David and Kris's Blog

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

January 2025

January was slim pickings. The kiddos left town and we were alone again. Kris had her sinuses reamed out, removing fungus, infection, and polyps. I was going to include some gory photos, but thought better of it. We made hotel reservations and bought air tickets for a spate of graduations coming up later in the spring. The new FOTUS (Felon of the United States) was installed, and we watched "helplessly hoping" as our country began to unravel. Happily, we got to commiserate with our dear Hansen cousins at breakfast in SLC.

Bombay House takeaway before the holidays ended

Early morning farewell for the Youngs

KBT gowned-up and ready to go to surgery

Krisy, home safe and sound

Millie, Kreg, Dickie, SKT, Annie behind the camera

Let's see what February brings.

OXO

Sunday, January 5, 2025

December 2024

When we returned from Paris and London on the 21st, Phillip and Meagan were already here. They arrived the 18th and put up the Christmas tree and strung the lights. Maren, Gavin and the boys arrived the 20th and added some decorations to the tree. Ollie and Meg have nests in their BYU student apartments, so we saw them later in the morning each day.

We celebrated Madeline's 29th birthday in Spanish Fork, We had dinner at La Casita, and Door-dashed several meals. There were daily games with the Soelberg cousins late into the night while Kris and I slept through the excitement with a thunder storm from our sound machine.

Christmas Eve dinner with the Youngs and HI Taylors was good. America's Test Kitchen showed me how to cook the prime rib and it was perfect. We had two sessions of present opening on Christmas morning: first with the Youngs who rose fairly early, and second with the HI Taylors whose college kids slept in. We enjoyed brunch with Jeff and Amy and got to see some of the HDT Jr. cousins. We checked in with Emily and family in the afternoon, and soon, Christmas was a memory.

We had our traditional Greek dinner early so the HI Taylor could join in. The Colvers made a surprise visit from Vernal, which made us so happy. On the final Sunday of the month Kreg and Dorothy hosted a cousins' breakfast and Dorothy made Hansen ebelskivers. The HI Taylors flew off to Nashville for a family vacations and we carried on. New Years Eve day we went with the Youngs for Brazilian churrasco at Tucano's. The Youngsters and the Soelberg cousins partied until midnight, while Kris and I slept with visions of something dancing in our heads. I'm sorry I can't remember what.

Millie, Meags, Maren, et al.

Games and games and games

Momma made a cake

29? How did we get here?

They are always "very fun tonight"

La Casita, of course

The HI Taylors came right on our heels w/ Meags' family

Always more games

Christmas Eve dinner

Serving Maren's Christmas trifle

New jammies for the Youngs

Sunstone made into a pendant

HI Taylors opening gifts

The cousins all gathered

Christmas brunch at the Ringers'

With Taylor cousins

Christmas afternoon with Fifi in Spanish Fork;

he doesn't want to be separated from his momma

Cute kids

Maren, Gavin, Daniel, Katy, Jayson, and Pippy gather for

a delicious Greek nosh

The twins

Opa and Annie give Meagan a hug

Clockwise: Emily's tzatziki and pita, Colton and Millie's salad, Maren's

pilafi, Dickie's spanakopita, Annie and Opa's dolmades, and Phillip's

souvlakia center

ASU, SUU, and BYU

Evy and Arthur

Dorothy flippin' ebelskivers

Timpanogos ending the year on a high note

Brazilian stuff is good to eat

Snacky stuff for New Years Eve

New Years day and January to follow next month.

OXO

Friday, December 20, 2024

London 2024 Day Six

Today was the big finish. I hadn't had proper fish and chips so we let The Champion make our lunch. Again the dishes were wonderful and my fish and chips were as the should be. We learn as we go through life, and I have learned that I like skinny French fries better than English chips.

Annie went to a movie and Kris and I took the good ol' 94 bus to Piccadilly Circus and the Prince of Wales Theatre for an energy-filled performance of the Book of Mormon. It was wonderful and we enjoyed it very much. Great voices, skillful dancing, and an engaging production. And, yet again, I had all the feels during the finale.

We are now home to pack for a 7:00 a.m. departure from our flat. So there isn't likely to be anything more in this series. It has been a good trip, but it is a little discouraging to be missing the energy and agility we had as youngsters. There is no more dashing, hustling, or running all day long and into the evening. That ship has sailed.

Lunch at The Champion

These were good!

Early afternoon at Piccadilly Circus: gray and red

The Prince of Wales is a posh Art-Deco era venue

Lots of familiar iconography

A tip of the hat to temples

Not every detail was perfect but these writers knew their stuff

The Prince of Wales Theatre on Coventry Street

Darkness had settled in at Piccadilly Circus

A Regents Street kaleidoscope

Old-age pensioners on the bus home

This is all for now. There will be a regular post at the beginning of January with Christmas stuff.

OXO

Thursday, December 19, 2024

London 2024 Day Five

Today was beautiful but a bit cooler. We made our way to the West End for lunch at Fallow, a place that specializes in local stuff and unusual combinations. The highlight for me were the mussels with a slice of bread in the bottom to soak up all the delicious juices. They were heavenly! After lunch we wandered the West End on our way to the Fortune Theatre for a matinee of Operation Mincemeat the 2024 winner of the Olivier for the best new musical. It was delightful with a tiny cast: two men and three women who played alternating male and female roles. The finale gave me feels again (frisson over and over). Home by way of Kingsway and Holborn on the Central Line for a lovely charcuterie spread provided by Annie.