Baby Ella

San Diego, CA


We traveled to San Diego this past weekend to visit Damian and Tandy and family. Ella was going to be blessed! Happy occasion. Gail, Seth and Caroline also were able to travel down there.

We're still waiting for car parts from the LAST California trip (well, the one in October--we've gone there one other time since then) so we got a rental from Enterprise. It's a better deal than driving a gas hog truck down there. Mike and I left Friday Feb 1 around 4 p.m. with Caroline and Eric; Seth and Gail left closer to 5:30 with Nick (who had class until 5). We got to California about 11 their time, midnight ours. Not too bad. We don't all fit in one car, plus we're coming home different days.


Saturday was a play day. We went to the park. Tandy's camera has all those pictures. Nick played lacing games with his nieces and nephew. Mike relaxed. Damian and Tandy went grocery shopping with NO KIDS! That was an unusual occasion. Gail and Seth spent Friday and Saturday night at Aaron and Penny's house. (That's Seth's brother who is in law school in San Diego.) They took Eric and went sight-seeing at Coronado on Saturday afternoon. Gail's camera would have pictures from that trip. They actually had sunshine! It was cloudy and cool at their house.

By the time you bathe 3 or four kids and put all the toys away, the night is done. ha. Saturday night late, Lexi surprised us by throwing up all over her bed. Ugh. Poor Damian and Tandy. Mike helped out a little.

Then Sunday morning Tandy woke up quite ill. Same bug? We don't know. She felt AWFUL! So awful that going to church to have the baby blessed was out of the question. Damian went down to their ward and made arrangements for the family to gather at their home for the baby blessing. A member of the bishopric was there, too. All the family members who were supposed to be there, were. One family friend came by, too. It was nice. We took pictures of kids. All my grandchildren in one spot! Pam and her family went to church for Sacrament meeting, but the rest of us just couldn't get our acts together, so we fed the kids and kept them happy. And the Sacrament would have been over by the time we got there, anyway.

Waiting for the last arrivals at D & T's House

AND, Lexi really WAS sick! She threw up again after eating her lunch. What a day. It took Damian close to an hour to clean Lexi, himself, and the bathroom. What a site! Eric's description was quite vivid (not going to post it--too visual for words), but Damian did say, "I've never seen so much puke from a sober person." ha. And Lexi's so little. Poor gal. I cleaned her, the stairs, and tucked her into bed with her sick Mommy. Tandy totally missed the party she planned.

This is what Tandy REALLY Felt like ! Poor Tandy

It rained all day Sunday and we headed home to Cedar City after saying goodbye to the poor sick people. Pam is staying another day, so Tandy will have help with the kids, thankfully.

But Baby Ella received her baby blessing, we made it home through snow and ice (IN ST. GEORGE!) the last 50 miles. All was well at home. And Nick even made it to California and back--no unforseen incidents ;-) A happy day, we'd say.





Except for Tandy. GET WELL SOON, Sweetie!

Hawaii Here We Come!

Arrival at Kailua-Kona airport, Hawaii. Mike with his parents (and a stranger behind them). December 26, 2007.







Sherri, Gayela, John, Berenice, Linda, Mike. Enjoying breakfast together in Malulani Gardens home in Kailua- Kona, Big Island of Hawaii. January 1, 2008.









This is a view from the porch of the house where we were staying. The temple was just down the hill and across the highway. Can you see Angel Moroni "standing" on top of the lamp post?







This is another view from in front of the house where we were staying. Look closely and you can see the cruise ship moored in the bay. The view of sunsets was great, the view of the mountains up behind us was great. The weather was great . . .the house was great!







This is a picture of what Waimea always looks like--hidden in the clouds. Mike's parents spent the first half of their mission in this cute town, but seldom saw any sunshine. Always in the clouds. It's very green and is where Parker Ranch is located.









Here is Rainbow Falls, near Hilo. I tried so hard to capture the deep green shades in the falls, but the camera just wouldn't pick it up. The day was overcast, so no rainbow this time. Just lots and lots and lots of water.







We took a detour on our trip around the island and drove to the very southern-most point on US territory. The water was rough and deep and blue, the rocks very volcanic and holey. Can you tell the wind is blowing (note the sideways pony tail)??






Mauna Kea, MaunaLoa






These mountains are the main part of the volcanic island of Hawaii. They are both snow capped! Yes, Hawaii does have snow. Mauna Kea has many observatories, Mauna Loa is long and not-so-tall looking. But they were both visible! That's kind of unusual.








This is the Kona Temple. Mike and I did managed to attend a session. It took us a couple of tries, but we did OK once we got our hands on a schedule and knew when to show up.








These ferns are so gorgeous. It's like being in Jurassic Park. They are huge--we're talking 20 foot tall fern trees. This was in Volcano National Park, just a short drive from the picture below. Same area, honest!











This is a picture of me at the steaming cauldera of Kilauea volcano.








This has got to be one of the prettiest drives I've ever been on. Beautiful coastal area along the Hamakua Coast of Hawaii. This part is Onomea Bay.








We've known Mickey and Roy Bauer for many years now, and it was good to see them and catch up with their family's activities. They live in Hilo. Roy is the Hilo Stake President.







On one of our last days there, we went to the Farmer's Market. The flowers were great! I had to take some home. There were so many to choose from! This was just a fraction of the variety. I ended up with red anthuriums, some purple orchids, and some white orchid sprays. Tough choices, I must say.






Yes, we loooked like the Beverly Hillbillies as we headed to the airport. Our luggage would not fit into the tiny trunk of our cute rental car, so Mike piled it on top and tied it down with bungee cords.









Aren't these pretty flowers? We were just waiting for our flight out of Kona and the sun was shining. It was so nice and pleasant, I just walked around and took some pictures of the bright tropical flowers. This is Red Ginger.






Hawaiian Airlines has graduated since the last time we were here. When John needed assistance in getting on or off the plane, they had an old fork lift with some sort of platform attached. This time they had an actual sissor-lift type machine with a roof over it and everything. This is a picture of Mike helping his Dad onto the plane as we were departing Kona.






The Kona sunset behind one of the many cruise ships that were frequently moored in Kona Bay. This one was taken on our last Sunday in Kona.









Here's a picture of Mike's parents on the plane on their way home to freezing Cedar City! Brrrrr

Fiddler!

I think the video must be too big of a file to post and I can't edit it to make it shorter. It's really kind of short, anyway--not even the whole song. Wish you could hear it. I'll keep trying. If you have advice on how to save or load it, I'm open to suggestions.

Fall

Above is a picture of my house. It's hiding there, snuggled under the bright yellow leaves. Below you will see a picture of the beautiful view that greets Eric's eyes as he walks down the street to school each morning these days.

Fall is my favorite time of year. It's not the apples. (See previous post). It's the colorful leaves, the crisp and cool air. It's the contrast of the bright blue sky against the complementary oranges, yellows and reds. And It's the crunchy leaves under foot and under tires of my bike. I go out of my way to crunchy piles just to hear them. I love the beautiful fall wreath I frequently take the time to make during these fleeting months. Fall is definitely the best time of year. Mike and I were married in the Fall, we spent our honeymoon up in the colorful High Uintah Mountains. I also like Halloween because of the candy and chocolate. What's not to like about fall? The pressure of Christmas coming all-too-soon? Maybe. But I'm great about forgetting about stressful things like that. I just crunch on through the leaves, laughing and smiling all the way.

How would you like to come with me on my ride to work each day? Here's a photo essay of my daily commute.
Enjoy!

Overhanging trees just seem to embrace you has you travel down the street.

These are greeting me at the back door entrance of my library.

The flags were still this morning. The are usually blowing in the breeze. I just love the contrast with the heather-y bushes and red rock in the planter below the flag poles with the striking tree in the background.

The view above and the view below are both of 700 west, two different blocks. It's my main thoroughfare and a really pretty ride.

And finally, below is the beautiful view that greets us as we walk out of our house and towards the street to face the day. What's not to like? The sunny yellow cheer can start anyone's day on a brighter note. Hope it did just that for you!

Salt Lake City Homes

The blue home is 436 South 13th East, SLC UT. I was told it was the Sorensen Home, where Bob lived with his folks, Aunt Blanche and Uncle Ollie and the Sorensen Grandparents (Virgil's father and mother)

The very dark green house is at 677 South 6th East, SLC, UT. I was told (by Mom) that this was the house that Virgil's Aunt Anna (Anne? Annie?) lived in. And then there's a couple of initials by my notes which I made 2 years ago when I visited Mom -- "M.S." I have no idea what that M.S. after the name Aunt Anna means. Any suggestions? I thought the "S" was probably Sorensen, but who knows. And I've heard of Annie, but I definitely wrote "Anna" in my address book. Weird.

The white house is the Coles' home at 618 8th Ave.