after their
traditional turkey bowl

The boys waiting for dinner hour

Emily setting up

Kris's delicious rolls were gone by the end of dinner

Pop Pop carved the turkey

The kid's table

Bananagrams

I enjoyed this

Grammy and Millie working on Lucy Jane's hair

Tucker and Anders resting on the neighbor's wall
between adventures

Anders and Tucker also rested at the top of the Y

Those who hiked, including Coaster, who spent
the night at our house while Phillip and family
played in Park City

The Hastings boys at Eagle Pass

Anders, Coaster, Tucker, and Pop Pop at Eagle Pass

Anna and the binkers headed back to NV

It was a splendid holiday break, but we missed the Youngs.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

High Dickie Days

High Dickie Days have begun. Katy Kathryn flew in from Houston on Tuesday and Anna and family arrived from Reno via Elko today at noon; Rob arrived this evening from Elko.

Madeline wanted a pixie cut so Kris obliged her with a great cut and Emily tweeked her color a bit. Kris gave me at trim so I could hold out a couple of more weeks without a haircut, and the rest of the day was spent cooking in anticipation of Thanksgiving and Lucy Jane's birthday celebration that took place this evening.

Katy received a warm embrace from Uncle

Kris working her magic on Madeline's hair

Emily performs water torture

Voilà

Kris and I made the cake, Emily decorated

Cousins

A pleasant November afternoon

Katy, Ann, and Tommy

Lucy snuffs 12 candles

Tomorrow the feast will proceed and we will have more to report. Maren and the Youngs, we miss you.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

All the World's a Stage

It has been theater nonstop this week. Thursday we went to the Covey Center to see Meg dance in the roll of a small pink mouse in The Nutcracker. She did a super job: having lost her shoe, she snagged it without missing a beat and made her exit, stage left, at the designated time. Phil and Meagan frequently usher at the Covey Center, thus seeing the productions for free. On the evening in question, Phillip was our usher.

Last night, Saturday, we went to Timpview High School for their very fine performance of A Thoroughly Modern Millie; Madeline was a glamorous "modern" in the chorus. A Thoroughly Modern Millie has always been a Taylor-family favorite and this production did not disappoint. When Millie and Jimmy kissed, Lizzie concluded in a rather loud voice, "That was weird!" Oliver, who sat next to me, agreed and was greatly amused by the whole thing. The girl who played Millie Dillmount was really excellent -- ready for Broadway or the West End.

Miss Mouse without her costume

Them with us

Them with them

Madeline sips champagne at Muzzie Van Hossmere's party

Air kisses all around

Madeline does it again

Madeline et famille pose for Jayson

Thanksgiving is on the doorstep, but that's all for now.

OXO

D.

Reno: Two Thumbs, Way Up

In spite of the snow in the night and lingering flurries all across northern Nevada, the roads were clear and we made it home in 8 hours, almost to the minute. We had such a great visit: short but sweet.

As Kris and I discussed, Rob, Anna, and family appear to be extremely well situated. The house is great; with remodeling, maybe even a keeper. If Rob's job works out well (he starts tomorrow), we believe they will end up very happy in Reno. As I've already said, the physical location is wonderful. The city is just the right size: it feels like a big city, but is so easy to navigate and free from horrible traffic. The mountains, though different from the Wasatch range, are extremely beautiful. And the out-in-the-country feeling of their area is special (in the real sense of the word).

Sunday-morning farewell
(Anders and Clara were dripping wet)

Mount Rose was finally clear of clouds this
morning -- the photo was taken from the
street in front of their house

Thanks to all the Hastings for a great visit. The food was great, the excursions were excellent, the shopping was fun, and the company was sans pareil!

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

An Early Winter Adventure

This morning after a pumpkin-pancake breakfast we headed south to Carson City and up the mountain to Lake Tahoe. With recent snow and freezing temperatures it was a very different experience, but no less beautiful than in summer. We picnicked in the car and then drove around the lake to where the Truckee River leaves the lake and followed the canyon down past Squaw Valley to Truckee and I-80. On the way back into Reno, we made a quick stop at the Reno Temple. The tiny temples, though important, are disappointing to me architecturally. It was interesting to see it nonetheless. Arriving back at the ranch we regrouped and headed out on some errands before dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant.

Clara warmed herself by the pellet stove
in the dining room last night

Clara watching Grammy perform her toilette this morning

Lake Tahoe in winter mode

The gang on the beach

Ponderosa pines on the shore

The Hastings ladies

Tucker and Anders sheltered in a cleft of the rocks

Cold but beautiful

The group captured by Anna's camera

Tucker helping Grammy gather ponderosa pine cones

Anna, Rob, and Kris at the Reno Temple

Reno from the temple

Tomorrow we are back on the road to Provo. It's always hard to go back to real life, but we have had a most enjoyable visit and look forward to more in the future.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Random Ramblings in Reno

Yesterday, Friday, I awakened early to find a skiff of fresh snow blanketing Reno. After breakfast we dropped the kids off at school and went looking at neighborhoods and houses near the Hastings's before proceeding down to look at furniture. Rob returned home to pick up Clara and we went on to Trader Joe's and Costco for a few groceries. By the time we returned home, the kids had arrived -- it was an early-out day. I then went with Rob to Lowe's to buy a snow blower and have some keys made.

When we returned home, everyone piled in the minivan and drove back to the Toyota dealership near Costco where Rob made a quick stop. With all the errands completed, Rob was kind enough to indulge me with a tour through the older parts of Reno. We parked downtown and walked along the Truckee River (that runs through the hear of the city) for a few blocks, proceeding on to some great well-established neighborhoods. I have to say, once again, that I really think Reno is great. The older parts feel vaguely like SLC, but the outskirts where Rob, Anna, et al. live feel very rural and northern-New-Mexico-like. All that is missing is the smell of juniper smoke in the air. I like it here. We finished the day by grilling some delicious rib-eye steaks on Rob's immaculately-clean grill.

A fresh skiff of snow

The view of Mount Rose, 10,776 feet, part of the Carson Range
of the Sierra Nevada, seen from Rob and Anna's front yard

Lucy (and Anders -- background) off to school

Clariberryruchi off to preschool,
looking fine, as always

Wandering the roads and fields near Rob and Anna's

Ethan Allen was kind enough to prepare a plate
of delicious tacos for Anna

...And Kris loved the lemonade

Why can't we have a Trader Joe's in Utah?

The binkers in the playroom sorting candy after school

Downtown

The Truckee river flows from Lake Tahoe
to Pyramid Lake, passing through the middle of Reno --
Sierra Nevada in the background

The whole gang on the banks of the Truckee River
on a very crisp afternoon

This has been a fun visit, getting to know Reno better and having a great time with our fun hosts. Today promises to be fun, too. I will report later.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.