February 2025

The months just fly by! February started with a Hansen cousins' get-together in SLC at Kreg and Dorothy's home. Dorothy, always the genial hostess, prepared a delicious Asian nosh. Katy, Emily, and Kris went to a book signing in Springville by Beth Brower, a favorite of all five of the Taylor girls. The Millers hosted a Valentine's group dinner in South Jordan. At this month's family dinner we feted Moe who was celebrating her February birthday. Valentine's came and went without much fanfare: just flowers and treats from Trader Joe's. We hosted Meagan who stopped in for a week, and we have been able to see some of Ollie and Meg, too. Just for the heck of it, we drove to SLC to meet Tucker for dinner at Kyoto, which has been a Salt Lake institution forever. While she was here, Meagan defended her dissertation with flying colors and is now Doctor Taylor. At the end of the month, we joined Meagan and Ollie for supper at In-n-Out.

Annie, SKT, H.B., Millie, Kreg, Dorothy, and Kris

Delicious coconut schrimp

Kreg, SKT, and H.B. telling tales

Dinner at Saida with the girlies before the book signing

Books for signing

The Group

Phil said I am never in the photos, so I took a 

selfie to prove I was there

Happy birthday to Moe

Cousins: Meg, Max, Moe, Ollie, Madi, and Tucker,

 and Rigby, of course

Valentine tulips for D&K

Kyoto with Tucker

Tucker has the nest-building gene: his little digs

are comfy and cozy with loads of art and personal touches

Meagan knocked her defense out of the park

Celebrating Dr. Taylor at Edna's

Supper with some of the HI Taylors

Okay. That's a wrap. 

OXO

D.

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

D.

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

D.

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

D.