Early December in Arizona 2018

Early in December we drove to Arizona by way of Henderson, Nevada, to see Maren and Gavin's new home, visit Grandmother, and attend Daniel's graduation with his doctorate from Arizona State University.

 We tried a smaller fake tree that solved the problem of hating

to string lights on the tree

 Young Arthur is interactive now

 We enjoy dinner at Cheesecake Factory in Henderson

 Young's attractive new home in Peoria

 A spectacular sky after a storm (notice Gavin stringing lights)

 Dinner in Old Glendale at La Piazza Al Forno

 It's one of our favorites

 Christmas colors spotted in Mesa on a morning walk

 The fog on a morning walk completely changed the mood in Arizona

 Grandmother watering her bonsai Christmas tree

 The ASU hooding ceremony

 Dinner with Chip and Sandy at another AZ favorite: Bavarian Point

 You can actually hear the chef/owner pounding the schnitzel

in the kitchen

 A celebratory dinner at Firebirds Grill in Peoria

Daniel, Katy, Arthur, and Rick (Daniel's father)

 Evy LOVES her cousins

 Nana Jan, Evy, Grammy, Arthur, Pop Pop, Grandpa Rick, and
Grandma Bev at the college convocation

 Arizona State

 Lovely striped sunrise on a morning walk in Mesa

Back in Peoria for one night in the new house before heading home

It was a delightful trip with a chance to visit with family and celebrate Daniel and Katy's accomplishment.

That's all for now.

OXO

D.

Thanksgiving 2018

With the Provo kids all heading to their in-law families, we decided we would go to Santa Fe for Grandparents Day at Santa Fe Prep and Thanksgiving. With Michelle Obama reading to us from her memoire, the miles zoomed by. The festivities at the school and the Hastings' home were great! And Santa Fe is always fun.

 Anders and the Jazz Band performing for Grandparents at Prep

 We got to hear the band jam in their class

 Lunch with the boys and the daughters and parents of Rob's colleague

 Getting the rotkohl started

 Grammy and Pop Pop at the stove

 Rancho de Chimayo for Lu's birthday 

 Pretty fun and definitely delicious

 The old ranch house setting is great

 Happy diners, especially the momma

 Birthday celebration back at home

 19 fingers

 Light 'em up

 Still cooking on Thanksgiving morning

 This would soon become like Shakespeare's "groaning board"

 The preparation takes hours and it's all gone in minutes

 Getting close: the bird is done

 Rob escaped work long enough to carve the bird and eat dinner

 Rob home courtesy of a colleague who spelled him off

 Let the games begin

 Wonderful as always

 One of several outings on the La Tierra trails

 Lights on at the Santa Fe Plaza

 Rob and Clara

 Grammy and the Hastings

 Farolitos on the Plaza

 The Cathedral and La Fonda Hotel with farolitos

 The Loretto Chapel after dark

A spectacular NM sunset the night before we came home

Thanks to the Hastings for hosting. This was a wonderful visit, but this is all for now.

OXO

D.

Fall 2018

Back from Santa Fe, we fell into the normal rhythm of fall with Kris's birthday, Halloween, Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night, and morning walks. One Saturday morning I tripped over an unused telephone pole anchor that had been bent parallel to the ground and face planted. I ended up in urgent care with seven stitches in my chin. The Hastings came to town for a Montez wedding and a quick visit with us. I went with them to the University of Utah for an amusing (because of the valley-girlish tour guide who knew virtually nothing) familiarization tour. That evening after four hours on the freeway we coincidentally had dinner with the Goffs in American Fork before picking up Rob at the SLC airport. The Hasting headed back to Santa Fe on Sunday, and on Monday 19 November we also drove to Santa Fe for Thanksgiving.

 Arthur is warm and cuddly

 Which puts Pop Pop to sleep

 Guinness Cake is rich and deep

 And Kris's pumpkin/chocolate birthday cake was fantastic

 This year's crazy pumpkins

 Morning walk

 Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night

 Enjoying the bonfire

 Katy Kathryn read "Remember, remember..."

 Working on my personal history: BYU 95th

 Bishop Taylor

 Taylor birthplace visit with Cousin Hank

 Nasty trip hazard

 That nose!

 Chin wound

 Getting stitched up

 Deep wound looks like a mouth

 Seven stitches

 Cousins

 U of U visit

Chance meeting with Katiana and Jeremy

The next post will be Thanksgiving and this is all for now.

OXO

D.