Disneyland 2020, Day One

At Christmas, Maren and Gavin surprised their boys with a trip to Disneyland and they asked us if we wanted to come along. Heck yeah! So here we are in Southern California headed to the "Happiest Place on Earth." We drove Wednesday 12 February to Henderson, Nevada for the first night, left for California on Thursday, and arrived in LA in time to beat rush-hour traffic. When the Youngs arrived from AZ, we headed to Downtown Disney for a look around and dinner at Tortilla Joes.

Our favorite spot for dinner in Henderson

Our first time in Downtown Disney

The monorail train arrives

Tortilla Joe's table-side guacamole

Enchiladas Suizas

Tortilla Joe's

Tomorrow we jump in for real. More to come, but this is all for now.

OXO

D.

Vernal and the Rest of January 2020

Because we didn't get to see the Colvers at Christmas and New Year, we headed to Vernal for a few days to visit them. The rest of the month was business as usual with Cousins' Breakfast, theater, dinner with Stephen and Ann every Saturday, and dinner and a good visit with Rod and Vicki before everyone starts traveling.

 

The Colvers have embraced the Vernal life

Arthur alternately feeds himself and the dogs

Evelyn loves taekwondo

Right in the ribs!

The Uintah Community Center...

...is fantastic

Swimming lessons: star fish

Castles and Dragons puzzle

Arthur prefers fridge magnets

But Evy loves the puzzles

And Pop Pop loves Evelyn Alta

Grandpa's big soft belly

Free bananas for the kids while you shop

The Colver boys at the Hideout Steak House

southwest of Roosevelt 

Steak on a stone

The stone is heated to 500 F. and holds the heat 

to cook the steak

Me? I chose the chicken-fried steak: slurp

Cousins' Breakfast is always a highlight of the month

Millie, Cam, SKT, and Annie

These productions in this tiny theater are always a treat

Lola's with Stephen and Ann

Dinner at La Casita and ice cream at home with Rod and Vic

We will meet the Youngs in Anaheim for a Disney adventure in February, but this is all for now.

OXO

D.

Christmas 2019 and New Year 2020

The Holidays were filled with food, movies, puzzling, cousins, visiting, Ringer brunch, Imagineers streaming, and celebration. The Youngs came from Arizona before Christmas and the Hastings came from New Mexico for New Year.

Enjoying Christmas lights in Springville after dinner at La Casita

Beef rib roast for Christmas Eve dinner

Early Christmas morning after a beautiful snow storm in the night

Ready for the boys

Harrison was brought to tears by the trip to Disneyland

I love my new door: Royal Academy, London

Christmas brunch at the Ringers

Ditto

The Dickies

A very tricksy puzzle from the Soelbergs

Balboa Park puzzle

Some of the cousins watching something good

Star Wars

Venice puzzle was challenging, too

Rio de Janeiro puzzle

Gavin made some killer hazelnut-chocolate gelato in

his new ice cream maker

Everyone enjoyed a taste

A visit to the Ensigns in Spanish Fork

Dinner with the kids at Bombay House

New Year's Eve dinner with the adultos at P712

New Year's Eve party for the kiddos

Harry trying to get the Oreo in his mouth

Gavin came through, as always, with some fireworks

Greek dinner on New Year's night

Always delicious!

Cinemark to see Little Women

Burgers and shakes at Chom

Goodbye to the Hastings

Goodbye to the Youngs

The Soelbergs running with the cousins: the goodbye tradition

So we are washing sheets and towels, making beds, and wishing the house wasn't so empty. That's all for now.

OXO

D.